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The number of ordained women in the Southern
Baptist Convention -- which on the national level strongly opposes women
pastors -- has grown to about 1,225, with a quarter of them serving as chaplains.
The latest statistics on Southern Baptist women were reported in the Fall
1997 editions of Folio, the newsletter of Baptist Women in Ministry, based
in Kansas City, Kansas. Sociologist Sarah Frances Anders wrote in an article
that 35 percent of the women served in church staff positions. Less than
2 percent of ordained women are academics. The other top 10 states for employing
Baptist women are, in order, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina.
Florida, Missouri, Alabama, and Maryland. Anders noted how difficult it
is to keep tabs on ordained Southern Baptist women. An annual denominational
report lists clergy in a variety of positions, but does not identify them
by gender. But she said the number of ordained women is growing despite
opposition to the practice in the denomination. `While the number of (Southern
Baptist) clergywomen was relatively small in comparison to those in other
mainline churches, they began to grow in the 1970s and 1980s at a more rapid
rate even though negative resolutions about ordination of women were passed
at some (Southern Baptist) conventions,' she wrote. In 1979, a volume entitled,
`Women in Baptist Life,' published by Leon McBeth reported that there were
just 58 Southern Baptist clergywomen." (Challenger, April-June
1998)
"The first woman head pastor in the South Carolina Baptist Convention doesn't know if she'll face opposition in her community. `I came to peace with that a long time ago,' says Dr. Jean Pruett, minister of First Baptist Church of Moore in Spartanburg County, S.C. `I don't have to justify God's call to me.' The church is affiliated with the Nashville-based Southern Baptist Convention and the moderate (liberal) Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. A graduate of New Orleans and Erskine Theological seminaries, Pruett says most of the opposition to women in the pulpit comes from conservative Christians who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. `The Scriptures were never meant, I think, to be taken literally,' she says. `How many sassy children have been stoned at city hall? That's what the Scepter says to do. The Bible is a guidebook for life, a wonderful gift from God,' she says. `People get to worshiping the Bible instead of worshiping God." (The Baptist Challenge, August 1997)
(Jerry Falwell assures us that the good old Southern Baptist Convention has now turned around and is safe to join. How long will it be before Jerry starts ordaining women? Is Jerry Falwell set to become President of the SBC? Of course he would deny this, but if the support is there, you can be sure he will take it. Will the SBC ever offer it to him? Will the Baptist Bible Fellowship International continue to allow dual membership in the BBF and SBC? If they continue to tolerate Falwell, you can be sure that the last vestige of separation has gone out the window. by E. L. Bynum)
"Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama, amended its church covenant to specify it welcomes all people regardless of sexual orientation. Apparently the statement puts the congregation at odds with the Southern Baptist Convention, which bans membership of `churches which act to affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior' (Baptist Today, 5/22/97)." (What In The World!, Vol. 2, Number 3) (Jerry Falwell is in the SBC with such churches as this one. by ELB)
—Compiled by Caroll Turbeville
The Manhattan Theatre Company (MTC) of New York, a recipient of funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), has decided to produce a play depicting Christ as a homosexual who has sexual relations with his 12 disciples. The play, Corpus Christi, portrays the life of a Jesus who is crucified as the "King of Queers." Terrence McNally, the play's creator and a board member of the MTC, makes no effort to conceal his contempt for Christians by ending his draft with, "If we have offended, so be it. He belongs to us as well as to you."
Initially, the MTC had been reticent to produce the play because of Christian opposition and supposed threats. However, the art community soon rallied behind the play and gay playwright and waxed indignant when "right wing extremists and religious zealots" wished to prevent the play from opening. So, after a chain of events that could almost be mistaken for a staged publicity stunt, the MTC declared that the play must go on.
The MTC, one of New York City's premier theater companies, was awarded $80,000 of taxpayers' money by the NEA for the 1997-98 fiscal year. The money was to be used specifically for the creation of new and innovative plays.
The NEA has also funded such projects as the exhibits of Robert Mapplethorpe's homoerotic photographs and Andres Serrano's "P___ Christ," a photograph of a crucifix immersed in the artist's urine.
As the art community prepares for the opening of Corpus Christi some time this September or October, politicians in Washington have said that legislation is being drafted which included no money for grants by the NEA. However, the Clinton Administration has no intention of seeing the NEA funding abolished. President Clinton recently recommended a $38 million increase in NEA funding for the fiscal year beginning this October. Most recently, five liberal Republicans sided with twenty-six Democrats on the House Appropriations Committee to fully fund the NEA for another year. The measure might still be stopped when it reaches the House floor after the July 4 recess. However, Democrats have warned that President Clinton would veto the bill unless the NEA funding is included. The five Republicans who broke ranks were Michael P. Forbes (N.Y.), Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (N.J.), Jim Kolbe (Ariz.), John Edward Porter (Ill.) and James T. Walsh (N.Y.). Salt Server. Mance E. Harmon, Editor
(This is a shame to use the tax money of Christians to promote such ungodliness. —ELB)
"At 5:30 p.m., the church begins to rock. A hundred teenagers in the choir loft jump to their feet, clapping and dancing as they sing. The vast congregation responds in kind, and soon the cavernous auditorium is literally shaking. Maybe there's too much shaking. After 15 minutes a man takes the pulpit with an important announcement: `We ask the people in the balcony not to jump or bounce. It wasn't designed for that. You can come downstairs here if you want to worship.' When the service begins in earnest at 6:05, the announcement is all but forgotten. The excitement begins on the platform, where a man in a purple sport coat begins running in place. The man to his left follows suit, and soon the two are dancing together behind the pulpit. The spirit spreads to the balcony, where children roll down the broad steps while parents try their best to bounce without shaking the floor. On the front row of the balcony, one gray-haired woman attracts even more attention than the ministers dancing on the platform. Looking like a geriatric cheerleader, she crisscrosses her arms in front of her and chops wildly at the air above her head. When she finally falls to the floor and thrashes about for five minutes, her fellow worshipers burst into applause. At last the thumping, driving music fades into a slow worship chorus. The cheerleader struggles to her knees, her hands raised to heaven. Wiping his brow with a handkerchief, one of the dancing ministers announces, `I'm not going to make any excuses. I just want to dance tonight because the glory of the Lord has returned to his church.' Father's Day 1995 was the date of the return. Since then, the Brownsville Assembly of God church in Pensacola, Fla., has drawn hundreds of thousands of the curious and faithful to what has been billed as one of the largest revivals in modern history. Leaders say an average of 3,000 people attend services four nights a week, Wednesday through Saturday, with even more on Sunday mornings. The marquee out front tallies the number of saved souls the way McDonald's used to tout the number of hamburgers sold. `Over 114,000 decisions for Christ,' the sign read earlier this fall." (World, Dec. 20, 1997)
By Bob Jones IV in Pensacola, Fla. with reporting
from Edward E. Plowman
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The nation's largest
Lutheran church lifted Reformation-era condemnations against the Roman Catholic
Church, and decided to try again to establish closer ties with the Episcopal
Church.
Delegates to the biennial Church wide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted 958 to 25 to approve a statement declaring that both Catholics and Lutherans agree all persons depend on the grace of God - and not human merit - for their salvation.
Meanwhile, a day after leaving the Episcopal Church at the ecumenical altar, representatives of the 5.2 million-member ELCA also voted 995 to 15 to develop a new plan to share ministry with the Episcopal Church.
Continuing to address the breaches from the great 16th-century divide in Christianity, the church overwhelmingly endorsed a Lutheran-Catholic declaration on justification by faith alone - the issue at the heart of the Reformation.
In rejecting the stereotypes of the Reformation that Catholics believe they can earn their salvation, the church said 16th-century condemnations of Catholic teachings in Lutheran confessions no longer apply.
"We confess together that all persons depend completely on the saving grace of God for their salvation," the statement said.
The 1997 declaration was drawn up by an international group of Catholic and Lutheran theologians. The document is being sent to the 123 member churches of the Lutheran World Federation and the Vatican for its approval.
So far, the two largest Lutheran churches, the
ELCA and the Church of Sweden, have endorsed the declaration. The Catholic
Church is studying the document, but has not taken action.
"This step could fundamentally change the mood between Lutherans and
Roman Catholics, both in this country and world wide," said the Rev.
Daniel Martensen, Lutheran ecumenical officer.
The decision ended a day of celebration for Lutheran delegates, who earlier broke out in broad smiles and stood up and applauded the overwhelming vote to continue to pursue ties with the Episcopal Church.
"You have experienced the urgent and heartfelt desire of this assembly to move into full communion with the Episcopal Church," Lutheran Presiding Bishop H. George Anderson said in special remarks to Episcopal observers.
In response, the Rev. David Perry, ecumenical officer for the Episcopal Church, said there is hope for eventual unity.
"In God's time, we all will discover the
very, very good news we are all one in Christ," he said.
On Monday, representatives of the 5.2 million-member church easily approved
a sweeping plan to share clergy and Holy Communion with the Presbyterian
Church (USA), United Church of Christ and Reformed Church in America.
But a similar plan with the Episcopal Church fell six votes shy of the required majority.
—Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
A great Baptist monthly paper has ceased publication. It was sad to read that The Baptist Challenge has now ceased publication. The May 1998 issue was the last issue to come off the press and it will be the last published. The Baptist Challenge has stood for the distinctive doctrines that independent Baptists believe. This paper has had a wide influence upon independent Baptists, and has been used to strengthen many and encourage them to stand for the truth. It has helped many preachers and churches to leave conventions and other unscriptural organizations and to take their stand for the independence of the church. Only eternity will reveal the great influence that this paper has had among Baptists.
Some people got it confused with the Plains Baptist Challenger, but they have always been two separate publications. These two publications have never been competitors, and we have had a wonderful relationship down through the years. The Baptist Challenge for more than 38 years was published in Little Rock, Arkansas, and the Plains Baptist Challenger for more than 50 years has been published in Lubbock, Texas. We certainly have no plans to cease publication.
In any great enterprise, there must be someone in charge that has a vision of the need, and the purpose. M. L. Moser, Jr. was the man with that vision. He has had a long and distinguished career in the Lord's work. He spent 13 years as a missionary in Mexico, before being called to pastor the Central Baptist Church of Little Rock, Ark., which his father M. L. Moser, Sr. had pastored for many years. He was pastor of that great Church for 26 years, before retiring in 1991. Since that time he has been the editor of The Baptist Challenge, and has continued to work with the Challenge Press, and the mission work in Mexico. Under his leadership, the Challenge Press was started, and they have published many good Baptist books. Many of these books were written by Bro. Moser. This ministry has been invaluable to the cause of Christ and will be sorely missed by sound independent Baptists.
No one will ever know the endless hours that Bro. Moser spent in keeping this publication in print. Unless you have done this kind of work, you cannot know the many late night hours that were spent in editing, writing, typesetting, doing layouts and the many other things that this man has done. No one will know the sacrifices that he and his dear wife Edith have made, in order to keep this publication ministry going. I know for a fact that his wife went to work on a secular job at one point, in order to pay for typesetting and other equipment.
His wife Edith has had Alzheimer's Disease for a number of years, and is getting progressively worse. They are in need of prayer, and we urge our readers to remember them in prayer. She has been a loyal soldier in the work with her husband. Those who wish to contact Bro. Moser, can reach him at 5424 Alcoa Rd., Benton, AR 72015. (501) 315-0320. Email Address: mlmoser@earthlink.net
We earnestly pray that some younger independent Baptists, would get the vision of publishing monthly papers, books and tracts of substance. There is a great need for the publication of materials that are fundamental, conservative, and Baptist. We need publications that take a stand on the widespread compromise of doctrine and practice. They need to take a clear stand on separation, both personal and ecclesiastical. We don't need any more of the middle of the road kind that are willing to compromise for earthly success and popularity. We do not need those who claim to be Independent Baptists, and who have adopted the New Evangelical approach. In these days, we are in great need of more who will seek the old paths and walk in them. "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein." (Jeremiah 6:16 ) There are too many who are attempting to remove the ancient landmarks. "Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set." (Proverbs 22:28 )
We use to hear people talk, preach, and sing
about the old time religion. It went something like this, "Give
me that old time religion, give me that old time religion, give that old
time religion, it's good enough for me. It was good for Paul and Silas,
it was good for Paul and Silas, it was good for Paul and Silas, and it's
good enough for me." Some of the verses went on to say it was good
for our fathers, and it's good enough for me. It will take us all to heaven,
and it's good enough for me.
May we suggest that some should change this song to reflect their lack of
convictions. They might sing, "Give me that good time religion, give
me that fun time religion, give me that good time religion and it's good
enough for me. It was unknown to Paul and Silas, it was unknown to Paul
and Silas, it was unknown to Paul and Silas, but it's good enough for me."
Then they might go on to sing it was unknown to our fathers, but it's good
enough for me. It won't take us all to heaven, but it's good enough for
me.
I am appalled by the emphasis on fun and good
times in modern day religion. Where is it to be found in the Bible, that
the worship of a Holy God is supposed to be a "fun time?" I submit
to you that it cannot be found. Can you imagine Moses saying to the children
of Israel, "come on up to the mount, we are going to have a good time
or a fun time?" You might say, well that was under the law, but it
is different today. Can you imagine Jeremiah the weeping prophet, saying
any such thing, in the time of apostasy in which he lived? Listen to him
speak in Lamentations. "Mine eye runneth down with rivers of water
for the destruction of the daughter of my people. Mine eye trickleth down,
and ceaseth not, without any intermission." (Lamentations 3:48-49)
Listen to what he said in Jeremiah. "Oh that my head were waters,
and mine eyes a fountain of tears, that I might weep day and night for the
slain of the daughter of my people!" (Jeremiah 9:1)
Listen to Isaiah as he wrote of the very serious situation of his day. "Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people." (Isaiah 22:4). It does not sound like he was promoting a good time or fun time religion. It was a time of apostasy. It was a time for repentance and prayer, not a fun time. Listen to what the Psalmist said. "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law." (Psalms 119:136)
In fact you can search the Old Testament and you will never find any mention of God's people coming together to have a fun time or good time. They had a higher view of the God they served.
Can you imagine John the Baptist saying, "come on out into the wilderness we are going to have a good time?" Instead we find him saying something else. "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (Matthew 3:1-2) "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire." (Matthew 3:11-12)
Can you imagine the Lord Jesus Christ asking people, young or old, to come and have a fun time? His message was quite different. "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." (Matthew 4:17) "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." (Luke 13:5)
Simon Peter had no good time or fun time religion to offer. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord." (Acts 3:19) Such preaching was not popular then, nor will it be popular today. We are locked in a titanic struggle for the truth, why should we turn aside for a good time religion?
Read all the epistles of Paul and see if you can find any reference to a good time or a fun time. Of course Paul tells us that we are to have joy, but there is a lot of difference between that and the good time, fun time religion of today. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) Paul goes on to tell us what we should be thinking of. "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." (Philippians 4:8) This is a far cry from the good time, fun time religion of today.
Much of the fun and games that is being introduced in churches today, is said to be for the children (young people). All kinds of "good time religion" has been introduced among God's people using that excuse. This reminds me of the politicians in Washington. They introduce all kinds of foolish programs, all in the name of doing it for the children. Child care, socialized medicine and dozens of other bureaucratic programs are introduced, all in the name of the children. Many of these programs are expensive, and will do more harm to the children, rather than help them. Then these same politicians turn around and defend and promote the very thing that will destroy our children. No one can convince me that taking God, the Bible, and prayer out of the schools is for the good of the children. Neither is teaching them that they are higher animals, and that they got here by evolution good for the children. Abortion is not good for the children, because it has been used to murder over 30 million of them. Giving homosexuals more and more rights is not good for the children, because the homosexuals are always looking for recruits to increase their numbers. Allowing homosexuals to adopt children, is not good for the children. Promoting filth in the movies and television is not good for the children, but Clinton and other politicians cozy up to Hollywood whores and whoremongers all the time. They like their lifestyle and their money. The President is going to see that all the schools are hooked up to the Internet. This is all supposed to help the children. The Internet will destroy the children, and set education back for years to come. If they really want to help the children, they should introduce reading, writing, and arithmetic, and a little of the old hickory stick back into the schools.
If they really want to help the children, then
they would unburden families of the back breaking taxes, that cause fathers
and mothers to work at two or three jobs, and to neglect the children. If
they want to help the children, let them quit promoting the birth of illegitimate
children. Some women keep on having children out of wedlock, so they can
get more welfare.
This may seem far afield from our subject, but in fact it is not. The government
promotes their programs to help the children, and turn around and destroy
the children. Much that is introduced in the churches to help the children
is going to have the same effect from a spiritual standpoint. Christians
need to wake up and realize that a fun time religion will destroy the children.
We are going to give some illustrations of the progress of the Good Time Religion today. We are going to quote from an Associated Press report, which tells about the Franklin Graham crusade in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - In many ways it's a typical, old-fashioned revival, with talk of heaven and hell, saints and sinners and a chance to be saved after the sermon.
This isn't Billy Graham. The preacher is more likely to be dressed in jeans and cowboy boots and the choir sounds more like ZZ Top, the hard-rocking trio from Texas.
"We're not having a church meeting here; I want to put on a show that people will enjoy," said Franklin Graham, 45, son of one of America's most admired evangelists.
Thousands of people are attending the New Mexico Festival `98, which started on Thursday. The festival is Franklin's upbeat version of his father's celebrated revivals.
Billy Graham is expected to attend the festival this weekend to speak to the crowds. Father and son have spoken at each other's crusades in recent years, and preached together in Canada in 1995, but this will be their first joint crusade in the United States.
The elder Graham, 79, has struggled with Parkinson's disease and has trimmed down his schedule in recent years. Some reports have speculated the Albuquerque event is passing of the Graham torch.
"I don't think that's the case," Franklin Graham said. "He is slowing down, but it gives us a chance to do more meetings together. ...He has no intention of quitting."
In fact, he said, his father's health has
improved and lately feels better than he has in years.
But sooner or later, the older Graham will have to surrender the stage.
And Franklin, who was named two years ago as senior vice president of his
father's evangelistic organization, is prepared to carry on. "My message
is going to be the same as what my father has preached, it's God's message,"
Franklin said.
It's also a message delivered with a little more glitter and little less of the fire-and-brimstone that has made his father famous around the world.
High-energy music and short sermons are more Franklin's style. He brings in magicians, ventriloquists and even karate experts to help deliver his message to children. "I want to draw the people who have never stepped foot in a church," he said.
Franklin makes no effort to hide his status
as a reformed rebel. His own press packet boasts the tale of an adolescence
marked by drinking, smoking and a disdain for school.
Despite his casual appearance, Franklin said he's still delivering a serious
message to fill the public's spiritual void.
(Bold Face type used for emphasis is ours. —ELB)
This is a good example of the good time religion of our day. I attended the Billy Graham Crusade in the early 1950s in Ft. Worth, Texas. His message and his music was certainly different in those days. Graham's message did not have near as much compromise in it, as it does today. The soul stirring singing of George Beverly Shea was featured. The great choirs directed by Cliff Barrows certainly did not sing the Contemporary Christian Music of today. They sung the old hymns of the Christian faith, and this music glorified God. Now Billy Graham brings in the popular CCM and Rock stars of the day. Never mind that they may have been singing in some night club the week before.
Franklin Graham will not preach the same message Billy Graham preached over 40 years ago. His message will not be as good as his father preaches even today. He is taking the good time religion adopted by his father to an even higher level of compromise. The Ministerial Alliance in Lubbock is trying to get Franklin Graham to Lubbock to hold a crusade. You can be sure that Tabernacle Baptist Church will not participate. They can have their good time religion. It will help take a host of young people to hell.
We deplore the introduction of the good time religion into Independent Baptist Churches. Yet, we see this very thing more and more. We do not mean to say that all Independent Baptist Churches have adopted this worldly way, but more and more some are turning in that direction. We recently received a notice from a historic Independent Baptist Church inviting us to bring our Young People to a Youth Conference being held in conjunction with their Missions Conference. Among the activities offered are fun, activities, and skits. The are mentioned in a prominent manner. They also said, "Please bring $20.00 for activities. Bring casual clothes and one change of old clothes for paint ball wars!" There is no mention of what is meant by "casual clothes," but we can imagine how some will interpret this. Will young people like this program? Unfortunately many will, but it is not the message that we should be giving to our youth. It is a step toward the good time religion of our day.
Others Are Also Concerned About This Trend. Below you will see two articles taken from another publication that expresses concern about this fun time religion.
Ernest D. Pickering, Th.D. writes: "The bold newspaper ad read, `A Touch of Class-Raucous Comedy-Live Bands, Hot Dance Moves.' Sound like a blurb for a local disco? Not on your life! It heralded a special rally sponsored by the Youth for Christ in Auckland, New Zealand. It was an effort, said the director, to reach young people in a `creative way.' There is a tremendous emphasis on entertainment today in churches and organizations across the land. We have to provide a `thrill a minute.' Nobody wants to be stuck with the accusation that their youth program or church service is `boring' because they simply worship God. Let's do something, anything to liven things up and put `spice' into our services. Let's have fun. A plethora of gimmicks are being employed today by those caring to catch the attention of the multitudes. Rock concerts, laser light shows, and assorted catchy programs are designed to appeal to the jaded tastes of a TV drugged society. Young preachers are often tempted. `Let's do something to get a crowd. The church across town is beating us. Sadly, some of them succumb. Charles Spurgeon, the great English Baptist, declared with feeling, `The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them ... providing amusement for the people is no where spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. The need is Biblical doctrine, so understand and felt it sets men on fire.' We say Amen to that!" (Maranatha Baptist Watchman, March 1998)
"The News Journal recently showcased local aspects of a growing cultural phenomena -- the worship renewal movement. The special feature explained how generation X-ers are hungering for a new style of worship which bears a closer resemblance to MTV than to their parents' old time religion. Alice Crann alluded to the `walls of tradition tumbling down.' Indeed, all the new and more hip sanctuary, jeans, shorts and T-shirts do fine in services with names like `Saturday Night Alive,' a rock show title many X-ers would find familiar. Drama, dance, video clips, rock `n' roll, TV talk show formats and eating during the service are part of the worship experience. A keen statement was quoted from Robert Webber, a worship renewal authority, who explained the forces shaping the movement: Generation X learns more through participation than reason. They are looking for forms of communication that they experience in culture...." (Maranatha Baptist Watchman, March 1998)
Of course it hasn't got that bad among the Independent Baptists that we know, but this is the directions we are headed. I said along time ago that activities of the liberals and modernists, in due time become the activities of the new evangelicals and Southern Baptists. Of course we must not leave out the charismatics, because their methods filter down as well. In fact they may have more influence than the liberals. Then we see that the activities of the new evangelicals, charismatics and Southern Baptists become the activities of the Baptist Bible Fellowship churches, and other fellowship organizations. Last of all the Independent Baptists start doing what the BBF and others are doing. Independent Baptists are adopting the music of the charismatics. If Independent Baptists want to go that way, let them just jump ahead today, and just adopt the methods of these heretical groups today. Why wait to enjoy this new freedom, why not just jump a few years in advance and enjoy it today? Why wait to compromise in the future, just enjoy yourself and start doing it today?
The charismatic ideas are being adopted by many Baptist churches. The following clipping certainly expresses what many today are wanting to do. How much of this has already invaded sound churches?
"Praise and worship [involve] shouting praise to God, banging on drums and cymbals, jamming on electric guitars, dancing, waving, laughing, weeping, raising hands in the air, bowing, and even lying prostrate on the floor. I'm ready to break out of the religious restrictions that keep Sunday morning worship stiff and predictable. I'm ready to do something wild, something that will release me and those around me to revel in His love with absolute abandon." (Current Thoughts & Trends, April 1998)
It is no wonder that the theology of the average American is not as deep as a mud puddle. Most people know nothing about how to be saved. Notice the following information. Please see that these statistics come from religious people, and it is deplorable even among Baptists.
"Saved by faith or by works? That is the question that was recently asked Americans in a nationwide survey. More than half -- 55 percent -- say a good person can earn salvation. A breakdown is as follows: Assembly of God, 22%; Baptist, 38%; Presbyterian, 52%; Lutheran, 54%; Episcopalian, 5%; Methodist, 59%; Mormon, 76%; and Catholic, 82% (Moody, March/April 1998)" (What In The World, Vol. 23, Number 8)
Churches are willing to do almost anything to gain new members. This is born out in the following poll that was taken among pastors.
"When pastors were asked if churches should offer consumer-oriented programs and services `to effectively compete with other congregations' for potential members, nearly half (47%) agreed they should. One of three disagreed (some strongly), and 20% were unsure." (Current Thoughts & Trends, August)
This is the direction that churches are going in America. I must tell you that it is not just the heretics who are willing to go to any length to get members. Some who ought to know better, are doing it and it will bring a watering down of doctrine. It is especially disturbing when you see this trend among Independent Baptists. In times past, they were the ones contending for the faith. Thank the Lord for those who have not sold out the truth, and are willing to stand up and be counted in this hour.
"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee" (Titus 2:11-15)
This is one of four times in this epistle to Titus that Paul uses the term "exhort." It means to "invite, invoke, entreat" a given request for a desired end. His desire for Titus to earnestly admonish the believers to godliness on the island of Crete is more than nonchalant. There is no doubt Titus' responsibility was to the churches in the various towns on the island of Crete. "Elders" and "bishops" were God ordained offices in the church. The exhortation itself is evidence that the people in these churches needed to be impelled to forsake ungodliness (leave it alone or behind). Impiety must have been prevalent in the area of worldly lusts in that society as it obviously is in our society today. The condition of the society around them is revealed in Titus 1:12: "One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." Hardly any revelation of the character of the inhabitants of Crete could have been any less complimentary. The stark truth was that the believers were to be on guard lest they fall into the same condemning condition or be enticed to follow their worldly maneuvers.
Why would this warning be necessary and is it needful today? The fallen nature of man is not eradicated even though he is free from eternal condemnation through the new birth. A close daily fellowship with the Lord is the only safe condition in which to abide for protection. For this fellowship to be enhanced in church members there must be an exerted effort on the part of pastors/preachers to preach and teach separation from the world and for the hearers to comply. The doctrine of biblical separation has fallen by the wayside in much of so-called religious activity today. From ministry to music the idea of change permeates the minds of many one time apparently committed souls. The fear of losing the youth of "our church families" to ways of the world is not cured by lowering standards in the church to the level of the world. Yet it is obvious that many church leaders feel that is the only possible alternative. What a shame it is to have so little respect for God's best gift to our families to think the youth we have been given have not the ability to comprehend the preaching of the old Book in the same manner as their forefathers. How sad when pastors/youth leaders will not face the issue of proper Bible guidance in dress and activity. Modesty may be old fashioned by the standard of many but God's assessment of modesty for both sexes remains the same. I wonder if God should send a single message to the pastors of even some Baptist churches today if the description of "slow bellies" might not fit as well now as then? Too spiritually frail to stand and too spiritually foolish to strengthen anyone in the congregation.
From the time Abraham was called from among his kinsman to obediently follow the Lord, both Abraham and his descendants received strict instructions concerning separation. From circumcision to clothing to cultivation God issued definite instruction (Gen. 17:11; Deut. 22:9,11). All of the Lord's directives were for the purpose of identifying His people from the general population of the earth. That by any language is defined as separation whether in Hebrew, Greek, or English. They were to be separate in worship, weddings, working, and wealth. Though the promise from the Lord was to feed them from the good of the land they did not have permission to flounder in the substance of the world.
They were to worship the one and only true God and Him only were they to serve (Exo. 20:1-3). This was emphasized repeatedly as Israel was being prepared for possessing their land as well as afterwards (Deut. 6:4,5; 11:1). Our Lord Jesus Christ used these very words as He endured Satan's attack on His Sonship (Matt. 4:10). Later when one of the Sadducees questioned Jesus concerning the greatest commandment He answered in this manner: "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind" (Matt. 22:37). This definitely separates the Lord's own from those who will not consider being confined to such devotion. They were to regard the slightest inclination to depart from the worship of the one true God as a desecration of worship. Achan, no doubt a good soldier in Joshua's army, took his eyes off the true goal for only a moment and lost all future accomplishments that might have been (Josh. 7). The people responded to God's cure for their terrible trespass and God's people were once again blessed by His divine victory. This is comparable to Paul's instruction to the church at Corinth when he said, "Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:..." (I Cor. 5:7). There was open and known fornication in the church at Corinth and it must be dealt with in a manner prescribed by God's Word. The man must be excluded if the church would have the Lord's blessing. Too often the cry today is, "If that is done someone is going to get their feelings hurt." Or: "That family has been in the church since it started and has contributed much to it's welfare." So has the Lord who is the great Head of the His body, the church. Flesh has a way of accepting the vilest of sin when it takes on the family name. Removal of body parts is never without pain but it is often a must if health is to be regained. The spiritual integrity of the body of Christ is of much greater magnitude than family relationships on earth.
Jesus said this to His disciples for good reason: "Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me" (John 15:4). When the believer's eyes shift from the Savior to self it will soon cause a spiritual disorder akin to that of Israel in Exodus 14:12: "Is not this the word that we did tell thee in Egypt, saying, Let us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians? For it had been better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness." The sad truth is that far too often believers use the same logic when it seems the world has a better remedy for their spiritual ills than the Lord. Hence, entertainment replaces evangelism, earthly fun replace eternal joy, and telling stories replaces teaching scriptures. When assistants to the pastor are hired for the sole purpose of occupying the youth of the church in other than God honoring activities the future of that church is "no need for a scriptural pastor." They simply will need another entertainer. There is no biblical evidence the Lord's church has the responsibility to keep the youth involved in extracurricular activity until they decide whether or not to accept the biblical preaching of separation. However, the church does have the responsibility to teach parents to bring up their children in the biblical way and when they are old (of age) they will not depart.
In the first six verses of Titus chapter two Paul urges every age group to be sober. Although sober does not mean somber it does indicate there is a seriousness about service to our Lord. It means to be sound in mind, i.e. self-controlled; discreet, sober, temperate. Adherence to the word and not acceptance by the world is the standard by which the Lord appraises service. "Give us a king," was Israel's cry in (I Samuel 8:6). What a grief this was to the heart of God as well as to the prophet, Samuel. In the Lord's parable of the nobleman in Luke chapter nineteen we hear the cry of Israel: "We will not have this man to rule over us," (Luke 19:14). These two fleshly declarations have only taken on modern day terminology. The cry of liberal leaders today is, "We are in the 90's and times have changed." "Legalism!" is shouted to all courageous souls that take a stand against mixed swimming at youth camps. It is a rare sight today to see so-called Christian youth camps (even those sponsored by Baptists) that have separate hours for swimming for male and female. Almost as rare if not equally as rare also to see at said youth camp where their pastors/youth directors/sponsors have not disgraced the word and work of Christ by joining the participants in like swim attire.
What a sad appraisal is made upon this group to whom Titus was writing. To say that Paul was a legalist in writing such instructions to Titus is to ignore the doctrine of divine inspiration (2 Tim. 3:16). To imply what the churches of Crete needed could not apply to churches today in the same condition is either hypocritical or ignorance. The Lord's church has no more business in the things of the world that draw attention to or inspire the flesh than did Israel in longing to return to Egypt. Israel was experiencing some difficulty in their travels since their deliverance. This is sure to happen when a person is delivered from sin to salvation. The Lord's church was not given a cushion but a commission. A great injustice is committed by any who declare the Christian life to be easy. It certainly is a better way but it is not an easy road. For it to be suggested to young people that Christianity is a bundle of fun and jokes conveys a false witness and ruins lives as well. There is not one recorded incident or inclination in the Bible where entertainment is the means of keeping the flock happy or enticing others to serve the Lord. Never is "fun" engaged in to lift the troubled heart but the joy in the Lord is the believers strength in the midst of trials (Neh. 8:10).
Hear our Lord's Words concerning discipleship:"If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it" (Luke 9:23,24).This certainly does not appear to be a life of hilarity. But it is indeed a life of joy in the Lord. Jesus on numerous occasions made His followers aware of the cost of discipleship. He exhorted them that counting the cost and preparation for the battle was of great essence in discipleship (Luke 14:28-33). Of course no disciple of Christ can foresee the future and all the trials that lay ahead. Believers must keep their eyes on the wonderful Savior and not the worldly system or we will have failed before we start.
The instructions Paul gave Titus to follow when he arrived to minister on the island of Crete are as relevant today as then. People are as prone and maybe more vulnerable today to feel as Israel did in (Exo. 14:12). Taking the land of service to Christ is not without discipline. Listen to the wise man's inspired comment in (Prov. 15:21) "Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom: but a man of understanding walketh uprightly." Wisdom is still justified of all her children when it comes to wisely serving our Lord in biblical separation. (Luke 7:35).
We heard a man, who is a father, a Sunday School teacher of a class of women, a Baptist deacon, a member of more than one denominational board, say the other day that he would not walk down the streets of the city in which he lived with his own daughters because of the way they dressed. The daughter of a former prominent Baptist secretary in Kentucky, who now lives in another state, argued at length when on a visit to Kentucky in favor of nudity like Adam and Eve. She also sneered and pooh- poohed the Bible on women's dress.
A Louisville Seminary professor's wife not only defended immodest dress but argued there was nothing in the Bible against it. What colossal ignorance of the Bible! Ignorance of the Bible is a great enemy of the truth. But note the birds of a feather: immodest dress, modernism, ignorance of God's Word, women speaking four of a kind.
But what saith the Scriptures? If they speak not according to God's Word, it is because there is no light in them.
The Son of God said: "Whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart." Matt. 5:28. Immodest dress, mixed bathing, the movies, beauty revues and such like are included in this far-reaching indictment by the Son of God. A terrific indictment by the Son of God of young women for their shamelessness.
Read the whole story in 2 Sam. 11 and 12. Adultery with another man's wife, the murder of her husband, God's curse and vengeance on David and Bathsheba, the son of Ammon and his murder of Absalom are some of the terrific penalties that a "man after God's own heart" had to pay for looking at a naked woman.
Read the court records today and you will find many similar records in our modern criminology. The best of men are not free from this temptation unless kept by the power of God. Witness how many preachers from all denominations go that route to their downfall today.
Immodest dressing is no little sin. All women who dress thus are sinners against a Holy God and weak men. In Matt. 18:6-10 the Lord Jesus plainly says that any woman, who thus causes men to stumble, had better have a millstone tied around her neck and be cast into the sea. The Master's woe applies to other sins as well as this one.
The demon-possessed man out of whom the Lord Jesus cast a legion of demons, went naked as long as he was crazy. Nakedness in men or women is a proof of demon possession. As soon as the Lord Jesus cast the demons out of him and he became in his right mind, he clothed himself. It is ever so. Nakedness is a mark of the worst of sins and of being under the control of evil spirits. Take your choice. Immodestly dressed women are either lewd or out of their right mind, according to the infallible Bible. Plenty of clothes are a Bible mark of sanity and piety.
(This was written sometime ago, but it is still right on target.ELB)