Why I Am a Baptist

In a world where standing alongside a denomination is slowly becoming unfashionable, I chose to retain my label as a “Baptist”.  When I tell other pastors I’m a Baptist there always seems to be a pause.  Maybe I’m self-conscience and have heard all the “when I was a Baptist” jokes.  I even had one person tell me how they grew up Baptist and how his pastor now always asks him where a verse is located in the bible--because he knows he was raised a Baptist.  The sad part of that story is he was laughing about it, I on the other hand was saddened.  Baptist have from the very beginning been about “The Book”.  They were called “people of The Book”.  Baptist have always taken the Word of God seriously and it was Scripture that moved them away from “paedobaptism” (baptizing infants) towards believers baptism.  They were convinced from scriptures that one had to have a personal belief in Christ that was visible and life changing before being baptized. 

Why am I a Baptist?  I’m a Baptist by choice first and foremost.  Three common threads bind Baptist together.  The first is the Word of God, all of it, God breathed without error.  The Baptist believe the Bible is the primary source for everything we need for living a holy life.  If we don’t believe the Bible is true in its entirety--then we can also pick and choose what we want from the Bible.  Baptist believe you must accept all of Scripture or none of it.

Secondly I’m a Baptist because of missions.  Because we believe in the Bible we believe the Great Commission is a command from Jesus Christ to go and baptize and to teach all that Christ command.  Jesus didn’t give the church the “Great Suggestion” but commissioned us to go.  Baptist have grasped this from the very beginning.  It was the drive to spread the gospel that Southern Baptist formed a convention in 1845, of like-minded churches to stand together.  It was the growth of missions that drove the Southern Baptist Convention in 1924 to pool their resources together in the “Co-Operative” program.  Today the cooperative program of the SBC raises money for the purpose of sending missionaries all over the world. We at FBC Rocklin contribute 8% of all monies we receive to this effort. 

Thirdly I’m a Baptist because each Baptist church is its own entity.  We do not answer to higher governing authority, we answer to Christ alone.  Each Baptist church ordains its own ministers, established its own form of government and is led by the congregation of baptized believers.  There isn’t such thing as a second Baptist church, or a third, there is only one Baptist church, each church stands on its own. We choose who we will work with according to the Scriptures and to Christ’s leading, there are absolutely no strings on a Baptist church. 

I am a Baptist for many other reasons as well, but when it’s all said in done I’m a Baptist by choice.  I also recognize Baptist have earned some of the negativity they rightly receive. But I stand with many others who through the years have suffered and stood by the Scriptures when others would not.  Baptist have historically stood firm in the face of intense persecution because of what they believed and have been uncompromising in the pursuit of liberty to follow those beliefs.  As our culture continues to shift we will find ourselves at the battle front and we will have to make a choice.  I’m convinced the world needs more Baptist!  Come join me!                       

Today I visited Alice

Today I visited Alice, she is in a convalescent home recovering from a broken leg. She was out feeding the birds in front of her home when she stepped off the sidewalk and tumbled over breaking her leg. She is use to moving and so being stuck in recovery away from home is really tough on her. She was telling how it felt like she was serving a jail sentence and she has served two month's time. She has been battling depression and has felt abandoned by God. She looked at me and said, “Pastor why doesn't God answer my prayers and let me out of this place, I feel like he has abandoned me here.” As she was talking I started to look around the room. On the bathroom door hung a reef, covered with colorful spring flowers. A table in the corner had three empty vases on it. Her desk was covered in cards and several church bulletins were visible. As we were talking another couple came to visit and we all sat around her bed.

I asked her about the reef she told me how a friend Joyce from the church had made it for her, it was beautiful and she explained her love for spring and the flowers. She was getting visibly excited as she looked towards the vases and told about how different people had brought her roses and other flowers. She looked at the cards and told me about the cards and how different people had brought her bulletins from church. She told us how her daughter has made sure she had clean cloths and how Charlotte who leads the hymns in our church came by and they sang together. She named all the people who had come to visit her and how great it was to see them.

After she was done I looked around and asked her if she still felt abandoned by God? She looked around and said, “No, he is with me”. I also handed her a card signed by the men in our prayer group and told her we had prayed for her this morning. She was overjoyed and asked me to thank each person on the card. I share this story to remind you to pray for those who are older and struggling to heal in homes, facilities and feel alone. Alice is bless to have so many care for her, many seniors have nobody. Secondly, when you feel abandoned by God, pause for a moment and take an inventory, I bet he is closer than you thought.

Decisions, Decisions

We have to make a decision.  You and I have to decide what we believe about the Bible.  Every day as Christians we are faced with a growing tide of pressure to conform the Bible to the world around us.  We live in very interesting time in where we are constantly being hard-pressed to conform into the mold of thinking that is contrary to Biblical truth.  You will make a decision, either you will be conformed to the world or you will decide the Bible is going to conform you. 

Not too long ago I found myself in a conversation with several youth leaders at seminary and they brought to light a thought I hadn't had before.  The youth today are pressured in ways we never were.  Their friends and peers expect them to think like they do and when they don’t there is enormous pressure exerted on them to conform.  They are told they hate the other person because they don’t agree, plus they are bombarded by a social media message 24/7.  It never ends and the challenge for them to live out their faith is almost impossible. 

Even adults are faced with this pressure to conform to new social standards.  Now when we look out our window there is a different world out there, right now riots are happening in Baltimore, there are Christians being killed in the Middle East and no one seems all too concerned.  How are going to live out our faith in this changing world?  We have to make a decision.  We are being forced out from the shadow of ambiguity and are being forced to make a stand.  Now isn't the time to sit on the fence, our children need us, the world needs Christ now. 

Scripture tells us “Not to be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind” (Romans 12:2).  Where you stand with scripture is going to determine how you are going to live out your life now.  If you believe the Bible is a book to be interrupted by person experience, in light cultural standards you are going to fit into the age just fine and should find it easy going, church will be optional.  But if you make a stand that the Bible is absolute truth, and believe it’s the Word of God and hold to the Bible as being the standard for all moral good, you are going to find the world unwelcoming.  You will make a decision. 

Our children need us to make a decision, our grandchildren need us to make a decision.  Our young adults need us to make a decision, our country needs us to make a decision.  The world needs to see us stand for Jesus Christ and His glory and that will only happen if we stand with the Bible.  For it is through the Word of God we know God, we know His Son, and know the Holy Spirit.  How you view the Bible matters, you will make a decision if you haven’t already.  My prayer is you will stand on the truth of scripture.  That you will humble yourself and not conform the Bible to your own standard, but that you would be shaped by scripture.         

  

Consider it Great Joy

“Consider it great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance.” James 1:2-3

Every time I start to read James these two verse stop me in my tracks.  I will re-read them several times amazed at what I am reading.  Because my first thought is always James must be crazy!  How can he say this especially knowing that James was the leader in the Jerusalem church. He had experienced and had personally witnessed terrible persecution and yet he says it was able to say what he experienced brought him “great joy”.  How and why would he say that?    

As I reflect on this thought its impossible not to take inventory of my own life.  I have experienced pain and sorrow, not near the scale of James, but I have seen my friends and family suffer pain and loss.  I know in the midst of the “moment” the last thing I want to do is rejoice!  I think to understand James we have to take a step back and try to see from his perceptive.  He says the reason we should rejoice is because the testing of our faith produces endurance.  Wait, he said testing?  Does this mean God knew about this?  Does this mean God allowed suffering?  Why would a loving and just God allow me to experience suffering?  There has to be a reason, right? 

James continues his thought and says suffering produces endurance and he continues in verse 4…”But endurance must do its compete work, so that you be mature and complete, lacking in nothing”.  James is not looking at the moment but he is looking at the result of the moment.  He is seeing through the immediate pain and uncertainty to the other side of the event and how it will change us.  How difficult times give us strength and matures our faith, makes us complete and lack nothing.  In other words in the future when we face similar or God forbid greater suffering we can stand under its pressure knowing we have been here before.  God got us through it once He will get us through it again.  I can know that, with certainty.

Here is the reality we all face, suffering is a part of the fallen and broken world we live in.  Sin is the issue, the result of sin is suffering and death.  The beautiful thing is God did something about it and one day he will put an end to pain and suffering forever.  He sent is Son into the world  to suffered.  He didn’t have it easy, he suffered all the way to the cross and carried its shame.  He was hung on a cross, a place for thieves and murders.  He was placed there by the very people he came to save—He used their sin for good.   Nothing is wasted in the economy of God.  He uses ever hurt, every event to build and strengthen our in faith in Him.  In this quest He is relentless, and this gives me “Great Joy”.  I am never forsaken, never forgotten, even in the darkest moments He walks with me, He talks with me along the narrow way.  He imparts his salvation to me and I can know this, He lives, He lives, He lives in my heart and I can face any situation with confidence and surety, knowing my faith is in Him.

-ps            

Jesus Challenge

 “What is Jesus to me?”  He is my Lord, He is my Savior, and He is my Rock and Redeemer.  He pursued me, sought me when I was a stranger, and bought me, with his own blood!  He is the Creator, for everything was made by Him, for Him and is sustained by Him.  He made the stars and placed them and gave each one their names.  He is my Shield, my Refuge in times of trouble, when the world crumbles around me, when the arrows of the enemy fly in my direction He protects me.  He is solid ground for which I can plant my feet. 

In Jesus I am free, I am free to be what I was made to be, for my purpose is found in Him.  He empowers me with His word and He sends the Spirit to comfort, train and to guide me.  Through Christ all the relationships around me find their place.  My relationship with my wife is sweeter, my love for my children deeper and I see my neighbor in a new light. 

He saved us, He is the kindness of God displayed for the world to see, He is love, truth and grace personified.  He rescued me not because of my works of righteousness, but through the Holy Spirit, who convicted me of sin, righteousness and judgment and pointed me to Him who can alone save me.  The Father poured out this Spirit abundantly through Jesus Christ my Savior so that, having been justified by His grace I become a heir with the hope of eternal life.  Everything I am is because Christ. 

His grace overwhelms me—to think He would die for me is too lofty for me to comprehend, it’s beyond my reach to grasp.  He has awakened me to a love that surpasses everything I can know, my sin, my failures, my triumphs all rest in his sure hands, for which I gladly give to him.  He is God in flesh, full of glory and truth, the Bright and Morning Star.  He is my Shepard, the Bread of Life, and The Living Water.  He is the Author and Finisher of my faith and the Alpha and the Omega, who has and always existed.   That is the Christ I think about and for which I am thankful for. This is the Jesus for whom I worship and adore.    

Maybe you have read these thoughts I have written and I hope God has spoken to your heart.  I want to challenge you. There seems to be a lot of challenges going on to raise awareness to certain causes of late, so I want to jump on the bandwagon and I simply challenge you to sit down and write out what Jesus is to you and share it with someone.    

Jesus In My life

I have been through a lot in my life, it has never been easy, I served 22 years in the Air Force, spent 22 months in the Middle East in various conflicts. Fathered 3 great boys, survived cancer, been married 26 years to the same women who is my best friend to this day, ministered to hundreds of people, sat with the dying and comforted the living. Watched, encouraged, helped, wondered, doubted, worried about the people around me. At times I have wanted to drop out of this world, run from all the hurt but I can't. I have a God who suffered also, who went through more than I can ever image, he did it because he loved me. He rescued me, called me, strengthened me, showered me with grace and mercy. He fills my life with purpose and my heart with love for others and secured my future with him as his son in eternity. 

I don't know how people pick up a newspaper, watch what is happening in the world, see others suffer and not have Jesus Christ in their life. I can't image to think this is it, that suffering and all that happens doesn't serve some kind of purpose even if I don't understand it. I'm thankful for what has been given to me, I am humbled that God would even consider me and he did far more than consider me, he demonstrated his love knowing all my sin from beginning to end and was willing, with joy to embrace the cross of my shame and die, so that I would have life in him through trust in what he did and not what I do. I stand amazed and in awe of this reality.

Call on him who is able to save you from yourself, from this world and from the sin that so easily ensnares us all. He alone can lift you out of the pit, he can free you from the mud and clay of this life, he alone can place your feet on a rock and give you footing, clean you up and place a song in your mouth and joy in your heart. Don't look for it in people and things of this world, but look to Christ, the bright and morning star, the creator of heaven and earth, the one who made the stars, placed them and named them. He is the one who can fill your heart with joy when your world crumbles around you, when your well has ran dry from the tears, he is the one who can fill your life with meaning and give you something to live for when all else fails. God is good, trust in Jesus Christ and him alone. Grace and peace be with you all.

Gospel Power

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” (Rom 1:16 ESV)  

As soon as the sun starts to shine bright things start to change.  Things that have been asleep through the winter jump to life in a beautiful display of color. Tree’s that were dormant burst into green leaves and flowers.  All of this activity takes power, mighty power and the plants know the source of that power which is the sun.  Have you ever drove past or seen a field of sunflowers?  Their oversized flowers seek and follow the sun in unison, they will start the day facing east and by the end of the day they're all facing west.  The sunflower doesn’t want to miss a single moment of exposure to the sun.  The reality is the sunflower is dependent like all plants on the power of the sun to grow and to produce fruit or sunflower seeds.  

            

            In the New Testament we see the Greek word dynamie or a variation of it used over 120 times and it means power.  You might recognize that we get our English word “dynamite” from it.  In his letter to the Romans the Apostle Paul says the gospel of Christ is the “power of God for salvation” to everyone who believes.  It is God who saves us and it is God who gives us the power to live the Christian life.  Think about it like this, my salvation doesn’t rest in my efforts but in the power of God who is at work in me changing my desires and bringing me into right relationship with himself and thus I believe.  This means also that as I live the Christian life, I cannot rest on my individual effort but I must rely on the power that God provides (1 Peter 4:11). 

Does this mean I just give into to sin and live the life I want and wait for God to change me? No not at all, but it does mean I need to align myself with the Son.  Like the sunflower I am dependent on God to empower me over sin, and to change the desires of my heart.  It is the power of God at work within me who changes me and makes me into a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17; Phi. 2:13).  Like the sunflower I need to turn and face the Son.  I can do so by reading the Word of God, praying and living in fellowship with other believers.  As I stay focused on the Son, as I remain in him and him in me (John 15:4), he will change my heart and empower me to produce fruit for others to enjoy and bring glory to God. 

Are you tired?  Are you worn out by life?  Have you struggled with sin and feel defeated?  Is it because you're trying to do something you don’t have the “power” to do? I want to encourage you to turn to Christ, to trust him, to seek him in scripture and prayer.  Pray and ask him to show you how to grow closer to him. Stop relying on your own power and plug into the true source of the power, power that can change you and empower you to live for the glory of Christ. Look for ways to serve and to share the fruit Jesus has produced in your life.  Share the fruit of peace, joy, love, hope with the people around you and let it nourish their lives and point them to the Son.  Let us not be ashamed of this beautiful gospel and its power to change lives, starting with our own.                  

Burdens

John Bunyan (1628-1688) was a simple “Tinker”, in that he fixed common household wares such as pots and pans. He had a limited education and became one of the most famous writers of all time. His famous allegory “The Pilgrim's Progress” became the most read book in the English language other than the Bible.  It is impossible to know how many copies of his book were made, because once it was published without copyright laws (they didn't exist in the 1600’s) people made copies of their own and sold them for profit.  Everyone had a copy of Pilgrim's Progress, it was read by all walks of life, taught in universities and if you haven't read it, you should.  

Though he started out as a tinker he was also a preacher and because he didn't belong to the Church of England he wasn't allowed to preach.  But that didn't stop John from fulfilling his calling.  At the age 32 he was jailed for preaching and spent the next 12 years there.  While in jail we was allowed two books, a Bible and the “Fox’s Book of Martyrs”.  With time to think he began to write his famous allegory.  In the book the main character “Christian” is walking up a road with walls on each side and the walls were called salvation, the way was hard and difficult because of the great burden he was carrying on his back. As he followed the road he claimed a hill and on top of that hill stood a cross.

As he approached the cross he could see just below it an open grave and as he neared the cross the burden on his back loosened and fell from his shoulders and tumbling into the grave where is was seen no more.  He stood there for a while to look in wonder because it was very surprising to him, that the sight of the cross should ease him of his burden, that he had carried for so long.  He looked until he was overcome and “tears were sent down his cheeks.”  

We all carry burdens, we carry the past, and all we carry sins—what we did to others, what others did to us and it goes on and one.  And the longer we carry those burdens the heavier they get.  These burdens wear us down, tire us out, result in all kinds of disorders, diseases and if not eventually relieved will take our lives.  What hope do we have? 

Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." (Mat. 11:28-30 ESV)

Jesus wants to relieve you of your burden, he wants to free you and give you rest!  He wants to walk along side you in this life and help you.  As a Christian we don’t have to worry about those things that once weighed us down.  As we draw near to the cross they will fell off and into the grave where our savior once laid and we will never see them again.  He has freed us to turn from sin in repentance, he has given us a new heart to serve him with ease. Live thankfully, live humbly, hopeful and joyful, for in Christ we are free.    

But God.....

“So it was not you who sent me here, but God” (Genesis 45:8)

Joseph was sold into slavery by his own brothers.  He was falsely accused and thrown into prison and was forgotten about.  He had every reason to be bitter, every reason to lose hope and to give up.  Have you been there?  Have you been treated unfairly?  Has something happened to you that isn't justified?  I cannot image what went through Joseph’s mind those years, but everywhere he went God blessed him.  In Potiphar’s house he managed everything and his master was greatly blessed.  When he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife, she lie and he went to prison.  He did the right thing by fleeing from her advances and he suffered.  Have you ever suffered for doing the right thing? 

While in prison again he is used to be a blessing and the keeper of the prison puts Joseph in charge and the keeper is blessed.  When the king’s cupbearer and baker are thrown into prison, each has a dream and Joseph interpreted their dreams.  He asked them not to forget about him and to mention him to Pharaoh.  The cupbearer forgets about Joseph and he sits in prison for another two years.  It is only when Pharaoh has a dream does the cupbearer remember Joseph.  After he interpreted Pharaoh dream he was released from prison and put in charge of Egypt.  It is after this he faces the brothers who had sold him into slavery.  He has forgiven them because he sees now God’s plan all along was to save them and many others, “So it was not you who sent me here, but God.” 

We don't always understand the ways of God, why allow Joseph to suffer for doing good?  Wasn't there and easier way of doing this?   I have come one conclusion about this life and it’s not about our comfort.  When we look back through time it is out of suffering the greatest triumphs arise.  Suffering has a way of refining us and making us dependence on God out of necessity.  One thing that is clear in the story of Joseph is he never lost faith in God, in fact everyone around him saw he was blessed no matter what circumstances he found himself in.  Through the trials and tribulations Joseph’s faith was stretched and strengthened until he understood why.  In the end he was a stronger person and was able to forgive and glorify God in a pagan nation. 

What are you going through?  This morning I want to encourage you to give it to God and trust he has a plan for it.  Trust that nothing happens to you that isn’t part of God’s glory.  You are one of his children and he is looking after you and building your faith.  Trust God and his goodness, encourage other who are suffering, be a part of God’s blessing.     

I Believe

“If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Rom 10:9 HCSB)

There has to be a confession, do you believe?  Do you believe in Jesus Christ, have to confessed him publicly, do you believe God raised him from the dead?  Have confessed with your heart? 

Do I trust the risen Savior as my only hope for salvation?  Have I handed him my sin and trusted in his forgiveness.  How would I answer these questions kneeling before the throne of God?

I have confessed Christ with my whole heart and I have given him my life and I am saved.  The text doesn't say anything else is required of me to be saved.  The result of my salvation leads me to repentance which is the turning away from sin, but it starts with confession and belief.  I stand on the promise of the scripture for salvation, I plead it before God every day of my life.  Let my mouth continually confess “Jesus is Lord”, until I haven’t breath in my lungs to speak and let me confess it before the throne of God on the Day of Judgment. 

In this life I need this salvation, I must be saved from sin, saved from the guilt of sin, from the power of sin.  But also I must be saved from the punishment of sin and from sin itself.  It is only when I’m freed I can be the person God wants me to be.  It’s only when the Son has broken the chains of bondage to self and to the world that I can love Him with all my heart and turn to my neighbor with the same love.  It is only in Christ, I can find this freedom and it comes only when I declare and believe in my heart “Jesus is Lord” and believe that God raised him from the dead. “You will be saved” this the promise I hang onto, “I am saved” is the cry of my joy in my savior Jesus. 

This life is short and fleeting, it’s over before you know it.  You don’t get to do it again until you get it right.  You have one shot, one opportunity, to believe.  Standing before the throne of God is not the time to confess your believe…..because He is right before you.  Now is the time to confess, now is the time to believe, what are you waiting for?