Mohler on Church Planting

Read Al Mohler's thoughts on the new wave of church planting. I found it helpful, especially since I have wrestled back and forth on this issue. I hate the thought of fighting with unregenerate deacon wives over the color of the carpet, but also don't think I am entrepreneurial-minded enough to plant a church. The motto of many church planters is, "I would rather create my own problems than inherit someone else's." Here is a quote:

At the same time, we also need this generation of young pastors to go into established churches and revitalize a Gospel ministry through expository preaching and energetic leadership. Giving up on the established church is not an option. Some young pastors see church planting as a way of avoiding the challenge of dealing with the people and pathologies of older congregations. This is an abdication of responsibility.

The Challenge of Pluralism

No doubt, there are many challenges to the Christian faith today, but one of the more difficult issues that will have to be dealt with is that of religious pluralism, which says that no one religion is true. All religions are basically the same. So any idea or notion that claims superiority over another is necessarily wrong. Obviously this has major implications for the Christian faith, which is inherently exclusive. Many within the camp have compromised the claims of Christ in order to be acceptable in a postmodern context. But as the saying goes, "He who weds himself to the culture, will soon become a widow." Here is a prime example of where are culture is from an MSNBC story about a guy who attempted to live biblically for a year in order to write a book about his experience:

One of the lessons of the book is, there is some picking and choosing in following the Bible, and I think that’s OK. Some people call that cafeteria religion, which is supposed to be a disparaging term, but I think there’s nothing wrong with cafeterias, I’ve had some delicious meals in cafeterias. I’ve also had some terrible meals in cafeterias. It’s all about picking the right parts. You want to take a heaping serving of the parts about compassion, mercy and gratefulness—instead of the parts about hatred and intolerance.

This is similar to a conversation I had with a U of L student last week. At first, she denied being a Christian, then said she is a Christian, but never tells anyone that. The following is a shortened paraphase of how the conversation went:

Me: So you claim to follow Christ, but don't tell anyone that Christ is your Lord?

Anonymous Christian (AC): Well, yes because it is associated with organized religion which has done some good things. I did a service project one time with a youth group, but organized religion has done more harm than good.

Me: So you privately follow the teachings of Jesus?

AC: Yes, Jesus taught many great things. I am a pacifist.

Me: You know, Jesus taught some pretty radical things. When is the last time you read any of his teaching?

AC: You mean the Bible? I haven't read it since I was little. But of course no one is perfect. We are all sinners. Gandhi was not always a pacifist, and Martin Luther King Jr. cheated on his wife. I don't follow these men because of their flaws, but because of their strengths.

Evangelism today requires time and energy. Pluralism is here to stay, and is a force to be reckoned with. We need to be aware of where our culture is, which means studying culture, and being deeply informed by the Christian worldview. Evangelism must start with creation. Tracts and the Roman Road are not as effective as they once were, in our post-Christian culture.

Free Bahnsen Debate

Due to a generous donation, Covenant Media Foundation is making the 'Great Debate' between Greg Bahnsen and Gordon Stein available for free for a limited time. If you have not listened to this debate, immediately go to their site and get this resource! If you are too busy, just get it now and listen to it later. Bahnsen reduces the atheistic worldview to foolishness (1 Cor 1.20) using the transcendental argument, focusing on the necessary preconditions for using the laws of logic.

Man's Best Friend?

I am continually encouraged and frustrated by the inconsistencies of atheists. I am encouraged because their inconsistency shows that this is God's world and even unbelief must bump up against reality all the time. You cannot consistently live with unbelief. I am particularly confused and frustrated by the self-professing postmodern relativist who will call me bigoted for not embracing his meta-narrative (grand story that interprets all the other smaller stories). Or the fact that one who doesn't hold to absolutes is quick to make moral pronouncements on anything that rubs them the wrong way.

However, there are those brave few who will take the implications of their worldview seriously. An example that struck me recently was the way people view animals. After all, according to the atheist, everything in this world has its origins from the same material substance. In this worldview, there is no basis for saying that human beings are any better than any other species. We have just evolved differently. There are those today who will call you a "speciest" for assuming that you are any better than a fellow animal, which is the moral equivalent of being a racist. One spokesperson for animal rights has even said, "A rat is a pig is a dog is a boy" implying that there is no fundamental difference between them.

Another atheist who is consistent with his worldview is Princeton Professor Peter Singer, who goes so far as to say that because we are mammals, sex across the species barrier "ceases to be an offence to our status and dignity as human beings." In the same article, titled Heavy Petting, Singer writes that many dog owners do not mind when their leg is gripped by their excited pet, and even says that "occasionally mutually satisfying activities may develop."

Of course these implications make their way to the street as well. Examples abound. I read recently about nursing homes for dogs north of Tokyo where ole Fido can waste away for $820 a month! Or consider the emergence of pet loss support groups. Read Oprah's retelling of the recent death of her dog, Gracie (I just accidentally typed 'god' instead of 'dog' but figured I should correct it). Or another man, who gave his dog Maggie, a full blown funeral, with a pastor and bagpipes. Another woman had little Peanut freeze-dried when she died and said, "Having her intact and as she was is a wonderful thing to have." Or visit kentuckyfriedcruelty.com, and have the blameless Pam Anderson make objective moral pronouncements about the treatment of chickens. Then visit Holly Madison, the playboy bunny, who would rather "go naked than wear fur." Actually, do not visit her, but talk about an arbitrary ethic!

All this gives new meaning to serving "the creature rather than the Creator" (Rom 1.25). Lest I be misunderstood, let me be clear: I love animals, and dogs in particular. It is a weekly temptation to move to an apartment complex that allows pets. Of all people, Christians ought to care for animals and all of earth's resources, for we have an objective standard which tells us to do so. But the Bible is clear that humans are unique, and particularly endowed with dignity, value, and responsibility. God created us in his image, to be in relationship with him, which sets us apart from the rest of the created world. Being cruel to chickens is wrong and wicked, no matter what the Chick-Fil-A cows advertise, but being cruel to humans (think about abortion, infanticide, euthanasia) is exceedingly more wicked. Let us model what it is to be genuinely human, in relation to God, others, and the created order, which includes the beloved Peanut.

Plevonious has started a series of posts on the question of attending seminary. Here is a link to several seminary-type lectures for those who would like to earn the virtual M. Div.

More Mohler on Reading

I have previously posted this article, but since Dr. Mohler re-posted it, I thought I would. It is on reading, and is excellent and short. Also go here, here, and here.

Interview with Dr. Wellum

Without doubt, Dr. Stephen Wellum has been the most influential professor for me during my time at Southern. I am currently taking my seventh class with him in three semesters. A little over a week ago, I posted about Dr. Wellum's chapter on the relation of the covenants and its implications for baptism being posted on-line for free. It is a long chapter, but if you're too busy, print it out while its free and get to it later. It is an extremely helpful article that will help you understand how the Bible fits together, and how the ordinance of baptism fits into that scheme. Justin Taylor has interviewed Dr. Wellum about his chapter. I highly recommend it.

Dag.

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