How We View The Bible (Taken from an article by Dan Scott of Nashville)

Dan Scott wrote this article and it confirmed my thoughts about Bible Study.  I hope you will read this and think about the implications concerning our society in our spiritual areas of life.  God bless us as we strive to move forward and closer to our Father and His word.

"The most important change within the Christian church in our times – and perhaps since the apostolic age -- has been how we view scripture.

Over a hundred years ago, certain methods of interpreting scripture began shaking Protestant’s confidence in the Bible. As a result, the Bible has slowly become only one important influence among many for forming a believer’s views and governing his or her behavior. It makes a great difference, you see, whether one views the Bible as the Word of God or is simply a human work about God.

Most of our great Protestant denominations – especially in Europe and The United States -- now define the Bible as a record of how the ancient Hebrews thought about God, ethics and justice. In this view, one may certainly use these ancient Hebrew stories to shine light on our contemporary issues. However, viewing the Bible as a revelation of God’s law, applicable to all times and all cultures, seems hopelessly antiquated. It even seems like a dangerous misuse of Holy Scripture.

Christians who think of themselves as “conservative” or “orthodox” naturally reject the liberal Protestant view of scripture. Nonetheless, Bible studies are not at the top priority for most self-professed conservative believers either. In fact, many conservative churches have replaced their historical Bible-centeredness with mere cultural conservatism. That approach has removed any sense of moral authority from Evangelical preaching. To the culture around us, our opinions now seem to rest merely upon our conservative tastes and cultural habits; not upon the foundation of eternal Truth. Unbelievers are asking us, “What makes your personal tastes and cultural values more important than ours?”

This question is getting harder for us to answer.

Our loss of the Bible – by liberals because of their deliberate intellectual shift away from orthodoxy, and by conservatives because of intellectual sloth and a worship of numerical and material success – have gradually gutted the American church of its ability to shepherd its flock.  This has resulted in making our views about homosexuality look like a pathological overreaction to people whose personal choices just happen to differ from ours. 

Our view of the Bible is therefore crucial.  Without it we do not have a solid basis for addressing homosexuality or any other contemporary issue."

-Dan Scott, “What About Homosexuality?”, Christ Church Nashville.

The Mistakes I Have Made!

My time on earth is in its autumn years!  There, I said it.  Hard to believe and even harder to admit.  I have another 20 years or so on this earth if I make the average. That being said, I have looked back over the last 55 years and realize I have a lot more mistakes in my life than I care to remember, but remember them I do.  It is easier to remember the mistakes than it is the things I am really proud of.  

That sounds a little harsh to some, and to others easy to imagine.  I am thankful for my life and the mistakes have tried to teach me things I wouldn't learn in ways that would have been less damaging, but I am not depressed or disparaged because of them.  They are what has made me who I am, faults and all.  Yes, I know, admit and am sorry for the past mistakes I have made.  To those who might have been hurt or affected by some of my past mistakes going back 50 years or so, I am sorry.  It isn't a day goes by that I am not reminded of some of the mistakes I have made (and I know God has forgiven me, but Satan continues to throw them up in my face).  

However, as I look through the eyes of death, I realize that time swiftly passes and God forgives, and I have allowed myself to be a child of our heavenly Father.  I have nothing to hang my head in shame about as His child, but men don't forget or forgive as easily.

So with that said let me share with you what got me on this thought.  I believe that I am a very forgiving person.  I have never held anything against anyone for any amount of time.  I am a forgiving person.  I know the need for forgiveness because of my past and when Satan reminds me of my past mistakes I am reminded of something someone said to me years ago.  When Satan reminds me of my past, I try to have the faith to remind him of my future.  That future is with my God.  I am His child and I am no better than any other child of my Father's.  I may have more mistakes and need more times of forgiveness in my eyes, but I am of the firm belief through faith that God will and has forgiven me for everything in my past.  I have a God who allows me to start over every time I need to.  

In saying this, I am not striving to make more mistakes to receive more grace and forgiveness, but as I feel the shame through remembering past mistakes I get to celebrate the fact that my God is bigger than my past and doesn't even remember my past as far as holding it against me.  

I am truly blessed beyond measure.  I am living a life better than I deserve.  I love my family and my spiritual family on this earth.  

May God bless you with that same understanding.  It is available to all men.  If you want to talk about this, just message me or give me a call.  I'm here as a result of someone caring enough to share their story of forgiveness with me and my family.  I am 20 or so years away from going home.  Maybe sooner!  I can't wait till that day comes, not because I am in a hurry, but I know that heaven is going to be so much better than here.

I'll see you there!

Church Family?

I am not sure about why it is that so many of our attenders come to worship but do not get involved in their church family.  Too many of us want religion with no strings attached.

My thought is, good luck.  God wants you to be a part of the family.  How you doing with that one?

I'll see you later.

Spiritual Days

This lesson I brought on November 16, 2014 was one that I hope will take Christians who have yet to decide how to handle "spiritual holidays" as the family of God.  Too many times we believe that our way is the only way and we don't examine the scriptures to find what we should do.

We need to remember that every day is to be lived in glory of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jk2ZnM6Z4do&list=UU8W0X7wb22MucMwkMMNfWHg

God bless you as you watch and please comment if you feel you need to or contact me at bfarmer@wfcoc.org.

I'll see you later.

Non-Denominational Christianity

Non-Denominational! Yes, that is the key word to many of our religious friends and neighbors and many of whom are truly searching for God's direction for their lives.

To get into this discussion we have to first define the term "Non-denominational".

First, the prefix non comes from the word none.  None has the meaning according to Encarta Dictionary English (North America) -- not any part of something, or not a single one of something.

Second, the word denomination from same reference -- "a religious grouping within a faith that has its own system of organization."

Nondenominational according to Dictionary.com 

adjective

1. of or pertaining to a denomination or denominations.

2. founded, sponsored, or controlled by a particular religious denomination or sect:

denominational schools.

3.limited, conditioned, originating in, or influenced by the beliefs, attitudes,or interests of a religious sect, political party, etc.: denominational prejudice.

So, as I see it, non-denominational would have the meaning of a religious body not limited to or conditioned or influenced by the beliefs, attitudes or interests of a religious sect.  

This would mean that the religious group who is claiming to be a "non-denominational body of believers, or church" would be totally autonomous.  

Autonomous, according to Dictionary.com adjective

1. Government.

a.self-governing; independent; subject to its own laws only.

b. pertaining to an autonomy.

2. having autonomy; not subject to control from outside; independent:

So, to be a totally Non-denominational church or religious body would mean..."a self-governing, independent body of believers meeting in one place subject to its own membership controlled only from internal leaders completely independent of a board, leadership, or hierarchy outside the group.  

Using the words "nondenominational church" puts a lot of pressure on the local group striving to be truly autonomous striving to be free from following any list of rules or regulations outside of their local group.  Many of those who are claiming this thought process of not being linked to any other group may have trouble being true to themselves if they are overseen by a group who are not a part of that particular local congregation, body of believers, or group of Christians.

With that all said, let me address where I am coming from as far as why I worship with those who have, over the years, claimed the name "Church of Christ."  It is true that most of those who claim that name as a distinction do so for the purpose of core belief recognition.  They, for the most part, have the same core beliefs.  The only connection between these groups is that recognition.

I have preached and or worshiped with sixteen different churches over the last forty years. I attended a Christian College and preaching school that was led by those who were involved with that local school. During that time there has never been a directive from a church board or hierarchy from outside those local churches that has had any responsibility to regulate or dictate doctrinal matters or even matters of opinion that was given as a "church law, or doctrine" that had to be followed to keep a charter or "matter of faith" that affected the standing of that particular local church or congregation.

True non-denominational Christianity is to be led exclusively by God's word and the members of that local church or congregation of people claiming the same core beliefs. In true non-denominational faith, not everyone will agree on matters of opinion nor be held accountable for matters of opinion that come from others outside that local church or congregation of God's people.  True non-denominational Christianity would, and in my opinion from the definitions we use to describe "Non-denominational" churches, govern and regulate their thoughts on EVERY MATTER!

In most, not all, churches of Christ, elders (shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc.) lead the church and the minister who preaches is a paid (or financially supported) individual who takes the direction from those elders (shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc.) as far as matters of faith and or opinion. Those men, (elders, shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc.) are responsible to God and the local church members and to them only.  

Non-denominational Christianity can only be truly claimed by those who are truly autonomous and separate local congregations, churches or bodies of faith with the ultimate goal of bringing themselves and others closer to God and His Son, Jesus Christ our savior.

These churches or bodies of faith are responsible to God and His word.  That is why every time we see leadership in the New Testament that there is a plurality of leaders (elders, shepherds, bishops, pastors, etc. and in that group there are certain qualities that these men should have that are recorded in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1).  These men, and from what I have studied not women, are to meet these qualities in that local congregation, church, or body of faith.  They are the decision makers for that local body of believers. This is according to the Biblical example therefore without need to be decided by man. 

When we allow "Men" or those outside of the local church, congregation, or body of believers make decisions we are no longer autonomous.  

Non-denominational Christian churches are true to God's word if they are totally autonomous from other leadership outside of the local church, congregation or body of believers.  

That is one of the reasons I believe I worship with the people I worship with. The leaders here take their responsibility seriously when it comes to leading the people of God who meet at West Freeway church.  They meet and pray together asking God's help in leading this local church in faith.  

Learning to be answerable to God and not man is a difficult aspect of being "Non-denominational". I am thankful to be the preaching minister here because I know that these men are not only responsible for all the members of this church family, this congregation of believers sharing a common faith, but that they are also my leaders.  I am not only responsible to God for what I teach and preach but I am also responsible to these men in following their leadership.  They will answer to God for the decisions that they make and it is with that I am able to pillow my head at night knowing that I have men who are not only praying for my church family but also praying for me.  They know me and my needs and bring those before God in their prayers.

I hope that you will find a church with Biblical Leadership.  I pray that you truly find a non-denominational church, congregation or body of faith, that will comfort you as you strive to follow the path of God to belong to a group truly striving to be what God wants them to be with biblical leaders that are truly "Non-Denominational."

May God bless you in your search for truth and a true "Non-denominational" church, congregation, or body of believers.

The Hard Things In Life!

WHY?

That is the question that eludes even the greatest of minds.  "Its God's will" someone will say!  And for the most part I agree that it is always in God's realm of sovereignty that I find myself allowing my mind to be comforted when those types of difficulties arise.

I hurt for those who get caught up in our world by the masquerading evil that fills our minds with what ifs and why not's.  Evil finds away around the most civil minds and even those minds that are more than not logical in life. Evil searches our thoughts and changes our thinking by offering us outs as we contemplate the direction of our lives.  We do things we really know we shouldn't and we give in to things we normally would laugh at and or be scornful towards those who fall into its trap. But, at the right moment none of us are immune to the movement evil directs us toward, even without our full knowledge.

Why does death creep at our door?

Why did those decisions have to be made about that child?

Why?

Why?

I don't know why!

I do know who!

God.

I'll put my faith in Him and rely up Him to help me make it through the difficulties I find myself falling into or those difficulties that I find myself so deeply mired.  I know, not because I am any more or less special than anyone else, that God is there for me.  All the time!  He knows when I am hurting, happy, angry, sad, or even jealous. He tells me that He knows my heart and the way I am, even without me expressing it.  He offers ways of escape and when we do not choose to follow those ways He offers forgiveness.

Why?

Because He loves me, the Bible tells me so!

Pre-marital Sex

A friend of mine shared this with many of us on his Facebook time line and I wanted to share it with you.  It is from Bob Russell and was copied from http://www.churchleaders.com/ Church Leaders Web site.  I hope you share this with those you know!  

Occasionally church leaders email me, asking for my opinion on various personal or church problems. This spring, I received a note from a church leader in another city. The location isn’t important, because the situation he outlined is common across the nation.

He wrote of how a number of members ages 25 to 35 had reached the conclusion that premarital sex is “OK.” Some even play on the praise team, teach in the children’s program, or film videos for weekly announcements.

“The problem is that some of them will tell me that they cannot find anything in scripture that says that what they are doing, having sex with someone, is wrong,” he said. “I have taught on the subject, but they do not see a direct statement against premarital sex.”

Dealing with sin.

He asked for other scriptures he can use, as well as about the church’s stance.

Should it allow them to continue leading ministries or bring them before the congregation and—as the Bible says—have nothing to do with them in hopes it will help them see their sin and return to Christ?

“I know that Satan wants to get in and cause problems in the church, but I also know the need to accept them and love them,” he concluded. “But we also have to deal with sin, or Satan wins.”

In my response, I pointed out that the Bible repeatedly instructs God’s people to “flee fornication.” For 2,000 years, the word translated “fornication” in Scripture has been understood to include the prohibition of sex prior to marriage. Webster’s dictionary definition is clear: “consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other.”

A privileged experience.

God designed the physical union of a man and a woman as a privileged experience within the bounds of marriage. The Lord intended marriage as a secure environment for raising children and a uniquely meaningful union that symbolizes God’s committed relationship to us (Ephesians 5:32).

If there was nothing wrong with premarital sex, then why was Joseph determined to divorce Mary when he discovered she was expecting a child prior to marriage?

If there is nothing wrong with premarital sex, then one could conclude there is nothing wrong with having children out of wedlock.

Obviously, those who would suggest the liberalization of the biblical standard are ignoring the clear teaching of Scripture, conforming to the values of the world, and yielding to the desires of the flesh. As Jesus said, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil” (John 3:19).

The church’s responsibility.

Just as I said to this letter writer, I say to all church leaders: The church has a responsibility to practice discipline in regard to flagrant, known sin. 

This is especially true for those in leadership. We are to gently confront believers who are known to be living in sin and encourage them to repent.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus cautioned us not to attempt to remove a speck from someone else’s eye without first examining ourselves to make sure there is not a log protruding from our own. Later, He explained that if the person living in sin doesn’t repent, then the believer is to take two or three others to confront again. If the backslider still refuses to change, the issue is to be taken to the church (Matthew 19:16-17).

The shepherds of the flock are then to confront in love and encourage restoration to Christ. If the offender still refuses to repent, he/she is to be treated as an unbeliever.

Removal option.

The Apostle Paul instructed the Corinthian church to remove from their fellowship a man who persisted in living in incest, warning, “With such a man do not even eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Now, I know such measures sound harsh in an era of super-tolerance, but I’ve seen them work very effectively—often in the first stages. 

God designed the church to consist of people who are “called out” from the world. We are to live separate and holy lives. Unless we practice some measure of church discipline, the church is in danger of simply reflecting its culture rather than transforming it. 

In Matthew 5:13, Jesus said if salt loses its saltiness, it is good for nothing except to be cast out and trodden under men’s feet. This is the present-day danger all church leaders face.

May we have courage to point others to the truth instead of settling for the path of least resistance.