Don't Waste Your Pulpit

This 4 minute 21 second video clip by John Piper is insightful and a great reminder to the pastor and our responsibility. Be saturated by God.

Happy New Year!

Autonomous or Independent

I received a game for my birthday back in October called Zobmondo!! Would You Rather? (don't take my link to mean 'endorsement') Simply put you read a 'would you rather' question from the box and then defend your answer to the others.

For example: Would you rather preach to angry Southern Baptists in a church without air conditioning in August or preach to angry Southern Baptists in a church building where someone removed their seat cushions? It's a given that both groups need a message on peacemaking and long suffering.

I've been considering an issue in my mind lately about whether I would want to be a pastor of an autonomous church or independent church. I ask myself: Why do we call ourselves autonomous churches rather than independent churches? I'll start with defining the adjective (I prefer Merriam Webster's Dictionary.)Would you rather be part of an autonomous church or an independent church?

Autonomous:

1. (a) having the right or power of self-government (b) undertaken or carried on without outside control
2. capable of existing, responding, reacting or developing independently of the whole

Independent:

1. not dependent: not subject to control by others not affiliated with a larger controlling unit
   
2. not requiring or relying on something else
3. not looking to others for one's opinions or for guidance in conduct
4. not requiring or relying on others (as for care or livelihood)
   

I'm sure there may be grounds for defending that Southern Baptist Churches are both independent and autonomous. I'm even in agreement that there is a hint of both that does define a Southern Baptist Church. I often hear these words used to define our unique relationship to each other, our associations and convention.

I find that the spirit of the word autonomous defines us best however. One could argue that the reason we are a convention of autonomous churches rather than Independent Baptists is because we believe in the value of faithful cooperation. Isn't that what the concept of the Cooperative Program is all about? Faithful cooperation. If God wants to use us together to do something, then we have just been invited by God to faithfully cooperate to that end.

What do you think? Would you rather?

KBYU

I have this thought that I'm still fleshing out... so be patient.

Earlier this week I had the privilege of traveling to Salt Lake City. I was blessed to sit with a mom and dad while their son endured back surgery to correct a spinal curve. (I don't appreciate this like I should because I have never had to wait through a 7 hour surgery for one of my children.)

On Tuesday morning before returning home I spent about an hour in our UISBC state convention office with the state staff during their weekly chapel time. I was encouraged to listen to those serving the churches of Utah and Idaho. I'm thankful for them all.

This is not the reason for my post this week though. I'm posting because of what God showed me during the 4 hour trip to SLC and the 4 hour trip home. In the eight hours of trave,l I listened to KBYU radio (Mormon radio). This was an eye opening experience even though I would never encourage any follower of Christ to make KBYU a main investment for your ears, nor should this be interpreted by anyone as me endorsing KBYU radio (because I'm not.)

This is the short of what I heard.

• nearly 4 hours of complete 'talks' (I don't know if they are called sermons or not, I don't use the word 'talk' to belittle the sermon, I just honestly don't know what to call it.)
• nearly 3 hours of Christmas music (just like the ones you and I sing in church.)
• an hour or so of miscellaneous talk and advertisement (all conservative and family friendly related topics.)

The LDS church has been attempting to look and sound more evangelical over the past 20 years, but especially the last 12, should come as no surprise to anyone in the Utah/Idaho region. What caught me off guard (other than the fact that there was no expository teaching going on at all, it was all topical and on very interesting topics) was that it wasn't until I heard the call letters of the radio station before I knew that I was not listening to an LDS radio station. After this moment I continued listening, expecting to hear something that I might be in disagreement with - imagine a long moment of awkward silence here - there was not one thing in the 8 hours of that I could disagree with in what I heard on the radio.

At this moment I may have many readers concerned about where I'm going with this. Stay with me. I'm not endorsing or am I suggesting that I am in agreement with Mormon doctrine. This is not a post about this kind of topic. In fact, let me state clearly for the record; there is no common foundational ground with Mormonism and (true) Christianity.

Back to the reason for this posting...

If pastors don't preach biblical doctrine and churches don't hold their pastor accountable to preach biblical doctrine then we sound just like the cultic teachers I heard on the radio who sounded just like preachers I've heard preach in 'evangelical' churches. This should cause great concern.

This posting is a call to the pastor to preach doctrine (the things that prove we are not building on the same foundation.) This posting is a call to the church to not settle for a motivational speaker. Preach the Word in season and out of season. Preach the Word when it's popular and especially when it's not popular. Preach the Word of God!

Flesh this out with me will you? What is going on in the American church that an LDS 'talk' sounds just like so many 'evangelical' sermons?

Go!

You know the commission. GO! (Matthew 28, Acts 1:8, Hebrews 13, and many other Scriptures) Do you ever think about this [God-sized] commission. It's huge, it's risky, it's dangerous, but we've been promised that He Himself (Heb. 13:5-6) will NEVER desert us or EVER forsake us. WOW

In his book, Roaring Lambs, Bob Briner talks about how the churches influence in culture is quenched when she stays quiet in the mainstream (meaning all forms of music, theatre, arts, printed media, local school board and TV and radio; i.e. the marketplace.)

I recently moved into this risky place (outside the camp) and agreed to an interview for my local paper. I didn't like the final result at all and now finding myself wishing I had stayed inside the camp (but resolved that I must not.) So I thought I would open up for some thoughts from others with suggestions and thoughts about being a "Roaring Lamb" in the mainstream of our culture.

"It's time for believers to confidently carry their faith with them into the marketplace so that our very culture feels (and hears) the difference." Bob Briner (Added emphasis, because they must hear the gospel for it to be good news.)

Happy Thanksgiving

Dear Utah/Idaho Southern Baptists,

I give thanks to God for the blessed hope we share together in His kingdom. I have lived in Idaho now for nearly 17 years, you've become my family. I thank God for every encounter I have with you. I prayed for you this morning, asking God to give us boldness to proclaim this hope that does not disappoint.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Paul Washer

Nearly one year ago, while in discussion with a fellow pastor (John Williams, in Monticello, UT) I was encouraged to listen to a sermon by fellow Southern Baptist, Paul Washer. I will warn you in advance that this most recent sermon by Washer is nearly two hours and is a hard (while loving) and yet most needed word for the church. This kind of prophetic word is timely. Please set the time aside to listen and test the word.
Could we be on the horizon of an awakening in our land? There appears to be a movement among us centered upon Christ and Christ alone. (abiding in the River) The 10 indictments that Washer addresses in this message have the potential of making some angry and may well be used of God to cause many to repent. I pray the last. I spent much time in prayer tonight for you Utah/Idaho SBC. This bold message is not very popular, but oh might it be heard by many.
I had asked Paul Washer to speak at our last convention meeting but he was already committed to speak at this (see video) October 22 conference in Atlanta, GA, where he preached this message entitled 10 Indictments.

Quitting Church: Book Review

Book Review by Paul Thompson:

First of all; this was a disturbing book. I'm not much of a fan of books written by research institutes because I fear the fallout of how their data will influence what the church does. Remember when research data came out and said that church members are only giving their church 1 to 2 hours a week? What did churches start doing in response to that kind of data. We believed it and began dropping our meeting times and days, because a research institute told us that's why attendance was down. Then research institutes are prone to promote a programed agenda (published and sold by them) that will solve the exodus from our churches. We are still fighting our way out of the music wars (maybe they've always been around) in our worship services because research told us that lost people don't like our music (are the people in our churches really opposed to a drum set or guitar, a key-board or organ, with music or without music; or are they mostly told that there is a problem and so they begin believing there is a problem?) What happened to abiding by the River. Isn't that where life abounds?

Second of all; this book was not written by a research institute. Julia Duin (Religion Editor, the Washington Times) sites research institutes (Barna, LifeWay, etc.) and then found that much of the trends that are being discovered by the research institutes are accurate, but mostly because churches (and denominations) are moving farther away from their roots (changing) and becoming less church-like and more nonprofit-like (my words, not Julia Duin's) in our organization.

Is it possible that the growing trend in America of 'Quitting Church' is because the church is not being the church? If you get the chance to read this book, I recommend it. I didn't agree with some of Julia Dain's observations but the overall observation, from a non-research-institute, was insightful.

Does the church even know where the river is anymore?

Where the River Flows, Life Abounds (edited with corrected dates for UISBC Convention)

Our heritage (SBC) is rich isn't it? Over the past 15 years I've become more and more interested in our history. In my research and discovery I've learned what I've heard many times to be true that we are historically a people of 'the book' (Bible). As a people of the Bible it would seem natural that we would as well be a global mission minded people.

I don't know exactly what a president of a Baptist Convention does (not really what you want to hear, I know). I've decided to do what I think one should do until someone can give better direction. I spent time this morning and I prayed for every church in this Utah/Idaho Convention by name. I appreciate the amazing diversity of our region and the unique ministries of every local church and pastors.

God has allowed me [a second try] to be in the humbling position of the planning of an annual gathering of Baptists. October 27-28, 2009 at Central Valley Baptist Church in Meridian, Idaho, Baptists from the Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention will gather. Will we 'gather' this year or will we 'come together'?

My recent observation of Ezekiel 47:1-12 has captured my attention. This text has some amazing focal points, it is a rich and meaningful text. I've included my (condensed) observation below (personal emphasis added).

9 "It will come about that every living creature which swarms in every place where the river goes, will live. And there will be very many fish, for these waters go there and the others become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Ezek 47:9 (NASB)

I first noticed how much the larger block of text spoke about water/river and the connection to live/grow. Then I began thinking about how this fertile agriculture land of Southern Idaho used to look 100 years ago, before the river [through irrigation] brought life to what was desert. Where the river flows, life abounds (MSG) . This is one thing that shines out of our heritage; were we take Christ (living water) life sprouts where death once was. Dying people don't need a program, they need life. Dying people don't need strategies, they need life. If life is what they need, what will bring it to them? The River.

This observation is really not at all very earth shaking. It is really more like a logical conclusion based on known facts of what the desert land needs to sustain life. Where do we need to take the River that life may abound?

Welcome

Welcome to Life Abounds. Over the past year (2008) it has been my pleasure to serve as president of the Utah/Idaho Southern Baptist Convention. I look forward to another year (2009) and will listen with great anticipation to all God wants to teach me. The views that are expressed here are simply personal reflections on the satisfaction I have discovered in Christ. I will invite others to submit articles and you are always welcome to comment; either to humbly agree or lovingly disagree. (You should even feel free to offer corrections to my spelling errors and any grammatically incorrect sentence structures you find. And you most likely will find them here.)

It is my hope to post (at least) weekly on one of the following topics (but not only limited to the following topics. You should feel free to suggest topics of interest too) ...

1. Biblical Doctrines that best define Baptists.
2. Biblical Preaching.
3. Evangelism and Discipleship.
4. Missionary/church planter stories.
5. Interviews of Baptists in Utah and Idaho.
6. Informational dates and links of upcoming events in the UISBC.

Does your church have a website? Do you or your pastor have an ongoing blog and want a link for it here? If so, then please post the needed information by commenting below with your website address (please do not post any email addresses).

*about the header photo: The photo was taken at Ross Falls in the South Central Idaho. This region is high mountain desert. Ross Falls is a spring fed water fall, and where the water flows... Life Abounds, even in the desert.