I'm what you might call and avid outdoorsman. I love to be outside. In fact, one of the most difficult aspects of my responsibilities as pastor is to stay in my office long enough to study and prepare to teach (Praise God for lap top computers!). I am actually a water fowler. For me, the smell of swamp gas in an early morning sunrise is a little taste of heaven on earth. The sounds, smells and experiences of the outdoors truly testify to the creator and give me occasion for special times of fellowship with God.
Recently I've taken up deer hunting. I don't hunt on a club so I don't hunt with dogs. I still hunt. One of the reasons I've never been much of a deer hunter is because I haven't had the patience to sit in a tree for long periods of time to wait on some deer that may or may not show. Since Susan and I have four little boys who make life interesting and loud, I've found that a few hours in a deer stand is a good thing!
There are so many good things about hunting and having the opportunity to get somewhere alone with the Lord and to have the time to read the Bible and reflect on what it says. There are just so many good things that can come from hunting. The sky seems bluer. The bird songs seem purer. The wind seems fresher. It seems that in the environment God created, his creation becomes crystal clear. This is a hint of what it was like when God created all that is and said it was good. There is a lot of good stuff in the creation.
In the midst of the good, though, there are some bad things. For instance, mosquitos. Need I say more? Even with the great things about hunting there are some not so good things. Not even a week ago while I was hunting hogs in the lowcountry I fell about 10 or 15 feet out of a tree stand. I landed on my feet, but just barely. The recoil from the fall shoot be backward a few feet where I landed flat on my back in the midst of some cypress knees and roots. The whole episode took about 5 seconds, but it seemed to me like five minutes and for the poor guy watching the whole thing unfold, it seemed to him like an hour!
Other than being sore, you know what I remember most about that whole episode? I remember falling and looking at those roots and thinking, "What's the best way for me to fall so I don't get hurt?" In that moment in time everything seemed still and crystal clear. My mind took over and processed things in an instance that I had not even noticed before - things like the roots. I never even saw them until I was falling toward them. Thankfully, I didn't get hurt too bad and the guy who saw the whole thing is doing better, too.
In that accident, time (actually lack of time) brought into sharp focus the things that really mattered. I saw clearly and responded. When we read the Bible, the same kind of thing happens. The Holy Spirit has a way of helping us to see clearly what God has clearly written for us. God has given us His Word and it is very clear. One cannot read the Bible without a sense of urgency. One cannot read the Bible without gaining a sharper focus on reality. On cannot read the Bible without gaining some insight. For the Christian, the Bible speaks to us by helping us to develop the mind of Christ. We learn from him what he would have us know and what he would have us do. The reason he does this is that in the events of life when time is short and consequence is approaching quickly, the mind will take over and show us things we've never noticed before. The Chrisitan's responsibility is to develop the mind of Christ so that the Christian's privilege of divine leadership can be realized.
The Christian man can see the dangers of adultery without having to commit them. The Christian woman can see clearly the dangers of lust without having to commit them. The Christian can overcome doubt and fear because the Bible clearly shows us how to do those things. For the Christian who spends time in the Word, the mind of Christ within you springs into action when the "roots" of life start coming at you fast. In an instant, God will bring to mind a verse (that you probably read in your tree stand) that will help you navigate your way without losing your step. The Bible is clear enough. Why not read it, today?
Thursday, March 13, 2008
BBQ and the Bible
I've had the privilege of living in South Carolina most of my life and anyone who knows anything about South Carolina knows that BBQ means pork. It doesn't mean grilling hamburgers or roasting hotdogs. It doesn't mean anykind of meat on a grill of any kind. BBQ means pork and in the big SC it means pork in a serious way. You need to know that there are differences of opinion about how the pork is to be cooked - charcoal or gas. There are differences of opinion about the sauce to be used - mustard based, tomatoe based or vingear based. There are differences of opinion about a lot of things, but there is no disagreement on this simple fact: BBQ in SC is PORK!
Our church recently started sharing a meal on Wednesday night before church. We're charging each participant a very small fee to cover the cost of the meal and any extra money that is generated will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Everybody loves the concept and the cause we are helping to support. Last night we had BBQ sandwiches and they were good! We didn't have any fixins to speak of. We had some chips and pickles and Little Debbie Cakes for the sweet, but beyond that we didn't have much else. Why would we not have much else, you might ask? It's simple. When you have good BBQ, you don't need anything else. The BBQ is sufficient. Now it's nice to have things like beans and tater salad and various kinds of puddin' and all of that, but all you really need is the BBQ. In fact, last night I heard one of the guys in the kitchen say, "I don't need anything else. Ya'll just leave me down here with a few pounds of this stuff (BBQ) and that's all I'll need." He was saying in his own way, "BBQ is sufficient."
In a similar way, the Bible possesses that same quality as good BBQ - it's all you need. When a Christian takes the Bible and reads it for what it is and surrenders to its teaching, then there is nothing else you need. It's in the Bible that a Christian is going to learn about the importance of church. It's in the Bible that a Christian is going to learn about the importance of personal evangelism. It's in the Bible that a Christian is going to learn all the things he needs to learn in order to live an obedient life before the Lord. In fact, when someone who is not a Christian reads the Bible, he's going to learn everything he needs to know in order to become a Christian. There isn't anything you can add to it to make it any better. It is sufficient.
Now, just like BBQ, a few fixins are ok, but not necessary. For instance, you can benefit a great deal from Bible study with a person who has been studying the Bible longer than you. You can learn from that person's mistakes and gain insight from their experiences. You can surely learn a lot from other Christians. Yet, you don't have to have someone else to help you read the Bible on your own. It's nice to have church tradition to help you in understanding why we do things like we do them when we come togther as a faith community. We can learn a great deal about how to apply the Bible when we study church history and our own particular faith tradition. Yet, your church's tradition can't add to the Bible and if it ever does, you need to be skeptical of it. The point is this: there are all kinds of things that can be helpful and beneficial, but all you really need is a Bible.
I've been in places where people have had BBQ contests. Some lather down their pork with sauces and dry rubs and all kind of seasonings known to man. Others prefer a less is more approach and apply only the bare essentials or nothing at all. If you ever make it to some of these kinds of events, you'll not be there long before you'll hear someone say something like this - we let the meat stand for itself. That's just another way of saying, "BBQ is sufficient." In the same way your taste buds might water and your fat cells might sing upon the taste of some fine Carolina BBQ, let your soul hunger for the meat of God's Word so that your spirit might continually sing His praise. The Bible is enough.
Our church recently started sharing a meal on Wednesday night before church. We're charging each participant a very small fee to cover the cost of the meal and any extra money that is generated will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Everybody loves the concept and the cause we are helping to support. Last night we had BBQ sandwiches and they were good! We didn't have any fixins to speak of. We had some chips and pickles and Little Debbie Cakes for the sweet, but beyond that we didn't have much else. Why would we not have much else, you might ask? It's simple. When you have good BBQ, you don't need anything else. The BBQ is sufficient. Now it's nice to have things like beans and tater salad and various kinds of puddin' and all of that, but all you really need is the BBQ. In fact, last night I heard one of the guys in the kitchen say, "I don't need anything else. Ya'll just leave me down here with a few pounds of this stuff (BBQ) and that's all I'll need." He was saying in his own way, "BBQ is sufficient."
In a similar way, the Bible possesses that same quality as good BBQ - it's all you need. When a Christian takes the Bible and reads it for what it is and surrenders to its teaching, then there is nothing else you need. It's in the Bible that a Christian is going to learn about the importance of church. It's in the Bible that a Christian is going to learn about the importance of personal evangelism. It's in the Bible that a Christian is going to learn all the things he needs to learn in order to live an obedient life before the Lord. In fact, when someone who is not a Christian reads the Bible, he's going to learn everything he needs to know in order to become a Christian. There isn't anything you can add to it to make it any better. It is sufficient.
Now, just like BBQ, a few fixins are ok, but not necessary. For instance, you can benefit a great deal from Bible study with a person who has been studying the Bible longer than you. You can learn from that person's mistakes and gain insight from their experiences. You can surely learn a lot from other Christians. Yet, you don't have to have someone else to help you read the Bible on your own. It's nice to have church tradition to help you in understanding why we do things like we do them when we come togther as a faith community. We can learn a great deal about how to apply the Bible when we study church history and our own particular faith tradition. Yet, your church's tradition can't add to the Bible and if it ever does, you need to be skeptical of it. The point is this: there are all kinds of things that can be helpful and beneficial, but all you really need is a Bible.
I've been in places where people have had BBQ contests. Some lather down their pork with sauces and dry rubs and all kind of seasonings known to man. Others prefer a less is more approach and apply only the bare essentials or nothing at all. If you ever make it to some of these kinds of events, you'll not be there long before you'll hear someone say something like this - we let the meat stand for itself. That's just another way of saying, "BBQ is sufficient." In the same way your taste buds might water and your fat cells might sing upon the taste of some fine Carolina BBQ, let your soul hunger for the meat of God's Word so that your spirit might continually sing His praise. The Bible is enough.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Billy Bob the Bible Thumpin' Baptist
I'm very happy to be a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching pastor. Unfortunately, many people have stereotyped the Bible-believing, Bible-preaching pastor as the guy with the evangelist's hair; red-faced and spitting over three pews and opposed to everything. This pic of a Bible-believing, Bible-preaching pastor just isn't correct - it's funny, but not correct. I remember in college we were required to read a book. The book is considered an American classic and it's about a boy's passage into manhood. In it, the main character uses the Lord's name in vain multiple times. So, in typcial higher educational fashion, when we discussed the finer literary points of technique and style, this question arose: Do you think this character used !@#$$%^^ too much or not enough? All of the academic want-to-be's went at it. One said, "I think it was used wonderfully." Another said, "I think it was used too much." The professor replied, "I agree. When I smash my thumb with the hammer I want my !@#$%^^ to mean something." And on and on and on it went. When I raised my objection to the use of the Lord's name because of my faith conviction, the whole class turned on its heel and began assaulting me. One gal said, "You must be one of those Billy Bob, Bible-thumpin' Baptists." From that point forward the whole class proceeded to make fun of me and my faith.
Now it is possible that they could have made fun of me because I was a stereo-typcial red-faced, funny haired characiture of a Christian, but I wasn't. It's possible they could have made fun of me because I was less than academically standard, but I wasn't. I had a high A average at this point in the class. It could have been for many reasons, but the truth is this: I was singled out because I accepted (and still do) the Bible as my authority source for faith and practice. I distinctly remember saying to the class that I was a Christian and as such was offended at the use of the Lord's name in such a base fashion. Besides, I added, the Bible teaches us to never use the Lord's name in that way. That was the clincher! The Bible teaches us to never use the Lord's name in that way. It was that statement that elicited such harsh reaction.
I believe that the Bible is God's revelation to man and that apart from it we could not know what we need to know in order to be saved. Further, the Bible is God's revelation of His expectations for us. As such, it has authority to guide our lives as Christians. In Hebrews 4:12, we learn that the Bible is alive and active; sharper than any two-edged sword; piercing and able to discern the intentions of the heart. The Holy Spirit is the one who enlivens the Bible that it may speak to us about our relationship with Lord and our lifestyle for the Lord. When we come to the Bible or when we hear it taught, we always have one of two choices to make. 1. I will submit to its teaching and surrender my agenda for a biblical one. 2. I will not submit to its teaching and will do what I want.
The Bible has authority to instruct us and hold us accountable and it has power to transform our lives. The Bible does NOT have authority to transform us into the red-faced, funny haired distortion of what so many believe to be a Christian. We are called to walk worthy of our Christian calling. We are called to speak the truth in love. We are called to be distinct from the world. The Bible helps us to do all of this and it helps us to do it winsomely and compassionately when we willingly submit to it. By the way, I had a high A average in that class at the point I shared my conviction. I finished that class with a low C average. My work ethic didn't change and my writing ability / style didn't change. What changed was my professor's view of me. It cost me to live under the authority of what the Bible teaches. If you would live according to the Bible, it will cost you something, too!
Now it is possible that they could have made fun of me because I was a stereo-typcial red-faced, funny haired characiture of a Christian, but I wasn't. It's possible they could have made fun of me because I was less than academically standard, but I wasn't. I had a high A average at this point in the class. It could have been for many reasons, but the truth is this: I was singled out because I accepted (and still do) the Bible as my authority source for faith and practice. I distinctly remember saying to the class that I was a Christian and as such was offended at the use of the Lord's name in such a base fashion. Besides, I added, the Bible teaches us to never use the Lord's name in that way. That was the clincher! The Bible teaches us to never use the Lord's name in that way. It was that statement that elicited such harsh reaction.
I believe that the Bible is God's revelation to man and that apart from it we could not know what we need to know in order to be saved. Further, the Bible is God's revelation of His expectations for us. As such, it has authority to guide our lives as Christians. In Hebrews 4:12, we learn that the Bible is alive and active; sharper than any two-edged sword; piercing and able to discern the intentions of the heart. The Holy Spirit is the one who enlivens the Bible that it may speak to us about our relationship with Lord and our lifestyle for the Lord. When we come to the Bible or when we hear it taught, we always have one of two choices to make. 1. I will submit to its teaching and surrender my agenda for a biblical one. 2. I will not submit to its teaching and will do what I want.
The Bible has authority to instruct us and hold us accountable and it has power to transform our lives. The Bible does NOT have authority to transform us into the red-faced, funny haired distortion of what so many believe to be a Christian. We are called to walk worthy of our Christian calling. We are called to speak the truth in love. We are called to be distinct from the world. The Bible helps us to do all of this and it helps us to do it winsomely and compassionately when we willingly submit to it. By the way, I had a high A average in that class at the point I shared my conviction. I finished that class with a low C average. My work ethic didn't change and my writing ability / style didn't change. What changed was my professor's view of me. It cost me to live under the authority of what the Bible teaches. If you would live according to the Bible, it will cost you something, too!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Late Sunday afternoon I came across an article in the online version of the Baptist Press that aroused a strong reaction in me. The article recounted the events of a particular church that had led it to the place of asking the pastor to resign because he thought homosexual couples should be allowed to have their photo in the church directory. I'm really not sure what all the fuss is about since the church, several years ago, began admitting homosexuals as members of their congregation. Truly, does it not seem inconsistent to you to refuse homosexual couples the privilege of having their photo published in the directory if they are members of the church? It seems to me, for consistency's sake, that if a church is going to permit homosexuals membership they should have the courtesy to publish their photos.
Of course, the problem these guys are dealing with really isn't about homosexuals having their photo in the directory. The problem this church is dealing with is an authority issue. I think most Christians acknowledge Jesus as Lord and the Bible as His Holy Word. Certainly, there are those who profess to be Christians who do not beleive this, but they are most definitely in the minority. What has happened in this church is nothing more or less than a classic power struggle. Since they disregarded the proper authority, namely the Lord of the church and his Holy Word, they are divided and vying for position and power to assert themselves on the particular issue of homosexuality.
I believe that Jesus is the head of the church and that he really has all authority in heaven and on earth. I also believe that the Bible is God's Word and as such is our sole authority for faith and practice. In other words, we can only know what God wants us to know and the primary way in which he enlightens our minds is through His Word. Now God speaks through other means, i.e., the Holy Spirit; Christian people; circumstance; etc... Truthfully, God can speak to us any way he wants, but he has chosen to speak to us through His Word. The Word is not silent on homsexuality. From beginning to end, the Bible condemns homosexuality as an abomination. There really is no question as to whether or not homosexuality is a sin - it clearly is a sin! Why? Because the Bible says so.
The problem this church is having is the same problem any church or any Christian has when the Bible is traded from some other authority source. If we make a man, say a pastor or another, our authority source, then we have to live according to what he says. If we make a family or political system our source of authority, then we have to live according to what they / it says. You have to give this pastor kudos for consistency. For those in the church who are ok with homosexuals as members of the church we have to ask the question, "Why the problem with allowing them in the directory?" I'd venture to say, that someone stepped on someone else's toes and challenged the authority source. Now those poor folks are fighting among themselves for control and authority and the Gospel is being tarnished.
When we honor the Bible as God's Word and submit to its teaching as the final authority in matters of faith and practice, then we can eliminate all lot of the contests for power. You'll never have to call for a vote about your pastor's position concerning homosexuals in the church directory because you'll never allow homosexuals to become members in your church! The Bible settles those issues for us. All we need to do is read it and live according to it. Let me encourage you to read your Bible, today. Blessings!
Of course, the problem these guys are dealing with really isn't about homosexuals having their photo in the directory. The problem this church is dealing with is an authority issue. I think most Christians acknowledge Jesus as Lord and the Bible as His Holy Word. Certainly, there are those who profess to be Christians who do not beleive this, but they are most definitely in the minority. What has happened in this church is nothing more or less than a classic power struggle. Since they disregarded the proper authority, namely the Lord of the church and his Holy Word, they are divided and vying for position and power to assert themselves on the particular issue of homosexuality.
I believe that Jesus is the head of the church and that he really has all authority in heaven and on earth. I also believe that the Bible is God's Word and as such is our sole authority for faith and practice. In other words, we can only know what God wants us to know and the primary way in which he enlightens our minds is through His Word. Now God speaks through other means, i.e., the Holy Spirit; Christian people; circumstance; etc... Truthfully, God can speak to us any way he wants, but he has chosen to speak to us through His Word. The Word is not silent on homsexuality. From beginning to end, the Bible condemns homosexuality as an abomination. There really is no question as to whether or not homosexuality is a sin - it clearly is a sin! Why? Because the Bible says so.
The problem this church is having is the same problem any church or any Christian has when the Bible is traded from some other authority source. If we make a man, say a pastor or another, our authority source, then we have to live according to what he says. If we make a family or political system our source of authority, then we have to live according to what they / it says. You have to give this pastor kudos for consistency. For those in the church who are ok with homosexuals as members of the church we have to ask the question, "Why the problem with allowing them in the directory?" I'd venture to say, that someone stepped on someone else's toes and challenged the authority source. Now those poor folks are fighting among themselves for control and authority and the Gospel is being tarnished.
When we honor the Bible as God's Word and submit to its teaching as the final authority in matters of faith and practice, then we can eliminate all lot of the contests for power. You'll never have to call for a vote about your pastor's position concerning homosexuals in the church directory because you'll never allow homosexuals to become members in your church! The Bible settles those issues for us. All we need to do is read it and live according to it. Let me encourage you to read your Bible, today. Blessings!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Well...I made it back from the low country hunt in one piece - well, almost. We were hog huntin' in the swamps off the Pee Dee River in the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge absolutely removed from civilization. It was all that I hoped it would be and nothing I thought it would be. I prepared for cold weather and it turned out to be hot. I prepared for dry weather and turned out rainy. I prepared for about six hours sleep each night and got only three or four. I prepared for success and shot no hog. All in all I had a blast!
Even though nothing I prepared for happened, I still enjoyed myself. When I left off last time, I was sharing that Christian people should prepare to forgive and receive forgiveness. Just like the hunt, though, you may or may not realize all that you had hoped to realize in living the prepared life. You may find the results of your preparation rewarding and satisfying on the personal side, but unappreciated, unwanted or resisted on another's side. Regardless of how another responds to our forgiveness, we should forgive. Even though I didn't get to bag the trophy boar I had hoped to bag and even though I had a lot items I really didn't need, I still had a wonderful time. Such is the case for those who desire to live for Christ. We might not get everything we want, but we can have a wonderful time because of the hope of our salvation.
Even though nothing I prepared for happened, I still enjoyed myself. When I left off last time, I was sharing that Christian people should prepare to forgive and receive forgiveness. Just like the hunt, though, you may or may not realize all that you had hoped to realize in living the prepared life. You may find the results of your preparation rewarding and satisfying on the personal side, but unappreciated, unwanted or resisted on another's side. Regardless of how another responds to our forgiveness, we should forgive. Even though I didn't get to bag the trophy boar I had hoped to bag and even though I had a lot items I really didn't need, I still had a wonderful time. Such is the case for those who desire to live for Christ. We might not get everything we want, but we can have a wonderful time because of the hope of our salvation.
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