Wednesday, May 2, 2007
16. CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS: CLERICALISM
The Christian Brethren movement have had a valid objection to 'clergy running the church and denying others a ministry'. Baptists are still plagued by clericalism, whereby pastors accrue power rather than disseminating it. The task of church leaders is to train and empower others for ministry, not do it for them!
15. CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS: EVANGELISM
The idea of 'seeker services' is not new: it was there in apostolic times, according to Michael Green (Evangelism Through the Local Church). Neighbourhood 'coffee 'n dessert' nights, friendship services, Alpha Courses, Christianity Explained courses - these and many other tools are available for us as a church to reach out to those the New Testament calls 'the lost'.
But the very best means of evangelism has always been the integrity of the Christian's character. 'Preach the Gospel: use words if necessary' said Francis of Assisi. But words are important too. (What use is a signpost without words?).
But the very best means of evangelism has always been the integrity of the Christian's character. 'Preach the Gospel: use words if necessary' said Francis of Assisi. But words are important too. (What use is a signpost without words?).
14. CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS: ECUMENISM
Baptists may have some justifiable reasons to be leary of some things the World Council of Churches does. But they have no justifiable reason for non-cooperation with others who 'acknowledge Jesus Christ as Saviour Lord and God, according to the Scriptures'. We must not do anything to negate our Lord's prayer 'that they may be one'.
13. CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS: INSTITUTIONAL RENEWAL
About 95% of Australian Baptists agree with the statement 'There's something wrong with the way our church business meetings are conducted'. The 5% who enjoy power-broking or have an excess of spare time on their hands or enjoy the thrill of swaying the voting intentions of others will derive some enjoyment from church members' meetings. Baptists have equated congregationalism with democracy: modern notions of democracy are not biblical. Baptists also have forgotten that the NT has three forms of church government - episcopal, presbyterian as well as congregational. Baptists have also allowed their adherence to a notion of 'the priesthood of all believers' to contaminate their polity: believers should not use church meetings as a forum to be negative. Church meetings exist for information-dissemination (what God is doing amongst us), celebration (worshipping the Lord who is the head of the church) and discernment (prayerfully finding the will of our Lord in specific situations). Whilst the method of decision-making will vary from culture to culture, and issue to issue, neither democracy nor unanimity is appropriate in every situation. (Democracy may mean the leading families rule; unanimity may leave us all at the mercy of the 'nut' who will vote 'no' to everything!).
12. CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS: CHARISMATIC RENEWAL
People who derive their security from the predictable institutions or dogmas they adhere to will always be threatened by notions of renewal, particularly radical renewal. The impact of charismatic renewal is no exception. The Holy Spirit is moving in dynamic ways through all the churches and in all the world, but traditionalists will find themselves opposing anything which is not part of their cherished history. Although the devil as well as the Holy Spirit is operative in some aspects of charismatic renewal, Baptists and others will need to be careful about the dangers of fighting God: they can't win! (See my paper 'Charismatic Renewal: Myths and Realities').
11. CHALLENGES FACING THE BAPTISTS: WOMEN IN LEADERSHIP
In the NT women were quite prominent in the churches, despite strong patriarchal cultures. Today, the church is creating a scandal by appearing to treat women as second-class citizens. Some Baptist churches and denominations will not recognize the pastoral leadership gifts of women: if God were to raise up a Deborah to lead the whole people of God today some of us wouldn't let him to it! We should be grateful God is not a legalist! (See my paper on Women in Leadership).
10. CHALLENGES FACING THE BAPTISTS: PHARISAISM
CHALLENGES FACING BAPTISTS
Having pastored Baptist churches (in two States of Australia and in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) for 35 years, spoken to all the Baptist pastors' conferences around Australia and in many other countries, and preached in about 250 Baptist churches around the world, here are my suggestions about the issues Baptists are facing. They vary in intensity from place to place and church to church.
BAPTIST PHARISAISM
The essential issue here is the elevation of dogma or church rules over 'accepting' those whom God accepts (Romans 15:7). The two key issues are social justice (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42) and open membership. Until recently Baptists were quite muted about their concern for the poor, and the causes of such poverty. Fortunately they are reading Jesus and the prophets again! On the issue of open membership, see my paper on the subject. Briefly, if Jesus said accepting people is more important than sticking to ordinances (even an important ordinance like baptism) then let's follow Jesus rather than the pharisees! Nothing can be added to grace, not even baptism. The Baptist principle of 'liberty of conscience' should apply here as everywhere else. A system which allows a sexually active young person or greedy adult to be a member of most of our churches (and they are!) but not a godly Anglican or Salvationist has got to have something wrong with it. Baptists have to be reminded they're Christians first, Baptists second.
****
Here's something I just sent to our state Baptist paper (The Victorian Baptist Witness):
WE SINNERS
There are many ways to measure a church’s health. But let’s start with a diagnosis of the illness (the Bible calls it ‘sin’).
There are three kinds of sinners – those who know they’re sinners and aren’t ready (yet) to change; those who don’t know they’re sinners, but believe all others not-like-them need to change; and those who know they’re sinners and want to change...
The sinless Jesus befriended the first group (‘acceptance precedes repentance’) annoying the Pharisees (‘repentance precedes acceptance’: ‘change your beliefs/behavior before you’re acceptable here’). Jesus says ‘I do not condemn you’, before ‘Go and sin no more’. Pharisees can’t help associating people with their sins – especially sexual sins.
Pharisees are ‘righteous’ but don’t know they are in need of grace (despite their protestations to the contrary). They know what's/who's right. They’re still crucifying Jesus, but don't know it.
'Saints' know their need of grace (they are not - yet - perfect). Although 'saint' is not used in the singular in the Bible (Pharisees are quick to point that out, though they employ plenty of other concepts, like 'Sunday School', which are also not in the Bible) the term has been employed by evangelicals - like the great Methodist Dr. W.E.Sangster - to denote people on the road to holiness. (So forget medieval stained- glass ideas about these people).
Pharisees think they've 'arrived' - they know it all. They believe almost precisely what their 'respected' Bible teachers taught them. They have nothing whatever to learn from those not-like-them. They think they know God’s law in the Bible but miss the main point, said Jesus - justice/love: see Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42.
Saints are maturing, growing, in faith, hope, and love. They discover God's truth and God's will in all sorts of unlikely places.
An easy way to pick a modern Pharisee: they emphasize 'truth' over love. Their creeds and systematic theologies have it all nailed down. Those becoming ‘saints’ emphasize love over (anyone's incomplete definition of) 'truth'. The saint's prayer is 'Lord be merciful to me, a sinner!' (Luke 18:9ff). And regarding 'truth' they believe that 'God has yet more light and truth to break forth from His Holy Word'.
More… ‘How to Know the Lord’ - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/579.htm
Pharisees Ancient and Modern - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/13113.htm
Rowland Croucher
June 2008
Having pastored Baptist churches (in two States of Australia and in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada) for 35 years, spoken to all the Baptist pastors' conferences around Australia and in many other countries, and preached in about 250 Baptist churches around the world, here are my suggestions about the issues Baptists are facing. They vary in intensity from place to place and church to church.
BAPTIST PHARISAISM
The essential issue here is the elevation of dogma or church rules over 'accepting' those whom God accepts (Romans 15:7). The two key issues are social justice (Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42) and open membership. Until recently Baptists were quite muted about their concern for the poor, and the causes of such poverty. Fortunately they are reading Jesus and the prophets again! On the issue of open membership, see my paper on the subject. Briefly, if Jesus said accepting people is more important than sticking to ordinances (even an important ordinance like baptism) then let's follow Jesus rather than the pharisees! Nothing can be added to grace, not even baptism. The Baptist principle of 'liberty of conscience' should apply here as everywhere else. A system which allows a sexually active young person or greedy adult to be a member of most of our churches (and they are!) but not a godly Anglican or Salvationist has got to have something wrong with it. Baptists have to be reminded they're Christians first, Baptists second.
****
Here's something I just sent to our state Baptist paper (The Victorian Baptist Witness):
WE SINNERS
There are many ways to measure a church’s health. But let’s start with a diagnosis of the illness (the Bible calls it ‘sin’).
There are three kinds of sinners – those who know they’re sinners and aren’t ready (yet) to change; those who don’t know they’re sinners, but believe all others not-like-them need to change; and those who know they’re sinners and want to change...
The sinless Jesus befriended the first group (‘acceptance precedes repentance’) annoying the Pharisees (‘repentance precedes acceptance’: ‘change your beliefs/behavior before you’re acceptable here’). Jesus says ‘I do not condemn you’, before ‘Go and sin no more’. Pharisees can’t help associating people with their sins – especially sexual sins.
Pharisees are ‘righteous’ but don’t know they are in need of grace (despite their protestations to the contrary). They know what's/who's right. They’re still crucifying Jesus, but don't know it.
'Saints' know their need of grace (they are not - yet - perfect). Although 'saint' is not used in the singular in the Bible (Pharisees are quick to point that out, though they employ plenty of other concepts, like 'Sunday School', which are also not in the Bible) the term has been employed by evangelicals - like the great Methodist Dr. W.E.Sangster - to denote people on the road to holiness. (So forget medieval stained- glass ideas about these people).
Pharisees think they've 'arrived' - they know it all. They believe almost precisely what their 'respected' Bible teachers taught them. They have nothing whatever to learn from those not-like-them. They think they know God’s law in the Bible but miss the main point, said Jesus - justice/love: see Matthew 23:23, Luke 11:42.
Saints are maturing, growing, in faith, hope, and love. They discover God's truth and God's will in all sorts of unlikely places.
An easy way to pick a modern Pharisee: they emphasize 'truth' over love. Their creeds and systematic theologies have it all nailed down. Those becoming ‘saints’ emphasize love over (anyone's incomplete definition of) 'truth'. The saint's prayer is 'Lord be merciful to me, a sinner!' (Luke 18:9ff). And regarding 'truth' they believe that 'God has yet more light and truth to break forth from His Holy Word'.
More… ‘How to Know the Lord’ - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/579.htm
Pharisees Ancient and Modern - http://jmm.aaa.net.au/articles/13113.htm
Rowland Croucher
June 2008
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