Chuck Swindoll, Mart De Haan, Write On The Balance of The View Of Women

As I have read around the blogs and articles from different Christian writers, I happened on three that caught my attention, and ended up pleased that both these men are taking the whole Bible into account when interpreting passages that have to do with women, and not just a verse here or a passage there. One is by Mart DeHaan entitled A Surprisingly Strong Woman, another by Chuck Swindoll is entitled Becoming A Man Or Woman After God’s Own Heart. Take the time to read both these pieces. It will be worth it, and bring more harmony among the two sexes, which is turn will bring our churches into greater harmony with the Creator God.

The third and probably the hardest article to read is by Chuck Colson entitled, Domestic Violence In The Church. I read this disturbing article, and thought, finally those in a place of influence are getting it, seeing what I have been seeing for years, and writing brutally, honestly, openly, about it.

I have stated in times past that I am neither egalitarian nor complementarian. I probably fall somewhere in the middle. And I might add to this, that although I believe in some situations where the man must take the lead, I don’t agree with the way it has been taught or done in practice by most Southern Baptist men and churches.

That leads to the question again, as I have been asked many times, why then am I Southern Baptist. Why do I stay? Because I am hoping and praying that we as Southern Baptists get back to the very thing that we say we believe in, and that is the Bible.

While I do believe that Southern Baptists believe this, and believe that what they are teaching is Biblical, I also believe that it is just one corner of the Bible, that everyone seems to stay in, with the exclusion of studying the entire Bible.

We seem to stick to something without moving on and seeing what all of the Bible says. It also seems that when we find passages such as Christ’s treatment of women, the fact that Christ appeared to women first, and other passages concerning women in the Bible, it gets ignored, or a bad attempt is made to explain it away. This may be saying we believe the Bible, but I contend it is showing we only believe those parts we agree with or want to believe, while possibly pretending the rest isn’t there. I want this to change. I am hoping that the reading of these articles, some of the things that I have been hearing from some of our leaders, will bring about the needed changes in these areas. Remember, all of the Bible was written to men and women.

Does Belief In Inerrancy of the Bible Replace Christ?

I wrote a post several weeks ago entitled Forming Theology From Experience, The Bible, Both? that I want to expand on a little more in this post.

I believe the Holy Bible to be without error, and inspired by God himself. I believe if the Bible says it, that settles it. But, I do not believe this means to check my brains at the door or that experience is not a good teacher. Common sense is a given in my opinion, and as I pointed out in the other post, experience is how God teaches us things that are in the Bible. Experience is a very good teacher. These lessons will not contradict the Bible. Ever.

Now for the problems in the above statement. There are obvious things that Christians interpret differently in scripture. There are also books that, because our life on earth is brief, we don’t have time to study as thoroughly as we would like.

There are those who will study one book most of their life, to the exclusion of others. Revelation is one, Hebrews another, along with certain books of the Old Testament.

Acknowledging that the above two things do occur, we only get part of the picture, yet we think we have the whole picture. We can begin to put the Bible ahead of a relationship with Christ. Doctrine becomes more of a measuring or beating stick, than a thriving, healthy, vibrant, relationship with Jesus Christ.

If you ask some in the church today what is most important to them in Evangelical theology, they will automatically say belief in inerrancy of scripture. This is said before they will answer ‘My relationship with Jesus Christ’ or ‘My salvation.’ That bothers me greatly. While inerrancy of the scripture is important, it should never come before our relationship with Jesus Christ. Pretty soon you rarely hear the words Jesus Christ, but more about morals, behaviors, doing, being, doing and being. Anyone who has questions about the Bible or does not interpret certain passage as you do is seen as not believing in inerrancy.

Does inerrancy solve anything? Really? Or does it bring with it more difficulties? Is inerrancy used as a weapon more than a statement of faith, which also recognizes our *fallibility and the use of prayer, along with the Holy Spirit in teaching us what the true interpretation of a passage is?

Our hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus blood and righteousness…upon this solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand…all other ground is sinking sand.

Has inerrancy along with other weapons used, become a word that spiritual watch dogs and leaders can use to decry those who disagree with them? These are sincere questions and thoughts that I have had for a while. So, what do you think? I would like to know.

*I had placed the word infallibility where I meant fallibility.

The Teaching Of God’s Grace Needs To Begin With Children PT. 1

How do we as Christians begin to stop legalism in our churches? How do we better ensure that Christians begin to know and understand the Bible? Begin by teaching God’s grace to our children, grandchildren. Model God’s grace to our children, grandchildren. Being understandable, but Biblical in teaching our children. That includes in the songs our children sing.

Let me give some childrens’ songs that are currently being sung in some of the Sunday School’s or childrens’ churches, and either in this comment stream( I would like to hear your thoughts) or just silently to yourself ask which songs portray God’s grace and which songs are for other purposes. Are these songs what the Bible teaches? In other words what do the lyrics of these songs teach children? I begin here because music is a very good teaching tool. But what exactly are they learning? I will post some of the titles and lyrics here and continue with the next post.

I May Never March In The Infantry

I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the cavalry, Shoot the artillery.
I may never fly o’er the enemy, But I’m in the Lord’s army. (yes, sir!)
I’m in the Lord’s army, (yes, sir!) I’m in the Lord’s army, (yes, sir!)
I may never march in the infantry, Ride in the Calvary, Shoot the artillery.
I may never fly o’er the enemy, But I’m in the Lord’s army. (yes, sir!)

I Want To Be A Worker For The Lord

I want to be a worker for the Lord,
I want to love and trust His holy word,
I want to sing and pray and be busy every day,
In the vineyard of the Lord.

I will work, I will pray, In the vineyard, in the vineyard of the Lord.
I will work, I will pray, I will labor every day in the vineyard on the Lord.

I want to be a worker strong and brave,
I want to trust in Jesus’ power to save.
All who will truly come shall find a happy home.
In the kingdom of the Lord.

I’m Inright, Outright, Downright, Happy All The Time

I’m inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.
I’m inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.

Since Jesus Christ came in,
And cleansed my heart from sin.
I’m inright, outright, upright, downright happy all the time.

Oh Be Careful Little Eyes What You See

Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.
There’s a Father up above, looking down in tender love,
So be careful little eyes, what you see.

Be careful little ears what you hear
Be careful little mouth what you say…
Be careful little hands, what you touch…
Be careful little feet, where you go…

Only A Boy Named David

Only a little boy David, Only a babbling brook.
Only a little boy David, and five little stones he took.

Only a boy named David, Only a little sling,
Only a boy named David, but he could pray and sing…

One little stone went into the sling, and the sling went round and round. One little stone went into the sling, and the sling went round and round.

Round and round, and round, and round, and round, and round, and round. One little stone went up, up, up, and the giant came tumbling down.

If Your Happy And You Know It

If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands,
If you’re happy and you know it, then your life will surely show it,
If you’re happy and you know it, clap your hands!

If you’re happy and you know it, stomp your feet…
If you’re happy and you know it, shake your head…
If you’re happy and you know it, turn around…
If you’re happy and you know it, touch your toes…

Jesus Loves Me

Jesus loves me, this I know, For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong, They are weak but He is strong.

Yes, Jesus loves me, Yes, Jesus loves me,
Yes, Jesus loves me, The Bible tells me so.

Jesus loves me, He who died, Heaven’s gates to open wide,
He will wash away my sin, Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me, loves me still, Though I’m very weak and ill,
From His shining throne on high, Comes to watch me where I lie.

These songs are actual songs sung in most Sunday Schools. Some of you may have sung them when you were small, so what do you think? Feel free to comment. On this post I will be reading but not giving my views until a later post. So you’ll get no arguments or agreements from me on this post. I want to learn from you.

Books And Literature To Give To The New Christian

The Church Must First Open Their Eyes

I read a statement made by Tom Ascol that I agree with:

“…all the calls to “reclaim America for Christ” leave me cold. Our real need is to reclaim the church for Christ. When Christ is exalted in His church, when He is loved and revered and cherised with passion by those who bear His Name–in other words, when the church starts living like the church–then His body cannot help but make an impact on culture.”

I’m going to be blunt, but I hope this statement is taken in the spirit which I am giving it. The church is getting away from the message of the Bible. It instead has replaced it with proof-texts, even in memorization, which takes the Bible’s context and completely destroys it. By doing so, the Bible is being rewritten, not in the wording, but in the meaning. As I use the words church and many, I am not speaking of just laypersons but ministers, those with doctorates, seminary professors etc. The Body of Christ.

Illiteracy in the churches is not high because no one reads the Bible, it is how they read it that causes the illiteracy. A verse here and there is being read and preached out of context, a devotion read which emphasizes a small portion of scripture is not studying the Bible.

Most people have no idea that Christ demonstrated that He is God, not subordinate to God the Father, but equal with God the Father, in the New Testament and the Old Testament. He appeared in visible form in the Old Testament several times(Genesis 16:7; Exodus 32:34; 33:14; Joshua 5:13-15), and He is Creator(Col. 1:16&17). Most do not know that the Bible was written to speak of Christ and His coming, ushering in the New Covenant. Most do not know that when one speaks of God, one is speaking of Christ.

Most have no idea that scripture interprets scripture, which is how we are to read the Bible. That scripture interprets itself. It does not contradict itself, and if it does, it is not the passages, but the interpretation that is wrong. Most do not know that to find out how a word is used, look in other passages of scripture to see how it is used which will then give the appropriate definition.

The church is Biblically illiterate because most come with their own agendas, and read scripture with those agendas. We are however to come with an open heart and mind, willing to change even views held for thirty years if in our sanctification and maturing process, we see scripture to say something differently.

I don’t always agree with John MacArthur, but I do appreciate his heart. He has said he wished he could rewrite some of his earlier works, because as he has studied the Bible and matured in his faith, he has discovered so many times when he was wrong. There is not a time that he has not made this public, yet there are those who will still use his earlier works in teaching. It makes John MacArthur cringe.

Augustine rewrote many of his earlier works for the same reason. He spent much of his later life, rewriting his works to reflect what he now believed.

Both Augustine and John MacArthur have a heart for the truth, the heart of God. This is my prayer for the church. It is my prayer for myself, as I have had to change my views many times over the years, as I have dug deep into the scriptures, leaving proof-texts behind, and discovered that what I had formerly thought as true was not. It was based on one or two scriptures, not scripture interpreting scripture. May this spread to the Church, and the churches, which I love. The church can’t spread the gospel, when it isn’t the gospel, but a distorted version. May God in His mercy stop this from happening any longer, but open the eyes of the church to replace the error with Biblical truth.

Itching Ears Part 8/ End Times

As I was researching this particular topic, just doing a google and putting the words end times in the search box, came up with over one hundred and twelve million results. It’s been a topic that has caused some heated discussions for as long as I have been a church goer, over 40 years, and it’s still a hot topic. People, especially many Christians, are fascinated by this particular topic, and again I think, most, to the exclusion of the rest of the Bible, and what the Bible actually says. It’s another doctrine that has been used to bang people over the head to make a decision for Christ. It’s been used on signs, bumper stickers, lapel pins, etc.

It’s also one of those topics that everyone has a view. Even those without Christ.

Micah Fries recently posted quotes by Charles Spurgeon that best illustrates my own view toward this topic. I would like to look at some of the more prevalent views still taught today, but I would also like to take the careful step of going to the Bible for what answers we do have on eschatology.

Again, I am willing for those who disagree with me to disagree. I am prayerfully hoping that this will get many to think critically. My view on this is just that, my view. I was raised on the book of Revelation, and speak from experience as to those week long revival meetings, where the topic was always, always, always, the end of the world. Jack Van Impe, Tim LaHaye, and Hal Lindsay books were sources sermons were made of. I had problems accepting that this should be something worth a week of revival meetings both then and now.

This post is an introduction, with more detail coming in the posts ahead. Again, my ultimate goal in these posts is not to cause dissension nor to place one view ahead of another as correct, but to simply point out that our view of eschatology does tend to guide how we live, how we look at, respond, to the secular world around us, and I believe how we read, interpret, the rest of the Bible.

From The Biblical Recorder: Fourth Century Bible Can Be Seen Online

LONDON — The Codex Sinaiticus, thought to be one of the world’s oldest Bibles, is going online this week in a project led by the British Library to reconnect all its 1,600-year-old parts that are spread across Europe and Egypt’s Sinai desert.

A preview of the manuscript, which dates from the 4th century and includes what’s believed to be the oldest surviving copy of the New Testament, will be available free July 24 at www.codex-sinaiticus.net, the library said. Read the rest here.

According to the Codex Sinaiticus site, this manuscript is more than 1600 years old, making it the world’s oldest Bible. The word Codex Sinaiticus, according to the site, means the Sinai Book.