Out of the Patch Bible

Out of the Patch Bible. Advertisement.

In the late 1960s and early 70s, Clarence Jordan, founder of a Christian farming community in Georgia, produced the Cotton Patch Bible. The time has now come for an “Out of the Patch” Bible! This is an accurate, readable rendition from the original languages that removes obsolete agricultural references. It utilizes language that is citified, simple and sensible. The modern urbanite knows milk comes from the grocery store and that goats live in a petting zoo. How can we expect even the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth about farms and fields, sheaves and sheep, plows and planting? Never fear, the Out of the Patch Bible is here! Unconvinced? Try these two sample readings: 

Genesis 18:1-7: Once upon a day, a story of an appearing to Abraham. 
Abraham was cooling under the AC. Three unexpected guests showed up (they must not have had cell phones, for they should have called ahead!). He turned down the music on the MP3, greeted them, and asked them to stay awhile. Then he handed them some ice cold Evian. Abraham told them to chill a spell while he got things ready. He sent his housekeeper down to the corner store with his credit card to get some green tea, bread and cold cuts.

Genesis 2:15-17: the mall of Eden, a creation story
God put Eve and Adam in a shopping mall on the east side of town, to shop to her heart's content. God commanded them, “At every vendor in the food court you may are free to eat: But you may not eat at Krispy Kreme: for someday you will develop diabetes and die -- but for now you will die in a sense because you have disobeyed me.”

Comparing Luke 9:62 in the King James and Out of the Patch Bibles:

• KJV: And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.
• OUTPV: Jesus said, “No one, having put the pedal to the metal and looking down to text, is fit for the pearly gates (but may get there sooner).”

See? Makes hermeneutics so easy even a kindergartener can do it! First editions, signed, sealed and delivered: $199. (Text me.)

Customs of Primitive Churches, the Office of Minister

VI. The office of a minister or teacher &c. is so extensive that he may, when requisite, perform every sacred thing that is of official nature: nevertheless where there are ruling elders &c. his office is, chiefly, to convene the church; pray; read the scripture; preach; break bread; dismiss and bless the people; govern, in conjunction with the ruling elders; take into the church; bind or retain sin; admonish; cast out of the church; loose or remit sin; lay on hands; baptize; visit; give good example; anoint the sick; bury the dead; perform marriages; cathecise; bless infants; defend the faith; assist at associations, and other public meetings; &c.

1. A minister’s commission is so full and extensive that nothing, of official nature, can start up, at any time, or in any place which he may not perform by virtue of that commission, Go to all the world—teach all nations—preach the gospel to every creature—baptize—teach the observance of all things whatsoever I have commanded; and lo I am with you. Math. xxviii. 19, 20. Mar. xvi. 15. The man of God is throughly furnished for every good work, 1 Tim. iii. 17.

2. Nevertheless when a minister is fixed in a church, and so is become the pastor, or elder, or bishop thereof, he ought to have ruling elders, deacons, &c. to perform those parts of his office which are detached from their occupancy; yet not so as to alienate them from his concern on some occasions. The apostles who ordained deacons to care for the poor, that they might give themselves continually to the ministry of the word and prayer did sometimes meddle with the concerns of the deacons, Gal. i. 10. And the text, which is the chief foundation of the office of ruling elders, supposes that the teaching elders partake with them in the rule of the church, 1 Tim. v. 17. Yet ministers should interfere as seldom as possible with the business of either; since their relief was the design of those inferior offices.

3. Where there are elders, deacons, &c. the work of a minister is,

4. To convene the church; And the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, &c. Act. vi. 2. And when Paul and Silas were come to Antioch, and had gathered the church together &c. Act. xiv. 27. Joel ii. 15-16.

5. To pray; viz. in public, called also interceding, supplicating, &c. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer &c. Act. vi. 4. My servant shall pray for you; for him will I accept Job. xlii. 8.

6. To be continued...

Customs of Primitive Churches, Morgan Edwards, pages 13-15

The infallible standard

"Now then, let the laws of Christ embracing all the doctrine which he established, as settled forever by the decisions of the holy apostles, as left on record in the New Testament, be regarded as the infallible standard or test by which the church of Christ is identified, and, it must follow that all who are deficient in these essential and indispensable points are weighed in the balance and found wanting." -- Gilbert Beebe

The Unclouded Day

1. O they tell me of a home far beyond the skies, O they tell me of a home far away;
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise, O they tell me of an unclouded day.

"The Unclouded Day" was a favorite song of my uncle Obie Chapman. It is one that I have enjoyed as well. J. K. Alwood, composer of "The Unclouded Day," wrote the following letter to the Morenci (MI) Observer.
June 5, 1879 Editor, observer:

As I entered our village from the south, at 12:50 last night, (returning from the discussion at Spring Hill), I saw a rainbow which was caused by the rays of the moon streaming against a shower of rain falling from a dark, dense cloud a short distance beyond the northwestern limits of our sleeping Morenci. The moon was low in the cloudless southeastern sky. It was a new sight to me; and you can scarcely image the feeling of solemn joy which came over me as I gazed upon the lovely segment of the bow of promise smiling on our quiet town.

Several years later (1896) he wrote the story of how his song came from that incident (he apparently forgot what month it happened):

It was a balmy night in August 1879, when returning from a debate in Spring Hill, Ohio, to my home in Morenci, Michigan, about 1:00 a.m. I saw a beautiful rainbow north by northwest against a dense black nimbus cloud. The sky was all perfectly clear except this dark cloud which covered about forty degrees of the horizon and extended about halfway to the zenith. The phenomenon was entirely new to me and my nerves refreshed by the balmy air and the lovely sight. Old Morpheus was playing his sweetest lullaby. Another mile of travel, a few moments of time, a fellow of my size was ensconced in sweet home and wrapped in sweet sleep. A first class know-nothing till rosy-sweet morning was wide over the fields.

To awake and look abroad and remember the night was to be filled with sweet melody. A while at the organ brought forth a piece of music now known as "The Unclouded Day." A Day and a half was bestowed on the four stanzas.

The above, a story by Alwood's son, and some posthumous tributes can be found at the Alwood Family Tree site.

Josiah Kelly Alwood (1828-1909) was a minister and presiding elder in the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (There may be various modern factions of this church that did not exist in Alwood's day. William J. Reynolds says Alwood was "Always a staunch supporter of the original constitution of his denomination...")

Refrain:
O the land of cloudless day, O the land of an unclouded day,
O they tell me of a home where no storm clouds rise, O they tell me of an unclouded day.

2. O they tell me of a home where my friends have gone, O they tell me of that land far away,
Where the tree of life in eternal bloom Sheds its fragrance through the unclouded day.
Refrain

3. O they tell me of a king in His beauty there, And they tell me that mine eyes shall behold
Where He sits on the throne that is whiter than snow, In the city that is made of gold.
Refrain

4. O they tell me that He smiles on His children there, And His smile drives their sorrows all away;
And they tell me that no tears ever come again In that lovely land of unclouded day.
Refrain

A life is not important, and other quotes

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

"A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." -- Jackie Robinson

"A judge who likes every outcome he reaches is very likely a bad judge." -- Neil Gorsuch

"Tribalism has become mainstream political discourse." -- Ben Shapiro

"A mere business transaction does not make you culpable for what the other party in the transaction is doing." -- Bart Barber

Churches can’t organize their way out of a mess. They must agonize before the Lord until He brings them out of the mess. -- paraphrased from someone named "Max"

"My search for something to make me feel better ended with some one." -- Joseph Jennings

"Christians who don’t believe God sovereignly draws His elect to Christ are forced by their theological perspective to take a very pragmatic approach to evangelism. They become more concerned with what “works” than with what’s true, because their doctrine leads them to believe everything hinges on their own skill, cleverness, or persuasive abilities." -- John MacArthur

"We and you ought not now to pull on the ends of the rope in which you have tied the knot of war, because the more the two of us pull, the tighter that knot will be tied. And a moment may come when that knot will be tied so tight that even he who tied it will not have the strength to untie it." -- Nikita Khrushchev

"Humankind has not woven the web of life. We are but one thread within it. Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves. All things are bound together. All things connect." -- Chief Seattle

"When you hear a man tell you to put down your bible and listen to him -- run, don't walk, RUN to the nearest exit!" -- R. V. Clearwaters (perhaps paraphrased)

"Assurance is the believer's ark where he sits, Noah-like, quiet and still in the midst of all distractions and destructions, commotions and confusions..." -- Thomas Brooks

Politics and the pulpit

Something to think about:

“In our day of Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms, a pastor would have to be blind and deaf not to know the preferences and personal biases of church members, whether it be about politics, entertainment or religion.” -- Wade Burleson

And new news:

“Christian mom blogger” has announced that she and soccer star Abby Wambach have “decided to hold hands forever.” I'll hold my breath. They have both ditched their previous “forever” commitments.

Always too little, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• Always Too Little, Too Late: The Plight of Modern Education -- "This mechanistic approach to education that stresses method over character does not deliver good results."
• Bystander sees Tesla owner loading kids into trunk seats, immediately reports abduction -- "After receiving the report that the driver had possibly abducted a kid and shoved them into the trunk, the cops wasted no time in hunting the Model S down and held the driver at gunpoint..."
• Court of Appeals: New congregation illegally took land and church building from old congregation -- "Members of Parks Chapel accused Kingdom Impact of illegally taking possession of their sanctuary and kicking them out of it."
• In Italy, Islam doesn’t officially exist. Here’s what Muslims must accept to change that. -- " At least 1.4 million Muslims are living in Italy...But as far as Italian authorities are concerned, Islam doesn’t exist."
• James Leo Garrett on the Future of Baptist Theology -- "The first issue refers to the debate over Calvinism, Arminianism, and all views in between the two poles."
• Night shifts and 8 other surprising things that can affect fertility -- "The same Harvard study that highlighted the impact of night shifts noticed the same effect on the egg count of women whose jobs involved heavy lifting."
• Stories of Evangelism in the Early Church -- "...I offer three very different stories of evangelistic encounters in the early Christian world."
• Studying E. Y. Mullins: With Special Emphasis on Baptist Identity -- "Trevin Wax argues, correctly, in my estimation, that Mullins has shaped modern Southern Baptists more than any other single theologian."
• The Duty of a Pastor: John Owen on Feeding the Flock by Diligent Preaching of the Word -- "The modern pastor is expected to be a preacher, counselor, administrator, PR guru, fund-raiser and hand-holder."
• The Pope Ships His American Enemy To the Other Side of the World -- "An American cardinal who opposes Pope Francis has just been sent to the remote Pacific island of Guam."
• Will Trump Get Past The Easy Religious Liberty Questions To The Hard One? -- "What seems to be developing is a very constrained view of exercising one’s religious liberty.  It’s ok as long as you confine it to the worship hour in the church house..."
• 25 Reasons Why This Christian is Still Proudly #NeverTrump -- "Because we don’t need politicians who feel compelled to talk about their body parts."

Pledge statement, or church call agreement

Over at the SBC Today blog, minister Kyle Gulledge posted a thread called Helps for the Pastor Search Committee. The “helps” include a link to a questionnaire and pledge statement in which the prospective pastor is queried whether he is a Calvinist, says he is not and pledges if he ever becomes a Calvinist he will resign and move on. The context or background for such helps are: (1) there are, apparently, Calvinists within the Southern Baptist Convention who, lacking honesty and integrity, accept non-Calvinistic churches with the hidden agenda of bringing them into the fold of Calvinistic soteriology; and (2) there are within the Southern Baptist Convention a number of who are vocally and actively working against the spread of Calvinism. The SBC Today blog plainly and persistently represents in this camp.

That questionnaire and the pledge are clearly about Calvinism, but it brought to me the question of the propriety of a pastor agreeing to such a pledge statement with a church. If the pledge statement were generalized to the broader doctrines of a church rather than just Calvinism, it might read something like this:

“With integrity of heart, I have received the doctrinal statement of this church and the statements of explanation by the Pastor Search Committee, and I pledge that if my theology ever changes to disagree with these views, I will share with the Staff and Deacons my new beliefs and work with them in transitioning to a new place of ministry that is more in line with my newfound theological stance.”

Such a pledge is foreign to my experience of pastoring, but it brought to my mind the following questions.

• Is a “pledge statement” of this sort is a good idea? Is it biblical? Would you sign one?
• If you agree, to what areas of belief should this principle of a pledge statement apply? What if there were to major changes in an ecclesiological belief (e.g. from strict communion to open communion, or vice versa)? What if there were to major changes in an eschatological belief (e.g. from amillennial to premillennial, or vice versa)?
• If this is about honesty and integrity, would you stand behind and support his keeping the principle of the integrity of the pledge even if it something you believe he should change and teach the church to change? (E.g., the church practices segregation and the pastor changes to teach the church is “a house of prayer for all people.”)
• What if the pastor has been there 20 years before he changes, as opposed to 2 years? (Considering that a pastor who has been at a church that long probably is not tossed about with every wind of doctrine, and has probably earned the trust of his church.)

With hope I asked on SBC Today for someone to comment about the general principle, but the people there wanted to argue about Calvinism. What about the general principle of making a pledge statement?

As I searched the internet, I found that it may be fairly common, at least within certain denominations, for pastors to sign some kind of “call agreement” with the church. At TheChurchLawandTax.com Richard R. Hammar writes, “The relationship between a minister and church is based on contract. One court observed that ‘one becomes pastor of a church pursuant to a contract, made with the person or body having the authority to employ’.” The United Brethren web site cites a signed Agreement of Understanding between the pastor and congregation, of which “The intent is to prevent future problems of misunderstanding.” This one is not about doctrines, but issues such as moving, insurance, housing, etc. United Church of Christ web site contains a link to “an updated sample call agreement.” This agreement is not doctrinal in nature, but deals with scope of work, insurance, termination, intellectual property/copyright agreement, housing, vacation, salary and such matters. It in fact supports the pastor’s “freedom of expression in the pulpit as it pertains to matters of faith and faithfulness, trusting you to be responsible to the insight of scripture, the work of the Holy Spirit, the traditions of the United Church of Christ, and the contexts in which we live our lives.”[i] There probably are call agreements than include subscription to at least fundamentals of the faith, but I did not readily find any when searching the World Wide Web.

It becomes apparent to me and those who minister as I do, that signed agreements are representative of an employer-employee arrangement.[ii] For certain purposes a government may assume pastors are church employees, and many churches and pastors approach their relationship as employer and employee. This is foreign to my experience, and I believe also foreign to biblical faith and practice. A preacher without integrity, who wants to pastor a church for the money, esteem or power, will likely have no qualms about the expediency of signing such a statement to further his ends. A signed pledge or call agreement might have value to wrest power from such an individual, either as a coercive or legal means. Is that reason enough to contract such an agreement?

The calling of a pastor is not to regurgitate and reinforce a church’s doctrinal statement. The calling of a pastor is to teach the word of God (Eph. 4: 9-13; 1 Tim. 4:11-16).[iii] Churches should have doctrinal statements that clarify and announce “those things most surely believed.” But at best they are simply declarations. They are human documents that must yield to the light of biblical doctrine shined upon them. If they are wrong, they should be changed. Neither a church nor a pastor should bind themselves to a human document when the Bible is our rule of faith and practice.[iv]

The position of a pastor is not that of church employee. There are many pastors who have falsely installed themselves as head of and lord over the church.[v] That does not justify rectifying the problem with another false relationship. Both the church and the pastor have responsibility for what is taught in the pulpit. If they cannot agree on that, they should amicably part ways. None of these things justify a pastor subjugating his call from God to become an hireling.[vi]

Two parting thoughts:

• There are many unethical preachers who pretend to be what they are not. There have been such as long as I have been a preacher. Churches should be vigilant to not be taken in. Pledge agreements may hinder some but will not stop those who have no ethics regarding lying. Exercising spiritual discernment, rather than devising human methods, will go a long way toward resolving the problem. Nevertheless, some fools will fool some people.
• I would not sign a pledge agreement – not because I do not want to be ethical, but because I neither want to bind my conscience nor enter into an agreement to become a church employee. Ethical preachers can act ethically without either.

---

[i] The United Church of Christ doesn’t seem to be Confessional (holding to a detailed confession of the Christian faith) and has a rather brief Statement of Faith. Nevertheless, as a liberal denomination it is likely that the pastor’s “freedom of expression in the pulpit” would at some point become too conservative.

[ii] Galatians 1:10 “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 9:18 “What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.”

[iii] If it is based in the word of God, to that extent one’s preaching will “regurgitate and reinforce” the doctrinal statement. “The first and principal duty of a pastor is to feed the flock by diligent preaching of the word.” – John Owen; 2 Timothy 4:2 “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”

[iv] 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”

[v] 1 Peter 5:3 “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock.”

[vi] John 10:13 “The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.” 1 Peter 5:2 “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre…” Hebrews 13:7 “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.”

“God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable”

“God comforts the afflicted and afflicts the comfortable” and variations of this often make the rounds of Christian quotes. A few people may even think it is in the Bible. The Dictionary of Christianese tells us “It wasn’t until 1987 that someone applied this catchy expression to the work of God and the work of the church.” The first religious use they found was in Religion and Republic: The American Circumstance (Martin E. Marty, Boston, MA: Beacon Press, 1987, p. 82). The use there was not yet reduced to the pithy quote, but part of his description of two roles of the church -- “priestly” and “prophetic.” The priestly “comforts the afflicted,” and the prophetic “afflicts the comfortable.”

Before appropriated by Marty, it was (and is still yet) an expression used by journalists to describe their perceived role -- “The job of the newspaper is to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.”

The origin of the quote goes back to the complaint of a fictional Irish bartender in Observations by Mr. Dooley (Finley Peter Dunne, New York, NY: R. H. Russell, 1902, p. 240). He observed:

“Th’ newspaper does ivrything f’r us. It runs th’ polis foorce an’ th’ banks, commands th’ milishy, controls th’ ligislachure, baptizes th’ young, marries th’ foolish, comforts th’ afflicted, afflicts th’ comfortable, buries th’ dead an’ roasts thim aftherward.”

The newspapers appropriated a complaint against them to serve themselves, and then Martin Marty appropriated it for the Lord’s service!

Why post on Southern Baptist blogs?

“Why post on Southern Baptist blogs?”

Sometimes I am asked, “Why do you post on Southern Baptist blogs?”

First, for those who aren’t “frequent flyers,” let’s address “What is a Southern Baptist blog?” A blog is a regularly updated personal journal or diary on the World Wide Web (though it kind of morphs into other things). According to LifeWire.com, a blog is:

“A blog (also called a weblog or web log) is a website consisting of entries (also called posts) appearing in reverse chronological order with the most recent entry appearing first (similar in format to a daily journal). Blogs typically include features such as comments and links to increase user interactivity.”

A “Southern Baptist blog” is a blog that is run by an individual who is a member of a church affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention or small group of such Southern Baptist individuals. It could be primarily a personal blog that is run by someone who is Southern Baptist, but usually it intends to focus on issues that are important to Southern Baptists.

Second, I am not a Southern Baptist. I regularly read certain Southern Baptist blogs. Why? Since Southern Baptists are the largest group of Baptists it follows that the largest group of Baptist blogs are likely Southern Baptist as well. This is an issue of access. Further, since I share theological beliefs, ecclesiological practices and moral principles with Southern Baptists, we share some of the same interests. Finally, there are some Southern Baptist bloggers who are faithful students of the Bible, careful thinkers and provocative writers. So with “Southern Baptist blogs” there is access to well written themes that interest me. I apologize to neither friend nor foe for that.

OK, so I read. But someone will think, “Since you are not Southern Baptist, I don’t understand your posting here.” I get that. It may be confusing, because people will assume that you are Southern Baptist if you post at a “Southern Baptist blog.” I have been blogging since late 2005. I have been posting comments on Southern Baptist blogs for at least ten years, probably longer. I don’t remember for certain, but I think Bart Barber’s Praisegod Barebones blog may have been one of the first I discovered.[i] We have a mutual interest in Baptist history. He is one blogger who I believe is a careful student of the Bible, a clear thinker and effectively communicates through his writing (You can pay me later, Bart!). I have quoted Southern Baptist blogs on my blog and have had Southern Baptists quote mine. Way back when I stated I clarified that I was not Southern Baptist; long term bloggers I have interacted with know that I am not.[ii] But over the ebb and flow of the years there are those who come along and assume I am Southern Baptist, and the confusion is renewed. With that large front porch built, I add this small house of explanation.

• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because they offer an open forum for discussion. Up until now those on which I comment/interact have not made being Southern Baptist a requirement for posting (though it might be an unstated preference for some). For the most part I comment on theological and moral topics important to Baptists. I am cautious, but do not completely abstain from posting on topics specific to the Southern Baptist Convention. Though the details may be specific to Southern Baptists – e.g. IMB & ERLC and amicus briefs – the topic may be relevant to all Baptists – i.e., religious liberty vs. spiritual adultery.
• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because as Baptists we share many of the same interests and same concerns, from baptism to biblical authority to abortion. In sharing these interests and concerns, we can benefit from one another. Issues relevant to Southern Baptists aren’t necessarily relevant to only Southern Baptists.
• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because they often discuss topics on which I believe I can offer valid observations based on experience, faithful teaching based on Bible study, and even support for the opinions expressed by others.
• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because Southern Baptists influence other Baptists, and we can and should in turn influence them (for good, we hope). We don’t live in a vacuum. Some of my family are in your churches and some of your family are in mine.[iii] (Curiously, I have found some of the SB’s most ecumenical toward non-Baptists to be the least open to non-Southern-Baptist Baptists.)
• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because they can benefit from the observations of an outside observer. Sometimes one can’t see the forest for being in the trees and can use the insight of one outside the forest looking in.[iv]

And three less important, slightly more light-hearted, but true nevertheless:

• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because some Southern Baptists are individually closer in doctrine and practice to my non-Southern-Baptist Baptist church than they are to other Southern Baptist churches.
• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because Baptists love controversy, and where else can you find more of it?
• I post on Southern Baptist blogs because I am a Baptist preacher – and as Bart Barber recently wrote – “I’ve decided that when nothing more needs to be said, I’m just the guy to say it.”

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[i] It definitely was “one of the first,” but may not have been the first; but who has any better blog title that that!

[ii] The SBC Heritage blog (now defunct) posted some of my historical blog articles, though they clearly understood I was not Southern Baptist.

[iii] While he was the SBC President, Ronnie Floyd unveiled an initiative to grow the SBC by aggressively recruiting churches to SBC’s work. If we’re good enough to recruit, perhaps we are also good enough to be listened to once in awhile as well.

[iv] For example, I have studied a lot of U.S. Baptist history and know more about Southern Baptist history than many Southern Baptists.

Ichneumonidae

Ichneumonidae (Ichneumon Wasps) are a parasitic family of wasps that (usually) lay their eggs on or into a host body (e.g. butterfly larvae/caterpillar). The caterpillar is the food source of the ichneumonidae larva once it hatches.

Charles Darwin discussed the ichneumonidae regarding his views on God and religion. He wrote, “I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention of their feeding within the living bodies of Caterpillars.”

Darwin’s persuasion or lack thereof is simply another belief system of his own making. It has no bearing on whether there is a God, whether he is beneficent and omnipotent, or whether he created the ichneumonidae and the caterpillars upon which they live.

Customs of Primitive Churches, deaconesses

Of deaconesses

XIV. The office of deaconesses is of divine original and perpetual continuance in the church. It is the same in general with the office of deacons, only it is chiefly limited to the care of the sick, miserable, and distressed poor. The scriptue marks of their office are, shewing mercy, succouring, &c. The way they are put in the office is by choice of the people, ordination, and other forms as in case of deacons. Their qualifications are laid down negatively and positively by the apostle Paul. Their reward is honour and maintenance. Their number should be proportionable to the need of the church. Their manner of performing the office is, with cheerfulness. Rom. xii. 8.

1. The divine institution of this office appears from the following texts. Phebe our sister--a servant [Gr. deaconess] of the church which is in Cenchrea. Rom xvi. 1. The deacons must be grave &c. Even so must women [to be deaconesses] be grave &c. This is the obvious sense of the text. Our translators refer it to the deacons wives; and in order to make it sense have unnecessarily englished the original word by wives rather than women; and have foisted in the word their. But why should the deacons wives be described when nothing is said of the wives of the bishops? The learned Grotius translates the words thus, Even so must the deaconesses be grave &c. Rom. xii. 8 refers to this office. He that showeth mercy, with dilgence. The exception to this passage is, the word is he and not her; but many examples of the kind occur where no such exception takes place; neither can it here, because there is no officer in the church to which the words may be applied except the deaconesses. I am inclined to think that the neglect of the widow of the grecians in the daily deaconry (mentioned Act. vi. 1) is rightly account for by Salmasius, quoted by Dr. DuVeil viz. "that the hebrew women were preferred to the deaconry, and the greek women refused the honour." This [account] is approved by Cornelius a Lapide, Erasmus, &c. If it be just, it follows that there were women in the office before man.
2. Their office, like that of the deacons, hath the poor and helpless for its objects, but is chiefly confined to those things wherefor men are less fit. The helpless poor must be kept clean, and fed. The sick must be nursed, and tended, &c. for which, women are the most proper; therefore they are described as succourers Rom. xiv. 2. shewers of mercy Rom. xii. 8.
3. Their qualifications are described, Even so must the women [to be deaconesses] be grave, not slanderers, sober, faithful in all things, I Tim. iii. 11. to which may be added, a merciful, and relieving temper. Rom. xii. 8. ch. xvi. 2.

We cannot give any biblical narrative of the ordination of deaconesses, as no such transaction hath fallen under our notice. But think the history of the ordination of deacons may serve for a pattern, only varying some words. There is in the apostolical constitution (which according to Whiston are as ancient as the gospel) an account of such ordination, and the prayer that was used at the time. Book viii. ch. 19.[30]. Frequent mention is made of deaconesses in ancient church history.

Customs of Primitive Churches, pages 42-43

Regeneration, Menno Simons

14. Regeneration
Do you think, beloved, that the new birth is nothing else but that which the poor world hitherto has thought it to consist in, namely immersion in the water or the saying of the words, "I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost?" No, dear brethren, no. The new birth consists verily not in water nor in words, but it is the heavenly, quickening power of God in our hearts which comes from God and through the preaching of the divine word, if we accept the same by faith, touches, pierces, renews and changes our hearts, so that we are converted from unbelief to faith, from unrighteousness to righteousness, from evil to good, from carnality to spirituality, from the earthly to the heavenly, from the evil nature of Adam to the good nature of Jesus Christ (419a; II:215a). -- Menno Simons, His Life, Labors, and Teachings, John Horsch, Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing House, 1916, p. 246

Shocking

A recent intrigue in the Southern Baptist Convention has revealed that the Texas Prestonwood Baptist Church will be withholding their Cooperative Program giving -- "while the congregation discusses concerns about the direction of the Southern Baptist Convention."

I'm not an apologist for Prestonwood, but I find one charge against them particularly confusing. According to Brent Hobbs, "Yesterday’s press release indicated Prestonwood was withholding funding because of their concerns and that it likely would be restored if those concerns were satisfied. This is seeking to influence through financial pressure..." One heading in his article states, "Withholding Funds to Seek Influence Should Be Rejected."

Here is what is confusing to me. Why would an organization that gives influence based on funds complain about withholding funds to gain influence? The precedent is already set. There is influence/votes/power on a money basis. Don't believe it? See here.

According to Article III of their Constitution, "The Convention shall consist of messengers who are members of Baptist churches in cooperation with the Convention." The money basis is delineated in III.1.(3) "Has made undesignated, financial contribution(s) through the Cooperative Program, and/or through the Convention’s Executive Committee for Convention causes, and/or to any Convention entity during the fiscal year preceding."

Such cooperating churches are permitted two (2) messengers each, with "such additional messengers as are permitted below."

"3. The Convention will recognize additional messengers from a cooperating church under one of the options described below. Whichever method allows the church the greater number of messengers shall apply:"(1) One additional messenger for each full percent of the church’s undesignated receipts which the church contributed during the fiscal year preceding through the Cooperative Program, and/or through the Convention’s Executive Committee for Convention causes, and/or to any Convention entity; or"(2) One additional messenger for each $6,000 which the church contributed during the fiscal year preceding through the Cooperative Program, and/or through the Convention’s Executive Committee for Convention causes, and/or to any Convention entity.

You've made money a basis of a seat at the table of power -- and for more seats at the table. Now you must live with the other edge of this two-edged sword! It's the cost of your choice of doing business a certain way.

Is monogamy natural?

Is monogamy natural? Scarlett Johansson says no

That's right. Actress Scarlett Johansson says monogamous relationships are not natural “I might be skewered for that, but I think it’s work. It’s a lot of work. And the fact that it is such work for so many people — for everyone — the fact of that proves that it is not a natural thing.”

My first reaction was “another Hollywood personality spouting about morals and ethics.” But with a little reflection, I thought, “You know, she is right.”

Here it is, in the Bible:

• 1 Corinthians 2:14 “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”
• Ephesians 2:3 “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.”
• 1 John 2:16 “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

American Harmony, and other music links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• American Harmony -- "American Harmony—the ultimate shape-note tunebook, with 176 pieces, 100 illustrations, and a leading scholar's commentary."
• Center for Hymnological Research -- "The Center for Hymnological Research is on online database of rare hymnals and tunebooks found in the Martin Music Library of the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Library." (Contains links to scans of these books)
• Compositions Designed to Improve Sight Singing in Junior High School -- "The purpose of this study was to identify certain aspects related to sight singing which tend to cause difficulty in teaching junior high school students and to suggest exercises that might be used to aid in overcoming these difficulties."
• Country Baptist Church Song Quiz -- "How much do you know about gospel music?"
• DNA yields long-awaited answers in 1976 slaying of Righteous Brothers singer's ex -- "It’s just nice to be able to close the book on this."
• Finding Our Voice: Why the Decline of Congregational Singing Matters–and How to Fix It -- "About half of white evangelicals attend a church that uses multimedia screens during services, according to the Public Religion Research Institute."
• Fixated on A capella Hymns -- "I suspect that 95% of my dear readers will not enjoy, explore, pursue this music; there is no accounting for taste. But I know there are a few of you who will become as fixated as I have become."
• How Well Do You Know Your Hymns? (A Quiz) -- "So how well do you know your hymns and their authors? This little quiz is designed to find out!"
• King Crimson and Asia frontman John Wetton dies aged 67 -- "Wetton was best known for appearing in a number of bands in the 1970s and 1980s, including Uriah Heep and Roxy Music."
• The History of Christianity in 25 Objects: Olney Hymns -- "The final version of Olney Hymns incorporated 348 hymns with 66 or 67 attributed to Cowper and the remainder to Newton."
• The Sovereign Grace/Getty Music Question -- "The fundamentalist leaders began promoting the songs because they were encouraged that their young people were attracted to such relatively strong hymns."

State of Washington v. Arlene's Flowers, Inc.

“You chose to attack my faith and pursue this not simply as a matter of law, but to threaten my very means of working, eating, and having a home. If you are serious about clarifying the law, then I urge you to drop your claims against my home, business, and other assets and pursue the legal claims through the appeal process.” -- Barronelle Stutzman

In a unanimous decision Thursday, Washington state’s Supreme Court ruled against a Christian businesswoman, holding “that the conduct for which Stutzman was cited and fined in this case-refusing her commercially marketed wedding floral services to Ingersoll and Freed because theirs would be a same-sex wedding-constitutes sexual orientation discrimination under the WLAD [Washington Law Against Discrimination].”

Case: Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, Washington, in 2013 “declined to use her creative skills to beautify the same-sex ceremony of a long-time customer, Robert Ingersoll, and another man, Curt Freed.” She believes that creating floral arrangements for a wedding is using her “imagination and artistic skill to intimately participate in a same-sex wedding ceremony.” Stutzman cited her First Amendment rights of free speech and religious liberty. Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson has doggedly pursue the case -- not just to define the law, but to egregiously fine Stutzman as well.

The justices ruled that Stutzman violated Washington Law Against Discrimination. If so, WLAD is poorly written and should be found unconstitutional by our Supreme Court of the United States. In a statement that seemed driven by illogic -- but to which they may have been driven by their own bad law -- the justices pointed out that “Stutzman acknowledged at deposition, providing flowers for a wedding between Muslims would not necessarily constitute an endorsement of Islam, nor would providing flowers for an atheist couple endorse atheism.” Duh. Her conscientious objection is not that heterosexual Muslims and atheists cannot be married, but that homosexual marriage violated her philosophical viewpoint. The conscientious objection was not to their religion or lack thereof, but her based on her religious belief about homosexuality and marriage.

A related story demonstrates how both sides can be inconsistent in their calls for freedom. In an open letter, fashion designer Sophie Theallet refused to serve the first lady, Melania Trump.

“As an independent fashion brand, we consider our voice an expression of our artistic and philosophical ideas...We value our artistic freedom...I will not participate in dressing or associating in any way with the next first lady...I encourage my fellow designers to do the same. Integrity is our only true currency.”

This news has been hailed by the inconsistent political left as “noble,” “patriotic,” “admirable integrity.” -- “taking a stand...[that] others should follow.” This is the same branch of political philosophers who are hounding Barronelle Stutzman for her stand on her own artistic freedom. Consistency thou art a jewel.

As for me, I say let both Sophie Theallet and Barronelle Stutzman not be compelled by the government to express their art in a way that violates their consciences.

Related links

• State of Washington v. Arlene's Flowers, Inc. -- “We therefore hold that the conduct for which Stutzman was cited and fined in this case-refusing her commercially marketed wedding floral services to Ingersoll and Freed because theirs would be a same-sex wedding-constitutes sexual orientation discrimination under the WLAD.”
• Open Letter, Sophie Theallet -- “As an independent fashion brand, we consider our voice an expression of our artistic and philosophical ideas.”
• Washington floral artist to ask US Supreme Court to protect her freedom -- “The state is trying to use this case to force me to create artistic expression that violates my deepest beliefs and take away my life’s work and savings, which will also harm those who I employ.”
• Washington Supreme Court Punishes Barronelle Stutzman. What Now? -- “After much anticipation, the Washington Supreme Court has punished Barronelle Stutzman for peacefully operating her business consistently with her faith.”
• Washington Supreme Court rules against florist in same-sex wedding case -- “Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the couple sued her, saying she broke state anti-discrimination and consumer protection laws, and the lower court agreed. The state’s nine high court justices upheld that verdict.”
• Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russ Moore talks about the Washington v. Arlene's Flowers ruling

The more successful you become, and other quotes

The posting of quotes by human authors does not constitute agreement with either the quotes or their sources. (I try to confirm the sources that I give, but may miss on occasion; please verify if possible.)

"The more successful you become, the longer the yardstick people use to measure you by." -- Tom Landry

"All our difficulties are only platforms for the manifestations of His grace, power and love." -- Hudson Taylor

"A faith that promises to provide firm answers and relieve our doubt is a faith that will not hold up to the challenges and tragedies of life. Only deep trust can hold up." -- Pete Enns in The Sin of Certainty

"God's work done in God's way will never lack God's supplies." -- Hudson Taylor

"“Business as ministry,” as a general principle, is honorable and good. “Ministry as business,” as a general principle, however, is neither honorable nor good." -- David Rogers

"Ministry as business is where your motive is personal gain and you lay the veneer of ministry over it in order to appeal to your primary market." -- Jim Pemberton

"A yawn a silent scream for coffee." -- copied

"Today, you have 100% of your life left." -- Tom Landry

"You can put any label on an empty bottle." -- copied

"The essence of Christian maturity is to have a high tolerance for ambiguity." Previously cited as by Steve Brown, but heard him say recently it was by a mentor of his

"The church works best as a separate force, a conscience to society that keeps itself at arm’s length from the state. The closer it gets, the less effectively it can challenge the surrounding culture and the more perilously it risks losing its central message." – Philip Yancey

Sharia Law

"Most Muslims are not ruled by and do not condone Sharia law." -- Ron Hurst, "On Prejudice and Bigotry," Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, 14 February 2017, p. 4a

In his letter to the editor of the newspaper Mr. Hurst may have intended to limit his statement to Muslims in the U. S., but he did not say that. The answer nevertheless is somewhat complicated. First, what is Sharia? According to Dictionary.com, Sharia broadly is Islamic law, "seen as deriving from the Koran, hadith, ijma, and qiyas." As such, there is not one Sharia law as many Americans may tend to think, but it varies with Muslim sects and their interpretations of their faith documents.

According to Tolerance.Org, "Currently, 35 countries incorporate Sharia into their civil, common or customary law. The diverse manner in which these countries apply Sharia to daily life highlights how Sharia is neither static nor rigid but instead a reflection on how different communities interpret it."

According to Professor Abdullahi Ahmed An-Nai’m at Muslims for Progressive Values, "Many Islamic countries believe they are following Shari’a in family law matters, but Shari’a is not a legal system.

Based on this and other reading my conclusion is that Mr. Hurst's statement that "Most Muslims are not ruled by and do not condone Sharia law" is incorrect -- but many others have an incorrect vision of one monolithic "Sharia law" that governs all Muslims.

A Brief History, and other links

The posting of links does not constitute an endorsement of the sites linked, and not necessarily even agreement with the specific posts linked.

• A Brief History of Faithway Baptist -- "It is of interest to note that the first Baptist preacher to preach in Mississippi was put in jail for the law said that if more than nine people were gathered together it was considered an unlawful assembly."
• Baptist Pastor Unearths His Father’s Holocaust Heroism in Wartime Diaries -- "Son, there are some things I’d rather not talk about."
• Historical Take on Baptism -- "The Petrobusians (followers of Peter de Bruys) were credobaptists in the 12th Century and suffered for it terribly."
• “I Loved Heresy…But the Holy Spirit Found Me” — Thomas C. Oden (1931-2016) and the Recovery of Christian Orthodoxy -- "Professor Oden made the pilgrimage from theological liberalism, and what he acknowledged as an infatuation with heresy, all the way to the orthodox affirmation of biblical Christianity."
• Jackie Robinson’s Faith in the Face of Racism -- "You can’t tell the civil rights story without Jackie Robinson."
• Jeshurun -- "...how is it that HE is the GOD of the upright when it is obvious that those for which HE came into the earth are wicked men, worthy of death and fit only for destruction."
• Lower Conduct Standards for Liberals -- "One of the nastiest more recent liberal events was the Occupy movement around the nation."
• Senators Introduce Bill to Award Posthumous Medal to WWII Vet Who Saved Jewish Soldiers in German POW Camp -- "The bill to recognize Edmonds, which was introduced by Sens. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Tim Kaine (D-Va.)" -- A nice example of bipartisanship in the Senate
• The battle lines are drawn in the White House between religious liberty and LGBT rights -- "The fight over LGBT rights could reveal a fault line between Pence, an evangelical Catholic who as Governor of Indiana signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act in 2015; and Kushner, who is Jewish and whose social circle includes socially progressive New Yorkers."
• The Enigmatic Pope Continues to Disappoint -- "Pope Francis has become a source of division."

Systematic Theology question

Q: “Who in the Baptist tradition have written Systematic Theologies?”

A: I knew of some, and searched online for others. Here is what I found:

• Bancroft, Emery H., Christian Theology, Systematic and Biblical, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1976
• Boyce, James Petigru, Abstract of Systematic Theology, Louisville, KY: SBTS Press, 2013, First published in 1887
• Cloud, David, Give Attendance to Doctrine, Port Huron, MI: Way of Life Literature, 2002
• Cobb, Jesse Emeziah, Brief Studies in Christian Doctrines, Little Rock, AR: Baptist Publications Committee, 1957
• Conner, Walter Thomas, A System of Christian Doctrine, Nashville, TN: Sunday School Board of the SBC, 1924
• Dagg, John Leadley, Manual of Theology: a Treatise on Christian Doctrine, Philadelphia, PA: American Baptist Publication Society, 1871
• Dargan, Edwin Charles, The Doctrines of Our Faith: a Convenient Handbook for Use in Normal Classes, Sacred Literature Courses and Individual Study, Nashville, TN: Sunday School Board, Southern Baptist Convention, 1905
• Enns, Paul P., Moody Handbook of Theology, Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 1989
• Erickson, Millard J., Christian Theology, 3rd Edition, Ada, MI: Baker Academic, 2013
• Forlines, F. Leroy, The Quest for Truth: Theology for Postmodern Times, Nashville, TN: Randall House, 2001
• Fortner, Donald S., Basic Bible Doctrine, Boise, ID: Go Publications, 2004
• Garner, Albert, Defense of the Faith; or Christian Doctrine, Texarkana, TX: Bogard Press, 1997
• Garrett, James Leo, Systematic Theology: Biblical, Historical, and Evangelical, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, (Volume 1, 1990), (Volume 2, 1995)
• Gill, John, Gill’s Complete Body of Practical and Doctrinal Divinity: being a System of Evangelical Truths, deduced from the Sacred Scriptures, Philadelphia, PA: Delaplaine and Hellings, 1810 (originally published in 1767 and 1770, respectively)
• Gowens, Michael L., Basic Bible Doctrines: Systematic Theology for the Person in the Pew, Shallotte, NC: Sovereign Grace Publications, 2015
• Grudem, Wayne, Systematic Theology: an Introduction to Biblical Doctrine, Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2007
• Hovey, Alvah, Manual of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics, Boston MA: 1877
• Johnson, Elias Henry, and Henry G. Weston, An Outline of Systematic Theology and of Ecclesiology, Philadelphia, PA: American Baptist Publication Society, 1895
• McClendon Jr., James William, Ethics: Systematic Theology Volume 1, 1986; Doctrine: Systematic Theology Volume 2, 1994; Witness: Systematic Theology Volume 3, 2000; Nashville, TN: Abington Press
• McCune, Rolland, A Systematic Theology of Biblical Christianity, Detroit, MI: Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary, in three volumes, Vol. 1 (2009), Vol. 2 (2010), Vol. 3 (2010)
• Moody, Dale, The Word of Truth: a Summary of Christian Doctrine Based on Biblical Revelation, Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1981
• Mullins, Edgar Young, The Christian Religion in its Doctrinal Expression, Philadelphia, PA: Roger Williams Press, 1917
• Pendleton, James Madison, Christian Doctrines: a Compendium of Theology, Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1878/1980
• Pepper, George Dana Boardman, Outlines of Systematic Theology, Philadelphia, PA: J.A. Rogers Co., 1873
• Sargent, Robert J., Landmarks of Baptist Doctrine (4 Volume Set), Oak Harbor, WA: Bible Baptist Church Publications, 1990
• Sarrels, Reuben Vance, Systematic Theology, Azle, TX: Harmony Hill, a Primitive Baptist Foundation, 1975
• Simmons, Thomas Paul, A Systematic Study of Bible Doctrine: a Logical Arrangement and a Diligent Treatment of the Teachings of God’s Holy Word, Ashland, KY: T. P. Simmons Memorial Foundation, 1996
• Strong, Augustus Hopkins, Systematic Theology, Rochester, NY: E. R. Andrews, 1886

I have not worried about whether these books will fit everyone’s definition of a systematic theology book. Some may be beginnner level and some advanced. I have tried to research to be sure all these are or were Baptists. As far as I can tell all listed above were Baptists of one brand or another, at some time or another. There is no pretense that the list is exhaustive.

Listing a book that meets the qualifications is not an endorsement of any merit of the book. Caveat lector.

[Note: Systematic Theology presents all scriptural teaching on specific doctrines, gathered by subject and presented one at a time. In it the teachings of the Bible are organized into categories – e.g. the doctrine of God, the doctrine of salvation, the doctrine of baptism, etc.]

* Thanks to Peter Lumpkins for book suggestions.