Should a Christian vote Democratic?

I have been asked the question by numerous students and friends, "Should a Christian vote for and embrace the Democratic party?" The question is asked because if one party embraces the sins of abortion and homosexuality, without a doubt, it is the democratic party. Well......here is an interesting sermon from John MacArthur on this very issue.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0GqVyYYfHc&feature=youtu.be

I must say, I am surprised this has not been picked up by the media.  

Does youth ministry function as a para-church ministry in the local Church?

I am reading a book titled As You Go by Alvin Reid with our youth pastor/family pastor. We just finished reading and discussing chapter one, which was a great discussion. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the chapter....

"We turned youth ministry into a toy department of the church." (p. 17)

 "We must connect students to the lager church and not function as a parachurch ministry within a church building. Students need older believers in their lives. We need Titus 2 revolution where older men teach younger guys and older women teach younger ladies." (p.20)

"We have communicated Christianity as behavior modification..." (p.38)

"American young people are unwittingly being formed into an imposter faith that poses as Christianity, but that in fact lacks the holy desire..." (p. 38)

"We need student pastors and national and parachurch leaders who are better at theology than a new ideas." (p. 18-19)

 

 

  

Death will not prevail!!

One of the most controversial texts in the world may very well be Matthew 16:13-20. While there is a lot to unpack in this passage, I want to focus on verse 18b, “the gates of Hades (death) shall not prevail against it (the church).” What does “Hades, or death, will not overtake the church” mean? Well here are my thoughts….Jesus died, but death did not win. He rose from grave. Death did not win.

Throughout the history of the church, governments have tried to stop Christianity by using physical force.  Men like Nero, Stalin, Hitler, and Ceausescu are just a few who have physically persecuted Jesus’ church, resulting in the death of pastors and Christians. This passage should bring comfort for believers around the world when physical persecution occurs. Death did not win.

Matthew 16:18 should make us bold in the midst of persecution. I just returned home from a trip to Romania. Ceausescu was a horrible dictator in Romania for 24 years. I was able to hear firsthand accounts of his physical persecution. I rode by the jail cell of Voice of the Martyrs founder Richard Wurmbrand. He was arrested and confined to a jail cell with no widows or light. Wurmbrand was in complete darkness. Many other pastors were thrown in jail, killed, or intimated by the Romanian government. A friend of mine told me he kissed his wife and 6 month old son goodbye, not knowing if he would ever see them again. These stories exist all over the world. Yet, death did not win!

When heat comes from governmental authorities, have faith. Death will not win. Christians may and will die for the faith. It has happened since Jesus died. It could happen in America. BUT, stand fast, the gates of Hades will not prevail. As Believers our biggest need has been met. We have peace with the living God. We can be extremely bold with the Gospel. We can take the Gospel to the hard places in the world. We can live boldly for our Lord in a world that is in constant conflict with us. We may suffer, we may die, but the church will prevail. So my friends -be bold. Share the Gospel boldly. Take risk for the Gospel boldly. Teach the word of God boldly. 

Life is a Mist

James ask the question to us all in James 4:14, "What is your life?" The Biblical answer, "For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."

Here is a video by Zach Sobiech that express just how short life is...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=sDC97j6lfyc#!

Defining the Church, Part One

The Doctrine of the Church Part One

If you ask people in your city, “What is the Church?” what answers do you get? Well I asked a few of my unbelieving and believing friends that very question. Here are some of the responses I received, “A building”, “I attend the Baptist Church down the Street”, “Sunday from 11AM till noon”, or “Where the hypocrites go.” were the top responses. The problem with these answers are….well… they are unbiblical! So, questions like { What is the purpose of the Church? Am I using correct Biblical language to describe the Church? How would the world describe the Church? What does the New Testament teach about the Church? Are you being a Biblical Church member? Do you have a Biblical view of the Church? How was the Church viewed in Church history?} will be answered in the following weeks.

For starters the language we use to define Biblical terms is very important. Are we using the word church the way God intended? Are we using words like sanctuary or Sabbath the way God used them in the Bible? Are we doing more harm to believers by the language we use than good? So, let’s see how God defines Church. In the Greek (I don’t know much Greek just my research) the word church can mean either to assemble together or a gathering of believers.

First, we have to define who makes up the church. The universal Church is made of real believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Only those whom God chose, Jesus died for, and the Holy Spirit drew to Himself is the church. This includes believers across the world, for all times, who have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus. This would be the elect. This is different from the people of God (Israel) in the Old Testament. Israel was an unbelieving picture of the church. There were some who believed before Christ came, for example David, Abraham, and Moses. However, as a nation, Israel is treated in Scripture as unbelieving. Just read Hosea or Isaiah for proof.

To be part of the people of God under the Old Covenant, you were physically born a Jew. Now, the people of God include people from every nation, Jew and Gentile. That was Jesus’ point to Nicodemus in John 3. Jesus was referring to Ezekiel 36. It is no longer a national race but a Spiritual race. Galatians is very clear that this new people of God (the church) include both Jew and Gentile. Paul calls this in Galatians 6:16 “the Israel of God.” In summary, the Church is made up of all those who Jesus died, who were redeemed, both Jew and Gentile.  See – Ezekiel 36:24-28, John 3: 1-8, Titus 3:4-7, Ephesians 1: 11-14. 2 Tim 2:19   

We all know that in churches across this country unbeliever are present. That would include children of Christian parents (who have not believed) and false professions. This is why it is important to try to weed out as many false professions as possible. I was recently in Romania and asked a pastor friend what was his view of the American church. He replied, “You guys have way too many false professions.” I have been tricked by many professing believers, even those who embraced sound reformed doctrine, who have eventually proven themselves to be a false profession. For Biblical proof see – Matthew 7:15-23, 2 Tim 4:10, Acts 20:29-30.

NOTE: The Nicene Creed defines Church as “We Believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church.”

Second, NO WHERE IN THE BIBLE does God define the Church as a building. How does the Bible describe the Church? See Romans 16:5 and 1 Corinthians 16:19. Notice the separation of Church and home. This changes the words we use to describe the “Church building “and it changes how we use words like, “Sanctuary”. The Bible never calls the place believers gather a sanctuary. For example, a friend of mine tells her children, “We are going to the building to be with our church family.” The church, Biblically, are people who have been redeemed!

Believers can gather anywhere and be as Holy and Honoring to the Lord as meeting in the nicest building on earth.  

Ephesians 2:18-20 says that the Church (people) is the dwelling place and influenced by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit changed the heart and life of all true believers. Our lives are to represent Jesus. Instead of going to a temple or building to find God, they now look at Christians who are salt and light to the world (Ephesians 3:10).

See – 1 Peter 2:5, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20, 1 Corinthians 3:16  

Third, the church is instituted by God. Just like marriage was ordained and instituted by God so is the Church. Jesus is the head of the Church and God calls the church the body of Christ.

See Ephesians 1:22-23, 5:25-29