PLEASE PUBLICLY CRITICIZE ME!

The New Morality

The "Church" today has a new set of morals that all must follow or face the consequences. The top new rule on that list is to avoid any type of public criticism of a "Christian" leader or "Christian" denomination. It doesn't matter if the leader is spouting things that have been considered heretical since Paul penned Galatians; if you post a critical comment on Facebook, or tweet a warning on Twitter, you will be judged a slanderer of the brethren and deemed to be possessed by a critical spirit.

Criticism is now seen as a hate crime and will no longer be tolerated. "Live and let live!" is the motto of our day. If God wants to stop a false teacher, He has the power to do it without a critic making a bunch of noise and dividing the sheep. And if you really have an issue that you cannot ignore, you should follow the example of Matthew 18:15-17. Go to the person privately and follow the prescribed order laid out by Jesus. To do anything else is sinful, right?

SOUTHEAST ASIA REFORMED NETWORK & CONFERENCE

Over the past six months, I have been busy helping with the startup of a new network for Reformed missionaries and pastors. To go alongside this network, the first Southeast Asia Reformed Conference has been planned. The team I am working with consists of three other missionaries. While none of us work in the same region of Southeast Asia, we all share a desire to see Reformed missionaries and pastors come together to encourage one another and help further expand God's kingdom. Below you can read the mission and vision statements of the Southeast Asia Reformed Network. (You can also go to the website or Facebook page to learn more.)

"FEED THE HUNGRY AT ALL TIMES, AND WHEN NECESSARY, USE FOOD"

Recently I was listening to the Fighting for the Faith podcast hosted by Chris Rosebrough. He was dissecting a Kerry Shook sermon where Kerry falsely quoted Francis of Assisi saying, "Preach the gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words." Chris rightly pointed out that this saying is utter nonsense, since the gospel is good news to be proclaimed. He then had me in hysterics when he said this...

"That's like saying, feed the hungry at all times, and if possible, use food." 

WHY I FOLLOW THE BILLY GRAHAM RULE

I recently read an article by Ty Grigg about why he thinks that the Billy Graham rule (basically not being alone with a woman that is not your wife) should be challenged. You can read his thoughts on the topic at this link. 

Though Pastor Grigg puts forth a number of arguments, some of which are halfway persuasive, I really only have one response. This is not my only reason why I disagree with him, but it is a major reason and one in which I feel trumps any notion Pastor Grigg wrote down in his article. 

I follow the Billy Graham rule because I love my wife and she wants me to follow it.

IF I JUST...

If I just...

If I just compromise on the gospel a little bit, I could have riches.

If I just compromise on the gospel a little bit, I could have a mega church.

If I just compromise on the gospel a little bit, I could have one-hundred-thousand twitter followers.

MODERATE PERSECUTION

Often we hear tell of the persecuted church in countries where either the government or society in general does not tolerate the Christian faith. These occurrences will often include tales of imprisonment, torture and even martyrdom. When a believer is face to face with extreme persecution, there can be no middle ground. Either that person will have to renounce their faith or suffer the consequences. Christ calls us to rejoice when we suffer for His name's sake.

When the underground Church in China begins discipling new believers, they first take the time to prepare these new converts for suffering. (See this article by Todd Nettleton) Given the context of that culture, this only makes sense. But what about other cultural contexts? What do we teach new believers in a country where persecution exists, yet in a milder form? This is a situation that is experienced in Thailand where I serve.

GOD WILL NEVER GIVE YOU A COMMAND YOU CANNOT KEEP... REALLY?

"God will never give you a command you cannot keep." Whether it has been in sermons, at Bible studies, in small groups; I have heard this said a number of times. It is the notion that God would never give a person more responsibility than he or she could bear. Theologies concerning sanctification have been formed around this very thought. Think of Charles Wesley and Christian perfection. Worse yet, theologies concerning justification have been formed around this notion. Think of Pelagius and his denial of total depravity. Is it true that God would never ask of His people to do something that He knows they are incapable of doing? Let us test this idea against Scripture.

HIATUS

I realize it has almost been one month since I last wrote anything here. There are two reasons for the long hiatus. First, in April I finished writing a pretty intense report on the religious world views of the people of Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand. That paper took a lot out of me and I felt that I needed a breather from writing for a while. The second reason is that I have been traveling a lot recently. Many of my normal ministry duties have been put on hold, hence some of my lighter duties have as well. I am currently working on a piece concerning a common saying that is often heard in Christians circles. It should be done in the next couple days. So, if you have been wondering if I would ever write again, worry no longer. However, if you have been glad to see my absence, you can begin to worry once more.

EASTER SCRIPTURE (MATTHEW 28:1-10)

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:1-10 (ESV)

MONDAY SCRIPTURE (MATTHEW 20:29-34)

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” And stopping, Jesus called them and said, “What do you want me to do for you?” They said to him, “Lord, let our eyes be opened.” And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

Matthew 20:29-34 (ESV)

MONDAY SCRIPTURE (GENESIS 3:1-13)

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.

And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.” Then the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this that you have done?” The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

Genesis 3:1-13 (ESV)

MONDAY SCRIPTURE (DANIEL 1)

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the vessels of the house of God. And he brought them to the land of Shinar, to the house of his god, and placed the vessels in the treasury of his god. Then the king commanded Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to bring some of the people of Israel, both of the royal family and ofthe nobility, youths without blemish, of good appearance and skillful in all wisdom, endowed with knowledge, understanding learning, and competent to stand in the king's palace, and to teach them the literature and language of the Chaldeans. The king assigned them a daily portion of the food that the king ate, and of the wine that he drank. They were to be educated for three years, and at the end of that time they were to stand before the king. Among these were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah of the tribe of Judah. And the chief of the eunuchs gave them names: Daniel he called Belteshazzar, Hananiah he called Shadrach, Mishael he called Meshach, and Azariah he called Abednego.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE (GENESIS 2:8-25)

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. The name of the first is the Pishon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold. And the gold of that land is good; bdellium and onyx stone are there. The name of the second river is the Gihon. It is the one that flowed around the whole land of Cush. And the name of the third river is the Tigris, which flows east of Assyria. And the fourth river is the Euphrates.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE (MATTHEW 13:53-58)

And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter's son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his hometown and in his own household.” And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

Matthew 13:53-58 (ESV)

HOW TO SHRINK YOUR CHURCH AND BE EXCITED ABOUT IT

After Jesus had fed the five thousand, many came after Him and desired to make Him king. Jesus knew that the only reason these people came after Him was because of the bread. (John 6:26) It makes sense. Here was a man that could take care of all of their needs. No more toiling in the dirt. No more worrying about where their next meal will come from. Hakuna Matata! Instead of gathering a large following, Jesus began to teach them difficult truths. In fact, these teachings were so disturbing to the crowds, that they all left. Even many of Jesus' disciples had enough and took off. (John 6:66)

The modern day Church should take a close look at this passage from John. Jesus was not trying to build a large following. Today's Christian leaders see dynamic growth as a sign that God is blessing a Church. A pastor is worth his salt once his congregation has reached Mega Church status. (I think the number is around 2000 nowadays, but don't take my word for it.) Even then, the pressure is on for continued and sustained growth. A church with 10,000 members is no longer an anomaly.

SUNDAY SCRIPTURE (PSALMS 103)

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and all that is within me,

bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

FURTHERING YOUR EDUCATION WHILE ON MISSION

It has been a while since my last post. That is because over the past two weeks I was busy in Bangkok taking two seminar classes. One was on the book of Daniel, while the other was on World Religions. Though it was an intensive two weeks, it had the benefit of being intellectually stimulating as well.

Being a missionary and continuing your education doesn't always mix. Fortunately, there are some schools that are looking out not only for missionaries, but for nationals as well. I am currently working on my masters through Asia Biblical Theological Seminary, ABTS. (If you are a Thai national who does not want to study in English, I recommend Bangkok Bible Seminary, BBS.) This is something I do twice a year. While it takes me away from my family and mission work, it provides the opportunity to further my Biblical education in order to serve the Thai people more adequately.