Age of Accountability

This is a quickie, and yes, I will get to some “Signs” of the end times. I’ve got a whole page of notes on my desk as I was working on those…

But first! The Age of Accountability. Where did the idea of this come from?

A few denominations, or Christian religions, such as Catholicism, baptize infants because they believe it is necessary for salvation. They have, in my view, gone too far in their interpretation of original sin. That’s a monster topic for another day. I also think the Bible teaches quite clearly that baptism all by itself doesn’t save a person. Salvation starts with believing and putting your faith in Jesus Christ for instance.

If all we had to do was baptize people, we could round them up and hose them down.

When it comes to babies, or young children, God has shown by example in the Old Testament that He does not judge people for their sins until they have had the chance to accept or reject Him for themselves.

It seems only fair doesn’t it? It sounds right, but more than that, there is precedent in the Bible for it. God has withheld judgment from children before on the basis of the fact that they did not know right from wrong.

Here’s the example:

Keeping Up Our Spiritual Fervor with Prophecy

Last Sunday I preached about keeping up your spiritual fervor. Literally it means to keep up your spiritual heat, or fire. According to Romans 12:9-13, it is OUR responsibility to stay on fire. It’s not the preachers fault, or the churches fault when we are dead Christians. And just a few minutes ago, God reminded me of something I used to know, but I’ve let slide: My own study and watchfulness concerning Bible prophecy. I was watching a DVD from David Reagan and Lamb&Lion ministries today concerning “Misconceptions of Bible Prophecy,” when David made a statement that really struck me.

He mentioned if you can get someone to understand two things, they’ll never be the same again and their fire for God can’t be stopped. When he prefaced like this, it made me sit up and take notice. What church is there that wouldn’t want the secret ingredients which according to David will energize a congregation for God? So I listened and here’s what he said:

#1 If they realize and understand that Jesus is coming soon according to the Scriptures and
#2 If they realize -not simply know in their mind, but really believe in their heart- that Jesus can come for His Church any day…

It will light that Christian on fire.

Really good point I thought. What I see in so many Christians is the assumption that we cannot know anything for sure, and the lukewarm Christianity that results when we really don’t believe it has much of a chance of happening today. No urgency, and sheer boredom at the idea of even studying the 1/3 of the Bible which is prophecy because…

we can never figure it out anyway. Right?

I don’t believe that’s true at all.

What I’ve seen in my life agrees with Dr. Reagan. When I first began to understand the Bible has predicted the type of world we would be living in, the circumstances that would be present in the end times, the signs of the times which would be happening around us as they are today, and that 2000 years after the last words were written, we are perfectly on a collision course with the end as the Bible described…. -when I got that, my seriousness about God went to a whole other level.

And Christians who believe it can happen today, are the kind of on fire, excited, and bubbling over people that change the world. They have an urgency of attitude when it comes to evangelism, and the work of the Church in general. It’s an important part of our “hope” and keeping up our spiritual fervor.

I think, just off-hand, that is very likely a good purpose to shoot for when teaching on the prophetic word of the Bible.

When I get a longer moment, I’ll lay out a few signs of the times.

The Hate Crimes Bill

Evidently, pastors and others seem to be worried that they might be charged with conspiracy if someone who heard their preaching then went out and assaulted someone because of their sexual orientation.

Since as Americans, we play a role in the government, we should do our part and give our input via voting, expressing our views, etc…

But part of me wishes we expended this much energy to tell someone living across our street about Jesus and helping those who live on the street to find hope.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. -Galatians 5:22-23

This seems to be the pertinent part of the Bill:

Click here for the entire bill

SEC. 7. PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN HATE CRIME ACTS.

(a) In general.—Chapter 13 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

Ҥ 249. Hate crime acts

“(a) In general.—

“(1) Offenses involving actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin.—Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, willfully causes bodily injury to any person or, through the use of fire, a firearm, or an explosive or incendiary device, attempts to cause bodily injury to any person, because of the actual or perceived race, color, religion, or national origin of any person—

Ted Kennedy, Homosexuality, & the Political Season

Political season will be heating up in the coming months, so here’s my first warning shot -delivered over the bow of my own ship! (Perhaps I’m not any good at aiming?)

Our war is not against “flesh and blood.” -Ephesians 6:something.

For instance, Ted Kennedy is flesh and blood. Therefore, as a Christian, I am not at war with Ted Kennedy. He’s not the only one made of flesh and blood either. So are the people who make up the many organizations and groups with which we may or may not agree. Don’t hate them just because they may happen to hate you.

Matthew 5:46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! (-Jesus)

To say nothing of the fact that Christ died for them, too.

Got it so far?

Okay, now stand up for what you believe is true and right. Performing your duty as an American is about stating and defending and voting for what you believe is true, right and good. Just remember that good people can be wrong, and lots of them are. Even you are wrong about something.

Yeah me too.

So Ted, Mr. Kennedy? I’m praying for you too. You weasel.

Which brings me to the real point.

Are You Afraid of God?

Stopped to visit an elderly guy, a very godly man with a great understanding of the Bible. I have a friend who has self-taught himself the Bible, and this guy reminds me of him, -only about 50 years older.

They both ask me questions looking for very specific answers which of course I can’t give them very easily (since I’m not always sure what they’re getting at) and so I constantly feel a little dumb. To say nothing of feeling guilty because they seem to study the Bible more than the “preacher” dude.

Before going any farther, go look up Hezekiah 3:18 and you’ll see what I mean.

Go ahead, the blog will still be here. Hez. 3:18.

Where Church Growth and “Vision” Have Gone Wrong

I’ve hosted two Church conferences as a pastor of a wonderful Church in Plains, Kansas. I’ve led a couple of workshops at a larger conference, and attended many more myself. I’ve traveled to see a church “success story” and read books about many more. I’ve labored to try many of the things I’ve learned in my own ministry.

And I’ve heard many voices in a constant barrage of “What I Think You Need to Do Is…..”

So I’m an insider okay? This isn’t a traditionalist bashing the contemporary. Contemporary is my style. I love it!

This is, however, something I believe the Spirit is putting on my heart concerning the direction and focus of our ministry as churches across America. It starts with a question: (and several more will follow)

If the gates of hell cannot stand against Christ and the Church, why do we believe our own Church will fail unless we can find the next Rick Warren to lead it?

This is one of the most egregious fallacies, and most harmful trends in the Church as a whole: The idea that we have the expertise somehow, or that a particular method or organization has anything to do with the advance of God’s kingdom. As the Bible says to God, “What is man that you are mindful of him?” Psalms 8:4

We have too many “Here’s the Secret to Growing a Church” type books and conferences out there. We only need one book (the Bible) and one conference (the prayer meeting). The rest are hurting more than helping. At least the way we are going about it.

Here’s the Secret to Ministry

Get in the office and pour your heart and hours of study into teaching and preaching the Word of God, and spend time in prayer as well. Don’t shortchange those things.

The rest of the time, get out of the office and preach the Gospel to the world, and occasionally, use words. Find places and people, look for the groups of people who aren’t being reached, make friends, invite everyone, have fun, help out, and be on fire for God no matter who you are with.

got it?

Good. Now get off the computer and call someone just to say hi.

Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Cashew Chicken

My high school graduating class numbered 39. The surrounding classes were all about the same. If any of you ever attended a school similar in size, you know what I’m talking about when I say it’s a little like being a part of a very dysfunctional, entertaining AND annoying family with a wildly varying gene pool…

The small number makes it feel a little closer. I mean, you know EVERYONE in the class and most of the kids in the other classes. And it seems like a big deal when you run into one 21 years later, which is what has been happening to me with regularity these days.

Yes, I did move within 70 miles of my former hometown, but I didn’t expect to see so many of this small group of people who shared a few crazy years together when none of us really knew what in the world we were doing.

Yet there I was today,