Comments on: Building Bridges- A Caution http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/ A Closer Look at the Doctrines of Grace in the SBC Sun, 07 Sep 2008 21:43:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.3 by: Gloria http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4130 Sun, 06 Jan 2008 00:01:55 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4130 Can I make an obvious, seemingly simplistic point... The Word and the Holy Spirit are the ONLY means of transformation and renewal. This being so... why do churches keep looking for humanistic methods and resources to bring about the Holiness of God? (Roman's 12:2) The only means of bringing people first TO Christ and then closer to the image of Christ is through His Word. Churches are failing because they have become nothing much more than tax exempt country clubs. Get rid of the fluff... those worldly distractions that are anti-family (dividing and busying families). Get the fathers studying the Word and help them be the Priest of their home (Malachi 4:6). Getting into the Word might take a bit of guidance and work from administration, but with e-mail and web sites this is doable. Encourage (or better yet challenge) the members each day with a couple of "look again" type questions pertaining to the verses or section that will be taught in the upcoming Sunday Service. Families could use these daily questions as part of their family devotions and then gather together in small groups on Sunday to share their answers. This will help members go into the Word daily and prepare their hearts to eagerly anticipate a time of worship on Sunday as the Pastor expounds on these verses even deeper. This very process has changed my family's life, though we haven't found a church that incorporates it (still looking). Something very similar to this process is being done successfully in Bible Study Fellowship International where they help you to systematically STUDY the Bible daily and let It teach It's own Truths. In fact it is through this very process that God opened my eyes to the doctrines of Grace straight through His Word, though I couldn't even tell you if BSF is "Calvinist" or not. This approach may not sound like anything Madison Avenue (or the megachurch gurus) would incorporate to aim for increasing THE BOTTOM LINE... but God's ways ARE opposite of man's. We need to repent first, and go to Him to solve this problem, He will take care of the details. His Word truly is THE means of transformation and renewal. Who can give reason for doing this ANY other way than God's. Can I make an obvious, seemingly simplistic point… The Word and the Holy Spirit are the ONLY means of transformation and renewal. This being so… why do churches keep looking for humanistic methods and resources to bring about the Holiness of God? (Roman’s 12:2) The only means of bringing people first TO Christ and then closer to the image of Christ is through His Word. Churches are failing because they have become nothing much more than tax exempt country clubs. Get rid of the fluff… those worldly distractions that are anti-family (dividing and busying families). Get the fathers studying the Word and help them be the Priest of their home (Malachi 4:6).

Getting into the Word might take a bit of guidance and work from administration, but with e-mail and web sites this is doable. Encourage (or better yet challenge) the members each day with a couple of “look again” type questions pertaining to the verses or section that will be taught in the upcoming Sunday Service. Families could use these daily questions as part of their family devotions and then gather together in small groups on Sunday to share their answers. This will help members go into the Word daily and prepare their hearts to eagerly anticipate a time of worship on Sunday as the Pastor expounds on these verses even deeper.

This very process has changed my family’s life, though we haven’t found a church that incorporates it (still looking). Something very similar to this process is being done successfully in Bible Study Fellowship International where they help you to systematically STUDY the Bible daily and let It teach It’s own Truths. In fact it is through this very process that God opened my eyes to the doctrines of Grace straight through His Word, though I couldn’t even tell you if BSF is “Calvinist” or not.

This approach may not sound like anything Madison Avenue (or the megachurch gurus) would incorporate to aim for increasing THE BOTTOM LINE… but God’s ways ARE opposite of man’s. We need to repent first, and go to Him to solve this problem, He will take care of the details. His Word truly is THE means of transformation and renewal.

Who can give reason for doing this ANY other way than God’s.

]]> by: Strange BaptistFire » Blog Archive » An Example of “Building Bridges” Gone Awry http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4033 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 17:01:20 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4033 [...] Now, Jesus Christ is truly the “All-Merciful One,” but in a Muslim understanding this title is only applied to Allah, and so the document gives the appearance that Christians are seeking forgiveness from the unitarian God of the Muslims rather than calling our Islamic neighbors to repentance and faith in Christ, which is their only hope of eternal life. Brothers and sisters reading this post, “Loving God and Neighbor Together” is just the kind of bridge-building that Baptists must reject. We must not only reject seeking building bridges to other religions that are at enmity with the Christian Faith, but we must reject seeking common ground with other Baptists that would influence us to build such bridges and thus compromise the Great Commission. This, I believe, is an illustration of the necessity of Jeff Noblit’s warning, quoted in my last post. [...] […] Now, Jesus Christ is truly the “All-Merciful One,” but in a Muslim understanding this title is only applied to Allah, and so the document gives the appearance that Christians are seeking forgiveness from the unitarian God of the Muslims rather than calling our Islamic neighbors to repentance and faith in Christ, which is their only hope of eternal life. Brothers and sisters reading this post, “Loving God and Neighbor Together” is just the kind of bridge-building that Baptists must reject. We must not only reject seeking building bridges to other religions that are at enmity with the Christian Faith, but we must reject seeking common ground with other Baptists that would influence us to build such bridges and thus compromise the Great Commission. This, I believe, is an illustration of the necessity of Jeff Noblit’s warning, quoted in my last post. […]

]]> by: Paul http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4029 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 20:36:25 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4029 I had a good talk this week with someone who was at "Building Bridges". He said that, although we have many in the SBC who give lip service to the Doctrines of Grace and other doctrines like inerrancy, for many, it appears to be theoretical rather than practical, i.e. to be practiced. I had a good talk this week with someone who was at “Building Bridges”. He said that, although we have many in the SBC who give lip service to the Doctrines of Grace and other doctrines like inerrancy, for many, it appears to be theoretical rather than practical, i.e. to be practiced.

]]> by: Darrin http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4026 Fri, 14 Dec 2007 06:44:43 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4026 Disregard my last comment - I wasn't keeping up. Thomas, I really appreciate what you had to say about the problem of upholding the inerrancy of the scriptures while disregarding their meaning and authority. And your words about philosophical presuppositions and the controversy surrounding teaching materials sadly hits very close to home. Disregard my last comment - I wasn’t keeping up.
Thomas, I really appreciate what you had to say about the problem of upholding the inerrancy of the scriptures while disregarding their meaning and authority. And your words about philosophical presuppositions and the controversy surrounding teaching materials sadly hits very close to home.

]]> by: Darrin http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4025 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 22:09:48 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4025 Barry, Thomas was just answering my question about the acronym CR which Morris referred to. Sorry for any confusion. Barry,
Thomas was just answering my question about the acronym CR which Morris referred to. Sorry for any confusion.

]]> by: Thomas Twitchell http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4024 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:40:17 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4024 CR is the catch phrase for the actions taken to reverse the encroachment of liberalism in the SBC with spill over elsewhere. If I have my history correct the time span for the gelling and assent of conservative Chrisitanity in the SBC was between 1960 and 1980. There is alot of information written on the history. The kind men here can lead you to much of it but you can go <a href="http://www.founders.org/" rel="nofollow">here</a>, if you like. Search the blog for CR. There are also many other references there. One of the results of the CR was that Al Mohler gained affirmation as one of its leaders which lead to his being named President of Southern. I think that is how it went. Now, his appointment is being questioned by those who are anti-calvinistic in the SBC. That is why it fits together. The reestablishment of the inerrancy of Scripture leads logically to its authority. Its authority for Doctrine means that a consciencious examination of it is dangerous for anyone who holds to any doctrines that cannot be exegeted. Exegesis requires interpretation based soley on the text without importation of rationalistic philosophical presuppositions such as libertarian free-will. Proper interpretation naturally should lead to teaching materials in SS's. That is a bad thing, for some. CR is the catch phrase for the actions taken to reverse the encroachment of liberalism in the SBC with spill over elsewhere. If I have my history correct the time span for the gelling and assent of conservative Chrisitanity in the SBC was between 1960 and 1980. There is alot of information written on the history. The kind men here can lead you to much of it but you can go here, if you like. Search the blog for CR. There are also many other references there.

One of the results of the CR was that Al Mohler gained affirmation as one of its leaders which lead to his being named President of Southern. I think that is how it went. Now, his appointment is being questioned by those who are anti-calvinistic in the SBC.

That is why it fits together. The reestablishment of the inerrancy of Scripture leads logically to its authority. Its authority for Doctrine means that a consciencious examination of it is dangerous for anyone who holds to any doctrines that cannot be exegeted. Exegesis requires interpretation based soley on the text without importation of rationalistic philosophical presuppositions such as libertarian free-will. Proper interpretation naturally should lead to teaching materials in SS’s. That is a bad thing, for some.

]]> by: Barry http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4023 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 18:11:20 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4023 Could you elaborate a little more Thomas? Could you elaborate a little more Thomas?

]]> by: Thomas Twitchell http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4022 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:52:15 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4022 Conservative Resurgence Conservative Resurgence

]]> by: Barry http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4021 Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:31:51 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4021 Interesting that Jews, dispite the fall from grace outlined in Genesis, do not believe in original sin. That came from Augustine. I discovered only recently that Jews did, and still do, consider the NT as completely heretical. I wasn't aware of that, but it doesn't surprise me. Interesting that Jews, dispite the fall from grace outlined in Genesis, do not believe in original sin. That came from Augustine.

I discovered only recently that Jews did, and still do, consider the NT as completely heretical.

I wasn’t aware of that, but it doesn’t surprise me.

]]> by: Darrin http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4020 Wed, 12 Dec 2007 20:48:18 +0000 http://strangebaptistfire.com/2007/12/08/building-bridges-a-caution/#comment-4020 I agree that the concept of depravity is critical to right doctrine. So if we believe our will is not also fallen, the logical conclusion is that we are due some credit for making the right choice, though few would claim that. Amazing, though, how this is so commonly accepted along with some assent that all glory is to God. Seems inconsistent. Also, I'm sure I should know this, but what is the "CR"? I agree that the concept of depravity is critical to right doctrine. So if we believe our will is not also fallen, the logical conclusion is that we are due some credit for making the right choice, though few would claim that. Amazing, though, how this is so commonly accepted along with some assent that all glory is to God. Seems inconsistent. Also, I’m sure I should know this, but what is the “CR”?

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