May 31, 2008
A Nation of Wimps - Reviewed by Tony Woodlief
Awhile ago I spoke positively about an interesting new book by Hara Estroff Marano entitled A Nation of Wimps: The High Cost of Invasive Parenting
I have not read or seen Marano's book yet, but I was happy to read what seems to be a balanced WSJ review by Tony Woodlief, himself a Christian blogger. Woodlief argues that Marano is on the mark in critiquing the invasiveness and over-protection tendencies of many parents today who guard their children from risks and consequences while pushing them in sports and other activities in the hope of getting them into elite colleges. However, she overreaches:
Unfortunately, it's not just the parents aiming their elementary-school kids at Harvard and Stanford who draw Ms. Marano's fire. It's parents who don't send their children off to sleepaway summer camps. It's those nutty home-schoolers. It's women professionals who choose to be stay-at-home moms while their children are young and parents who prefer not to hand their infants over to a daycare center. It's cellphones, and globalization and American individualism.Seems like a helpful corrective from Woodlief. Read the whole thing.Ms. Marano is fond of referring to "how things used to be," but she seems to idealize a sliver of American parenting history, one that started shortly after Gloria Steinem declared stay-at-home mothers valueless and ended before millions of women decided that Ms. Steinem and her crowd were saps. In the how-things-used-to-be category, it is helpful for us to remember that Teddy Roosevelt, the quintessential American anti-wimp -- he once killed a mountain lion with a knife -- grew up enjoying a close relationship with his parents, including extended family vacations (no summer camp!), home schooling (call the teachers' union!) and close contact even after he left for college (cut the cord, Mrs. Roosevelt!). TR's own children suffered similar "overparenting," yet they went on to be war heroes and successful citizens. American history teems with similar examples.
Farewell to Senator Clinton
Look for some compromise on the status of the Michigan and Florida delegates when the 30-member Democratic Party panel meets later today, but not one that sufficiently eats into Obama's delegate lead. Meanwhile, Charles Krauthammer pens what is probably the best assessment I've read on Clinton's failed candidacy. An excerpt:
It wasn't until late in the fourth quarter that she figured out the seam in Obama's defense. In fact, Obama handed her the playbook with Jeremiah Wright, William Ayers, Michelle Obama's comments about never having been proud of America and Obama's own guns-and-God condescension toward small-town whites.Read the whole thing.The line of attack is clear: not that Obama is himself radical or unpatriotic, just that, as a man of the academic left, he is so out of touch with everyday America that he could move so easily and untroubled in such extreme company and among such alien and elitist sentiments.
May 30, 2008
Albert Mohler on the Uniqueness of Humans
Albert Mohler writes:
Few questions are more important than this -- Are humans unique? Or, put in other words, is there any basis for human dignity and for treating humans with special respect? It is now frighteningly clear that secular science is inadequate to answer that question.Mohler goes on to discuss Christine Kenneally's cover story (subscription required). He later notes:The May 24-30, 2008 edition of New Scientist, an influential British journal of science, features a cover story that raises this very question. "Human beings are obviously unique," the headline declares. "But it's surprisingly hard to say why." As the actual cover article indicates, there is very little that makes humans "obviously unique."
The Christian worldview offers the only sustainable foundation for human dignity. The Christian truth claim, grounded in the Bible, claims that human dignity is ontological (based merely in the human being's existence) rather than functional. According to this worldview, every single human being is equally created in the image of God. The other creatures are wondrous and each reveals the glory of God in its own way, but no other creature is created in the image of God. To be human is to be a bearer of God's image. Thus, every single human being possesses full human dignity.Read the whole thing.
Grace-Filled, Relationship-Building Vacations
C.J. Mahaney writes an outstanding three-part series on How to Have God-glorifying, Grace-filled, Relationship-building, Memory-making Vacations:
Here’s what I’ve learned. The difference between forgettable vacations and unforgettable vacations is not the location or attractions. Nope. The difference between forgettable and unforgettable vacations is the father’s attitude and leadership. This makes all the difference.Family vacations provide a unique opportunity each year for fathers to create memories their children will never forget. Memories that will last a lifetime. Memories that will be recreated by your children with your grandchildren. Memories that will outlive a father. But in order to create these memories, a father must be diligent to serve and lead during a vacation. How a father views his role on a vacation will make all the difference in the vacation.
So in this season where family vacations are being carefully planned and eagerly anticipated, I thought it might be helpful if I passed along seven lessons I’ve learned over the years, in hopes that your family vacation will be a God-glorifying, grace-filled, relationship-building, memory-making time together.
Mahaney skillfully unpacks seven essential qualities that fathers must cultivate on family vacations:
1. A Servant Heart
2. A Tone-Setting Attitude
3. An Awareness of Indwelling Sin
4. Studying Your Family
5. Skillful Surprises
6. Intentionally Together
7. Gratefulness to God
Read the whole thing: Part 1; Part 2; Part 3
(HT: JT)
May 29, 2008
Election and Free Will - Robert Peterson
While we're on the topic of reformed theology, I thought I'd mention this interesting new book by Robert A. Peterson, Professor of Systematic Theology at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri. Entitled Election and Free Will: God's Gracious choice and Our Responsibility, Peterson traces the doctrine of election throughout the Bible and explains the biblical concept of free will.
I find this issue to be at the heart of the Calvinism-Arminianism debate. People often talk past each other because they have different categories for "freedom". In one sense, all humans are free to do whatever they wish. The problem is that we're born into this world with corrupt hearts such that we cannot want God (Rom. 8:7-8). Consequently, apart from God's regenerating grace, we are "free" only to sin against God in various ways, depending on our inclinations. We need heart surgery to gain the freedom to truly obey God. Nevertheless, the concept of "will" is helpful, I think. All persons must choose to believe in Christ (who He was and what He accomplished) or perish (John 3:16-18; 36). A sample of the endorsements:
"This is a singularly helpful book in what promises to be a useful series. It is helpful for three reasons: its attempt to ground its thesis in Scripture, the courtesy with which it engages those who disagree, and the crisp clarity of the writing. Beyond these things is the importance of the subject. Books on this subject often become merely polemical, but this one is full of the majesty and grace of God."
- D. A. Carson, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School
"Neither superficial nor highly technical, this new series of volumes on important Christian doctrines is projected to teach Reformed theology as it is most helpfully taught, with clear grounding in Scripture, mature understanding of theology, gracious interaction with others who disagree, and useful application to life. I expect that these volumes will strengthen the faith and biblical maturity of all who read them, and I am happy to recommend them highly."
- Wayne Grudem, Phoenix Seminary, author of Systematic Theology
"There are many misconceptions today about systematic, biblical, and applicatory theology. One sometimes gets the impression that these are opposed to one another, and that the first two, at least, are so obscure that ordinary people should avoid them like the plague. The series Explorations in Biblical Theology seeks to correct these misunderstandings, to bring these disciplines together in a winsome, clear unity, edifying to non-specialists. The authors are first-rate, and they write to build up our faith by pointing us to Christ. That's what biblical and systematic theology at their best have always done, and the best application of Scripture has always shown us in practical ways how to draw on the rich blessings of Jesus' salvation. I hope that many will read these books and take them to heart."
- John Frame, Reformed Theological Seminary
Related: Peterson co-edited Faith Comes By Hearing with Chris Morgan. I interviewed Morgan about the book.
Young, Restless, Reformed - Collin Hansen
A well-researched and entertaining account of Reformed theology's increasing popularity among young Christians, Collin Hansen's new book, Young, Restless, Reformed, appeared in seed form as a Christianity Today cover story in 2006. With a degree in journalism, Hansen is now editor-at-large for Christianity Today while pursuing an M.Div. at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL.
Hansen documents the impact of several vibrant ministries that, while having significant theological differences with one another, answer with one voice on the question, "Who does what in salvation?" These ministries all contend that humans contribute no more to their second birth than they do to their first. Just as the cry of a newborn infant is evidence of new life (rather than the cause of that life), so faith in Christ is a response to the new (spiritual) life (re-)created by God the Holy Spirit (e.g., Eph. 2:1-10). Regeneration precedes faith. We love God because He first loved us. We choose Christ because God first chose us. While Hansen spends a little time unpacking the "five points of Calvinism," his book is by no means polemical. Rather, through interviewing a host of rising leaders (and a fair share of regulars), he lets them explain the emotional appeal and the biblical/intellectual consistency of the doctrines of grace.
Chapter one is entitled, "Born Again Again". It introduces us to the theme of the book; namely, that there seems to be a confluence of factors drawing significant numbers of young Christians to embracing at the least the basics of Reformed theology. For example, Joshua Harris is quoted as saying: "I do wonder if some of the appeal [of Calvinism] and the trend isn't a reaction to the watered down vision of God that's been portrayed in the evangelical seeker-oriented churches." The chapter includes Hansen's coverage of the 2007 Passion Conference, and particularly John Piper's presence at that 18,000+ student event. Hansen also describes his own journey toward Reformed theology.
Chapter 2 focuses more fully on the impact of John Piper and Bethlehem Baptist Church. I appreciated this chapter because Piper was instrumental in my own embrace of Calvinism in my early twenties. Also, I spent three years at Bethlehem, and it was during that time that Hansen visited, so I know a lot of the people he was talking to.
Chapter 3 shifts east to Yale University and an investigation of Jonathan Edwards, a man whose popularity is also increasing, as exemplified by the establishment of the Jonathan Edwards Center. Their ambition is to make all of Edwards' writing available in digital form (about 100,000 pages).
Chapter 4 shifts south to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS), where the conservative resurgence has been quite friendly to Calvinism. Hansen gives a good historical sketch of the SBC with respect to Calvinism and includes a few student and faculty interviews (For a more extensive treatment, see By His Grace and For His Glory
Chapter 5 and 6 focus on Sovereign Grace Ministries and their ministry to (primarily younger) singles, New Attitude. With 70 or so churches in the United States and almost 10 around the world, the movement led by C.J. Mahaney has been tremendously significant. Chapter 7 then shifts to the west coast and Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, and the Acts 29 church-planting network. What was so interesting is that until a few years ago, Driscoll and Mahaney didn't even know each other.
The book also includes some interesting tid-bits on the Reformed blogosphere --- Hansen even gives away the visitor statistics on Tim Challies' blog. You'll have to read the book to find out. All in all, a great read. One that won't tax you too much mentally, and yet will inform you of recent developments all over the country. If (like me) you've been impacted by this movement, prepare to be encouraged.
Related: A four-part series I wrote on the Calvinism vs. Arminianism issue: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4.
May 28, 2008
Do Hard Things - NPR Interview with Alex & Brett Harris
Alex and Brett Harris were recently interviewed by Michel Martin of NPR's Tell Me More broadcast about their outstanding book Do Hard Things. In this 14-minute spot the Harris brothers preview their book, mention their political involvement with Huck's Army, and even (briefly) share their Christian faith. To learn more about this book, see my endorsement, or read the Table of Contents and a sample chapter.
May 27, 2008
Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor - D.A. Carson
You don't have to be a pastor to profoundly benefit from Memoirs of an Ordinary Pastor: The Life and Reflections of Tom Carson, a moving biographical account written by Pastor Carson's son, eminent author Dr. D.A. Carson. This is simply an outstanding book for any Christian who wants to fight sin, grow in grace, and be faithful until the end. I read it straight through, and was quite moved.
Dr. Carson writes poignantly about his father, Tom Carson, who spent much of his life in pastoral ministry in small churches. Tom Carson never wrote a book and was never a sought-after conference speaker, but he was a faithful, consistent, Christian man. Though imperfect, Mr. Carson was an overwhelmingly godly example to his children, leading them in both family worship and by his own exemplification of Christian virtues. He faithfully prayed for and loved his congregation, and sought to redeem every relationship for good.
The book begins with a brief history of Canada, to give the reader some perspective as to where Tom Carson ministered. Interesting historical details are given as to how Canada viewed and was impacted by the American War for Independence. Carson gives emphasis to language issues; much of the Quebec area (where Carson's life centered) was predominantly French speaking. This would become an issue in Mr. Carson's ministry because the congregation he served was bi-lingual, and toward the end of Carson's life most churches were bifurcating into English-speaking and French-speaking congregations. Chapter 2 walks us through Carson's early years. He was soundly converted in high school through the influence of a godly mother. Carson's father, however, was not a Christian until the last few years of his life--long enough, however, for Don Carson (a grandson) to discern the difference conversion makes in an older man's life. [An application: Don't stop praying for your unconverted father.]
The next few chapters walk us through some of the difficulties of Mr. Carson's ministry. He occasionally received unfair treatment from denominational leaders, but never returned evil for evil. The book quotes at length from Mr. Carson's journals and we're given access to how he led his family. Mr. Carson's story motivates me greatly to authentically live the Christian faith before my wife and children. It also motivates me to want to suffer well and work vigorously for the Audience that truly matters. Mr. Carson, even to the very end of his life, was one who redeemed his time. His journals document that he was up early for intimate prayer and devotional reflection in the Word, and then sought to be fruitful in study as well as in visitation with his parishioners. He also did not neglect to pursue healthy relationships with his children (e.g., encouraging Don in his sports and his studies).
Mr. Carson died well, three years after his wife Margaret succumbed to a painful, extended season of Alzheimer's disease. Mr. Carson's final suffering was relatively brief: a persistent cough, followed by a fever. A month later he breathed his last. You'll have to read the book to find out why, in God's providence, he died alone. The last two paragraphs of the book are particularly moving--but read this 148-page book straight through -- regardless of your calling, you will be blessed:
When he died, there were no crowds outside the hospital, no editorial comments in the papers, no announcements on television, no mention in Parliament, no attention paid by the nation. In his hospital room there was no one by his bedside. There was only the quiet hiss of oxygen, vainly venting because he had stopped breathing and would never need it again.But on the other side all the trumpets sounded. Dad won entrance to the only throne room that matters, not because he was a good man or a great man--he was, after all, a most ordinary pastor--but because he was a forgiven man. And he heard the voice of him whom he longed to hear saying, "Well done, good and faithful servant; enter into the joy of your Lord."
May 26, 2008
The Conservative Resurgence at Southern Seminary
Dr. Albert Mohler walks through the story of his early years at Southern Seminary. It is an outstanding story of God's goodness. Two free downloads:
(HT: JT)
May 25, 2008
The Emerging Evangelical Intelligentsia
It is no secret that American intellectuals tend to look down upon evangelicals, even their would-be counterparts. [For example, movies like Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed, explore the closed-mindedness of many in academia toward any who would question Darwinian evolution.] In response to this perception of widespread evangelical disparagement, Boston University's Institute on Culture, Religion, and World Affairs has launched a two-year research project called The Emerging Evangelical Intelligentsia. They kicked things off last fall with a major conference entitled Opening of the Evangelical Mind. The participants included George Marsden, Mark Noll, and Alvin Plantinga. While conference leaders hailed mainly from the ranks of Boston University's faculty, others such as Os Guinness, Michael Cromartie (Ethics and Public Policy Center and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom) and John Wilson (editor of Books & Culture for Christianity Today) were included.
For a helpful overview of the research initiative, see this interview which John Steel conducted with Dr. Timothy Shah, Director of the The Emerging Evangelical Intelligentsia project. Here's the first question:
John Seel: What is the overarching purpose of your research project?
Timothy Shah: The project was actually an idea that emerged from the fertile mind of the eminent sociologist Peter Berger. It seemed to him that the prevailing understanding of the evangelical community among intellectuals in America was cartoonish at best. He felt that there were developments in the evangelical community that were being overlooked. Berger felt there was an emergence of what he called an "evangelical intelligentsia"—a self-assured, sophisticated class of intellectuals working in various fields. So he gathered a group of people, including Mike Cromartie (Ethics & Public Policy Center), Os Guinness (author), Mark Noll (Wheaton College), John Wilson (Books & Culture), Dana Robert (Boston University), and myself and asked if there has been a sociological or historical study on the emergence of this phenomenon.
We agree that there really wasn't one. There have been critiques of its intellectual sophistication and assessments of its scholarship. Mark Noll's The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind
The project will do two things. Historically, we want to explore how this evangelical intelligentsia has emerged particularly in the years after World War II. And then, sociologically, we want to look at the institutions and resources that have enabled these evangelicals to have the influence that they are now having.
Read the whole thing.
May 24, 2008
Heirs With Christ - Joel Beeke
Adoption is at the heart of the Christian's experience because none of us are naturally God's children. Rather, we were "dead in our trespasses" and "by nature children of wrath" (Eph. 2:1,4). But God, in love, predestined us for adoption. Ephesians 1:3-6 reads:
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved."Dr. Joel R. Beeke, pastor of Heritage Netherlands Reformed Congregation in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is releasing a book in early June called Heirs with Christ: The Puritans on Adoption. The book unpacks and distills the Puritans' contributions to our understanding of the doctrine of adoption. In the Foreword, Dan Carver (Co-Founder of Together for Adoption) writes:
"If adoption is first heavenly before it is earthly, why do we Christians so often think of earthly adoption before we think of heavenly adoption? Why do we think horizontally before we think vertically? I think one reason for this is the neglect of the doctrine of adoption in the history of the church. In his massive, 2,600-page work The Creeds of Christendom, the church historian Philip Schaff only includes six creeds that contain a section on adoption because they are the only ones he could find while scouring almost 1,900 years of church history."Beeke's forthcoming book should be a helpful corrective. Check it out.
Gross National Happiness - Arthur Brooks
Dr. Arthur Brooks, Louis A. Bantle Professor of Business and Government Policy at Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, has just published an interesting book which examines the factors that influence happiness. In a recent interview with Marvin Olasky in World Magazine, Brooks noted:
There are three basic things that make people happy: meaning in their lives, control over their environment, and success in creating value in the world. And the way people get these things is not with money or power or fame—it is with their values. People who are serious about healthy values in their lives, families, and communities are much happier than others. The data say that these values come in eight categories: faith, family, personal liberty, private morality, non-materialism, opportunity, work, and service to others. Many journalists and academics dismiss these as just "cultural issues." But what happy Americans know is that nothing is more important than these things for building true happiness.Among the book's interesting findings: Republicans are more likely than Democrats to rate their mental health as "excellent" (58% versus 35%), while 63% of Mexicans versus 35% of French would say they are either "very happy" or "completely happy." Religious people are on average almost twice as likely to be happy. You might recall that Brooks is also the author of Who Really Cares: The Surprising Truth About Compassionate Conservatism
(which I thought was very good).
Some of the blurbs:
"Arthur Brooks may be the most innovative and creative analyst of public policy in America today. His insights are in a different league and may lead to an entirely new approach to thinking through public policy. Gross National Happiness is a must read for every person who wants to understand what policies America needs."
Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House
"Happiness is God, marriage, and work. A Republican campaign slogan? No: hard science, as collected by Arthur C. Brooks, emerging as one of the leading--and most original--social observers of his generation."
David Frum, author of Dead Right and Comeback
"Happiness is an idea etched into our national creed. But what does it mean, exactly? With intriguing statistics and engaging examples, Arthur Brooks explores what makes us happy, which types of people are happiest, and what it means for our nation's future. Gross National Happiness is a fresh look on one of America's oldest tenets--how the pursuit of happiness makes America great."
Carl J. Schramm, president and chief executive officer of the Kauffman Foundation and author of The Entrepreneurial Imperative
John McCain on the (Ongoing) Democratic Primary
May 22, 2008
The Learning Process and Short Attention Spans
Dr. Albert Mohler has a good word on college students today, their relative distractibility, and the digital age. Commenting on an essay by Courtney E. Martin, Dr. Mohler writes:
Courtney Martin identifies the state of our distracted minds as the primary cause of intellectual neglect. The static and noise of everyday life and the information overload combine to rob the mind of the capacity for attentiveness -- and attentiveness is something Martin rightly believes is necessary to a happy and wholesome life. Of course, the ability to focus the mind is an intellectual skill absolutely necessary for a good education. A distracted mind is not a mind ready for the most demanding intellectual challenges and tasks.Read the whole thing.
May 21, 2008
ReThink Conference - Wrap Up
I thought I'd organize all the posts for the recent reThink Conference:
1. Introduction
2. Interview with Steve Wright (part 1)
3. Interview with Steve Wright (part 2)
4. Session I - Leon Tucker
5. Session II - David Horner
6. Session III - Dave Owen
7. Session IV - Steve Wright
8. Session V - Randy Stinson
Also, I noticed that Steve Wright will be recording a few episodes for Family Life Radio later this week.
Lastly, I just want to give a shout-out to all the bloggers I met last week: Nick Kennicott, Mike Seaver, Deb Burton, Steve Thompson (daughter Alli), Chris Graves, Mike Hall, Mike Williams, and I'm probably forgetting a few others (sorry!). Please feel free to link to any review you wrote about the conference! It was really good to meet you all. Blessings to your labors in His vineyard.
Update: Free audio for each of the five sessions has now been made available:
Session 1 - Leon Tucker
Session 2 - David Horner
Session 3 - Dave Owen
Session 4 - Steve Wright
Session 5 - Randy Stinson
May 20, 2008
Think Your Family is Unique?
(Click on the photo to learn more.)
May 19, 2008
Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal
Southern Baptists in particular will be interested in a fascinating new book by Dr. David Dockery entitled Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal: A Biblical, Historical, and Theological Proposal
Southern Baptists have entered the twenty-first century following a lengthy period of controversy. The good news is that a commitment to the full truthfulness of Holy Scripture has been reclaimed and we cannot shrink back from this commitment. Southern Baptists, however, continue to struggle, wrestling with identity, cooperation, and unity, which has implications for missions, worship, education, and other ministries of our shared Convention life.The endorsements are plentiful and diverse:
Finally, Southern Baptists of the 21st Century are shown the way back home. David Dockery, in the fresh and studied manner so typical of all his writings, calls for a fresh return to our theological, educational, and missiological roots. If you have written off the necessity, or even the possibility of future cooperation for the sake of God's kingdom, the passionate appeal of this book will most likely reverse your thinking. Few people know Southern Baptists as well as Dockery, and no one is better able to provide a compass by which to steer us, once again, our of our doldrums and onto the high seas of effectiveness.
Tom Eliff, Senior Vice President for Spiritual Nurture and Church Relations, International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention and Former President of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal is a comprehenisve and challenging mandate for Southern Baptists in the 21st Century. It calls our denomination to nothing less than a Great Commission resurgence rooted in the great biblical and theological truths that we hold in common. David Dockery is, as always, careful, insightful, and gracious. Here is a thesis that can chart a course for our denomination. It is my prayer that this book will not only be read, but that its vision will be embraced.
Daniel L. Akin, President, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary
This book is the result of love working through truth and truth working through love. This book has been wrtten by one who has been both a Royal Ambassador and renowned Christian scholar. Let's pray that David Dockery's keen insights into Southern Baptist theology, worship, and cooperation will open up a conversation that leads us as Southern Baptists to greater conformity to Christ in mission with Him. The Southern Baptist Convention envisioned by David Dockery is one committed to biblical orthodoxy, confessional fidelity, missions fervor, cultural engagement, ecclesial rootedness, and Christ-centered worship. Let's open Dockery's book, along with our Bibles and our world maps, and pray for wisdom, love, and fidelity, to get there from here.
Russell D. Moore, Senior Vice-President for Academic Administration and Dean, School of Theology, The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
David Dockery's Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal is the best introduction to the current state of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Mark E. Dever, Pastor, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D. C.
Having seen the Southern Baptist Convention "up close and personal" in recent years, I am convinced that a book such as this one is deeply and widely needed. It is multifaceted in its content. It is a primer on Southern Baptist history. It is a skillful analysis of the many forces and factors which have made us who we are. It is a masterful discussion of the theological issues which should pull us together and point us toward unity. Most of all, it is a call from a man devoted to God to encourage a Convention to remember its biblical purpose. I commend Southern Baptist Consensus and Renewal to everyone.
Frank S. Page, President, Southern Baptist Convention and Pastor, Taylors Baptist Church, Greenville, South Carolina
Also, Timothy George, Thom S. Rainer, Jimmy Draper, Jim Henry, Gregory A. Wills, Terry L. Wilder, John Sullivan, Morris H. Chapman, James Merritt, and Al Jackson. (Read them all.)
Exciting News for The Bethlehem Institute
John Piper announces that The Bethlehem Institute, a one-of-a-kind program in which I participated from 2005-2007, is moving toward accreditation to become a college and a seminary. They are also moving into a new facility that has been freed up for them thanks to a generous donation.
"That means offering as soon as is feasible an accredited BA in Biblical Studies and an accredited MA and MDiv at the seminary level."Read the whole thing.
May 18, 2008
reThink Conference - Session V - Randy Stinson
The fifth and last session was led by Dr. Randy Stinson. Dr. Stinson has served in numerous church staff positions over the years. He is the President of The Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood and the Dean of the School of Leadership and Church Ministry at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife Danna have six children, three of whom are adopted.
Dr. Stinson noted that he fellowshipped at Providence Baptist Church when he was an M. Div. student at Southeastern Baptist Seminary. And it was at Providence that Dr. Stinson first developed a burden for men’s ministry.
INTRODUCTION
We have grown accustomed to doing things a certain way in our churches that are just not as effective as they are supposed to be. However, there is now a genuine movement of youth pastors asking themselves: Is what we are doing effective? It applies not just to student ministry, but to the entire discipleship process of children and youth.
There seems to be broad agreement that we have a problem. The way we structure our churches to impact children needs to be re-tooled. “Family ministry” is a hot topic. Pastors in churches of all sizes are experimenting with new ideas. In many ways, we are at the early stages of what could be a gargantuan movement.
THE CHURCH IS A FAMILY
The church is supposed to act like a family in the way members interact with one another. The family is the paradigm for how the church is to operate. Family language is frequently used in the Bible. God is our father. An evidence that we are in God’s family is that He disciplines us (Heb. 12:7).
Relationships within the household of faith are family-like. We're to deal with older men as fathers, older women as mothers (I Tim. 5:1). We also see an abundance of “brother” and “sister” language in the New Testament. This is how we are to relate with each other because we are family.
An implication is that if a Christian (particularly a father) cannot do this in his home, he won’t be able to do it outside the home.
THE CHURCH - OUR TRUE FAMILY
Some are defining the church as made up of a "family of families". But this definition leads to certain expressions of ministry that can be exclusive or isolationist. It leads to an artificial “sameness” or homogenization of the church. The church is not, in fact, a family of families. It is our true family.
Dr. Stinson noted that three of his six children are adopted. However, all six are his real children. All their last names are "Stinson". In God’s family, there are husbands whose wives have rejected the gospel. And vice versa. Christ said, “Unless you love me more than sister or mother, you cannot be my disciple.” Some have to endure painful rejection from their biological families because of their allegiance to Christ. But they (like all God's children) find their true family in God's family.
Every time someone gets into God’s family by adoption, it is our job to love them. They may not look like us or talk like us. The gospel is one family from every tribe and nation and kindred. It is not just a bunch of people who look like us.
APPLICATIONS
We have to promote this vision of the church. We need to make a shift, but it is really not a very radical one. Seeing parents as the primary disciple makers of their children is not radical. And the concern is not, broadly speaking, that we have a youth Bible study (for example). The problem is that many churches have developed a “silo mentality” – the ministries are not related to each other, so inadvertently (and no doubt unintentionally) families are pulled apart. You've got women doing several mid-week studies, the men have their own activities, and the kids have their programs. We're telling families to eat together but if we participated in all the church activities we'd never actually be together.
If the men are going to serve the widows in the church, why can’t they do that with their sons? If the men’s ministry is more aware of the youth ministry, then they’ll be aware of the boys who don’t have dads. And there are lots of them. We have to cultivate an ethos in our churches that embraces the fatherless boys and says “It's OK. We’ve got you covered.” Likewise, single moms need to be intentionally included.
Stinson envisions more families doing mission trips together. Young Christians growing up have a right to see families interacting in a healthy manner.
Stinson calls this a “ministry-integrated” model. It is the integration of all the ministries so that whenever we launch something new, we're asking: How can families do this together? And then we're insisting that they can be done that way.
More than a programmatic shift, it is a shift in ethos. If you are taking your 11-year old boy to a baseball game, there probably is another 11-year old who has never been to a game in his whole life. Bring him along.
CONCLUSION
Malachi 4:4-6 suggests we should consider the effect of God's word on the relationship between fathers and their children. God desires there to be relational harmony between fathers and children. We cannot support an atmosphere that fragments the family in the church – an atmosphere that turns the hearts of children away from their fathers and vice versa. But we also do not want to isolate the sorts of people that have left “father and mother” to be joined to God’s family (fatherless boys, motherless girls, single mothers, etc.).
Update: Message Audio in MP3 Format
reThink Conference - Session IV - Steve Wright
The fourth session was led by Steve Wright, Assistant Pastor of Student Ministries at Providence Baptist Church. (I previously interviewed Steve -- here is part 1 and part 2 of that interview.)
INTRODUCTION
Wright explained that he came to Providence really wrestling with why youth leaving for college were so shallow in matters of the faith. He asked the question: What would it look like if churches equipped families to have a daily encounter with the gospel?
In his first decade of ministry, Wright confessed, he leaped onto the never-ending treadmill of bigger is better. For many, this allure comes with gimmicks like shaving the youth pastor's head, giving away iPods, swallowing goldfish, blow-up games, give aways, and bringing “Christian” celebrities to events. Many student ministries apparently seek to “entertain” students to the cross. Perhaps even more sadly, some senior pastors actually tell their student ministry associates, "Don't consider telling the parents they need to disciple their kids. They won't do it. It is our job."
Many voice the concern that a family-equipping student ministry model makes it difficult for kids to invite their unchurched friends. Steve had four points by way of response.
I. WHAT IF WE TAUGHT OUR STUDENTS THAT BIBLICAL OBEDIENCE IS REQUIRED OF ALL STUDENTS?
The Great Commission does not end with informing the nations of Christ's work, but with making discipling of all nations, teaching them to obey everything that Christ commands (Matt. 28:18-20).
II. WHAT IF WE TAUGHT THAT ALL CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE IN A DISTINCTIVE AND WINSOME MANNER?
What if Christians were actually different with respect to their dress, their speech, and their behavior? Colossians 3:5-10 explains that Christians are to put to death what is earthly and put on the new self.
III. WHAT IF PARENTS' PRIMARY OBJECTIVE WAS TO SEE THAT THEIR CHILDREN'S LIVES WERE GOSPEL-SATURATED IN EVERY ASPECT? (Eph. 1:7-9)
IV. WHAT IF WE TAUGHT THE TRUTH OF A GOD WHO SENT HIS SON TO RESCUE SINNERS FROM A LITERAL PLACE OF TORMENT AND GRACIOUSLY GIVES ETERNAL LIFE? (Luke 12:4-5)
Steve illustrated his point by noting how offensive it would be to try to add beauty to a bride at a wedding by running back to her as she stood in the entry way to modify her hair or add some cheap ornaments before she was "ready" to walk down the aisle. Yet we do that when we make youth ministry a show, as if we need to add free iPODS to the gospel offer. The beautiful bride is the gospel. And she needs no extra props.
As Wright noted in his book reThink
“Bigger is better in today’s church-growth prevailing thought. Many times the invitation to meet Christ at the foot of the cross seems much less appealing than the new tricks of the trade that some churches are embracing in the effort to be culturally relevant. Student ministries today look to gimmicks, giveaways, hype and featured artists as ploys to attract teens rather than calling people to biblical repentance and obedience. Let’s face it: the gospel becomes a tougher sale when many of our churches seek to offer a buffet of 'spiritual' options with an unbridled consumer desire.”Perhaps we should reconsider the traditional paradigm for student ministry, since:
1. We now are seeing students abandon their faith like no other time in history.Steve explained that there were two assumptions that he made when he went into ministry.
2. The divorce rate among Christians is equal to or higher than the rate among non-Christians.
3. We are finding that we are moving students from program to program to program and then, when they graduate, they “graduate from God” because they have been taught and trained to love events and programs rather that loving Christ.
4. We have more workers, more activities, larger budgets, more staff, larger buildings, and still more students leaving the church and abandoning their faith.
Assumption #1: The model of spiritual formation that many churches embrace and have adopted was effective.But over the years, Steve noted, he's made a few observations:
Assumption #2: This model was entirely biblical.
OBSERVATION #1: OUR CURRENT MODEL OF SPIRITUAL FORMATION IS NOT A GOOD CONDUIT OF THE GOSPEL.
A. Our current model fosters a “spiritual drop-off” mentality.
i. Our current model says the home will not or is not capable of spiritual formation and therefore, student pastors must do it all
ii. Acts 2:42-47 shows a very different vision.
B. Our current model isn’t seeking to produce fruit that will last.
i. Our current model defines ministry success as how many members attended, how many were baptized, etc. I am all for reaching the masses, BUT the call is to make disciples.
ii. STATS- no one wants us to read them, but seriously, what if they were ½? ¼? Would we feel better? Remember the parable of the Lost Sheep?
iii. John 15 describes this Biblical picture (John 15:13-16). (“fruit that will last”)
By defining success by “how many”, the emphasis is on short-term results.
OBSERVATION #2: GOD HAS GIVEN US TWO PRIMARY INSTITUTIONS THROUGH WHICH WE ARE TO LIVE AND PREACH THE GOSPEL: THE FAMILY AND THE CHURCH.
As pastors, we have been entrusted with and called to shepherd, guard, and protect both the family and the church. Whose job is it to spiritually develop children? The Scriptural Answer: Parents.
All of us would acknowledge that we are in partnership with parents. But in reality, many student pastors really just tell parents what they are going to do. But a true partnership with parents solicits input from parents.
What’s been happening is that parents are seeing youth pastors carrying the ball and everything looks fine at the time. Then, student ministers go to hand the ball back to the parents, and they don’t know what to do about it. Likewise, a lot of young pastors coming out of seminary today do not have a theology of family. So they don’t recognize the importance of parents raising their kids in the discipline and admonition of the Lord.
Our spiritual forefathers were able to speak with clarity on the responsibility of the family. Shouldn't we?
Steve then briefly unpacked his theology of family:
1. God created man and woman unique but in His image (Gen. 1:27).
2. God blessed man and woman with the gift of marriage, sex, and family (Gen. 1:28; 2:24).
3. God gave man and woman the primary role of spiritual disciples for their children (Deut. 6:4-9; Eph. 6:4).
4. Within marriage, God calls the men to love their wives and calls the wives to willingly submit to their husbands (Eph. 5:22-25).
5. God’s design for marriage is to be lifelong as it is written that God hates divorce (Mal. 2:16).
6 God seeks to use Christian marriage as a testimony of His commitment as the bride groom to His bride (the Church) (II Cor. 11:2-3).
7. God’s design is for families to unite and partner with the local church for the mutual purpose of discipleship (Heb. 10:25, Acts 2:42-47).
Steve confessed what his faulty, five-point, family theology used to be:
1. Parents don’t relate to their children as well as I do [verse? Oops?].
2. Parents don’t want to spiritually train their children [verse?].
3. Parents aren’t as trained as me! [verse?]
4. Parents would rather I do it!
5. Parents are too busy these days.
OBSERVATION #3: FAMILIES MUST BE ENGAGED WITH THE GOSPEL MESSAGE.
A. This engagement starts with us.
What do we do if we go to the parents and they don’t want to embrace their responsibility? Nehemiah faced a situation like that. He repented, fasted, mourned, and prayed (Neh. 1:4-11). He included himself in a corporate act of repentance. Many times student pastors don’t want to talk about family worship because they themselves do not practice it.
B. We need to display humble, transparent leadership (I Peter 5:12 – God opposes the proud).
Youth pastors need to teach these principles to others with depth and patience – need to move forward as a unified church leadership team. Invite others to join you on this journey. Allow God’s Word and grace to guide you. Remember how grace would behave.
IN CLOSING
Can you imagine how freeing ministry could be when things aren’t based on budget, charisma, our speaking ability, the “it” factor, a church building, gimmicks, or the “stuff,” but if our ministries rested on ONE GREAT TRUTH: The faithfulness of God to honor His Word?
Related: Steve mentioned a man named Fred Broome who transparently shared his early attempts at family worship.
Update: Message Audio in MP3 Format
May 17, 2008
reThink Conference - Session III - Dave Owen
Dave Owen, Associate Pastor of Evangelism and College Ministries at Providence Baptist Church, led the third session. Dave has served at Providence since 1995. His message, Affirming Truths that Matter, was taken from II Timothy 4:1-8, which is Paul's charge to Timothy to remain faithful. How do we remain faithful? By affirming and persevering in the truth. Owen's thesis was:
A student ministry that is passionate about bringing fame to God is one that is saturated with the Bible, centered on the Gospel, devoted to the family, and committed to the local church.This thesis was naturally broken down into his four points.
I. REVERENCE FOR THE PREACHING OF GOD'S WORD
II Timothy 4:1-2 spells out five imperatives (preach the Word, be ready, reprove, rebuke, exhort).
We ought to preach with appropriate seriousness and intensity, given the weight of God's Word--which is what we ought to preach, rather than our opinions or the latest fad. To preach is to passionately and publicly proclaim. As the Puritans said, we ought to preach "as a dying man to dying men".
We are to proclaim God's truth "in season and out of season". In others words, both in and out of the pulpit, regardless of how unwelcome our exhortations may be or how inconvenient it may be for us to offer them.
The rising generation questions why the Bible needs to be preached. They need to be reminded that the preaching of God's Word introduces them (and nurtures them) in the gospel. Gospel-centered preaching is the announcement of the good news (what Christ has done) rather than mere advice. Sadly, various surveys indicate that professing Christian teens often embrace something closer to a moralistic, therapeutic deism than historic Christianity. For example, notions such as the exclusivity of Christ are jettisoned. To fight this tendency, it is important that Christ be preached from all the Scriptures (Luke 24). "The gospel is the university that ever class of Christianity is held" -- we must continually put before our students the centrality of the gospel for all of life.
II. THE HEALTHINESS OF RELATIONAL INSTRUCTION
In II Tim. 4:2, Timothy is commanded to fulfill his ministry with "complete patience and teaching". Don’t just put up with people--love them with great patience and instruction. Meaning, you keep teaching them. We have to love the sheep not by affirming self-esteem but by trumpeting great truths over their hearts and heads such that we impact their souls for eternity.
Where can we affirm this relational instruction? 1) In the home, through healthy family play time and worship time. 2) In the church. We need to trumpet the value of the local church--especially to students, who do not naturally embrace the value of the local church in this day of commitment-phobia. Consider the way Paul shared not only the gospel but his very life as well (I Thes. 2:7-12).
III. REJECTING FALSE DOCTRINE AND ACCEPTING TRUE DOCTRINE
I Tim. 4:3-5 emphasizes the importance of protecting doctrinal purity. Many students walk away from the faith in part because there is no great substance in what they were taught. Their instruction did not confront worldliness with a winsome appeal to the superior satisfaction of a life of holiness. Students often think of Christianity as a system of do's and don'ts (moralism) apart from the beauty of Christ who commands and empowers radical, inside-out lives of obedience (not motivated from a sense of obligation, but from a sense of superior satisfaction). Thomas Chalmers unpacked this theme in his great sermon The Expulsive Power of a New Affection. The danger in our day is that we assume the gospel in our ministries: we take the great truths for granted, so we fail to carefully pass on the faith. D.A. Carson once noted:
"One generation preaches the gospel. The next generation assumes the gospel. And the next generation loses the gospel."We must confront this danger in our day.
IV. PERSEVERING IN THE RACE OF FAITH
In II Tim. 4:6-8, Paul explains that he is nearing the end of his earthly pilgrimage. He has his eyes fixed on the prize of Christ. It is as if Paul is running with "His feet on earth and his head in heaven". He is encouraging Timothy to finish strong by following Paul's example of longing for the return of Christ. Hebrews 11:24-26 shows the same mentality: Moses refused the perks of being associated with Pharaoh's household. He chose the reproach of Christ because he was looking to his eternal reward. We must impress upon our students the need for perseverance in the fight of faith for the sake of the great reward. Many non-Christians endure great pain for less eternally significant rewards. We ought to encourage Christian students to labor for eternity by considering how they might use their gifts and skills in the service of Christ's kingdom. Fields like medicine are quite serviceable in foreign missions. Math can be taught at secular universities in closed countries. Others have used engineering backgrounds to coordinate the GPS system with the location of unreached people groups. The opportunities are manifold.
CONCLUSION
Let us, by God's grace, raise up a generation of extraordinary Jesus Lovers that will love and be devoted to their families, love and be committed to the local church, know their Bibles---both what they believe and why they believe it, and center their lives on the gospel for the fame of Jesus Christ.
Update: Message Audio in MP3 Format
May 16, 2008
reThink Conference - Session II - David Horner
David Horner is the founding pastor of Providence Baptist Church, which was established October 1, 1978, and he has served as the senior pastor ever since. Horner's message was entitled Knowing How to Live. His thesis was that we need to know what it means to live life God’s way and love it enough to lead others to do the same thing according to that same purpose. Taking his text from Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Horner sought to show us answers to two questions:
1. Where do we get this idea that we are supposed to be partnering with parents in the area of cultivating youth?
2. Where do we get the idea that parents have the primary role?
Horner opened with an illustration that when he was in seminary at Gordon Conwell, he noticed that many lighthouses on the coast used Fresnel lenses (1822) to allow a simple oil lamp to project a beam out to sea for as far as 18-20 miles. And Jesus calls for us to be the light of a darkened world so that we can serve as lighthouses projecting the saving light of Christ out into the dangerous currents and rocky shoals of life lived by those who are apart from God.
I. MAKING SURE WE KNOW HOW TO LIVE
I Thessalonians 4:1 reads: "Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more." Although people often want a list of do’s and don’ts, we need to teach them to understand Christian principles so that they can apply God’s standards to many areas of life. Just as some of the old arts are sadly disappearing (handcarved woodwork, old family recipes, singing with close harmonies, reading good literature and poetry), we as parents are often failing to teach the coming generations the most basic knowledge of all--how to live as God intended. This is reaping unwelcome results in the lives of the rising generations. We need to rethink how we are doing ministry in the home and the church. Children learn how to live from (a) parents (practices in the home) and (b) church leaders (processes in the church).
Horner maintains that there are four essentials in knowing how to live. We have not lived well until we both know these things and have passed them on to others.
A. NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO LIVE UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN SHOWN THE WAY OF THE LORD (Ps. 25:4).
God's instruction contains practical information about what pleases Him and also brings about the greatest good in our lives. For example, Paul gave instructions to those he loved in Thessalonica in order that they might learn how to excel in all aspects of life and live for the pleasure of the Lord. Children need to be shown the way of the Lord.
B. NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO LIVE UNTIL THEY LEARN THE FEAR OF THE LORD.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge (Prov. 1:7). We need to teach children the fear of the Lord (Ps. 34:9, 11). We cannot do this if we live and speak as if God is inconsequential in our lives. We should naturally speak to our children about how our passions and values are shaped by a reverence for God.
C. NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO LIVE UNTIL THEY DISCOVER THE GRACE OF THE LORD.
Fear alone does not sustain an enduring foundation for right living but does introduce the motivation every person needs to seek reconciliation with the Lord. When we fear the Lord, we know our choices have consequences. When we hear the gospel, we know our consequences can be overcome. When we discover grace, we know our lives can be restored.
D. NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO LIVE UNTIL THEY TREASURE THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD.
Far too many people in our generation, and those we have influenced, have never seen the beauty and value and infinite worth of Jesus Christ (Psalm 27:4). When we treasure something, we cannot help but talk about it. We want others to enter into the joy. Why is it that we often fail to spontaneously share a testimony of what God is teaching us? Because (at least at those moments) we don’t treasure it. When we settle for mere religious duty, that’s what we hand off to the next generation.
Once we know how to live, we then need to make sure we know what to build....
II. MAKING SURE WE KNOW WHAT TO BUILD
Is it our ambition to build successful programs, to fill up state of the art buildings, to win awards for the greatest creativity and innovation? Is it our ambition to baptize record-breaking numbers of students, to build such a reputation that even larger churches try to recruit us away, to build our own student kingdom within the church that is the envy of all? Ever heard: "We just built a new building, and now we need to see some results.” Remember Paul's reflection on the surpassing value of Christ (Phil. 3:8).
A. WE WANT LIVES THAT ARE WHOLLY INTEGRATED.
It is amazing how well-integrated our lives become and remain when we set our hearts and fix our gaze upon Christ. We are to build consistently and comprehensively into the lives of those we serve by making it our chief objective and consuming passion to make Christ known. Deuteronomy 6:4-9 provide the outline for making that possible.
1. Personal, passionate instruction
If the things of God have not gripped your heart and engaged your passions, you will not be motivated to pass them on to those in your household. Instruction from those who care little about a subject to those who have no knowledge of it breeds a lukewarm, disinterested familiarity.
2. Practice It
There needs to be evidence to support our claim that Christ is our treasure. Let your kids see you studying the Bible. Let your kids into your processing what sort of entertainment you allow in your home. Let your kids come with you as you do acts of service and mercy.
3. Proclaim/verbalize It
Take advantage of time spent driving – or performing other mundane tasks – to explain to your kids how you are living out the Christian faith (Deut 6:7) There are lessons at work: Doing the dishes, paying the bills, mowing the grass, raking the leaves, cleaning the house...alll these give opportunities to teach lessons about doing all for the glory of God. There are lessons during play: sharing, fairness, honesty, self-discipline in knowing when to get back to work, sportsmanship. In addition, there are particularly teachable moments (a time of discipline, a crisis occurs in the life of a loved one, when they first see something spectacular in nature).
4. Post It
There are creative ways to display evidence to house guests and family members that "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." (Deut. 6:8-9)
a. Hands -- All you doB. A LIFE THAT IS WELL-ORDERED AND BALANCED
b. Forehead -- All you think
c. Doorposts -- All that is in your home
d. Gates -- All that touches your public life
We cannot expect our ministry to rise to a level outside the home beyond what it has inside the home.
1. Every-member ministry
Ministry leaders must make sure that they do not do the ministry for the church, but equip the church to do the ministry (Ephesians 4:12, 16).
2. Principle-based ministry
Don't give people rules and check-lists, give them principles to guide them in complex situations. That way we get to partner with families as we equip them, not become substitutes for families as we take over for them.
Richard Baxter wisely recognized:
“We must also have a special care for families to see that they are well-ordered and that each performs its duties. For the life of religion, and the welfare and glory of the church and state, depend much on family government and duty. If we neglect this we will undo all. How can we see to the revival of a whole congregation if all the work is cast upon the pastor alone? Or if the heads of families neglect their responsibilities, what will be the extent of a church awakening?CONCLUSIONIf any good is begun by the pastoral ministry, it will be stopped--or at least hindered--if the family is careless, prayerless, and worldly. But if you get the heads of families to do their part, to take up the work where you have left off, and then finally to help it on, what an abundance of good might be done! So I urge you to see the importance of family cooperation in your ministry.
Your goal is to be effective in family ministry. So get information about how each family is organized, and how God is worshiped there. Visit the families when they are at leisure and find out if the head of the family prays within his home, reads the Scriptures, enters into worship in other ways. Labor to convince those who are negligent about the validity of such duties; ask that they promise to reform their ways for the future.” (The Reformed Pastor, pp. 79-80)
When we know how to live life to its full measure in Christ, we will never settle for a ministry that falls short of that delight. God does not intend for us to make life in Christ a one-dimensional, shallow, trivial addition to the lives of students anymore than He does for you and me. Students need to see Christ in all His beauty displayed in integrated, well-balanced lives.
Update: Message Audio in MP3 Format
reThink Conference - Session I - Leon Tucker
Pastor Blake Hickman of Providence Baptist Church kicked-us off this morning by reiterating the three-things the conference hosts hope to accomplish today.
1. That we will make “much of Him.”
2. That the gospel of Christ and its rich provisions will once again be proclaimed as our only hope.
3. That pastors and church leaders will be inspired to do ministry “on His terms”.
We then enjoyed a wonderful time of worship through singing led by Daniel Renstrom. We sang Not to Us, Beautiful One, Praise to the Lord the Almighty, Come Thou Fount, and Here I Am to Worship. After that, Leon Tucker, Pastor of Education Ministries at Providence Baptist Church, gave a message entitled Foundational Issues for Ministry.
Pastor Tucker has been married for over thirty years and is going on his fourteenth year in ministry at Providence. He prayed that God would align our hearts with His. Tucker opened by noting that many conferences emphasize technique as opposed to timeless principles. Many ministries today lack direction but are going Mach 2. Many Christian conference speakers will give messages that never open the Bible. By contrast, we see the example of Paul, who was not ashamed by the gospel (Rom. 1:16).
I. VALUES ARE FOUNDATIONAL
Values are foundational because they give us direction. We know if leadership is good or bad by the direction leaders take those who come behind them. In Matthew 5, Jesus shares His value system--a system which must, in turn, become our value system. We are to seek His kingdom and His righteousness (Matt. 6). We must chose between two foundations to build upon: one will endure, and the other will not (Matt. 7).
II. TRUTH-CENTERED APPROACH TO MINISTRY
Jesus Christ is the truth (John 14:6); He is to be the integration point in our lives. Tucker challenged attendees to ask themselves if their lives and ministries are focused upon Christ. Is He the center?
A. Authoritative truth (Col 1:9-11)
In Christ “all things hold together.” Christ wants us to not only know and understand the truth, but also to be skilled in application. God's truth must truly guide us; we are to live in complete dependence upon God.
We can tell how much we’re really asking God to lead us and to develop our skill by how much we’re praying. Prayer is a conscious recognition of our need for God.
B. Relational truth (I Jn 4:8,16; Phil 1:9-11)
In Phil. 1:9-11, Paul is making a very similar prayer as he offered on behalf of the Colossians, but here Paul emphasizes the relational aspect of applying love in relationships with wisdom. After all, God is a God of truth and love, and love is inherently relational.
C. Study the truth to develop skill of a craftsman (II Tim 2:15)
We need to study God's word, so that we can apply it like a master craftsman. We are to sharpen one other so that we can put God’s truths into practice with skill.
Tucker shared that his dad, a construction worker, got him into the construction industry as a teenager. He saw “master craftsmen” and thought wow – I want to be like them. Likewise, we should live with skill as Christians – master craftsmen – so that others will look at us as examples.
Tucker reflected upon the example of his youth pastor and some of the college students doing youth ministry. These were skilled Christian ministers, continually challenging Tucker to live for Christ as a teenager.
We talk about a postmodern age today. But remember, Paul and his followers were having to live out their faith in a hostile, pagan world. Paul's world had no more reference point to Christianity than our current secular/post-modern culture.
What do see in Acts? The disciples were modeling Christ-centered love with each other. They didn’t have any gimmicks or entertainment tricks. And the people were standing in line to know more about them.
In the business world, if you have a product for which there is a growing market, that is called a target-rich environment. People today are hungry for ultimate purpose and deep, genuine relationships. Christianity holds the key to both.
III. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF PASTORAL LEADERSHIP (I Timothy 3, 4)
From the youngest child to the oldest adult, as pastors we are in the business of cultivating Christian character. Most of the leadership at Providence is grown from within. And the cultivation of personal character is a big part of this process.
A. Personal character (I Timothy 3:1-3)
People that are trustworthy, pure, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable. The idea of respectable is essential; people naturally admire such people and want to follow them.
B. Relational skill (I Timothy 3:4-7)
1) Nuclear family oversight (v.4-5)
If we cannot do it in our family, how can we do it in the larger family?
2) Skill of maturity (v.6)
Growing people to maturity takes time.
3) Noble character with unchurched (v.7)
You would think this one would go without saying. But the biggest criticism of the church is that we say one thing and do another. We cannot be one thing inside the church and another thing outside.
C. Modeling the role (I Timothy 4:12)
We need to live in a way that makes much of God: our conduct, love, faith, and purity. If we do, then we’re like "two by fours" that God uses to influence others for His glory.
See also II Tim 2:22-26. We need to live for God, and then let God do His work. We must be able to articulate the truth, but then we must let God draw people to himself. We don’t have to be combative.
IV. THE LEADERSHIP "CONTINUUM"
This is the flow of biblical leadership.
A. Leadership is about direction
B. Direction is driven by values
C. Values drive purpose
This may look different in different families (e.g., one family has a 10 PM curfew, another 11 PM). But we’re all to be shaping our vision from God’s principles.
D. Purpose drives vision
E. Vision drives strategy
F. Strategy drives priorities
G. Priorities drive life/ministry management
We’d all say that our family is a priority since it is a biblical qualifier. But we have many pastors today that are not living out leadership in their families. So many of us manage our life by our schedule – the priorities that others (or circumstances) assign to us. In reality, we need to schedule our priorities.
H. Life/ministry management drives relationships
I. Relationships drive contentment
J. Contentment is to be modeled (this is part of healthy spirituality)
K. Modeling is the role of leadership
V. PRAYER IS CRITICAL
Prayer is to undergird the entire leadership process (Prov 3:5-6; I Thess 5:17).
A. Personal dependence upon God (Rom 1:17; I Cor 2:9-16)
1) Discovery: knowledge, insight, application
2) Fruit of the Spirit produced.
Emphasize faithfulness over fruitfulness. God will take care of our producing fruit.
3) Moment by moment prayer (II Cor. 10:5)
B. Ministry dependence upon God (Col 4:2-6; Eph 3:14-21)
Just as we are dependent upon God in our personal life, so in our ministries we are totally dependent upon God. If there is dependence upon God expressed in regular, corporate prayer, then when God does big things, we don’t become egotistical. Because we know where the power came from. Minister with your colleagues as a team of God-dependent friends.
VI. IMPLEMENTING CHANGE
A. Regularly evaluate and be able to state your personal and ministry continuum.
B. Model your convictions
Work within your spheres of influence (personal, family, and ministry). Let God expand your influence as he chooses to do so.
C. Pursue incremental change
D. Commit to longevity
Sadly, many pastors never make it through one cycle of ministry life at a particular church. It ought not to be this way. Servant-leaders ought to persevere.
Update: Message Audio in MP3 Format
May 15, 2008
Interview with Steve Wright: Part 2 of 2
[This is part 2 of a two-part interview with Pastor Steve Wright. Part 1 can be found here.]
ALEX: You've been in youth ministry for over 20 years. How has it changed during that time?
STEVE: Unfortunately I see student ministry heading in a very dangerous direction. Many of us got caught up on the “bigger is better” treadmill. Bigger budgets, bigger programs, bigger personalities. We believed we could entertain students all the way to the cross. While I would have never confessed it early in my ministry, I was literally trying to prop up the gospel with gimmicks, giveaways, and all the rest of an entertainment model.
It is no surprise that now we have several “For Profit” ministries thriving in an industry to keep students entertained. Unfortunately, today the gospel within student ministry has become Big Money.
ALEX: What are the biggest challenges in youth ministry today?
STEVE: Two big challenges stand out.
1. The Gospel - What gospel are we proclaiming? Are we challenging our students and families to encounter the gospel afresh every day? There was a seeker who came to Jesus once that many know as the Rich Young Ruler. Jesus offered him grace and eternal life, but this young man walked away because of his pride and his possessions. Jesus did not chase him down to give him a latte and put an iPod on his head, neither did Jesus alter His message to “give all.”
2. Theology - Will we do ministry on His terms or will we seek trendy, business and entertainment models? Are we willing as pastors to REALLY dig into God’s Word for His direction, and do we have the conviction to change course where necessary?
ALEX: How do you respond to those who believe that churches should not have youth ministries?
STEVE: Our first response should be in a spirit of love and gentleness. I wish the solution was as easy as doing away with student ministries. I have heard this message for some time now as the solution, but I really do not see many churches rallying behind this thought. Do we do away with preschool, children’s, women’s, men’s, and senior adult ministries? Acts 5:38-39 says, “If this thought is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God you will not be able to stop it.”
The key element to me on this issue is do we believe God’s Word is sufficient? If it is, how does it guide us in the context of student ministry? I, for one, do not believe that God’s Word is silent in this area and that IT DOES give extensive guidance as to the roles of both the family and the church. Acts 2:42-47 gives us a clear picture of what the church should look like and that picture demonstrates cooperation between families and the wider church body.
ALEX: How do family dynamics impact the health of a church's youth ministry?
STEVE: A student ministry rises and falls on the spiritual health of its families. As a youth pastor, it’s virtually impossible for me by myself to guide students to where they need to be spiritually. This was never the biblical model. Parents must assume the lead in this role; when they do, the results are amazing. God has blessed them with this amazing privilege of being daily mentors in the lives of their children. What a gift. We have already seen the results of this here at Providence.
ALEX: What do you hope this ReThink Conference accomplishes?
STEVE: Our utmost desire is that the pastors and other leaders who come will encounter the gospel afresh and see its power to change individuals, families, and churches. If I had to give you a short list, I would also say:
1. That we will make “much of Him.”Steve Wright serves Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC as Pastor of Student Ministries. He is the author of reThink
2. That the gospel of Christ and its rich provisions will once again be proclaimed as our only hope.
3. That pastors and church leaders will be inspired to do ministry “On His Terms”.
and regularly blogs at lastingdivergence.com.
Interview with Steve Wright: Part 1 of 2
In my last post, I introduced Steve Wright and his book reThink: Decide for Yourself - is Student Ministry Working?
ALEX: Please tell us a bit about how God saved you.
STEVE: I met Christ as a 10th grader at a little country church in north Georgia. My grandmother who was a committed Christ-follower passed away a few weeks before I was invited to go to a revival by a neighbor. Before this time, I had never thought much of death and eternity. At the revival that night, I heard the good news and made Christ Lord of my life.
ALEX: How and when did you first discern that God was calling you into youth ministry?
STEVE:This was a difficult time for me because I didn’t really understand much about church or Christian ministry. I wasn’t around either a whole lot growing up. I thought full time ministry was for senior pastors and missionaries. I went to Haiti a few times while I was in college to explore missions.
It is kind of funny because I would leave Haiti very broken and confused. I was broken over the sin and living conditions and confused because the missionary I worked with would work me so hard each day I thought I would die. I was a collegiate wrestler at the time and in really good shape (I thought), and I would leave thinking if missionaries work this hard every day there is no way I could make it.
God was gracious as He brought a pastor into my life who allowed me to work with his student ministry. As I was faithful, he would give me more responsibility. It was through his ministry that God impressed on my heart that He wanted me to be a pastor. This pastor not only modeled for me 1 Timothy 3:1-13, but also was used by God to show me what His plans for my life were.
ALEX: Please comment on the benefits and potential pitfalls of a youth ministry.
STEVE: Benefits:
• Dependency on God- I think student ministry constantly drives its leaders to their knees. It is terribly burdening to see what students and their parents face on a daily basis. Only by God’s mercy and His grace can we walk through these difficult times.
• Hope- I am blessed to see students claim Christ as Lord. Watching God’s transforming power in these students in whom I am pouring my life and His wisdom reminds me of the fact that God is always bringing restoration to people and relationships, and sometimes He allows us to partner with Him in the restoration. This has been God’s grace on my life.
• Observation- Student pastors have the opportunity to watch the lives of other Christ-followers because of their contact with these individuals through ministering beside and to them. Through observing the faithfulness of others, Tina and I have been taught so much more about God and what it means to surrender all daily to Him.
Pitfalls:
• Pride- It may sound strange, but pride is every student pastor’s greatest enemy. We know that God opposes the proud. In student ministry, it is simply too easy to do the opposite of John 3:30. If you were to ask me what my greatest need is in ministry, I would straightforwardly respond, “humility.” For me to be effective in ministry I must offer God’s grace and His great grace is only given to those who walk with great humility.
• Neglect- It is easy in student ministry to care for the needs of others in such a way that we bring leftovers home to our families. God Forbid! I must shamefully confess that in the first decade of my ministry I sinned in this way. I did not esteem my family as my primary ministry.
[This interview continues in Part 2.]
Steve Wright serves Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC as Pastor of Student Ministries. He is the author of reThink
Steve Wright - reThink Conference
Over the last year or so I've had the pleasure of getting to know Steve Wright. Active in youth ministry for over twenty years, Steve currently serves as Pastor of Student Ministries at Providence Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC. Last year he published a book entitled reThink: Decide for Yourself - is Student Ministry Working?
Wright maintains (from Deuteronomy 6 and elsewhere) that parents have a primary responsibility for the discipleship of their children, both prior to and during the pivotal teen years. He calls upon youth pastors to come alongside parents in this venture, equipping both the students and their parents. Unfortunately, some parents see spiritual formation as the exclusive job of the youth pastor, who in turn too quickly accept the responsibility. The results have been disasterous: 58-84% of children from evangelical families are leaving the church as they enter adulthood (in their college years). The largest Protestant organization (the Southern Baptist Convention) saw a 35-40% reduction in baptisms among teens aged 12-17 over the last twenty-five years. With regard to biblical literacy, the data are equally perplexing: In a study of teenagers of which 70% were active in church youth groups, and 82% identified themselves as Christians, Barna found that 63% believe Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, Jews and all other people pray to the same god. While 87% believe Jesus was a real person who came to earth and 78% believe He was born of a virgin, 46% believe He committed sins and 51% believe He did not rise from the dead. 58% believe that all religious faiths teach equally valid truth. In response, Wright notes:
"Student ministry in many cases has become the local YMCA or teen amusement park; students check in and out, but mostly out. After all, once they have experienced years of fun-and-games, all-you-can-eat, no-responsibility, free-from-parents amusement, then we have helped train their appetites for pleasure to find more alluring fulfillment in the adult world."
ReThink is a sober yet hopeful plea to reconsider the common youth ministry paradigm whereby youth ministers are tacitly encouraged to prioritize quantity of students gathered (for events, outreaches, etc.) over quality of long-lasting discipleship. In preparation for tomorrow's ReThink Conference, I interviewed Steve about his testimony and ministry. The next two posts will be the content of that interview, after which I'll be live-blogging the Conference.
May 14, 2008
Young, Restless, &...Emergent or Reformed?
Two books appeared in March 2008 that both claimed to address movements that are attracting younger generations of Christians, while shaking up institutions, denominations, and churches along the way. The books are Young, Restless, Reformed: A Journalist's Journey with the New Calvinists
Christianity Today hosted a great dialog between Hansen and Jones, given the similarities and differences between their books. CT notes:
The books and movements share a number of themes: reaction against entertainment-driven church life, desire for transcendence, rediscovery of tradition, and a need to answer common misconceptions about the movements. Christianity Today invited Hansen and Jones to read each other's books and discuss how the rise of one movement might illuminate aspects of the rise of the other. Are both movements scratching the same itch? Are there internal tensions in one movement that also appear in the other?The interaction consisted of a five-part dialogue:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Check them out.
May 13, 2008
Responsibility, Liberty, and Educational Options
Gregg Harris offers some wise words on Christians and educational options.
"Educational choices have always been a matter of parental responsibility, not of some extra-biblical standard. Every householder should make an informed decision before God. All should research their local schools, public and private and become fully convinced in the way in which he (or she) decides to use his God-given liberty under the Lordship of Christ to bear the best and most abundant fruit he can for the glory of God.....I can honestly say that every option, including home schooling has its problems (as you well know). So, pick your problems, and by the grace of God deal with those problems as they arise."Read the whole thing.
(HT: Challies)
May 12, 2008
Guinness on Albert Mohler Show
Dr. Os Guinness will be discussing The Evangelical Manifesto today on the Albert Mohler Radio Program, which can be freely played or downloaded.
On his blog, Dr. Mohler's explained why he has not signed the Manifesto.
[HT: JT]
May 09, 2008
Os Guinness on Potential Evangelical Manifesto Concerns
I previously expressed my thoughts on the recently published Evangelical Manifesto. I was honored that Dr. Guinness, one of the document's originators, was willing to field a few questions from me on this matter. He permitted me to publish his response, only requesting that I mention these are "hasty responses on a hectic day! Above all we are not out to attack or exclude anyone, but to call for reforms that make us all better followers of Christ. So we hope people will not make knee-jerk reactions, but study, think , and pray."
CHEDIAK: According to this AP article, Focus on the Family's Board of Directors had "myriad concerns about the effort". Any response?
GUINNESS: I have not spoken to Jim Dobson personally, but I know John Huffman has done so. People were asked to sign as individuals, not as representatives of organizations, but he said it was his board that advised him not to sign for the moment. I honestly don’t know the full thinking behind the decision. Remember that we call the signers ‘early signers’ because they are the signers so far. Hundreds of others are already joining us, and we invite all Evangelicals to consider and sign.
CHEDIAK: When you express your desire that we move beyond single-issue politics, are you saying that Christians should be more open to voting for pro-choice candidates if they demonstrate passion and concern for issues like poverty, racism, and the environment?
GUINNESS: Emphatically not, and the Manifesto is blunt about the undiminished fight for life and marriage.
CHEDIAK: Or are you saying that while it is morally advisable to vote pro-life, we should hold pro-life candidates to a higher standard on issues such as poverty, racism, and the environment? Is it both/and?
GUINNESS: One of the ways we have been exploited is that certain politicians have said they were pro-life (or pro-marriage, or pro-school prayer, or whatever), but have done nothing apart from a symbolic vote every so often. With any vote, there is always a raft of policy issues to be considered as well as other issues such as the candidate’s character. We should never vote on a single issue alone – unless 1) the issue is supremely important (which life is), and 2) there is a serious chance of it being resolved or forwarded in the next election cycle (which isn’t usually the case with life).
CHEDIAK: The Manifesto reads, "we Evangelicals wish to stand clear from certain conservative and fundamentalist positions in public life that are widely confused with Evangelicals." Why let others dictate what we can be (publicly) for or against merely by their inappropriately conflating pro-life (or whatever) with evangelicalism?
GUINNESS: Life is not the problem, and you are right that we should not be defined by the world. As I said at the press conference yesterday, the issue is not re-branding or image. It is reality. But the Bible says a lot about the fact that we should so live that the name of God is honored. Thus when the Lord is publicly represented by Pastor Fred Phelps (‘God hates fags’) or by the Reconstructionists, it is not surprising that we are called ‘homophobic,’ ‘theocratic,’ and seeking to impose Christendom.
CHEDIAK: You call on "Those who share our dedication to the poor, the suffering, and the oppressed," urging them to work with us to "bring care, peace, justice, and freedom to those millions of our fellow-humans who are now ignored, oppressed, enslaved, or treated as human waste and wasted humans by the established orders in the global world." I agree with this exhortation, but would you acknowledge that our differing worldviews might result in our having widely diverging methods to addressing these problems? For example, socialistic reforms seem to minimize the doctrine of man's depravity. Any thoughts?