The Gospel of Matthew
For those of you who would like a little more info on the Gospel of Matthew as we study through it, I have included a very good introduction form the ESV study Bible. I love the ESV's clear and accurate translation as well as the flow of the language. The ESV is the only translation that I use in preaching from the pulpit and I highly recommend it.

Author and Title
Since none of the four Gospels includes the names of their authors in the original manuscripts, they are all technically anonymous. This is not surprising, since the authors likely compiled their Gospel accounts for members of their own churches, to whom they were already well known. However, historical documents from early church history provide significant insight into the Gospels' authorship. The earliest traditions of the church are unanimous in attributing the first Gospel to Matthew, the former tax collector who followed Jesus and became one of his 12 disciples. The earliest and most important of these traditions comes from the second century in the writings of Papias, bishop of Hierapolis in Asia Minor (c. a.d. 135), and Irenaeus, bishop of Lyons in Gaul (c. 175). Because these early church leaders had either direct or indirect contact with the apostolic community, they would have been very familiar with the Gospels' origins. Moreover, no competing traditions now exist (if they ever did) attributing Matthew's Gospel to any other author. If Matthew did not write the book, it is hard to see why the false ascription would bear the name of a relatively obscure apostle when more well-known and popular figures could have been chosen (e.g., Philip, Thomas, or James).Matthean authorship is denied by some modern scholars, especially on the view that the author of Matthew borrowed much of his material from Mark's Gospel. Given that Matthew was an apostle while Mark was not, it is assumed that Matthew would not have needed (or chosen) to depend on Mark's material. But even if Matthew did borrow from Mark's Gospel, it would only have added to Matthew's apostolic credibility since the evidence suggests that Mark himself relied extensively on the testimony of the apostle Peter.When Jesus called him, Matthew was sitting in the tax collector's booth (9:9), collecting taxes for Herod Antipas, and this may have been along a commercial trading route about 4 miles (6.4 km) from Capernaum. However, since the narrative surrounding Matthew's call is set in Capernaum (9:1, 7, 10; cf. 4:13), the tax booth may have been on the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum, since Herod also taxed fishermen. At his calling in the first Gospel he is referred to as “Matthew” (9:9), while Mark's and Luke's Gospels describe him as “Levi the son of Alphaeus” (Mark 2:14) and “Levi” (Luke 5:27). The reason for the variation in names has elicited much discussion, but most scholars believe that the tax collector had two names, Matthew Levi, which he either possessed from birth or took on following his conversion. His occupation as a tax collector implies that he had training in scribal techniques and was thus able to write, while his identity as a Galilean Jewish Christian suggests his ability to interpret the words and actions of Jesus in light of OT messianic expectations.

Date
The precise date of the writing of Matthew's Gospel is not known. Some scholars argue for a date later than the destruction of Jerusalem in a.d. 70, since Jesus alludes to this event in 24:1–28. Of course, such a conclusion is warranted only if one denies Jesus' ability to predict the future. In light of Irenaeus's assertion (c. a.d. 175) that Matthew composed his Gospel while Peter and Paul were still living (Irenaeus, Against Heresies 3.1.1), it is traditionally dated to the late 50s or early 60s.

Theme
This is the story of Jesus of Nazareth, recorded by the apostle Matthew as a compelling witness that Jesus is the long-anticipated Messiah, who brought the kingdom of God to earth and is the prophesied fulfillment of God's promise of true peace and deliverance for both Jew and Gentile. crafted his account to demonstrate Jesus' messianic identity, his inheritance of the Davidic kingship over Israel, and his fulfillment of the promise made to his ancestor Abraham (Matt. 1:1) to be a blessing to all the nations (Gen. 12:1–3). Thus in large part Matthew's Gospel is an evangelistic tool aimed at his fellow Jews, persuading them to recognize Jesus as their long-awaited Messiah. At the same time, the Gospel reveals clearly to Gentiles that salvation through Jesus the Messiah is available to all nations. For Jewish Christians, Matthew's Gospel provides encouragement to stand steadfast amid opposition from their own countrymen, as well as Gentile pagans, secure in the knowledge of their citizenship in God's kingdom. Against the backdrop of such opposition to Jesus' message, Matthew establishes the identity of Christ's church as the true people of God, who now find their unity in service to Jesus despite previous racial, class, and religious barriers. His Gospel provides necessary instruction for all future disciples, Jew and Gentile, who form a new community centered upon devotion and obedience to Jesus the Messiah amid significant opposition.Many scholars have suggested that the prominent church in Antioch of Syria, whose members included both Jewish and Gentile Christians (cf. Acts 11:19–26; 13:1–3), was the intended audience of Matthew's Gospel. They point to the Gospel's influence on Ignatius, an early bishop of Antioch. At the same time, Matthew's message spoke to all of the fledgling churches of his day, and the Gospel appears to have circulated rapidly and widely.History of Salvation SummaryJesus comes as the messianic King in the line of David to fulfill the OT, especially its promises of everlasting salvation. The ultimate fulfillment comes with his crucifixion and resurrection.

Literary Features
The primary genre of Matthew is the Gospel, and the organizing framework of all four Gospels is narrative or story. However, with the narrative framework of Matthew's Gospel, a major amount of space is devoted to Jesus' discourses. Beyond that, the usual array of subtypes are found: birth stories, calling or vocation stories, miracle stories, parables, pronouncement stories, encounter stories, passion stories, and resurrection stories.The most notable literary feature of the book's format is the alternating pattern around which the book is organized. The material in Matthew's Gospel is based on a rhythmic, back-and-forth movement between blocks of narrative material and blocks of discourse material. There are five passages of discourse, which can be viewed as corresponding to the five digits on the human hand and can be easily remembered if one lists the questions that Jesus in effect answers in each unit:

(1) How are citizens of the kingdom to live (chs. 5–7)?

(2) How are traveling disciples to conduct themselves on their evangelistic journeys (ch. 10)?

(3) What parables did Jesus tell (ch. 13)?

(4) What warning did Jesus give about not hindering entrance into the kingdom and on forgiveness (chs. 18–20)?

(5) How will human history end (chs. 24–25)? Matthew even used a set formula to signal these units, ending them with the statement “when Jesus had finished [these sayings]” (7:28; 11:1; 13:53; 19:1; 26:1).Matthew's distinguishing stylistic features include recurrent quotation and citation from the OT and an emphasis on Jesus as being kingly or royal (even the opening genealogy places Jesus' father Joseph in the Davidic line). Additionally, Matthew is fond of the term “Son of David” as a title for Christ, statements to the effect that “this was done that it might be fulfilled as the prophets had said,” and the formula “the kingdom of heaven is like . . .”

Key Themes
1. Portrait of Jesus. Jesus is the true Messiah, Immanuel (God incarnate with his people), Son of God, King of Israel, and Lord of the church.1:1, 23; 2:2; 14:33; 16:16; 18:20; 21:5–9
2. The bridge between Old and New Testaments. Jesus fulfills the hopes and promises of the OT through his messianic genealogy, fulfillment of OT prophecies, and fulfillment of the OT law. These bridging qualities may have been one reason Matthew was chosen to begin the NT canon. Another possible reason is that many in the early church thought that Matthew was the first Gospel written, and another is that it was personally written by an apostle, in contrast to Mark and Luke.1:1–17, 22–23; 2:4–5, 15, 17, 23; 5:17–20
3. Salvation-historical “particularism” and “universalism.” Matthew's Gospel traces God's continuing work of salvation within Israel (“particularism”) and extends this saving work to all the peoples of the earth (“universalism”), through the person and work of Christ.10:5–6; 28:19
4. The new community of faith. The early church included both Jewish and Gentile Christians. Matthew's Gospel would have encouraged them to transcend ethnic and cultural barriers to find unity in service to Jesus the Messiah as members of his universal church.11:28; 16:18–19; 28:19 5. The church is built and maintained by Jesus' continuing presence. God's saving work in the present age is carried out chiefly by and through the church, which Jesus continues to build and inhabit. Anyone who responds to Jesus' call—whether Jew or Gentile, male or female, rich or poor, slave or free—is brought into the fellowship of his church to enjoy him and participate in the community of his kingdom.16:18; 18:15–20; 22:10; 28:20
6. A “great commission” for evangelism and mission. Jesus' command to “make disciples of all nations” is found only in Matthew and has motivated countless believers to reach out to the lost with the good news of the gospel. As Jesus made disciples in his earthly ministry, he commissions his church to follow his example.28:19
7. Jesus' five discourses recorded in Matthew can be viewed as a manual on discipleship. The presentation of five of Jesus' major discourses, addressed at least in part to his disciples, forms the most comprehensive collection of Jesus' instructional ministry found anywhere in Scripture. They paint a holistic picture of life lived in obedience to Christ, and the church has used them to instruct disciples through the ages.chs. 5–7; 10; 13; 18–20; 24–25

The Setting of Matthew
The events in the book of Matthew take place almost entirely within the vicinity of Palestine, an area extending roughly from Caesarea Philippi in the north to Beersheba in the south. During this time it was ruled by the Roman Empire. The opening chapters describe events surrounding Jesus' birth in Judea, where Herod had been appointed king by the Romans. The closing chapters end with Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension during the rule of Pontius Pilate and the tetrarchs Antipas and Philip.

Outline
The Arrival in History of Jesus the Messiah (1:1–2:23)
The genealogy of Jesus the Messiah (1:1–17)
The angelic announcement of the conception of Jesus the Messiah (1:18–25)
Magi report the star-sign of the birth of “the King of the Jews” (2:1–12)
OT prophecies are fulfilled in Jesus the Messiah (2:13–23)
John the Baptist Prepares for the Appearance of the Messianic Kingdom (3:1–17)
Jesus the Messiah Begins to Advance the Messianic Kingdom (4:1–25)
Temptations of the Messiah (4:1–11)
Jesus the Messiah begins his Galilean ministry (4:12–25)
The Authoritative Message of the Messiah: Kingdom Life for His Disciples (5:1–7:29)
(First Discourse)Setting, Beatitudes, and witness of the kingdom of heaven (5:1–16)
The messianic kingdom in relation to the law (5:17–48)
The development of kingdom life in the real world (6:1–7:12)
Warning! With Jesus or against him? (7:13–29)
The Authoritative Power of the Messiah: Kingdom Power Demonstrated (8:1–9:38)
Healings, discipleship, and overpowering Satan's strongholds (8:1–9:8)
Unexpected discipleship, miracles, and workers (9:9–38)
The Authoritative Mission of the Messiah's Messengers (10:1–42)
(Second Discourse)Commissioning and instructions for the short-term mission to Israel (10:1–15)
Instructions for the long-term mission to the world (10:16–23)
Characteristics of missionary disciples (10:24–42)
Opposition to the Messiah Emerges (11:1–12:50)
Jesus, John the Baptist, and ministry in Galilee (11:1–30)
Confrontations with the Pharisees (12:1–45)
Jesus' disciples are his true family (12:46–50)
Mysteries of the Messianic Kingdom Revealed in Parables (13:1–53)
(Third Discourse)The opening of the Parabolic Discourse (13:1–23)
Further parables told to the crowds (13:24–35)
Explanations and parables told to the disciples (13:36–53)
The Identity of the Messiah Revealed (13:54–16:20)
Prophet(s) without honor (13:54–14:12)
Compassionate healer and supplier for Israel (14:13–21)
The Son of God worshiped (14:22–36)
Teacher of the Word of God and compassionate healer (15:1–39)
Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God (16:1–20)
The Suffering of the Messiah Revealed (16:21–17:27)
The suffering sacrifice (16:21–28)
The beloved, transfigured Son (17:1–13)
Sons of the kingdom (17:14–27)
The Community of the Messiah Revealed (18:1–20:34)
(Fourth Discourse)Characteristics of life in the kingdom community (18:1–35)
Valuing the kingdom community (19:1–20:34)
The Messiah Asserts His Authority over Jerusalem (21:1–23:39)
The triumphal entry into Jerusalem: Jesus' authority as Messiah (21:1–11)
The temple actions: Jesus' pronouncement on the temple establishment (21:12–17)
Cursing the fig tree: Jesus' judgment of the nation (21:18–22)
Controversies in the temple court over Jesus' authority (21:23–22:46)
Warnings against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (23:1–12)
Woes of judgment against the teachers of the law and the Pharisees (23:13–36)
Lament over Jerusalem (23:37–39)
The Delay, Return, and Judgment of Messiah (24:1–25:46)
(Fifth [Olivet] Discourse)The beginning of birth pains (24:1–14)
“Great tribulation” and the coming of the Son of Man (24:15–31)
The nearness and time of Jesus' coming (24:32–41)
Parabolic exhortations to watch and be prepared for the coming of the Son of Man (24:42–25:30)
Judgment at the end (25:31–46)
The Crucified Messiah (26:1–27:66)
Plot, anointing, and betrayal to the religious leaders (26:1–16)
The Passover and the Lord's Supper (26:17–35)
Gethsemane: Jesus' agonizing prayers (26:36–46)
Jesus arrested (26:47–56)
The Jewish trial of Jesus (26:57–27:10)
The Roman trial of Jesus (27:11–26)
Jesus the Messiah crucified (27:27–44)
The death of Jesus the Messiah (27:45–50)
Testimonies, women followers, and burial (27:51–66)
The Resurrection and Commission of the Messiah (28:1–20)
An empty tomb and the risen Jesus (28:1–10)
The conspiracy to deny the truth of Jesus' resurrection (28:11–15)
The risen Jesus' Great Commission (28:16–20)

The sermon of Charlie Peace

Charlie Peace was a criminal. Laws of God or man curbed him not. Finally the law caught up with him, and he was condemned to death. On the fatal morning in Armley Jail, Leeds, England, he was taken on the death-walk. Before him went the prison chaplain, routinely and sleepily reading some Bible verses. The criminal touched the preacher and asked what he was reading.“The Consolations of Religion,” was the replay.
Charlie Peace was shocked at the way he professionally read about hell. Could a man be so unmoved under the very shadow of the scaffold as to lead a fellow-human there and yet, dry-eyed, read of a pit that has no bottom into which this fellow must fall? Could this preacher believe the words that there is an eternal fire that never consumes its victims, and yet slide over the phrase without a tremor? Is a man human at all who can say with no tears, “You will be eternally dying and yet never know the relief that death brings”?

All this was too much for Charlie Peace. So he preached. Listen to his on-the-eve-of-hell sermon.
“Sir” addressing the preacher, “if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worth while living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”(Ravenhill, Leonard, Why Revival Tarries, Fires of Revival Publishers, Zachary, LA, 1973, p. 19)

Who is that tall, skinny, guy with the great hair?

This is not the best quality in the world, but it is fun to remember. This was in 1986 at Trinity Baptist Church in Lake Charles, La. One of the last Common Good concerts. Also, its good to remember Gary Griffith, one of the best friends I ever had. He stands now in the presence of Christ and the assembly of the first born! Miss you brother!

THE BIBLE AND THE ELECTION

God commands believers to think and act Biblically. Paul tells us in Colossians 3:16 to let the Word of God dwell richly in you, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom through it. This means that God’s word should direct our thoughts and our actions. God’s word is the one true source of wisdom for the believer.
And wisdom is certainly what we need as we approach this election.

So, what does God’s word have to say about the coming election?

I) GOD IS IN CONTROL SO WE HAVE NO NEED TO FEAR – Psalm 24 tells us that the Earth is the Lord’s and all the fullness of the thereof. In Psalm 145 God is called a great king and the Lord of all. This means that He is sovereign. He is in control.

A) GOD IS SOVEREIGN OVER ALL THINGS -
Isaiah 14:24-28 – God’s purposes and plans will come about.
In Isaiah 46:9-10 I am God, and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘my counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.

Too many Christians are approaching this election as if God were up in heaven wringing his hands saying, “Oh my goodness, what am I gonna do now.”

Nor do we believe that God is uninterested in what is happening in our nation today, or any other nation on the planet. We do not believe that God was simply a cosmic watchmaker who created the universe and humanity, wound it up and then sat back to let it run without any input or interest.

We believe and the Bible teaches that God is active in the affairs of men, and that his purposes and plans will be carried out. No one and nothing can frustrate the plans of Almighty God.

Remember Proverbs 21:1 – The King’s heart is like channels of water n the hand of the Lord, He turns it wherever he wishes.
Regardless of who is elected, God’s purposes will be accomplished. No man, no group of men, no demon of hell, nor Satan himself can stop God’s purposes!

B) GOD IS SOVEREIGN EVEN OVER ELECTIONS –
Proverbs 8:15 (ESV)15 By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just;
Daniel and his friends are interpreting King Neb’s dream about the future.
Daniel 2:21 (ESV)21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
God has established government and establishes who governs.
What this means to us is that we should not live in fear of what may occur because of this presidential election.
ILLUS: Internet fear mongering. Dr. James Dobson’s letter from 2012. God is not caught off guard by anything that is occurring in our world today. As believers we can and should live in confidence and hope.

II) CHRISTIANS HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO VOTE -
The fact that God is sovereign does not mean that we should not vote. Listening to the radio the other day I heard a man complain that he didn’t like either candidate and just simply was not going to vote.
I don’t believe that is a viable option for a believer.

In an article in Christianity Today Chuck Colson calls voting our sacred and civic duty. Voting is required of as good citizens and as God’s agents for appointing leaders.

Romans 13 – God established government. God has a God-given purpose of enforcing law and order and punishing evil doers. Christians have a responsibility to be good citizens of the government under which we live.

In the book the City of God Augustine states that believers live in two cities, the city of God and the city of man. While believers live in the city of man they do not belong to it. We are like people living in a foreign country, our true home is in the city of God or heaven.

Augustine taught that if we live in the city of man and enjoy its blessings, we must take on the obligations of citizenship. And instead of doing our duty out of obligation or duty, we do it with joy and devotion to Jesus Christ.

III) JUSTICE IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE ECONOMY -
Remember the slogan – “It the economy stupid!”
Well, “Its about justice stupid”

Moral issues are more important than the recession. They are more important than the crash on wall street.

Proverbs 14:34 (ESV)Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.

It is righteousness that exalts a nation. It is righteousness that brings the favor of God upon a people.

We have to take more than a surface look at candidates. Simply claiming to be a Christian should not be enough.

Martin Luther’s famous statement – I’d rather be ruled over by a competent Muslim, than an incompetent Christian.

Two issues of justice in America today.

A) ABORTION – I refuse to vote for any candidate running for any office that supports abortion. Abortion is the legalized murder of unborn children.

There are 1.37 million abortions per year in the US. That amounts to 3700 a day.

The Bible tells us in Psalm 139 that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. That God has knit us together in the womb. In the book of Luke chapter 1 John the Baptist leaps in his mother’s womb when Mary, pregnant with Jesus comes near.

We have to remember that who ever wins this election, especially if its Barrack Obama, will probably have the opportunity to place 2 or more new supreme court justices on the bench. I will not tell you who to vote for, that is between you and God, but for this reason I will not vote for him.

B) SAME-SEX MARRIAGE – The Bible is clear that marriage is one man and one woman until death do them part.

In California Prop. 8 will if passed make Gay marriage unconstitutional. Whether or not it passes, Gay marriage is an abomination to God.
I do not believe that homosexuality should be outlawed. But it should not be made legitimate. It is a perversion.

C) CARE FOR THE POOR – As Christians it is our responsibility to care for those who are without. In Acts the church in Jerusalem writes to the Gentile that they should not be circumcised and become Jews, but they should care for the poor.

If a candidate appeared on the scene tomorrow who could fix all our economic troubles, erase the national debt, make all Americans financially secure and clean up the environment, I would not vote for him or her if they stood on the wrong side of issues of justice.
The Bible tells us that God is in control, that we as believers must vote. We have found that justice trumps the economy. Now, we find that
IV) ALL BELIEVERS ARE CALLED BY GOD TO SUBMIT TO AND PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS –
Christians have a responsibility to their leaders.
A) SUBMIT TO OUR LEADERS –
Romans 13:1 – Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. We are to respect them and obey the law as long as that law does not break God’s law.
IE – If the law says drive 55 – believers should.
If a law were passed that said I had to marry homosexuals – I would not.

Whoever wins will be your president and should be respected and honored as such. I think many Bible believing Christians blew it on this with Bill Clinton. None of us liked many of his stances, none of us could agree with his immoral actions, but he was president and the Bible called us to respect and honor him as such.

B) PRAY FOR OUR LEADERS – I Timothy 2:1 – First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.

NOTE – Prayers and thanksgivings. Wed morning we should get up and pray for our new president, regardless of who we voted for.
Thanksgivings – that’s right.
Now remember, Paul is writing these words to Christians who are suffering under the rule of pagan Roman emperors. These men were cruel, bloodthirsty and godless. They harshly persecuted believers. Yet, Paul instructed them to pray for them and thank God for them.
It goes back to God’s sovereignty. We should thank God for this great nation, for the privileges we enjoy and the man God has placed as our new president!

V) FINALLY, THE GOSPEL IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN THIS ELECTION.

With all the TV coverage and press that this election has received, you would think this is the most important issue in the world. Now, it is important. I would not preach this message if it were not.
It is not the main thing.

NO PRESIDENT AND NO GOVERNMENT CAN SAVE YOU!

Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to turn this nation around.
Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Government can change a person’s heart. Government cannot provide an answer to mankind’s greatest problem, Sin.
Only through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior can anyone’s sin be forgiven. There is only one name by which anyone can be saved. That name is the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ created this universe with all its wonder and glory. He came to earth as a man, born in a stable. He lived a sinless life. Performed miracles that proved he was the Son of God. He was crucified, buried and rose again on the third day. He sits at the right hand of the Father today. And one day he will judge all of humanity. Only those whose names are in His book of life will enter into heaven and live eternally. All others will spend eternity in a devil’s Hell.

The main thing is to lead people to faith in Christ. What will do in faith visitation this afternoon is far more important than Tuesday’s election. The witness you share at school, at the university, at work, or even at home is far more significant than the vote you will cast this week.

That is why we have hope.
Remember Augustine’s city of man and city of God. The city of man, this earth, this life, this country, this world system we live in is passing away. There is coming a day when it will cease too exist. The city of God is eternal. When the election of 2008 is a memory a million years old, God’s saints will still live and rejoice with the heavenly father.

The most important thing is live a holy life, pray and share you faith with those around you.

CONCLUSION:
What does the Bible say about this election?
God is in Control – don’t fear it!
Vote – that is our sacred duty as believers.
Remember that justice outweighs the economy.
All believers are commanded by God to submit and pray for our next president.
And finally, the Gospel is more important than any earthly election could ever be.
.

A TALE OF TWO OFFICES

Written by Albert Mohler

Sally Quinn wonders how Christian evangelicals -- and Southern Baptists in particular -- can affirm a woman as President or Vice President of the United States and yet believe that women should not serve as pastors of churches. "Is it hypocritical to think that a woman can lead a nation and not a congregation?," Sally and Jon Meacham ask.No, it is not hypocritical -- it is simply the application of biblical truth to different spheres of life and meaning.Sally Quinn's two essays on Gov. Sarah Palin raise fascinating issues, and reveal a basic lack of sympathetic understanding when it comes to conservative Christians.

In her first post, she wrote:Southern Baptist leaders like Richard Land and Al Mohler have praised McCain's choice. But these are the same men who support this statement from the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message: "A wife is to submit herself graciously to the servant leadership of her husband even as the church willingly submits to the headship of Christ. She, being in the image of God as is her husband and thus equal to him, has the God-given responsibility to respect her husband and to serve as his helper in managing the household and nurturing the next generation."Indeed, I do support that statement, drawn from our denomination's confession of faith. I stand by it without hesitation or mental reservation. It is drawn from the Bible, and explains the Bible's teaching that men and women are equally created in the image of God, but are assigned different but complementary roles in the home. In a separate article of the Baptist Faith & Message, we affirm what the Bible teaches about the different roles for men and women in the church -- and the fact that qualified men are to be called as pastors. The New Testament contains clear prohibitions of women in that role. This conviction was not invented by Southern Baptists. It was, and now remains, the honest conviction held by most Christians around the world, and for good reason.Our confession of faith does not speak to the appropriateness of women serving in political office. It does speak to the priority of motherhood and responsibilities in the home, but it does not specify any public role that is closed to women. The reason for this is simple -- the New Testament does not speak to this question in any direct sense.The distinction is perfectly clear. Where the New Testament speaks, we are bound. Where it does not speak, believers are not bound. The structure of our confession of faith simply reflects this principle.Portraits of Elizabeth I of England and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher hang in my personal library, along with other portraits. I see no biblical injunction against their leadership in these roles.Is that all there is to this issue? No. Feminists are bewildered and frustrated by the fact that the vast majority of women find their greatest joy and fulfillment in the roles of wife and mother. Most women do not want to be Vice President of the United States, nor to make the sacrifices necessary in order to succeed in the public arena.This is not a question of intelligence, ability, toughness, or talent. I would love to see Margaret Thatcher at the top of her game take on any public figure. Just ask the leaders of the Labour Party in her day -- or the Argentinian generals who invaded the Falkland Islands during her tenure.This is a question of calling. I believe that God has placed in the hearts of most women a deep desire for the fulfillment of marriage and the raising of children as life priority. Furthermore, I believe that women are given unique abilities and gifts for these callings -- affirmed by common grace and common sense.When Gov. Palin was announced as Sen. John McCain's choice as running mate I was elated about her pro-life commitments and political philosophy, and I remain so. I also told The Wall Street Journal that, if I were her pastor, I would be concerned about how she could balance these responsibilities and what this would mean for her family and her roles as wife and mother. The news that broke over the weekend would make me only more concerned. But my concern would be for her and for her family -- not for the nation.I am doing my best to be honest -- and not hypocritical -- about how I see this new situation. I could not imagine this in my own family, nor, I am confident, could the vast majority of those conservative Christians who are celebrating the nomination of Gov. Palin as Vice President. I have full confidence that my wife Mary can lead and run anything, from General Motors to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Nevertheless, I also know that I, along with our children, would find our worlds turned upside down. Beyond this, I believe that she would be less happy, less fulfilled, and less strategically deployed. She runs a program that influences the lives of hundreds of women and serves on the board of directors of our local crisis pregnancy center, but her most significant impact will be on the lives of two children who cannot imagine life without her -- and without her active engagement and motherly love.

In her second posting, Sally Quinn raises the stakes:I would like to hear what women think of her priorities. Do they believe that her first priority is as a mother or as a governor? Will her first priority be as a mother or as a Vice President or a President? One in three Vice Presidents become President. John McCain is a 72-year-old cancer survivor. As Vice President, Palin could ascend to the highest office in the land at any moment. Do women believe she should relegate her job to second place or her children to second place? Does she have to make such a choice? Every woman, and particularly every woman who works, including me, understands that the conflicts and the guilt are always there in a way that they are not for men.Further:Well, I can understand an evangelical Christian asking that question. But how does a feminist ask that question with a straight face? Isn't this precisely the kind of question feminists have long insisted were completely out of bounds?It would be hypocritical of me to suggest that I am not troubled by these questions. It would be hypocritical of me to suggest that I would be perfectly happy to have Christian young women believe that being Vice President of the United States is more important than being a wife and mother.Yet, I am encouraged by Gov. Palin's nomination. I believe that she brings something unique, admirable, and urgently needed to this presidential race. The question of my vote in this election is clear to me. The meaning of all this for the Palin family is less clear. In one sense, I think it might be very helpful for the American people to see a real family struggling with these real issues. I do not fear that this will lead millions of evangelical women to leave the home in order to run for national office.At the end of her article, Sally Quinn concludes: Women can be presidents but not pastors? I don't understand. I would like somebody to explain this to me.Well, I have given this my best shot within the limits of this article. The Bible states that women are not to hold the office of teaching authority in the church, and sets forth a portrait of different but complementary roles for men and women in the home and in the church.Can we see implications of these principles to the larger culture? Yes, but not in the same sense as is ordered by Scripture in the arenas of the home and the church. We do not find this question directly addressed in the Bible. This is why biblical complementarians can affirm that a woman can be President but not a pastor. This is not about equal employment opportunities, but about the command of God to his church."Is it hypocritical to think that a woman can lead a nation and not a congregation?" No.

THE JUDAS SPIRIT

Mark 14:10-11; 43-51

Many names go down in infamy, Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, Jim Jones, to name just a few. But no name is so despised or despicable as the name of Judas Iscariot, who betrayed our Lord Jesus Christ. Mother’s don’t name their baby boys Judas. I’ve heard of Thomas, Peter, James, and Matthew; but not Judas. Johnny Cash sang about a boy named Sue, but no one even jokes of naming their sons Judas.

In the west of England, the people took the old custom of driving out winter and gave it a new meaning. A jack-o-lantern figure was dragged through the streets on Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It was then shot to pieces. They called the figure Judas.

In Spain, Portugal, and Latin America, life-sized figures of wood or straw are beaten, kicked, cursed, spat upon, and finally destroyed on Good Friday. It is called punishing Judas.

In Liverpool, England, on Good Friday morning children carry a straw-stuffed effigy of Judas from house to house demanding money. They cry, "Judas is short a penny for his breakfast." Later the figure is burned in a bonfire.

Judas’ story is a warning to us all. A reminder that we can be close to the Lord, we can be conversant with spiritual concerns, we can walk with the Lord’s people, yet in our hearts never really love Jesus or have eternal life.

The heart of a betrayer is a dangerous and destructive thing.

That is why from time to time we need to study the life of Judas. He is a warning to us all.

I) THE IDENTITY OF JUDAS-Vs. 43

Who was Judas?

He must have had a good beginning. I imagine that 2000 years ago his mother’s heart was full of hopes and dreams for her little boy. After all, she named him Judas – which means “praise.” She hoped his life would bring praise to God. And at first it seemed certain that he would do just that.

A) HE WAS AN APOSTLE -.

1) Chosen by Jesus-Mark 3:13

2) Traveled with Jesus for 3 years-

3) Heard Jesus teachings, observed his miracles. His Bible education was the best, his seminary training unequaled!

B) HE WAS A PREACHER - Sent out to preach the Good News of the Kingdom-Luke 9:1-10

No doubt People called him, Brother Judas. He ministered, he worked, and served.

C) C) HE WAS TRUSTED-He had the money box. You chose someone to keep up with the money that you can count on, you chose the best and the brightest. He obviously had the trust of the other 11 disciples.

None of the other disciples seemed to suspect a thing before this moment. This tells me that Judas had an impeccable reputation among the disciples. No one saw it coming. When Jesus first tells them that one of them will betray Him, not one of them turns to Judas and points his finger, saying – it’s probably him, I never trusted him in the first place.

He appeared outwardly to be a believer. To be sold out to Jesus Christ. If anyone had been questioned they would most likely have believed Judas to a devoted and committed disciple of Jesus Christ.

D) HE WAS A SPIRITUAL IMPOSTOR- He wasn’t what he appeared to be.

He was a church member, yet he died and went to Hell. Jesus said, Have I not chosen you and yet one of you is a devil.

MARKS OF A SPIRITUAL IMPOSTOR-

These are symptoms we find in Judas

1) HE RELIES UPON AFFILIATION- “He was one of the twelve”. Judas never received Jesus as His Lord and Savior. He does not confess his sins, repent and follow Christ. He is simply affiliated with Christ.

True Salvation is not a matter of appearance or affiliation. ILLUS: Listening to PBS – All things considered. The subject was a book called “Blind faith: The unholy alliance of religion and medicine..” The writer made this statement in the interview. He was talking about how difficult it was to judge how much of an impact going to church had on a person’s health. One reason he gave was that there are so many different reasons people go to church. He closed by saying: Sitting in Church doesn’t make a person a Christian anymore than sitting in a garage makes one a car! Sloan is anything but a Christian, but he understands something about following Christ that many who come to Church every Sunday don’t. Affiliation never saved anyone from Hell.

2) HE IS UNMOVED BY THE THINGS OF GOD –

He was a like a bottle sealed and tossed out to sea, surrounded by an ocean of water, yet on the inside dry and empty.

He traveled with Jesus, heard his sermons, saw his miracles. He was surrounded by the things of God, yet none of it seemed to have had any effect on him.

He was like the people of Ezekiel’s day. Ezekiel 33:31-32 (NASB95)
³¹ “They come to you as people come, and sit before you as My people and hear your words, but they do not do them, for they do the lustful desires expressed by their mouth, and their heart goes after their gain. ³² “Behold, you are to them like a sensual song by one who has a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument; for they hear your words but they do not practice them. ^[1]

He was like Herod. In Mark 6 the Bible tells us that after Herod imprisoned John the Baptist that he would often go down to the dungeons to hear the man preach. He loved a fiery preacher, but had no interest in applying what he heard.

He was like so many today surrounded by the music, the message, the ministry of the Spirit, yet unmoved by the things of God.

3) HE IS UNCOMFORTABLE WITH TRUE DEVOTION-John 12:6 He cannot understand it. He sees it as abnormal. Let Revival come to a Church and the Judas’ in the fellowship hate it. Let a young man or a group of men get radically saved and on fire for Jesus and the unsaved membership will do their best to dampen their devotion and put out their fire. Why?

1) It Convicts-

2) It Confronts-

There are many people, members of our church, who are spiritual Judases. They have never been born again, and there are thousands, perhaps millions in that same condition. They are going to Hell surrounded by baptismal certificates, receipts for church offerings, Sunday School attendance pins and all the rest of it. They have never been saved.

One preacher stated that the saddest road to hell begins in a church pew and travels right past the pulpit and the preaching of God’s Word.

A true Christian has the spirit of Christ dwelling within him. He is not perfect, but there is a difference between them and the world. Jesus said “you will know them by their fruit”.

II) THE BETRAYAL OF JESUS-10-11, 43-45

To betray someone is to hand them over with evil intent to the power and authority of others. To sell them out. Immediately after Jesus rebukes Judas in vs. 1-8, vs. 9 states “Then Judas Iscariot”. This incident motivated Judas to make the biggest mistake in his life.

A) HIS BETRAYAL WAS PREDICTED-

1) BY SCRIPTURE- Psalm 55:12-13; 21 These verses predict that one of the inner circle of Jesus’ associates would betray Him. Judas could have seen himself in the scriptures.

God is not caught by surprise when there are Judas’ in the church. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said that at the Day of Judgment there would be many who will cry out Lord, Lord did we not prophesy in your name and cast out demons in your name and work wonders in your name? And he will say, I never knew you, depart me you workers of iniquity!

2) BY THE SAVIOR-14:17-21 When Jesus reveals this, each of the disciples ask “Is it I? Why? Because I believe that each of them understood that the possibility of betraying him is the heart of every one of us.

B) HIS BETRAYAL WAS SATANICLLY ORCHESTRATED- Luke 22:3 Satan entered him, possessed him. This is proof He was never saved. Satan cannot enter the heart of a child of God. Why? The heart of a Saint is God’s Kingdom. Satan can never enter it! Because he had never given his heart to Christ, he was without protection against the evil one. Unsaved people in the Church today are Satan’s best tools. They stir up trouble, cause fights and betray Christ and His Church.

C) HIS BETRAYAL WAS PREMEDITATED- Vs.11-He sought how he might conveniently betray him. He began to seek out a way to get rid of him. “In Luke’s gospel it says that he communed with them about a price; the word really means that they bargained over it. Finally, they agreed that he would receive thirty pieces of silver to betray the trouble maker from the North Country.” Vines. Thirty pieces of silver-the price of a slave.

Thirty pieces of silver. Some people today betray Jesus for a lot less. They betray the Lord for popularity, for pleasure, for position, for power, and yes for profit.

Why Did Judas do it? I think it was about a lot more than money. It seems he has a pretty good racket going on here. Over time he could probably skim off a lot more than 30 pieces of silver. I think that Judas was disappointed. Jesus was just not who he thought he was going to be. He thought that Jesus was going to set up a great kingdom and make Judas one of his rulers.

I think there are people who betray Jesus today for the same reason. They come to Christ thinking that He is going to solve all their problems, fix their marriage, keep their children from rebelling, or God help them, make them rich and comfortable. Then when trouble and hardship come they jump ship.

They did not get it that Christ came not to give us a comfortable, problem free life, but to save us from our sins. He came because each one of us are rotten sinners, bound for Hell for eternity, and we deserve every minute of it. He came to forgive us, to love us, to give us an abundant life, but not a problem free, fat-cat Christianity. He came so that we might have joy and peace here on earth and then everything in eternity.

D) HIS BETRAYAL WAS A MOCKERY-vs. 44-45

A kiss was a sign of homage in Middle East culture. A hug and a kiss on each cheek were reserved for close friends and associates.

Rabbi, Rabbi! Master-Master. The falseness of it all is sickening.

Kissing is an active verb, which implies that intensely and repeatedly kissed Jesus. All the while plunging the dagger of betrayal into the back of the Lord Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION-Your hypocrisy mocks Jesus. You kiss his cheek on Sunday and call him ‘Master, Master’-Yet on Monday you live such a careless and sinful life that others are turned away from Jesus because of you.

Some of you here may have said, I’ll never become a Christian, I’ll never go that Church, I’ll never be a member there; I know a lot of those folks and they are all a bunch of hypocrites. You know what – you are not consistent friend. Some doctors are quacks, but when you get sick you go to a doctor. Some lawyers are shysters, but when you need legal advice you call a lawyer. Some money is counterfeit, but you haven’t burned the rest of yours, have you?

Don’t let some hypocrite you from Jesus this morning.

“I had rather spend a few years with some of the hypocrites in the church than spend an eternity with them in hell.” Adrain Rodgers

III) THE DESTRUCTION OF JUDAS- We read no more about Judas in Mark. Matthew and Acts tell us of his end.

A) EMOTIONAL DESTRUCTION- Judas was remorseful.

He brought back the silver pieces. Imagine this scene. However, his remorse was not repentance. No godly sorrow. No time of confession, and weeping before God. He simply felt bad because Jesus had been condemned. Perhaps he had not believed that Jesus would actually be put to death. But no repentance, only guilt.

1) Could Judas have repented? Yes. Without a doubt. Jesus offered him every opportunity to turn aside from his actions and seek forgiveness. He could even have found forgiveness after his action. No sin-not even betraying the Lord Jesus Christ is unforgivable. Apply: Peter – Peter was forgiven and became the great preacher to the Jews.

2) Some of you understand what emotional destruction is all about. You know what Judas felt as he labored under an intense load of guilt and shame. Your sin is different for sure, but the end results are not. Why not find forgiveness today? Why not bring you troubles and cares to the Lord’s altar and leave them there?

B) PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION- “He hanged himself”. He took a rope, threw it around his neck, and hanged himself rather than live with the guilt and shame of his actions. The Bible describes the horror of his end. He hung himself, then his rotting body fell upon a field, the field of blood, where it burst open. Why tell such grisly details? Because sin is incredibly destructive. Sin brings death and separation from God. Sin carries with it guilt. Guilt may bring depression, withdrawal, even suicide.

C) ETERNAL DESTRUCTION - Judas swung out into eternity. He swung into Hell. There is in the pits of flame, reserved for those who refused the grace of God, Judas suffers today. Every teaching he heard from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Christ will ring in his ears for all eternity. Every miracle he saw, every sermon he himself preached, all torture his immortal spirit and will do so for all of eternity. Can you imagine the regret? Can you imagine the sorrow, that Judas must feel. Knowing he betrayed the only one who could have saved him from this torment. He must cry out in his Spirit, “If only I had….if only I had….if only I had.

It is too late for Judas. It is not too late for you and I.

1 John 1:9

9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

---

Delighting in Dogma

The word dogma has gotten a bad rap over the last few years. It has come to mean something that is cold, dead and dull. Dogmatic has come to mean someone who will not change or accept others or in some cases to describe someone who is unreasonable in their beliefs. This is unfortunate. Dogma simply means religious beliefs. Basically, it means the same thing as doctrine or teaching. Christian dogma or doctrine is nothing more than the beliefs that make up the Christian faith. Christianity is a doctrinal or a dogmatic faith.

This means that simply claiming to be Christian does not make one a Christian. Feeling like one is a Christian is not enough. Dogma is the objective truth that defines what a Christian is. Simply using Christian terminology does not make one a Christian. If Dogma defines Christianity, than where do we get it from? What is the source of doctrine or belief for the Christian? Certainly not my feelings or personal impression of how I think things are. The Bible tells us that the heart is wicked and will decieve us.

All dogma (Christian dogma) has Scripture for it's source. Not one of its sources, not even the primary source, but THE source. For instance, many people claim to believe in Jesus Christ. For some He is a great prophet who taught timeless life lessons concerning this great spiritual journey of life. Others claim that he was the greatest of all God's creations. Some even claim that he is one of many, many gods who populate the cosmos. Recently I read an article that claimed that Christ is within each of us. He is love and love is eternal. The problem is that none of these views of Christ are Christian.

The Bible paints an awe inspiring picture of Christ. He is eternal, without beginning or end. He is the second person of the Trinity. He has always existed in perfect fellowship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He died on the cross for our sins. He arose from the dead and now sits at the right hand of the Father. He rules and reigns over the universe and will one day set all of his enemies under his feet and we will reign with Him. To present Christ as anything less than the everlasting God is to present a false Christ. To claim that he is one of many gods is idolatry. Dogma guards the purity of the Christian faith.

Here is another example. I read an article recently that claimed that God the Father exists in a flesh and blood body. When I read this, I have to admit I laughed out loud. John 4 is pretty clear. "God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship him in Spirit and truth." To claim that the Father is confined by a flesh and blood body is contrary to Scripture and unchristian.

As believers Dogma must be our delight. it is life and health. Read what Dorothy Sayers writes.
"We are constantly assured that the churches are empty because preachers insist on too much upon doctrine - dull dogma they call it. It is the neglect of dogma that makes for dullness. The Christian faith is the most exciting drama that staggered the imagination of man - and the dogma is the drama.

A Sustaining Faith

Most of us in ministry fight with bouts of discouragement and depression now and again. Ministry never has been and never will be easy. Yet, in the midst of the worst that life can throw our way, there is always a deep reservoir of hope and life. When I am tempted to throw in the towel, men like Adoniram Judson encourage me, and put steel in my backbone. Here is an excerpt from a sermon I preached last year. Actually, this is about his first wife, Anne. It was a blessing to me. I hope it will be to you also.

Adoniram Judson was a missionary who served in Burma. He was arrested and falsely accused of being an enemy agent. Imprisoned in a tiny cell, hew was forced to stand so others could lie down and sleep. The heat was unbearable; no one was allowed to bathe, so the stench was unreal. One day the officials decided to hoist Judson into the air by his thumbs- pain filled every fiber of his body. When he returned to his cell, his precious wife, Anne would creep into after dark and whisper to him, “Hang on, Adoniram, God will give us the victory. Week after week, Anne would come by every night to encourage him with the same words. “Hang on, Adoniram, God will give us the victory.” One night she didn’t come, then another and another, weeks passed and Adoniram’s loneliness was unbearable. No one told him she was dying.

Months later, he was released. A man so broken it was a miracle he could walk. He began to search for his beloved wife. He went to the place where they used to live. He saw a child sitting in the dirt, a little girl so covered with filth that he failed to recognize her as his own daughter. As he staggered into the tent, he saw Anne. She was only a bundle of bones and rags on a cot, so weak and frail she looked like a skeleton. Her beautiful hair had fallen out and her bright blue eyes stared blankly out at nothing. Hugging his daughter to his chest, he knelt down and wept, “Anne, Anne, O my darling Anne.” His hot tears fell on her face and slowly her eyes began to move with recognition. She struggled to speak and her last words were, “Hang on, Adoniram, God will give us the victory.”

He lost his sweetheart, but not his faith, his loved one, but not his courage. He began to preach again, and when he died he left behind scores of churches and hundreds of Christian converts. In the midst of the worse life could throw his way, he never lost his faith, Anne never lost sight of the fact that God is the King! He is in control. He will be victorious. O Worship the King!

This next post was stolen, plagerized and outright copied from FIDE-O:

Disclaimer: The opinions stated in this article represent the views of this blog well enough that we felt justified in stealing this material!

Local Southern Baptists cool the fire and brimstone
Posted by Jason E. Robertson

The following was published on the front page of Press Enterprise newspaper in Riverside County, California.Local Southern Baptists cool the fire and brimstone. It was written by David Olson who can be reached at at 951-368-9462 or dolson@PE.comLet me give my thoughts about this article. The article begins with a "hook":

The Rev. Matt Brown surfs, has long blond hair and has used curse words in sermons to make a point. Some members of his Sandals Church come to worship services with full-arm tattoos, nose-piercings and punk-rock T-shirts.

May I ask: "Long blond hair" and "curse words", is that what is the secret to church growth now? Rich Warren believes that we cannot grow our churches through preaching and praying, so is this what replaces exposition and intercession?

The article continues
Brown is part of a new wave of Southern Baptists who are redefining what it means to be a part of America's largest Protestant denomination... Brown and other Southern Baptist ministers follow the denomination's conservative theology, which views the Bible as the literal word of God... Yet pastors like Brown freely admit their faults, including sexual temptations. "We're reaching people who were just not being reached," said Brown, 36, whose services attract about 2,600 worshippers a week, most in their 20s and 30s. "We're biblically conservative, but we're not culturally conservative."

This "new wave" that is "redefining" Southern Baptist are writing a definition that does not define me. I have no desire to be defined as the pierced-tattooed-cursing-punk who uses a soft tone when talking about sin so that I may not offend anyone. You know what, I actually like hanging around a few real rockers. You know why? Because they are not some soft spoken mamby-pambsy sissy boys who like to get tats and piercings so they can look cool or hip or metro. They actually are men who talk with conviction and call it like they see it. And they don't give a rip who gets offended. They don't park their Harley in their 3 car garage next to their mini-van and tennis rackets. And when they have come to faith in Christ is was not because some backstreet-boy-wanna-be with a cross tattooed on his left shoulder, long blond locks and designer sandals shared about the time he nearly committed adultery on his wife saying, "Dude, I was like, this sucks."Come on. This stuff is a mockery of all that defines real biblical ministry.

The article continues:
Jonathan Walton, an assistant professor of religious studies at UC Riverside, said evangelical churches, such as the Southern Baptist, are more likely to be open to downplaying their denominational ties than mainline Protestant denominations. They tend to be less bound to tradition and more focused on bringing new people into the church, he said. "What's going to work in the Mississippi delta or rural Alabama is not going to work in Southern California, and the denominational leaders are aware of that," Walton said. That includes the message of sermons, he said. In much of the South, it is taboo to bring up topics such as adultery, Internet pornography and drug addiction in church -- and if the subjects are discussed, it is typically in a harsh, judgmental manner, Walton said.In California, many people are turned off by such a tone, he said.

Really? They love that tone from comedians. They love that tone from radio jocks. They love that tone as long as that tone is not directed at them and their sinfulness. With sadness and disgust, I have noticed that one hand these "new wave" pastors are getting tattoos and trying to look tough and on the other hand they are too scared to confront sin with some courage and tenacity. They are more like puppets not prophets. They are dressed up by their wives and dangled by the culture. BTW, I am glad Walton didn't mention Louisiana or I might have to open a can on him.Maybe help is on the way.

The PE article says:
More than 90 percent of Southern Baptists are white but that is changing. Black membership has more than doubled in the past decade, and Latino and Asian-American membership also rose sharply...Yes, maybe help is on the way: maybe the Black, Latino, and Asian-American pastors will not capitulate to the demands of culture these days.

Mike McKinley asks a relevant question over at 9Marks: "How much of a pastor’s desire to be perceived as cool or connected to the culture is motivated by vanity or pride?

Knowing the depth of our depravity and self-deception and pride, we must examine ourselves. In fact, I fear (and here I am speaking from what I see in my own heart) that oftentimes we are at least partially motivated to reach people by pride. How much of our desire to be cool is a desire to reach people, not only for the gospel, but also for our own glory? Here’s a diagnostic question for everyone who is a pastor: if the Lord called you to shepherd sixty uncool saints until they were safely home, with no spectacular revival or ministry explosion, would you consider that beneath you? Would it seem unworthy of your gifts and a waste of your life? If so, you are being motivated by pride."We must remember that preaching the Cross is foolishness to this culture no matter how long your hair is. The gospel is a stumbling block to this poorly-educated, over-stimulated generation. And the cross does not call us to conform to the world, to be hip, or to be accepted. Thus trying to be like the culture can often cause people to misunderstand what the gospel is all about.I say, be yourself. Don't try to be Rick Warren or Ryan Seacrest or Billie Joe Armstrong. Stop trying to impress unbelievers. It may grow for you a crowd of attenders of which to be proud and get your name in the paper, but it is not growing a counter-culture kingdom that gives God glory by living the Sermon on the Mount. Besides, such futile efforts in the past have given us the agony of some really really bad contemporary Christian music and a slew of feminized preachers and endless church chaos.David Wells says in his book God in the Wasteland: "By this late date, evangelicals should be hungering for a genuine revival of the church, aching to see it once again become a place of seriousness where a vivid otherworldliness is cultivated because the world is understood in deeper and truer ways, where worship is stripped of everything extraneous, where God's Word is heard afresh, where the desolate and broken can find sanctuary."Yeah, who's brave enough to build some churches that are otherworldly!

The Sin of Polygamy

On Wed. nights I am preaching through the life of David. I ran across an interesting quote about him and his family. The context is Absalom's rebellion. Alexander Whyte describes David's home and his polygamy in this way.

"Polygamy is just Greek for a dunghill. David trampled down the first and the best law of nature in his palace in Jerusalem, and for his trouble he spent all his after-days in a hell upon earth. David's palace was a perfect pandemonium of suspicion, and intrigue, and jealousy, and hatred--all breaking out, now into incest, and now into murder. And it was into such a household, if such a cesspool could be called a household, that Absalom, David's third son by his third living wife, was born and brought up. . .

A little ring of jealous and scheming parasites, all hateful and hating one another, collected round each one of David's wives. And it was in one of the worst of those wicked little rings that Absalom grew up and got his education."

Pretty insightful look into a polygamous household. If you don't buy it just study the life of Jacob and his wives and you'll see another cesspool of lies and intrigue. And while your at it, don't forget what happened to Abraham when Sarah came up with her hair-brained idea with Hagar. If that is not enough, just study Solomon and how his wives turned his heart away from God.

Polygamy was never God's intent and always leads to trouble. The FLDS's major problem is that they reject the teaching of the Bible for the false revelation of a false prophets, beginning with Joe smith and Brigham Young ending with Warren Jeffs.

Graduation 2008

Juliana's Graduation was this Friday night. It was a great night for her and for our family. To say I am proud of her is an understatement. She will be attending Louisiana College next fall to study music like her old dad. Well, to be honest, she's a lot better musician than I ever was! It will be exciting just how God uses her to advance His kingdom, Way to go Juliana!

A Wonderful Life

Mother's Day thanksgiving

I have the priviledge of knowing two of the greatest moms on the planet. That is unusual in our day and age. My mom and my wife have shaped my life. My mom raised me, and with my dad instilled faith in my life from a young age. I am indepted to her and my dad, and by the grace of God they are largely responsible for who I am today. Thanks mom. You are the greatest.

I am also married to the most beautiful and gracious woman on the planet. Her love for me is far beyound anything I could have ever deserved or imagined. If I had my life to live over a thousand times I would live them all with Gina. She is everything I am not. She is kind, gracious, deeply committed to Christ, and without a doubt the most patient and organized Mom I ever known. Without her I could never be successful as a pastor, a father or a disciple of Christ. Thank you Gina. You are the love of my life!

Here a few pictures of the wonderful family that God has given Gina and I. Juliana is 17, Daniel is 15 (and 6'7 and 274 pounds!), Samuel is 13 (and 6'4!) Micah is 11, Hope is 8, Seth is 5, Leah Carried is 4, Steven is 2, and Silas is 7 weeks old! I am a blessed man and my quiver runneth over.