Merry Christmas to you all! I love to say that and so is it any wonder that I am still saying that? And you do know what p.s. means, right? Just in case you don't, it means post script. It is commonly known as the piece of letter after the letter. So, my letter, or main message to you is Merry Christmas, meaning a couple things which I shall channel Gandalf in order to make them clear...
1. I wish for you a merry Christmas.
2. It is a merry Christmas, whether you want it or not.
3. I feel exceedingly merry this Christmas.
4. And yes, this is truly a Christmas to be merry on.
All of those speak to the relationship between my/your happiness upon the event of this holiday and I do wish to communicate every possible permutation of that hope for you and me. Christmas has brought and should always bring a great message of peace, joy, and good will toward men. At the risk of sounding elitist, I believe that the best people to carry such a message would have to be those who not only recognize the event as a Holy birthday, but have received the gift of salvation made possible by the coming of the Son of God. That brings me to my "p.s.".
I saw an advertisement during the holidays that stirred my thoughts and emotions. It was based on real events that took place on one Christmas day during World War I. I have posted the link in case you missed it. It is a powerful reminder of the real Spirit of Christmas.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWF2JBb1bvM
This year, more than ever, I read, heard, and heard of more debate from those wishing to make Christmas a platform for disagreement. Whether it was about the use of a Christmas tree, the real date of Christmas, the reference to Santa Claus, the actual time the wise men arrived, and on and on and on, there seemed to be more concern for the defense of a position than the advancement of the authentic message of Christmas. In hind sight, I could have stayed out of the discussions. I could have taken a lesson from the soldiers on that Christmas day 100 years ago. I could have been more focused on sharing the good news, the angels called them glad tidings, of a Savior who was born to save us from our sins, to forgive us our unrighteousness, and to bring peace, an indescribable lasting peace. I realized, this year, how important it is to ever and always exalt Christ. Many illustrations from my past convince me that the best thing that I can do, and it is what I am called to do, is make Christ known, give Him all the glory, all of the preeminence. I have said from the pulpit of Franklin Baptist Church many times, "You don't sell a Ford by kicking a Chevy." I have gained nothing by disputing or insulting, but if I lift Christ up, he said he would draw all men to himself.
So here it is, my p.s...I hope you were able to celebrate Christ. It doesn't matter to me if you pretend there is a Santa; it's none of my business if you decorate a Christmas tree or not (either way, you are not violating scripture); and even if Jesus' actual birth was some other time of year and it took the wise men longer than a night to get there, I pray that you celebrated Christ. I pray that you rejoiced as the shepherds did when they witnessed the reality of the coming of Messiah, as the wise men did when they saw the Star, and especially as Mary when the Only Begotten of the Father was born in her. I hope you were able to celebrate Christ. And if you were, don't stop. If you didn't, it's not too late. It's never too late. Christ came to bring you salvation. That is a gift that is always available. Thanks for reading my Perspective.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Where is everybody, Part III
That brings me to another great reason to be in church, not just this week or month, for the holidays's sake, but every opportunity you get. It should be understood that God's plan is for the spreading His gospel to all of humankind and one of the most emphasized methods in the Bible is generationally. Starting with the first family, it was Adam's responsibility to teach his children the ways of God. As the patriarchs of the Old Testament raised their children, they would bless them and encourage them in the ways of God. In Deuteronomy 6, we read of God's plan for His word to be passed on to the next generation...Deuteronomy 6:7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
In the New Testament, especially in Paul's writing, this generational approach to instructing (which is not just speaking, but a living example) is very clear as he addresses the aged men and aged women. And so the Biblical standard is clear. The members of the older generation have a responsibility to the younger generations as teachers, examples, leaders, and mentors. This is, first and foremost, to be carried out in the home from grandparents to parents to children. Family devotions are the beginning of this teaching, but quickly on its heals is the need to worship together in a church or public setting. Public identification with Christ is completely scriptural as seen by baptism and witnessing. All too often I hear a parent ask the question, or one similar to it, "What happened?" or "Where did I go wrong?" I believe the solution to the problem of the younger generation forsaking the local church, and worse, the faith of their fathers altogether, is rooted in the dedication made evident or shown to be lacking by our interest to gather and worship together. Parents, come to church and bring your family with you. Worship together.
It certainly begins at home, but II Timothy 2:2 gives us a tremendous principle for carrying out local church ministry. Notice the scripture, "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also." Church attendance gives each child of God the opportunity to directly influence a younger generation. The encouragement offered to children and teens alike, by your attendance and attention is beyond explanation. And believe me, they are watching. They are looking for you when you are not there. THIS Sunday will be a very special chance for you to be a blessing and encouragement to the youth in your church, even if it is not "Youth Sunday" there. If you are an attendee of Franklin Missionary Baptist Church in Darlington, Maryland, you have, not just an opportunity, but I believe a scriptural obligation. From someone who has been involved in active youth ministry, talking, interacting, and even counseling them, for nearly 20 years, that is my perspective.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family. Please take time to share the blessedness of your life with someone else.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Where Is Everybody, Part 2
Well, the first installment of this discussion garnered a pretty good bit of traffic so let's continue the thought...where is everybody, referring to the lack of interest in attending church, especially the "extra-curricular" Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights. Remember as you read, I am totally avoiding any legalistic implications. I believe the Bible not only speaks of public gathering and worship, but literally encourages it through scriptural principles that we should be familiar with. So, last time it was a matter of gladness, or happiness, in our lives, to attend the house of God. Today I want to approach this subject from the perspective of hunger.
It is an interesting phenomena, convenience stores. As a child, I remember 7-11 stores scattered around, with an occasional High's Dairy Store. Nowadays, there are at least two convenience stores at every major intersection and just about every gas station has its own version of the mini-mart. What has brought about the proliferation of Royal Farms, Wawa, Turkey Hill, High's, 7-11, Sheetz, Rudders Market, as well as ExxonMart, CitgoMart, BP, Shell, Sunoco, and Crown with all of their sandwiches, snacks, and sodas? We eat as soon as we even get a twinge of hunger. We don't even know what it feels like to truly be hungry in this country. We feed our self, sometimes when we don't even need to.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:1-3, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Notice the instruction to desire the sincere milk of the word. In some parts of the world, the feeling of hunger is so much a part of living, that it can even be ignored to a point. It seems to me that if an individual has "tasted that the Lord is gracious", in other words, experienced or known the grace of God as in through the gift of salvation, the Bible is saying that we should be desiring, or longing for, the word instead of ignoring the need for it in our life. Are you hungry for the word of God? Do you see the opportunity to sit under Bible preaching as a blessing? Or is it a Sunday morning requisite? We would no sooner try to live off of one meal a day, let alone one a week, but we starve our inner man to a place of spiritual malnutrition. An indication, a birthmark if you will, of the new birth is a hunger for the word of God.
Think about it. Have you been frustrated by a lack of growth, that stuck in a rut feeling? Are you still struggling with the same things that troubled you months and years ago, you just can't seem to get past it? Come on back to the house of God for some preaching, teaching, and singing from the word of God. Get fed. Grow. Get perspective.
It is an interesting phenomena, convenience stores. As a child, I remember 7-11 stores scattered around, with an occasional High's Dairy Store. Nowadays, there are at least two convenience stores at every major intersection and just about every gas station has its own version of the mini-mart. What has brought about the proliferation of Royal Farms, Wawa, Turkey Hill, High's, 7-11, Sheetz, Rudders Market, as well as ExxonMart, CitgoMart, BP, Shell, Sunoco, and Crown with all of their sandwiches, snacks, and sodas? We eat as soon as we even get a twinge of hunger. We don't even know what it feels like to truly be hungry in this country. We feed our self, sometimes when we don't even need to.
The Bible says in 1 Peter 2:1-3, Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
Notice the instruction to desire the sincere milk of the word. In some parts of the world, the feeling of hunger is so much a part of living, that it can even be ignored to a point. It seems to me that if an individual has "tasted that the Lord is gracious", in other words, experienced or known the grace of God as in through the gift of salvation, the Bible is saying that we should be desiring, or longing for, the word instead of ignoring the need for it in our life. Are you hungry for the word of God? Do you see the opportunity to sit under Bible preaching as a blessing? Or is it a Sunday morning requisite? We would no sooner try to live off of one meal a day, let alone one a week, but we starve our inner man to a place of spiritual malnutrition. An indication, a birthmark if you will, of the new birth is a hunger for the word of God.
Think about it. Have you been frustrated by a lack of growth, that stuck in a rut feeling? Are you still struggling with the same things that troubled you months and years ago, you just can't seem to get past it? Come on back to the house of God for some preaching, teaching, and singing from the word of God. Get fed. Grow. Get perspective.
Friday, October 31, 2014
Where is everybody?
Wow, has it really been a year since I posted a blog entry? I was afraid that might happen when I started the blog in the first place. A TON has happened since my last post, but instead of trying to catch you up in one fell swoop, I want to just act like I never missed a beat and continue on with blogging and maybe, just maybe, I'll fill in some blanks along the way, so here I go again...
Hello, my name is Rick and I am a recovering legalist. That's right, from a very strict "holiness" upbringing to being awed by shock-jock preachers with a rock-star mentality early in my ministry, I used to be quite the rigid militant fundamentalist. I am glad to say that by God's grace (how ironic), I have come a long way. I only say that to set up my perspective on a specific issue...church attendance. There is certainly a wide range of opinions regarding church attendance, from "I can worship the Lord in my home just as good as in church" to the proverbial "drug" problem. You know, that's the problem characterized by being drug to church every time the doors were open.
I am not here to discuss the nuances of what "the church" is. My folks hear me regularly say, "The church is a body, not a building. It is people, not a place." Nevertheless, the scripture is full of references to assembly and corporate worship. I am not saying that there is only one place, a sanctuary, to worship, nor am I saying that there is only one time, 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, to worship. What I am saying, rather asking, is why do people not attend church as they once did?
I will be hitting this topic for a little while because there is no way to hold you here indefinitely to read the longest blog ever, but I want to encourage you and others to get back into church. Not as a required religious exercise. Not because I believe God takes attendance every service looking for the naughty and the nice. Not because I think your salvation depends upon "Perfect Attendance". No, but there are lots of legitimate, good reasons to get yourself together and get yourself down to church as often as you are able.
Here is the first reason. In the life of the believer, it would seem, that the opportunity to meet publicly and corporately with others of God's people is a source of happiness, or more specifically...
Psa 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Glad = śâmach
Pronounced saw-makh'
A primitive root; probably to brighten up, that is, (figuratively) be (causatively make) blithe or gleesome: - cheer up, be (make) glad, (have make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
Do you see that? Going to church made David joyful and merry, and what's more, it was multiplied times "VERY". I wonder if today's Christians are the least joyful in history (personal generic commentary) because they don't frequent the assembly of the only people on this earth that have the MOST important things in common with them, people who are theoretically on their side. Church is an oasis of grace in a world of grief. Come on in and take a load off. I know I am the Pastor, but it shouldn't just be my perspective. I'm glad to be back with you.
Hello, my name is Rick and I am a recovering legalist. That's right, from a very strict "holiness" upbringing to being awed by shock-jock preachers with a rock-star mentality early in my ministry, I used to be quite the rigid militant fundamentalist. I am glad to say that by God's grace (how ironic), I have come a long way. I only say that to set up my perspective on a specific issue...church attendance. There is certainly a wide range of opinions regarding church attendance, from "I can worship the Lord in my home just as good as in church" to the proverbial "drug" problem. You know, that's the problem characterized by being drug to church every time the doors were open.
I am not here to discuss the nuances of what "the church" is. My folks hear me regularly say, "The church is a body, not a building. It is people, not a place." Nevertheless, the scripture is full of references to assembly and corporate worship. I am not saying that there is only one place, a sanctuary, to worship, nor am I saying that there is only one time, 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Sunday and 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, to worship. What I am saying, rather asking, is why do people not attend church as they once did?
I will be hitting this topic for a little while because there is no way to hold you here indefinitely to read the longest blog ever, but I want to encourage you and others to get back into church. Not as a required religious exercise. Not because I believe God takes attendance every service looking for the naughty and the nice. Not because I think your salvation depends upon "Perfect Attendance". No, but there are lots of legitimate, good reasons to get yourself together and get yourself down to church as often as you are able.
Here is the first reason. In the life of the believer, it would seem, that the opportunity to meet publicly and corporately with others of God's people is a source of happiness, or more specifically...
Psa 122:1 A Song of degrees of David. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.
Glad = śâmach
Pronounced saw-makh'
A primitive root; probably to brighten up, that is, (figuratively) be (causatively make) blithe or gleesome: - cheer up, be (make) glad, (have make) joy (-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, X very.
Do you see that? Going to church made David joyful and merry, and what's more, it was multiplied times "VERY". I wonder if today's Christians are the least joyful in history (personal generic commentary) because they don't frequent the assembly of the only people on this earth that have the MOST important things in common with them, people who are theoretically on their side. Church is an oasis of grace in a world of grief. Come on in and take a load off. I know I am the Pastor, but it shouldn't just be my perspective. I'm glad to be back with you.
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