Baucum's Breviary

The House of Love - a Parable

2012-02-13T12:30:00.000-08:00

A Parable of the Church in a Post-Modern World
By Todd Baucum
Created on 1/11/2006

There is a house where love dwells. It is a house that many seek and long to be. In fact, there are many places in this world that claim to be the house of love. But, in truth there is only one House of Love. Blessed are they who find it and dwell there forever.

How do we find the house where true love is found? The Master of the house is the King of Love, the Lord of All and He has invited the world to come to this house, where a feast of love has been prepared and plenteous is the food. Again, many are they that claim to have found this house and have entered it by another door. “Come to our house”, they plead, “and enter our door for it is wide and beautifully built to welcome many at a time”. Love appears to hang over the portal of this house and tempting is the draw to enter and find this love that speaks so generously. Others say, “The house where love is found must have many doors that gain entrance”. This is a house that was designed to have more doors than walls, for walls are barriers that divide, and can love ever place a boundary upon itself? This house offers doors of all variety, small and great. It too, has a welcome sign for all to come and enter as they like, for all doors are equal, they matter not at all. Many, who pass by this house, say that if there is any place where love might dwell, surely this is the house of love.

Off the beaten track, there is found a simple house. When asked about that house, many laugh and taunt. “Surely, the house of love cannot be found where there is but one door, so narrow and small.” Yet, this house stands in stark contrast to the other houses. Most houses are places of broken hearts and the sound of weeping is heard when the music of the entertainers ceases. Here, there is weeping, but the weeping stops and turns to a sweet and unfamiliar song. Why is there but one door in this house? Can I but choose the way I want to enter? As the weary traveler comes to this door, he must come and open the crimson gate. All are invited to enter, but the door can only allow one at a time. Here the diversity all the inhabitants is honored by the narrow door. The Lord of the House designed the door for the true purpose of love. The walls of the house, strong and impenetrable, were built by love’s design. It offers protection and safety from the winds of hate. That is the nature of true love: to protect and guard. The narrow door was hewn out of Master’s heart. To refuse that door or to protest it is only to renounce the love that is inside. Over the portal of this entrance, there too reads a message. “This door is called Truth, and all must enter herein, with head bowed.” “Truth is the entrance to Love”, is not the message others have told. Only here is it inscribed. Yet, why is truth so forgotten and ignored? Is the Lord of the feast, not loud enough or effective in his call? Let not the appearance of this house, make one believe that is the case. This house is grand and spacious with countless guests finding that beyond the threshold of truth is where true love dwells. A feast is being prepared.

Interpretation:
For a Church to really offer real love, it must open the door of truth. Love that is cut off from truth is not love, but sentimentalism at best. The nature of God’s truth is narrow in the sense it is clearly defined and nonnegotiable. Truth being definable and knowable makes it the only option of a loving action. God has revealed Himself in His Word and in His Son, and has thereby given us clear directions home. Christ is narrow in that He is the only way, but the way is open to all. The postmodern church that sacrifices truth for the sake of love ends up offering neither.

“Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, "Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?"
He said to them, "Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” Luke 13:22

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.” Matthew 7:13-14

The Holy Spirit's Convicting Work

2012-02-11T12:01:00.000-08:00

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer;” (John 16:7-10, NIV)

The Holy Spirit is never a substitute for the Word of God. It is true that unless the Holy Spirit opens our hearts and minds to the truth of God’s Word we are deaf to its message. The Bible is a closed book apart from the work of the Holy Spirit, because it is God’s truth and not man’s truth (1 Thess.2:13). Its origin is in heaven and not in earth.

Likewise, just as the Bible has this dependent relationship to the Holy Spirit, the Spirit is not some free agent working apart from the Word. We sometimes think of the Holy Spirit in that way. For example, if a new believer or one who is immature in his faith acts in a way that not becoming of a godly life, we assume that the Holy Spirit will convict that person of their sin. It is true that the Holy Spirit convicts believers of their sin (John 16:8). However, sometimes we neglect the responsibility to admonish (which must always be done in love, or else will become in itself an occasion for sin) a brother or sister, because it is never comfortable to do so, thinking that we can just leave it up to the Spirit.

The problem is that the Holy Sprit, always, or might I say, ordinarily works in conjunction with the revealed Word of God. I say ordinarily, not as a provision for some mystical loophole where someone might think they can experience God apart from Scripture, but in the sense the Spirit can also work in relationship to the “law that is within,” or what is called the moral law written in everyone’s heart (Rom. 1:19).

Again, what we sometimes assume in thinking the Holy Sprit will just convict someone and illuminate their understanding about some particular sin, is that in some mysterious way, the Spirit drops new knowledge into our lives like a bolt out of the blue. But Christian maturity for believers is never that easy. Our growth into maturity is always tied to our knowledge of spiritual truth, which is found in God’s revelation, the Bible. We cannot just assume a new believer is to know everything the Bible teaches concerning true conduct and lifestyle. I remember hearing about the rough and muscular longshoreman who was known for his meanness and “colorful” vocabulary. He did not know any other way to speak than with a cuss word in it. But, he was wonderfully and dramatically saved, and with a new love in his heart for Christ and for his fellow workers at the shipping docks, he decided the next day to gather them together and to pray. His prayer was rather crude and would never pass the muster for public worship. But it was pure in heart.

Yes, later by his reading the Word, the Spirit would do his exacting work in transforming behavior and speech, but it doesn’t happen overnight. I know this truth all too well. I need not look at the experience of others to see how the slow and exacting process of the conviction of sin works in a heart. I only look into my own. Of course the end result should not be living with a guilt ridden conscience, but to flee to Christ with that burden of a blighted heart. And that is the glorious work of the Spirit to bring us to Jesus for healing and salvation. That by the way is an ongoing pattern for the Christian life and will not stop until we behold Him “face to face.” Then we live only in response to the grace revealed in Christ. That response is gratitude. The venerable puritan, Thomas Watson described it well when he said, “thankfulness is the rent we owe to God.”

Phil Ryken, He Speaks to Me Everywhere: Meditations on Christianity and Culture.

2012-02-01T09:48:00.000-08:00

A collections of talks given on Sunday nights at Tenth Presbyterian Church in Philadelphia, Ryken shares clear thinking along with biblical clarity on a wide spectrum of issues facing Christians in today’s world. They fall along the same lines as my weekly Grid, seeking to provide a way of viewing life with a Christian world-view. From issues about modesty to praying for a touchdown at a football game, we get Ryken’s clear-headedness. I find great gems in this book and remarkable agreement on diverse issues.

The Simplicity and Humility of Jesus (Scougal updated)

2012-01-28T18:08:00.000-08:00

The third branch of this spiritual reality is simplicity, which remember, is being less enthralled with earthly pleasures and having an iron resolve in tough times to obey the Lord. If there was ever a person who was truly dead to the world, it was Jesus, who did not run from the enjoyments of life, but never made it his ambition to pursue them. Though Jesus allowed others the joys of marriage and even blessed such occasions with his presence, he chose an unmarried life. Though he provided wine for the joy of others, he did not seek to satisfy his own hunger in the wilderness testing. So gracious was the heart of Christ in allowing others to enjoy what he denied himself, he supplied not just the needs of others, but gave small things for their enjoyment. We often hear of the sorrow of Jesus, but not of his laughter. He once rejoiced in his spirit, but the whole of his life was one characterized by Isaiah, as “a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isaiah 53:3).

The troubles of his life were of his own choosing, for no one else ever appeared on the stage of world history with such great advantage, so as to multiply the catch of fish or bring out coins from their mouths. He could have easily have become the wealthiest person in the world, if he so desired. He could have marshaled an army strong enough to topple Caesar from power. And having fed thousands from a few loaves and small fishes, he did not seek to find fulfillment in this life.
"Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." (Matthew 8:20)
Most of his companions were not the rich and powerful, but the poor and the outcasts of society.

Considering the Humility of Jesus

And now the final branch of the tree we are calling true spirituality. It is humility, which Jesus is the prime example, for we are to “learn from him, for he is gentle and lowly in heart” (Matthew 11:29).

Beyond the infinite condescension of the eternal Son of God in taking on our human nature, we should focus on his life while he walked this earth. He had none of those faults and foibles that make the rest of us, so to speak, humble. He was completely overwhelmed with the awareness of God’s perfections, that he gave little thought to himself as far as being a man. He considered his own perfect nature, not as his own possession, but as a gift of God. He was without pretension or arrogance even in knowing He was divine. For example, when he was addressed as the “Good Teacher”, he seemed to give no reference to his divine nature when he replied, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Luke 18:19).

He emphasized that any goodness found in anyone is not worthy of any notice since God alone is the source of all that is good. He never used his power to perform miracles to be noticed. He refused to gratify the curiosity of the Jews with signs and ignored the advice of the crowd to garner great fame. Only out of love did he bring relief to the suffering and often in what we may call a hidden miracle. The times his miracles were witnessed by many, he was always giving glory to His Father, as “if in himself he was able to do nothing” (John 5:19,30).

Furthermore, Jesus showed humility in refusing to be made an earthly king, in his obedience to his parents, and in his endurance in the face of his enemies. If one were to study every detail of his life it would be a school in true humility. But now let me interrupt this very wordy letter with a prayer that knowing more about this true spirituality, it may become more of a reality in your life.

Great God, what a mighty faith we have been called to. How gracious are you to join our duty to our joy and so design our reward to be in the performance of our work. Can we who are nothing be brought up to such heights? Allow us to lift our eyes to you. Will you receive the affections of our hearts? Might we rejoice in your perfections and majesty by gazing upon them, and receiving your blessings by simply loving You? Oh, the true joy of those who have broken the chains of self-love, and be liberated from every lesser good or purpose, having their minds enlightened by the Holy Spirit, and their wills so enlarged as to love You above all things, and love others for Your sake. I am convinced, O God, I am so convinced that I can never be happy, until I am truly dead to desires and loves of this world, and cease to think about myself. Oh, when shall that time come? Oh, will You even now come to me and satisfy this longing to be more like You, to be holy like You, in all aspects of my living? Having given me the hope of such a promise, will you hold it from me now? Now that you have given me this inward desire, will you not satisfy it? Oh, teach me to do your will, for you are my God, your Spirit is good, and so lead me in the way of righteousness. Renew my life, O Lord, for your Name’s sake, and complete your work in me. For your mercy endures forever, forsake not the work you have begun in me. Amen.

Why Christianity Offers the Best Answer

2012-01-19T09:07:00.001-08:00

The new challenge of Post-modern society is pluralism. Globalization is a reality in this new cultural shift. There are many religious options open for people today. The old challenge in the modern scientific world was the threat of secularization. This was the attempt to dismiss anything in the realm of faith or the supernatural as it relates to fields of knowledge and truth. As been noted by many philosophers, ideas have real consequences. Here are a few quotes to clear away the clutter of fuzzy thinking.

“A society in which any kind of nonsense is acceptable is not a free society. An agnostic pluralism has no defense against nonsense.”
- Bishop Lesslie Newbigin, Truth To Tell

"The worst moment for an atheist is when he is genuinely thankful, but has nobody to thank." - Dante Gabriel Rossetti

"To the Buddhist good and evil are relative and not absolute terms"
- Christmas Humphreys, Buddhism

"Atheism is a cruel, long-term business: I beleive I have gone through it to the end."
- Jean Paul Sarte, Words

"God is dead and nothing will be the same."
- Friedich Nietzsche, 19th century philosopher
The true test for Christian faith is the ability is has to transform individuals and society for the good. The proof of the pudding is in its eating.

"By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
- Jesus, John 13:35

"If we would bring the Turks to Christianity, we must first be Christians."
-Erasmus
"Christianity might be a good thing if anyone ever tried it."
- George Bernard Shaw

"Cross Words" by Paul Wells (Crossway Books)

2012-01-11T09:05:00.000-08:00

There is a tendency in some corners of the Reformed community to diminish the full reality of the extent in which Jesus Christ, who being fully God, underwent the white-hot wrath of God’s judgment. Some with the best of intentions want to safeguard the unity of God’s being, think that it is logically impossible for the Son of God to suffer the unthinkable separation from the Father’s presence. Yet, God does not need us to defend his nature when it comes to the deep mystery of the Cross. We simply cannot fathom the depth of God’s love nor understand the wrath His Son endured. This does not make it irrational; it merely stretches the limits of our reason.

Paul Wells is a welcomed new voice in Reformed theology who underscores the wonder of this mystery in a recent book defending the traditional biblical doctrine of the atonement. Recently I was moved to tears and worship as I read this in his book, “Cross Words.” I commend them to the enrichment of your soul.

“How agonizing it must have been for the Son of God to feel the pain of divine rejection because of his identity with sinners in judgment! The abandonment of Christ corresponds to a descent into hell, as Christ knows full well that the Father only rejects the wicked. ‘He was suffering the pains of hell. What the Father wanted to say to the Son was this: Have you desired to suffer the passion of hell? Then you must do so fully aware that you are doing so.’ He tastes the bitterest anguish as looking to God in faith, love, and trust, he finds that he is not saved from the ordeal. His heart yearns for the communion and the glory he shared with the Father before the world was (John 17:5) and all the time he has ringing in his ears ‘Esau have I hated’! (Rom.9:13).

For three terrible hours Christ knew the pangs of hell as if he were a sinner under the lash of divine judgment. ‘This cry is like the lamentation of those who are abandoned for ever.’ Tormented by the astonishment of finding himself in hell without belonging there, Christ strains for heaven but is transfixed by the divine condemnation he undergoes…He descended into our hell to break its power. ‘Dying on the cross, forsaken by his Father…it was damnation- and damnation taken lovingly.’” (Paul Wells, Cross Words. Christian Focus Books: Scotland, 1996, p.163).

Commenting on this book, Peter Jones, says “Satisfying to your mind, this is also a text that will move you to tears and to praise.” I cannot agree more. Perhaps one reason our praise and worship is so shallow and cold at times, is because we do not ponder the depth of this profound truth of Christ’s suffering for us.

A prayer of St. Ambrose (390-397 A.D.)

O Lord, who has mercy upon all, take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of Thy Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore Thee, a heart to delight in Thee, to follow and to enjoy Thee, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

The Rememberance of the Missionary Martyrs of Ecuador

2012-01-09T07:50:00.000-08:00

January 9, 1956

On this very day, deep in the jungles of Ecuador in 1956, five young American men were speared to death, becoming martyrs for Christ, launching a great missionary drive to share the gospel with an unreached hostile Indian tribe. What the world and Time magazine heralded as a tragic loss and perhaps a waste, God used to transform an entire tribe with the life changing message of Jesus Christ. The inspiring story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Pete Fleming, Ed McCully and Roger Youderian told in Elizabeth Eliot’s book, Through the Gates of Splendor, is retold in a major motion picture entitled, The End of the Spear. A little known film company called Every Tribe Entertainment produced this movie based on the miraculous events of a love for Christ so uncommon that it is a modern day missionary triumph. Of course the triumph is the glory of the Gospel that can transform any culture, tribe or people.

In a day when most Americans are spoon fed a steady diet of revisionist histories of Christian missionaries, it is commonly held that wicked Western values are imposed on happy peaceful indigenous peoples, and that missionaries are bad hold-over’s from patronizing colonizers. Just remember the movie “South Pacific” or recent bestseller, The Poisonwood Bible, and you get the picture that missionaries are a bad idea.
Evangelical Christians need not be ashamed of the history of missions. It is not an unblemished story, but overwhelmingly it is a story of how dedicated souls have brought not only a message of spiritual salvation, but cultural advancement and many times cultural dignity and identity. Evangelical Missionaries have been at the forefront of tribal rights and preserving indigenous cultural identity. Nothing does this more than the painstaking translation of the Scriptures from an unwritten language. The Gospel transforms cannibals into loving communities of Christian tribesmen. The byproduct of the Gospel is a transformed culture not an obliterated one.

This movie may be a great opportunity to share with an unbelieving friend that there is something about the Christian message that is inexplicable except for the fact that in the words of the missionary theologian, Lesslie Newbigin, it is “public truth.” The Gospel is truth that is absolute for every time, for every person, in every culture. Truth sets us free. It is why we do missions and will continue to do so until Jesus returns. Thank God for missionaries whose lamps shine brightly the light of the gospel, may their number increase.

For this is what the Lord has commanded us:
" `I have made you a light for the Gentiles,
that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.' " Acts 13:47

The Flying Scotsman – Eric Liddell (1902-1945)

2012-01-06T09:00:00.000-08:00

“Jesus shall reign wher-e’re the sun does his successive journeys run;
his kingdom stretch from shore to shore, till moons shall wax and wane no more.”

One of my all time favorite movies is Chariots of Fire, which tells the story of Eric Liddell, the famous Olympian runner from Scotland and missionary to China. Nicknamed the “Flying Scotsman”, Liddell had a wild-looking way of running with his head back and arms flailing in the air. But, when he ran he felt the “pleasure of God”, because God had made him fast. Eric knew that God had a greater purpose for his life than to be a great Olympic runner, winning the gold in the 400 meter race in the 1924 Olympics in Paris. He had a clear call to serve the Lord in China. Eric was the son of missionaries in China, who faced the Boxer rebellion and dedicated their lives to bringing the Gospel to Mongolia and Northern China. Eric and his brother Rob were raised in a boarding school in London. Eric went on to study at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was a noted rugby player and runner. His national fame as an athlete opened many doors for him to share the Gospel.

Yet, Eric was more than a man of popular fame in athletics or as a Christian celebrity. The movie did an excellent job of highlighting the great challenge he faced when he heard that the qualifying heat and four events in which he was to represent Britain fell upon a Sunday. What the movie did not tell, was this was known well in advance of boarding to ship to France and Eric let it be known he was not going to run on Sunday as he said, “God’s fourth commandment to Moses said to remember the Sabbath Day to keep in holy. If I run in a race that honors me or other men, I am not remembering God’s Sabbath. And if I start ignoring one of God’s commands, I may as well ignore all of them. But I can’t do that because I love God too much.” ( from Heroes of Faith Series)

Quickly the national hero of Britain was derided as a traitor. People on the streets made fun of his faith and cursed his presumption to put Christ before country. One paper declared Eric a “Traitor to Scottish Sporting”. I don’t know if the movie was historically accurate in the scene where Eric was being drilled by the British elites to change his mind, but it was true to his commitment and Presbyterian fortitude. Liddell understood that allegiance to Christ and to God’s authority was above all – later assessments likened him to Rob Roy and William Wallace all rolled up in one. Surely he was a David standing against his Goliath. On the Sunday during the races, Liddell preached at the Scottish Kirk in Paris, honoring God. Eric was able to run later in a race for which he was not prepared nor favored to win. But win he did and set a world record that was unbroken for 35 years. Those “who honor God, He will honor”, was made clear in this man of great principle and spiritual depth.

The most enduring and unsung legacy was his years spent in China as a missionary to a small village. After the invasion of China by the Japanese in the outbreak of WWII, Liddell was confined to a prison camp with other missionaries. He died at the age of 43 from a brain tumor leaving a wife (Florence Mackenzie) and three daughters. Even though he died early in life and in obscurity, he had run his race, the most important race there is, and kept his eyes on the Savior he loved and the God who made him swift and fast.

– 19th Century Missionary Hymn by Mary Gates

“Send Thou, O Lord, to every place swift messengers before Thy face. The heralds of Thy wonderous grace, where Thou Thyself wilt come.
Send men whose eyes have seen the King, men in whose ears His sweet words ring;
Send such Thy lost ones home to bring; send them where Thou wilt come.
To bring good news to souls in sin, the bruised and broken hearts to win;
In every place to bring them in where Thou Thyself wilt come.
Gird each one with the Spirit’s sword, the sword of Thine own deathless Word;
And make them conquerors, conquering, Lord, Where Thou Thy-self wilt come.”

Why Short Term Missions Matter

2012-01-06T08:56:00.000-08:00

By Todd Baucum, D.Min.
First Presbyterian Church, Enterprise, AL PCA

Constructing bars for Tequila sippers in Mexico is not what a group of teenagers from north of the border had in mind when they went with their church on a mission trip. I can still remember my college professor telling us in our missions class how lots of church building projects in Latin America end up not as churches but eventually fall into the hands of unscrupulous businessmen selling their liquor or other contraband. My professor, I believe, was engaging in a bit of dramatic hyperbole, but his sentiment towards youth dominated mission trips was well noted. This thought has stayed on my mind over the years as I have been on short term mission trips. Now decades later, as a pastor and ceaseless promoter of overseas missions in the congregations I’ve served, I have come to believe that short terms missions is worth doing. Of course it is also worth doing well. There is, to be sure, much that is wrong with the thousands of trips that leave U.S. airports to exotic locations around the world. Mission trips done badly are a disgrace to the Church and a disservice to career missionaries who must mop up afterwards. But bad trips and poorly planned STM’s are not reasons to judge them all as hurtful or bad stewardship of limited funds. I believe this so strongly, that it was the basis of my doctoral dissertation. We ought not to be laying concrete blocks for worldly pursuits, nor should we be bringing spoiled teens into the developing world, for a taste of how good they really have it back home. There is much to avoid in this ministry that like anything else in American Christianity where the true focus can be lost. Let us not throw out the baby with the bath water of distasteful examples of the American, brick laying, “get me to Jamaica” adolescent.
Here are few of my reflections that I glean from the work I did in completing my doctorate several years ago. Why are Short term Missions valuable? I can sum it up in four reasons.
Reason One: It Enlarges Your View of the World.
Even a person who is well read and educated can benefit from traveling to another culture to be challenged by someone else’s way of life and view of doing things. Anthropologists define culture as that which filters everything we do, think, and perceive about life. It is a bit like looking at something through a lens, and saying the lens is what one means by culture. We don’t see culture; it is just something we see through without knowing it. In a sense, culture is more like the cornea on the eyeball, rather than spectacles or contacts. We know we put contacts on and at night remove them, even if at times we don’t think about wearing them. So culture is more a part of our non-rational selves, most of us don’t ever assume anything else. Once we are put into a different culture than our own, we either clam up with self-righteous fortitude and judge all failures to live up to our culture’s standards of thinking, doing and living, or we adjust, learn and grow with another’s point of view – of seeing things. In the latter, we begin to appreciate the differences in another culture and how one culture is not superior but only different. This is not to say there is no room for judgment, there are weaknesses and strengths in all cultures. The Christian is one who must see how the Gospel is addressing every culture, even one’s own in light of the Lordship of Christ. Engagement in another culture can give a Christian the tools to do this sort of self-evaluation in a more tacit manner, than merely reading the National Geographic.

Reason Two: It Enlarges Your World-View

Secondly, a short term mission trip can provide a catalyst to rethinking your own faith and life views. In this way, a missions trip can be thought of a “cultural apologetics” at a slant. Building upon the thinking of the missionary theologian, Lesslie Newbigin, short term missions can provide a means of reverse missions, allowing preconceived ideas about what Christianity is all about to be tested in the laboratory of biblical thinking without cultural bias. In a sense it is an impossible task, because culture is like our own skin, but it is possible to critically think about the Gospel apart from our cultural bias. Indeed it is necessary to know where one stands in light of a complex world of cultures, religions and values. The Christian under the call to be obedient to Christ in all of life is to view one’s work, play, politics, and values from the filter of the Bible. Most Christians, if I can judge by my experience as a pastor, live with their grid calibrated along the lines of most unbelievers, reading the same books, watching the same movies and taking in the same viewpoints with little ability to filter these competing views through a biblical grid of truth. Too often we assume the filters of our own culture, even at times baptizing our own as “Christian”. But, it is possible with the help of Christians of another culture to think more “biblically” about our own culture, especially in those contexts where believers are living in a culture that is hostile to the Christian faith. When I talk to a Christian brother who lives in a Muslim part of Africa and faces ongoing threats to his life, I find a fresh understanding and perspective that corrects much of my own shallow discipleship and assumptions. Talk to a Christian in a land where food and good theology is rare and never taken for granted and you will get a sick feeling in your gut the next time you walk into a Christian bookstore in our country. Rub shoulders with poor humble saints in makeshift churches worshiping God and you will see your world and your faith in a different light. One can then begin to read the Bible in a different light as well. One begins to see, as Newbigin suggested, we in the postmodern West need the Gospel again.

Third Reason: It Makes Good Financial Sense

Perhaps this is the most controversial reason. Just look at the price tag of a mission trip, with airfares, lodging and food versus the vast need of resources in other countries, and it seems this is a no brainer. Let’s redirect this money for something far more necessary. But, if you look at this or any other ministry from this type of cost analysis then we could justify anything and dismiss most. It would seem that those who promote the view that this is bad stewardship need to take stock on how this sort of argument can be applied to any superfluous spending in their lives. Do any of them take a vacation? What is the amount of their monthly budget spent on entertainment or other selfish indulgences? No Christian should buy beer, cigars or play golf, if one wants to be consistent with this line of argument. I concede that many short term trips done badly should not be spending the moolah to underwrite their sophomoric adventures. There is waste that cannot be justified by any standard. But, we are not austere desert monks, nor are most Presbyterians I know ready to give up their vacations, or what they spend going to see their favorite sports team. The funds we use for our recreational reprieves can give us rest and respite from our daily grind, but money spent on a mission trip adds value to others and impact on the soul. I’ve heard John Piper indicate it was his desire that every member of his church go on at least one mission trip. That may be unrealistic in a practical sense, but it conveys the importance of connecting the Body of Christ here in North America with the world wide witness of the “catholic” Church and personal obedience to the Great Commission. It is proven that congregations that are involved in short term missions are also more giving to missions and have a passion for the world. The value of experiencing true Christian community in another culture with the language barrier, social barrier and racial barrier dissolved by the mystery of Christ’s Body and the presence of the Holy Spirit binding us into one is absolutely priceless.

Fourth Reason: Short Term Missions is Biblical
It may seem I have saved the high caliber fire for the last. The big gun is now drawn and there is little defense once the Bible is mentioned. How can one ever imagine given the time and place the early church lived as the outcast of the Roman Empire, that elders at Jerusalem would be sending hordes of teens on weeklong excursions to Cyprus or beyond? Forget the bad examples, and consider the missionary efforts of early Church. The third letter of the Apostle John can be called the forgotten epistle, as we are apt to slip over it so easily. The core of the message is really a biblical call to support the “adelphia” or brothers and sisters involved in itinerate ministries across the known world. Gauis was a man who knew the value of supporting this Gospel cause with hospitality and with monetary support so as “to send them on their journey in a manner worthy of God” (3 John 6). Consider even the missionary travels of the apostles and their companions. Paul stayed three years at Ephesus, which was the longest he spent anywhere, for his multiple long journeys across the Roman Empire, can be deemed in a sense “short term” mission projects. Missiologists are still puzzled at Paul’s method of church planting, but what is known is that this pattern of high mobility and cross fertilization of Christian witness, from soldiers, slaves to ordinary saints in the dispersia, the early church was constantly “going into the world” as a natural consequence of Roman life and multicultural exchange. Roman roads, a common tongue, and a common currency made it all possible. The world of the New Testament was like our world highly mobile. True their world was smaller geographically, but with our wide global expanse and the easy and affordable travel of today, our world is much smaller. We, more than any other generation have less excuse to know and to share in this global expansion of the Kingdom of Christ our Savior. Moreover, we have a biblical mandate and a biblical example to follow as we give our support to short term missions.

ResourcesPeterson, Roger and Timothy Peterson. Is Short-Term Mission Really Worth the Time and Money? Results of STEM Short-Term Mission Research. Minneapolis: STEM Press. 2nd Ed. 1991.
Newbigin, Lesslie. Foolishness to the Greeks: The Gospel and Western Culture. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1986.
Allen, Roland. Missionary Methods: St. Paul or Ours? Grand Rapids, Eerdmans, 1962.

The Bell Tower Alert

2012-01-03T09:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Members and Friends,
Thursday, December 22, 2011

We have just met with our engineers and builder this morning in a special meeting to address the critical condition of our bell tower steeple. In short, it is structurally unsound. Termites have eaten the foundation of it and cannot be left as is. There are very few options. To build it right and keep in under current building codes, it will have to be totally rebuilt. Obviously, this was not a part of our initial plan or budget. Yet, we are evermore committed to giving God our best in this project and also doing what is best for future generations. This requires us to trust God more than ever, but we have to remember that anything done apart from faith is not pleasing to God (Hebrews 11:6).

Our session wants our congregation and friends of this church to know of this news so you can pray and also join us in restoring this bell tower and keeping its unique feature in our downtown skyscape. Very few churches have the dome and the cross on top of a copula like we have. For about 70 years this has been a sign of the rule and dominion of Jesus Christ over the world, beckoning others to come and worship Him. We are committed by faith to make sure this continues to be our message from the center of Enterprise reaching out to the world. Construction of the new addition and renovation of the existing sanctuary is schedule for the month of January. It is an exciting way to begin the New Year as we see major improvements begin to take place. The worship of our covenant keeping God in a way that honors Him is central to us.

The puritan John Flavel wrote these timely words, “Represent Christ to the world as he is, by your behavior towards him. Is he altogether lovely? Let all the world see and know that he is so, by your delights in him and communion with him; zeal for him, and readiness to part with any other lovely thing upon his account”. Pray and give as the Lord provides and may Christ be glorified.
For the Session – Pastor Todd

First Footings for the New Year

2011-12-31T13:04:00.000-08:00

A New Year Offering – 2012

2 Chron. 29:31 (ESV)

Then Hezekiah said, "You have now consecrated yourselves to the Lord. Come near; bring sacrifices and thank offerings to the house of the Lord." And the assembly brought sacrifices and thank offerings, and all who were of a willing heart brought burnt offerings.

Renewal and recommitment are often the hopes we bring to a New Year. We hope for better days and pray that God will give us strength to do better. The way to get started off on the right foot, of course is in giving due tribute to the One who holds our days and in whom time and eternity his held, our faithful Creator and Redeemer. The Scotch Presbyterians were not much on celebrating Christmas, but big on celebrating the New Year. Today things have changed, and like most of the world, gift-giving happens on Christmas day, or there about. But in years past, giving a neighbor a gift and a blessing on the morning of the New Day, known as Hogmanay in Scotland, was a tradition that is all about getting on the right foot (called first footings) with your neighbors and bringing goodwill among the children of man. In biblical times, renewal was also a time to cross thresholds of goodwill, but for the people of God it meant bringing the right sacrifice to God’s house. In dark days of hypocrisy and idolatry, no matter the sacrifice, worship was not acceptable to God, if given without true devotion. Getting a right footing with God meant sacrifices of the heart.
I’ve been thinking lately about this as it relates to our worship and our new year. I am asking myself what kind of offering will I be bringing to God? Of course, we don’t bring sacrifices to get on right footings with God, because Jesus did that for us. The cross of Jesus is where we start in renewal with a fresh start. Thank offerings are tributes of a heart that knows the gift of that new start. Tomorrow we will break bread, drink wine and hear the Gospel of our Lord on the first day of the New Year. Get on the right foot and join us in worship and in giving God our best and our first.

Beza on the Incarnation part 2

2011-12-23T13:39:00.000-08:00

Summary of the accomplishment of our salvation in Jesus Christ

He therefore descended to earth to draw us up to Heaven. (Eph. 2:6). From the moment of His conception until His resurrection, He bore the punishment of our sins in order to unburden us of them (Matt 11:28; 1 Pet 2:24; 3:18; Is 53:11). He perfectly fulfilled all righteousness so as to cover our unrighteousness (Rom 5:19; Matt 3:15). He has revealed to us the whole will of God His Father, by His words and by the example of His life, so as to show us the true way of salvation (John 15:15; Acts 1:1-2).
Finally, to crown the satisfaction for our sins which He took upon Himself (Is 53:4-5), He was captured in order to release us, condemned so that we might be acquitted. He suffered infinite reproach in order to place us beyond all shame. He was nailed to the cross for our sins to be nailed there (Col. 2:14). He died bearing the curse which we deserved, so as to appease for ever the wrath of God through the accomplishment of His unique sacrifice (Gal 3:13; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb 10:10,14). He was entombed to show the truth of His death, and to vanquish death even in its own house, that is to say even in the grave; He experienced no corruption there, to show that, even while dead, he had conquered death (Acts 2:31). He was raised again victorious so that, all our corruption being dead and buried, we might be renewed in new, spiritual and eternal life (Rom 6; and nearly everywhere in St. Paul). By this means, the first death is no longer to us a punishment for sin and an entrance into the second death, but, on the contrary, is the ending of our corruption and an entrance into life eternal. Lastly, being raised again and then having spoken throughout forty days here below to give evidence of His resurrection (Acts 1:3,9-11), He ascended visibly and really far above all heavens, where He sat down at the right hand of God His Father (John 14:2). Having taken possession for us of His eternal kingdom, He is, for us also, the sole Mediator and Advocate (1 Tim 2:5; Heb 1:3; 9:24), and governs His Church by His Holy Spirit, until the number of the elect of God, His Father, is completed (Matt 28:20, etc).

Vaclav Havel: Postscript on a Life

2011-12-19T14:37:00.000-08:00

On hearing of the death of Vaclav Havel, the first democratically elected president of the Czech Republic after the fall of Communism, I offer this postscript. Europe’s most famous dissident and intellectual statesman is not well known in the U.S. While not a Christian or what can be discerned, a believer in a personal God, Havel spoke against the materialism of Marx which had captured the devotion of most European intellectuals. He argued for the transcendent values of morality and public justice. James Sire wrote a Christian appraisal of Havel a few years ago published by InterVarsity Press.
“Vaclav Havel is one of the twentieth century’s most amazing people. In character, life and career he breaks all molds we associate with each of the six main categories into which he so obviously falls. He is dramatist, humorist, intellectual, moralist, politician, statesman. We may well ask, How can this be? Surely never before the combination of these six-two perhaps, three maybe, four unlikely, but six?” (James Sire, Vaclav Havel, IVP, 2001)
And then towards the end of the book after engaging in an appreciative critique of his worldview, which affirms such universals as truth, justice and the need for hope, Sire shows how Havel falls short of perceiving how these essential aspects of our humanity are tied to a transcendent personal God. The man who spent years reflecting on these truths as a political prisoner and cultural critic, found no answer for his quest for freedom from his personal guilt and flaws. It is an example as high as common grace can lift a human soul above the rabble of human corruption it cannot redeem the soul.

Theodore Beza's Reflections on the Incarnation

2011-12-16T12:56:00.000-08:00

He therefore descended to earth to draw us up to Heaven. From the moment of His conception until His resurrection, He bore the punishment of our sins in order to unburden us of them. He perfectly fulfilled all righteousness so as to cover our unrighteousness. He has revealed to us the whole will of God His Father, by His words and by the example of His life, so as to show us the true way of salvation.
This is an excerpt from his Confession of the Christian Faith (1558). Beza was John Calvin's successor at Geneva.

We are using these reflections on his Confession for our Advent readings prior to worship each Sunday. It is deep, profound, poetic and highly experiential. And you were told he was a rationalist! Don't believe half you hear...

Will Heaven be Boring?

2011-12-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

It is not that all we will do in heaven is worship, but that everything we do will be the untainted praise of God that is full of his majestic glory. Heaven will not be boring like an unending sermon and three hymns, so we can begin the week of living, but the rightful use of our lives and vocations for the honor of Christ in endless joy. It will be the liturgy or literally the great work of God's redeemed gathered around the Lamb. Todd Baucum

by Lord Sacks of England

2011-12-12T13:17:00.000-08:00

At the most basic level, the consumer society is sapping our moral strength. It has produced a society obsessed with money: salaries, bonuses, the cost of houses, and expensive luxuries we could live without. When money rules, we remember the price of things and forget the value of things, and that is dangerous.
(from a recent speech at Pontifical Georgian University)

The Value of Books

2011-12-08T12:15:00.001-08:00

For the cost of a game of golf, I could buy a good book. Then with that book I could spend several nights in intimate fellowship as I hold it in my hands, touch and smell the pages as I turn each one in delight. It becomes a companion to new insights of knowledge or adventures of the imagination. A good book, one that is bound well, crafted under high standards and authored by a wise pen is like being invited into a circle close friends in a gracious conversation. One can argue with a good book. Much as one would argue and debate a dear friend over issues that matter or truths worth sharpening. Bad literature and sloppy books can be easily closed, discarded or forgotten. But the ones that demand your attention and engage your thoughts toward higher and loftier ideas are like treasures in a barren field. Is the book then a dead object once read? Not at all – they are to be shared with others and passed down to our children. They can find repose on the open shelves of the den or the room of one’s house where people dwell, talk, and laugh. There the book waits and silently beacons the next reader to take down and begin the fellowship again. Books do not live in the sense people do. They are not souls. But books have a way of living longer than people. They span generations. In this they possess great power.

Ministry to the Military (MMI), a PCA related specialized church planting work, is seeking to expand

2011-12-08T09:06:00.000-08:00

Ministry to the Military (MMI), a PCA related specialized church planting work, is seeking to expand
Click to read about this special ministry that comes out of our Presbytery and I have the priviledge of working with through our Mission's committee. Doug Hudson is a dear brother working as a pioneer in this work for spreading the Gospel and planting Reformed churches around the globe.

The Gift of Self Forgetfullness

2011-12-07T06:51:00.000-08:00

The Gift of Self Forgetfullness
Written by Tullian Tchividjian
Tuesday, 06 December 2011 19:26
“Many pulpits across the land consistently preach the Christian and not the Christ.”

Living as Family - A Sermon

2011-12-06T11:58:00.000-08:00

Living as Family
Sermon preached by Pastor Todd D. Baucum, First Presbyterian Church, Enterprise, AL
Nov. 26, 2011
1 Tim. 5:1-12 (ESV)
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, [2] older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.

The great struggle in applying the truths of this passage to church life today is not in understanding the text or its teachings. It is plain in what it says. There is much about how we should apply the principles of family life to the everyday experience of being the Church, the Body of Christ. The words are clear, the exegesis is not difficult. The problem is that we have lost the normative model of family social structures and the values that was representative in Eastern cultures, of which Ephesus was a part.
“Treat older men as fathers, treat older women as mothers and younger women treat as sisters”, implies basic assumptions that were for Timothy and the early church very basic to the culture. We in the postmodern West – just look at any “family” tv show and you see what I mean. Fathers are usually portrayed as imbeciles. We simply do not have the social structure (or much of one) to support us.
The great difficulty we have with this chapter today is that we no longer share these assumptions. Family life, for most of us has broken down. Respect for our elders is a forgotten concept. How can the Church meet this challenge today, and instill in its members a culture of family relationships that will in turn direct our lives?
Perhaps no other issue is so critical for us today. If we don’t grapple with this issue, then we must relegate chapter 5 to our footnotes of our Bibles. We will just scratch our heads and then place this among the texts that just don’t fit our culture.
That for us is not an option. This is God’s Word; it judges us for a reason. It hold up our culture and our times to not just an ideal, but to the standard God demands of us. Church as salt and light in our times has to rethink and to challenge our assumptions. Paul helps us to do this. In the Church, our view of people are radically adjusted.
In the Church the way we protect and provide for the most vulnerable and weak among us is critical.
In the Church, the people the world dismisses as useless are of immense importance.
1. First of all, the Gospel alters the way we look and treat one another.
Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father. Treat younger men like brothers, [2] older women like mothers, younger women like sisters, in all purity.

Elders – that is those who are older – are to be accorded respect - treated as a honored father – a patriarch. This is still an important value in Eastern and African cultures.
Job 12:12 (ESV)
Wisdom is with the aged, and understanding in length of days.
Men who have the wisdom that comes with age, are to be valued because of the lessons they can give to the young. Now, this does not mean as in some cultures an older man can never be corrected, but that he is to be honored and shown respect.
The movie “Gran Torino” starring Clint Eastwood, a tough, widowed Korean war veteran lives next door to a family of South East Asians. There is a young man from that house is about to be trapped into joining a gang. Eastwood takes him under his wings (he has no father, no role model). He helps him get a job in construction, tells him the value of work. One point they have a conversation in the garage, Eastwood is showing how to repair things – boy looks at all his tools. “I will never be able to afford all these”, he says. Eastwood replied– “I did not buy these all at once – I collected them over 50 years.”
There is a lot of wisdom in that scene. It is about what an older man can give to younger generation. To mentor and teach and share perspectives that takes 50 years to acquire.
This very comprehensive passage - Paul covers every possible relationship that we would encounter. How we treat older women also will tell us a lot about our faith. Proverbs 31 is a picture of a family where a mother gives, nurtures her family and supports her husband, but not as an oppressed servant, to be kept in her place. She is to be honored and highly respected by her husband, her children and the city leaders.
Proverbs 31:27-28 (ESV)
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
[28] Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
Of, course there is also the way men – especially younger men were to treat younger women. In this area, some things never change. It was true that in Ephesus, women were targets for men and they were exploited. A culture that worships women (the ideal women), is the same that will abuse them.
Today we have not progressed or advanced in the way young women are treated. Our culture has lost the honor of true chivalry and respect for maidens. The egalitarian view of modern education is to treat everybody as equals, and this goes for sexes. We have done more than denied God as a culture, we have denied the God created differences of men and women.
Our children are experiencing the disastrous fallout of this social bomb.
The Gospel reshapes our thinking and our attitudes about these realities. It is not about a conservative turn back to the age of our grandparents, but towards the way God intended the way men are to be men and how they then view women and treat them. The Gospel will then be our only way forward in a dark world. Verses 1-4 set the tone for the rest of the chapter. But, the direction goes toward the issue of how we treat widows – what the church considered this important social issue. This chapter is a powerful look at how the NT church dealt with a key social problem of their day. The Lordship of Christ impacted their economics and their family life.
2. The Church and the Family worked together for God’s Kingdom.
(true widows)
[3] Honor widows who are truly widows. [4] But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God.
Niv – says “put their religion into practice”
[8] But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.
One of the key social issues of the early church was the care of widows. Acts 6:1 – some widows were being neglected, so deacons were chosen to care for their needs – take them food. This was a church based welfare program. But, Paul makes is clear that only those who are true widows, who do not have family to care for them, are the ones who are to be cared for by the church.
See how the church and family work together? They are not competing against other, nor does one supplant the other or make it obsolete. The church is to support family life and families are to be under the guidance and oversight of the church. Families are reminded of their responsibilities to care for their household. Caring for parents and grandparents is a mark of true faith. This is a central theme in this letter – True faith connects to right living – Biblical orthodoxy is shown in godliness. If one fails to take care of his family he is faith denier. He is worst than pagan.
We are also called to pay back the life we were given. Grace is always connected to gratitude.
Verse 16 states the same rationale and God given duty for our families.
. [16] If any believing woman has relatives who are widows, let her care for them. Let the church not be burdened, so that it may care for those who are really widows.
James 1:27 (ESV)
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
3. The Forgotten ministry of Widows.
[5] She who is truly a widow, left all alone, has set her hope on God and continues in supplications and prayers night and day, [6] but she who is self-indulgent is dead even while she lives. [7] Command these things as well, so that they may be without reproach. [9] Let a widow be enrolled if she is not less than sixty years of age, having been the wife of one husband, [10] and having a reputation for good works: if she has brought up children, has shown hospitality, has washed the feet of the saints, has cared for the afflicted, and has devoted herself to every good work.
In the Church, widows were not just to be recipients of care – but honored as important part of the ministry of Christ’s kingdom. First, they were to be given to a ministry of prayer intercession.
Like Anna – who prayed day and night in the temple, waiting for the coming of Christ, they are to be prayer warriors, engaged in a crucial ministry of intercessory prayer in the church. She was also to be like Dorcas, who took care of other women in the community through her service.
Acts 9:36 (ESV)
Now there was in Joppa a disciple named Tabitha, which, translated, means Dorcas. She was full of good works and acts of charity.
There is a strong hint that this was a formal kind of ministry. Now, I don’t believe the Bible supports the notion of deaconess as an office. But, it is clear that there is a formality of some list – a register not just who gets meals on wheels, but of 60’s something women, who had to meet qualifications, of faithful service, hospitality and humility. In other words, they were women who had something to contribute to the church. (While I don’t endorse RC view of order of nuns and monks- we need to recapture this model of prayer and service.)
Whatever that looked like in the early church, there is a critical need for these spiritual grandmothers who through their godly prayers and holy service, teach our children, instruct our younger women and provide Titus 2 ministry of helping this present age see some wisdom: I pray for it and yearn to see it. Our daughters need it and our generation cries out for it.
Titus 2:3-5 (ESV)
Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, [4] and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, [5] to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.
Imagine what would happen if in our homes and in our church we saw the Gospel making a difference in the way we viewed each other and in how we treated one another. It would be a glorious reality that would transform our society. This high standard of God’s Word is meant to confront our brokenness and it is a call for us to repent. Let’s repent and trust in God’s grace to do something glorious in our lives.

The Life of God in the Soul of Man - Part 7 (paraphrase)

2011-12-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Christ’s Patience in Bearing It
Jesus endured the most severe sufferings and misery than anyone ever experienced, without complaint, not because he was stoic about pain and suffering, for he fully apprehended the depths of human pain, “through sweat of blood and sorrow of heart,” he submitted to the dark providence of God. He prayed to God, “that if it were possible” or as the Gospel records, “if he were willing…the cup might be removed”, but added, “nevertheless not my will but yours be done.” (Luke 22:42). It is with unusual importance that Jesus first expressed the anguish of his spirit, “Now is my soul troubled”, and then say, “and what shall I say?”; all with a plea, “Father, save me from this hour,” which once said, seems on second thought to recall his mission, “but for this cause I came to the world,” and concludes with “Father, glorify your Name” (John 12:27). Now we cannot credit this as some flaw in Jesus for he knew he was to suffer and faced it squarely; but it shows us the unthinkable weight and burden of this suffering, that he could not think of it without recoiling. Yet, the will of God and his glory alone overruled his avoidance to this cruel suffering.

Jesus’ Constant Devotion
Another example of Jesus’ love for God was in his delight in talking with him in prayer, through his many retreats where he spent whole nights in heavenly communion without any sins to confess and few earthly concerns, which are the things that tend to occupy our focus in prayer. We can say, in a sense, that the life of Jesus was a prayer to God, even when there was no “sacrifice”, the fire of the altar still burned. Jesus never struggled with boredom or distractions which we wrestle with before we get to real prayer.

His Love for Others
Secondly, I should mention his love for all people; but to express it fully, one must look at the Gospels. For there is hardly anything recorded or spoken by Jesus that was not designed for the good of others. All his miracles and wonders were instances of his goodness benefiting those in need and awe for those who saw it. His love was not just confined to family and friends, nor just reserved for the one disciple whom he loved, but all who obeyed his commands were counted as friends, and those who “did the will of his Father, were his true brother, sister and mother”(John 15:14).
Jesus never turned away those who came to him in sincerity, but helped all those in true need. Those who met Jesus left him joyful except for the rich young ruler who went away sad and sorrowful at hearing the cost of following Christ was so high that he could not keep his wealth and gain his soul. This gave Jesus a heavy heart indeed because it appeared that the young man really wanted to follow him and the Scripture says that “Jesus loved him” (Mark 10:21), but even he could not make an exception for this man who loved his possessions more than he loved Christ (Mark 10).
Consider his meekness and humility. What ugly ingratitude and hardness of heart did the one who betray him show and yet Jesus said to him, “Judas, will you betray me with a kiss (Luke 22:48)? What further evidence do we need to see of his great love, they he would lay down his life for those who hated him? His prayer was mingled with his own blood as he asked the Father not to lay a charge against them, but through his death he would bring them eternal life (Luke 23:34).

Questions to Ponder:
1. How do you deal with trials? Do you complain or yield to God’s will?
2. What is your struggle in prayer?
3. Do you show love to other people or just people you naturally like?
4. Are things, money and pleasure controlling your affections more than your love for Christ?

Sounds From Heaven: The Revival on the Isle of Lewis, 1949-1952. By Colin & Mary Peckham

2011-12-01T10:05:00.001-08:00

The last great spiritual awakening in our times was not in Toronto or Pensacola (although these locations experienced a lot of fanfare), but on a little known island off the west coast of Scotland. This book brought to us by our friends at Christian Focus and written by eye witnesses of the revival is indeed a marvelous gift to spiritually hungering people who long to see biblical, Christ-exalting, life altering, and community changing revival. This book retells the period of spiritual awakening around the ministry of the Presbyterian minister, Duncan Campbell, yet predating him and certainly overriding him in that it was a work of a Sovereign God and not any single person.

The standards by which genuine revival must pass the muster such as the long lasting spiritual and moral impact, clearly confirm the authenticity of this movement of God. I agree with William Mackenzie the managing editor of Christian Focus: ‘This book describes things that are not part of my experience.” But, may God see fit to visit our churches in such a way to bring genuine repentance and conversion that would transform a whole community. I long to see such a reality.

Lesslie Newbigin: Missionary Theologian by Paul Weston

2011-11-22T12:12:00.001-08:00

A minister from the Church of Scotland and promising student of theology answered God’s call to be a missionary to India back in the early part of the 20th Century. His name was Newbigin, and he was so loved by the Christian believers in South India, when the new Church of South India was formed they elected him as their first bishop. Returning back to his homeland of Britain in the last part of the century, Newbigin was struck by the unbelief that had enveloped a once “Christian nation.” Having been used to the theological terrain of pluralism of a Hindu nation, Newbigin began a ministry of theological reflection on the need to bring the gospel back to the Western world. This sentiment has created a new and almost vogue way to look at missions. I have been very appreciative of the kinds of issues Newbigin addresses and especially his treatment of the liberalism of the church that promotes relativism which undercuts the very power of the Gospel that is fundamentally about truth and is not culturally derived. Newbigin clearly articulated the call that the Gospel is public truth. I caution any reader to beware of the way that Newbigin is being quoted and used today. Newbigin is hard to put in a box, because he was not a systematic theologian. He was first and foremost a missionary and a pastor. He placed his prophetic ministry in the context of the mainline church and the broader church of the ecumenical movement. While critical of the movement, he was also a part of it and he should be read in light of his context. His books "Foolishness to the Greeks", "Public Truth", and "The Gospel in a Pluralistic World" are among the best of theological apologetics aimed at our age.

Pray for Rev. David Robertson

2011-11-19T13:21:00.000-08:00

David Robertson is the pastor of St. Peter's Free Church of Scotland in Dundee, where McCheyne was pastor (famous for his praying and fervent preaching), who is in critical condition in a hospital. David has been used by God to bring revitalization and Gospel renewal to Scotland through Biblical preaching and cultural relevant apologetics. He has stood against the prevailing relativism and atheism of the UK and is in my mind one of the premier apologist for the Reformed faith. God always does what is best for his glory, but may the prayers of his people bring healing and grace to David and his family.

With Reverance and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship by D.G. Hart and John R. Muether.

2011-11-18T14:09:00.001-08:00

Here is another contribution to the ongoing debate about worship that weighs in on the side of traditional Reformed worship. This book struggles with the issue of following the principle of regulative worship in the contemporary world. The authors are pastors in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church and admit their clear bias toward worship that is traditional and simple – guided by scriptural warrants alone. With some of their arguments I find myself in agreement, but I don’t always agree with them on all points. This book is good correction to the sloppy theological reflection on what we do in worship among evangelical churches. Sadly, most of the contemporary style churches and their pastors would probably not even read it. After attending several PCA general assemblies and seeing the diverse opinions about worship styles and worship theology, I wish there was more theological discourse between the various groups. Practically speaking we need to strike a balance in music and liturgy styles, but we need to reaffirm the basics of our Reformed heritage concerning worship. It is part of our forgotten heritage that makes us distinctive and most of our pastors are being pressured to go the way of Willow Creek rather than draw from the rich stream of Reformed thinking about grandeur of worshipping a holy and awesome God.

Whatever Happened to the Reformation? Edited by Gary L. Johnson and R. Fowler White.

2011-11-17T12:13:00.000-08:00

We live in an age when many of our evangelical theologians are trading sides. It is common to see good scholars trained in confessional orthodoxy come to question some of the basic doctrines of biblical evangelicalism. This book came out a few years ago addressing the growing trend to rethink traditional notions of God’s foreknowledge and omnipotence or what God foresees and controls in the future. Several respectable theologians in the Reformed ranks contribute essays on the critical problems of the “openness of God” views currently circulating. Part of the larger picture of this trend is the quest to “rescue Christianity” from the clutches of philosophical rationalism. These new theologians are moving away from classical Reformed doctrines, so that what is at stake in our churches is not so much a move away from the Reformation, but from Biblical faith itself. The forward by David Wells is worth the price of the book.

What He Must Be..if he wants to marry my daughter

2011-11-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

As far as I know we are not related, but this is a brother in Christ (pastor, father,and author, Voddie Baucham, Jr.) who nails it right on the head and speaks with wisdom, depth and Gospel soaked grace on key issues of raising daughters and guiding young men to become the catylist for a true change for future generations in our families. I read this and just want to shout, buy more copies and send them to every Dad I know.

Here's a snipet:

"My hope for this book is that those who read it will experience God's grace in new and marvelous ways. I believe we can bring about a change in the way we view manhood, womanhood, and marriage. I believe we can plant seeds inn the lives of our children that will grow and bear much fruit in generations to come. I also believe that if we don't, we will continue down the current destructive path, and the results will be catastrophic....It goes without saying that marriage is the key to multigenerational legacy. God, in his sovereignty, created man to live, thrive, and multiply in the context of the covenant of marriage." (page 25)

"This book is built on a single, simple premise: I believe fathers have a God-given responsibility to see to it that thier daughters marry well and that thier sons become worthy husbands. As such, I believe it is necessary for fathers to model biblical manhood, teach biblical manhood, and hunt for biblical manhood on on behalf of their daughters..." (pg. 27)

The Life of God in the Soul of God (part 6) paraphrase

2011-11-15T12:54:00.000-08:00

True Spirituality Shown by Actions Not Words
Once we say all that can be said, the secret mysteries of this new and spiritual life can’t be fully expressed in words; our language cannot convey it, nor can it be understood except by those who possess its flame and are awakened with the taste and hunger for this spiritual truth: “But it is the spirit in man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand” Job 32:8 (ESV). The power and life of true spirituality is better expressed in our actions than in mere words, because actions flow from life and so reflect this inner reality from where it proceeds. So, the best way to measure those good qualities is in the essence of the one they live in, and this is best illustrated in the holy life of our blessed Savior, who while in this world showed by example the very things he taught, so that his words were a perfect match with his life. If there was ever pure goodness made visible to mortal eyes, it was when in unmatched beauty Jesus walked on this earth.
True Love Exemplified in our Savior
The sincere and devote affection that Jesus burned with towards his heavenly Father was expressed in his absolute surrender to do His will. This was His food and drink, to do the will of His Father and to accomplish all he was sent to do (John 4:34).
Christ’s Diligence in Doing God’s Will
It was through his childhood and onto maturity that Jesus fully pursued doing his Father’s business and performed it with full satisfaction and contentment, so that even when his body was tired and thirsty, and took rest at Jacob’s well; the needs of the Samaritan woman and the cause of the Kingdom of God so filled him with delight that it seemed to refresh his body and soul as to forget his own thirst and the food for which the disciples had been charged to buy. It was not simply a duty to submit to God, but a faithful delight.

A Pastor's Duty by Johathan Edwards

2011-11-14T09:50:00.000-08:00

(An excerpt from a sermon preached at a young minister’s ordination which contains this clear reminder of what is at stake in proclaiming God’s Word. Orginally called, "The True Excellencies of a Gospel Minister".)

Thing proposed in the handling of this subject, viz. to show what is implied in a minister’s being a shining light.
There are three things that seem to be naturally signified by it.
First, that he be pure, clear, and full in his doctrine. A minister is set to be a light to men’s souls, by teaching, or doctrine. And if he be a shining light in this respect, the light of his doctrine must be bright and full. It must be pure without mixtures of darkness. And therefore he must be sound in the faith, not one that is of a reprobate mind. In doctrine he must show uncorruptness; otherwise his light will be darkness. He must not lead his people into errors, but teach them the truth only, guiding their feet into the way of peace, and leading them in the right ways of the Lord.
He must be one that is able to teach; not one that is raw, ignorant, or unlearned, and but little versed in the things that he is to teach others; not a novice, or one that is unskillful in the word of righteousness. He must be one that is well studied in divinity, well acquainted with the written Word of God, mighty in the Scriptures, and able to instruct and convince gainsayers.
And in order to be a shining light, he must be one that really knows what religion is; one that is truly acquainted with that Savior and way of salvation, that he is to teach to others, that he may speak the things that he knows, and testify the things that he has seen, and not be a blind leader of the blind. He must be one that is acquainted with experimental religion, and not ignorant of the inward operations of the Spirit of God, nor of Satan’ s devices; able to guide souls under their particular difficulties. Thus he must be a scribe well instructed in things that pertain to the kingdom of God; one that brings forth out of his treasures things new and old.
And in order to his being a shining light, his doctrine must be full. He must not only be able to teach, but apt to teach, ready to instruct the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, and diligent in teaching in public and private; and careful and faithful to declare the whole counsel of God, and not keep back anything that may be profitable to his hearers.
Also his being a shining light implies that his instructions are clear and plain, accommodated to the capacity of his hearers, and tending to convey light to their understandings.
Second, another thing requisite in order to a minister’s being a shining light, is that he be discreet in all his administrations. The fervent zeal that thus should animate and actuate him in his administrations should be regulated by discretion. He should not only be knowing, and able to communicate knowledge and formed to do it; but also wise, and know how to conduct himself in the house of God, as a wise builder, and a wise steward. And as he is one that God hath sent forth to labor in his field, and committed the care of his vineyard to, so he should conduct himself there as one whom his God doth instruct to discretion. He should not only be as harmless as a dove, but as wise as a serpent; showing himself a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth; and one that knows how to govern the church of God, and to walk in wisdom towards those that are without.
Third, another thing implied in a minister’s being a shining light is that he shines in his conversation. If he shines never so much in his doctrine and administrations in the house of God, yet if there be not an answerable brightness in his conversation, it will have a tendency to render all ineffectual. Christ, in Mat. 5:14, 15, 16, says to his disciples (having undoubtedly a special respect to those of them that were to be sent forth to preach the gospel), “Ye are the light of the world: Men do not light a candle and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” And how does Christ direct them to give light to others? “Let your light,” says he, “so shine before men, that others, seeing your good works, may glorify your Father which is in heaven,” And he tells the same disciples again, John 15:8, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit.” And how should they bring forth fruit? Christ tells them, verse 10, “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love,” and verse 14, “Ye are my friends if ye do whatsoever I command you.”
God sent his Son into the world to be the light of the world these two ways, viz. by revealing his mind and will to the world, and also by setting the world a perfect example. So ministers are set to be lights, not only as teachers, but as ensamples to the flock, 1 Peter 5:3.
The same things that ministers recommend to their hearers in their doctrine, they should also show them an example of in their practice. Thus the apostle says to Timothy, 1 Tim. 4:11, “These things command and teach,” and then adds in the next verse, “Be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” So he directs Titus, in his teaching, to recommend sobriety, gravity, temperance, patience, and other virtues, in the beginning of the second chapter of Titus. But then adds in the 7th verse, “In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works.”
We see in natural bodies, that when heat is raised in them to a high degree, at length they begin to shine. And, as I observed before, a principle of true grace in the soul is like an inward heat, a holy ardor of a heavenly fire enkindled in the soul. This in ministers of the gospel ought to be to that degree, as to shine forth brightly in all their conversation. And there should as it were be a light about them wherever they go, exhibiting to all that behold them, the amiable, delightful image of the beauty and brightness of their glorious Master.

The Life of God in the Soul of Man - part 5 paraphrase

2011-11-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

(my ongoing contemporary rendering of this spiritual classic by Henry Scougal)

The Basis of True Spirituality (What is Authentic Faith?)

Now let us return to the discussion of that Divine reality I was explaining before, that “life which is hid with Christ in God” (Col. 3:3), and is not highly regarded by the world, and to the natural person appears useless and empty. For the natural person is self-centered and controlled by a love for self and the truly spiritual person has an other-centered love without prejudice and the ability to overcome sinful habits and the deception of false piety.
The root of this true spirituality is faith; with its main branches of love to God, love to others, purity and humility. As one noteworthy person has observed that while these things may sound ordinary, they carry a reality that no man or angel can utter with greater weight or excellence. Faith in a general sense is a conviction that certain things are true, but in our sinful state it has the unique role of showing us the mercy of God in reconciling sinners to Himself through a Mediator and therefore has its substance in this object, which is called “faith in Jesus Christ” (Rom. 3:23; Gal.2:16).
The Love of God will give us delight and affection for God’s law and make us yield and sacrifice our all to Him, desiring nothing but to please Him and delighting in nothing but to enjoy fellowship and communion with Him, and being ready to do or endure anything for His sake and for His pleasure. Though this affection first comes from the favor and mercy of God for us, it grows until it is rooted in God’s infinite goodness, which is seen in everything He has done in all His works.
A person who has the love of God in them will also love all people with a sincere and unbounded affection because they know God and being made by Him, have His image stamped on them. (1 John 3:17;1 John 4:20). This is the second branch of love, which is rooted in this perfected reality and all our obligations to others are part and parcel of this truth. For the one who truly loves others will be concerned for their welfare and far from hurting or injuring them, will hate any evil that falls on them, as though it had happened to himself.

Purity

By purity, I mean a certain control or mastery over the flesh and those sinful appetites and the new attitude toward those impulses that would lessen and dampen our white hot love for God; coupled with an iron determination to endure any hardship for God with self-control and moderation in our bodily needs. This comes with humility, which is just acknowledging our lowly state and need. It is a heartfelt understanding that all we have comes from God’s provision, displayed through a sincere submission to God’s will and being dead to the glory of the world and the applause of men.
This is the height that men and angels can rise to if the foundation of heaven is laid in the soul. The one who possesses this reality will not desire to pry into the hidden truths of God’s decrees or search the volumes of heaven to inquire about his eternal condition, but will need only to look into his own heart to discover written what God thinks about him. His love for God will be the assurance of God’s favor and the source of these new desires to know God and to obey His will are sure pledges or signposts that this faith will be perfected and made whole in eternity. It is not without reason one has said, “I had rather see the impression of a godly nature impressed upon my soul than to have a heavenly vision or angel tell me that my name was written in the book of life (Rev. 20:12).

Male call

2011-11-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Male call

The Life of God in the Soul of Man (part 4) my paraphrase

2011-11-02T12:20:00.000-07:00

What is the Natural Life?

Before I go further into the issue about this Divine reality where true spirituality is found, it may be helpful now to speak a little about this natural life that is common to all. These are our natural inclinations or bents that draw us toward those things that please our natural dispositions. The root of all this is our natural self love which grows like a tree spreading its branches seeking growth as a natural process. The root and foundation of this natural life works apart from faith and can distort a right perception of life and understandings of our experiences. Of course the natural life by itself, as a part of creation is not bad, but neutral and can reflect in part the wisdom of its Creator. God gives us desires to preserve and keep our lives. These are just natural instincts and bents that are a part of our makeup. However, we were made for a higher purpose and are to be guided by nobler laws, and so stand guilty when we are merely guided by these natural bents and neglect our higher purpose designed by God. Now our natural temperaments and bents are not totally obliterated but rather controlled and overruled by a superior and more excellent reality. In a word, the difference between a spiritual person and a wicked one, is that in the former, the true Divine life is in control of their desires and in the latter, the natural life prevails.

The Different Tendencies of the Natural Life

It is, however, a strange thing to observe how one who is guided only by a natural life can in certain circumstances be led into a very dangerous mistake in thinking well of themselves because of a difference they see in themselves from others, while the outward action maybe different they both flow from the same source. Just consider how some people are in their natural state and makeup. Some people are fun loving, free spirited souls, which reflects in their sometimes over-the-top behavior, where others are more reserved and serious and therefore show more restraint and sensibilities in their lives, which people will certainly applaud.
Some people are of a rough and critical temperament, and are never happy with themselves or pleased with others; but all are not born with such sour dispositions, for some people have a natural sweetness and congeniality rooted in their makeup that they find it easy to be with other people, make friends easily, and enjoy the affections of others in all things. It is, in a sense, good that some people have this natural gift of tenderness in a world often marked by cruelty and meanness. We need them to provide a buffer and encourage others to be concerned about people.
Now, once again consider the issue of training and behavioral influences; some people have never been taught how to control their vices and base desires and live only for the momentary pleasure. Others, however have been taught from early years to live by rules of decency, honor and restraint, and would then find it hard to do something which goes against the grain of their education.
In the final analysis, there is not a lot of difference in the natural life (with the strength or weakness of judgment) between lust and the ability to restrain oneself, injustice and oppression, virtue and all the wickedness of the world, because both flow out of a love for self, when the natural life is not subdued by a true spirituality. If a person by using natural reason and judgment has contempt for gross evils, can sprout various types of virtue and morality. With good reason, a person can even see that certain sins do him harm, cost him cause injure, then it will be his love for self, that will restrain him and compel him to be moral and treat others morally as a way to sustain him in the world.
Moreover, this natural light of reason can to rise to higher lofts and appear pious and seem spiritual. Some people may be drawn to study things of God, the Scriptures and enjoy the whole exercise of seeking answers to their speculations. They can even find their formed opinions on such matters to be important and promote them to others with great zeal, so as to win converts to their beliefs. They may delight in the study of God because it requires a discipline of judgment and a sharp mind, as rigorous intellectual exercise. Just consider for example, how all the glorious things of heaven can make a carnal heart fall in love with it. All the rich metaphors and pictures used in the Scriptures of crowns, scepters, rivers of delight, etc., can easily draw a person’s imagination to want to be in heaven without ever having a desire for the spiritual realities of which the metaphors describe. These people can even be told that Christ has purchased these wonderful things for them and feel tenderness and affection for such a great benefactor that they maybe infatuated with Jesus, but all the while be a total stranger to who He really is. Is there not a glut of so called spiritual books and devotions written by people who can write with great eloquence about God without really knowing Him?
To conclude, there is nothing a person, with the aid of reason and sound judgment, can emulate and progress in their virtuous life, and while not a bad thing must be understood as a natural reality and one must never be satisfied with it or confuse true spirituality with this natural desire and exterior morality.

Questions:
1. Do you know unbelievers who are moral and ethical? It is good that people seek to be ethical, but can a person really be good without God?
2. Is it easy to measure our love for God by the things we do?
3. How can we confuse moralism with true spirituality?
4. Do people want Jesus for what He gives, or for who He is? How is self-love involved?

A Prayer for the City Council

2011-11-02T08:04:00.001-07:00

This is what I prayed at last night's City Council meeting in Enterprise, AL.

O Lord God and our Heavenly Father,
You rule over all your creation and your dominion is from everlasting to everlasting. We thank you for the grace you give all our city leaders as they seek to preserve truth, justice and common decency in our lives and community. In you, O God, we must find what we cannot do ourselves. In your truth, we see truth, in your wisdom we gain judgment, in your mercy, we find compassion.
Grant wisdom and understanding to this council tonight, and to Major Boswell in their responsibilities to serve Enterprise. Move in the hearts of our citizens to respect their guidance and our laws. Give our police and law enforcement strength and comfort that they serve you in protecting and serving us.
May the decline of our culture and social fabric seen in so many places, not take hold of us. Preserve us and keep us for the sake of future generations.
Habakkuk 2:14 (ESV)
For the earth will be filled
with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.
To you be all glory and thanksgiving, in Jesus Name. Amen.

Psalm Project

2011-11-01T12:48:00.001-07:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueli5ZV4CQo&feature=player_embedded#t=0s

A Reformation Day Prayer

2011-10-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

Heavenly Father, we praise you for the revelation of your free grace through Christ alone, proclaimed through Holy Scriptures as the only source of saving truth, and apprehended by faith which is Your gift to us, so that all your people gathered into one holy, apostolic Church may proclaim your glory to the nations of the world and hasten the coming of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord and Redeemer. Amen. A Reformation Day Prayer by Todd Baucum

The Ministry of Serving - Sunday's Sermon October 16, 2011

2011-10-19T09:38:00.000-07:00

Double click the title above to hear the sermon. Make sure you wait for it to download from Dropbox, the internet storage I use for my sermons. I get a little emotional at the end of the sermon, which is not normal for me. But when I think about the man(Tom Tolliver) who models this kind of servant heart for people and who made a difference in my life, I can't help but get choked up.

Sermon on Psalm 11 - Two Perceptions of Life

2011-10-19T09:36:00.000-07:00

Double click the title above to hear the audio of my sermon preached at First Presbyterian Church Enterprise on Sunday, October 2, 2011.

Part 3 - The Life of God in the Soul of Man (paraphrase)

2011-10-14T11:26:00.000-07:00

Its Permanency and Stability
I choose to call it a reality, first, because it’s permanency and stability. True spirituality is not a flash in the pan, or stroke of inspiration, even though it brings us to unknown heights and transports a man to extraordinary living.
There are those who are convicted about the condition of their souls, push themselves into a great zeal, but then fizzle out; they were on fire, but then they cool off; they sprouted up quickly, and quickly wither away, because there was no real root (Matt. 13:21). This maybe compared to the quick movements of the nervous system of an insect with its head cut off, which no matter how much it moves, will not be for long; but the motions of holy souls are constant and regular, proceeding from a permanent and living reality.
It is true that this Divine reality does not always reflect the same strength and vigor, and many times suffers low points and weakness in temptations, and at times less power in obedience living; but it is never fully extinguished nor are we ever left to our own defenses against the carnal impulses which rule over the rest of the world.

Its Freedom and unconstrainedness

Again, true spirituality can be referred to as reality, because it is an inward, free and self-moving principle; and those who advance in it, are not merely outwardly motivated, driven by threats, or bribed with promises, nor curbed by laws; but are empowered to do which is good and delight in doing it.
The love which a godly man brings to God and goodness, is not so much out of obligation to laws, as by a new nature that teaches and prompts him to do it; nor does he perform his devotions out of duty just to appease the justice of God, or quell his guilty conscience. True spiritual exercises are the proper outflow of the Divine reality, the natural expressions of the new born life. He prays, and gives thanks, and repents, not only because they are commanded, but rather because he knows his needs, and the goodness of God, and the folly and misery of a sinful life. His love is not forced, nor his charity plied from him, for his love makes him willing to give. Though there are no outward compulsion, his “heart would devise liberal things”; injustice or abuse, and all other vices, run cross-grained against his nature, as rudeness to the most sensitive spirit, and nakedness to the most modest of men: so I can say with St. John, ‘Whosoever is born of God does not commit sin: for his seed remains in him, and he cannot sin because he is born of God’ (1 John 3:9). Though godly and spiritual people know the law of God, and regard it highly, it is not out of the law, but is reason, purity, and goodness, which wins their hearts. They see that obedience is a delight in itself; the reward is doing it, because the Divine love which enables them to act has become a law unto itself.

Quis legem det amantibus? Major est amor lex ipse sibi.
(Who shall prescribe a law to those who love? Love’s a more powerful law which motivates).

In a word, what our blessed Savior said of himself, is in some degree applicable to his followers, ‘my food and drink is to do my Father’s will’ (John 4:34). As the natural appetite is towards food, even though we don’t always think about it as necessary for life, so it is with the spiritual life moved by a natural and free flowing appetite for that which is good and commendable. It is true that at times we need those external motivations to jump start and stir up this inward reality; especially in our early growth and in weak days, where we don’t discern much life and we can hardly put one step forward, but then aided by our hopes, or fears, some trial; or the relief of mercy, or the threat of the law or the eyes of others. Now if such a person who is seeking true obedience has an inward sense of their dull heart and greatly desires to obey out of a life-giving spirit; this is the first sign of a divine reality, though it is faint and weak, it will be cherished and blessed by a heavenly grace to grow into maturity. But, without this first sign, a person who is content with going through the motions of spiritual duties by training, custom, a fear of punishment, or heavenly reward, can in no way be identified as a spiritual person, than a puppet on strings can be called a human.

This forced and artificial type of spirituality is heavy and sluggish, like a heavy burden that has to be pushed up; it is cold and lifeless, like a married couple who were forced to wed out of duty or obligation and not out of love for each other. Therefore this artificial spirituality is surface and without depth and has no power to truly do battle against the carnal impulses and those who slave under this law will do only that which is required, because once they do their duty, they gloss over the true condition of their heart. But authentic spirituality is honest and gracious and not given to such foolish games because they belong wholly to God and never at any time think they have done their duty.

A Chaplain Reports From a Far Away Place

2011-10-04T07:24:00.000-07:00

A Chaplain Reports From a Far Away Place

The Life of God in the Soul of Man part 2 (paraphrase)

2011-10-03T15:06:00.000-07:00

What Authentic Spirituality Is

So, certainly true spirituality is quite another thing, and those who know it will hold on to far different thoughts, and reject all shadows and false versions of it. They know by experience that true spirituality is a union of the soul with God, a real participation of the Divine nature, the very image of God drawn upon the soul, or in the apostle’s phrase, “it is Christ formed in us’ (Gal.4:19). Briefly, I know of no better way to describing authentic spirituality, than by calling it a Divine reality: and with this in mind, I will first deal with how it is real, and then how it is called Divine.

Its Permanency and Stability

I choose to call it a reality, first, because it’s permanency and stability. True spirituality is not a flash in the pan, or stroke of inspiration, even though it brings us to unknown heights and transports a man to extraordinary living.
There are those who are convicted about the condition of their souls, push themselves into a great zeal, but then fizzle out; they were on fire, but then they cool off; they sprouted up quickly, and quickly wither away, because there was no real root (Matt. 13:21). This maybe compared to the quick movements of the nervous system of an insect with its head cut off, which no matter how much it moves, will not be for long; but the motions of holy souls are constant and regular, proceeding from a permanent and living reality.

Sermon - Why No Women Preachers?

2011-09-29T14:05:00.000-07:00

Preached Sunday, Sept. 25, at First Presbyterian in Enterprise, as part of a series in Timothy and Titus. The message seeks to be faithful to the biblical text and point our thinking about how designed us to be male and female as a blessing to receive that runs against the thinking of our culture in many surprising ways. Click on the title above to hear the audio.

The Life of God in the Soul of Man

2011-09-28T12:24:00.000-07:00

By Henry Scougal
The Great Spiritual Classic that Changed two Nations

It was the homeschooling mother of John and Charles Wesley, who found great spiritual insight into the truths of a lively and authentic faith in this little book by a philosophy professor from Aberdeen Scotland. Susanna Wesley was busy with a full house of children, but kept her heart and mind engaged in the deep waters of profound spiritual writers. This book sparked a deep hunger in John and Charles to pursue an authentic Christian experience of faith. Charles handed a copy of the book to another young seeker by the name of George Whitefield who hung around the outskirts of their “holy club” at Oxford. The book led to the conversion of Whitefield, and he became the great preacher and revivalist of the 18th Century which historians declare changed the moral and social landscape of America and England. It is my hope that by offering this updated version in my own paraphrase, I can get others to reading this classic, which I’ve found not easily accessible for modern readers. Language changes, and I know that purists will not like what I’ve done, but I trust that my bringing the language down into contemporary style and wording will at least open the door for new readers who like the missionaries and evangelists of centuries ago, will be ignited with a true love for Christ and not settle for anything less.
This will appear in a series over the next several weeks as I work through the book. It was written as a letter to a friend, offering spiritual direction and advice. I substitute the word “religion” for spirituality, because the use of the word religion meant something different than it does today.

An Abridged Paraphrase by Todd Baucum

The Reason for this Book
My Dear Friend:

It is my desire is to help you in the exercise of your spiritual life and to offer friendly advice on helping you to grow in grace and personal holiness. So, now I can show my affection and express my gratitude for you, by not delaying what I had promised in offering this assistance. Though you most likely have better helps of this nature than I can offer you, nor is this something you’ve never heard before; yet I am hopeful, that coming from one whom you honor as a friend, it will be accepted by you in and in God’s providence prove useful to you. Forgive me for starting at a basic level of what is the authentic spiritual life, offering some of my thoughts and things helpful with you in mind.

Mistakes about Authentic Spirituality
I cannot speak about authentic spirituality without lamenting that there are so many who are just playing games at it, and so few understand what it means. Some place it in the intellect, in orthodox beliefs and opinions; and all the evidence of their spirituality is found in that they are of this or that school of thought, and have joined in one of the many off-shoots of a Christianity that is so tragically divided.

Others place it in the outward activities, and a constant display of external duties, and an exhibit of performances; so if they live at peace with their neighbors, keep a moderate diet, attend worship, go to church activities, observe their daily devotion, and give an occasional dollar to the poor, they think they have met the requirement.

Others again put their spiritual life in their emotions, with rapturous warm feelings and ecstatic devotion; and all they aim at is to pray with passion, to think of heaven with pleasure, and to be exuding those nice buttery expressions of love for their Savior, till they persuade themselves that they are truly in love with Him, and therefore assume the assurance of their salvation, which they value as the highest of all Christian gifts.

All these may have some aspect of a true spiritual life (they are really just a means of living it), but in of themselves should not be mistaken as the whole of the truth. Our wicked hearts can fabricate these things, and we can do better than pagans in consecrating our sinful habits, and sanctifying our corrupt emotions, and our hard opinions and pride, then pass them off as Christian devotion. So that a hard, unkind personality is then called a holy zeal and stubborn rebellious hearts be called courage and commitment.

We Dont' Need More Christians, We Need More Followers of Jesus

2011-09-15T08:40:00.000-07:00

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” James 3:9-11 (NIV)

Several years ago I read Dallas Willard’s book, “The Spirit of the Disciplines”, where he looks at the call to follow Jesus Christ with a total commitment of one’s being. The Bible says we are to “love the Lord your God, with your whole heart, mind and strength.(Mark 11)” It was this kind of commitment that Jesus called his followers to live out. Most importantly, Jesus gives his followers the gift of the Holy Spirit so they are enabled to follow him with this kind of life. We don’t live as Christians in our own power.
After reading the book, I wrote in the jacket: “The world does not need more Christians; it needs more disciples of Jesus Christ.”

I am even more convinced of that fact today. More research by Barna and Gallop indicate the sorry state of the church in America and among those who even call themselves “born-again.” Even an article in the “Wall Street Journal”, indicated that secularists and Muslims have little to fear from the “conservative Christian.” For example, 50 % of them (born again Christians) believe a life of good works will get them to heaven. 35% don’t believe Jesus physically rose from the dead. And on moral issues we are wish-washy as ever. 39% believe it is morally acceptable for couples to “live-together before marriage.” And 32% accept same-sex unions. We are not “slouching towards Sodom”, as Judge Bork suggested, we are sprinting full throttle.

Why? How can this be? For one, Oprah Winfrey and the morality of TV sitcoms have become the gurus of our moral framework. We have stopped thinking biblically. We have made our culture and our feelings the source of authority for truth, rather than God’s Word. Fresh water and salt water cannot flow from the same spring, once it mingles all that is left is a brackish swamp.

Secondly, we have not done a good job, generally speaking, in passing the biblical faith down to the next generation. Younger evangelical believers tend to be more “relativist” in their ethics saying things like, “That is ok for you, but I feel…” Yet, there are encouraging signs and I see them at our church, where men are wanting to be godly spiritual leaders and mothers are resisting the culture around them and a new generation coming along are not following their peers, but following Jesus. O Lord, increase their numbers!

May we see more people following Jesus and less of these “Christians” that are polled by Gallop and Barna. Then may the world take notice and take stock of what we say.

Music and the Brain

2011-09-06T18:21:00.000-07:00

I just saw the movie, "The Music Never Stopped", which is based on a true story and comes from the same author of "The Awakenings", also made into a movie several years ago. The author is a neuroscientist who is doing research between the brain and music - all very facinating and beyond me. The movie shows the dramatic recovery a a young man who lost his memory due to a brain tumor. The human connection element between the father who seeks to delve into the son's world of music and radical 60's rock is a moving tribute of costly love and forgiveness. The fact that music can heal is clearly advocated in this film. That it is a vehical for emotions and for the thinking rational process, is just amazing. I still would rather listen to a Bach cantata, than the Grateful Dead! Then, again it depends on my mood.

Worship in the Bible - Why We Were Created

2011-09-01T12:47:00.000-07:00

When God created Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden, they had perfect fellowship with their Creator. We can’t imagine what that was like. The glory of God unmediated, unhindered, only the limits of the atmosphere and the canopy of stars, kept man in this theater of God’s presence in true awe and wonder. The question is why in such a state would Adam and Eve ever be distracted to sin, or find time for temptation? It is a timeless question, unanswerable for us.

But, when we think about the worship of God, it makes sense to see how God was always seeking to draw man back into the wonder and grandeur of worship. First, through the tabernacle, this highlighted the mystery of God’s holiness by heavy curtains and walled spaces, and expressed the need to repent, to turn things around. In other words, the tabernacle was a picture of our separation from God and the great need to deal with its cause. It kept the spiritual appetite whet for something else, something it truly longed for.

The temple, had both the dual role hiding the mystery of God’s holiness in the mercy seat of Ark of the Covenant, but also the openness of fellowship in the courts, where God’s people could join in corporate praise. The courts were open, with open air, pillars and majestic walls. Here the news of atonement was made by hands made red and people responded in thanksgiving with hands open and cleansed. God commanded that room was made even for the nations to come and hear this wonder of redemption. It had a foretaste of a greater glory, but the longing of the soul was not fully satisfied in Solomon’s temple.

This temple was to be destroyed not once, but twice. Israel would clutter the temple with their idols, and at times keep it to themselves as a national monument to their greatness. When the holiness of God was compromised, the temple lost its glory. Ichabod would be written on its portals. Worship became a show, a sham and an empty ritual. As it happens in every generation, we substitute pageantry for artistry. Outwardly, the best of worship that Israel ever produced was when God had left the premises. It was a show to behold, a feast in sensory delight. Inwardly, it was deadly to the soul. (Why don’t contemporary evangelical churches read the Minor Prophets?)

The glory of the true temple was God himself. He came once more, as in the Garden, walking along the same ground he had created; fellowshipping with men and women. This was God in the flesh, the man born of a woman, yet Son of God. At the temple built by man, Jesus showed what true worship was all about by yielding the heart in submission to truth and glorifying God once again amidst the wonder of His glory and Grace. Paradise was regained by the rule of this Second Adam.

That true and lasting temple was rejected by men. On the Cross, true holiness and horrible human sin came together in an unthinkable embrace. Justice and Mercy collided and the Son darkened the sky over all creation. But, on the third morning the world broke forth in the light of Christ’s resurrected glory. Called out sinners, now redeemed by the Savior, join every week on that day, to reflect on that grace and to be lost (or really found) in the timeless wonder about the grandeur of Christ’ glory. It is called the Church, not a temple, because the temple is Jesus. The church is people redeemed by the grace of Jesus. But, when the church really worships, the glory cannot be contained. It breaks forth, when not filled with show, sham and empty ritual. It breaks forth with submitted hearts and wills lost in the wonder of grace. In the glory of the Gospel of grace, unhindered by pageantry, show or sham of hubris, the Word is heard, and the beauty of its truth fills the soul and fills the place where saints gather and sing songs of Zion. The longing is satisfied, and joy is found as the true delight of fellowshipping with our Creator and Redeemer.

From Francis Schaeffer - words that once rocked my world

2011-08-30T13:06:00.000-07:00

"How beautiful Christianity is - first, because of the sparkling quality of its intellectual answers, but second, because of the beautiful quality of its human and personal answers. And these are to be rich and beautiful. A crabbed Christianity is less than orthodox Christianity...There must be orthodox doctrine, true. But there must be orthodox practice of those doctrines, including orthodoxy in the human relationships...

God means Christianity to be fun. There is to be a reality of love and communication in the Christian-to-Christian relationship, individually and corporately, which is completely and truly personal." "True Spirituality", Francis Schaeffer

What I loved about listening to Dr. Schaeffer speak was how he connected words like, intellectual, orthodox with beauty, personal and fun. It revolutionized my dry joyless fundamentalism.

Sermon, Sunday Aug. 21, at First Presbyterian

2011-08-29T12:45:00.000-07:00

Click on title above to hear the audio of my sermon in a series from Timothy and Titus. This focuses on a concise statement of the Gospel most likely used as a Creed in the early aposotlic church. "Christ Jesus came to save sinners". Amen and Amen!

September 11 - Informational Meeting

2011-08-29T11:47:00.000-07:00

Here is an excerpt from the letter sent from our session to our congregation as we look forward to our church renovation.

Most of you are aware to some degree of the need to address the current physical condition of our sanctuary, our future need in the face of growth, and the changing needs of the congregation. First and foremost, as a people called by God’s grace, chosen through the mercy and love that comes in Christ, our Savior, we know that all we are called to do; we do in light of Grace and for God’s glory.
For years, we prayed and considered moving from the present location. Every evidence seemed to indicate God was telling us to be faithful with what we have and seek to glorify God in this place.
A professionally developed plan, bathed in prayers will be presented to the congregation so that you can see the general picture of what our present sanctuary can be transformed into as an attractive, and God honoring place of worship for generations to come. We believe it is an achievable task, but will require faith, stretching ourselves in obedience and unity as a church body.

The National Presbyterian Church of Mexico severs ties to the PCUSA

2011-08-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

I have many Presbyterian friends in Mexico, and the recent vote to sever ties with the PCUSA, inspite of 149 years of history working together, shows the spiritual and biblical discernment of this denomination. The issue has been raised many times before at previous General Assemblies. All I can say, is that I pray the Lord will richly bless their commitment to the Gospel and this clear stand on the side of Biblical faithfulness, even though this will cost them financially. In times where things are already difficult, they have taken a stand. I have nothing but admiration for them and their sacrifical love for Christ and His Kingdom. Dios los bendigo.

Romantic Love as an Echo of Divine Love

2011-08-24T13:14:00.000-07:00

Song 1:2-4 (ESV)
Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth!
For your love is better than wine;
[3] your anointing oils are fragrant;
your name is oil poured out;
therefore virgins love you.
[4] Draw me after you; let us run.
The king has brought me into his chambers.

Others
We will exult and rejoice in you;
we will extol your love more than wine;
rightly do they love you.

From The Problem of Pain (C.S. Lewis)

~~"There have been times when I think we do not desire heaven; but more often I find myself wondering whether, in our heart of hearts, we have ever desired anything else. You may have noticed that the books you really love are bound together by a secret thread. You know very well what is the common quality that makes you love them, though you cannot put it into words: but most of your friends do not see it at all... Are not all lifelong friendships born at the moment when at last you meet another human being who has some inkling... of that something which you were born desiring... All the things that have ever deeply possessed your soul have been but hints of it... echoes that died away just as they caught your ear. But if it should really become manifest... you would know it. We cannot tell each other about it. It is the secret signature of each soul... If we lose this, we lose all.

"Your soul has a curious shape... made to fit a particular swelling in... Divine substance, or a key to unlock one of the doors in the house with many mansions. For it is not humanity in the abstract that is to be saved, but you—you, the individual... Blessed and fortunate creature, your eyes shall behold Him and not another's... God will look to every soul like its first love because He is its first love. Your place in heaven will seem to be made for you and you alone, because you were made for it.... (Problem of Pain)

Lewis understands the common thread in all the books one reads, in all the stories and all the experiences that leave a person desiring something unreachable, something unexplainable, in short, ineffable.

Love in the best of human relationships (i.e., marriage) is but the echo of God’s love woven in the fabric of his creation. In the Song of Solomon the portrayal of human romance, is but the reflection or shadow of a more perfect love – a holy pursuit and wooing of the beloved. This is why the Gospel is the story of God’s love in reaching down into time and history to bring to final consummation the greatest romance. I see this is the way to read the Song of Solomon in its fullest meaning. Not as the medieval commentators who spurned the gift of human love, nor in the modern overly sensual version – for both are off the mark. It is reading the one in light of the other. We who are bought by the price of Christ’s blood (the bride’s price) now wait the arrival of the wedding feast. Then the bridegroom will come and say, "Arise my beloved, arise."

Charles Hodge on Confessing the Faith of the Gospel

2011-08-22T09:49:00.000-07:00

“To confess Christ is to recognize his character and claims. It is to acknowledge that Jesus is the Christ. It is to admit the truth of the doctrines which he taught. It is to profess our allegiance to him as our Lord and Saviour. This confession must be public; it must be made before men; it must be made with the mouth, and not left to be inferred from the conduct… The confession which is required is, the public acknowledgment of Christ in his true character, and of his gospel in its real nature. It will not do to strip the gospel of everything offensive to human pride, and to acknowledge the rest. The very thing to be done is, to take the shame of professing what is a scandal to the Jews and foolishness to the Greeks. It is to acknowledge our faith and confidence in a Saviour despised and rejected of men, and in doctrines which human reason can neither discover nor comprehend.” From "The Way of Life"

Confessing Gospel Truth- a line from my sermon

2011-08-22T09:37:00.000-07:00

[15] The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost.
Fred Sanders “God is not trifling with us in the Gospel, but opening up in the most intimate way his very heart.”

Notice how Paul describes this central truth of the Gospel. He takes what is already known by the Church “This saying” and gives his apostolic approval to it. It is trustworthy - that is it is a faithful recap of the Gospel in miniature.

Secondly, he commends it to everyone. It deserves full – wide or universal acceptance. Creeds are not private (personal in their relevance) – there is no Christianity without a common faith. Statements like “no creed but the Bible,” make no sense and lead to an individual Christianity – subjective, unhistorical and open to a thousand interpretations. (Dorothy Sayers, the literary friend of C.S. Lewis put it well - “without creed there is chaos”.)
This affirmation used in the worship of this apostolic church is summed up in 9 words. Much more can be said about the Gospel. We have creeds that delve deeper into its ramifications (Nicene Creed, the Westminster Confession) But this 9 word creed is the essence of the Gospel
“Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”

This was the eternal mission of God, to act in sovereign love to enter our world, in time and history in the person of his Son: to enter a world turned against God, running towards destruction and for the purpose of saving these sinners.
Everything in the life of the church and every other doctrine builds upon this central core truth.
Eveything we know about God is through the lens of this telescope – the God who saves.
Everything we do and are called to live our lives in light of is this central truth .

How the Law is Good. Sermon from Aug. 14, 2011

2011-08-17T14:59:00.000-07:00

From my series on Timothy & Titus, this sermon in on how we need the law to properly understand the Gospel. Getting it right is vital to the Christian life. Double Click the title above for the audio link. I do my best to keep up with this technology, so if it doesn't work, just send me a message.

Guarding the Gospel - Sermon for July 31, 2011

2011-08-17T14:56:00.000-07:00

Click the title above to connect to the audio link. It may take a few minutes.

Forgiveness and our Redemption: More Preliminary Reflections

2011-08-15T08:04:00.000-07:00

Legal and Personal- How Justification makes us Forgiven

Forgiveness as it relates to Justification and Union with Christ is both a Legal (positional) reality and a interpersonal experience. Because of Christ’s offering of his life and the “gracious transaction” of his righteousness for our sin, enables God to as a Just Judge to act with mercy and righteousness in saving us.
But, our redemption is more than a legal transaction with some abstract status that bears no real influence on our lives. Redemptive language in the Bible is intensely personal. The Just and Holy Judge is also, by grace, our loving Father. This experience of mercy and cleansing from our sin in our union with Christ is the experience of forgiveness.

While the doctrine of forgiveness is rarely treated as an individual aspect of our salvation, it is immensely biblical. The Bible portrays sin as the great act of treason – a highly personal offense. This is especially true in the parable of the Prodigal Son, better named as the parable of the Forgiving Father (Luke 15).
Objective and SubjectiveAnother way to speak about the problem of our Redemption is the tension between the objective reality that is true of God’s provision for sin in the death of his Son, and the human experience of forgiveness in the act of confession. The question will arise, “how does God forgive sin and on what basis does He forgive?”

Forgiveness as it Relates to GodRomans 3:25-26 (ESV)
(Jesus) whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. [26] It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
“Without the shedding of blood, there is no remission of sin”
Remission means the total removal of sin and its consequences. True remission of sin was not affected by the O.T. sacrificial system, this was a picture of what was to come. Only God could be both the Just and the Justifier of his redeemed people by the giving of his own Son, the fullness of deity, in an act of unfathomable love.
The Basis for all forgiveness is the blood of Christ - 2 Cor. 5:14, 15. Someone has to pay a price. Infinite transgression requires an infinite cost, which only the infinite Son of God could pay.
It is applied to the believer both:

Positionally - Col.2:13; Rom.8:1 – We are in Christ and a New Creation.
Subjectively – 1 John 1:5-9 - we will walk in truth and in the light of Christ’s forgiveness.

Forgiveness as a Part of SalvationThe Reformed view of the “Ordu Salutis” - a description of the process of salvation.

Effectual calling - The Spirit helps us to really hear the Gospel and effectively respond to it.

Saving faith- While this appears to be the part where we are active in the process of our salvation, the trusting belief we express is also a gift from God.

Repentance –True faith is always experienced with genuine repentance. Which comes first is sometime hard to distinguish in our lives, but it is biblically tied together like two sides of the same coin.

Justification – God declares us righteous on the basis of Jesus’ righteousness. The great and gracious transfer of our sins for his righteousness,and he becomes our unrighteousness bearing them to the Cross.

Adoption – Because of God’s promise to Jesus, he adopts us as his children firmly establishing us as a part of his family.

Sanctification – Salvation is not just getting our ticket punched for the pearly gates. It involves the transformation of the believer. True justification will always led to a growth in holiness.
Good Works – Grace leads to gratitude and the best way to show God how much you love Him, is by loving others.
Perseverance – We don’t grow, keep believing and stay on track in this race, by our own power. Christ is in us by the presence of the Holy Spirit. What God starts he always finishes.

Assurance of Salvation- The evidence of everything that God is doing in giving us faith, trust, a new desire and the promises of His electing grace confirms in our heart that we truly belong to Him.

Glorification – Someday when Christ returns for his church or we meet him after our passing from this mortal life, we will perfectly reflect his image and lay aside all dead, powerless nature of our sin, that we’ve battled against for so long and for once know what it is to be truly human and enjoying our Creator.

Justification and Union with ChristThe Westminster Confession understood the priority of the act of judicial declaration of our imputation of Christ’s righteousness is our basis of union with Christ. In this way, we can also speak about the benefits of our union with Christ as being fully “forgiven” and restored as child of God.
“In Christ, God took the penalty of sin on his own self to abolish the cause of enmity existing between himself and sinners. Nothing unethical or unjust is implied, as Christ freely accepted this role as mediator. Consent and free choice characterize his actions for sinners. Penal substitution through sacrifice implies that he accepted to stand as the innocent one in the place of the guilty, accepts the judgment for their guilt, and assumes and abolishes it by his vicarious death. This is condescension to the highest degree imaginable and grace to the fullest extent possible.” (Paul Wells, Cross Words, pg. 149).
Forgiveness in Human ExperienceGustaf Aulen (Swedish Lutheran theologian)
“Forgiveness is not an act that occurs only once, at a certain time, and establishes once and for all the basis on which the Christian life exists. On the contrary, forgiveness belongs to the whole of Christian life, since this life depends on the fact that ‘the grace of God is new every morning.’” (The Faith of the Christian Church, pg. 292)

A Blog Interview with Dr. Carl Trueman on his book “Reformation”

2011-08-13T07:54:00.000-07:00

Baucum: There is a rise of new interest in Reformed thinking with the new Calvinism, especially among younger pastors. Are you hopeful this will translate into a serious interaction with the core of what the Reformers taught, or just more posturing among those in various camps?

Trueman: I do hope so. My major concerns with the movement are not theological but ecclesiological. It seems to be focused on a few big personalities and a number of big conferences. My wish would be to see it taking deep root in churches and also to become more self-consciously confessional in the way it connects to the great church documents of the past. Still, I do rejoice at what I see: when I was at college, being a `Calvinist’ placed one on the lunatic fringe even of the evangelical world. It is weird to realize that, for the moment anyway, this theology is enjoying such a positive reception in many quarters.

Baucum: What is your advice to new pastors coming out of seminary where the vast number of churches want a “theology of glory” rather than dealing with the reality of the Cross and its claim upon us in radical obedience and culture opposing living?

Trueman: Preach the Bible as it centres in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no better antidote to a theology of glory than that; and in a church of Christians, such preaching through the power of the Holy Spirit should change priorities. Also, read 1 and 2 Corinthians regularly: the first lays out the theology of the cross, the second applies it to the realities of ministerial life

Dealing with Sin and the Grace of Forgiveness

2011-08-09T12:26:00.001-07:00

See now what just cause I have to say that to know our need of forgiveness is the first thing in true religion. Sin is a burden, and must be taken off. Sin is a defilement, and must be cleansed away. Sin is a mighty debt, and must be paid. Sin is a mountain standing between us and heaven, and must be removed. The first step towards heaven is to see clearly that we deserve hell.
See too how little many persons know of the main design of Christianity. They have yet to learn that the leading mark of Christianity is the remedy it provides for sin. This is the glory and excellence of the gospel. It meets man as he really is. J.C. Ryle “The Forgiveness of Sins”
Dealing with Sin When examining the problem of sin from both an anthropological viewpoint: how sin impacts humanity; and how sin is a theological problem, we come to the very heart of what salvation is concerned about. Sin has infected the human race and the total person to such a degree that man is totally and radically polluted with its poison. We can do nothing to reconcile ourselves to God or to recover our original righteousness.
Salvation and Redemption from the viewpoint of the Reformers is always monergistic (one work, power) in that God has to be the source of our salvation and present the remedy for human sin.

Sermon from July 24 - A Trustworthy Word

2011-07-26T14:15:00.000-07:00

The last sermon in a series in the Gospel of John, finalizing over a year and a half plumbing the depths of this rich Gospel, which shows us the reality of Jesus, the nature of his Kingdom and how we become a part of it. This final sermon is a look at the last words John wrote about the validity of his testimony concerning Jesus. It has implications on how we understand the Bible and the trustworthiness of this eyewitness.

Sermon from July 17- Peter's Restoration

2011-07-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Click on the title to hear my sermon from John 21:10-19 in a series on the Gospel of John.

Book Review - "Reformation" by Carl Trueman

2011-07-25T14:59:00.000-07:00

A Review of “Reformation” by Carl R. Trueman
By Todd D. Baucum
This is an explosive book. Trueman who teaches at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, argues for the ongoing relevance of the theology of the Reformation for the 21st Century. Coming out of the conservative orthodox box of the Reformed tradition, one would expect Trueman to flaunt the enduring values of the 16th Century Protestant movement. Against the onslaught of opinions that such arguments are passé and our ecumenical dialogues have matured beyond those issues, there have been many rejoinders that the Reformation is here to stay. The conservative benefactors of Reformed theology have made their case over issues of justification by faith and the authority of the Bible. Trueman is not simply offering another rebuttal of this type. His contribution in this short book is of another category. He goes deeper and aims not so much at those on the outside, as those who wear the badge of ownership in this history. Watch your sacred cows, as Trueman takes aim.
He is orthodox and not seeking a progressive agenda to ply down the rough edges of Luther and Calvin into a palatable vanilla flavor. Yet, neither is he another conventional critic offering just another predictable tirade against liberals and sacramentalist. Trueman is in the true sense a radical, and here are the cogent and winsome ravings of a radical who loves and just as important, understands the history of the Reformers and its practical relevance for today.
Moral verses Theological ReformationThe book begins with Trueman underscoring the central difference between the Protestant Reformation and those in the Roman Church who wanted the reformation of morals and the spiritual life. “…the Catholic Reformation focused on practical, moral abuses; it did not seek to reform the theology of the church.” The irony of all that is that now the typical evangelical Christian is now focused more on these “practical and moral” issues than the deeply important theological ones which were at the core of the Reformation. Trueman is not one to simply see the 16th Century without historical context; neither does he hold up the Reformers as idols to bow down to. Hence he writes, “Idolatry, the cult of the saints, and uncritical deference to the authority of tradition are not things from which Protestants are immune (pg.37).
A Theology of SufferingThe second major theme Trueman develops is Luther’s theology of the Cross, which he laments, was neglected by later Reformers. It is this area of theology and preaching that postmodern evangelicals are so glaringly superficial. Here the Cross centered theology of Luther and the understanding of the Gospel in the context of suffering and redemption is radically opposed to all forms of “theologies of glory”. Our pulpits are full of the later and we seldom here about the former, giving us an inadequate view of how God works to bring redemption through humility, weakness and suffering. This cuts the grain of our culture and sadly our evangelical preaching. Trueman names the idols of our day, such as morphing “free market capitalism” into a spiritual value of pragmatism; “the gospel as therapy” and the selling of the gospel for “entertainment”. These soul sicknesses are draining the life out of the evangelical church. We preach and sing about a victorious king who has saved us, but forget his kingdom is one of following the way of suffering.
The Centrality of the WordThe book ends with a reminder of the enduring importance of the written Word of God even in our digital, image driven age. This is an important part of the book because Trueman makes clear and plain an issue that has become so debated in recent decades that people think the issue is settled. We just pick sides. Trueman states the importance of the Bible, the way it is misunderstood and how to avoid the confusion. Here is a sample of one of his winsome quips: “..Scripture does not just contain God’s word, it is God’s Word. This does not mean that it replaces Christ anymore than a love letter replaces my wife” (pg. 75).
The last section is advice for pastors and insights for training pastors. Personally, I find this part very insightful into the mind of a theologian training future ministers. Twice in the book he mentions the evangelical biblical scholars from Moore Theological College in Australia. Men like Goldsworthy have had a profound influence on me in my reading the Bible. I hope such biblical thinking of that nature infiltrates the evangelical church. It leaves me hopeful, that is, if such advice is more than just wishful thinking.

Reformation by Trueman

2011-07-20T06:54:00.000-07:00

Carl Trueman, who teaches historical theology at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, has written a helpful treatise on the ongoing relevance of the Reformation. Here is an excerpt from the book (just published by Christian Focus), and will follow up with a review - very soon.

"Corrupt belief and practice went hand-in-hand, and the one could not be reformed without the reformation of the other. This was something which the Catholic Church of the time never seemed to grasp. We must beware of those who always paint the Catholic Church of the sixteenth century in unremittingly dark colours. It was certainly in a state of great theological confusion, and it certianly tolerated a large number of moral abuses; but it also contained many men who wished to see the corruption within its ranks cleared up. There was indeed a Catholic Reformation which sought to purge the Church of the corrupt and dishonest. But there was one fundamental difference between the Catholic Reformation and its counterpart which came to be known as Protestantism: the Catholic Reformation focused on practical, oral abuses; it did not seek to reform the theology of the church. This is why the Protestant Reformation was so important: it sought to address the theological foundationns of the church and to reform the whole, root and branch." (pg. 21-22)

In other words, people like Erasmus wanted the church to reform in morals, Luther and Calvin saw it needed a reform in theology. Of, course in reality it was more complex than that, but it is an essential point of departure. More to come....

Fred Sander's "The Deep Things of God"

2011-07-13T14:06:00.000-07:00

There is a great need today for evangelical Protestantism to recapture the full implications of the doctrine of the Trinity for all of life. Fred Sanders does a wonderful job of providing a readable and profound reflection on this vital and all encompassing truth. Read from the intro:

From the Introduction
“The Trinitarian theology that drives evangelical experience, however, is to be found deep down, underneath each of the half-dozen strengths that are characteristic of evangelical Christianity. In fact, each of the strengths is inherently Trinitarian and can only be explained by reference to the way evangelicals experience the work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We read the Bible as if these inspired words carry the voice of the living God, or when we pray to the Father in the name of the Son, or when we testify about Jesus in the power of the Spirit, we are always encountering a Trinitarian reality. This book is an excavation into the ground of each of these practices, digging deep into each until we find the Trinitarian gold buried beneath them. Above all, since the gospel is itself so Trinitarian that the Trinity simple is the gospel; salvation in Christ is an immersion into a Trinitarian reality. When it becomes evident that the factors which most clearly mark evangelicals as evangelicals are also the most elaborately Trinitarian, it will also become evident that the people of the gospel are the people of the Trinity.” Pg. 21

My Response to Rob Bell's book - A limerick

2011-07-05T06:53:00.000-07:00

There has been a good deal written in response to Bell. Since I cannot add any further theological, biblical critique than what has been offered, here is a little limerick I wrote:

There once was a man named Bell
He wrote a book about hell.
Of things uncertain and unclear he did tell.
People wondered and then thought well,
If this is true why do I worry pell-mell?
All good people go to heaven not hell
This is how Bell makes it sell.

A Salute to Honest Heretics or Why I left the PCUSA

2011-06-30T09:01:00.000-07:00

By Todd D. Baucum
I have a profound respect (not an agreement or a liking) for liberals and revisionist like Bishop John Spong (ala Bishop Sponge)and the homoerotic Gene Robinson, titular head of the Episcopal diocese in New Hampshire. They follow in the infamous train of Bishop Spike and other radicals in the past. Why do I consider such men worthy of an honorable mention, when I as a traditional orthodox believer in the biblical Reformed Faith that is so much maligned and discounted by the aforementioned? For one, they have shown us a candor and certain honesty about their abandonment of the biblical doctrines of Traditional Christianity. They in fact make no bones about their ambition to strip the layers of superstition and ignorance that hinder their radical agenda to “move us out of the dark ages”. They fly their revisionist colors high with no apologies or attempt to hide undetected in the shadows of ecclesiastical ambiguity and the inflated hubris of their purple shirts.
As a Presbyterian without the office of Bishop speaking for me – we have not had the sort of men or leaders who are bold enough and forthright in their abandonment of the Faith in favor of a new religion based on the latest new ideas of progress. One reason for this is that the Episcopal Church has never had a strong presence of the puritan/evangelical tradition here in America (I learned this from my Anglican friends at Trinity School for Ministry – an evangelical, traditional school, -a bit of an anomaly in the Episcopal world in the U.S.) In contrast, Presbyterians have had a distinctively conservative, puritan/evangelical formation in North America. We were bound together by a common creed and spread along the colonies among Congregationalists and Reformed groups through the preaching of men like Jonathan Edwards, a Congregationalist and George Whitefield, an Anglican, who both preached a Calvinistic gospel set on fire with evangelical passion. This spiritual legacy has always loomed large on the social memory of American Presbyterians. Even among the more moderate or liberal “cradle Presbyterian” who grew away from the fold through liberal Enlightenment thought, there was no way to deny, he or she was born in a faith with deep roots in a strong biblical confession and fired with evangelical piety. At least their grandparents were brought up on the old Shorter Catechism. It is an undeniable history. Even in the old Presbyterian schools, now embracing the liberal views of the critical scholars, the portraits of the old Calvinist stalwarts still hang on the walls of the libraries and halls as an inescapable reminder of this past. Perhaps it haunts the conscience, but one would be mistaken to think that such historical legacy leaves anything other than the cash value of name association. History has its benefits for the tenured chair or the plush endowments of past benefactors of the old faithful. They live on borrowed capital.
Our Presbyterian liberals see the need to pay their respect to this social memory – they are not so ill mannered to tread on the graves of their fathers and mothers. They must give due respect to this confessional heritage, much like one wears a badge to show they belong as a member of the club, but one is totally free to believe as one likes. Because today the freedom of conscience is the value that trumps every other truth claim or authority - “Only God is Lord of the conscience” - an important sentiment among the Reformers to uphold the sacred obligation every soul has toward God’s true standard in the Bible. It has been morphed into a security blanket to hide every disagreement and departure one has with the confessional standards.
It therefore makes them less noticeable to the unsuspecting church member. They lie safe in the obscurity and ossifications of their revisionist language. It is why liberals among us most always speak with an evangelical accent. They know the history and the memory that still exists, ever so lightly perhaps these days as Presbyterians in the mainline church turn grey with their hoary heads. Where are the Presbyterian Spongs and the honest heretics among us? I surmise they are all around us, but don’t ask me to tell you who they are by the way they talk. Too many of them know the language of the Gospel, they just don’t believe in its content anymore. The vocabulary of the faith has been recast with a new and different lectionary of meaning. When Paul Tillich sought to restyle and revise orthodox Christianity he at least saw the need to revise not only the meaning along the lines German Idealism, but suggested new words and names. Reading his Systematic Theology, for example is like Alice in Wonderland, wondering about the meaning of words, when words are just made up at the whims of the speaker. His approach was never fully embraced because it lacked any acceptance among people in the pews who for whatever reason clung to the language of Zion and the familiar words of the Faith. Sadly, for many of them those words have no more meaning.
And so it stands that today a once great denomination has embraced a new theology and a new gospel. I bid my friends still in the PCUSA my sincere hope that those who hold to the old words and the old faith, which still brings life and renewal, will remain true and follow their Captain and great Head of the Church.

Robert Moffat - The Apostle to South Africa

2011-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

Robert Moffat – The Apostle to South Africa – 1795-1883

Only one Life
It will soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last

The history of Africa cannot be written without the mention of Robert Moffat. While today the vestiges of British colonialism are being washed away in the new tide of African nationalism, the name of Moffat is still respected.

Born in a small village in Scotland of simple and devoted Presbyterian parents, Robert Moffat came into the world at the end of the 18th Century. Like other young boys in love with the ocean, young “Bobbie” dreamed of a life as a sailor. Not given much to study or books, his parents allowed him at age ten to sail for a few years in the company of a friend. Perhaps this sense of adventure on the high seas would be used by God as he fearlessly entered into new regions of what was known then as the Dark Continent. Robert eventually received an education and as a young man set his eyes on London to further his education. His mother made him promise to read his Bible daily and once he swore to his mother, he felt compelled to fulfill his sworn duty. He was after all a Scotchman. Reading the Bible at first was just a mere duty, but something happened as he read Romans that transformed the whole of his life. After his conversion to Christ, Robert fell in with some friends who introduced him to missions. He applied to the London Missionary Society but was rejected at first. After a year working as a gardener, and studying on the side, Robert reapplied and was accepted.

At the young age of 21, Moffat was sent by LMS to South Africa, where they had a mission established at Capetown. A few years later Robert returned to England and there fell in love with Mary Smith, the only daughter of a man who he used to work for. The father was not too happy about sending his daughter to Africa. Moffat went back to South Africa still single, but found great happiness when finally Mary Smith arrived in Capetown with the blessing of Mr. Smith. It was the beginning of a blessed missionary marriage. Mary was the model missionary wife who provided support and a true spirit of partnership to her husband. The fruit of that happy union resulted in ten children, three who died early in life, and seven who all went into Christian Missions.

Known as the “Apostle of South Africa”, Moffat was not the first Protestant missionary to Africa. His title is to describe the influence he had in Southern Africa to bring the gospel to warring tribes and the sustaining contribution of a life’s work. He was instrumental in the conversion of one notorious tribal chief by the name of Afrikaner. Moffat at first saw little fruit in the way of conversions as he relied mostly on a version of the Dutch language to communicate with the tribesmen. He eventually learned the language and was the first to translate the Bible in an African language. He even bought a press to print them. The Bible in their own language, plus a translation of The Pilgrim’s Progress and a hymnal, proved to be the basis for giving the Africans the means to greater discipleship and growth as a church.

Moffat is overshadowed in the public view by his famous son-in-law, David Livingstone another great missionary to enter into the deeper regions of inland Africa. Moffat actually met Livingstone while visiting Scotland and encouraged Livingstone to come with him to Africa. So, while Livingstone remains legendary in the annals of British history, (receiving a resting place at Westminster Abbey!) Moffat did more to give and to influence Africa for Christ. Robert and Mary Moffat spent over 50 years ministering the Gospel of Jesus Christ all over Southern Africa. They retired back to England due to the health of Mary. There he received the reception of a national hero, being awarded an honorary doctorate from St. Andrews, eating breakfast with the Prime Minister Gladestone and meeting Queen Victoria. In 1883, from his estate in Kent, Moffat who wrote that "I have sometimes seen in the morning sun the smoke of a thousand villages where no missionary has ever been," went into the presence of the Light of the World, whom he had faithfully served for so many years.

Todd D. Baucum

For Further Reading:
Vance Christie, Into All The World (Heroes of Faith Series), (Barbour Pub., 2004).

Ruth Tucker, From Jerusalem to Irian Jaya (Zondervan, 1983).

The Evidence for Faith - Series in John

2011-06-27T09:34:00.000-07:00

Sunday Morning Sermon Series on the Gospel of John preached by me at First Presbyterian Church, Enterprise, AL. This is from John 20:24-31 dealing with Thomas and his doubts about Christ. Click on the title above to hear the message.

Descended into Hell?

2011-06-27T08:18:00.000-07:00

Descended into Hell?

What does this strange phrase mean in the Apostles Creed?Deut. 29:29 (NIV)
The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all the words of this law.

In biblical doctrine it is always good to keep this scriptural principle in mind, that there are many secret things concerning God’s work of redemption we do not know. But God has fully declared to us what we need to know in the Holy Bible. We shall not venture where angles fear to tread.

Creeds are statements of what Christians believe about our redemption in Christ. They are very biblical and we even find them in the Scriptures. Here is an early one in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians. It may be the core of what was later to become the Apostles’ Creed.

1 Cor. 15:3-7 (ESV)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. [6] Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

Hell or Hades?

We must first assert that most of the struggle with this phrase in the Creed comes from our inadequate vocabulary in the English language. The biblical uses reflect a variety of words that mean different things for our one word. Sometimes the Creed has been modernized by saying “He descended into the dead”. This is closer to the original meaning, but even then I find it less satisfactory, because many today have an unbiblical view of death. Some wonder if it is a real place, or is it some sort of soul-sleep? It think it best to retain the older word and help change our misinformation and keep the Creed as it is.

The Creed uses a word that means “place of the dead” conveyed in the Hebrew as Sheol and in Greek as Hades. It is not our common understanding of hell as the place of eternal torment referred to as the “second death”.

Hell as Eternal Punishment

When hell is described as the final judgment of the lost that are without Christ in the New Testament it uses the word Gehenna. This was a real place outside Jerusalem where rubbish was burned and was the place where Isaiah envisioned burning corpses (Isa. 66:24). It was also the site of pagan child sacrifice where babies were burned alive (2 Kings. 16:3). When Jesus taught about hell in his parables he used this term most frequently, hence the idea of eternal torment that comes in the final judgment comes from Christ himself.

But, we must be careful not to read this understanding of hell into the other words the Bible describes as either Hades or Sheol – which is an interim place of the dead, until Christ changed Hades with his death and resurrection.

Ephes. 4:8 (ESV)
Therefore it says,
"When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
and he gave gifts to men."

1 Peter 3:18-20 (ESV)
For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, [19] in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, [20] because they formerly did not obey, when God's patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.

4 Views on Christ descent into Hell

1). Figurative Sense. The phrase is only understood figuratively to underscore the previous statement that Christ suffered, died and was buried. The understanding is that Christ truly “tasted death” for us and fully experienced the pains of death for us. Passages that indicate Jesus entering into prison to preach to spirits (ie. 1 Peter 3:19, Eph. 4:8) are to be understood as the gospel being proclaimed by the Spirit through the Old Testament prophets. They see 2 Peter 2:4 as saying that Noah preached the gospel to those before the Flood, so that they did not die as in some sort of innocence. (This is to counter the view we see later where some take these passages as saying Christ was preaching the gospel to souls in Hades to give them some sort of second chance.) Many good Reformed, Evangelical scholars hold to this view and even among some Presbyterian churches this part of the Creed is troublesome and is left out while reciting it in public worship. That is not to say that those who take a more figurative stance are against leaving it in the Creed.

2. A Real Descent to Hades. John Calvin firmly held that this statement needed to be retained in the Creed to affirm the spiritual dimension of Christ’s suffering for us in his death. Christ did not just suffer physically on the Cross or in his death. He suffered the “Forsakenness of God” and the wrath of God’s judgment on sin. As Paul says, Christ “became sin for us.” (2 Cor.5:21) “Hence there is nothing strange in it being said that he descended to hell, seeing he endured the death which is inflicted on the wicked by an angry God…the Creed appropriately adds the invisible and incomprehensible judgment which he endured before God, to teach us that not only was the body of Christ given up as the price of redemption, but that there was a greater and more excellent price – that he bore in his soul the tortures of condemned and ruined man.” (Institutes, Book 2, Chapter 16;8) Along with Martin Luther, Calvin rejected the Medieval Roman Catholic view of the “harrowing of Hell” with its many intricate categories of hell with purgatory and limbo, where second chances are offered whereby creating a new system of salvation. But, Calvin did see passages such as 1 Peter 3:19 as signifying (not with perfect certainty) that Christ proclaimed his victory over hell to those awaiting their redemption in Paradise. So, it was not a preaching to the lost and condemned for a second chance but a seal to their damnation and a declaration that Satan’s kingdom was vanquished. As Calvin states, “Thus by engaging with the power of the devil, the fear of death, and the pains of hell, he gained the victory, and achieved a triumph, so that we now fear not in death those things which our Prince has destroyed.” Martin Luther writing in a sermon in 1533 asserted that in the descent of Christ into hell, “the Lord Christ – the entire person, God and man, with body and soul, undivided – had journeyed to Hell, and had in person demolished Hell(Hades) and bound the Devil.” (Bloesch, p. 147). (This is the view held by J.I. Packer, Sinclair Fergusen and C.S. Lewis and is one that I favor.)

These last two views are considered outside the scope of biblical teaching, but float around in various forms.

3. The Medieval View. The Roman Catholic Church at the time of the Reformation had developed a rather elaborate and detailed structure and doctrine of the afterlife that was clearly extra biblical. Even today the doctrine of Limbo (the place of innocents and unbaptized babies, similar yet distinct from Purgatory) is being reevaluated. Pope Benedict is saying that it is now no longer official teaching of the Church. It is impossible in one paragraph to explain in an adequate way the view of the Roman Catholic Church, except to say that they go far beyond what Calvin would affirm and assert that Christ’s descent was a proclamation of the Gospel to all mortals for a second chance. This is a simple way to see their principle behind their reason for praying for the dead and how they place the doctrine of Purgatory (only figuratively in Dante’s poem) in a prominent place in their theology. Evangelical believers along with Calvin must reject any such extra-biblical ideas that take us beyond what Scripture clearly and uniformly declare. After death there is judgment and only those who are in Christ receive eternal life and those are outside of Christ will be eternally lost and condemned to the lake of fire where death and Hades are thrown (Rev. 20:13-15).

4. The Word of Faith View. This is the view promoted by Kenneth Hagin and other prominent Word of Faith preachers. They hold that our salvation and redemption is secured by Christ’s actually going to hell – in the Gehenna sense, that is in the eternal torment and suffered that hell for us. The upshot of this teaching is that it discredits the atonement of Christ on the Cross by saying that it was not on the Cross where our atonement was made. Again, we can agree with Calvin that the full wrath of God was poured out on Christ and that he tasted hell for us in the judgment of God for our sins, but we cannot say that Christ was in Hell suffering and held in prison, so to speak by the Devil. It implies that when Jesus said it was finished, he was wrong because he had to suffer more in hell.

This is a heretical teaching and is not found in Scripture – and every heresy has a note of truth in it! The death and Cross of Jesus declared the victory of God over death and hell and that what Christ tasted for us in beyond our comprehension and enters into the area of Divine Mystery, but we must say that the Cross was totally sufficient to assuage the wrath of God and the purchase of our forgiveness.

Resources
J.I. Packer, I Want To Be A Christian. Tyndale House, 1977.

Donald Bloesch, The Last Things. IVP, 2004.

Richard Bewes, 100 Questions. Christian Focus, 2005.

Edmund Clowney, The Message of First Peter. IVP, 1988.

Why Should We Renovate?

2011-06-14T13:25:00.000-07:00

One well known architect and church consultant has written that 90 percent of churches that build new buildings do so for the wrong reasons. Many building projects are initiated where there is no real need, but done so for unbiblical reasons.
Wrong reasons to renovate or build:
1. People in the community will see we are doing something.
2. We need a project that we can all get behind and work for.
3. So we can be proud of our building when visitors come.
4. We should use our money on something we can see.
5. Because other churches have built new buildings.

Let’s look at these reasons in light of our biblical calling as a church.
1. It is never a godly motivation to be worried about what others are thinking about our ministry. The truth is that most of what a faithful body of believers do on a day to day basis is unnoticed by others. God who sees in secret will reward openly.
2. If a building project is needed to bring about unity of purpose and a common vision, then the church has a faulty view of unity. Unity must come as a gift of the Holy Spirit that is created from a common faith and commitment to biblical truth. Our unity must come from our doctrine not a building project. This is why most building projects results in the loss of members and division in the body.
3. The focus of all our worship is to bring glory and pleasure to God. Our place of worship is a much a part of our offering to God as our praise and singing. We should not ever desire that people come and say what a lovely building this is, but say, “they must worship a glorious God.” In other words, the building should be more of a reflection of the goodness and majesty of God rather than the deep pockets of donors. We don’t want a building that is a showcase of our talents and gifts, but a place where people hear the glorious Gospel and enter the presence of the God to whom all nations will give glory.
4. Whenever God blesses us with resources, they belong to Him and His Kingdom. We are stewards of these gifts. It is for this reason that our church is one of the biggest giving churches to our Presbytery and why we have a growing commitment to giving to world-wide missions. None of this giving is something we see. We are casting bread upon the waters. Buildings and upkeep is expensive and so we should be conservative in our spending, but also, “not offer sacrifices that cost us nothing" (2 Sam. 26). Worship is about giving God our best. Israel was wrong to live in paneled houses with the latest in fashionable comfort, while God’s house was still in disrepair. The church building is not God’s temple, for God dwells with his people. However, the place of worship should reflect our attitude about God.
5. Other churches do all sorts of things that we don’t. We have a commitment to be a church that is biblical and true to the Reformed Faith. This means we ought to have a sound biblical reason in anything we do. Many churches think that worship should be entertaining. Many churches think they should have a program for every group in the church. Many churches think they need a recreational center for their people. It is not that most of these things are wrong, but that these things “what are people are doing”, is not the guide for our worship and service. The Reformers made many changes in worship, because the medieval church was steeped in all types of worship accruements and services so that the real task of the church such as preaching the Gospel and true worship was almost totally obscured. Many evangelicals are closer to Rome than you think, because we are prone to try all sorts of innovations just because others are doing it.
For now God has placed us as a witness to the Gospel and to biblical Faith in downtown Enterprise. We need to be faithful and good stewards of what our resources and our building. Our only motivation ought to be to do that which honors Christ and brings him glory.

At the PCA General Assembly - Report of the Overtures Committee

2011-06-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

At the PCA General Assembly - Report of the Overtures Committee

The PCA is an example that the work of the Reformation is always ongoing, seeking to be faithful to the revealed Word of God as our supreme norm in faith and life. Hence, the photo of the Wittenburg Door with the 95 thesis. I am still very thankful for being in the PCA!

May 29 - Morning Sermon - "With Thankful Hearts"

2011-06-02T12:24:00.000-07:00

Another in the series on worship. Towards thinking biblically about worship. Click the title to hear the message based on Colossians 3:17-20.

Masculine Mandate & Oxford Club for Men

2011-05-26T14:18:00.000-07:00

Masculine Mandate & Oxford Club for Men

Study guide for the men tonight. Meet at Pastor Todd's house - back porch and bring favorite drink.

Sunday May 22, Morning Sermon - Enjoying and Glorifying God

2011-05-24T09:58:00.000-07:00

Click the title to listen or read my extended notes here.

Enjoying and Glorifying God
By Pastor Todd Baucum
Haggai 1:1-9
The Jews had returned from their 70 year exile in Babylon. They were in a period of rebuilding. Ever since Nehemiah and Ezra had inspired their hopes and fired their zeal for Jerusalem, they worked to restore Jerusalem – their homeland – their city was rising up from the ruins of a previous generation.
Perhaps late in his life, a prophet named Haggai appears on the scene – with a short ministry and a few brief messages he addresses a core problem with these people. They had their priorities all wrong. They were busy. They were working hard. They were making an investment in the future. But, with their priorities wrong, they were putting their own lives before God.
People will always get their priorities wrong, when there is a fundamental disconnect between the blessings of God and a corresponding gratitude.
(from this text, I will draw out 3 principles – truths)
- What we enjoy we worship.
- What we love we adore.
- What desire we pursue.
That which we pursue in life we invest in.
Worship is not something we do out of obligation. It is a description of what we value.
What did Haggai see, which caught the attention of God? For over 16 years construction on the temple was at as standstill. See Ezra 3:6-13 - tells us that preparation sere made - money was gathered – finest of imported cedar was purchased and brought to Jerusalem. The question is what happened?
One can only speculate, but here are some possible scenarios.
-they were having economic hard times - under control of Babylon - taxes were high.
- they still had trouble from their enemies.
-they instability of the international scene -
Vs. 2 – tells us what? God was tired of excuses. They kept saying it wasn’t time to build the temple.

1. Two Ways We Neglect Worship and the Glory of God.
Vs.4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?

Calvin – “The Jews were so taken up with their own domestic concerns, with their own ease, and with their own pleasures, that they made very little account of God’s worship.”
Two ways we neglect worship: (Calvin)
1) Ingratitude. God had restored them – good on his promise to bring them home - but they show their ingratitude by postponing that which would glorify God. Giving honor to God was being delayed.
2) Indifference.
The people in Jerusalem, had never known the glory of the Temple – they grew up in a strange land – Basically they were used to house church. It was convenient, warm, cozy and of course very practical.

(note – they were offering sacrifices – worship was happening – but in the open air - this probably to them seemed immensely practical and in a word sufficient).

But is sufficient a quality that should reflect what the honor and glory we owe to God, who saved us, by his Son, died for us and rose victoriously over hell and death?
Was God doing that which was just sufficient? Or did he not spare no expense in redeeming us?
Ephes. 1:7 (ESV)
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,

2. How our Priorities Affect our Joy in Life.
Vs.5 - ..”consider your ways.”
A series of observations:
Money doesn’t go far
Harvest is profitable
Clothes wear out.
In other words - they are pursuing these things, but not gaining anything.

Pagans seek these things - Jesus said, but you should seek first his kingdom. (Matt. 6)
What happens when Christians have the wrong priorities:
Matthew 13:22 (ESV)
As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.
It can be a symptom on the real problem - a heart issue.
What we enjoy we worship.
What we love we adore.
What desire we pursue.
God is looking for worshippers who pursue him with a heart of love. This is more important than externals.
But, it sets the stage for how we invest our lives.
“The respect accorded the physical structure was an index of the spiritual vitality of the people.” John Mackay
The people addressed by Haggai – were investing in themselves and their comfort. The expression “living in paneled” houses was a clear idiom describing luxury. It was not that God was not wanting them to have homes - to have their needs met or to enjoy life. God is not a cosmic killjoy.
They were ready to pursue luxuries at the expense of God’s honor.
It is one important reality we must consider when we see this sanctuary in need of repair – when 20 windows are broken - How many of us live in homes with broken windows?
Nor should we be content with second rate materials or volunteer unskilled labor to build not a cathedral – but a meeting place that honors God.
3. Seeking God’s Enjoyment in our Worship.
Vs. 8 -Go up to the hills and bring wood and build the house, that I may take pleasure in it and that I may be glorified, says the Lord.
This is a key understanding of biblical worship that we must get right. If we understand this, then all the confusion and debates about worship today would be cleared up.

Worship is about what pleases God. It is not about us. It is what Gives God glory. God told the people of Judah, to buy the supplies for his house so that “I may take pleasure in it, and that I may be glorified.”
Now, some may ask (know their Bibles) - Did not Jesus build the perfect Temple - Did he not replace the sacrifices, the elaborate worship. Aren’t we building the spiritual temple – through the preaching of the Gospel?
Yes, Yes and Yes. Paul makes it clear that the glory of the church is Jesus himself.
Ephes. 2:20-22 (ESV)
built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, [21] in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. [22] In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
The Bible makes is clear also, that worship is not a private matter - it is communal. It happens when God’s people gather around the reality of the person and work of Jesus Christ – Where his Word is heard, proclaimed and cherished. Where grateful hearts explode with praise and giving God honor that is where worship happens.
- It is about Glorifying God because Worship is about giving God enjoyment in our giving our best.

- Benjamin Palmer Sanctuary Dedication
On Sunday morning, October 9, 1853, Dr. Benjamin Morgan Palmer (then the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Columbia, SC, later the Pastor of First Presbyterian Church, New Orleans –said in his sermon dedicating the new church building for First Columbia –

"As for this building, beautiful as it may be in our eyes, let it please us to call it only a plain Presbyterian meeting house.

The glory we see in it,
let it not be the glory of its arches and its timbers;
not the glory of its lofty and graceful spire, pointing ever upwards to that home the pious shall find [with] God;
not the glory of this chaste pulpit, with its delicate tracery and marble whiteness;
not the glory found in the eloquence or learning of those who, through generations, shall here proclaim the gospel;
nor yet the glory traced in the wealth and fashion, refinement and social position of those who throng its courts.

But let its glory be The Glory of the Lord Risen Upon It!
Let its glory be the promises of the covenant engraved upon its walls, which are yea and amen in Christ Jesus.
Let its glory be found in the purity, soundness, and unction of its pastors; in the fidelity and watchfulness of its elders; in the piety and godliness of its members.
May that be said of this church. Amen!

Free Will or Grace? by Calvin

2011-05-17T07:17:00.000-07:00

God's Activity Does not Produce a Possibility That we Can Exhaust, but an Actuality to Which We Cannot Add

This movement of the will is not of that description which was for many ages taught and believed, viz., a movement which thereafter leaves us the choice to obey or resist it, but one which affects us efficaciously. We must, therefore, repudiate the oft-repeated sentiment of Chrysostom, "Whom he draws, he draws willingly;" insinuating that the Lord only stretches out his hand, and waits to see whether we will be pleased to take his aid. We grant that, as man was originally constituted, he could incline to either side, but since he has taught us by his example how miserable a thing free will is if God works not in us to will and to do, of what use to us were grace imparted in such scanty measure? Nay, by our own ingratitude, we obscure and impair divine grace. The Apostle's doctrine is not, that the grace of a good will is offered to us if we will accept of it, but that God himself is pleased so to work in us as to guide, turn, and govern our heart by his Spirit, and reign in it as his own possession. Ezekiel promises that a new spirit will be given to the elect, not merely that they may be able to walk in his precepts, but that they may really walk in them, (Ezek. 11: 19; 36: 27.) And the only meaning which can be given to our Saviour's words, "Every man, therefore, that has heard and learned of the Father, cometh unto me," (John 6: 45,) is, that the grace of God is effectual in itself. This Augustine maintains in his book De Praedestinatione Sancta. This grace is not bestowed on all promiscuously, according to the common brocard, (of Occam, if I mistake not,) that it is not denied to any one who does what in him lies. Men are indeed to be taught that the favour of God is offered, without exception, to all who ask it; but since those only begin to ask whom heaven by grace inspires, even this minute portion of praise must not be withheld from him. It is the privilege of the elect to be regenerated by the Spirit of God, and then placed under his guidance and government. Wherefore Augustine justly derides some who arrogate to themselves a certain power of willing, as well as censures others who imagine that that which is a special evidence of gratuitous election is given to all, (August. de Verbis Apost. Serm. 21.) He says, "Nature is common to all, but not grace;" and he calls it a showy acuteness "which shines by mere vanity, when that which God bestows, on whom he will is attributed generally to all." Elsewhere he says, "How came you? By believing. Fear, lest by arrogating to yourself the merit of finding the right way, you perish from the right way. I came, you say, by free choice, came by my own will. Why do you boast? Would you know that even this was given you? Hear Christ exclaiming, 'No man comets unto me, except the Father which has sent me draw him.'" And from the words of John, (6: 44,) he infers it to be an incontrovertible fact, that the hearts of believers are so effectually governed from above, that they follow with undeviating affection.
John Calvin's Institutes, Book 2, 6:10

The G.O.S.P.E.L

2011-05-16T17:39:00.000-07:00

Clear, succint, solid, and profound explanation of the Gospel in a Reformed understanding with a unique approach.

Homosexuality is....

2011-05-11T14:33:00.000-07:00

It is a perversion...of what God intended.

It is an alienation... from one's identity.

It is a brokeness... of the unity of marriage.

It is an inward bent... toward the love of self.

It is a rebellion... against God's design.

It is rejection... of God's remedy for loneliness.

It is acceptance... of Satan's lies about human nature.

It is submission... to the inner mastery of sin.

It is a delusion...by the world's philosophy of hedonism.

It is an abomination... of what God calls good.

It is in a word...sin.

It can be forgiven.

Those in its clutches can be redeemed, transformed and freed for life.

See the work of Exodus and Harvest to see the evidence.

The PCUSA Endorses Homosexuality Officially

2011-05-11T07:56:00.000-07:00

The New York Times has reported that the mainline Presbyterians have officially voted to ordain openly homosexual men and women as pastors, elders and deacons. I saw this coming back in 2004, when I left the PCUSA after spending years debating and defending a biblical view of marriage and morality.

The NY Times stated:
The change approved on Tuesday does not mean that presbyteries must ordain gay candidates — only that they may. The wording leaves the decision open to local presbyteries, according to church officials. It says that governing bodies that consider candidates “shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.”

Anybody who knows how church polity works, understands that "may" really means "must" when this new change of law is established de facto as a new biblical interpretation. Those who fought for this change, understand it as a moral mandate, as wierd as it sounds.
The strange irony is that to be "guided by Scripture and the confessions", no longer means for them to see them as authoritative or binding. Allegiance to God's Word revealed in the Holy Scripture was lost long ago. When I realized this a number of years ago, I sought out the PCA. Thankfully, they received me and this lovely bunch of saints I serve, have my profound appreciation.

May 8, 2011 Sunday Morning Sermon

2011-05-09T11:56:00.000-07:00

The first in a series on Biblical worship entitled, "The Beauty of Worship". This first part is from 2 Sam. 24:24 where David lays down a biblical principle that is foundational to worship - we should not offer worship that cost us nothing! Click on the title to hear the audio of the sermon. True worship demands that we give God the first, the best and it is never free!

ESL Training at the PCA GA

2011-05-04T09:11:00.000-07:00

eslGA

City Council Approves Zoning

2011-05-04T08:42:00.000-07:00

We are moving closer to our plan to remodel, renovate and build onto our existing sanctuary. The city council approved the zoning for our church last night. Our session is meeting Thursday to discuss the next steps. Once everything is properly approved, we will bring the whole proposal, nuts and bolts to the congregation. There have been many questions, but we needed to ensure we could actually do something here, before we started on such an ambitious project. In all this our desire is to demonstrate the glory of God and offer to Him that which is pleasing to in His sight, reflecting the beauty of worship and the witness to our community. We do need an attractive place of worship that conveys a sense of welcome, invitation and commitment to worship as our highest priority.

Responding to the Needs after the Storm

2011-05-02T13:56:00.000-07:00

I have heard from the MNA Disaster relief network of our denomination and they are meeting right now in Tuscaloosa to provide guidance, support and advice. Volunteers are already pouring in, but there is a need to provide structure and strategy as not to overwhelm the churches capability to resource the work teams.

I have spoken to people at both Trinity and Riverwood PCA churches in Tuscaloosa. They know we will be ready to help in any way we can. Both churches will be receiving donations to help with the cost of their relief work. You can look at the website of Riverwood to see updates on their relief work (www.riverwoodchurch.org) and they also have a facebook page. I am waiting to hear back from the Pruets to hear about the work going on at Trinity. MNA is at Trinity today helping them respond. I am grateful for the tremendous response of these two churches.

There is also the report on the Lee family, a homeschooling family of 13 kids who lived on a farm in Ashville, AL (known as Shoal Creek Valley). Tom Lee, the father of the family was killed as their whole house was demolished. Matt Chancey is there now helping with the family. This family is a member of Briarwood Presbyterian and there is a moving account of what happened told by the oldest son in an interview. It is well worth looking at. (click on the Title of this blog).

Matt Chancey will plan to be with us at church Wednesday night. Chris Gill was there this weekend helping with relief and reported to me of the unbelievable damage, but more importantly the Body of Christ coming to help. Thanks Chris!
Wes and Katie Britt lost their home, but all were unhurt. Two of Katie’s sisters were there as well. So there are reports on property loss, but praise God no one was hurt. Tracey Pangallo is in her final year at Alabama and is well. As you probably know, the University is closed until the Fall. The city’s infrastructure is badly damaged. Even Covenant College in Chattanooga had to close over the weekend, because of water and electrical problems.

For those of you who want to give a financial gift to the effort, you can give to our Tornado Relief fund here at First Presbyterian Church. Our Session will decide on the way it will support the Body of Christ in Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, but it will go 100% to this need. Our primary focus will be to partner with other PCA churches so that we can be unified in meeting physical needs and maintain a witness for the Gospel. We are also interested in taking a team to work. Let me know if you can help and if you can work a week or a weekend.

For the glory of Christ an His Crown,
Pastor Todd
P.S. We also had a busy weekend with hosting the cookout for the church officers and families, and hosting a dinner with the Pohls from Ecuador and hearing of their work at church. I think the sign of a healthy church is that a mission is always happening in some form. That is true of us!

Sunday Morning Sermon - May 1, 2011

2011-05-02T08:12:00.000-07:00

I've been preaching a series on the Psalms each Communion Sunday. This is Psalm 19, entitled "Sweeter Than Honey." The Word of God is a treasure to be claimed and a taste to be enjoyed. Click on the title to hear the sermon.

A Night of Storms in Alabama

2011-04-28T14:30:00.000-07:00

I am piecing together some news about the tornado damage and possible relief efforts in Alabama.

So far, I know that a friend of Matt Chancey was killed. He was the father of 13, protecting his children – also a member of Briarwood Presb. Matt is heading home from Africa to help.

I’ve contacted MNA disaster relief, but have not heard back from them. I’ve contacted Jeff Pate, but have not heard back.

Then there is Tuscaloosa. Julian and Barbara are heading up to help the Britts (Wes and Katie). They lost their home and possessions, but they are ok. We will see how our church can help, so more info to come.

Please pray and I will convey concrete news and ways to help as I can. 130 lost lives is a tremendous loss to many families. Our hope to work with the PCA churches there for a wider Gospel impact for the needs

Todd Baucum, Pastor

(From Lindsay Townsend….)

To everyone that has asked how they can help the BOYD/BRITT family...Some are sending a prepaid gift card to them via Jackie Boyd. Her address is Jackie Boyd 1761 Commons North Loop, SUITE 3104, Tuscaloosa, Al 35406.

Easter Message - 2011@ FPC

2011-04-25T09:39:00.000-07:00

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ transformed three things according to John 20:1-10; Time, the Rhythm of Life, and the thinking of believers. Ever wonder why Jesus rose again on the "First Day"? How does this affect us today? Click on the title and hear my message about the "Lord's Day" and its connection to the Resurrection.

Resurrection Day

2011-04-25T07:03:00.000-07:00

Ephes. 2:1-7 (ESV)
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
[2] in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— [3] among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. [4] But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, [5] even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ— by grace you have been saved— [6] and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, [7] so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
You were dead. It is a word so cold and brutal. And yet so true is it in its spiritual diagnosis. We lay in the dust of death, like Isaiah’s vision of dry bones; we can do nothing but lay in silence.
“I am the Resurrection and the Life.” (John 11:25) Jesus said these words against the doubt and uncertainty of life when death seemed to have the last word. On the human side, death’s pangs have a certain finality to it. The body goes back to the dirt it came from and the intense ache in the stomach of love’s bereavement is all too “real” to imagine anything different. This is the curse of sin, and the last enemy, which speaks so strongly to us mortals.
Yet, we are rooted in a greater reality, if we truly belong to Christ. Come Easter, we join the chorus of a sacred company that gives testimony to something grand and glorious. We will join the company of Job who longed to see his Redeemer in his physical body (Job19:24). We stand with Martha and Mary who saw and embraced a brother walk from a tomb, with the aroma of new life (John 11:44). We stand with the company of 500 witnesses who knew that Gospel was true because they saw the Resurrected Jesus (1 Cor. 15:6). This is the truth of what we embrace in the reality of Christ’s power and glory in His Resurrection. Many who’ve heard this story since childhood or listened with causal interest in countless sermons, the Easter message is old hat, or just another special day for family dinner. To such, the reality of this life-changing truth has not possessed their soul, nor captured their heart. For the same power that raised Jesus is promised to those who commit their lives to Christ (Eph. 2:4). This is resurrection reality as it bears relevance for our daily lives. It is as much a present and living experience as it is a future hope.
Think what Job had in being the oldest testimony of this precious hope. Job is considered by many scholars to be the oldest book in the Bible. The commentary of the English Standard Version of the Bible states:
“Considered both a theological and a literary masterpiece, the book of Job is an honest discussion of why God allows good people to suffer. The test of Job’s faith, allowed by God in response to a challenge from Satan, revealed God’s loving sovereignty and the supremacy of divine wisdom over human wisdom (personified by Job’s four friends). Believing that God is good despite the apparent evidence to the contrary, Job rested in faith alone. In the depths of agony he could still proclaim, “I know that my Redeemer lives” (19:25). In the end God silenced all discussion with the truth that he alone is wise” (chs. 38–41).
Join the company of those who know this power and long to praise their Redeemer this Sunday. For this is a good day as is every first day of the week to be reminded of this most important truth about what gives us hope and gives us power for living life, in the face of a world blindly pursuing the “dust of death.”

Superheroes and Christ the Victor

2011-04-20T18:21:00.001-07:00

1 Cor. 15:56-58 (ESV)
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. [57] But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [58] Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
Hebrews 11:13 (ESV)
These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.

In the last decade several movies have been made (some with many sequels) based on the old superheroes of comic books and TV cartoons. Some of us were kids when we got hooked on watching Batman and Robin beat up the bad guys or Spiderman help little old ladies from getting mugged. There seemed to be a moral quality about these superheroes from the comics that reflected a boundary between goodness and evil and the need for justice. Yet today with the sophistication of computer generated “virtual reality” and the postmodern quest for complexity of character, the Superheroes have a dark side. Complexity is not a bad thing or unchristian. There is a dark side to us all. We know the nature of the human heart and that even among believers we do not deal with cardboard characters. Romans chapter 7 is not a make believe struggle between pretend forces. Paul knew the power of remaining sin in a regenerated heart. The Bible gives us the prayers of King David as well as his private lusts and public scandals. Paul does not hide his physical weakness or his discouragement in ministry (1 Cor. 2:3). Whitewashing heroes to make them something unreal or comical is not what biblical truth is about. Our heroes in faith are not people with unblemished records or superhuman powers, but showed remarkable complexity of personalities. They were very much ordinary men and women who in the midst of testing did something rather extraordinary; they believed in God (Heb.11). I don’t know about you, but it is very comforting to know that these where real people with real problems. They rose above the scandalous record of their past, not by moral improvement, but by the faith of the Gospel.
They were counted righteous by faith in the One who is victorious over all evil and sin. Christ is not our cardboard hero, who won the war over sin and death by superhuman strength. The early church refuted any attempt to make Jesus into a Greek demigod, part human and part god. He was every part of his being human and every part God. The Christian faith is rooted in the truth that God made a plan to restore a lost humanity by getting involved at a personal level. The message of the Cross and the Resurrection is essentially that of God pouring all of his love into the act of redeeming a people for Himself to love eternally. It is at the center a sacrifice of substitution. Justice demands that evil and sin be judged and punished. The Cross and the Resurrection, are the key events where God the Son gives finality to the problem of our lost and condemned condition. The comic book heroes have to keep at the fight, as much as they win, there is always a nemesis out there.
Our victory which Christ won, is assured and final.

Sunday, April 17, Morning Sermon

2011-04-18T08:48:00.000-07:00

The death of Jesus Christ on the Cross has great personal significance for us today. Click on the title and find out how.

April10 - Sunday Morning Sermon - "Are You The King?"

2011-04-11T12:48:00.000-07:00

My message for Sunday from John 18:28-40; the trial of Jesus before Pilate. A look at three types of authority that people can give their allegiance and the truth of following the Kingly rule of Jesus Christ.

An Evangelical and Reformed Faith

2011-04-11T09:37:00.000-07:00

An Evangelical and Reformed Faith
A solid defense for traditional Reformed faith by Terry Johnson.

What Reformed Christians Can Learn From C.S. Lewis

2011-04-06T12:34:00.000-07:00

I argue that Lewis has much to help us in the Reformed camp to thinking about our faith in relationship to an unbelieving world. In this Lewis does belong to us. Read him with discernment as you would read any one, I keep telling people.
I will add what J.I. Packer (a low church Anglican on the Reformed side) wrote about Lewis:
“Lewis claimed no identity save that of a ‘mere Christian’, lay and untutored; but he was identifiably a High Church Anglican, orthodox and mainstream, whose Christian mind was shaped mainly by the heritage of Plato, Athanasius, Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Thomas a Kempis, Richard Hooker, Thomas Traherne and William Law, plus the Scotsman George MacDonald. Apart from MacDonald, this roster of giants had been shaping Anglican minds long before Lewis’s day, and all that was distinctive to Lewis was his adhering to this heritage at a time when it was fashionable to leave it behind…
Since Lewis spoke so forthrightly for mainstream Christianity, and since historic evangelicals (Christians, that is, who find their identity within the Reformational-Puritan-Pentecostal mix) belong to the mainstream, it is hardly surprising that for many of them Lewis has something like icon status, despite his smoking and drinking, his belief in purgatory and his quite but decided sacramentalism, his use of confessional to keep himself honest, his non-inerrantist view of Scripture, and his unwillingness to speak of penal substitution and justification by faith alone when affirming forgiveness and salvation in Christ.
What evangelicals most love in Lewis is his depiction of Aslan, the Christly lion of Narnia; his strong defense of biblical supernaturalism, personal new birth, Christ’s return to judgment, the reality of Satan, heaven and hell, and the certainty that we all are inescapably en route for one or the other, according to what each does with such light from God reaches us…his stress on repentance and actual submission to Christ as the heart of Christianity; his openness about his conversion from atheism, and his concern to help others make the same journey; his mental vigour in seeking to make every thought captive to Christ by thinking out in terms of God’s revealed truth; and the wit, humour and playfulness with which he pursues this solemn task. Tuning in to all of this, evangelicals claim Lewis as essentially ‘one of us’- and who should want to stop them doing that? (“Living Truth For a Dying World: the Message of C.S. Lewis”, in J.I. Packer Collection, ed. Alister McGrath, pg. 272-273).
I still wonder why Lewis himself did not convert to Roman Catholicism like so many of his friends, if he was truly and decidedly on “their side.” I will be happy to still claim him as good guide for application of Christian truth. And keep Calvin as my helpful guide in understanding Biblical truth.

Was C.S. Lewis an Anglo-Catholic?

2011-04-06T10:06:00.000-07:00

(in reply to Brian Carpenter’s blog)

Any biblical Christian must read Lewis with discernment, because as Lewis would admit himself, he is not the touchstone of biblical faith. He was, however a good guide to historic orthodoxy. I first read a copy of “The Screwtape Letters”, when I was in High School in Texas and it began a life-long interest and conversation with Lewis’s thinking. How an Oxford atheist, turned Christian apologist grabbed the attention of a young kid raised on fundamentalist religion is a mystery. But, then it is in the “shadow-lands” of mystery that Lewis makes a case for rational belief in the Christian faith. Here in his principle works of both his explicit apologetics and his “cultural” apologetics (i.e. works of fiction) that he rises to great heights. He once wrote, “most of my books are evangelistic, addressed to us exo (those outside).” On issues of intramural theology, he did play his cards close. You are right about some of his weaknesses from “our point of view”. He never claimed to be a Calvinist. But he drank deeply from the wells of Puritan authors. Richard Baxter, John Bunyan and William Law were writers he quoted revealing an appreciation of Reformed Spirituality that came from the English Puritans. He in fact was often accused of being too “Puritan”. Just read the criticism he received by Dr. I.A. Richards (an atheist akin to Richard Hitchens) in his essay “Christianity and Culture”. He sought to rehabilitate the negative image of the Puritans in a day when they were equated with flat earthers and witch hunters.
Even though we might find the soft Calvinism of George MacDonald slipping over the standards of the Westminster Confession, it was this Scottish trained clergyman that Lewis said influenced his thinking more than any other. Yet, even then Lewis was not uncritical of MacDonald’s own attraction to universalism.
Lewis rejected what he called the notion of total depravity, but then described what might be called clear Reformed view of fallen man and the total need of grace. Where he mentions the view he rejects is in the discussion of the ability of human reason to think, much in the same way that Gordon Clark and R.C. Sproul argue for the role of reason in fallen man.
Did Lewis argue from Rome’s point of view and use the traditionalist argument on the role of women in the priesthood. Now let’s be clear, Lewis as a faithful churchman in the CofE, used terminology we would not. We don’t have priests. When he states that the women can preach, he is quoting the Bible and shows where such is the case- as in the daughters of Phillip. We too can say that women can preach and teach. I once heard a woman preach. The issue is whether they ought. And what the Bible says is a lawful or ordained office that is only open to men. Once again, the essay in question does rest more on where the Bible makes clear that the differences in the sexes are a created reality. We can no more change the distinct reality of our sex than we can change the language that the Bible uses about God. It seems to me his arguments are soundly biblical.
Was Lewis a sacramentalist? His comment on the sacredness of one’s neighbor in the “Weight of Glory” (the only sermon Lewis ever preached, and so powerful) shows nothing more than what any Anglican of the sort that Packer, Stott, Green, and other low church Evangelicals might describe. Ian Hamilton also might call Calvin a sacramentalist, as well. Hamilton who preaches at Cambridge Presbyterian Church in England, recently spoke on the high view of the Sacraments (only two) that the great Reformer had. Lewis use of the word magic was not of the Roman Medieval sort, but rather an appreciation of the mysterious reality that is beyond our comprehension. I dare say that his understanding of the healing of Joy, was not tied to an ex opere operato understanding of priestly rites, but to the effectiveness of prayer and divine grace.
Yes, Lewis does quote the Tractarian Newman (Anglican turned to Rome and later made Cardinal) but he also shows a fundamental disagreement with Newman in his essay, “Christianity and Culture”, showing a remarkable kinship with the Reformed view of grace and nature.
Is his view purgatory a Roman one? He denies the idea of merit. As one reads Lewis, he is simply posing the idea that something must happen in our final sanctification to remove the body of sin from us. How that happens in Glory is a truth veiled from us. Here like, Dante, he is using a baptized imagination. Like Milton, he keeps clear from making any fundamental confusion of categories about grace and works.

A Church Planting Journey in Japan

2011-04-05T08:06:00.000-07:00

A Church Planting Journey in Japan

Check out the news from Japan and the work of our missionaries, Wayne and Amy Newsome. "O Father of All Grace and Mercy, grant your people in Japan the courage to show the light of your Gospel in the dark places of sin and misery. Give our missionaries new energy and strength in sharing your love for the days to come. For the sake of Jesus Christ and for His glory. Amen."

Letter to our Neigborhood

2011-04-04T09:47:00.001-07:00

Hello Neighbor!
Our Church has been able by God’s grace to be a place of worship and service in Christ’s name for over 70 years right here in this historic neighborhood. It is our vision to remain here and provide a visible presence for the Gospel of Jesus Christ to be proclaimed for the prospering of this great community.
Having a sanctuary that reflects the glory and beauty of our God is important to us. Our desire to renovate our building and to bring it up to the current needs of the congregation require us to be properly zoned.
Therefore, it has been announced that there will be a public hearing on March 22, at 4:30 pm for the purpose of this making our present property be zoned for what it already is, a church.
Our hope is to provide a renovation to both the interior and exterior which will be in keeping with the present unique architecture of this building, designed by Willis Irvin of Augusta, Georgia, a renowned architect of the early 20th Century. We believe that it will enhance the beauty and quality of life of this neighborhood as well as reflect the glory and honor we believe is owed to our Majestic and Sovereign God, in whom to serve is our delight and to worship is our greatest joy.
We want to be good neighbors and invite you to ask about the new plans, come and see, and of course you are always welcome to come worship with us. Morning worship is at 10:30 am and Evening worship is at 5:00 pm.
Sincerely,
For the Session(Elders),
Pastor Todd D. Baucum

4/3/11- Evening Sermon - Jeremiah 35

2011-04-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

"The Real Promise Keepers". A look at what obedience looks like and the reason Grace enables us to obey the commands of Christ. Reflecting on the Rachabites, an austere people who lived in the desert and abstained from wine.

April 4 - Morning Sermon - Psalm 3

2011-04-04T09:17:00.000-07:00

Another sermon in the series on the Psalms - "The Anatomy of the Soul". Psalm 3 is a Psalm of personal lament. The title of the sermon is "When You Are Attacked." King David wrote this song in response to Absalom's revolt and the armies that came to attack him. It is an example of singing the Blues.

Click on the title above to hear the sermon.

Alligators at the Elder's Retreat

2011-04-03T16:47:00.000-07:00

We had a good Elders' Retreat this past weekend at Lake Eufaula. I don't have the picture yet, but we saw lots of alligators. At one point we were in a boat surrounded by 8 big alligators. Sort of makes me glad we have unity in the Session.

How To Tie a Bow Tie & Windsor Knot Instructions & Streaming Video - Beau Ties Ltd.

2011-03-29T09:15:00.000-07:00

How To Tie a Bow Tie & Windsor Knot Instructions & Streaming Video - Beau Ties Ltd.

If you are like me and have trouble tying a bow tie properly, here is some help. Just some heads up - Macky Price is coming back this Summer. How cool it would be for him to come see a few more men in a bow tie. Any takers?

Truth on Trial - Sunday Morn. Sermon 3/27/11

2011-03-28T07:58:00.000-07:00

John 18:12-24, "Truth on Trial" continues the exposition from John's Gospel, where after the arrest of Jesus, he is brought before the High Priest Annas and questioned. The Christian Faith invites honest questions, but it is always dangerous to be standing in judgment over truth.

Time & Eternity

2011-03-28T07:38:00.000-07:00

Ecclesiastes 3: 11
“He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.”

“I know what time is until someone asks me to define it.” St. Augustine

We are told in Ecclesiastes that God is at work in time bringing about His good purpose in our lives (see also Rom. 8:28). While we are confined to time, as creatures in time, we have been given an inward sense of eternity. This means that time has significance for the Christian in light of eternal reality. Here are a couple of things to note about what the Bible teaches us about time.

Time is always experienced as now. Time is just the successive events of what we experience as now. Right now as you read this, wherever you are, you are in the now of time. When we look back at what has just happened, it now belongs to the past. The future is still to come. For Christians the future is anticipated as a glorious hope. We have hope because we know that God has all time in His hand, and we have the promise of His salvation, which entails, the past, the present and the future. As Paul states in Titus: “a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” (Titus 2). Therefore time is a gift and not a right. C.S. Lewis wrote in the Screwtape Letters about the man who thought “time was his own,” and was very distraught over those “interruptions” that “stole” his time away. Looking forward to a quiet evening at home and then interrupted by an unexpected visitor. Feeling that his time was stolen, this is thought as an intrusion into his rights. For the believer, God has given us time as a gift and there are no claims to our time. It is God’s time. Where you are now, and whatever interruptions or the persons who needs you now, is not a violation of your rights, but an invitation to live in God’s now.

There are two Greek words for time used in the New Testament. One is the word Kronos, which means measured time, or calendar time. It is where we get the word chronology. The second word is Kairos; it is not measured time, but momentous time. It is the time not measured or predictable, but the opportunities God gives us to obey, to respond to Christ, to say yes to God. It is the word most used in the New Testament.

The pop rock group, Chicago in one of their songs asked the question, “does anyone really know what time it is?” For the Christian, that is not the primary question. What is important is what you are doing with “your” time. Right now is God’s time and it belongs to Him.

The Betrayal - a sermon teaser from Mar. 20

2011-03-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

This morning’s text is the beginning of John’s Passion – it is the term used to describe the series of events that leads up to the crucifixion of Jesus. Of course, Mel Gibson’s version of the passion focused on the physical violence of Jesus’ death, as well other films.
We must point out, that the book is far better than the movie – on many counts. In fact, most of the information put into a visual clip is at best partial if not misleading. As Reformed minded believers, we know that for other reasons, a visual gospel can never do justice to the audible and written word. It is the Word that is inspired.
Our visual oriented culture might have difficulty grasping the power of this, but it is the Word which is blessed by God, and used to open hearts, where the Spirit works to bring new life. It is the Written Word of God that is God- breathed and powerful – “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Heb. 4:12
We also have four gospel accounts, each powerful and descriptive of the one event, each giving a glimpse and insight into the movement of Jesus towards the Cross. John gives us dramatic detail of the Garden arrest. Jesus and his disciples had crossed the Kidron Valley towards Jerusalem.
Like King David, who with his men had gone into exile, was now returning to claim his kingdom. “Now Judas, the betrayer, knew the place, because he had met with his disciples there often.” It was no accident that Jesus was there – it was a divine arrangement.
Judas did not come alone. He brought what must have been a large company of Temple servants and Roman soldiers – caring torches and weapons. The two groups who would later trump up charges in their respective courts were ready for a fight. They might have encountered armed resistance.
What John wrote next is powerful.
John 18:4 (ESV)
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, "Whom do you seek?"
You see, Jesus knew. He did not need to ask the question.
He already knew the answer, not because it was a good hunch, but he knew why Judas left the table. He knew what Satan put into his heart.
He knew the reason the High Priest sent the guards. He knew why the Pharisees conspired with the Sadducees. He knew why it was there in a garden that he was betrayed. It was because he knew his mission from before Adam and the rest of man betrayed the honor, the goodness and the love of God in the Garden of Eden.
This was why he was sent from the bosom of the Father – he was sent not to be loved, but to be rejected – to face the worst kind of rejection – betrayal - the kiss on the cheek that says with cruel hatred – I wish you dead.
And Jesus was still willing to enter the fray of betrayal and hatred – of men’s love for sin and rejection of all that is holy.
Jesus always knew his destiny - He left the bosom of the Father – the glory of heaven – as God in the flesh to enter our world of sin - he went willingly.

Japan's Crisis

2011-03-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

All MTW missionaries and OPC missionaries are safe. We have heard from the Newsomes and the Wilsons and they are doing well, but ask for our prayers. I’ve include in this grid excerpts from two letters to give you information to help you pray for the great need in Japan.
MTW LetterWe write to request urgent prayer for the nation of Japan. You are, no doubt, watching the crisis unfold following the 8.9 Richter Scale earthquake that hit on Friday afternoon local time. We are grateful that our missionaries and their families are safe, but they are also grieving for this country whose people they love. MTW will be working with them in preparing a response, and as soon as that is clear, we will make that information available. Japan is 14 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time, so we hope our missionaries are getting much needed sleep at this moment. One missionary has said that their family is sleeping in their clothes (as much as sleep is possible) in case they need to flee their homes in the midst of powerful aftershocks.

For prayer:
• Praise for the safety of all MTW missionaries
• Love and comfort for grieving families
• Rescue for those who may be trapped
• Safety from aftershocks, which have been quite large
• Shelter for those whose homes are destroyed
• Wisdom and clarity for MTW regarding our response
• Restoration of power and communications

Most of all, however, pray this will be an open door for the gospel, that missionaries and national believers will be able to show the love of Christ to those around them. Relationships are critical in Japanese culture, so pray this crisis opens new doors that could make many more relationships possible.
From Dan Iverson – MTW Area Director and 24 year missionary veteran of JapanThe stats on Japan's spiritual poverty, and especially the affected area:
The areas affected by the earthquake and tsunamis of Miyagi, Fukushima, and Ibaraki are some of the most spiritually needy places in Japan. With over 4.9 million people yet only about 9,000 active Christians (about 0.15%; about 1/6 of 1%). Fukushima has the lowest average worship attendance in all of Japan with only 19 per church. There are is one city and 44 towns with no church at all. There are 86 missionaries (adults, including husband and wife) assigned to these prefectures.
One town in Ibaraki has over 46,000 people with no church (OperJpn 24) and several others have over 24,000 people with no churches. Average attendance for all the churches in Japan is the lowest in Fukushima prefecture. Ibaraki prefecture has the least number of people claiming to have any religious beliefs.