The Music Guy

The music minister should be an elder. That is, an elder should also serve in part as the music minister (in oversight more than action). The key is 'in part.' He should be doing other things.

When you have a 'music guy' whose sole role is such, there are likely consequences, namely,

(1) he has a sense of entitlement,

(2) he has to do more and more to feel he is doing something,

(3) because this is how he demonstrates his own faithfulness

(4) which can cause a skewed view of duty and service, and

(5) his role creates a place for complaints.

Learning About Early English Baptists

"It is noteworthy that the first half of the eighteenth century had been devoted more to consolidation and organization than to evangelism. This was typical of English dissenters generally. Their preoccupation with theological problems, chiefly Christological and ethical, together with the development of a censorious spirit, did not produce a warm evangelistic ministry. The spiritual awakening so desperately needed by the country came, not from dissenters, but from Anglicans like Whitefield and the Wesleys, beginning about 1738."

This summarizes well both the General and Particular Baptists in England in the 18th century.

--Torbet, A History of the Baptists, p. 71.

Ministry and Politics

It has been observed that . . .

politics -- less of a draw close up, but attractive from afar

ministry -- more of a draw close up, but unattractive from afar

. . . and I've found this so true (particularly concerning ministry).

Darwin and Rome

The Vatican is hosting a conference on Darwin--a man whose works they never condemned. BBC News has a short article on this. It ends with the following quote.

"The design of organisms is not what would be expected from an intelligent engineer, but imperfect and worse," [Prof Francisco Ayala] said. "Defects, dysfunctions, oddities, waste and cruelty pervade the living world".

Prof Francisco Ayala, what about a worldview with creation and sin?

Preaching and the Invitation

The invitation was originally just a call to response, often at the end of sermons. It has become associated with walking the isle, etc.--a tradition many have grown to dislike for its regular abuse. However, even if I don’t like ‘the invitation,’ I must invite sinners to Christ. A call to response is a must and it should be passionate and powerful. We lie about the gospel when we don't.

Unexplainable . . . apart from God?

Is Gamaliel's logic solid in Acts 5? Is a Christianity that does not fail in the face of persecution unexplainable apart from God? I think he is right that if it is from God, none can overthrow it. But is it clearly from God for this reason? Can the Roman Catholic Church (admittedly within Christianity) or Islam or Hinduism or any other ancient religion also claim being 'of God' by reason of its survival through hard times?

What makes true Christianity's survival in the face of persecution unique among religions? How does it magnify God in this?


Just some questions that arose in my mind after reading in Acts this afternoon. I will continue reading for answers.

I find within me a legalist.

C.J. Mahaney has been used by God to point me back to the cross again and again over the last few years. I stumbled across a chapter by him entitled "How to Encourage Husbands to Lead and Wives to Follow" in Pastoral Leadership for Manhood and Womanhood, ed. by Grudem and Rainey. The chapter was excellent. Like most things I have read by those laboring within Sovereign Grace circles, the chapter is a well-worded meditation on the gospel with a consistent application to X . . . and here X is marriage. Thus it is not surprising this chapter on marriage deals with legalism. C.J. writes: "Legalism involves seeking forgiveness from God, justification before God, and acceptance by God through obedience to God."

Here are questions (from C.J.) to ask a husband who you are counseling as indicators of legalism in his life--their application is easily much broader.
1. Is he more aware of his past sin than of the finished work of the cross?
2. Does he think, believe, or feel that God is disappointed with him rather than delighting over him?
3. Does he assume his acceptance before God is dependent upon his obedience?
4. Does he consistently experience condemnation?
5. Does he lack joy?

The first question nails me (as then do the rest). By God's grace, I desire to fight sin. With the help of brothers in Christ, I am fighting sin more and more. I strive to confess my sin to God and where appropriate to others. But these can and often are a recipe for an increased awareness of my sin which I fail to place in the context of a greater awareness of the finished work of the cross. Oh, how I need to start and end with the cross as I seek to uproot sin by God's grace. In short, I find within me a legalist.