Free to Serve

Baptist Born, Baptist Bred?

If you are interested in what it means to be Baptist and some of the challenges facing the Southern Baptist Convention, you may be interested in a book review that I just wrote for Credo Magazine. Being Southern Baptist is not the most important thing about Mount Vernon Baptist Church--by a long shot. Furthermore, I am hoping that the SBC will soon decide to change the name so that it is not geographically focused.

The Christmas Spirit

It may be a little to early to think about Christmas, but it is never too early to ponder anew the incarnation. The Word became flesh. Jesus is God and man. He is fully God and fully man. Jesus really knew temptation and hunger and pain and sorrow. He felt deeply because he was deeply human. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to smpathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 5:15).

Human minds can barely fathom the scandal that God, himself, would come in the flesh. Not only to live among us but, ultimately, to die for us. Not just any death, the most cruel death--crucifixion. The Son of God came to us. He lived among us. He died for everyone who would turn and trust in him. 

That Jesus Christ would give up the glory of heaven for the dirt and blood of earth, was described by J.I. Packer as the "Christmas spirit." And it should change our lives in profound ways. Too often, it does not. Packer put it this way:

It is our shame and disgrace today that so many Christians--I will be more specific: so many of the soundest and most-orthodox Christians--go through this world in the spirit of the priest and the Levite in our Lord's parable, seeing human needs all around them, but (after a pious wish, and perhaps a prayer, that God might meet them) averting their eyes, and passing by on the other side. This is not the Christmas spirit. Nor is it the spirit of those Christians--alas, they are many--whose ambition in life seems limited to building a nice middle-class Christian home, and making nice middle-class Christian friends, and bringing up their children in nice middle-class Christian ways, and who leave the sub-middle-class sections of the community, Christian and non-Christian, to get on by themselves (Knowing God, 1973, pg. 56).

Let's not get on by ourselves but go to others, just as God so powerfully came to us.

Longing for Heaven

Sunday morning, we considered Isaiah 65:17, "Behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth." Isaiah presented this message of a new beginning to a nation with every earthly reason to despair. This tremendous promise of a new beginning is one reason why Isaiah has been referred to as the prophet of hope.

There are many in the world who believe that it is a sign of weakness to cling to a future promise to help us endure present pain. In college my faith was challenged by a bright young student who argued that Christianity is just a crutch. Believers, she said, hope in things they can't see to help them cope with the present. But is that a sign of weakness?

Consider Jesus.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).

The author of Hebrews tells us that Jesus "endured the cross" by keeping his mind on "the joy set before him." He trusted in the certainty of what had not yet happened to help him get through what had to happen. He clung to a future promise to endure the present pain.

If I have to choose between that bright young college student and Jesus, I choose Jesus.

Christians have been saved from their sin by the beautiful power of an ugly cross. We have been saved to a new heavens and a new earth where there will no longer be sin and sorrow. This is good news.

Churches Target the Young

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

--James 1:12

It is hard to deny that churches target the young. It is always the next generation we are trying to reach. Having a young congregation or attracting young people is considered a badge of honor. As I was driving through town today, I noticed a church with a sign reading, "New Contemporary Service." It was seeking to attract a younger crowd. A few weeks ago I attended a church whose main, Sunday morning service started at 11:11. That's cool, I guess. 

But eventually the young get old. What then?

Today I, another pastor, a deacon, and my daughter, visited a member of MVBC who is 100 years old. Hanging on her wall was her grandparent's wedding certificate. It was dated 1876. That's right, 1876! We visited several other homebound members with an average age of around 88.

As we went to house after house, a couple thoughts crossed my mind. First, should the Lord give me that many years, will someone want to visit me? It's a selfish thought, I know. Second, how well are we doing, as a church, preparing our members for the day when they may not be able to attend the gatherings of our church? 

If the day comes when the Lord has given you many, many years of life but the state of your body or mind makes going to the gatherings of your church impossible, will you be content at home, thankful for the years of service God gave you, and eager to pray and study the Bible independently? Will you still have a passion for the nations when all you can do is pray? Will you still love the church when all you can do is pray? Will you still love the Lord when praying becomes increasingly difficult?

These are tough questions. We all want the answers to be yes, but we won't just happen to fall into that kind of maturity. It has to be pursued. It has to be fought for. This is what came to mind as I spent the day with several saints who are eager to receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. They are still in need of brothers and sisters in Christ to come alongside them and urge them to watch their lives and their doctrine closely. They have persevered and they are still learning what perseverance means.

Churches may target the young, and they may rejoice when they see the young coming and listening and growing. But if the Lord tarries, one day those young people will be old people and we would do well to prepare one another how to persevere with radical faith when consigned to a rocking chair.

 

The Glorious Weight of Church Membership

One of the most serious things churches do is bring in new members. Last Sunday we had Knowing MVBC, our church's membership class. The first class is called, "Knowing our Commitments" and it takes place from 9:15-10:15. Then, after the morning service, we have the next three classes, "Knwowing our Beliefs," "Knowing our Structure," and "Knowing How to Be Involved."

I usually teach the first session about the responsibilties of membership. I'm always burdened by the reality that when the Lord adds a believer to the church, the entire congregation has the responsiblity to see that this member is growing in Christ. Obviously, Christian growth is ultimately the work of the Holy Spirit, but God uses people to apply the Word to the lives of believers!

Joining a church is serious business because the person who joins becomes part of the congregation and now has the personal responsiblity to shepherd others who have locked arms in this covenant community, this family of faith.

If you are reading this and you are a church member, I hope you feel the glorious weight of it all. It is glorious because what could be more wonderful than being used by the Lord to prepare another brother or sister for heaven? It is weighty because this time of preparation (i.e, life!) is never easy. Trials come and sin surfaces and we realize just how hard it can be to carry one another's burdens. 

So when I sit there and look out at those new faces preparing to join, my shoulders feel this glorious weight. I'm so excited to see the people God is bringing, and then I pray, "Lord, give us the grace and time and love and compassion to shepherd these people well."

By the way, if you want to get a sense of what that first session, "Knowing our Commitments" is like, you can find a lengthier write-up in this month's Perspective here. Just click on one entitled, "Know, Equip, Send."

 

A New Name

This Sunday, as I preached from Isaiah, the verse that stuck out at me was Isaiah 62:2, "The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow." 

God is speaking to his people, the people of Zion. They had been attacked by nations, they would be attacked by nations, and, as Isaiah made it very clear by listing their many sins, they deserved to be attacked. They deserved God's judgment. Perhaps the low point of the book of Isaiah comes in chapter 57 when these people are described as the "offspring of adulterers and prostitutes!" (57:3). They proved themselves to be unfaithful, without integrity, and deserving of everlasting judgment. They had jumped into the arms and beds of false gods.

And yet God promises that one day their righteousness will shine forth, one day their salvation will be a sight to behold, one day the nations that attacked them will see their glory, and, one day, the LORD will give them a brand new name.

Instead of being knows as the "offspring of adulters and prostitutes" they will be called "sons of God" (Matt. 5:9; Rom. 8:14; Gal. 3:26). In fact, the LORD went on to promise "as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will God rejoice over you" (Isa. 62:5b). Those in the church are the children of God. Those in the church form the bride of Christ (Eph. 5:23).

God has given his people a new name.

A few days ago I had the privelege of officiating at the wedding of a young woman in our church. The bride was beautiful, the groom handsome, and they stood in front of the congregation full of joy and excitement as I pronounced them man and wife. The last thing I did was to announce her new name. Her husband gave, and she willingly took his name.

God has given his people a new name, and it is his name. For those who have submitted their lives to Christ, who belong to him, their sins are no longer held against them. There is no need for worry, anxiety, fear, or despair. They now belong to the LORD, and with that new name, "Christian," comes protection and provision, help and hope. I'm amazed that God has given me a new name. I now belong to him. He is my Maker and my Lord, I am his child and his friend. I did nothing to deserve this, but Christ took on the name, "sinner" and gave me his perfect and holy name.

Now, my name is Christian.

Working More and Working Less

There are two types of people: those who are looking for ways to work more and those who are looking for ways to work less.

The danger of the first group is that they forget the biblical mandate to rest. They can invest so much in their vocation they neglect their friends, their families, even proper care of their bodies. But there can be advantages to being part of the first group, too. If you are looking for ways to work, it may be out of a godly desire to be productive. If this is you, you may see problems that need to be solved, challenges that need to be overcome, and so you devote yourself to working with excellence.

The danger of the second group, those who are working for ways to work less, is laziness. They can invest so much in leisure that they neglect the biblical mandate to work. They accomplish little because they work little. They are happy living with low expectations. Of course, there are some advantages to be considered. Those who look for ways to work less may rightly recognize that rest is important, that there is more to life than a paycheck, and that there are adventures to enjoy that are separate from a vocation. If this is you, you may see your work as the thing that frees you up to do what you really want to do: spend time volunteering, giving to charity, investing in your family.

It is worth asking which category fits you best. Are you always looking to work more or are you consistently trying to work less? Why? Your answer to those two questions will say a lot about what you value and, ultimately, who you serve. Work and rest are both really important. Both have existed from the dawn of creation--before sin ever entered the world. But in our fallen world, we are tempted to neglect one for the sake of the other. What are you neglecting?

I better get back to work.

The Link Between Doctrine and Demeanor

In the late 1960s, Martin Lloyd-Jones,a former medical doctor, preached a series of sermons on the topic of spiritual depression. As I read through this book, I'm reminded how many Christians today, sadly, suffer under a spiritual malaise that can be crippling. There is little joy, weak faith, and Satan is having a field day with them. For anyone who lacks the joy that he or she knows should exist, this book is a wonderful medidation and a great help. 

There are many strategies to fighting spiritual depression, but the chief one is Truth. We fight with the Word of God. Here is Lloyd-Jones:

The great antidote to spiritual depression is the knowledge of Biblical doctrine, Christian doctrine. Not having the feelings worked up in meetings, but knowing the principles of the faith, knowing and understanding the doctrines. That is the Biblical way, that is Christ's own way as it is also the way of the apostles. The antidoge of depression is to have a knowledge of Him, and you get that in His Word. You must take the trouble to learn it. It is difficult work, but you have to study it and give yourself to it.