There are Baptist churches today in America who don’t want African-Americans attending, much less joining. It’s been said that Sunday morning at 11:00 is the most segregated hour in America. I was once confronted by a Deacon who was upset that I had chosen a bulletin cover that featured a group of African children on the cover… for “World Missions Sunday.” This is a problem.
This may sound like the question of a child, but it’s a question that is on the hearts of millions of adults. I don’t understand God’s ways – they are above mine, so I don’t presume to have all the answers. But thankfully Jesus once addressed a group of people who had a similar accusation, so I wanted to record my thoughts about this big question.
Here’s a YouTube Link to Did An Earthquake Happen Because God Was Mad?
Many are likely to disagree with me one way or another. Please feel free to do so in the comments, but I would ask that you remain particularly sensitive as so many have lost loved ones in this terrible disaster.
And while we’re at it, you must read Al Mohler’s post from last night, Does God Hate Haiti? as well as Brad Harmon’s post, Where Was God When Haiti Shook?
I love church planters and I love cutting edge, innovative ministry. I’m encouraged by the growth of a kind of Christianity that calls us back to the New Testament model of worship and ministry as we head into the turbulent waters of this next decade. But I’m concerned with what I perceive sometimes to be youthful arrogance, and this concern includes myself.
Let me make this clear before you read any further, I love and appreciate John MacArthur. I have learned immensely from him and his level of biblical expertise is hard to match. He’s an inspiring leader for a variety of reasons. But his most recent blog post at the Shepherd’s Fellowship blog (which I do highly recommend) about TBN being an “Unholy Trinity” has me a little troubled.
It’s funny, you know, how a particular headline can grab attention. I’m guessing that some people are reading this because they like the idea of the man being the head of the woman. Others have their proverbial guns drawn.
Saying that the husband is the head of the wife is controversial in light of the modern emphasis on gender equality. The statement Paul made in 1 Corinthians 11:3 was controversial when he wrote it for a different reason – because of a lack of gender equality. You see, whether we realize it or not, Paul was arguing for balance in the marriage relationship. Let me explain…
Argue with me if you want. It won’t do any good. I’m pro-life and always will be so. I’ve heard every defense of the pro-choice philosophy. None stand under the weight of the need to defend the dying innocent. Abortion is America’s modern holocaust. Given enough time, I feel America will look back on this atrocity with horror.
Abby Johnson knows this. She was the Director of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic. She has repented after seeing an abortion procedure take place. She’s had an experience most pro-choice advocates never have. In fact, most women who have had abortions have never seen what she saw (and if you are reading, I love you and my heart breaks for you). If everyone in America saw it, we’d repent.
Here’s her interview with Mike Huckabee
I shared this message in revival last night and wanted to pass it along here…
Acts chapter 2 is a controversial chapter. Christians like to go there to argue about when the Holy Spirit arrived, whether we can duplicate the miracle of speaking in tongues, and whether this was the “baptism” Jesus talked about. But I think God’s focus is on the end of the chapter, in verses 41 and 47, where thousands of souls were being saved and lives changed.
In verse 41, the Day of Pentecost concludes with 3,000 souls being saved and added to the church. Verse 47 tells us that God kept doing this daily, but verse 42 is the bridge that connects the two. It simply says, “and they continued…” That phrase never really hit me before but it did this week. What’s the difference between having one big day (that soon passes) and having a series of big days? Continuing! Going on like the Energizer bunny!
I’m preaching through the entire Bible on Sundays at Bethel and we’ve entered the book of Judges. It’s a roller coaster as we watch the Jewish people’s cycle of rebellion > discipline > repentance > revival > deliverance, then rebellion again. Sound familiar? I think it’s a lot like the average life of many believers.
I’m not a NASCAR fan, but my friend Rick Lemons is, and he’s written a book that I was just given by a friend. It’s simply called The Race. I’ve skimmed it and like what I see so far as Rick compares the Christian life to a NASCAR race. I’ll write more on it later, but wanted to pass along the suggestion/promotion.
Brandon is first and foremost a follower of Jesus Christ. He's a husband to Angie and a Dad to Ella Grace and Samuel David. He's a Pastor to Bethel Baptist Church, Editor of Fuel Your Blogging and also a logo and web designer.
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