Review of Paul:Missionary Theologian by Robert Reymond

Review of Robert Reymond’s book Paul: Missionary Theologian. Not an altogether compelling read per say (a bit dry) but towards the end he gives some good takeaways which I thought were worth passing on. These are from Chapter 25, which is entitled “Lessons from Paul’s Ministry for Today’s Missionary”. He points us to some solid (biblical) principles for us to consider for our own ministry that should cause us to pause and evaluate. For those interested in further studies you might consider reviewing Reymond’s view on the Trinity, which in some circles has generated much discussion.

1. We should be, as was Paul, students primarily of one book, even the Holy Scriptures, ‘correctly handling the Word of truth’ in order to be approved by God (2 Tim 2:15)

2. We should, as did Paul, uncompromisingly proclaim God’s law-free gospel (Gal 1:8-9, 2 Tim 4:1-6)

3. We should be willing, as was Paul, to proclaim this ‘good news’ of justification by faith alone to all the nations of the world and to everyone – rich and poor alike.

4. Not only should we preach to the lost world; we should also take seriously, as did Paul, the ‘watchman’ principle of Ezekiel 33:7-9, apply it to our mission labors today, and faithfully declare the whole counsel of God to Christ’s church (Acts 20:27), rebuking her for her sin and warning her against apostasy, and doing so regardless of the cost to our physical safety, our reputations, and our earthly fortunes.

5. We should take seriously the sovereignty of God in the salvation of mankind, as did Paul, and in the spread of the gospel avoid all the gimmickry, such as Charles G. Finney’s ‘new measures’ in modern market evangelism (I Thess 2:1-12, I Cor 2:1-5 2 Cor 4:2-5, 2 Cor 10:3-5).

6. We should, as did Paul, in our propagation and defense of the Faith refuse to compromise with unbelief and employ an apologetic method which would distort and compromise the gospel or dishonor the self-authenticating character of Scripture.

7. We should be willing, as was Paul, to endure loneliness, pain and suffering, loss of friends, persecution, insults, misunderstandings, physical affliction, even death itself, if necessary for the cause of Christ. That is to say, we should be willing to go anywhere, at any time, at any cost for Christ’s sake (Acts 20:24, I Cor 4:9-13, 2 Cor 11:23-28, Phil 3:7-9, 2 tim 4:6-8).

8. We should be willing, as was Paul, both to become ourselves transcultural communicators of the gospel and to send and assist others to go everywhere – not only to the villages but to the large cities of the world – to proclaim the law free gospel of Christ.

9. We should be willing, as was Paul, to nurture our converts by forming them into communities in which both mutual respect for other Christians (Rom 14:1-15:13) and the sharing of the spiritual gifts with the other members of the brotherhood (I Cor 14) are encouraged and achieved.

10. We should instruct these communities of believers, as did Paul, to worship God with reverence and fear and in accordance with what has come to be known as the Reformation’s ‘regulative principle of worship’, that is, only in those ways that God himself has expressly prescribed.

11. We should be willing, as was Paul, to be accountable to the church and to spurn the ‘lone ranger’ attitude towards ministry.

12. We should live before our converts and congregations, as did Paul, model lives of reliance upon God for all things, of discipline, holiness, truth, honesty, consistency, industry, humility and joy. In sum, we should live godly lives among them.

13. In our daily lives we should glory, as did Paul, only in the cross of Christ (Gal 6:14). There is no place for boasting in ourselves (I Cor 9:6).

From Daren Beck, ACTION Cambodia Director

PASTOR, IS THERE A TIMOTHY OR ELISHA IN YOUR FLOCK?

This past Sunday Pastor Fred Winters of the First Baptist Church in Maryville Illinois was shot to death by a 27 year old man who came into the church walked down the aisle and began to fire. Pastor Winters had been at the church for about two decades and the church had seen tremendous growth in that time, both numerically and spiritually. It seems that this type of things is happening more and more in the United States. For sure this persecution against Gods men has been going on worldwide for as long as there has been a church. Yet men continue to stand in those pulpits week in and week out proclaiming Gods Word at peril and risk that they brush off with heroic conviction. These men are my heroes, I love them and long to serve them worldwide.

But in my mind this latest incident raises a question, are we as pastors developing leaders who, if we were to die this week could step in and take over? Are we being intentional in our leadership development? Have we marked some men in our church who we can work with and train and disciple? This is always a good and necessary thing for us as pastors to be doing as a part of our ministry, but as persecution becomes more frequent and more fatal it becomes critical. Brothers I believe this to be the most important task for us, training and developing men who can at a moments notice step in for us. The goal should be that if we were to be shot and killed this week, or we were to drop dead of a heart attack that there would be men who would take the mantle and carry on, not missing a beat. We need to make sure and do all we can to see the church goes on without interruption should the Lord call us home today. This is our duty and to ignore or put this off, is to be derelict in our responsibility before God. So men consider the flock your Father has entrusted you with. Do you have a brother, or brothers who are ready, or getting ready to take your place? If the answer is yes, praise God, if the answer is no, it is time brother to get busy about the business of leadership development!

NEEDED: MEN WITH COURAGE TO STAND ON GODS WORD!

I am continually reminded of the dire need for the men of God who labor in the pulpits and shepherd His sheep to maintain biblical fidelity. It never ceases to amaze me at how quick people are to sacrifice Scripture on the altar of tolerance, political correctness, and cultural pressure. Maybe no better example of this than the issue of women as pastors. The Word of God is clear that God does not allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over a man. (1st Timothy 2:12) Yet there are people who name Christ as their Savior and have been put in positions of authority as pastors and shepherds who abandon this Scripture and embrace the heretical idea of woman as pastors.

What is amazing is how clear the Word of God is on this issue. Paul in writing to Timothy after making the clear point goes to creation as his foundation. He goes to Adam being the first one created and makes it clear that this is not some cultural issue as head coverings would be in the church of Corinth, but rather this is a universal principal that has to do with Gods design and order. Yet men who are called pastor, will give in and compromise Gods Word to make women and culture at large happier with them.

Brothers we are not called to win a popularity contest or to end our lives with the title of "most congenial". We are called to stand on the Word of God, regardless of who stands against us. And the truth of this issue is that when men of God act like men of God and lead their churches and their families, the women are thrilled. They are thrilled because this is Gods perfect design for the church. His design for the church is the same for the family, and that is that men lead. Men are to lead as Christ led, which is as a servant, not as a tyrant ruler.

But,and hear this brothers, if there are men who are not leading correctly as pastors, it does not mean that women are to step in and take their place. We cannot disobey the Word of God for the sake of pragmatism. So men, the call is for you and I to stand against the feminizing of the culture and the church at large, and to be men of of courage who will speak this truth, that the pastorate, the eldership is for men only. And we need to celebrate this as it is not discriminatory, but rather our Fathers perfect design that is the absolute best for men, women and His Church!

What Is A Healthy Church Member?

Recently on a flight from Honduras, I was able to read most of the “What Is A Healthy Church Member” by Thabiti M. Anyabwile. It is excellent!

The book is published by Crossway (www.crossway.org). I would encourage each of you to obtain a copy and read it.

Pastor Anyabwile lists 10 marks of a healthy church member which are as follows:

1. A Healthy Church Member is an Expositional Listener
2. A Healthy Church Member is a Biblical Theologian
3. A Healthy Church Member is Gospel Saturated
4. A Healthy Church Member is Genuinely Converted
5. A Healthy Church Member is a Biblical Evangelist
6. A Healthy Church Member is a Committed Member
7. Healthy Church Member Seeks Discipline
8. Healthy Church Member is a Growing Disciple
9. Healthy Church Member is a Humble Follower
10. Healthy Church Member is a Prayer Warrior

May we strive to be all that we should be in the church for Christ’s sake.

Open Letter to Pastors

One of the speakers at the recent Desiring God Pastors Conference in Minneapolis, Dr. Michael Oh of Christ Bible Seminary in Japan, challenged each pastor to prayerfully and seriously consider giving 5 years of their career to global missions. If a pastor’s ministry was 50 years, a tithe would be 5 years. This would greatly assist in the Great Commission and be a wonderful example to the church.

Pastors are needed worldwide in all aspects of evangelism, discipleship, and especially that of church leadership development.

There are an estimated 3.2 million untrained and undertrained pastors throughout the world; for example, in the Philippines, there are an estimated 40,000 needy pastors. These pastors need encouragement, training, mentoring, books, study Bibles, and assistance in all aspects of living for God and serving Him in dangerous, hectic, and extremely poor situations.

Please prayerfully consider serving with needy pastors in ACTION’s Pastoral Leadership Development ministry in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America for 4 to 6 years, or even for one month yearly in ministry.

If you are interested, please go to our web site: www.EquipPastors.org to learn more of ACTION and its Pastoral Leadership Development ministry and where you could serve.

Let me encourage you with the following, They went out for the sake of His name . . . therefore, we ought to help such men, that we may be fellow workers with the truth (3 John 7-8, nasb).