Saturday, September 29, 2007
By Their Fruits
Are you confused about the what “emergent church” believes? Click HERE to get the scoop.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Protecting Your Heart From Deceit
I'm an admirer of Ohio State head football coach Jim Tressel. I became even more impressed with him as I heard him speak to our Ohio ministers this past spring via interview by our Superintendent. I love the statement he always makes when his team is leading in the second half of taking the "surest path to victory". The rationale is if you're holding a lead late in the game and winning being the goal - don't do anything to mess that up. Makes a lot of sense.
Spiritually it makes a lot of sense as well. As Christians there is a way that we can take the surest path to victory and guard our hearts from deception and heresy - this surest path is the proper study of the Bible. Many will agree that the Bible is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. But how can we make sure we have the proper interpretation of the Bible? How do we ensure that our understanding of God's Word is the right one?
Human history is littered with desperately deceived people misusing and misquoting the Bible to advance a cause or an agenda. Some pretty awful things have been done in God's name throughout history. It's our job as genuine Christians to make sure that we don't make those kinds of mistakes - and the job of pastors to equip and train the wonderful people that God has entrusted us with to guard against this deception.
Here's a thumbnail sketch of how we can make sure we are understanding and interpreting the Bible in the proper way:
First, pray for wisdom before you begin reading. James says: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5.
Historically people tend to fall into doctrinal error when they become Biblically unbalanced. James again says: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure..." The wisdom of the Lord guards us from error and heresy because it is first pure, or true. Remember there are some great people, preachers, teachers and some wonderful human beings both historically and currently who have fallen off the wagon theologically and fallen into error because of this very point. Only a humble reliance on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit can keep us sound. No one is exempt from this.
Next make sure you are right with God before you study. This requires listening to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit. If you've been convicted of something in your life and you've ignored doing something about it - beware. Some have tried to plow through the Bible while living in adultery, or other gross sin, and seem to 'not see' or gloss over the scripture that deals with their very sin. Others have fallen into error because they were opening the Bible to try to find a 'verse' to justify themselves. This has sadly led some down the path to the devastatingly false "God told me" conclusions. I can't tell you how many times in dealing with people over the last twenty years I've heard: "God told me to" or, "God showed me this". While I knew it couldn't have been the God of the Bible that did the telling, the person went on to shipwreck their life via a poor choice in a marriage, a relationship or some other ill-fated idea blamed on God. It's difficult to argue with a person who's told you "God told me to". That's why we, who would use that line of reasoning, must humbly examine our hearts and lives with a fine tooth comb - and ask for the Holy Spirit's assistance while doing so.
A third step to ensure proper Biblical understanding is - be ready to admit you're wrong. Something I've discovered as I've studied the Bible verse by verse, is that some of the views I've held weren't biblical. It wasn't anything deep, dark and hideous, but it was places where my thinking wasn't consistent with God's Word. I realized that I was wrong and had to align my thinking with God's thinking. Sometimes it's wisdom to suspend what you might think on a certain topic until you can do some in depth study in the Word on the topic. It's much easier to say "I'm not sure - I'm studying it out right now", than to speak and later have to retract.
Finally, be sure that the Bible is the first place you turn. Not Christian TV, not a pastor, not the Internet - but the Word of God. As a pastor, I'm intent upon Christians thinking and digging in the Word and not being told what to think. This is accomplished by Christians getting into the Word of Life for themselves and prayerfully studying it out.
Ponder for a moment how much more sermons would "hit you where you live" if you and the preacher were on the same page. This assumes that the preacher is actually and primarily using the Bible in his preaching, and that the listener is studying their Bible regularly. It can be that powerful when we realize that God is speaking to us from His Word - today! God has been revealed to us as a God who desires intimate fellowship with us (1 John 1). As Christians everything we do should be "Father filtered", so our thinking in all areas of life should have as its basis the Word of God.
Spiritually it makes a lot of sense as well. As Christians there is a way that we can take the surest path to victory and guard our hearts from deception and heresy - this surest path is the proper study of the Bible. Many will agree that the Bible is the infallible and authoritative Word of God. But how can we make sure we have the proper interpretation of the Bible? How do we ensure that our understanding of God's Word is the right one?
Human history is littered with desperately deceived people misusing and misquoting the Bible to advance a cause or an agenda. Some pretty awful things have been done in God's name throughout history. It's our job as genuine Christians to make sure that we don't make those kinds of mistakes - and the job of pastors to equip and train the wonderful people that God has entrusted us with to guard against this deception.
Here's a thumbnail sketch of how we can make sure we are understanding and interpreting the Bible in the proper way:
First, pray for wisdom before you begin reading. James says: If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. James 1:5.
Historically people tend to fall into doctrinal error when they become Biblically unbalanced. James again says: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure..." The wisdom of the Lord guards us from error and heresy because it is first pure, or true. Remember there are some great people, preachers, teachers and some wonderful human beings both historically and currently who have fallen off the wagon theologically and fallen into error because of this very point. Only a humble reliance on the wisdom of the Holy Spirit can keep us sound. No one is exempt from this.
Next make sure you are right with God before you study. This requires listening to the convicting voice of the Holy Spirit. If you've been convicted of something in your life and you've ignored doing something about it - beware. Some have tried to plow through the Bible while living in adultery, or other gross sin, and seem to 'not see' or gloss over the scripture that deals with their very sin. Others have fallen into error because they were opening the Bible to try to find a 'verse' to justify themselves. This has sadly led some down the path to the devastatingly false "God told me" conclusions. I can't tell you how many times in dealing with people over the last twenty years I've heard: "God told me to" or, "God showed me this". While I knew it couldn't have been the God of the Bible that did the telling, the person went on to shipwreck their life via a poor choice in a marriage, a relationship or some other ill-fated idea blamed on God. It's difficult to argue with a person who's told you "God told me to". That's why we, who would use that line of reasoning, must humbly examine our hearts and lives with a fine tooth comb - and ask for the Holy Spirit's assistance while doing so.
A third step to ensure proper Biblical understanding is - be ready to admit you're wrong. Something I've discovered as I've studied the Bible verse by verse, is that some of the views I've held weren't biblical. It wasn't anything deep, dark and hideous, but it was places where my thinking wasn't consistent with God's Word. I realized that I was wrong and had to align my thinking with God's thinking. Sometimes it's wisdom to suspend what you might think on a certain topic until you can do some in depth study in the Word on the topic. It's much easier to say "I'm not sure - I'm studying it out right now", than to speak and later have to retract.
Finally, be sure that the Bible is the first place you turn. Not Christian TV, not a pastor, not the Internet - but the Word of God. As a pastor, I'm intent upon Christians thinking and digging in the Word and not being told what to think. This is accomplished by Christians getting into the Word of Life for themselves and prayerfully studying it out.
Ponder for a moment how much more sermons would "hit you where you live" if you and the preacher were on the same page. This assumes that the preacher is actually and primarily using the Bible in his preaching, and that the listener is studying their Bible regularly. It can be that powerful when we realize that God is speaking to us from His Word - today! God has been revealed to us as a God who desires intimate fellowship with us (1 John 1). As Christians everything we do should be "Father filtered", so our thinking in all areas of life should have as its basis the Word of God.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
How Saved Are We?
That’s a disturbing question.
But observing the average American Christian today, it’s painfully obvious that something has run amok. I’m not even talking about heretical movements that are flaunting false doctrine in abundance today - nor am I referring to declining church attendance. My concern is for those who are sitting in our pews.
The “sheep” are becoming more difficult to recognize as sheep. We’re undoubtedly reaping the fruit from decades of preaching a soft Savior, salvation without self denial, a crown without a cross and using unbiblical language like “accept” Jesus as one’s Savior (He accepts us).
So how many of our “sheep” have really experienced Biblical salvation? The late Dr. D. James Kennedy pondered the same question, when he stated that based on the empirical evidence, he had come to the conclusion that “75-80% of people attending church weren’t really saved.”
Jim Elliff essentially asks the same in his article about the Southern Baptist Church when he said: “When as many as 70-90% of “converts” are giving little if any evidence of being saved after their first weeks or months of emotional excitement, questions should be asked, both about our understanding of the gospel and about our methods.”
Questions indeed - and the biggest one - How saved are we?
Many church goers would say that they "know who they are in Christ” - but I must kindly beg to differ. Only 1-2% of Christians EVER share their faith - blatantly ignoring even an attempt at fulfilling the Great Commission. The divorce rate is actually higher in the church than it is in the world. (I've cited on this blog that the divorce rate among church attenders is actually higher than it is among atheists). The percentage of Christians involved in cohabitation and other sexual promiscuity rivals the world’s numbers. Again I wonder, how saved are we?
Ron Sider, author of The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience says, “If American Christians simply gave a tithe rather than the current one-quarter of a tithe, there would be enough private Christian dollars to provide basic health care and education to all the poor of the earth. And we would still have an extra $60–70 billion left over for evangelism around the world.” Apparently us church folks aren’t the most generous bunch either. That flies in the face of the very definition of a true Christian.
Evidence points to the fact that, by and large, we have a defective church. And the reason? We have preached a defective message. We have done a big disservice to our hearers in two ways: We have failed to tell them the old life must end; and we have failed to definitively show them the new life in Him. The truth is our Americanized modern gospel has created a lot of followers who are not true sheep, but geese - as in, lost as a goose.
The sad and difficult part is, many actually believe they are saved merely because they may have said some sort of a prayer, perhaps have a church membership card in their wallets or maybe even have baptism waters dripping off of their face.
John MacArthur, speaking about some of these church attenders who populate the American church: “People are breezing through these wide, comfortable gates with all their baggage, their self needs, their self esteem, and their desire for fulfillment and self satisfaction. And the most horrible thing about it is, they think they are going to heaven.”
The preaching of Biblical salvation is long overdue. So how Biblical is our salvation? Here is Biblical salvation in a nutshell:
1. To be saved there has to be a complete, utter surrender and sellout to Jesus Christ. This is often referred to as “believing in Jesus” or “putting your trust” in Him. God’s holy Son died for the world. The Perfect One suffered a criminals death. He bore all of our sin on the cross. The Righteous Lamb died for foul sinners. He paid the price completely for sin. We sinned. He died. We were guilty. He was punished. We deserve death. He gave us life. We rejected Him. He accepted us. Salvation is through Him completely. We add NOTHING to our salvation. It’s a gift of God given by God’s grace, through faith in Jesus Christ the Righteous.
2. With this sellout, there is something called repentance. Repentance is a change of mind, a change of direction - we abandon the sin we used to partake in. Jesus described our salvation experience as being “born again”. That describes an upheaval. A drastic change. A brand new start. Does that sound familiar? When the Spirit of the Living God comes to inhabit our lives, there should be a big difference - a before and after - Liars stop lying. Thieves stop stealing.
It’s time to wake up the pew sitters in America with the truth. It may be shocking and offensive to many that have been lulled asleep by having their ears tickled, but it will be oh so healing, redemptive and life changing.
“Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” Ephesians 5:14.
Friday, September 14, 2007
The Intoxicating Blogosphere - A Cautionary Tale
I really love to write. Preachers are supposed to like to golf - but I never was good enough to justify the the outlay of cash necessary to 'chase the little white ball'.
That's when I discovered blogging. A fun way to write, relax and even read and learn. But then comes comments - yes, actual people visiting one's blog and making comments about what you've written, positive, negative, it mattered not - it was readership! That's when I began to really delve into to the "blogosphere"! As it progressed I discovered a wonderful little idol called a 'counter'. This little device tracks and breaks down every single bit of traffic to your blog in so many ways it makes your head spin - and it's pretty cool. Then I discovered when I write on certain topics that interest me - my counter climbed! Cool! That meant more visitors coming to read what I've written, more comments. That was very cool. At least I thought.
Then it sort of hit me - and a commenter on another blog I think sums up this blog traffic 'high' by this statement they made:
"I have to admit I hadn’t spent too much time at ********** in the past few months, once I realized I was there simply for the “train wreck” appeal of it all. In some articles the prideful part of me would pop up and say, 'I would never do a thing like that!'"
And that is it indeed - the more contentious the topic - the more readers. Don't misunderstand, the topics I write and wrote about are things I am very passionate about, very concerned with and believe with all my heart and still do. And lets face it, not many care to read about my family vacation to Mackinac Island, or my children starting a new school.
The whole blog "gig" became rather intoxicating - and for me, rather wrong.
Here's what the Lord reminded me of yesterday: I am responsible for how people perceive me. I should do everything I can to make sure I am representing Jesus Christ and myself in the most accurate and the most Christ honoring way I can. This nearly led me to deleting this entire blog yesterday - and the reason is I honestly have no desire to argue with or be contentious with brothers in Christ. After being called some unsavory and hurtful things - I realized that how I was being perceived by some wasn't the real me.
The reason why lies in the very nature of electronic communication (blog, email, etc.). There is a very key component in this medium that is missing - TONE.
When one makes strong statements in communicating, tone can be your best friend. When preaching, strong statements come off much better because people can see the smile, see my tears, hear the concern in my voice, hear the humor - and it all makes sense and it is understood what kind of person I am and the spirit in which the message is delivered.
Sadly, people who only 'read' what I say electronically don't get to see or hear the above mentioned tonal qualities, which may lead some to conclusions about me that aren't true. Then some, armed with "Internet muscles" are glad to pull out the sword and use it on someone they've never met because they've rushed to conclusions about my heart and the spirit in which I deliver things that simply aren't true.
The solution? I remember that I'm responsible for how people perceive me - and now in this day and age that includes electronically.
So in that spirit, I back off, apologize to whomever I need to apologize to for coming across in a manner that was not my intent.
I make it a practice to evaluate criticism - if it has any merit, I receive it and repent - for the misguided hurtful criticism that has no merit - it's water off a ducks back.
The final analysis is that I set my face like flint to go after Jesus with more passion and more humility than ever before - I will continue holding my God given convictions and taking my stand for the Lord.
That's when I discovered blogging. A fun way to write, relax and even read and learn. But then comes comments - yes, actual people visiting one's blog and making comments about what you've written, positive, negative, it mattered not - it was readership! That's when I began to really delve into to the "blogosphere"! As it progressed I discovered a wonderful little idol called a 'counter'. This little device tracks and breaks down every single bit of traffic to your blog in so many ways it makes your head spin - and it's pretty cool. Then I discovered when I write on certain topics that interest me - my counter climbed! Cool! That meant more visitors coming to read what I've written, more comments. That was very cool. At least I thought.
Then it sort of hit me - and a commenter on another blog I think sums up this blog traffic 'high' by this statement they made:
"I have to admit I hadn’t spent too much time at ********** in the past few months, once I realized I was there simply for the “train wreck” appeal of it all. In some articles the prideful part of me would pop up and say, 'I would never do a thing like that!'"
And that is it indeed - the more contentious the topic - the more readers. Don't misunderstand, the topics I write and wrote about are things I am very passionate about, very concerned with and believe with all my heart and still do. And lets face it, not many care to read about my family vacation to Mackinac Island, or my children starting a new school.
The whole blog "gig" became rather intoxicating - and for me, rather wrong.
Here's what the Lord reminded me of yesterday: I am responsible for how people perceive me. I should do everything I can to make sure I am representing Jesus Christ and myself in the most accurate and the most Christ honoring way I can. This nearly led me to deleting this entire blog yesterday - and the reason is I honestly have no desire to argue with or be contentious with brothers in Christ. After being called some unsavory and hurtful things - I realized that how I was being perceived by some wasn't the real me.
The reason why lies in the very nature of electronic communication (blog, email, etc.). There is a very key component in this medium that is missing - TONE.
When one makes strong statements in communicating, tone can be your best friend. When preaching, strong statements come off much better because people can see the smile, see my tears, hear the concern in my voice, hear the humor - and it all makes sense and it is understood what kind of person I am and the spirit in which the message is delivered.
Sadly, people who only 'read' what I say electronically don't get to see or hear the above mentioned tonal qualities, which may lead some to conclusions about me that aren't true. Then some, armed with "Internet muscles" are glad to pull out the sword and use it on someone they've never met because they've rushed to conclusions about my heart and the spirit in which I deliver things that simply aren't true.
The solution? I remember that I'm responsible for how people perceive me - and now in this day and age that includes electronically.
So in that spirit, I back off, apologize to whomever I need to apologize to for coming across in a manner that was not my intent.
I make it a practice to evaluate criticism - if it has any merit, I receive it and repent - for the misguided hurtful criticism that has no merit - it's water off a ducks back.
The final analysis is that I set my face like flint to go after Jesus with more passion and more humility than ever before - I will continue holding my God given convictions and taking my stand for the Lord.
Why Orthodoxy Isn't Enough
(From Humble Orthodoxy - written by Justin Blizzard)
I’m committed to humble orthodoxy because orthodoxy isn’t enough.
Mere orthodoxy, mere correctness of doctrine, mere mental knowledge of biblical truth, isn’t enough to drive what I’m called to do as a man, husband, father, pastor, and missionary to the San Francisco Peninsula. Let me explain.
James 2 gives one of Scripture’s sharpest statements that God wants his people to operate with something more than mere orthodoxy, for even non-Christians, even enemies of God, can be orthodox: “Even the demons believe…” (James 2:19). James 2:19 is our reason why orthodoxy needs an adjective. I suppose we could place many different adjectives in front of the word “orthodoxy” which would help us move beyond the useless “demon orthodoxy” of James 2. Maybe what we need is “obedient” orthodoxy? Maybe what Christ wants from us is a “passionate” orthodoxy? Or “purpose-driven” orthodoxy?
It would seem to me that “humble” is the most appropriate adjective for describing the kind of orthodoxy the Bible calls Christians to cultivate. Though I became a Christian when I was just a young boy, I’ve lived most of my life with an aversion to humility. Until a few years ago, just hearing the word “humble” caused allergic reactions. My pride runs deep. I’m the kind of guy, the kind of Christian, who thinks he has what it takes to wake up in the morning, get dressed, and go out and live with an obedient, passionate, purpose-driven orthodoxy that pleases God, blesses my family, turns heads, converts thousands, and causes others to be really impressed with me…and maybe also with God.
Though I probably still woke up this morning with that same default, prideful frame of mind, humility has become attractive to me. The aversion has melted. I now hear the adjective “humble” and I’m drawn in. I want this word to mark my life. There are two reasons for this: failure and Jesus. I’ve come to realize that left to myself, I’m not much better than the demons. I can fill my mind with orthodox thoughts about God, yet live a life unchanged. As obedient, passionate, and purpose-driven as I aim to be in my orthodoxy, I fail: I don’t enjoy and glorify God, serve my wife, love my son, pastor my sheep, or love my lost neighbors here in the un-churched San Francisco Bay Area as the Bible calls for me to do. I can’t do it. I need help. I need a Savior.
I’ve come to see that I need Jesus my Savior every single day of my Christian life. That’s the heart of orthodoxy, the heart of the Bible, the heart of the gospel: living this Christian life that brings glory to God and redemption to the world requires, pivots upon, the Savior. And that’s true not just for day one, but for every single day of the Christian life. I’m committed to humble orthodoxy because humble orthodoxy highlights my Savior. And without a humble, daily reliance upon Jesus, I can’t be orthodox. It’s taken me a long time to realize this. It’s going to take the rest of my life to apply this. By the grace of God, game on.
I’m committed to humble orthodoxy because orthodoxy isn’t enough.
Mere orthodoxy, mere correctness of doctrine, mere mental knowledge of biblical truth, isn’t enough to drive what I’m called to do as a man, husband, father, pastor, and missionary to the San Francisco Peninsula. Let me explain.
James 2 gives one of Scripture’s sharpest statements that God wants his people to operate with something more than mere orthodoxy, for even non-Christians, even enemies of God, can be orthodox: “Even the demons believe…” (James 2:19). James 2:19 is our reason why orthodoxy needs an adjective. I suppose we could place many different adjectives in front of the word “orthodoxy” which would help us move beyond the useless “demon orthodoxy” of James 2. Maybe what we need is “obedient” orthodoxy? Maybe what Christ wants from us is a “passionate” orthodoxy? Or “purpose-driven” orthodoxy?
It would seem to me that “humble” is the most appropriate adjective for describing the kind of orthodoxy the Bible calls Christians to cultivate. Though I became a Christian when I was just a young boy, I’ve lived most of my life with an aversion to humility. Until a few years ago, just hearing the word “humble” caused allergic reactions. My pride runs deep. I’m the kind of guy, the kind of Christian, who thinks he has what it takes to wake up in the morning, get dressed, and go out and live with an obedient, passionate, purpose-driven orthodoxy that pleases God, blesses my family, turns heads, converts thousands, and causes others to be really impressed with me…and maybe also with God.
Though I probably still woke up this morning with that same default, prideful frame of mind, humility has become attractive to me. The aversion has melted. I now hear the adjective “humble” and I’m drawn in. I want this word to mark my life. There are two reasons for this: failure and Jesus. I’ve come to realize that left to myself, I’m not much better than the demons. I can fill my mind with orthodox thoughts about God, yet live a life unchanged. As obedient, passionate, and purpose-driven as I aim to be in my orthodoxy, I fail: I don’t enjoy and glorify God, serve my wife, love my son, pastor my sheep, or love my lost neighbors here in the un-churched San Francisco Bay Area as the Bible calls for me to do. I can’t do it. I need help. I need a Savior.
I’ve come to see that I need Jesus my Savior every single day of my Christian life. That’s the heart of orthodoxy, the heart of the Bible, the heart of the gospel: living this Christian life that brings glory to God and redemption to the world requires, pivots upon, the Savior. And that’s true not just for day one, but for every single day of the Christian life. I’m committed to humble orthodoxy because humble orthodoxy highlights my Savior. And without a humble, daily reliance upon Jesus, I can’t be orthodox. It’s taken me a long time to realize this. It’s going to take the rest of my life to apply this. By the grace of God, game on.
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Do Apostles Exist Today?
We're having some great discussion on this topic over here. I'm going to repost some thoughts on this topic:
Here are some common misconceptions of what an apostle is (via Anton Bosch):
-Apostles run denominations.
-Apostles receive supernatural extra Biblical revelation like Paul did.
-Apostles have authority that supersedes scripture.
-Apostles succeed one another -(as in a continuous line since Peter).
-Apostles are the highest authority in the church.
-Apostles are inward (churchward) while Evangelists are outward.
A good working definition of Apostle: Quoting from Thayer's the word apostle literally means: "a delegate, messenger, on sent forth with orders."
Apostles are literally those who have been sent out on a mission - from this concept we get the word "missionary".
So to the question - "Do Apostles exist today?"
The truth is, being an 'apostle' is a calling just like being a 'pastor'. What makes one a pastor? A title? A position? A degree from a Seminary or Bible College? I believe most pastors will answer 'none of the above' - what makes one a pastor is the Divine call on your life that you felt at some point in your history and continues burning brightly today. An apostle is called in the same way.
The problem we face today in believing apostles exist - is this "mystical" view of what an apostle is. We've gotten into our minds that if you're an apostle, then your shadow must be healing people. This is simply not the case.
Apostles today are some of the people you might know - church planters, missionaries, movers and shakers that are called of God to be such. Some might also pastor a church like Paul did for a time.
Biblically apostles are those:
-Who are sent out to preach the gospel.
-They establish churches.
-They confirm and establish the churches they start through follow-up visits.
-They appoint elders and pastors to oversee the local churches.
I don't know how other movements work, but this describes several missionaries that I know personally in the A/G. That's not to say every missionary is an apostle - because that wouldn't be accurate. By the same token I also believe every man behind a pulpit isn't necessarily gifted to be a pastor even though he (or she) may carry that title.
These apostles I know do things that I couldn't do - go places I can't, establish things I couldn't, endure things that make me cringe. They are undoubtedly gifted as Biblical apostles.
We have not lost apostles today, we simply cease to identify them for what they are.
Usually the guys that have it on their business cards - ARE NOT IT! God didn't call us to be legends in our own minds - but humble, broken servants of Christ that would gladly die for the cause of Christ. THESE are the type men that I know and call apostles.
Here are some common misconceptions of what an apostle is (via Anton Bosch):
-Apostles run denominations.
-Apostles receive supernatural extra Biblical revelation like Paul did.
-Apostles have authority that supersedes scripture.
-Apostles succeed one another -(as in a continuous line since Peter).
-Apostles are the highest authority in the church.
-Apostles are inward (churchward) while Evangelists are outward.
A good working definition of Apostle: Quoting from Thayer's the word apostle literally means: "a delegate, messenger, on sent forth with orders."
Apostles are literally those who have been sent out on a mission - from this concept we get the word "missionary".
So to the question - "Do Apostles exist today?"
The truth is, being an 'apostle' is a calling just like being a 'pastor'. What makes one a pastor? A title? A position? A degree from a Seminary or Bible College? I believe most pastors will answer 'none of the above' - what makes one a pastor is the Divine call on your life that you felt at some point in your history and continues burning brightly today. An apostle is called in the same way.
The problem we face today in believing apostles exist - is this "mystical" view of what an apostle is. We've gotten into our minds that if you're an apostle, then your shadow must be healing people. This is simply not the case.
Apostles today are some of the people you might know - church planters, missionaries, movers and shakers that are called of God to be such. Some might also pastor a church like Paul did for a time.
Biblically apostles are those:
-Who are sent out to preach the gospel.
-They establish churches.
-They confirm and establish the churches they start through follow-up visits.
-They appoint elders and pastors to oversee the local churches.
I don't know how other movements work, but this describes several missionaries that I know personally in the A/G. That's not to say every missionary is an apostle - because that wouldn't be accurate. By the same token I also believe every man behind a pulpit isn't necessarily gifted to be a pastor even though he (or she) may carry that title.
These apostles I know do things that I couldn't do - go places I can't, establish things I couldn't, endure things that make me cringe. They are undoubtedly gifted as Biblical apostles.
We have not lost apostles today, we simply cease to identify them for what they are.
Usually the guys that have it on their business cards - ARE NOT IT! God didn't call us to be legends in our own minds - but humble, broken servants of Christ that would gladly die for the cause of Christ. THESE are the type men that I know and call apostles.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Dr. D. James Kennedy, 1930-2007
“Now, I know that someday I am going to come to what some people will say is the end of this life. They will probably put me in a box and roll me right down here in front of the church, and some people will gather around, and a few people will cry. But I have told them not to do that because I don’t want them to cry. I want them to begin the service with the Doxology and end with the Hallelujah chorus, because I am not going to be there, and I am not going to be dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.”
D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
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