My iPod

Many of you know I lost my iPod Touch last week. We were at Home Depot and I glanced down at my waist and my iPod case caught my attention. It was upside-down and empty! We searched the store and the parking lot and checked at the customer service desk. Nothing. I checked my truck. Nothing. I checked the couch cushions at the house, just in case it fell out there. Nothing.

Like so many technologies, I've become dependent upon my iPod. I use it for so many things: email, contacts, personal and church calendars, keeping up with the names of visitors, keeping track of my auto milage, and even checking the weather, and it has both the KJV and ESV Bibles and the 1689 London Confession. And all of my music, podcasts, and sermons. The worst thing about the ordeal, however, was the knowledge that someone had picked up my iPod and now had access to all of my email - a possible security risk. Foolishly, I didn't have my iPod password protected. Someone could even send email messages to my contacts as though from me.

Well, I prayed, "Lord, if it would please you, help me recover my iPod. Protect my email information from being missused." I went back to the store on Friday and again on Saturday and again on Tuesday to check if someone had turned it in. I purchased a new iPod - not a cheap solution. I set it up and it was soon just like my old one. Still, the lingering thoughts of someone peeking at my emails haunted me.

As with every trial I sought what God was trying to teach me through it. Was I too dependent on "things?" I was reminded again of how excellent God's ways are. Even in our losses His ways are perfect. Once again, I was reminded of how I must trust Him in all things. I even thought, perhaps it isn't about me. After all, my iPod has two Bible versions on it and lots of Christian music and sermons to listen to. And many of my emails are edifying. Perhaps God is using my iPod to stir the heart of a lost person.

Now I have to tell the rest of the story. Last night we came home from our Wednesday night service and we prepared for bed. I went into the den and noticed the mantel clock had run down so I went over to wind it. As I was winding it I noticed a flat shiny device sitting on the mantel. MY IPOD!! I couldn't believe it. It had been there the whole time.

And so I'm reminded of how infinite the ways of God are. He did hear my prayer. He did protect my email info. He did allow me to recover my iPod. And if I'd been more patient to trust and wait upon Him, perhaps I wouldn't have needed to purchase another iPod. Oh, how He teaches me continually and how slow I am to learn.

So I now have two iPods, but I've always loved having spares. And both of my iPods are now safely password protected.

Presuppositional Apologetics

Presuppositional Apologetics is a method of defending the faith that presupposes the existence of God and the infallibility of Scripture. The Bible alone provides the framework through which all experience is interpreted and all truth is known. According to Romans 1:19-23 we know that all men have a knowledge of God. In spite of this knowledge the unbeliever intentionally distorts the truth and exchanges it for a lie.

This doesn't rule out any use of external evidence such as archeology. Eternal evidence, however, is not the basis of our faith. Recently Fox News printed an article describing the claim that a group of Chinese and Turkish evangelicals had found the remains of Noah's Ark 13,000 feet up on Mount Ararat in Turkey. They said they had a 99.9 percent certainty that their find was indeed the ark. Now Fox has printed a followup article describing the find as a probable hoax -- "at best an elaborate deception." For those of us who rest upon the authority of Scripture this means nothing.

All of creation testifies to the validity of Scripture, but Scripture is not dependent upon external validation. Archeology, when properly interpreted, will always testify that the Biblical record is absolutely reliable, but our faith is not built upon external evidence. The followup article states, "There's never been evidence of a great flood." The reality is evidence abounds, but if one presupposes that the Bible is false no amount of evidence will change their mind. God came in the flesh, performed miracles, and rose from the dead and men continued in unbelief.

As we defend the faith we can go with the confidence that the Bible is true and that all men already have a knowledge of God. And we go with the power of the Holy Spirit who is able to powerfully change the hearts and minds of men. This should give us boldness as we confront the unbelief of lost men.

Redeeming the Time

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil" (Eph. 5:16). The KJV is the best translation in this passage. The same word for "redeeming" is used in Galatians 4:5 - "To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." The word means to purchase or buy up. With regards to time it means to make the wise use of every second treating each one as a precious commodity.

Time in one sense is given equally to all. There are 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds in a day. While all of us are not given the same number of days or years of life, it is certainly true that a day is the same length for one man as it is for another. It is also true that each of us have been allotted a certain amount of time upon this earth. The proverbial sand is falling rapidly through the hourglass for each of us. This makes time one of our most treasured assets. Unlike with cellphones, you cannot purchase additional minutes in life. How well are you spending your time? You cannot purchase any additional time, but you can certainly prevent this precious commodity from being wasted - you can redeem the time.

Every man is given the same number of minutes in a day, but oh how some buy up and spend those minutes. Early in his ministry Charles Spurgeon preached three times on the Lord's Day and five nights every week. Eventually he would preach twelve or thirteen times a week while traveling hundreds of miles by road or rail. He said, "I always felt that I could never do enough for Him who had loved me, and given Himself for me" (Autobiography p.359). He reserved Monday morning for meeting with people stirred in their souls from Sunday's sermons. He published a hymnal, revised the Shorter Catechism, published a new Baptist confession, founded a pastor's college in 1857, and founded an orphanage in 1867. He wrote dozens of letters each week and gave of himself tirelessly in pastoral care. He spent his life redeeming the time.

It is so easy to get distracted in this life. It is essential that we maintain a right perspective. Our lives must be fixed on three priorities: (1) the glory of God, (2) growing in holiness, (3) reaching the lost with the Gospel. We must treasure each minute as an opportunity to serve our Savior. We must see ourselves as soldiers. "No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who has enlisted him as a solder" (2 Timothy 2:4 NASB). It is important that we be good stewards of our time, using each second to the greatest benefit. In the parable of the Good Samaritan we find the Samaritan man giving of his time for this stranger. He stopped his own journey, took him to a nearby town, and cared for him overnight. He gave of his precious, highly valuable time.


This life is not the time for relaxation. This doesn't mean there is no place for leisure. We must have a sound theology of leisure which includes valuable times of respite. But we must never be lovers of pleasure or slothful wasters of time. This life is the time for diligence, watchfulness and self-discipline. We must guard against time eaters - TV, the Internet, sports, video games, etc. These things have little value to our souls or our Lord's Kingdom. Our time of rest is coming. May we labor hard until that day. "Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now is salvation nearer to us than when we believed" (Romans 13:11 NASB).

Who Dat Given Over to Idolatry?

I've been amazed at the frenzy over the New Orleans Saints going to the Superbowl. Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased they won. The team worked hard and their efforts have paid off. And, after all, they are the home team. But come on. How is it that people are so intoxicated by watching grown men play a game? What lasting benefit is it in the lives of men? The reality is the NFL is a business; a very lucrative business; a multi-billion dollar business. The Saints are a business. How is it that so many people are so excited because a business has done well? You don't see parades when GM or Ford or Toyota has a banner year.

The truth is sports have become a terrible idol. The definition of a idol is anything that garners greater affection than God. It would seem that most of our city was glued to the television last night giving homage to their idol. The game was played on the Lord's Day but little attention was given to God. I heard that the line Sunday evening at Academy Sports stretched several hundred deep as people rushed to get the championship teeshirts. How many professing Christians skipped worship last night in order to watch the game? Sadly, numerous churches bowed to the idol of the Superbowl. Some churches, in an effort to appear religious, held an abbreviated service and then rushed off to Fellowship Hall to watch the game. It would have been more honest to dispense with the worship service altogether so that it wouldn't be a distraction from their true god.

If my condemnation sounds harsh it should. How much better would it be for every Christian to speak out against profaning the Lord's Day? How much better would it be if every Christian demonstrated that his affections rested upon Jesus alone? Idolatry comes in many forms. May God grant us to flee from each and every one.

Multitasking

I've suddenly realized that I haven't posted to my blog in over two months. Yikes!! What I've come to realize is I'm not very good at multitasking. As I sit in my office studying I find I do best when I am least distracted. When I'm able to focus on a text and think about it deeply I find I'm most productive. But there are endless distractions. Emails continually come in during the day. the telephone rings, people ring the door bell. There are countless office administrative duties that demand my attention. With so many things demanding my attention it seems that I'm always leaving something undone. I guess I'm just not a great multitasker. The truth is, however, neither is anyone else.

In a recent airing of Frontline on LPB they ran a special on the effect of the digital age on the human mind. The lives of many people today are cluttered with endless activity -- reading email, texting, Facebook and countless searches on the Internet. The special examined research conducted by Stanford University in California. They ran a series of studies to test how well students did at multitasking. It turns out none fared well. The human brain is not wired to think about several things at once. Rather, we do best when we are able to think deeply on a single subject at a time. Their conclusion is that the digital age of multitasking may be creating people who are unable to think well and clearly.

A recent book by T. David Gordon titled Why Johnny Can't Preach examines the terrible decline in good expository preaching. His conclusion is that most preachers no longer know how to think deeply. The primary reason is because of our culture of sensory overload where our minds are filled with endless images that do not demand mental concentration. "What kinds of ministers does such a culture produce? Ministers who are not at home with what is significant; ministers whose attention span is less than that of a four-year-old in the 1940's, who race around like the rest of us, constantly distracted by sounds and images of inconsequential trivialities, and out of touch with what is weighty. It is not surprising that their sermons, and the alleged worship that surrounds them, are often trifling, thoughtless, uninspiring, and mundane" (pages 58-59).

It would be good for all of us to set aside some of the distractions. Instead of the Internet how much better would it be for our minds if we read a good book? The world will not come to an end if we don't post to Facebook for a day. With every advancement in technology great caution must be practiced.

Spiritual and Moral Bankruptcy

It is absolutely inconceivable that four of the nation's mainstream denominations continue to be major supporters of abortion. Calling abortion a "God given right," they are lobbying to make sure abortions are covered in any health care bill. According to an article in Baptist Press, "The Episcopal Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), United Church of Christ, and the United Methodist Church's General Board of Church and Society are all members of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice, a pro-abortion rights organization that took part in a Dec. 2 "Stop Stupak" rally in Washington D.C., urging the Senate not to include the pro-life Stupak amendment in its version of the health care bill."

The slaughtering of a baby is repugnant beyond words. For churches who claim to represent Christ to endorse and support this sin is abominable. It demonstrates the degree to which the conscience can become numb to any amount of wickedness. Paul warned of religious men who live in immorality, "having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof" (2 Timothy 3:5). These people don't even have a form of Godliness. What hope does a nation have when not only has it fallen into absolute moral decay, the church has climbed into the cesspool with it.

We need to continue to pray for a great awakening in our generation. And we also need to remember that while apostate churches often gain the headlines the true church is alive and well and prospering. God always has His faithful remnant. May we press on in confidence and may our voice be clear concerning the honor and glory of God.

Should Christians Get Tattoos?

A question often asked is, is it permissible for a Christian to get a tattoo? This is a pertinent question today, especially with the rise in the popularity of tattoos in the western culture. According to a 2008 Harris poll 14% of all adults in the United states have a tattoo. The number rises significantly among young adults where 32% of those in the 25-29 age group have a tattoo. Of course, Christians are not as concerned about the trends and views of culture as about God's will for their life.

Is there a direct statement in Scripture on the subject? Not really. Some quote Leviticus 19:28: "Ye shall not make cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any mark upon you: I am the LORD." The problem with using this verse is a failure to recognize that the ceremonial laws have been fulfilled in Christ. Most people who choose to use this verse to defend their position against tattoos break many of the other prohibitions in the same chapter. For example, Verse 19 forbids wearing clothes made from thread from diverse materials. That means you can't wear cotton/polyester blends. Verse 19 also prohibits the planting of hybrid crops of which almost all of our food comes today. Verse 28, however, does speak against behaving as the idolatrous pagans which might be applied to tattoos.

So then tattoos are OK? Not so fast. There are other principles that should govern our behavior and the exercise of our liberty. Let me give a few:

1. As Christians we should do everything with the purpose of glorifying God. "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31). We should always ask ourselves, "Why am I doing this?" The motive for tattoos is usually to draw attention to self. It is the glorification of self - the desire to be cool in the eyes of others. Remember, your body is not your own. It belongs to Christ. How would He have you to treat it? Will Christ be exalted in you?

2. Is it profitable to you spiritually? "All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All thins are lawful, but not all things edify" (1 Corinthians 10:23 NASB). Will getting a tattoo help you as you seek to be more and more like Christ?

3. What effect will it have upon others? Will it be helpful as you seek to help weaker Christians grow to maturity. Will it be helpful as you seek to reach lost people for Christ? Your tattoo may not offend some but most people will see you as worldly. Are you willing to deny yourself that you might reach others with the Gospel? A tattoo will close far more doors than it will open. "Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17).

4. Look around you at mature believers who demonstrate holiness and spiritual wisdom. Are these the people who are interested in getting tattoos? This should tell you something. Seek to emulate those who are holy. What is your identity? Who are you trying to imitate? We must seek to be more and more like Christ.

We are called to be holy and separate. We are called to bear the image of Christ. There are far more important things in this life than getting a tattoo.

A Desperate Need for Leadership

This month the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) at the White House issued its annual review of budget projections. The Obama administration now says the budget deficits will add $9.05 trillion to the national debt over the next ten years, and some say this number is far too conservative. It could actually exceed $14 trillion. By 2019, the government will be spending nearly $800 billion annually just to pay the interest on the debt; about $33,000 per household. And now they are actually talking about adding to this exponentially by nationalizing health care. Unbelievable!

Few people have any idea how much a trillion is. It is a huge number. For example, a million seconds is about 11.5 days. That's not too many. A billion seconds is 32 years. Now that's a big number. Three billion seconds is longer than most of us will live. But what about a trillion seconds? A trillion seconds is 32,000 years! A stack of 9 trillion dollar bills would cover the distance from the earth to the moon more than two times!

How can we possibly pay off such a debt? There are only two possible ways for the federal government to raise money. They can simply print more - just like Monopoly. Of course this option weakens the dollar and causes inflation. No one wants to see a return to the double digit inflation of the Carter administration. The other possibility is to raise taxes. No one wants this either. Isn't there a door number three to get us out of this mess? Actually, yes. STOP SPENDING!

What would we think about a man that through an insatiable appetite for spending puts his family in ever increasing debt, yet continues to spend? What would we think if his debt became so large that it became a impossible burden for not only his children but also his grandchildren and his great grandchildren, yet he continues to spend? Would we not call such a man both irresponsible and wicked? Our leaders are spending us into a debt that will be a crushing burden for generations.

Oh, how we need to pray that God would bless us with some leaders that possess the wisdom, boldness and maturity to get us out of this dilemma. Oh how we need Godly leaders. "When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked rule, the people mourn" (Proverbs 29:2).

And pray that God might turn our nation from its continued rebellion against His rule. We truly have the leaders we deserve. We need His mercy.

Principle versus Policy

As I watch the continuing debate over the nationalization of health care my emotions are stirred to the max. I have strong feelings on the issue. Surely such a passionate position must have Biblical support. Surely God must be on my side on this issue. Surely God must be opposed to the nationalization of health care. The truth is much of the debate is not a matter of Biblical truth; it is a matter of policy. In other words, all of us can see that our health care system is in serious trouble. The possible solutions, however are many and varied. The cost of medical care has reached enormous proportions. For it to continue its present course will eventually make medical care unaffordable. Part of the problem lies in a system where the free market has been usurped by a system where insurance companies pay our bills. The consumer is completely removed from the actual costs. The consumer simply allows his insurance to pay the bill. This has led to unreasonable costs. No consumer would be willing to pay five dollars for a band-aid, unless of course someone else pays the bill. The other problem lies in the unreasonable costs doctors have to pay to protect themselves from litigation. Our legal system is also in need of overhaul. These statements, however, fall into the category of policy rather than principle. We can zealously oppose increasing our national debt as a matter of principle. It is sinful to allow our actions today to place a burden on future generations. We cannot, however, place matters of health care policy on the same moral level.

I'm using the health care debate as an example of the difference between principle and policy. Our inability to discern between the two can cause many problems for our church. We all have strong positions on many different issues. We must be able to separate the difference between principle and policy. Let me give some other examples. All of us agree that children must be properly disciplined. This is a Biblical teaching; a matter of principle. How each family implements this teaching is a matter of policy. When we try to bind others to our particular position of policy we risk causing needless division and strife. Another example: All of us agree that children are a blessing from God. They should be received with thanksgiving. This is a Biblical teaching; a matter of principle. One family may decide that this means a family must have unrestricted births in order to properly reflect this principle. Another family may decide that given the Biblical mandate to train each child, having 3-4 children is a more reasonable approach. One side may accuse the other of usurping God's Providential control over their fertility. The other side may say having unrestricted children is irresponsible; like refusing medial care because we trust in God's Providence. The truth is, both sides are correct. Both are recognizing children as a blessing from God and both are understanding the high responsibility of parenthood. They are in disagreement over policy, not principle. Neither position is necessarily sin. One more example: All of us agree that parents have the duty of educating their children as a matter of principle; a matter of Biblical truth. Some assume that homeschooling is the only proper means of fulfilling this Biblical mandate. What do we do, however, with a single mom who has to work to feed her family? She can't homeschool and can't afford private school. Is she in sin to send her children to public school? Is it not possible for her to be involved in their education; visiting the school regularly, regular contact with the teacher, oversight over their study, etc. Both parents can believe the same Biblical teaching (principle) while working out the details (policy) in a different manner. There is a difference between principle and policy.

As a general statement, reformed churches tend to be smaller in size. Sometimes this is true because Biblical truth is often unpopular. Unfortunately, it is also sometimes true because reformed churches can become very dogmatic on various issues excluding people who don't hold to their positions. Often it is a matter of failing to discern the difference between principle and policy. I recently read an article in World Magazine that described Capitol Hill Baptist Church as "a church that sits blocks from the political heartbeat of the country with members working for both parties." When I first read it I was surprised. Imagine serving in a church alongside a Democrat; not only a Democrat but one who actually works for his party! As I looked at the complexion of our own church I immediately concluded this would never work. We have positions that are too strong. But many of these positions are matters of policy. Need we be divisive on these issues? I visited Capital Hill Baptist Church (Mark Dever's church) last summer. They are reformed, but they are a large congregation. They were packed on the Sunday I visited. Their worship was Biblical and God honoring. The sermon was expository and edifying. Imagine, I may have been sitting with Democrats! Associate Pastor Michael Lawrence stated in the World Magazine article, "Our church has tried to draw a line on issues of principle without getting involved in the debates on policy." May God grant our church the wisdom and grace to discern the the difference.

What is a Healthy Church Member

A few years back Mark Dever wrote a book titled, The 9Marks of a Healthy Church. In his book he lists nine marks that should be present in a healthy church. His nine marks were: Expositional Preaching, Biblical Theology, The Gospel, A Biblical Understanding of Conversion, A Biblical Understanding of Evangelism, A Biblical Understanding of Church Membership, Biblical Church Discipline, A Concern for Discipleship and Growth, and Biblical Church Membership. These 9 Marks provide the foundation of a strong and healthy church.

Thabiti Anyabwile has written a followup book, What is a Healthy Church Member?" In his book he lists ten marks of a healthy church member. This is an important followup to Dever's earlier book. No church can be truly healthy without a healthy membership. According to Anyabwile a healthy church member is: An Expositional Listener, a Biblical Theologian, Gospel Saturated, Genuinely Converted, a Biblical Evangelist, a Committed Member, Seeks Discipline, a Growing Disciple, a Humble Follower, and a Prayer Warrior.

In our generation this book is a refreshing breath of fresh air. Anyabwile expresses the importance of the local church in the welfare of every Christian. The great weakness of Christianity today is the lack of emphasis on the importance of the local church. An unhealthy spirit of individualism is plaguing the church today. People hop from church to church according to their personal preferences. Some have abandoned the local church altogether choosing rather to gather in small home groups. Anyabwile writes of Joshua Harris's past attitude concerning the church: "He considered the church secondary, outmoded, inefficient, and a hindrance. It wasn't that he didn't love God or God's people. He just didn't think that belonging to a particular church was important, and might even be a hindrance." Part of the problem lies with the weakness of ecclesiastical understanding in many churches today. Many don't even maintain a membership. There is little accountability and discipline has become nearly extinct. Anyabwile stresses the necessity of church membership in the life of every believer.

Every believer has the duty to unite with a particular local church. Church membership is a covenant relationship among believers. Each of us have the duty to watch over one another and give ourselves to promoting the health of the church. Healthy church members seek to be expositional listeners who seek to hear what God's Word says so they can apply it to their lives. They seek to become Biblical theologians in order to protect themselves and the church from false doctrine. They are concerned about their own personal spiritual growth and that of other believers. They make sure they have a proper understanding of the Gospel and give themselves to bringing this Gospel to the lost. They support the leadership of the church praying for them as well as for each other.

I recommend this book as a reminder of the importance of the local church and our place in the church. It is an easy read of less than 120 pages that will prove beneficial as we seek to build Christ's church.

Hero Worship

As I watch the spectacle following the death of Michael Jackson I'm once again amazed at the human propensity to idolize other human beings. Jackson's memorial service is supposed to be one of the highest attended funerals of all time. And to what do we attribute such praise? His life can only be characterized as weird. Granted, he was talented as a performer but look at his life! Accusations of child molestations, a recluse who built his home around a theme park, a man who had so many plastic surgeries he hardly looked human. In spite of it all millions are falling down in homage to this man.

This has been consistent throughout history but seems to be even more pronounced in recent history. When Hitler was first rising to power multitudes followed him as a god. When the Beatles made their way across the ocean into our country young girls cried and lost consciousness as they listened to them perform. People follow their favorite movie stars. Even the name movie "star" points to a bright light worthy of garnering great attention. During last year's election and continuing today Barack Obama is surrounded by this hero worship. The media has even referred to him at times as the messiah.

Christians are not immune to this propensity. Paul addressed this problem in his letter to the Church of Corinth - "For while one saith, I'm of Paul; and another, I'm of Apollos; are ye not carnal" (1 Cor. 3:4)? We live in a wonderful time when expository preaching is becoming the food many young Christians are feasting upon. Multitudes are attending reformed conferences. While most are attending because of a love for sound doctrine there are some who are following their cult heros - I'm of Sproul, I'm of Piper, I'm of MacArthur."

The truth is no man is worthy of praise. We are nothing more than clay in the Potter's hand. The greatest of men are only what God has made them. He alone must receive the praise. God will not share His worship; He will not share His glory. The First Commandment must sound loud and clear in our ears, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me." When Herod delivered his oratory address in Acts 22 the people exclaimed, "The voice of a god and not of a man!" What follows should cause us to tremble. "And immediately an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten with worms and died."

May we guard our hearts against worshiping men.

2009 Vacation Bible School

We finished our annual VBS last week. VBS means different things to different people. For the adults it is the conclusion of much labor and preparation. I'm grateful for so many in our church who give themselves sacrificially in the labor of Christ. Most of our adults maintain the simple attitude of, "How can I be used." For the children, it's just plain fun. They enjoy the snacks and crafts and the atmosphere of the event.

Of course, VBS is far more than just another recreational event. It provides the church with the opportunity to apply the Gospel of Christ to these young souls. It gives us a tool for inviting children from outside our church in order to spend time with them and press the demands of Christ upon their hearts. As a church, we must continually look for opportunities to speak the Gospel to the lost. It also provides yet one more opportunity for our own children to consider their own souls. One might argue, don't they hear it enough at home? It is indeed a blessing to be brought up in a Christian home with parents that weep over their children and teach them the doctrines of Christ, but we must not deny other opportunities where they can hear it again. Nothing is more important than their soul.

I'm grateful for the opportunity we had to bring the Gospel to these children. May God take His Word and effectually apply it to their hearts.

Downgrade

I recently read an article describing the continuing decline of interest in Christianity in the United States. Seventy-five percent of Americans claim to be Christians but their profession has little impact upon their lives. Most have no interest in Biblical doctrine and as a consequence have little knowledge of Biblical doctrine. Few ever pray. Few ever attend worship on a given Sunday and many of those who do will not tolerate a steady diet of Biblical preaching. The Apostle Paul warned of days like these: "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. " For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears” (2 Timothy 4:2-3).

So how have many churches responded to these tough conditions? Sadly, instead of following the Biblical command to remain true to Biblical preaching, they’ve succumbed to the demands of the masses; they’ve gone into the business of tickling ears. According to Tony Woodlief in World Magazine, “The Christian church grew when its leaders stressed biblical study and fervent prayer, each of which was considered, in the early church, a means of knowing God. The modern feel-good church, meanwhile, de-emphasizes both in favor of ‘messages’ that are ‘relevant’ to my life” (World Magazine, April 25, 2009). At a meeting with a local group of pastors we were told about how wonderful it is to be “innovative” in our preaching. It was shared that one pastor brought a Mini-Cooper into the church. He’ll be teaching a class for pastors so that others might share in his innovation. Do we really need to be "innovative" in preaching?

Some might immediately tell of the antics of Isaiah or Ezekiel to justify today’s innovation. But the actions of these prophets were governed by direct revelation from God. Are Mini-Coopers being brought into the church by direct revelation? Others might call to mind the parables of Jesus as evidence of innovative methodology to help in the understanding of the message. We can hardly compare our Lord's parables with today’s wild “innovations,” not to mention, we are told the parables were designed to hide the message, not to aid in understanding. The bottom line is we are nowhere commanded to be clever in our use of the Word of God. We don’t need to be. We only need to be faithful in the exposition of the Word. Paul said, “But we have renounced disgraceful, underhanded ways. We refuse to practice cunning or to tamper with God's word, but by the open statement of the truth we would commend ourselves to everyone's conscience in the sight of God” (2 Corinthians 4:2 ESV).

It is true that we live in difficult days. The temptation is to succumb to the modern innovations. After all, many of these churches are experiencing growth. Woodlief added, "Eliminate the theologies of Word and prayer, and all you have left is a competition to see who can provide the best circus" (ibid). May God grant us to be true to Christ and His Word, no matter what.

The Invitation System

I heard today that a local Baptist group will be offering an "invitation workshop" in order to instruct pastors on how to be more effective in handling the invitation, which many see as the most important part of the worship service. They say everything else in the service should be arranged towards this great climactic end when sinners are invited to Christ. If you mess this up people will lose their opportunity to get saved.

Is this true? Is the invitation the most important part of the worship service? Let me offer a couple thoughts. First, we must understand that preaching itself is an invitation. Paul commanded Timothy to "Preach the Word; be instant in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine" (2 Timothy 4:2). In preaching God's demands are pressed upon the hearts of men. The entire sermon is an invitation. Second, as we preach the Holy Spirit makes His Word effectual unto salvation. He alone can convict the sinner of his condemnation. He alone can grant faith and repentance. He alone can change a sinner's heart. The Holy Spirit opens the sinner's ears to hear. "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Romans 10:17). The invitation system is a reflection of our weak theology. Do we really believe that the absence of an adequate invitation will hinder the ability of the Holy Spirit to save? Can the one who commanded light to shine out of darkness be hindered by the absence of a proper invitation (2 Corinthians 4:6)? Is the Word of God so weak and impotent that it will not have the proper effect upon sinners unless we have a proper invitation at the close of our worship service while singing "Just as I Am" with every eye closed and every head bowed?

When I was in seminary I sat in a class and listened while the professor expounded on the virtues of the invitation. I raised my hand and asked if I could inquire how many in the room had been saved during the invitation. Not a single person in the class of over 50 students indicated that an invitation had led to their conversion. Instead of hailing the virtues of the invitation we should be warning of its dangers. The invitation reeks of man-centered evangelism. Far too many people equate Christian conversion with some human act - "making a decision," "walking an aisle," "praying a prayer." Far too many base their assurance upon this act of coming forward durning the invitation rather than upon the Biblical evidence of Christian conversion. People are walking down the aisle and then walking out the door unchanged.

When a person becomes convinced of his sin and sees the excellence of the cross and the infinite worth of Christ no power in this universe will be able to keep him from coming to Christ. Neither prison bars nor martyr's flames will hinder his confession of Christ. If we truly believe that the lack of a proper invitation is keeping people from Christ oh God help us! How far have we strayed from the Biblical model. When Peter preached to the crowd in Acts 2 he didn't need to give an invitation. They interrupted him, "Men and brethren, what shall we do" (Acts 2:37)?

We don't need better invitations. We need faithful pastors who will preach the Word with conviction and with the confidence that God's Word is still sharper than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). We need pastors who will do the hard work of prayerfully examining those stirred by the Word. We must end the sinful practice of equating salvation with walking down the aisle. We must see the connection between the high number of unregenerate church members in our churches today and our unbiblical methodolgy.

The Search for Proper Church Music

The subject of music in the church has often been one of dispute that has sometimes degenerated into open war. Unfortunately, the modern so called "worship war" has largely focused on the matter of personal taste. The modern church must come to the conclusion that our personal desires in worship are absolutely irrelevant. What must drive us is a quest to determine what God desires. God has always determined how He is to be worshiped. He must be the focus.

The subject of worship music must be examined carefully. Paul described our music as "Speaking to yourselves in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). Clearly the primary emphasis is upon the content ("speaking to yourselves"). Paul writes in Colossians 3:16: "Let the Word of God dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. . ." The music style must be such that it does not distract from the content. The great emphasis on the music style today often demonstrates the diminishing of the importance of the content. The so called praise music of today is often more about us -- what God does for us; how God benefits us. Is it music that stirs us? It is often quite narcissistic.

Early church worship was patterned after the synagogue and the singing of the Psalms was the primary focus. The writing of Christian hymns began as early as the fourth century, largely to counteract the activity of heretics. With the Reformation there was a split with regard to worship music. Calvin, guided by the Regulative Principle, maintained that only the Psalms should be sung and also banned the use of musical instruments. Anything not found in the Bible was rejected. Luther, on the other hand, supported the singing of hymns. Wesley later introduced what are often called "Gospel Songs" as distinct from hymns. This style of music had a faster tempo and also contained a refrain or chorus.

Our church has largely embraced the "traditional hymnody" of the Christian church while mixing in a few of the "Gospel Songs." Traditional hymnody has a focus on the greatness of God. It is music "about" God, as opposed to contemporary worship music that is usually directed "to" God." It is content rich and doctrinally pure music. Traditional hymnody is not confined to a particular historical period. There are hymns being written today that direct our attention to God. These stand apart from most of the contemporary worship music of our day.