Makes Sense in Some World

This is just a bit scary. Could give new meaning to “blended worship.”

What is an Evangelical?

USA Today had an interesting article on the “evangelical Christians” yesterday. Cathy Grossman considered whether the E-word can be saved. What was interesting is that this is not so much an article discussing the political impact of evangelicals, but one exploring the question of what evangelicals need to believe to be considered and evangelical Christian. You can’t expect in-depth coverage in this mcpaper, but even in this brief piece we can see that its not just us theologically fundamental, conservative types that have seen a change in Christian beliefs. The whole concept of “evangelical” has been watered down. Grossman writes: “The term has become so diluted and covers such a wide spectrum of believers that it no longer clearly identifies specific leaders, programs or ideas.” In other words, it seems that the word, once meaningful and expressive of core beliefs, is now meaningless so “Christians” who use it to describe themselves and what they believe may be describing someone who is not even saved.

The article points to the research of George Barna who found that 38% of the US population consider themselves evangelical Christians yet when Barna defined evangelical more specifically using nine characteristics (see here scroll to “research details“) that number shrinks to 9%. And Barna’s 9 points don’t include belief in the virgin birth, substitutionary atonement, or even that Jesus rose from the dead.

According to Barna: 

The most striking differences relate to the beliefs of each group. Compared to the 9-point evangelicals, those who say they are evangelicals are: 60% less likely to believe that Satan is real
53% less likely to believe that salvation is based on grace, not works

46% less likely to say they have a personal responsibility to share their religious beliefs with others

42% less likely to list their faith in God as the top priority in their life

38% less likely to believe that Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth

27% less likely to contend that the Bible is totally accurate in all of its teachings

23% less likely to say that their life has been greatly transformed by their faith

We’ll duh! Most “evangelicals” are not Christians beyond label only. Maybe we need to go back to the fundamentals (as politically incorrect as that label has become). USA Today had the five fundamentals in a sidebar to this article … and they got them right. I have to wonder how many “9-point evangelicals” would agree with the fundamentals. I’m guessing there might be fewer followers of Jesus out there than we think. 

The Strength of Preaching One Verse at a Time

Matt at Expository Thoughts has some excellent thoughts on consecutive exposition of the Scripture, which he believes is the best method for a preacher who is in the pulpit on a regular basis. I agree with Matt. (Probably not a surprise to anyone who knows me since I cut my ministry teeth under John MacArthur and I’ve worked for the last 21 years with Jerry Mitchell, the Senior Pastor of our church – both of whom are consecutive expositors going verse-by-verse through the Scriptures, book-by-book.)

I like this post because it outlines some of the benefits to preaching in this manner as opposed to the primarily topical method that so many would hold forth as the model for today’s church. In fact, the author of a book I’m currently reading holds that one of the reasons men don’t come to church is because of preaching that is too academic or demands too much of the hearer – you know, expository preaching.

I tend to do “random exposition” when I have opportunity to preach – mainly because I don’t preach regularly. Though I did do a ten-year series on 1 Peter – just taking the next section of the book each time I filled the pulpit for Jerry. The amazing thing was how well people seemed to remember the context of the book and the flow of the argument, even when there were months between messages. I’d do a recap of sorts to set the context every time – something learned from Dr. MacArthur. Even that less than perfect continuous expostion of the Scripture demonstrated Waymayer’s reasons numbered 2 through 8. By the way, just so there is no confusion, I’m not in the same league with MacArthur or Mitchell when it comes to preaching. I do enjoy being on the team!

Snap … a New Feature

WordPress has added a new feature for websites they host. Just hover over any link on my site and a small thumbnailof the link will pop (snap?) up courtesy of Snap Preview Anywhere . Pretty cool. I sure hope WordPress continues to develop and give us toys to play with.

Headlines from Around the World … Really

Today’s Front Pages is just that … a collection of the front pages of almost 500 newspapers from around the world. For news junkies, this might just be the fix you need. You can browse through the thumbnails (hover and get a larger thumb, click and get a new window), use a map, or call up a list by regions. All views lead to a link that takes you to the paper’s website if you just have to read about the United Kingdom’s take on the war in Iraq – or some other topic of interest. A cool site. You could waste some time here.

Similar but different: Life Magazine has a cover search of 70 years worth of covers. As a child, I remember always being intriqued by this magazine and the pictures. I think it was the best 25 cents my parents spent every week.

Some Links of Potential Interest

Cliche Finder is an interesting tool. Just cut and paste your writing into the text box and click the button. Your text will be compared against the Associated Press Guide to News Writing list of cliches. Just don’t try it against my writing.

Askville is a new beta site by Amazon.com. Might have some interesting uses if they can keep the smart-alecks out. Depending on the questions it might open some opportunities to share truth about Jesus. There are a few questions under some of the more “christian” tags.

43 Things gives some insights into the motivating desires of people. The idea is to list 43 things you want to do with your life and link up with others that might have the same things on their lists. Since it is funded by Amazon.com and has Google ads I’m sure there is a hope that you might also find some resources for which you would be willing to put out some cash. Still it does provide some insight into the “desires of a man’s heart”. More info is here.

Pixsy let’s you search millions of photographs found on the web. Be wise in what you search for.

PDF Pad will fulfill a need for certain people who like paper, charts, lines, and such.

Lost Box Found

This package was one of two mailed to my daughter in Scotland – 16 months ago. They contained important materials for her ministry with NeiuCommunities – books, curriculum, Alias DVD’s. Somehow they got lost and never made it to her flat in Glasgow. One of them was finally returned after 6 months or so. We figured the second one was forever lost. What a surprise when it showed up on our doorstep this week. Apparently it found it’s way to Belfast, Northern Ireland where it took up residence in the dead mail office. Someone must have been tasked to clean things up because here it is.

Just a little reminder that God watches over the little things. He just takes a different view than us of how important they are ….

“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Matthew 6:25-33, ESV)

A Sign in Scotland

It doesn’t surprise me to see a sign like this outside the welcoming red door of a church in Edinburgh. Church attendance in Scotland is dwindling. It has been for a while. In fact there was a very interesting article in The Herald on the repurposing of hundreds of churches in Scotland because they are no longer viable churches. I wonder how John Knox would pray about the faith of his beloved Scotland today. (Mary Queen of Scots is reputed to have said: “I fear the prayers of John Knox more than all the assembled armies of Europe.”)

As in so many European countries there does seem to be at least a remnant of former reformation faith. I know of one church in Glasgow (where my daughter attends) that is faithful to the gospel. A former student in our youth ministry is also a minister in Scotland – I have no doubts that he is affirming and preaching the truth (currently in Pitlochry Church, but soon to be pastor of Methlick Parish Church). New models of church, like Re: Hope, are trying to break evangelical ground as well.

As I reflect on the state of affairs in Scotland, I wonder about the state of the church here in the U.S.A. Could we come to the same place 20 years from now? I’m not a prophet so I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure that the true Saints of Scotland would be surprised by the lack of faith today so I have to believe that it could happen here too. What I can do is pray that the church where I serve today would remain faithful to Jesus and the Word of God well after I am gone. I can also seek to do what I can do to encourage the young leaders to “guard ^the good deposit entrusted” to them (2 Timothy 1:14).

Back to the Blog

Twenty-two days later … finally, a post. My last was December 10^th. I’m sure my reader has been disappointed. I learned a lot in those three weeks of silence:

1.       If you know there is a huge windstorm coming, and you know that you are low on gas, and you plan to fill your tank as soon as you email that important document, the power outage will take out every local gas station in your community.

2.       If you have a very important document that is to be emailed to leaders in your church, the power will go out for three days just before you mail it from home.

3.       When you think your home can’t get any colder, you’re wrong.

4.       When your power finally returns, your internet connection won’t. When you call for information, the really nice girl on the other end will act surprised that you are having problems – probably because it turns out she is in Eastern Canada and has no idea that 1 million people in metro Seattle have no power. Maybe Challies can explain the Canadian angle.

5.       The same really nice girl will assure you that your internet connection will be quickly restored.

6.       You will get a very helpful phone call telling you that your service is “now restored”, which will lead you to think you will be able to work at home that evening. You will be wrong. Your internet will still be down. Another very helpful and nice young lady (verify that she is not in Eastern Canada first) will express surprise that it is still down. She will schedule an inconvenient service call for 3 days later that is the only one available for a week.

7.       When power is restored it is important that you not get too comfortable. The immediate repairs made in response to a widespread “wind event” will be more like band-aids … it won’t take much to knock it out again. It will be knocked out again and when that happens the crews will have moved on to other areas to work. They will get back to your area in four days – 12 hours after you leave on vacation. There is nothing nefarious about this, there is just too much damage to repair. You will learn that it can get very cold in your house. You will also learn patience. You will also learn that the power will go off just as you finish an insightful and meaningful blog post, but before you actually save it.

8.       The internet company will keep their appointment. They will discover that they didn’t connect your cable to the main. They will now connect it and tell you that you now have service. You don’t because you still have no power … it’s no one’s fault. You learn greater patience.

9.       Power crews work hard. Very hard. They almost work miracles. They will get you power on early if they can.

10.   It is amazing how much you can get done in the few hours before you leave on vacation!

11.   It is not amazing that you will not put “posting to your blog” on the list of things to do in those few hours.

12.   Plans to blog while on vacation will usually be thwarted.

13.   If you have a daughter who lives in Scotland … say, in Glasgow … she will have been battling with her internet provider to get her service installed for over two months before you arrive to visit. She will have talked to many nice people who will have assured her that someone will take care of her within a “few days”. This will not happen. She will call and talk to another very nice person who will have no record of her in their system but they will take care of it in “a few days” … these people may live in Eastern Canada.

14.   You will not feel like blogging when checking email on vacation. Especially when doing so from the Sip and Surf internet café – no reflection on the café – it is really quite nice.

15.   You will also not feel like blogging, checking blogs, or doing much else after a 24 hour travel day.

16.   When you finally get some rest you will think that you should have all sorts of things to write. You will find yourself stuck. You will finally write some lame list of things you learned ….

The greatest thing you will take away from the this experience is that you quickly become frustrated when you can’t control your circumstances. Furthermore you will be convicted about the pettiness of your frustration when you think about people who are in really dire circumstances. You will ultimately realize (in a small way) how often you try to control things, and how easily God can demonstrate his sovereignty.