Dead letter Baptists

An old preacher named Dukes used to say, "The trouble with this country is too much dead letter preaching, and too many dead letter Baptists sitting out there listening to it."

-- posted by John Crowley on the predestinarian listserve Tues, 28 Aug 2007

The importance of the church

The church is built by and belongs to Jesus Christ, Matthew 16:18.

The church has members who are added to it by God, Acts 2:47.

The church brings glory to God, Ephesians 3:21.

The church has been purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ, Acts 20:28.

The church is the pillar and ground of the truth, I Timothy 3:15.

The church is the bride of Christ, Ephesians 5:23-32.

The church assembly should not be forsaken, Hebrews 10:25.

A New Testament Church, part 3

The relationship to others

In judging a church's relationship to others, we consider two aspects: (1) the relationship of church members, and (2) the relationship of church members with the world.

The church members' relationship to one another is a loving relationship. It is a family relationship. Jesus declared this to be the sign of His disciples (John 13:34,35). We can give mental assent to the dogma of a specific congregation or denomination and still be devoid of God's love to brothers and sisters in Christ. Love of God manifests itself in love for the brethren (I John 4:20). Love for the brethren manifests itself in our actions one toward another (I John 3:17,18) -- not merely saying, but actually doing (James 2:15,16).

The church members' relationship to the world is "outsider" relationship (John 17:14,15). The child of God is in the world, but not of it. Love not the world, neither the things of the world (I John 2:15). The child of God goes into the world and preaches the Gospel (Mark 16:15). Though we are not of the world, we are to love both our neighbors and our enemies (Matthew 5:43,44).

A congregation of Jesus Christ will be participating joyfully in one another's lives and preaching the Gospel as God opens doors.

To be continued (d.v.)

A New Testament Church, part 2

The relationship to God's word
The word of God, the Holy Bible, is the testing ground of the Christian and the church. By it, the words of saints and sinners are judged and truth is known. The Scriptures reveal our sinfulness. The Scriptures reveal our Saviour. We are to search the Scriptures (John 5:39). We are to study to show ourselves approved of God (II Tim. 2:15). A right relationship to the word of God honours His word because HE is the source. The Scriptures proceed from God. They are without error. They are sufficient for doctrine and practice, for reproof, correction, and exhortation. (Cf. II Tim. 3:16,17). God is honoured by His church when they hold HIS word above the teachings and traditions of men (Mark 7:1-13). A congregation that does not believe God's word does not properly reverence and respect God.

To be continued (d.v.)

A New Testament Church

People use many methods to find a "church home". Possibly few of them are based on Scripture. Probably some are not even reasonable. The criteria should be based on the teachings of Scripture and not our own temperaments and preferences. Emotional people may look for a local assembly that is very expressive. A more reserved character might want one that is calm and quiet -- perhaps even dignified. A poor person might feel at home in a small insignificant church; the rich might seek out a large congregation with an impressive facility. Such shallow surface considerations are fruits of the flesh and not the Spirit.

How shall we know which church is right? By the sign placed over the door? By the church covenant attached to the wall? By the articles of faith adopted in conference? By its size and the size of its budget? How shall we know? Perhaps the agreement of the word and the Spirit is the answer. I offer three suggestions that might engage the mind concerning local assemblies of Christ (or not). Look at the relationship to God, the relationship to God's Word, and the relationship to one others.

The relationship to God
Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind (Matt. 22:37, 28). The nature of a congregation can be tested by the nature of its relationship to God. Much religion is based on mental assent to its rituals, rites and doctrines. Christianity goes beyond outward form. The new birth brings an individual into direct contact and personal relationship with God. A true church of Christ will be God-centered rather than self-centered, man-centered, or pastor-centered. God's love will permeate its worship and mark the individual lives of those who assemble there. NO -- it won't be a perfect church. The congregants will probably be even more aware of their sinfulness than is average. But the relationship to God will be a full one that encompasses the total person -- heart, soul, and mind.

To be continued (d.v.)

Byron Augusta Freeman, missing since 2006

Former Anderson County resident Byron Augusta Freeman has been missing since June 24, 2006. According to the Texas DPS, "Mr. Freeman may have the early stages of Alzheimer’s or Dementia and he frequently blinks his eyes. He was last seen walking away from the gray 2006 Lincoln Town car bearing Texas plates 332KWK; which he rented to attend a class reunion. The vehicle was located in Robertson County out of gas. Mr. Freeman was last seen wearing green coveralls." For a bigger picture, more information and Department of Public Safety contact information, click here.*

Information from Kelly Jolkowski's article Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Increase Missing Person Statistics: Lauris Freeman, Bryon’s nephew said, “Every summer Byron would drive from his home in California to attend a high school reunion held in Palestine , Texas . He had done this for a decade, and he usually stayed a week or two to visit family and friends before returning home. The day he went missing, he was to attend a picnic that was held about 5 miles from where he was staying with a friend. Driving alone, he followed another car (driven by a family friend) to the picnic site but apparently kept on driving past the exit. The rental car he was driving was found on the side of the highway some 100 miles away, out of gas, windows down, and keys in the ignition."

* For some reason I absolutely cannot get blogger to accept the direct link to Mr. Freeman's page. So go to the alphabetical page for "F", then scroll down and click on Mr. Freeman's name.

Announcing another new book

The Signature of God Confronts the Forgeries of Men
By Edwin B. Fountain and Willard A. Ramsey
272 pages. Paperback. Price is $19.95 plus $3.00 for shipping.

"One of the greatest dangers to historic Baptist theology today is Pentecostalism. This growing movement has influenced Baptist views on the Holy Spirit, the church, worship, and the scriptures. In response Dr. Edwin B. Fountain and Willard A. Ramsey have written this book to examine the truth of Pentecostal doctrines. They examine subjects such as the baptism of the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of tongues in scripture, subjectivism, the historical background of these things, as well as authentication and confirmation of scripture."

Order From:
Millennium III Publishers
174 N. Moore Rd.
Simpsonville, SC 296801-800-967-7345
MIII@millenniatech.info

** As posted by Ben Stratton on Landmark Southern Baptist, 26 July 2007

Blogs, books and links

Gospel Mission is a work and outreach of Old Paths Strict Baptist Church in Choteau, Montana. I've ordered from them from time over a period of several years. But I didn't know they have a web site until recently. Gadsby's Hymn Book, a book of hymns by English Baptist preacher William Gadsby, is available from them. Joseph Hart's hymns offer some great reading on experimental religion.

Sacred Harp blog addresses
Sacred Harp alto, blog of Sharona Nelson, Sacred Harp alto and author
Will.Whim, a weblog by Will Fitzgerald

One of the Baptist blog's I check frequently is Joining God in His Work, by Leslie Puryear. Brother Les is a Southern Baptist pastor. We have had discussions in which we didn't see eye to eye. But sometimes you just run across someone like Les that you like, no matter what the differences. [P.S. -- we agree on some things, too.]

Storehouse tithing??

"At the outset let me say that the 'church' is not a 'depository' for the money of the saints nor can it be proven from the scripture that any New Testament church had an ongoing regular treasury. Some have taught that the only way that a person can properly 'give' of their funds to the LORD is to bring them to the 'local church' so that they might be deposited in that organization’s bank account. This idea is generally built on the old testament concept of bringing all the tithes into the 'storehouse' (see Mal. 3:10). The problem with this teaching is that nowhere can a parallel be made between the New Testament assembly of the saints and the Old Testament treasury or storehouse. Nor can it be shown that the New Testament church is an 'organization' (which is a whole new topic to be discussed at another time). On top of that there is no command in the New Testament requiring or asking GOD’s people to tithe their money or any example of an ongoing and regular collection of funds in the assembly of the saints. This is probably quite a shocking statement to those who have long sat under ministries which spend a great deal of time emphasizing 'ten percent' giving even to the point of promising great reward to those who do and certain leanness to those who don’t." -- Mike McInnis, Mike's Wayfarer blog

Generic "all"

"The word ALL is generic and commands only that which is within the confines of each respective context. Isaiah 54:13; John 6:37-39, 45; Rom. 8:28; 1st Tim. 2:4, 6" -- Hulan Bass in "The Truth is..." on the PB-MB listserve Thurs 19 July 2007

Eight weeks

Today my mother-in-law has been missing eight weeks. I want to thank everyone for your thoughts, prayers, well-wishes, moral support -- whatever God has blessed you to do. Thank you.

Kelly Jolkowski of Project Jason (and mother of missing person Jason Jolkowski) has written a nice article titled Aging Persons with Alzheimer’s and Dementia Increase Missing Person Statistics. It is to be published in the September issue of the trucking magazine Through the Gears. Kelly interweaves the stories of Byron Freeman and Shirley Hunt with a world of information about Alzheimer's, missing persons, search and rescue, etc. You might want to look for it if you're in a truck stop. You can find it among free truckers' publications. It will also appear on the Project Jason website on September 1st (d.v.).

Noah's ark -- a "horror" story

On SBC Witness, Jon Akin posted some comments about Noah's Ark that present a part of the story that is often not heard from the "Christian perspective". An agnostic girl called "Hellbound Alleee" wrote concerning parents decorating their children's rooms in Noah's Ark themes, etc., "Don't these people have a clue? Noah's ark is not a cutesy children's story about having a bunch of sweet cuddly pets in a big boat. Noah's ark is a horror story. There are dead bodies floating in the water. God is wiping out the human race in judgment. Parents might as well put 'Saw II' posters on their kid's walls..."

Has this agnostic understood a perspective that Christian's generally miss?

Interesting thought

"The Alamo was once a church [building], then a battlefield; and now, it is a museum." -- Daniel Sanchez, quoted in the Western Recorder 26 June 2007

"The Lone Wild Bird"

1. The lone, wild bird in lofty flight
Is still with Thee, nor leaves Thy sight.
And I am thine! I rest in Thee.
Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.

2. Each secret thought is known to Thee,
My whole life's path, whate'er it be;
My days, my deeds, my hopes, my fears,
My deepest joys, my silent tears.

3. The ends of earth are in Thy hand,
The sea's dark deep and far-off land.
And I am thine! I rest in Thee.
Great Spirit, come, and rest in me.

-- Henry Richard McFadyen (1877-1964)

Terrible as an Army with Banners

I don't think I've blogged on the topic of abortion (which I believe is murder, and wrong). I ran across Donnie Halbgewachs, Jr.'s Terrible as an Army with Banners and thought some of you might find it intriguing.

Unknown person found in Terrell, Texas

Perhaps the opposite of the known missing person is the unknown found person. The picture to the left is of an unknown female found in Terrell, Kaufman County, Texas. According to the Deparment of Public Safety, this "female was admitted to a hospital and has amnesia. She has a tattoo on her lower back that covers the width of a black floral pattern. She also has a scar over her right eye and a scar over the navel area. She recollects being in the New Orleans airport." For more information and a bigger picture, click here. If you know and can identify this person, please contact the Terrell Police Department or the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Responsibility and accountability

"I reject the hypothesis that man is responsible to God, on the basis that the one who holds responsibility holds the superior position, while the one beneath him is accountable. The one accountable holds the inferior position. God is responsible for all things, in that He created all things, directs all things according to His purpose for all things. In His purpose, He has made man fully accountable to Him for all that He requires of him." -- Stanley Phillips, from e-mail "Campbellite Hymnal," Thursday, 12 July 2007

Another hard question

A few weeks back, I asked a hard question for "general" Baptists. Now one for "particular" Baptists:

If you believe that Christ died to save only His elect, what is your answer to the following?

If Jesus Christ died for the elect, and God irresistibly regenerates them and gives everlasting life -- then what is the difference between man and a robot?

Quoting other blogs

I'm looking for opinions concerning copying and reposting of the blog material of others. I sometimes use cuts from other blogs with links to that blog for the full story. What is the internet etiquette on this? How much is too much? What about copyright issues? I've thought of this as highlighting good material and promoting visits to another person's blog. Others may not look at it that way. I would be glad if anyone wants to quote from my blog, so I guess I assume others would be also. But this very well may not be the case. Would like to hear the opinion of others on this matter. Thanks.

Big weekend

I'm posting some quick notes which I'll try to revise, update, and expand tomorrow when I have more time.

East Texas Sacred Harp Convention.
We believe we had a very successful 152nd session of the East Texas Sacred Harp Convention. Probably between 375 and 400 turned out on Saturday. Tom Owen said he believed it was our best singing ever. On Saturday night a little over 100 people turned out for our Saturday night social. In addition to some fine Tex-Mex cooked up by the ladies, we sang several selections from the Christian Harmony and the unpublished song "Isaac" by Raymond Hamrick. We had possibly 200 people return for the Sunday session. Thanks to all our visitors far and near for helping us with another year of this grand old convention.

Shirley Hunt search.
The Texas EquuSearch volunteers and other volunteers who came to search for Shirley endured some very hot over-100 East Texas weather. Thanks so much to all of you. Possibly a month ago I would not thought of a search that did not find the person for whom one is looking as successful. I now can understand that a search that eliminates an area from the places where Shirley possibly might be is successful.

Thanks to Tyler Paper's Stephanie Jeter, who ably covered both these events (though I think she made my stumbly comments about singing sound much better than what I really said!).