Posted in Bible Doctrine, Ministry

Who runs the church?

Posted on by James

Who holds authority in the church? Obviously, Jesus is the Head of the church (Ephesians 1:22-23. Colossians 1:18). He is the Lord and is the Chief Shepherd of the church (1 Peter 5:2-4). But the record of Scripture shows  that God delegates authority to humans – to governments, to husbands, to parents, and to masters. The question, more specifically posed, is “To which humans has God vested the authority of the church?” There are a variety of models of church governments (AKA ecclesiastical polity) – pastoral authority, congregational vote, denominational rule, deacon-led, elder rule, or hybrids thereof (there are more formal names, but these need less defining).

Wrestling with obscure issues is one of the thrills of church planting. I strive to lay a foundation that most closely reflects the Biblical command and precedent because it is where we stray from God’s instruction that we create the most significant problems. In this post, I will present the Scriptural basis for rule by a team of elders (i.e. pastors).

The Design of Elder Rule

Let’s be frank. In the Bible, churches were ruled by ordained elders (pastors); deacons were not authoritative decision-makers but servants; congregations didn’t vote; churches were autonomous not ruled by a central church; and churches were self-governing not ruled by a denomination. Some of these unbiblical models were formed as man’s solution to pastoral failure, but it is never safe to usurp authority from the place where God has placed it. These models have resulted in problems of greater magnitude than the original problem they sought to prevent.

The names of elders. The Bible applies three names to the same office of church leader.

  • Elder indicates a spiritual MATURITY. This is the name that is used most frequently in Scripture yet is the most misunderstood. He is NOT a deacon, an old person, or a faithful lay person elected to a decision-making council. An elder is an ordained pastor. 
  • Pastor indicates a shepherd’s CUSTODY. Pastor literally means shepherd (stemming from the same word as pasture), who is to lead, feed and protect the flock. Ironically, the title most commonly used modernly is used least in Scripture. The title is only used once (Ephesians 4:11); of 17 of the 18 times the Greek word is used it is translated shepherd. The term shepherd (pastor) is used interchangeably with elder in 1 Peter 5:1-4.
  • Bishop indicates a sober RESPONSIBILITY.  Meaning “overseer,” bishop is used in 1 Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, and Philippians 1:1 (which names both offices of the church). As the name implies, he is to govern the church. Contrary to its use in high church, a bishop in the Bible is the leader of a local church – not a position over multiple churches. The term bishop is used interchangeably with elder in Titus 1:5-7.

The plurality of elders. God did not intend for a church to be governed by a single pastor but by a team of elders (pastors). When God turned to the Gentiles following the stoning of Stephen, the church at Jerusalem was ruled not by apostles but by a team of elders (Acts 11:30. 21:18). Paul’s church plants were led by a team of elders (Acts 14:23. Acts 20:17. 1 Timothy 5:17-20. 1 Thessalonians 5:12).

The leader of elders. It is natural & inevitable that there be differences and disagreements within the team of elders, and there is a need for a leader of leaders – one who has the final say. Acts 15 perfectly describes the Biblical working of a team of pastors. There are tough decisions to be made. They each speak and hear one another. Finally, one elder (James the brother of Jesus) gives the sentence (Acts 15:13-20). This design is implemented through pastoral-team authority with a lead pastor who has the final say. In our church’s bylaws, the lead pastor carries 49% of every vote, and the remaining pastors carry a combined 51%.

**BONUS – As a church plant, I wanted to reflect the external authority Paul retained in the churches he planted – in person and by letters he dealt with false doctrine, false teaching, sin, restoration, and even removed sitting elders. We did this by allowing one of two specific people to be an external elder – the pastor of our mother church or the church planter (should I leave).

The Error of Elder Rule

An increasingly prevalent error is for churches to employ the Biblical model (Elder Rule) with unbiblical definitions. Let me explain… I recently had a conversation with a fellow-believer from a nearby church. He passionately described the disasters he’d experienced with deacon-led churches and excitedly told me how the church was changing their bylaws to be ruled by a board of elders. Knowing the typical pitfalls, I pressed on who the elders were; some would be former deacons; others would be Sunday School teachers or members of other boards. My dear brother is going to be in worse shape than ever. In effect, he has duplicated a deacon board and compounded the problem by attributing the title “elder” to non-pastors. Before he gave authority of elders (pastors) to unordained men (deacons); now he gives the authority & title of elder to unordained men.  

The error of “elder rule” is that the title elder is misdefined. Because myriad heresies are born of misdefinition of Biblical terms, it’s imperative to allow the Bible to define itself. And elder is a pastor.  To avoid confusion, I often use terms like pastor-led, pastoral authority.

Your thoughts:

What experiences have you had with the different church governments?
What benefits or problems did that style of polity bring?

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Is paddling children moral?

The Immoral Accusation

“Striking a child is always wrong” Or, “How can you expect to teach children to refrain from violence by exercising violence on them?” The allegation of psychologists & social workers is that paddling children is immoral.

This contemporary view stands in opposition to every major world religion (except New Age): Buddhism, Confucianism, Hinduism, Judaism, Islam, Christianity – all endorse corporal discipline as a good & essential way to raise & build character in children. The detractors of paddling accuse every major religion of being immoral.

 

The Underlying Premise

Why New Age? It’s necessary to acknowledge the link between New Age religion and modern psychology. While diverse in its details, the central tenet of New Age is that self is god. Therefore its ultimate worship is pleasing self, and its chief sin is displeasing self. This doctrine (and more) of New Age permeate modern psychology, where the primary pursuit is the happiness.

 

See a previous post concerning the alleged inefficacy of paddling

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Posted in Bible Doctrine

The Virgin Birth – Does it really matter?

Posted on by James

A controversy is brewing this Christmas, and this time it’s not about me forgetting to buy someone a Christmas gift. This controversy concerns Andy Stanley’s teaching on the virgin birth; the mega-pastor’s popularity often makes him a target – sometimes for good reason, sometimes not. Does it matter whether the virgin birth is factually accurate? Does it matter if a person believes in the virgin birth?

Is the Virgin Birth critical to Christianity? – YES!

Christianity does not hinge on the truth or even the stories about the birth of Jesus, it really hinges on the resurrection of Jesus. – Andy Stanley

Andy Stanley defends his approach by asserting that the bodily Resurrection of Christ is the prime doctrine of Christianity and the virgin birth is extraneous. The Resurrection is indeed fundamental, but contrary to Stanley’s opinion, the virgin birth is also critical to Christianity.

Christmas is the celebration of the truth that distinguishes true Christianity from every other religion in the world. Every religion demands that man works up to achieve a higher plain or heaven; Christianity declares that God came down to man to give eternal life. It’s completely unique – that the Creator would be made like His creation; that the Almighty would be made a weak baby; that the Lord of all would be made a servant.

Without the virgin birth, Jesus was not begotten of God, not the Son of God, and not divine. Therefore without the virgin birth, Christianity is false. Furthermore, because Jesus was born of the seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15. Galatians 4:4), he did not inherit the sin nature of Adam (Romans 5:12-14). The virgin birth is THE reason why Jesus could be our spotless sacrificial Lamb.

To be fair, Stanley professes to believe the virgin birth, but his pick-and-choose theology is a growing trend in Western Churchianity. While it is wise to acknowledge cultural views & doubts, it would be foolish to discard Biblical doctrine because it lacks popularity. Much of Christianity strives to stay relevant in our Post-Christian culture by permitting men to embrace truths they find attractive and dispose of truths that require faith or submission. It is analogous to a wife striving to keep her marriage by permitting her husband to have affairs. Make no mistake; Jesus is not desperate. He preferred a few fully devoted followers over multitudes who just wanted to see miracles. He prefers a few of genuine faith than multitudes that selectively believe.

 

Is the Virgin Birth critical for salvation? NO… and YES!

One blogger compares Andy’s approach to Paul’s secular apologetic method at Mars Hill (Acts 17:16-34). There is undoubtedly Scriptural merit in using secular views to reach secular people (1 Corinthians 9:20-24), but there’s a tremendous difference between Paul using secular views that validate NT truths and Stanley validating secular views that disparage NT truths.

Can a person come to saving faith in Christ without believing the virgin birth? That’s a tough question. One can certainly be saved while IGNORANT of the virgin birth, but can he be saved while REJECTING the virgin birth? A better question would be, “Does the person believe that Jesus was God in flesh?” The answer will clearly define who has genuine faith in Christ (1 John 4:2-3). Jesus made validating His deity the focus of His ministry and accepting His deity as the subject of faith. It is first part of the great mystery of godliness (1 Timothy 3:16). And Paul’s quintessential verse on salvation requires BOTH belief in Christ’s deity & His resurrection (Romans 10:9). 

 

Your Thoughts:

  • Has the virgin birth been a difficult doctrine for you?
  • Where is the balance of teaching the Word of God and not putting the cart before the horse?
  • What dangers have you seen in dismissing or presenting too much doctrine?
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Posted in Abortion

Abortion VS Life: What are the facts?

Posted on by James

My previous post compared 19th century slavery with modern abortion. Both atrocities were justified by de-humanizing the victims and defining them as property. As the previous post clearly demonstrates the Pro-Life position is MORALLY superior, this post intends to demonstrate the Pro-Life position is also FACTUALLY superior.

 

“The fetus is not alive.”

Abortion advocates famously label the fetus as “just a clump of cells,” but this claim does not hold up to scientific scrutiny. A fetus performs living, human functions – like heartbeats or measurable brain waves (every legal abortion stops both). Modern medical science now knows that a fetus can feel pain, be startled, respond to his mother’s laughter, dream & even begin learning his mother’s language.

Although recently discovered by science, these facts were well known in the ancient world. When God gave Moses the laws for the nation of Israel, He calls the fetus “life” (Exodus 21:22-23). The fetus is not an amorphous clump of cells but a complex, functioning, living being.

 

“The fetus is not a human being.”

In a feeble attempt to save face, abortion advocates fall back to the untenable position that the fetus is not a human being. Yet the Pro-Choice advocate never establishes of what species he believes the fetus belongs? Is there a zebra or aardvark in the woman’s uterus? This position, of course, also crumbles under factual scrutiny. A simply DNA test reveals that the fetus is absolutely human. And there’s more; science reveals that preborn babies feel human emotions – like fear, pain, connection, and love. 

Once again, we find Holy Scripture revealing facts long before science can explain them. According to Job 3:11, an unborn baby has a living soul (ghost), and even before the prophet Jeremiah’s organs were formed, God knew him as a living person with a unique plan (Jeremiah 1:5).  And consider this… the first person to recognize Jesus as Messiah, was an unborn baby (Luke 1:41-43).

 

“The fetus is part of the mother’s body.”

THE TRICK QUESTION: Shouldn’t a woman have the right to choose what she does with her body? This sneaky question is the premise of the Pro-Choice (Pro-Abortion) position, but A FETUS IS NOT THE WOMAN’S BODY. Having received 23 chromosomes from each parent, a fetus has its own distinct DNA. A fetus also has its own distinct blood. And no woman has 2 hearts, 2 brains, 4 arms, 4 eyes, and 4 legs.

THE REAL QUESTION: If our society deems it immoral & unlawful to murder babies after they’re born, why should we allow babies to be murdered before they’re born? It is a society’s responsibility to restrict behavior – even in regards to one’s own body; that’s why there are laws restricting self-mutilation, suicide and heroine abuse. But science confirms the plea of our conscience, that a fetus is a distinct living, human person. 

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Posted in Family

Is paddling children effective?

Posted on by James

Is paddling even effective? The pervasive answer is a resounding NO. Ask a psychologist, a social worker, or a school administrator; read a textbook or a parenting book. The public scorn, the condescending knowledge of the professionals, the findings of “research,” and even the fear of legal repercussions leave most authorities silent on the matter… sadly, even pastors. I write this post in defense of this most critical practice of parenting. This is not meant to be exhaustive; there will be multiple more posts on this subject, but here I submit 4 challenges to the professionals.

1) The Historical Conflict

One author & outspoken adversary of corporal discipline, notes:

“There seems to be not a single exception. From Sumer to Egypt to China, from ancient India to pre-Columbian America, from Athens to Rome, children were hit.”

By exposing the widespread use of corporal discipline, the author’s intent is to explain the difficulty of eradicating its practice, but consider the facts of his statement. Without exception, every great civilization practiced corporal discipline. Here are a few:

  • The Sumerians were a highly intelligent, urban civilization who pioneered the earliest writing form, controlled the flooding of the Tigris & Euphrates rivers, and developed a base-60 numerical system which is still employed today in our time (60 seconds and 60 minutes) and geometry (360 degrees).
  • The Egyptians made scientific, agricultural and mathematical achievements. We are still amazed by the mathematical precision and puzzled on how Egypt’s Pyramids intersect with the planets and stars.
  • The Babylonians excelled in astronomy – predicting planetary movements, tracking Haley’s Comet, and creating the world’s earliest star catalog. The “Hammurabi Code” is still regarded as the first major, defined legal system of the world.
  • The Greeks remain renowned for their philosophy.
  • The Romans were industrious, innovative & powerful.

All cultures, including these great civilizations, practiced corporal discipline. Paddlers and spankers were not uncouth, cave-dwelling cannibals; they were philosophers, engineers, humanitarians, philanthropists, scientists, mathematicians and lawyers. So when someone poorly portray paddlers, remember – every great civilization in the history of the world valued corporal discipline as the preeminent way to instill character and raise children.

Now consider the audacity of the author’s conclusion – that it is ineffective to paddle children. After revealing that all humankind accepted corporal discipline, the author now asserts that all civilizations – including the mathematical Sumerians, the scientific Egyptians, the astronomical Babylonians, the philosophical Greeks, and logical Romans – were all horribly, foolishly wrong. If only all civilizations of all times knew what he knew about raising children.  The claim is especially absurd when you observe…

2) The Contemporary Contradiction

For decades, psychologists, governments, schools, & social workers have been demonizing corporal discipline and recommending alternate “learning” techniques; accordingly, we have seen the percentages of paddling homes decrease. If these opponents of corporal discipline are correct, we should be seeing a dramatic drop in hate crimes, domestic violence, school shootings, riots, murders, rape, greed, bullying, crime rates; defense attorneys should be going out of business; prisons should be near empty. Is that what you see? 

Over the past 30 years, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), the federal prison population has jumped from 25,000 to 219,000 inmates, an increase of nearly 790%. (compare to 36% U.S. population growth).

According to the World Prison Brief – U.S. local jails are occupied at 86.4%; state prisons 115%; federal prisons 136%.

An even more clear indicator is Sweden, who passed a no-spanking law in 1979. The Akron Law Review provided its findings from 2010 research (in 30 years, the first generation of no-spanking is now raising the second generation).

Child abuse rates increased 500%.

From 1979-1994 Swedish children under 7 endured an almost 6-fold increase in physical abuse.

Teen violence skyrocketed in 90s (first group of teenagers since the law was passed). Youth criminal assault had increased by 6 times the 1984 rates.

3) The Authority Concept

“You can’t teach a child not to hit… by hitting them,” or “You can’t correct violence with violence.” At first paddling seems counterproductive, even hypocritical, but there’s an element that’s not being considered – authority. Authorities are granted punitive powers over their subordinates. It’s why governments wield power to search, sieze, detain, imprison, and even execute citizens who commit the exact same actions on their fellow-citizens. 

When a government exercises its punitive power to imprison a rapist, society does not mourn the innate hypocrisy, it celebrates justice. It is naturally perceived as a moral good. So it is with parental discipline; as the authority, parents wield corrective and punitive rights. Children do not see hypocrisy in healthy, family paddling; they see justice. They don’t learn violence; they learn obedience. 

If this principle of authority is dismissed, psychologists should fear that “Timeout” will cause a child to grow up and falsely imprison people in his basement; that “Taking away privileges and toys” will precipitate theft from children who don’t do as they want; that “Assigning chores” will justify forced labor or slavery on others. The accusation is illogical.

4) The Divine Construct

The previous three sections speak historically and logically to the arguments of “secular” (more accurately, New Age Religion) psychology. We simply cannot trust the new fads or false logic of modern parenting. If anyone knows how humans operate, it’s their Creator. If anyone knows how families should operate, it’s their Designer. What does God say in His Word?

Proverbs 22:15 Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.
One thing breaks the chains of disobedience – the paddle, and it does the job so well it drives disobedience from the child.

Proverbs 23:13-14 Withhold not correction from the child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die. Thou shalt beat him with the rod, and shalt deliver his soul from hell.
Paddling your child will not kill him, but withholding paddling will cripple their future and damn their soul, since they will lack an accurate view of a Just & Holy God.

Proverbs 13:24 He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.
Paddling is an expression of love. Like AFFECTION, CORRECTION is a primary expression of love. A parent that cares more about the moral development, spiritual health, and eternal salvation of his child is motivated by love to paddle his child. The parent who cares more about harmony with and acceptance of the child is motivated by hate to withhold paddling. 

Hebrews 12:6-7 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
The intermediate goal of paddling is to teach the child to obey his human authorities – parents then teachers, governments. The ultimate goal of paddling is to train the child to submit to the Divine Authority. As holy & just, God must punish sin; parents teach their children about the Heavenly Father by paddling. That’s why corporal punishment is important to God and so necessary for our children.

 

What questions do you have about corporal discipline? 
What is your experience?
What strikes you about the above verses?

 

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Posted in Bible Doctrine

The New Testament Canon

Posted on by James

Who decided which writings would be part of the New Testament Canon? What criteria was used in that determination? When was the list of New Testament books compiled? The truth might surprise you, as many of the classical answers conflict with history and with Scripture itself. A singular post cannot adequately address those questions, and honestly… neither can the totality of my understanding on the subject. 

Our church’s expository study of 1 Timothy shed light on the answers. In 1 Timothy 5:18, Paul quotes two texts of Scripture, the latter of which is most pertinent to this subject:

“For the scripture saith… The labourer is worthy of his reward.”

The quote is from Luke 10:7, which was likely penned just 2 years before Paul wrote 1 Timothy. By defining Luke’s gospel as “scripture,” Paul demonstrates a remarkable truth – the apostles and the early church discerned (by Divine power) which writings were given by inspiration. This truth is verified by Peter recognizing Paul’s epistles as “scripture” (2 Peter 3:15-16) and is illustrated by the churches being ordered to pass epistles to other churches (Colossians 4:16. 1 Thessalonians 5:27).

The truth is substantiated by documents like the Muratorian Fragment (a list of the writings observed by an early church, including all the New Testament besides Hebrews, James, 1, Peter, 2 Peter, and 3 John and dated just 75 years from the writing of Revelation) and the Peshitta (Syriac Bible produced less than 100 years from the writing of Revelation includes all but 2 Peter, 2 John 3 John, Jude, Revelation).

In short, it is undeniably clear that God gave His Word by inspiration and that He preserved His Word clearly. The more one studies the New Testament Canon, the more conspicuous God’s hand is in the velocity and precision of the acceptance of the Scriptures. You have every reason to trust that ALL Scripture is given by inspiration of God and that EVERY word of God is pure. Read it. Study it. Meditate on it. Love it. Obey it. Rejoice in it. Teach it. 

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Posted in Abortion

Property or Person – the greatest atrocity of our time

Posted on by James

The Atrocities

150 years ago, a moral atrocity plagued our country – SLAVERY. The moral conflict was so intense, it incited our nation’s bloodiest war. In hindsight it’s virtually impossible to justify slavery, but contemporaneous proponents based their justification on the argument:

  1. Africans were sub-human
  2. Therefore they should not be afforded basic human rights, and
  3. Therefore they are inferior to the RIGHTS of the property owners (masters)
    **In other words, slaves were merely property to be abused, sold or killed at the whim of the owner.

Today, a new moral atrocity plagues our country – ABORTION. Its justification (though irrational, unscientific, and inhumane) is congruent to salvery’s:

  1. Fetuses are sub-human
  2. Therefore they should not be afforded basic human rights, and
  3. Therefore they are inferior to the RIGHTS of the property owners (mothers)
    **In other words, fetuses are merely property to be killed at the whim of the owner.

In both cases, the stated position is contrary to scientific fact (e.g. DNA, heartbeats, brain waves) and void of moral decency. Alleging that a person is merely property and therefore subject to the whims of the property owner is equally contemptible today as it was 150 years ago.

 

The Resolutions

On the issue of slavery, there were 3 primary roles:

  1. The Slaveowner rejected facts and stubbornly held the insolent position that slaves were merely property.
  2. The Passivist accepted facts and/or morals, but while he personally would not own slaves, he felt guilty about denying the slaveowner’s “legal right.” He did nothing in the face of the great atrocity.
  3. The Abolitionist vehemently urged their representatives, fought in the war, housed fugitive slaves, and worked diligently to rectify the atrocity of slavery. History books are rife with their honorable stories.

On the issue of abortion, there are 3 similar roles:

  1. The Slaveowner advocates for abortion. He is either ignorant or defiant of scientific fact.
  2. The Passivist is personally opposed to abortion yet fails to deny the mother’s “legal right.” In the face of this great atrocity, he does nothing. 
  3. The Abolitionist is the hero. Despite pressure, sacrifice, and inconvenience he fights against the greatest atrocity of our time. To future generations, he will be the only respectable character of this age.

When we reflect on slavery, we disdain the Slaveowner as evil; we judge the Passivist as indifferent, but we celebrate the Abolitionist as a hero.  In the not-to-distant future, the world will view abortion in the same light. Which role will you play?

Let’s talk about this – what are ways to become an Abolitionist of abortion?

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Restart

I used to blog. Four years ago we planted Connect Church, and I chronicled the journey – the successes, failures, and lessons I had learned. What happened?

Here’s what happened – I didn’t backup, and I lost it all. A lot of memories, a lot of stories, a lot of lessons… lost.  So after a long while, I’m starting again, and I guess the first lesson documented is BACKUP YOUR CONTENT.

You can expect to see post about Bible doctrine, moral & social issues, family, and church planting.

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