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My guess is that most of you have heard about the story about Miss California's stand for marriage. As well, you probably know about Perez Hilton's comment stating that she lost the pageant because of her views. The idea that comes out of popular culture is that you are out of touch with reality if you hold on to these values. At the same time, they (the culture makers)must not believe in their own values too much either? Recently, I read a statistic that reported that there are more dogs per household in Seattle, Washington than there are children. In other words, many couples are choosing not to have children at all. I started to ask myself why is this?
Why is it that people don't want to have children in a world
I deduced the possibility for one of two reasons. Do not hear me say that these are the only factors, there are no doubt other factors that play out the childbearing debate. First, young couples are just too selfish. That's right, I said it! We are so caught up in our vocations and education and the limited recreation time that is afforded from them, that my generation and younger are choosing not to have children. The popular culture says that family life can be delayed or can even be foregone. This is a sad truth because all to often I see this trend happening in the church. The bible calls us, if possible, to multiply and fill the earth. This is not just a physical command, it is spiritual command. To multiply and fill the earth is a command to spread the fame of our great God! In fifty years, Islam will be the dominate cultural force. Why? Because the current cultural elite have developed a self centered attitude and convinced their generations that children don't matter that much. Muslims are the only people have children...and they are having alot of them! The same will happen in America is evangelicals don't just say they believe in family values rather live it out.

There is positive side to this though and it coincides with my second thought on the childlessness of our culture. I asked a friend who was unbeliever about why he and his wife didn't want kids. His answer was interesting. They are scared! They are scared of the world they will leave their children. WOW! In other words, the evolved world in which we are so confident is becoming a better place is not actually becoming a better place. Since the Enlightenment, a period at which man was sure of his ability to bring about world transformation and rid himself of pain and evil, more people have died as a result of war, famine, and disease. If you believe that your values are producing a better future, then populate it!

So why am I encouraged. It is because even though many evangelical couples have been dooped by the popular culture, evangelicals as a whole are still have larger families. Its only a matter of time when a tipping point will occur and move culture back in the other direction.

What is the moral of this story? Christians need to get their heads out of the sand. We need to see the cultural landscape and take courage. We need to have more children and stop worrying about the American dream. We need to see the call of parenting to be a call for the Gospel. It is a mission trip...for eighteen years! Raising children is more than getting them through high school and getting the right opportunities in front of them so they can succeed in life. No, the PRIMARY call of a parent to raise children of Godly distinction. Love God and Love People for the glory of God! Chew on that.

Grace and Peace.

It is amazing to me how much of Christianity's identity has been skewed from its spiritual agenda and been focused on a lesser political or social agenda. I read a great article in Newsweek regarding the decline of Christianity in America (www.newsweek.com/id/192583 ). No matter how you slice it up, this is a regrettable situation we find ourselves in as evangelicals. Nonetheless, every Christian should be quick to listen to much of the article's points regarding Christianity's place with in our American culture. While not agreeing with every point mentioned in the article, I do believe their is much insight for evangelicals today as we continue to fight the good fight!

With the political shift that has taken place in the past six months, you would think that election was the cause of the decline is Christianity in America. Might I suggest another more logical reason. Jesus always had a suspicion of the governing authority. They had the ability to corrupt even the most naive of associates, but in the past thirty years, evangelicals have put almost their entire stock into the political system that now seems to have chewed us up and spit us out. What a surprise! Maybe one party, (not to name one) used us in some way to aid their political aspirations? Sure, there have been some strides in our "Christian" interests in Washington, but largely our "agenda" has been left untouched. Does this mean that Christians individuals should not participate and vote their values? By no means, that is beauty of our political machine, but beware when we associate divine authority with one political party or another! Power has the uncanny ability to corrupt!

But there is a larger problem I want to put my finger on. It has to do with our goals. Certainly, we want to see our culture maintain moral stability, but is the political system the way to do it? Which came first, the chicken or the egg? In other words, maybe we have gotten it backwards. Legislating morality for a society does not have a lasting effect, evidenced in the rescinding of the Stem Cell research ban. Maybe the church needs a new cause...or maybe reclaim a very old cause. Biblically, mankind is on a path to complete corruption. Though this corruption is presently realized in each individual heart, it is further realized in time through the cultural values as it is lived out in individuals. In other words, changing peoples morality is a band aid. It is a quick fix, rather a temporary fix. The church is charged with displaying the glory and majesty of God and bringing people back into their original creative focus. Only reckoning people to Jesus Christ who will change their hearts will in turn change a people's behavior. Even then it takes time. The problem in our country is not a behavoral problem, it is a heart problem and it is as old as the world.

The church needs a new cause...A Gospel cause. We need to raise up parishioners who will be missionaries for the this great cause. As we change the heart of people with the Gospel, we will change the behavior of the people thus change the values of the people. So why are we putting so much stock into politics? Maybe the politcal shift will allow (or free up) Christians to be the church rather than just "do" church. Who needs it anyway, we have a better plan. Read your Bible!

I have had the privilege to minister to some families who are going to through some trials. As I result, I want to give a shout out to my peeps Kenny and Debbie. As I was reflecting on the past week, some questions came to mind. When bad things happen, is it a sign that God has left the building? In other words, does God release us to the spiritual forces of this world to have their way with us? I think it depends on what you know about God and his unchanging character.

First, those whom God has set his saving gaze upon are His no matter what happens in our lives. Even when we stray from time to time, we rest in the fact that God sustains those whom He loves. This does not mean that we can "get saved" and live like hell the rest of our life. That is just foolish theology and it lacks biblical warrant. Paul dealt with this in Romans when he asks "shall we go on sinning so that grace may abound? By no means!" If we are truly His, that is, if we have truly tasted of the sweetness that is in Jesus Christ and now see Him for all his supreme worth, then He will lead us and steer us back onto His ultimate plan for our lives and we will see the fruit that accompanies righteousness. On the other hand, if salvation is just a "free ticket" to heaven and a "get out of jail free" card from hell, then we have grossly missed the point of salvation which is "WORSHIP!"

But does that answer our original question? No. At times, genuine believers stray but we are assured the presence of God is sustained by His disciplining of us. If we see no mark of God's discipline in our lives (which all red blooded believers should), then it is likely that God is not working at all. Take the "Christian" or "church" that teeders along from year to year and never sees any problems or challenges but rather just exists. Is the lack of trials an indication that God is blessing those people? By no means, it may prove to be just the opposite. Maybe God has left them to their own vices!

Yes, God sometimes chastises those whom He loves so as to show us HIS true plan, not what we planned for our life! So when the unexpected comes and God still accepts the challenge to deal with His hardheaded people, oh what blessings there are to come! This does not mean that every time something bad happens, we should see it as God's hand coming down on us. In fact, in the story of Job, we see just the opposite. What I find interesting is what the "friends" of Job perspective was during his trials? In their cock-sure "humility" they thought "surely Job had some sin in his life that is causing such calamity!" God blows this perspective out of water. In the New Testament, Jesus and His disciples came across a blind man from birth. Was it his sin or his parents sin that caused this blindness. Neither! God just wants to demonstrate His glorious power for all to see with wonder how he makes some people worshipers! Jesus promises us that those who are His WILL experience trials. Paul understood this reality all to well. Maybe we in the western church are getting soft? Just a thought.

Grace and Peace!

Over the past several Sundays, we have been taking our church through a series emphasizing our core values as a church. Particularly, the past three Sundays have been dedicated to cultivating a missional mindset. No matter what you think about this term, whether it is over used or sounds too "trendy", the word has deep biblical roots. The pattern of Scripture for personal evangelistic witness was that of going to where the people are and connecting to their mindset with the hopes of bringing them to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This means that "evangelism" is just living the Gospel and sharing the truth of it transformational power through our lives and witness. Particularly, this past Sunday I shared the necessity of living among the people and doing life with them before we make them our "conversion project." There is nothing that gets me more convicted than some misguided efforts or programs to bring people to the Gospel. Let me try to explain.

There are several ways Christians have been taught to "evangelize" their friends, neighbors and family. One way is the "cold call." This type of effort is based purely on the masses. One may walk up and down a street and engage people with the Gospel. A church may have a neighborhood outreach and knock on doors to share the Gospel. Let me make sure I am clear about this, there is nothing inheritly wrong with this model. I have participated in it myself. The challenge I see is that the personality of the emerging genertion that stands before us. Over the past two generations (the generation X, millenials and who knows what names are coming next), there has been a trend of a large scale abandonment of the church and its message. As a student pastor, I recognize that a large part of this exodus is due to a lack of a cohesive parental discipleship model that should be fostered in churches. I am convinced that this is the big culprit in the exodus. The challenge is "what do we do now?" We have generation of jaded 20-35 year olds who have left the church because they saw a lack of consistency between what they heard in church and what they saw in real life whether at home or otherwise. This generation will largely reject such methods like the "cold call" because it lacks a sense of care and authenticity. They see it as a manipulation ploy to fill the church pews (or chairs is you are more progressive).

Another way is the "invite them to church" method. I am all for people inviting others to church. I am a pastor and love to see new faces on Sunday mornings, but what I love more is the story that are told by our members as they faithfully loved their friends and neighbors as they built collateral with them to bring them to church. The challenge with this method is that we assume people have a positive view of the church. We assume that "getting them to church" will fix them. We assume that if we can get hooked and cleaned, they will be ok. What we have just done is treated them like a freshly caught trout! Even in the Bible Belt where I serve, the culture is changing. The transiant nature of our culture brings new faces with new cultures to Nashville all the time. Many of those cultures have a reserved view (at best) towards institutionalism, particularly the church. But there is another problem with this method. Bringing people to church is not really evangelism. Some how the idea has been spread that "if I can just get them there, everything will be alright." The pastors will pick up the ball and "get em saved." That is sad in my mind. People get invited all the time to churches only to be dropped by the person(s) who invited them shortly after that.

I believe with all my heart a truly worshipful service can be one of the most missional environments we can involve people in, but that is secondary to the real purpose of corporate worship which is to adore Christ! The body of Christ adores Christ meaning that the worship service on Sunday is more about the believer than the unbeliever. The response time is also more about the believer than the unbeliever. Walking an isle and praying a prayer is not what salvation is all about. Salvation is about saving the "whole" man. Yes, people must make the initial decision, that is the just the tip of iceberg. That decision does not, and maybe should not, happen in an emotional environment like a worship service. [NO HE DIDN'T JUST GO THERE!] I can't tell you how many people have told me that they made an emotional decision not a "head and heart" transaction! If we recieve a new convert during a worship service, that is fantastic, but I try not to present them until he/she has had some time to internalize their decision. [head and heart transaction]

Living as a missionary and committing to love our friends and neighbors is not pretty. It is often messy. It often puts us in uncomfortable positions where unbelievers can see our scratches and scars. It takes time! Some may say that we risk them dying and going to hell with your methodology. I say that risk is there either way because if all we do is call for people to "make a decision" with out letting them see it in our lives first, they may make a pseudo-decision which could be more detrimental in the long run! My God is in control of every footstep that I make. It is not our jobs to "get em saved" or "get em down isle", it merely to be a glorious reflection of the glory of God for the purposes of the Gospel! If I am willing to love at all costs and sacrifice with out seeking personal gain, my God will anoint my steps!

To God be all the glory!

As most of you know, one of my hot button issues for the church is the mysteriously missing reality of "doing life together." Let me define what I mean by this phrase. When a church does life together we mean that a church is a group of people who gather for the purpose of being God's people. We are broken and flawed individuals looking for meaning and purpose and live life with people who are just like us...broken. We are all marred by the sin and none of us are excluded. All of us are capable of the most grievous sins but none of us are beyond the reach of God to restore us. This is the first ingredient in the mixing pot of a church...Forgiveness.



Unfortunately, there is some misunderstanding when it comes to forgiveness and its place in a biblical body of believers. Let me try to explain. Forgiveness exists because sin does! When sin is present in the life of an individual and in turn is present in a church, it muddies the waters of biblical community, particular when that sin has hurt the members of that fellowship. Does this mean that a hurting groups of believers can not forgive a person their sin? Absolutely not. I was reminded this past week that Jesus told Peter that you must have an attitude of forgiveness (remember the 70x7 story). Here is the question for us to answer. When is it appropriate for that person to regain a "good fellowship" standing with that body of believers. The answer is when that person is able to recognize the extent of their sin and take complete responsibility for it. When a person is "disfellowshiped" for their actions they are the responsible party in rebuilding the relationship with trust and integrity. They must be willing to submit to the wishes of that fellowship until such time as healing has occurred.



The church or fellowship has the responsibility to continue the process of restoration and seek that for the individual in question. They must admonish him/her to flee the temptation of applying the "woe is me" mentality. I wonder if you know what I am getting at here? Satan will creep in the hearts of the already wounded and finish his destructive work by allowing that person to feel that they are getting kicked when they are down. This will deflect the responsiblity of their sin in another direction and pushing that person to think self centeredly about their situation. Only truth and transparency can heal a person or persons after the onslaught of sin!



When a church can sift the dangerous waters of pain and suffering together and protect the unity and integrity of its fellowship, that is when the church is ready to do God's work!



For His glory!

With the recent challenges that have been thrust upon Providence Baptist Fellowship in recent weeks, I have found myself busier than usual and unable to put the time into maintaining this blog as I would like. I wish I could go back and relate to you the joy that I have experienced in being one of the shepherds at PBF and the incredible encouragement and support I have been given during this period. I also wish I could recount all the various truths that I have learned during this time as well. If you will allow some foolishness on my part, I would like to make an attempt at such.



Lesson 1: Indispensability of Truth

It is no small truth to say that if "TRUTH" had not be steering the ship at PBF, then we would folding like a paper airplane on a trash compactor. (I told you it would be foolish) I say all this to say that Truth always exposes error and light always dispels the darkness. I am thankful for God's Revelation in His Word which has been guiding our congregation over the past several months let alone the past 3 weeks. Some in our world today like to act is if "Reason" is the highest of aspirations for humanity. What a wasteful and absolutely ridiculous use of intellect. The existence of knowledge presupposes a source for such knowledge. Unyoked from its divine source, knowledge is futile and dangerous. I am thankful for a church that loves Truth.



Lesson 2: Indispensability of Truth Seeking

When a church chooses to call it quits in revelatory discovery, it calls it quits in world engagement. Sadly, this is story of many churches in our day (even in my own denomination). The people of God are called to ever seek deeper and more insightful connections with the Almighty. I quiver when one comes to me and says, "I know what I believe and I have believed it for 30 years." I am sure you have heard this refrain as well. It is right to be confident in what you believe. I am surely not calling us to be insecure in our faith. What I am calling for is a humility in a search through the whole counsel of God. That is, the 66 books of the Bible are the providential givings of God to His people so as to continually grow in their understanding of the Almighty.



Lesson 3: Indispensability of Christian Community.

The most meaningful part of my Christmas vacation was the time spent with my brother's small group at our home in Virginia on Christmas eve. My brother has been given the task of caring for a group through his church in Lynchburg, VA. Some of his "flock" could not travel home for the holidays so he invited them to have a meal and fellowship with our family on Christmas eve. I saw a picture that night of what the church should look like. I am experiencing that kind of community with various members of my own church but long to see it become an ever present reality through out the entire body of Providence Baptist Fellowship. Much of Christian fellowship in our day revolves around fried chicken and church programs. There is scarce amounts of Biblical hospitality present in the church today. What streams of evangelism would be opened if we opened all of lives, scars and all, to the lives of those with whom we worship and those whom we wish would worship with us!



These are just some food for thought! Selah!