November 2014 – PaulThompsonBlog

Do Churches Die?

Posted on November 30, 20144 Comments

From time to time I receive free books. The sending party is not really looking for me to do a formal review or report, I expect they want me to read it, so I do. Sometimes these books are good and sometimes I put the book down hoping no one will take it seriously.

Over the weekend I received a copy of Thom Rainer’s book, “Autopsy of a Deceased Church“.

I am one of those people who do make a first judgment of a book by it’s cover. I read the book cover (front and back) before cracking the book spine and make way to one of my favorite parts of any book, the table of contents. I usually read the chapter titles out loud to anyone in the same room with me. So, Renee has just endured me reading the chapter titles.

This book is broken up into two parts. Part One: the Autopsy. Part Two: Twelve Responses

With all due respect, I’ll start the introduction before bed time and depending how that goes will determine what time I turn the light off. I’ll keep you updated.

If you’ve read this book already, feel free to share your opinion with me below. I’ll try to be kind in my review while at the same time I expect to be challenged and encouraged.

Let the reading begin…

The Dog Whipper

Posted on November 28, 2014Leave a comment

Sometimes, reading church history can open up reason for saying… “wait… what?”

This was one of those moments. This morning I was reading the second volume of “The Review of the Churches“. Surely you’ve read this too, right? Well, in the (likely) event that you haven’t, let me introduce you to it. Likely you will not want to read it any time near bed time or in a comfortable chair. I recommend a hard, wooden chair with the front door open on the north facing side of the house and the outside temperature no warmer than 40 degrees. That should be sufficient.

Actually the reading has been quite interesting. It is always an enjoyable experience (at least for me) to read what kinds of issues churches, pastors, missionaries, and congregants were dealing with in different eras of church history and on various continents. In reading these essays or articles on church life, one learns to appreciate today more and even see that the good old days weren’t always what we think they were.

In 1659, there were reports of churches in Europe electing someone to be the head dog whipper. Yes, dog whipper. Apparently there was a problem of unruly dogs wanting to come to church. So to remedy this growing problem, churches would elect someone to be in charge of whipping the unruly dogs that showed up so they would leave the meetinghouse.

The duty of dog whipper, like many other duties in churches, grow with added responsibilities.

One of those duties included the responsibility of helping the attendees from falling asleep. Here is how the Review of the Churches reported this duty laid upon the dog whipper.

Money was often bequeathed to endow this office; in one instance, one Richard Dovey, in 1659, made a bequest to the parish of Claverly, Salop, of eight shillings per annum, but in addition to his duties as dog whipper, the official was to keep people awake during service. In connection with the latter duty some curious facts come to light.

People seem charged with being unusually drowsy at Wimborne Minster, for the beadles (writes C. E. K.) during the reading of each lesson, make the circuit of the church, crossing the chancel, going down one aisle and up the other, carrying short black staves which they use to awaken sleepers. At Dunchurch a somewhat difficult implement was employed for the same purpose. This was a stick shaped like a hay-fork, which was fitted on to the sleeper’s neck, and it was, no doubt, when well pushed home, sufficienly effectual. As recently as fifty years ago one of the churchwardens of Action Church, Cheshire, used to walk round during service-time with a long wand, with which he gave a tap on the head to anyone who seemed to need such a reminder.

In one parish of which I have an account, the arrangement for waking sleepers was remarkable complete. The official who walked about the church had a long wand with a knob at one end for the men and boys, and a fox’s brush at the other, with which he tickled the nostrils of the ladies whom he happened to find dozing. This delicate treatment of the fair sex, even in their erring moments, is worthy of all commendation, but it is easy to picture to oneself what the effect of even so tender an application was likely to be.

It is likely, I’m not interested in ever electing anyone to the office of dog whipper, but I’m open to the office of chief waker-upper.

Courageous Resolve

Posted on November 27, 2014Leave a comment

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Few promptings of heroism rank higher in human annals than the courageous resolve which let the little band to seek in the unknown Western World a new home where they might worship God according to the dictates of their conscience, and found a pure and regenerate society, unfettered by the surroundings of a degenerate past. Of the Pilgrims’ subsequent life and times in America, it has been said: “Theirs was among the most valued contribution of those formative times in our Colonial history.” ” (Hearnshaw’s History of the Pilgrim Fathers, p. 18)

The Only Rule of Christian Faith and Practice

Posted on November 26, 2014Leave a comment

(from Thomas Armitage; Baptist Faith and Practice)

Concerning the Bible:

“That the book called the Bible is given by the inspiration of God, and is the only rule of Christian faith and practice. The consequence is, that we have no creeds, nor catechisms, nor decretals, which bind us by their authority. We think a creed worth nothing, unless it is supported by Scriptural authority, and if the creed is founded on the word of God, we do not see why we should not rest on that word which props up the creed; we prefer to go back directly to the foundation itself and rest there alone. If it is able to sustain us, we need nothing else, and if it is not, then we cannot rest upon a creed to support us when that creed has no support for itself. Some of our churches have what they call “declarations,”or “articles of Faith,” which are mere statements of what they think that the Bible teaches, but they are not put forth by any theological or ecclesiastical authority, and therefore do not bind the consciences of the churches. Some of our churches have no such “articles”or “Declarations,” because they find no need for them, and those who use them do not all use the same. Our churches hold that Jesus Christ is the only Law-giver, and the only King in Zion; that his law is laid down in the Scriptures, and is perfect: and, therefore, they refuse to follow all forms of tradition and ecclesiastical ordinations whatever, bowing only to the behests of inspired precept, and the recorded practices of the apostolic churches, as their record is found in the Scriptures.”

We Desire to Hear from You

Posted on November 26, 2014Leave a comment

I’ve recently come across a gold mine of Baptist history (www.baptisthistoryhomepage.com).

http://baptisthistoryhomepage.com/armitage.thomas.index.html — Thomas Armitage

I’ve begun a random selection of biographies, essays and sermons. I first landed on this unknown (to me) Baptist, Thomas Armitage.

In his essay, Baptist Faith and Practice, he argues from Acts 28:22 that even though Paul was imprisoned in jail for his gospel related work that the Romans desired to hear from him.

Paul had been brought to Rome, a prisoner in chains; he was poor and friendless, and charged with being a ring-leader in the sect of the Nazarenes. His enemies had inveterate (unlikely to change) prejudices against him, because he was an abettor of the claims of Jesus. Still, knowing also his great intellectual power, his refinement of manner, purity of motive, and spotlessness of character, they professed a willingness to hear him plead the cause of Christ before they condemned its or judged him. This seemed manly. There is an air of equity, fairness and candor about their words, “we desire to hear from thee,” which commends the men who uttered them. And this was all that the Apostle asked. Give him an impartial hearing, in order to a right judgment in the matter, and then, if they rejected both him and his religion, he could do no more. A man of one religion pays a poor compliment to a man of another, and a poorer to his own, when he cannot, or dare not, investigate the religion of his fellow man; but to refuse him a frank hearing, betrays conscious weakness.

Armitage makes the following case for those who hold to the tenents and practices of a genuine convert…

Injure no man, friend or foe, in his property, character or person.
Be gentle in spirit and harmless in life.
Don’t be “fornicators, or covetous, or railers, or drunkards, or extortioners.”
Don’t be overly gloomy or depressed.
Don’t be burdensome to the community.
Do good.
Work hard.
Be ready to give a defense for your behavior.

In addition to his description of one who holds to the tenents and practices of a genuine convert, he gives a strong defense for the faith and practice of Baptists (read his entire essay HERE.)

Happy reading…

How Aware Are You?

Posted on November 25, 2014Leave a comment

It won’t be long and you’ll begin to see the talented musicians playing those familiar Christmas tones on their pianos, cellos and violins. I don’t mean to make small of their talent when I bring up the matter of their beliefs. I don’t mean to be critical of you if you post their clever videos or are impacted at some level by the music. I simply want to only bring up the question… How aware are you?

Music is a fantastic place isn’t it? It is marvelously close to the heart. Which should give reason to ask oneself, “How aware are you?”

I don’t have any angst with the music of the Piano Guys. I agree with many, they are talented. I enjoy a story told by the music played. But when it comes to music in worship… I have to be aware.

A musician who plays music for the purpose of worship is responsible for what god he is leading the worshiper to worship and the worshiper must know that the leader is leading the worshiper to worship his god. This is why I take issue with believers using music from an unbeliever to generate a worshipful experience. Can the unregenerate properly lead another to truly worship God?

Most don’t know that the Piano Guys are on public record as stating their faith, they are not ashamed of their faith. For that I respect them for disclosing that. How aware are you that they offer full statement of belief on their website, it is as follows…

“We believe the purpose of life is to be happy.
We believe the best way to be happy is to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ and to love others more than yourself.

We believe family is most important.

We believe we are all children of a God who loves us dearly.

We believe that good music can be a source of joy, inspiration, and fulfillment.

We believe as Bobby McFerrin once said, listening to only one kind of music is like insisting on living in only one room of
your home your entire life.

We believe in as much laughter in life as possible.

We are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (also known as “LDS” or “Mormons”) to learn more about this church please visit mormon.org”

Last year I pondered the matter like this…

Why is this important for me? Why should you find it a significant thing to think through?

Learning that the Piano Guys are LDS did not change the fact that these [piano] guys are talented. They are. What changed is the origin of their faith. When a Mormon speaks of the birth of Christ, sings of the birth of Christ, or even plays music [without words] of the birth of Christ I’m in a different place of critique. I’m no longer simply enjoying music, I’m in doctrinal conflicted with the musician. When a Mormon sings of the birth of Jesus, he means a god left heaven, came and had sexual relations with a woman, and she gave birth to a child. They are the same words an orthodox Christian may sing but the teaching behind those same words are radically different.

I can still respect the talent of the Piano Guys, but I can’t experience worship as a result of their music. I might feel emotion that their music creates but I can’t trust my emotions to lead me to worship. I must give direction to my emotions. It’s possible that many will disagree with me on this. I welcome the disagreement, I’m only stating my observation from comparing the doctrines of the Book of Mormon and the Bible.

What do followers of Christ (defined by the Bible) have in common with Mormons? There is no place where the two are the same. The two doctrines are at conflict with each other, they have two different masters. The Bible teaches that “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” (Matthew 6:24)

Can a follower of Christ enjoy the talent of the Piano Guys? I think that’s clearly possible. Can the Piano Guys lead a follower of Christ (defined by the Bible) to worship? The answer, in my observation, gets sticky. Because the Piano Guys state their beliefs on their website as clearly Mormon, and because I believe the Bible to be a sufficient rule for my life, I say no; they can only lead someone to worship their god, and clearly they want listeners to worship their god because they invite visitors of their website to check out Mormonism.

I might listen to music from the Piano Guys but I will direct my spirit to not be carried away with emotion. If I’m not careful, my emotion will deceive me and lure me into idolatry. Giving my emotions to another god must be guarded always. Clearly there is a secular product that is enjoyable by the Piano Guys, but just as clearly there is a spiritual component that must not be ignored. If I’m not careful, I can let the familiarity of the music played by the Piano Guys to eventually weaken my heart as to considering that ‘maybe we do worship the same deity.’ We don’t worship the same, so I’ll guard my heart

Be on guard. Guard your heart Christian.

Offered for consideration

Today, at New Horizon Home

Posted on November 24, 2014Leave a comment

I always enjoy a picture message from Alex at New Horizon Home in Port-au-Prince. I thought I would share it with you today.

Broadcasting at Sermon Audio

Posted on November 24, 2014Leave a comment

For the past four years Eastside Baptist has been broadcasting sermons online 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We currently have over 200 sermons available. By the kindness of generous friends of Eastside, we are able to provide this ministry to local shut-ins, those who miss upon occasion due to illness or travel, and anywhere internet access is possible. You can listen directly online, download to a phone, save on a disc, mail to a friend, share on Facebook or Twitter, or email a group of friends.

The 200+ sermons that are currently available from Eastside have been downloaded over 6,400 times (1,406 of those downloads are from mobile devices.)

May the Lord bless the kindness of generous friends. May the Lord bless the preaching of His word. May the nations hear the gospel.

Here is yesterday’s message from Philippians 4.

Access to all archived sermons: www.sermonaudio.com/thebridge