Should I Throw out My Books and Teaching Resources From Fallen Pastors?

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June 23, 2022

thank you notes for children’s ministry volunteers

In helping organizations navigate the challenge of moving on after the moral failure of fallen pastors or leaders, one of the big questions I hear is “What do we do with the decades of books the pastor published, the sermons he preached, or the TV programs, social media, or video resources that he or she created?

There’s two answers – one is for the organization, and the other is for private individuals.

For the organization – I strongly recommend taking everything offline immediately if not sooner. Very often critics (especially online trolls) will use those books or video messages to criticize or make fun of the church or nonprofit. Take that material out of your bookstore, get them off your online store, and delete social media accounts, YouTube channels, and anything else.

If the organization is going to move past a fallen leader, having resources around that constantly remind people of that leader isn’t going to help. So no matter how much effort it takes, focus on the future, not the past.

However, for individual believers or followers of that person, I’m more flexible. In some cases, the sin, mistakes, and violations of fallen pastors and leaders can be so serious that no matter how excellent their books, teaching, or other resources, I would get rid of it all in my own personal library. There are plenty of other reputable leaders and teachers to follow. So if any book or other resource in your home or office is distasteful because of the sin of the writer or teacher, then by all means toss it.

On the other hand, in many cases before they fell, the man or woman was indeed called by God, and was truly insightful, and sometimes brilliant. In those cases, keeping some or all of those resources may be personally desirable – particularly if you’re a writer, pastor, or other content creator and use that material for research.

In the case of Ravi Zacharias for instance, most would agree that he was one of the most gifted apologists of our generation. Therefore his books and teaching materials can be a great benefit for Christians long into the future. However for others, the revelations of his behavior are simply too much to overcome – and that’s completely understandable as well.

So from a personal perspective in your own home or office, the decision is yours.

What about you? What recommendations would you make on this issue?

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

20 Christian Bucket List Ideas for Families

By

Vanessa Myers

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June 23, 2022

What is a Christian family bucket list?

So, what exactly is a Christian family bucket list?

A great way for families to put a Christian spin on the bucket list ideas is to create a list of things that help them study the Bible together, as well as become great disciples and serve the community.

A faith-inspired family bucket list would include things such as:

Bible study challenges
volunteer opportunities
prayer challenges
evangelistic challenges

Christian-Bucket-List-1 Download

Christian Family Bucket List Ideas

What are good ideas for a bucket list that families can do together that help them to grow stronger in their faith? Here are 20 ideas for you to consider adding to your family bucket list:Memorize one Bible verse a week (or month)

1. Memorize one Bible verse a week

Try this 12-Month Family Scripture Challenge. Each month has 30 Bible verses related to the theme of the month. Pick 4 or 5 out of each month to memorize.

2. Read a devotion together every morning (or night)

Sitting down together as a family to read the Bible and a devotion is a great way to open discussion about faith in God. If you’re in need of a family devotional, check out my book, Breakfast with Jesus.

3. Create a family prayer jar and it fill it with requests. Pull one or two out each night and pray for them.

A family prayer jar can be made out of something as simple as a mason jar. Or you can find a larger box or jar and decorate it. Add to the prayer jar every night when you sit down to eat dinner together. And pray for each request.

4. Attend church more consistently

Life gets super busy at times. Between sports games, vacations, and other things, we sometimes get out of the habit of going to church. Look at your schedule each month and try to make a goal to attend church more.

5. Volunteer at church together

Your church is always looking for volunteers! Families can serve food at a Wednesday night supper, be ushers, help decorate the church for Advent, read Scripture together in a service, help serve communion, and so much more. Contact your pastor to see how your family can serve in the church.

6. Play worship music in your car

Crank up the worship music in the car and enjoy praising God together all week!

7. Teach your kids about tithing to God

Teach your kids at a young age about giving back to God. A great way to do this is by letting them put money in the offering plate each week.

8. Focus on one Bible story a week. Read that story and discuss all week.

Pick a Bible story to read each week then spend the week discussing it.

9. Have family worship nights at home

If your family loves to sing and dance, open up YouTube and search for worship songs for kids. I love Cool Worship Kids!

10. Talk about your God sightings each day. Have kids name ways they have seen God that day.

A great time to talk about God Sightings is at dinner time!

11. Say a blessing over your children

For a great book about speaking blessings over your children, check out The Family Blessing by Rolf Garborg.

12. Forgive each other

Families spend a lot of time together. And often times that means we fight or don’t get along…which means we have a need to forgive one another.

13. Start a family gratitude journal

When we can write down the things that we are grateful for, we can start to see how much God provides for us and blesses us. Teaching our children to be grateful is so beneficial for them!

14. Hang a family prayer list on the fridge. Write “answered” over the top of it when God answers your prayer.

Use this Family Prayer List to help your family see the many ways God answers our prayers!

15. Do a random act of kindness for someone

Brainstorm with your family ways you can show kindness to someone you know. Then do it!

16. Invite your pastor and their family over for dinner

This is a great way for your family to get to know your pastor!

17. Play Bible Trivia games

Bible Trivia games are fun and are a great way to help your children learn the Bible! You can find some good ones on YouTube.

18. Invite a friend to church

Have a friend that doesn’t go to church? Invite them to join you one Sunday for a worship service!

18. Go on a hike in God’s creation

Family hikes are fun and are a great way to spend time in God’s creation and enjoy the beauty of all that He has created.

20. Go to the grocery store and buy items needed for your local food pantry.

This is a great way to teach your children about helping to feed those in need. Contact your local food pantry and see if they are in need of certain food items.

Bucket lists are a great way to set goals for your family not only in fun things to do and places to go, but also in helping you stay focused on God. You can do fun things and still learn more about the Lord.

Don’t forget to download this printable list of faith-inspired family bucket list ideas to keep handy!

This article originally appeared here.

Stop Complicating Ministry: The Smaller the Church, the Simpler We Need to Keep It

By

Karl Vaters

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June 23, 2022

So, you pastor a small, struggling church.

You’re trying to help it become less small and less struggling, but all the “can’t miss” answers from the latest church growth conferences never seem to work for you.

You don’t have a big worship team singing new songs, a dynamic small group ministry, a trendy youth group, maybe not even a building of your own to meet in.

That’s OK, you don’t need any of that to have a vibrant, healthy, effective church ministry.

We make church way more complicated than it needs to be. Some of that comes from (mis)reading and listening to pastors of big churches. We see them with professional-grade musicians, lighting, graphics and self-designed curriculum and we think we need to do that, too.

But we don’t.

Big churches didn’t become big by having cool new stuff, they added that stuff when it became the best way to manage the size of the crowd.

Parking attendants with matching shirts didn’t cause their growth, it was a byproduct of their growth.

The Simple Church Solution

Complicating things is never the answer.

Simplifying things almost always is, no matter what size church you serve, but especially if the church is small (whatever number you consider small to be).

Small churches need to stop trying to emulate the processes used by big churches, and start asking “what’s the simplest way to do great ministry, strong worship, engaging fellowship, deep discipleship and effective outreach at the size we are right now?”

Then do that. Experiment with a few ideas if you need to, but keep them streamlined and simple.

Innovation doesn’t mean complication. The most innovative churches always get there by simplifying their systems, not complicating them.

Small, Simple Examples

For example, every church growth strategist tells us we need vibrant small groups. And they’re right. Healthy churches need a strong small group dynamic to strengthen essential aspects of the faith like fellowship and accountability.

But that doesn’t mean we need the latest small group curriculum or system. If you’re pastoring a church of under 50, you don’t need a small group program, you are a small group.

Don’t subdivide an already-small group of people. Get everyone together for fellowship, conversation, prayer and learning.

Want great kids’ ministry? Sitting on the grass, coloring on cardboard while someone who loves kids tells them about Jesus is life-transforming.

Youth? Listen to them, be an example to them, show up at their graduation, their games, their concerts. And be a soft place to land when they’re teased at school, they fail a class or their parents get a divorce.

Families? Offer to watch their kids so mom and dad can have a much-needed night to themselves.

Seniors? Show them the respect they’ve earned, and take the time to learn what they can teach us.

On Sundays, we don’t need fog machines and lasers on stage—although if it works for you, go for it! Just teach the Bible using simple terms we can all understand.

Speak kindly and lovingly to hurting people.

Pray for those in need.

Encourage church members to invite friends.

Sing songs that work in your context.

In short, do the basics in a way that fits where God has put you.

Ministry will never be easy, but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as we make it.

This article originally appeared here.

Water Games: 8 Kidmin Activities Sure to Make a Splash

By

ChildrensMinistry.com

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June 22, 2022

Water games and water fun are synonymous with summer. And they’re sure to be a hit with children at your church! Cool, refreshing, and fun—water is the perfect element when the sun is scorching. Plus, the Bible is brimming with stories that reference water. So water games are a great tool to drench kids’ faith growth!

Whether your children’s ministry is hosting an all-day water event at church or a single activity to help kids cool off on a hot summer day, use these water games. The 8 wet-and-wild activities below will help kids have fun while refreshing their faith.

8 Exciting Water Games Kids Will Love

1. Raindrop Relay

Age Level: 5 to 12

Bible Connect: Noah and the Flood (Genesis 7)

Materials: Two buckets per team, a plastic cup for each child, a permanent marker, water, and a sharp-tipped object such as scissors or a letter opener

Use water games to help kids imagine the Great Flood.

Before the game, poke holes on the bottoms and sides of the cups.

Draw a line with a permanent marker to indicate the halfway point on both the outside and inside of two buckets. Form two teams, and have kids sit on the ground in straight lines. Place one bucket filled with water at the front of each line. Place a lined bucket at the back of each line. Then give each child a leaky cup.

On “go,” have the first child in line fill his or her cup and carry it over the heads of the other kids sitting in line. Then have that child dump the remaining water into the bucket at the end of the line. Then the line shifts forward, and the cup carrier sits in the back of the line. The game continues until teams fill their back buckets to the halfway mark.

Dry-Off Debrief

Ask:

How did it feel to be constantly rained on during the game?
Is this game like or unlike what Noah and his family may have experienced when it rained 40 days and nights?
How do you think Noah and his family felt when they saw God’s rainbow?
Tell about a time you experienced that kind of hope.

2. Ice Cold Toes

Age Level: 6 to 12

Bible Connect: The Parable of the Hidden Treasure (Matthew 13:44-46)

Materials: A kiddie pool, ice cubes, water, ice cube trays, and green food coloring

This game will help kids understand the value of the kingdom of heaven.

Prior to the game, freeze a dozen ice cubes dyed with green food coloring. Fill the bottom of the pool with ice cubes and mix in the green ice cubes.

Have kids remove their shoes and socks. Challenge them to retrieve the green ice cubes—which represent the treasure—out of the pool using only their toes.

Dry-Off Debrief

Ask:

What, if any, obstacles did you face when trying to get the treasure?
To what lengths would you go to pursue your treasure? Explain.

Read aloud the Scripture.

Ask:

What do you treasure?
Why does Jesus compare heaven to a treasure?

3. Dodge the Stones

Age Level: 6 to 12

Bible Connect: David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17)

Materials: Various large obstacle items, such as plastic garbage cans, tables, and chairs; boundary markers, such as orange cones; buckets; large sponges; and water

Play this water game to help kids re-create the battle between David and Goliath.

Create a play area using boundary markers. Place large obstacles kids can hide behind within the boundaries.

Choose several kids to be “stone throwers,” and station them just outside the boundaries. Give the stone throwers buckets of water and sponges. Tell the other kids the object of the game is to run from one end of the play area to the other without being “stoned” by wet sponges. Play several times. Have kids switch roles so everyone has a chance to cool off by getting “stoned” with the wet sponges.

Dry-Off Debrief

Ask:

How did it feel to throw “stones” at kids?
Was it easy or difficult to hit kids? Explain.
What helped you dodge the stones?
How do you think David felt when he stoned Goliath?
What are some “Goliath’s” you have to defeat daily?
How does God help us in these situations?

4. Swim, Jonah, Swim!

Age Level: 6 to 10

Bible Connect: Jonah and the Big Fish (Jonah 1)

Materials: A swimming pool

This is one of those water games that works great at camp or a church pool party. You’ll need a lifeguard and extra volunteers to monitor safety.

Select one person to be the “Big Fish.” Have everyone else jump in the pool and swim around. But tell kids they aren’t allowed to be within 3 feet of the pool sides. When the Big Fish shouts, “Big Fish!” he or she tries to tag others in the pool before they can touch the sides. The first person tagged is the next Big Fish. If no one is tagged, the Big Fish starts over.

Dry-Off Debrief

Read aloud the Scripture. Ask:

Was it easy or difficult to get away from the Big Fish? Explain.
How is this game like or unlike how Jonah felt when swallowed by the fish?
What did Jonah do when he was captured?
What can you do when you’re afraid?

UK-Based Ministry Focused on Ending Poverty Spent Thousands of Pounds on Luxury Travel, Report Finds

By
Jessica Lea
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June 22, 2022

Source: Google Maps

Former trustees of a U.K.-based charity called The Everlasting Arms Ministries (TEAM) were guilty of “serious…misconduct,” according to a recent report from the Charity Commission for England and Wales. Among the commission’s findings were that the ministry spent money on luxury travel and five-star hotels as it conducted “international outreach.”

“It is clear that the charity was spending significant sums without proper oversight and checks and no clear long-term strategy which put the charity’s funds at risk,” said the Charity Commission in its report published June 14, 2022. “The inquiry also found that the previous trustee board breached their trustee duties and lacked the necessary skills to manage the charity in line with Commission guidance and best practice and/or were not aware of the Commission’s guidance and best practice, especially in relation to governance and financial matters.”

The Everlasting Arms Ministries and the Charity Commission

The Everlasting Arms Ministries website is currently under construction, but an archived webpage from almost four years ago shows that the ministry has six locations: three in the United Kingdom and three in India, China and Nigeria, respectively. According to a different archived capture of TEAM’s website taken June 3, 2019:

The Everlasting Arms Ministries (TEAM) was established to set the captives free, preach the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ and to restore back hope. Our primary aim is focused on Redemption, Recovery and Restoration by breaking satanic yokes, restoring destinies and raising leaders. Our leadership development schemes [sic] is to equip people of all age group [sic] with the necessary knowledge and training needed to assume positions of responsibility. This is evident in our involvement in various community and outreach projects.

One of the outreach projects listed on TEAM’s site was fighting hunger.

In its report, the Charity Commission said, “The charity’s objects are the advancement of the Christian religion and the relief of poverty worldwide.”

The commission’s report evaluated a number of areas of concern, including the 2016 sale of one of TEAM’s properties, conflicts of interest among ministry leadership, excessive spending on travel, significant increases in the salaries of the senior pastor and his wife, and poor or absent documentation of finances.

One notable finding was that from FYE (fiscal year end) March 31, 2016, to FYE March 31, 2018, TEAM conducted “international outreach” that included spending £457,665.94 on five-star hotels and traveling business class. The ministry justified these expenditures to the commission by saying its previous trustee board wanted directors and trustees to be comfortable while traveling.

However, during the time in question, the Deputy Senior Pastor, who is also the wife of the Senior Pastor, took a business class flight that cost £2,580, even though she was not a trustee of the charity. A charity employee on the same trip flew economy for £548.

The commission also noted that funds designated “international outreach” were to go to ministry partners in China and India. Yet while TEAM spent £457,665.94 on international outreach, only “£43,707.14 represented money the charity paid to partners in China and India.”

“Insufficient documentation was provided to the inquiry to fully account for funds sent to the charity’s partners abroad,” said the commission.

‘God Is Great’: NBA Finals MVP Steph Curry Gives Glory to God After Golden State Warriors Win Championship

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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June 22, 2022

Screengrab via YouTube @NBA

Steph Curry now has an NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award to add to his two NBA Most Valuable Player Awards after his team, the Golden State Warriors, won their fourth NBA Championship title last Thursday (June 16).

The Warriors beat the Boston Celtics in six games after a hard fought battle where both teams showcased their defensive skills, which featured the Celtics Jayson Tatum.

Tatum is one of the NBA’s elite players and is also unashamed to share why he plays the game of basketball. “If you put God First anything is possible,” Tatum’s Twitter description reads. “Philippians 4:13–I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me!!! In Jesus name i Play.”

After the Warriors won game six, clinching the best of seven series, an emotional Curry told a sideline reporter that he thanks God that he gets to play the game of basketball at the highest level.

STEPH HAD ME IN TEARS
WELL DESERVED CHAMP#stephencurry #warriors THIS ONE MEANS MORE #30 GOAT 🐐 🐐 🐐 pic.twitter.com/71vmh4mtjs

— bevheaven (@bevheaven1) June 17, 2022

“I’m so proud of our group,” Curry said. “I thank God every day that I get to play this game at the highest level with some amazing people. You know that this is what it’s all about—for a championship—and we’ve been through it the last few years. At the beginning of the season, nobody thought we’d be here, except everybody on this court right now. It’s amazing! It’s very surreal.”

RELATED: Why Are People Fine With Steph Curry’s Faith but ‘Hate’ Tim Tebow’s? Ray Comfort Answers

In the 2019-2020 season, the Warriors only won 15 games after making the NBA Finals the previous five seasons, claiming the title three times. Key players suffered multiple injuries, including half of its dynamic “Splash Brothers” duo, Klay Thompson, whose injuries took him out of the game for two years.

“God is great,” Curry said during the press conference after the Warriors won the championship. “The ability to be on this stage and play with amazing teammates against a great Boston Celtics team that gave us everything to try to get to the finish line—this [championship] hits different for sure.”

Earlier in June, Curry appeared on Dove Award winning artist Tauren Wells‘ podcast “The High Note” in an episode titled “Stephen Curry Changed the Game for Good.” During the podcast, Curry shared how he came to Christ and credited his parents, especially his mother, for instilling a strong biblical foundation into his life.

Curry said he plays for “an audience of One” and described his journey as his own. “I’ve been given this position, these challenges, these skills, this attitude and point of view on life, and God doesn’t make any mistakes with anything that happens in my life and I rock with it,” the NBA superstar told Wells.

The Currys are passing down the importance of Christ to their kids, Curry shared, specifically explaining that their identity is found not in the accomplishments of their world-renown parents but in Jesus.

Chicago Pastor James Meeks to Retire, Pass Baton to Rev. Charlie Dates

By
Stephanie Martin
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June 22, 2022

The Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates. Photo courtesy of Charlie Dates

It’s time for a younger generation to assume leadership at one of Chicago’s largest churches. That was the message Sunday from the Rev. James Meeks, founder and longtime senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church on the city’s far South Side. Meeks, 65, founded Salem in 1985 and grew it from 200 to 10,000 members. In his June 19 sermon, he told congregants he’s retiring as of January 15, 2023, and the Rev. Dr. Charlie Dates will take his place.

Pastor James Meeks: ‘It’s Time for a Young Generation’

Meeks, who plans to stay involved with Hope of House, Salem’s philanthropic organization, is one of the latest longtime U.S. church leaders to step down. “You see many people who are guilty of holding onto positions too long,” he says. “All the old leaders stay in place and don’t open up and make room for new leadership.

“Everybody loves our old, respected leaders … but I want to set an example that it’s okay to give the next generation an opportunity,” Meeks adds. “It’s time for a young generation to come forward with new challenges facing us.”

Meeks has been active—and sometimes controversial—in the community. He served three terms as an Illinois state senator, was chairman of the state board of education, and ran in Chicago’s 2011 mayoral race. He opposed the legalization of gay marriage, called for a boycott over funding disparities at Chicago Public Schools, and once served as spiritual adviser to disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly.

In 1998, Meeks led a push to close 26 liquor stores in a 19-block radius near Salem. After the neighborhood went dry, Walmart opened a store. “The church actually changed the face of that community,” he says.

Rev. Charlie Dates Has Led Progressive Baptist

To choose a successor Meeks says he and his wife, First Lady Jamell Meeks, prayed and fasted. “There is a young man in our midst who is an exceptional preacher,” Pastor Meeks told congregants Sunday, calling Charlie Dates both “called” and “qualified.”

“He came out of our church,” says Meeks, “and it’s time for young people to step up and be given a chance.”

Dates, 41, graduated from Salem’s now-shuttered Christian Academy. In 2011, he became the youngest senior pastor at Chicago’s Progressive Baptist Church. Dates teaches at several universities and seminaries, including Wheaton College, and is popular on the speaking circuit. He and his wife, Kirstie, have two children.

Last month, Dates joined the Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast to talk about the need for solid Christian preaching during tough times.

John MacArthur Touts the Benefits of Slavery in a 2012 Video That Has Resurfaced

By
Dale Chamberlain
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June 22, 2022

Screengrab via YouTube

A 2012 video published by the “Grace to You” preaching ministry has been gaining fresh attention, as the clip features John MacArthur and his favorable opinion toward the concept of slavery.

The video began circulating on social media shortly after it was featured in a Baptist News Global article that offered analysis regarding what MacArthur has said about race, slavery, and the so-called “curse of Ham” throughout his decades as a preacher and public figure.

MacArthur has been the pastor-teacher of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, since 1969 and has authored numerous Bible commentaries and other works. Though he is greatly admired and highly influential among certain groups within broader evangelicalism, MacArthur is also known for strong and sometimes controversial stances on matters of theology and civic engagement.

RELATED: Voddie Baucham, John MacArthur Emphasize Culture’s Hatred of Christians, Avoiding Compromise at Conservative Baptist Network Event

In the 2012 video, MacArthur argued that slavery only becomes a problem when a master is abusive, going on to discuss the Christian’s spiritual slavery to Jesus, whom MacArthur described as the perfect master.

“It is a little strange that we have such an aversion to slavery because historically there have been abuses,” MacArthur said in the video. “There have been abuses in marriage. We don’t have an aversion to marriage, particularly, because there have been abuses. There are parents who abuse their children. We don’t have an aversion to having children because some parents have been abusive.”

“Of course, you can have any kind of situation where abuse can be involved,” MacArthur continued. “So to throw out slavery as a concept simply because there have been abuses, I think, is to miss the point.”

“In any kind of human relationship, there can be abuses. There can also be benefits,” MacArthur argued. “For many people—poor people, perhaps people who weren’t educated, perhaps people who had no other opportunity—working for a gentle, caring, loving master was the best of all possible worlds. If you had the right master, everything was taken care of.”

“So we have to go back and take a more honest look at slavery and understand that God has, in a sense, legitimized it when it’s handled correctly by saying, ‘This is the way you are to view your relationship to Jesus Christ: the perfect, all-wise, all-loving, all-compassionate, all-beneficent Lord,” MacArthur said. “And you [are] willing to be His slave, because of such unique care provided by Him.”

RELATED: Are Some Evangelicals Taking John MacArthur’s Religious Liberty Comments out of Context?

“If you asked me to be a slave, I will simply ask you one question: who is my master,” MacArthur said, going on to express that he wouldn’t be able to “sign up fast enough to be a slave” if his master was someone who would love him perfectly, would always do what was best for him, would include him in his enterprises, and treat him as an heir and a son.

Justin and Lindsey Holcomb: How Pastors Can Stay in Their Lanes While Helping Survivors of Abuse

By
Jessica Lea
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June 22, 2022

Photo courtesy of Justin and Lindsey Holcomb

The Stetzer ChurchLeaders Podcast · Justin and Lindsey Holcomb: How Pastors Can Stay in Their Lanes While Helping Survivors of Abuse

Dr. Justin Holcomb is an Episcopal minister and teaches theology at Reformed Theological Seminary and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He serves on the board of GRACE (Godly Response to Abuse in Christian Environments), as well as on the boards of HeartSupport and Leaders Collective.

Lindsey Holcomb holds a master’s degree in public health with a focus on violence against women. She’s provided crisis intervention to victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. Lindsey‘s also worked as a case manager at a sexual assault crisis center and domestic violence shelter. And she now works at Samaritan Village, an anti-trafficking organization in Florida.

Justin and Lindsey are the authors of several books, including, “God Made All of Me: A Book to Help Children Protect Their Bodies” and “Rid of My Disgrace: Hope and Healing for Sexual Assualt Victims.”

Other Ways to Listen to This Podcast With Justin and Lindsey Holcomb

► Listen on Apple
► Listen on Spotify
► Listen on Stitcher
► Listen on YouTube

Key Questions for Justin and Lindsey Holcomb

-What are the consequences of abuse in the lives of individuals?

-Can you help believers think through the necessity of 1) grace, the Bible and the believing community, but also 2) the role of licensed professionals?

-How should pastors respond when people indicate they’ve been abused?

-What does it mean to be trauma-informed?

Key Quotes From Justin Holcomb

“The effects of abuse strike people physically, emotionally, psychologically, socially and spiritually. So it’s a comprehensive type of harm. And how the effects play out are going to be different for every single person. But it’s the comprehensive picture that’s so clear. The key word for any type of abuse—sexual abuse, domestic abuse, those are the two key that most people hone in on—is that it’s traumatic.”

“Pastors, look into the congregation and divide by four and that’s how many people have a direct response of abuse. And then everyone else there is connected to them. Everyone knows someone who suffered abuse.”

“The church has done a bad job at times, but the church is also one of the most powerful forces in someone’s life.”

Pope Francis Plans to Remain Pope ‘For As Long As God Allows It,’ Bishops Say

By
Claire Giangrave
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June 22, 2022

Pope Francis is helped walking as he celebrates the canonization Mass for 10 new saints in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, May 15, 2022. Francis rallied from knee pain that has forced him to use a wheelchair to preside over the first canonization ceremony at the Vatican in over two years. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

VATICAN CITY (RNS) — While concerns regarding Pope Francis’ health have fueled rumors he might soon resign, Brazilian bishops told Vatican media outlets on Monday (June 20) that the pope intends to continue in his role as head of the Catholic Church “for as long as God allows it.”

Archbishop Roque Paloschi of Porto Velho said the pope reassured him during a visit at the Vatican on Monday that despite the many challenges the pope faces, resigning “does not cross his mind,” according to an article published by Vatican News.

Seventeen bishops from Brazil will meet with the pope this month for traditional “ad limina” visits, obligatory consultations that bishops from around the world make on a rotating five-year schedule.

“I want to live my mission as long as God allows me and that’s it,” Francis said when asked about his health by the bishops, according to Roque.

In the same Vatican article, Monsignor Lúcio Nicoletto, the administrator of Brazil’s Diocese of Roraima, said he was impressed by the “great strength” displayed by the aging pontiff, who during the meeting reinforced his commitment to protecting the Amazon rainforest and the Indigenous people who inhabit it.

RELATED: Belgian bishop declines cardinal honor over abuse record

In early June, Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez Maradiaga, one of the pope’s cardinal advisers, said the resignation rumors amounted to nothing more than “fake news” and compared media reports on the subject to “a cheap soap opera.”

Pope Francis greets the faithful as he leaves St. Mary Major Basilica after participating in a rosary prayer for peace, in Rome, May 31, 2022. Pope Francis canceled a planned July trip to Africa on doctors’ orders because of ongoing knee problems, the Vatican said June 10, 2022, raising further questions about the health and mobility problems of the 85-year-old pontiff. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia)

9Marks Panelists Focus on SBC’s Problems, Potential

By
Timothy Cockes
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June 22, 2022

9Marks panelists discussed "what it means to be Baptist" Monday night June 13. Photo by Camille Grochowski

ANAHEIM, Calif. (BP) – A candid conversation about the problems facing Southern Baptist churches and a discussion on the role of denominations headlined both 9Marks panel events coinciding with the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting.

9Marks, along with Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, presented “9Marks at 9: The State of the SBC” June 14 during the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim. The panel included (left to right) moderator Jonathan Leeman, 9Marks founder Mark Dever, SEBTS President Danny Akin and pastors Aaron Menikoff, Matt Chandler and Omar Johnson. Photo by Karen McCutcheon

Taking place at 9 p.m. Monday and Tuesday June 13 and 14, the events featured several SBC pastors and entity leaders as well as leaders of 9Marks, a parachurch organization focused on what it deems are the biblical marks of a healthy church.

Panel events included 9Marks President Mark Dever, senior pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., and Jonathan Leeman, editorial director of 9 Marks.

Other guests included Matt Chandler, lead pastor of The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas, Omar Johnson, pastor of Temple Hills Baptist Church in Temple Hills, Md. and Danny Akin, president of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Dever opened Monday night’s panel by challenging churches coming to the annual meeting to examine the problems they find within the SBC from their own perspective.

“The problem is most Baptists today have forgotten what it means to be Baptist,” Dever said. “We have to examine what has relaxed our grip on the truths that would serve us so well in times like this, that having lost we are in such trouble. We are even eating each other up as a convention in part because of all the infections that have spread within our churches because they are so sick.

“We who are inerrantists have a tendency to attack entities like they are the problems. We can come to the convention and throw all the stones we want at entity heads and feel very good about ourselves, but brothers it is in the churches that the real battle against sin is fought. Entities are not unimportant, but the IMB and NAMB will always be a reflection of our churches in America. If there is anything you do not like in the IMB or NAMB, look in the mirror and then see if you’re building friendships with pastors in your local area.”

The remainder of Monday night’s panel, moderated by Leeman, featured various guest pastors discussing theological or practical issues they see in the SBC.

Leeman closed the night by talking about several troubling elements of SBC culture that may need some examination. He listed an overly honorific culture regarding leaders, pastors’ inability to receive constructive criticism and a focus on numbers rather than names.

During Tuesday night’s session, the focus shifted to a brief recap of the day’s events, followed by a discussion on the role of denominations.

Guest panelists were asked to describe the state of the SBC in one word, and answers ranged from “mixed” to “divided” to “shaky.”

Danny Akin provided a slightly different answer than the rest as he said “hopeful.” Despite the issues facing the convention, Akin said he feels good about the future of the SBC.

Pope Blasts Violence in Mexico as He Mourns 2 Slain Jesuits

By
AP News
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June 22, 2022

Pope Francis attends his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini)

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis on Wednesday blasted the violence that plagues Mexico as he mourned the slayings of two of his “brother” Jesuits who were gunned down in a remote Mexican church by apparent drug gang members.

Francis, an Argentine Jesuit, offered prayers to the Jesuit community at the end of his weekly general audience, saying he was “saddened and dismayed” to learn of the slayings in Mexico’s mountainous Chihuahua state.

“How may killings there are in Mexico!” he said. “Once again, I repeat that violence never resolves problems but just increases useless suffering.”

Javier Campos Morales, 79, and Joaquín César Mora Salazar, 80, were killed Monday inside the church in Cerocahui. A man being pursued by a drug gang had apparently sought refuge in the church, and the gang members killed him and the priests when they found him, authorities said.

Francis ministered to drug addicts when he was archbishop of Buenos Aires and has long condemned the “dealers of death” who fuel the drug trade, which he has blamed on the “devil” and lust for money. During a 2016 visit to Mexico, he urged Mexicans to shun the trade.

This article originally appeared here.

R.C. Sproul: The Covenant of Works

By
R.C. Sproul
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June 22, 2022

Covenant theology is important for many reasons. Though covenant theology has been around for millennia, it finds its more refined and systematic formulation in the Protestant Reformation. Its importance, however, has been heightened in our day because of its relationship to a theology that is relatively new. In the late nineteenth century, the theology called “dispensationalism” emerged as a new approach to understanding the Bible. The old Scofield Reference Bible defined dispensationalism in terms of seven distinct dispensations or time periods within sacred Scripture. Each dispensation was defined as “a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God.” Scofield distinguished seven dispensations including that of innocence, conscience, civil government, promise, law, grace, and the kingdom period. Over against this diversified view of redemptive history, covenant theology seeks to present a clear picture of the unity of redemption, which unity is seen in the continuity of the covenants that God has given throughout history and how they are fulfilled in the person and work of Christ.

Beyond the ongoing discussion between traditional dispensationalists and Reformed theology with respect to the basic structure of biblical revelation, there has arisen in our day an even greater crisis with respect to our understanding of redemption. This crisis focuses on the place of imputation in our understanding of the doctrine of justification. Just as the doctrine of imputation was the pivotal issue in the sixteenth-century debate between the Reformers and the Roman Catholic understanding of justification, so now the issue of imputation has risen its head again even among professing evangelicals who repudiate the Reformation understanding of imputation. At the heart of this question of justification and imputation is the rejection of what is called the covenant of works. Historic covenantal theology makes an important distinction between the covenant of works and the covenant of grace. The covenant of works refers to the covenant that God made with Adam and Eve in their pristine purity before the fall, in which God promised them blessedness contingent upon their obedience to His command. After the fall, the fact that God continued to promise redemption to creatures who had violated the covenant of works, that ongoing promise of redemption is defined as the covenant of grace.

Technically, from one perspective, all covenants that God makes with creatures are gracious in the sense that He is not obligated to make any promises to His creatures. But the distinction between the covenant of works and grace is getting at something that is of vital importance, as it has to do with the Gospel. The covenant of grace indicates God’s promise to save us even when we fail to keep the obligations imposed in creation. This is seen most importantly in the work of Jesus as the new Adam. Again and again the New Testament makes the distinction and contrast between the failure and calamities wrought upon humanity through the disobedience of the original Adam and the benefits that flow through the work of the obedience of Jesus, who is the new Adam. Though there is a clear distinction between the new Adam and the old Adam, the point of continuity between them is that both were called to submit to perfect obedience to God.

When we understand Christ’s work of redemption in the New Testament, we focus our attention largely on two aspects of it. On the one hand, we look at the atonement. It’s clear from the New Testament teachings that in the atonement Jesus bears the sins of His people and is punished for them in our place. That is, the atonement is vicarious and substitutionary. In this sense, on the cross, Christ took upon Himself the negative sanctions of the old covenant. That is, He bore in His body the punishment due to those who violated not only the law of Moses, but also the law that was imposed in paradise. He took upon Himself the curse that is deserved by all who disobey the law of God. This, Reformed theology describes in terms of “the passive obedience of Jesus.” It points to His willingness to submit to His reception of the curse of God in our stead.

Beyond the negative fulfillment of the covenant of works, in taking the punishment due those who disobey it, Jesus offers the positive dimension that is vital to our redemption. He wins the blessing of the covenant of works on all of the progeny of Adam who put their trust in Jesus. Where Adam was the covenant breaker, Jesus is the covenant keeper. Where Adam failed to gain the blessedness of the tree of life, Christ wins that blessedness by His obedience, which blessedness He provides for those who put their trust in Him. In this work of fulfilling the covenant for us in our stead, theology speaks of the “active obedience” of Christ. That is, Christ’s redeeming work includes not only His death, but His life. His life of perfect obedience becomes the sole ground of our justification. It is His perfect righteousness, gained via His perfect obedience, that is imputed to all who put their trust in Him. Therefore, Christ’s work of active obedience is absolutely essential to the justification of anyone. Without Christ’s active obedience to the covenant of works, there is no reason for imputation, there is no ground for justification. If we take away the covenant of works, we take away the active obedience of Jesus. If we take away the active obedience of Jesus, we take away the imputation of His righteousness to us. If we take away the imputation of Christ’s righteousness to us, we take away justification by faith alone. If we take away justification by faith alone, we take away the Gospel, and we are left in our sins. We are left as the miserable sons of Adam, who can only look forward to feeling the full measure of God’s curse upon us for our own disobedience. It is the obedience of Christ that is the ground of our salvation, both in His passive obedience on the cross and His active obedience in His life. All of this is inseparably related to the biblical understanding of Jesus as the new Adam (Rom. 5:12–20), who succeeded where the original Adam failed, who prevailed where the original Adam lost. There is nothing less than our salvation at stake in this issue.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Care for the Lambs: Reaching Children With the Love of Jesus

By
Randy Alcorn
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June 22, 2022

Jesus said in Matthew 19:14, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” The disciples might have been telling people, “Keep the children to the side. They’re just distracting. The Lord is here to teach the multitudes, but children get in the way.” But Jesus said, “No. Let them come to me.” He held them in His arms and elevated their status when He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” God puts great value in the loving, trusting heart of a child.

There’s another intriguing (and often overlooked) verse related to God’s special love for children. In Matthew 18:10 Jesus says, “See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that in heaven their angels always see the face of my Father who is in heaven.” At first glance, we might think Jesus is saying that children have guardian angels. That may very well be true, but guardian angels would be here on earth around us, engaged in spiritual battle. There are some passages that imply their presence in our lives, but these particular angels Jesus refers to in Matthew 18:10 are not engaged in spiritual warfare on Earth. Instead, they are in Heaven, continuously beholding the face of the Father.

What does that mean? I think it means God has appointed angels in Heaven who bring the cause of the children constantly before Him. It’s not like God doesn’t know or care what’s happening in their lives, but He often chooses to use secondary agents (like His followers) to do His work. He’s sovereign and all-knowing and doesn’t need angels to do that, any more than He needs us. But He chooses to have angels representing the cause of children and being a voice for them before Him. That’s a staggering thought. God also has special rewards for those who help children (and conversely, special judgment for those who harm them).

Several months ago, Nanci read this to me from her Charles Spurgeon devotional. I found it very touching, and applicable to the subject of children and teaching them to follow Christ:

You Christians, don’t despise anybody, but specially do not despise any in whom you see even a little love to Christ. But do more—look after them, look after the little ones. I think I have heard of a shepherd who had a remarkably fine flock of sheep, and he had a secret about them. He was often asked how it was that his flocks seemed so much to excel all others. At last he told the secret—“I give my principal attention to the lambs.” Now you elders of the church, and you my matronly sisters, you that know the Lord, and have known him for years, look up the lambs, search them out, and take a special care of them; and if they are well nurtured in their early days they will get a strength of spiritual constitution that will make them the joy of the Good Shepherd during the rest of their days.

This article originally appeared here and is used by permission.

Sermon Prep: Why Do You Spend so Much Time on It?

By
Eric Geiger
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June 22, 2022

Senior pastors invest varying amounts of time in sermon preparation. I have friends who spend 25 hours a week on sermon prep and friends who spend 8-10 hours a week on sermon prep. The amount of time in sermon prep can vary based on the experience of the pastor (those with more experience have reservoirs of knowledge), the context of the church (a church plant may benefit from a pastor who is in the community more than in the study), and other factors (the style of preaching for example). Regardless how much time a pastor spends in sermon prep, a common question can be “why.” Why do you spend so much time in sermon prep? Can you prepare less and just “be led by the Spirit as you preach?” I spend approximately 15 hours a week in sermon prep. Because I don’t preach every week, this translates to about 20 hours of prep per sermon.

3 Reasons Why We Spend so Much Time in Sermon Prep

1. Respect for the people

Many have pointed out that time is more valuable than money because you can find ways to make more money and you can’t find ways to make more time. Every minute people listen to a sermon is a minute of their lives they are devoting to listen, thus to treat each minute in a sermon as valuable is to honor and respect those who are giving their time. Of course, minutes given listening to a sermon from God’s Word are minutes wisely invested as God uses the preaching of His Word to encourage and sustain us. When you multiply a 30-minute sermon by the number of people listening, that is a whole lot of minutes. By God’s grace, I want to steward those minutes of listening really well.

2. Respect for the Scripture

Charles Spurgeon said, “Nobody ever outgrows Scripture; the Book widens and deepens with our years.” The Scripture is the pure and faultless Word of God. The Scripture should be approached with awe as it is God-breathed. To teach and declare the Word of God to others is a sacred task, one which means we will be judged more strictly (James 3:1). We should not “wing it” when it comes to teaching the Scripture.

3. Respect for the Spirit

God exists outside of time. He sees the moment the I am preparing and the moment I am preaching with equal clarity and vividness. Practically this means that God can lead me to say something two weeks before I say it with the same force that He can lead me to say something in the moment. To approach sermon preparation seriously is to seek the Spirit’s prompting during preparation and while on the platform. To not take sermon preparation seriously is to limit the Spirit’s work to the time on the platform. To only rely on the Spirit’s leading during the preaching is not a bigger vision of the Spirit’s prompting but a smaller vision for His prompting. To prepare well is to rely on the Spirit’s prompting during message preparation all the way through message delivery.

Be diligent to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15)

This article on sermon prep originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

The Truth About Church Demographics

By
Ray Hollenbach
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June 22, 2022

In our fractured society demographic studies are the sacred scriptures of politics, education, and marketing. The categories of Latino, African-American, Anglo, and Asian are too large: demographics break down ethnicities into subcategories of gender, age, sexual orientation, and coffee-habits. In the church, George Barna has made a industry out of church demographics. We live in sociological ghettoes, and those who sell goods, services, and philosophies can find all the figures they need to target their message.

Our Creator has a different demographic approach: oneness—the kind of oneness that spans the gaps and unifies people of every nation, tribe, and tongue. Consider, for example, how Jesus launched his church:

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven . . . Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs . . .

In that moment when God chose to launch his ends-of-the-earth initiative, he chose to bring people together. Jesus indiscriminately poured out a one-size-fits-all solution on everyone: the true demographic of the church is the Holy Spirit. Church demongraphics is an oxymoron: True church demographics include everyone.

The earliest Christians learned again and again the work of the Spirit. The Comforter broke boundaries and distinctions worldwide. The Spirit of Christ favored one people, “neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female . . . all one in Christ Jesus.”

The Lord’s method was part of his message. One faith, one baptism, one hope, one Lord. The book of Revelation, that crazy picture of the moment when time itself is rolled up like a cloak, paints a picture of the Forever Days. For the truth about church demographics, perhaps we should look at Revelation 7:9: “. . . there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.”

God is a sweet community within Himself: Father, Son, and Spirit. Even in the midst of the Trinity’s sharp distinctions and clear identity there radiates a oneness. What keeps us from imitating his example?

This article on church demographics originally appeared here, and is used by permission.

Youth Ministry Mission Statements: How to Have Maximum Impact

By
Rachel Blom
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June 21, 2022

Youth ministry mission statements are a must. Every thriving youth ministry needs a solid, meaningful mission statement. Join me for a quick look at how to draft (and live out) powerful mission statements. Bonus: One of the example statements I share below might be a great fit for your ministry!

The “Why” of Youth Ministry Mission Statements

Before you dive into the practical aspects of youth ministry mission statements, you and your leaders must be convinced you need one. If you can’t see the benefits of a mission statement or your team doesn’t see the need for one, chances are it will end up in a drawer somewhere. (Or whatever a digital example of that is … an unused folder?)

That means you must convince yourself and others of the necessity of youth ministry mission statements. When your team is on board, it’s time to get to work.

The “How” of Youth Ministry Mission Statements

Youth ministry mission statements can’t be created in an afternoon. Take time to have serious discussions with your leaders, your volunteers, and maybe even people outside your youth ministry, such as the board, parents, etc. During the process, work to discover the answer to this key question: Why does our youth ministry exist?

All eventual youth ministry mission statements must answer that question. Why do you exist? What’s your purpose? What do you want to accomplish, get done and change?

Most mission statements also express the core values of an organization (or, in your case, the ministry). Think about values such as respect, equality, compassion and integrity, but also consider concepts such as family-based. A second question to ask while brainstorming youth ministry mission statements, therefore, is: What’s important to us?

If you take time to discuss and answer these two questions, you’ll probably start out quite broad and need to get more specific. That’s okay; just take the time to hear everyone’s thoughts and opinions. And don’t be alarmed or even shocked if leaders have completely different opinions about what your mission should be!

Next Steps: Narrow It Down & Review

Once you’ve listened to everyone’s opinions, try to narrow down the focus. What are the common denominators? What do people agree on?

The Primary Apologetic for the Christian Faith

By
Josh Laxton
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June 21, 2022

Source: Lightstock

If you had to choose between a chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A or Popeyes, which one would you choose? If you’re a coffee person and you had to choose coffee from Dunkin’ Donuts or Starbucks, which would be your choice? What about Apple verses Microsoft products?

If I asked the follow up question, “Why do you prefer that product over the other one?” you would be able to give me your personal testimony, your defense, as to why you prefer one item over the other. And your reasoning, whether consciously or unconsciously, would be anchored in an objective reality with personal experiential points.

Whether we are talking about technology, coffee, or even a sports team, we all have a story that tells the reason our preferences are what they are.

Your Personal Conversion Story

What is true about menial matters like coffee is magnified when it comes to our faith. Throughout the book of Acts, the Apostle Paul’s shares his testimony on three occasions (Acts 9, Acts 22, and Acts 26). It seems like Paul never got tired of sharing his story of salvation. And it is my prayer that those of us who have a personal conversion story—those of us who have become Christians—will never get over sharing with others how we were transferred from the domain of darkness into the glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:13).

In looking at Paul’s conversion story, there’s at least three elements that I believe will help us share our own personal conversion story with great clarity.

First, Paul noted who he was and what he did in his past. For instance, in Acts 26, Paul expressed that he grew up as a faithful Jew and member of the strictest sect of Judaism. When followers of Jesus emerged, he opposed the name of Jesus and all those who claimed his name. In opposing them, he put people in prison, signed death warrants, and pursued with great rage Christians all over the region. That was Paul before Christ.

Second, Paul noted that he had an encounter with Jesus. Paul’s encounter with Jesus contained at least five components that I do believe still exists when people encounter Jesus today.

First, there’s a spiritual component. Paul had a divine encounter with Jesus. Such an encounter is difficult to put in words that make sense to human beings. Second, there’s an experiential component to Paul’s encounter. He had a physical experience. He was knocked down and blinded. Many people, reliving their personal conversion story, can typically remember their experience either at the moment of their conversion or during the season of their conversion.

Third, there is a relational component. Paul knew that Jesus was reaching out and speaking to him. Jesus was drawing Paul to himself. Every personal conversion story should include the component of being drawn personally and relationally to Jesus. Fourth, there’s an intelligible component. In other words, there’s this intelligible understanding of who one is and Jesus’ vision of who he wants them to become. This component leads to the last, which is the confrontational component. Jesus confronted Paul and issued the imperative to stop doing this and start doing this. The confrontational component involves the denial of self and taking up one’s cross and following Jesus. In other words, it involves repentance—a change of mind and direction.

Third, Paul explained how his encounter with Jesus led to his personal transformation. Paul went from sinner to saint, religious Pharisee to gospel preacher, persecutor to persecuted, foe to family, fighter of flesh to filled with the Spirit, agitator to apostle, hostile to humble, law-driven to love-driven, and from mono-ethnic to multi-ethnic. After his encounter with Jesus, Paul was a different man.

When sharing with others today our personal conversion story, we want to articulate, with clarity, who were before Christ, what our encounter with Christ looked like, and how we were and are being changed (transformed) as a result of our encounter with Christ.

Personal Conversion Story As Primary Defense in Our Current Culture

In Acts 22 and 26 where Paul shares his testimony, Luke uses the Greek word apologias to describe Paul’s “defense.” Yes, we get the term apologetics from apologias.

Apologetics has been popular in Christian circles since the early church fathers. Over the last century or so, there’s been a resurgence of Christian apologists and apologetics. A lot of Christian apologetics rose as more of a defense against modernity, which flowed from the Enlightenment. While modernity anchored itself in a facts-based, universal truth, and rational foundation, it eventually replaced God at center with man. Thus, human reason, intellect, knowledge, and ability became the center of what would bring about a meaningful life, leading to a utopia—a heaven on earth. As a result, God was pushed to the periphery. This is what Nietzsche was getting at when he uttered the phrase, “God is dead.” Man no longer needs God.

While modernity was doing its thing, along came the challenger, postmodernity. Postmodernity saw modernity as a failure. They saw the results of modernity—multiple world wars, wide-scale corruption, abuse of power from all institutions, the inability to solve some of the major problems in the world like poverty—as a failure to produce what it promised. As a result, postmodernism rooted itself in skepticism, deconstruction, subjectivity, and personalization. Postmodernism ultimately sought to deconstruct metanarratives—religious or philosophical frameworks that helped makes sense of the world. If modernity’s tagline was, “I think, therefore I am,” postmodernity’s tagline would be, “I feel, therefore I am.”

Some might say that postmodernity was rejected in the 1990s and early 2000s. And to a degree, they would be right. However, according to Helen Pluckrose and James Lindsay in their book, Cynical Theories, postmodernism resurfaced in more of an “applied postmodernism” that sought to deconstruct what was and to reconstruct a socially just society in its own ideological image around issues of race, gender, and sexuality.

I bring up modernity and postmodernity because most of our Christian apologetics over the last 50–75 years have sought to rationally and intellectually answer the questions of modernity like, “How do you know God exists? If God is good, why is there evil? How do you scientifically explain miracles?” When it comes to the new and improved postmodernity, I believe the church is still trying to understand it so that it can be able to articulate a contextual defense or apology.

Nevertheless, while I love apologetics and believe they should play a role in our Christian witness, I do find it interesting that Paul shares his personal conversion story to two very different groups when on trial—when on defense.

As we think about the most effective ways to reach the two cultural camps—modernists and postmodernists—in North America, I believe our personal conversion stories will be the most effective apologetic. It is this apologetic that is anchored in the historical Jesus—who lived, died, was buried, and rose from the dead and who promises to make all things new—and anchored to people’s personal experiences for how they encountered Jesus and came to the decision of declaring Him as their Savior, Lord, and King.

In closing, as I see it, one’s personal conversion story is the primary apologetic for reaching people far from Jesus—regardless of time and context. And the great thing about this apologetic is every believer can master it! All you need is a story like the blind man in John 9 who exclaimed in his defense of Jesus, “I was blind and [because of Jesus] now I see.”

Rick Warren Explains How He Trained 1.1 Million Pastors; ‘Egotistical Nonsense,’ One SBC Pastor Responds

By
Jesse T. Jackson
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June 21, 2022

Photos by Jesse T. Jackson

Rick Warren surprised many Southern Baptists last week during the SBC’s annual meeting in Anaheim, California, reading a “love letter” to the Convention from one of the messenger microphones. Warren pastors Saddleback Church, one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in the nation.

At last year’s meeting, a motion was accepted for the Credentials Committee to look into whether Saddleback Church should be disfellowshipped from the SBC for ordaining three women on their staff and giving them the title of “pastor.”

Warren, thinking that this might be his last annual meeting, told the crowd of over 10,000, “You know, it’s customary for a guy who’s about to be hung to let him say his dying words.”

During the speech, Warren rattled off accomplishments from his 43 years at Saddleback Church. Saddleback’s pastor thanked his SBC family, later sharing that he received thousands of messages expressing love and support following the speech.

“Thank you! Past 6 days I’ve received over 4,800 emails, texts, letters & calls expressing your love, joy, relief & support,” Warren tweeted, adding that the standing applause he received had touched him. “ALWAYS be loving & kind no matter how others act…They are brothers in Christ. Galatians 5:13-15.”

One of the accomplishments Warren had shared was that he had trained over 1 million pastors, telling fellow Southern Baptists, “Sorry, friends, that is more than all the [SBC] seminaries put together.”

Warren tweeted about how he came to that number a few days after his speech.

“One, take 43 years. Two take 20 years to write the courses. Three, translate those courses into the 18 largest languages. Four, send 26,869 members to 197 nations. Five, recruit and train thousands of local trainers. Six, use large stadiums and small huts everywhere,” Warren said, referencing 2 Timothy 2:2 and adding that all these things together made his ability to train up other pastors “exponential.”

Warren’s Address Resulted in Mixed Emotions

There were some who appreciated Warren’s speech, evident in the fact that he received a great deal of applause from messengers in the room.

“God is using Rick Warren, for His good. When the SBC opposes Rick Warren’s affirmation and deployment of women exercising their gifts from God, to upbuild the body of Christ, without usurping authority over men…it’s not Warren the SBC is opposing, it’s the Almighty God,” Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church Dwight McKissic said.

Nevertheless, others were critical of Warren. Associate Pastor of Discipleship and Education for First Baptist Church in Lindale, Texas, Gabriel Hughes, called Warren’s statistical breakdown “egotistical nonsense,” claiming that Warren would have to train more than 70 pastors a day, or 25,000 pastors a year, to come up with his 1.1 million number.

Executive Committee President Search Team Receiving Recommendations

By
Scott Barkley
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June 21, 2022

NASHVILLE (BP) – After a season of prayer, the group tasked with presenting the next candidate for president/CEO of the Executive Committee wanted to hear from Southern Baptists before taking next steps. The team is now ready begin the search in earnest.

Messengers to last week’s annual meeting in Anaheim approved recommendations from the Sexual Abuse Task Force that will have a direct impact on the work of the Executive Committee. Events in Anaheim gave search team members the clarity they needed to move forward, search team chair Adron Robinson said today (June 21).

“We needed to know how messengers were going to respond to that report,” said Robinson, who after the annual meeting immediately turned to leading a men’s conference hosted by Hillcrest Baptist Church in Country Club Hills, Ill., where he is senior pastor.

Recommendations can be submitted through a portal at sbc.net/ecsearch. Submissions through mail can go to the SBC Executive Committee, 901 Commerce St., Nashville, TN 37203.

A season of prayer in March invited Southern Baptists to prepare for the process. Search team members waited to see if messengers would make changes affecting the EC itself as well as the president/CEO’s role, such as adding tasks or changing responsibilities.

“We wanted to hear from messengers clearly, because anyone applying for this job needs to know the Task Force report and the job description,” Robinson said.

Other search team members are: Mollie Duddleston (Ark.), Mike Keahbone (Okla.), Jeremy Morton (Ga.), Philip Robertson (La.) and David Sons (S.C.). New EC chair Jared Wellman joins in an ex officio role, replacing California pastor Rolland Slade, whose EC tenure is completed. Sons is serving as the team’s vice chair and Robertson as secretary.

Candidates can include senior pastors as well as entity leaders or experienced executive pastors, Robinson said.

“We’ve seen how vital it is for the EC president to be an administrator and also a communicator. We want to hear from our SBC family for their recommendations and plan to leave the portal open until early August.”

Robinson declined to share a specific timeline for presenting a name to the Executive Committee, which would then vote on the candidate. He did ask for Southern Baptists to continue to pray for the team as well as the Convention.

“We know the EC has lost credibility among the messengers in the past two years,” he said. “We want to make sure we were hearing clearly the direction of the messengers before moving forward with our search. It’s important to restoring future credibility.”

This article originally appeared here.

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