On my recent plane flight to the Philippines I had the opportunity to read the book, "The Shack". A book I have been wanting to read due to the widespread acceptance and love it has received in the mainstream bible believing evangelical church. As I read the book, I would highlight the parts that were objectionable or down right heretical. When I was finished, there was more yellow on the pages of the book than there was black and white. Now I know it is a fiction work, but every writer who writes a fiction book, or non-fiction book has a reason and a purpose for their writing. It is not that someone just sits down and aimlessly writes a book. All authors have a target they are shooting at with their work, and this author is no different.
I am sure that one of the things the author of "The Shack" wants to get across is that God is there in the midst of tragedy and that He truly does care. Both are true and both are worth stating, but the way he brings that across is reprehensible! The story goes that the main character, "Mack" had a daughter who was abducted and murdered on a family vacation, though her body was never discovered. One day Mack gets a letter in the mailbox from God inviting him out to the shack where this all occurred. Mack decides to go and the book is basically a discussion between Mack and the Triune God.
Unfortunately God the Father is an African Woman. The Holy Spirit is an Asian Woman and Jesus is a bumbling happy go lucky middle eastern carpenter. It goes down hill from there as the Father, called Papa, though a woman, warns Mack about eating too many greens as they could give him "the trots"! The God head tells Mack that they submit to him, they come across as powerless, unknowing, unwitting and frankly not anything like the God of the Bible. Without getting into too much detail this book promotes Goddess worship, Modalism, and a Unitarian universalized view of Salvation. No one will read the Shack and find the gospel in it. There is not way of salvation, there is no Christ as the only way, in fact there is no gospel at all!
Having said that, pastors it is up to us to beware of the wolves that lurk just outside the camp of our flocks. People are reading this book by the millions and there are famous well known believers like Eugene Peterson who are comparing this book to Pilgrims Progress! Nothing could be further from the truth, and it makes me wonder if Peterson actually read the work. Whether he did or not, in fact whomever recommends this book, we must stand for truth regardless of who we end up standing against.
"The Shack" is a great example of how easy it is for the elect to be deceived, and it is a great lesson for us all as shepherds to not simply recommend or criticize a book based on someone we respects opinions. It is up to us to do the work for ourselves. We must be leaders who go to primary sources ourselves and form our own opinions and conclusions, based on what Gods Word teaches. Brothers beware of "The Shack", it will lead your people astray, and it will also give unbelievers a false sense of security all the way to Hell!
Monday, March 30, 2009
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Pastors who don't show up!
Possibly you have heard the joke about the mother who kept trying to get her son up for church on Sunday morning. After she finally woke him up she said, “Son, you have to get up. It’s time to go to church.” He answered, “But mom, I don’t want to go to church today.” She replied, “Why not!” He answered, “Well, I don’t like to go to church. I don’t like the people, they don’t like me, and it is boring. I just don’t want to go.” Finally the mother simply responded, “Well son, you have to go because you are the pastor!”
This is not a joke in some churches. For example, a church I know of has several pastors on staff and they do not show up for many meetings of the church. In fact, they even miss many Sundays or come in very late.
In a case like this, what should happen? Should the elders deal with it? Should the Senior Pastor? Should the congregation rise up and simply say, “Enough is enough, if you are a pastor then you need to show up!”
Scripture says, …not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25, nasb).
This is not a joke in some churches. For example, a church I know of has several pastors on staff and they do not show up for many meetings of the church. In fact, they even miss many Sundays or come in very late.
In a case like this, what should happen? Should the elders deal with it? Should the Senior Pastor? Should the congregation rise up and simply say, “Enough is enough, if you are a pastor then you need to show up!”
Scripture says, …not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near (Hebrews 10:25, nasb).
Friday, March 20, 2009
INSPIRING!
Hello to all from the Philippines. I am staying at the Martin Burnham New Tribes Mission guest house in Manila. Martin is the missionary who was killed during a rescue attempt for him and his wife as they had been held captive by the Abu-Sayef terrorist group that is very active here in the Philippines. His wife Gracia has a foundation with a website worth visiting at http://www.graciaburnham.org/index.asp. Their story is inspiring to say the least.
At this mission guest house are missionaries from New Tribes and other places, but primarily New Tribes. When I got back tonight I ran into a couple staying here, Lance and Laura Ostman. The are missionaries to the Higaunon tribal people on the island of Mindanao, a heavily Muslim area and very dangerous. As it is with New Tribes they went to this tribe that had never seen white people in 1983! Here are some quotes from the people they went to reach;
"Only one person has ever been said to make it to heaven without dying, but he was sent back because he complained that there was no work for him to do there. In many ways, we fear the tee-noo-mah-nun because of what the spirits tell us we have to do, like having to sacrifice our seven year old children to them and going without food for long periods of time. They would have us go on long pilgrimages through the forest in search for a promised pathway to heaven. Many of our ancestors have died during the tee-noo-mah-nun, but we have no other hope."
"We are really scared of sickness because we have so much of it. We do not name our children until they are about 2 years old because we know that they will have constant sickness and be likely to die before that age. Sometimes, in order to obey the taboos, we have to bury our children at birth.
For instance if a baby has its umbilical cord wrapped around its neck at birth, that is a bad omen and the baby must be buried. We have to crush up some ginger root and stuff it down the babies throat and then place it in a shallow grave under the house. We don't like doing this because many times we hear the baby screaming from under the ground for a long time.
"We also have to worship and obey our ancestral spirits because they control every part of our lives."
This was the state of these people when the Ostmans went to them. The reason I write of them is tonight I found out that the completed translation of the New Testament will be finished in the language of these people who when they went there had no language. After 26 years the translation work by the Ostmans and others is finished, and praise God they have 800 people in the village who have requested copies. Twenty six years spent developing a language, learning it, teaching it and translating the complete New Testament. The Ostmans are taking a one week vacation next week, and then they will be seeking where God wants them to go next. Amazing, humbling, inspiring! That is twenty six years well spent in service to the Lord, the fruit of which will be the Word of God to be used for generations until the Lord comes. This should make us all take a look at how we are spending our lives for the Lord!
At this mission guest house are missionaries from New Tribes and other places, but primarily New Tribes. When I got back tonight I ran into a couple staying here, Lance and Laura Ostman. The are missionaries to the Higaunon tribal people on the island of Mindanao, a heavily Muslim area and very dangerous. As it is with New Tribes they went to this tribe that had never seen white people in 1983! Here are some quotes from the people they went to reach;
"Only one person has ever been said to make it to heaven without dying, but he was sent back because he complained that there was no work for him to do there. In many ways, we fear the tee-noo-mah-nun because of what the spirits tell us we have to do, like having to sacrifice our seven year old children to them and going without food for long periods of time. They would have us go on long pilgrimages through the forest in search for a promised pathway to heaven. Many of our ancestors have died during the tee-noo-mah-nun, but we have no other hope."
"We are really scared of sickness because we have so much of it. We do not name our children until they are about 2 years old because we know that they will have constant sickness and be likely to die before that age. Sometimes, in order to obey the taboos, we have to bury our children at birth.
For instance if a baby has its umbilical cord wrapped around its neck at birth, that is a bad omen and the baby must be buried. We have to crush up some ginger root and stuff it down the babies throat and then place it in a shallow grave under the house. We don't like doing this because many times we hear the baby screaming from under the ground for a long time.
"We also have to worship and obey our ancestral spirits because they control every part of our lives."
This was the state of these people when the Ostmans went to them. The reason I write of them is tonight I found out that the completed translation of the New Testament will be finished in the language of these people who when they went there had no language. After 26 years the translation work by the Ostmans and others is finished, and praise God they have 800 people in the village who have requested copies. Twenty six years spent developing a language, learning it, teaching it and translating the complete New Testament. The Ostmans are taking a one week vacation next week, and then they will be seeking where God wants them to go next. Amazing, humbling, inspiring! That is twenty six years well spent in service to the Lord, the fruit of which will be the Word of God to be used for generations until the Lord comes. This should make us all take a look at how we are spending our lives for the Lord!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Ten Reason to Preach the Word
by John MacArthur
Faithfully preaching and teaching the Word must be the very heart of our ministry philosophy. Any other approach replaces the voice of God with human wisdom. Philosophy, politics, humor, psychology, homespun advice, and personal opinion can never accomplish what the Word of God does. Those things may be interesting, informative, entertaining, and sometimes even helpful—but they are not the business of the church. The preacher's task is not to be a conduit for human wisdom; he is God's voice to speak to the congregation. No human message comes with the stamp of divine authority—only the Word of God. How dare any preacher substitute another message?
I frankly do not understand preachers who are willing to abdicate this solemn privilege. Why should we proclaim the wisdom of men when we have the privilege of preaching the Word of God?
With that in mind, here are ten reasons why I delight in preaching the Word of God, week after week and year after year. This is not an exhaustive list, but I trust it will encourage those ministers who read it to faithfully proclaim the Word of God to the people of God through the power of the Spirit of God. (I have expanded on each of these reasons in the book Preaching the Cross, which can be read here.)
1. Because Its Message Is Timeless and Truly Powerful
2. Because It Is the Good News of Salvation
3. Because It Sets Forth Divine Truth with Clarity and Certainty
4. Because It Stands as the Authoritative Self-Revelation of God
5. Because It Exalts Christ as the Head of His Church
6. Because It Is the Means God Uses to Sanctify His People
7. Because It Rightly Informs Our Worship and Our Walk
8. Because It Brings Depth and Balance to My Ministry
9. Because It Honors the Necessity of Personal Bible Study
10. Because It Makes My Ministry Dependent on God
Ten Reasons to Preach the Word by John MacArthur
Shepherd Fellowship Pulpit Magazine, January 29, 2009
Faithfully preaching and teaching the Word must be the very heart of our ministry philosophy. Any other approach replaces the voice of God with human wisdom. Philosophy, politics, humor, psychology, homespun advice, and personal opinion can never accomplish what the Word of God does. Those things may be interesting, informative, entertaining, and sometimes even helpful—but they are not the business of the church. The preacher's task is not to be a conduit for human wisdom; he is God's voice to speak to the congregation. No human message comes with the stamp of divine authority—only the Word of God. How dare any preacher substitute another message?
I frankly do not understand preachers who are willing to abdicate this solemn privilege. Why should we proclaim the wisdom of men when we have the privilege of preaching the Word of God?
With that in mind, here are ten reasons why I delight in preaching the Word of God, week after week and year after year. This is not an exhaustive list, but I trust it will encourage those ministers who read it to faithfully proclaim the Word of God to the people of God through the power of the Spirit of God. (I have expanded on each of these reasons in the book Preaching the Cross, which can be read here.)
1. Because Its Message Is Timeless and Truly Powerful
2. Because It Is the Good News of Salvation
3. Because It Sets Forth Divine Truth with Clarity and Certainty
4. Because It Stands as the Authoritative Self-Revelation of God
5. Because It Exalts Christ as the Head of His Church
6. Because It Is the Means God Uses to Sanctify His People
7. Because It Rightly Informs Our Worship and Our Walk
8. Because It Brings Depth and Balance to My Ministry
9. Because It Honors the Necessity of Personal Bible Study
10. Because It Makes My Ministry Dependent on God
Ten Reasons to Preach the Word by John MacArthur
Shepherd Fellowship Pulpit Magazine, January 29, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
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
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
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