Apprentice2Jesus

Ramblings of a Confessing Pentecostal

Archive for the category “Church”

10 Feb 2012
4 Comments

Pastors as Theologians

One of the topics I have wrestled with for quite some time is the idea of pastors as theologians, or theologians as pastors.

As a pastor, I have grown over the years in my ability to think theologically. I earned my Master’s 20 years after I finished my BA. I love pastoring.

What I have become more convinced of is the Church made the mistake centuries ago of separating the pastorate and the academy. We have a very tough time recovering from that drastic mistake. We now think that someone who is “intellectual” is destined for “academics,” and someone who isn’t quite that “intellectual” and more “practical” is therefore consigned to ministry.

Many great students I have talked to in recent years really feel that they want to pursue academic careers and will only reluctantly consider pastoring. It has reached a point where pastoring is something you get pulled into kicking and screaming, if you happen to love theology.

What I long for is a return of the two abilities. Brian over at Near Emmaus is processing the issue of the academy vs. the church and it is a very thoughtful post.

He quotes John Chrysostom, a great theologian and pastor. The earliest centuries of the Church, where the major discussion of the big foundational blocks of Christian theology were formed, were forged in the churches by pastors.

We need these gifts together again. I don’t think we’ll ever get away from having pure academics, but what we truly need to get away from is pastors who think, “I don’t need no stinkin’ ‘cemetery’ education!”

Lord, help us to think again. Think… with hearts on fire.

Posted in Church, Church Life, Ministry, Theology and tagged , ,
10 Jan 2012

Blue Chips and Junk Bonds

David Brooks is one of my favorite columnists. This column discusses politics, but it reminds me of a conversation I had regarding ministry as well. Brooks’s contention is that liberals have allowed short term gains to cloud their vision for long term good.

The conversation I had regarding churches and ministry was much the same. American churches are investing in junk bonds instead of blue chips. We are going for “short term” gains that really mean nothing other than quick personal gain. We are doing things for the “quick pop” and not giving regard to long term results. Blue chip investing in the market would be looking to what is solid, what is long-term, what may sacrifice something up front to gain something later.

Junk bond investing tanked this economy. People invented investment tools made out of thin air that looked good inflated values and gave massive profits only to those who invented the smoke and mirrors then got out just in time.

Junk bond investing in the American church is trading off the long term gain of the Kingdom for the short term accolades that make us feel good, give us book deals, and allow us to speak on large stages.

Blue chip investing in the American church would be seeing the power of the Kingdom and insisting on the principles of the Kingdom to bring that power. Nothing short of that long term stability will do in blue chip ministry.

Posted in Church, Church Life, Culture and tagged , | Leave a Comment
19 Oct 2011

The Spirit of Generosity

A new survey going around Facebook shows that churches are more stingy than ever. It’s the kind of fodder we seem to like. For cynics, it’s just another bullet in the gun for them. For Christians, it’s yet another way to beat ourselves up.

For the church I pastor I want to say this survey is not the rule. For those in my church, I want to thank you from the depths of my heart. You are shining examples of what it means to care for the Body of Christ and reach out to the world. We have witnessed amazing miracles to help those in need.

We are also entering a time of emphasizing missions and I can happily report our missions giving is UP. This last year we increased our budget to missions through your faith promise giving. We even added a missionary. As we enter into this season of prayer and dreaming for missions, please do not let up. Let your generosity stay as a shining example to the world around us.

May this survey never be true of this church!

Posted in Church, Church Life, Missions and tagged | Leave a Comment
17 Oct 2011

What a Full Day Looks Like

I have LOTS of full days… and they get strung together and keep on going. Yet, in the midst of those full days I find such joy. The past few Sundays at my church have been incredibly encouraging for me. There is a hunger rising up in people. We had a prayer retreat a week ago where the agenda was just seeking God in prayer… and it was refreshing.

Yesterday, it was our church coming together to raise money for our youth to go to youth convention this next week. There was a spaghetti dinner and silent auction. Through all the effort, the group raised ALL the money they needed to send the kids!

It is a joy to watch God work. When the days are full, the work God does make the work joyful.

Posted in Church, Church Life | Leave a Comment
11 Oct 2011

Arab Spring Isn’t All Blossoms

As we celebrate the “Arab Spring,” there are reminders that all doesn’t bloom evenly in the Arab world. The Church in Egypt is feeling the pressure.

And an Iranian pastor sits in prison awaiting execution.

Often when we see good things happening, what gets missed is the plight of the Church in regions of the world.

In our prayers, we must remember the Body of Christ. His Church.

Posted in Church, Prayer and tagged , , | Leave a Comment
10 Oct 2011
2 Comments

Give Me the Gospel in 3-5 Minutes

To which Scot McKnight says, “Fuhget about it!”

Why are we so consumed with needing to give the gospel like an “elevator pitch?”

Jesus’ own invitation is this: “Come and see.”

Posted in Church, Culture
10 Oct 2011

The Danger of “Decision” Theology

Scot McKnight makes the comparisons of how the New Testament seems to be talking about Gospel… and how we “gospel” today. He pulls no punches.

When all we care about is bringing people to a decision, to pray a prayer, to just admit their sin and find Jesus as Savior, we are doing damage. Jesus becomes a personal Savior, but not Lord. The whole point of the Gospel is the introduction of the Messiah… the Deliverer… the Master. McKnight is not very “friendly” when he says this decision theology is “heresy” (p. 117). (Just tell us what you think, Scot!)

Anyone who can preach the gospel and not make Jesus’ exalted lordship the focal point simply isn’t preaching the apostolic gospel.

Unfortunately, I know people living in that world and they will continue to live in that world. Why? Because that world gets rewarded. Not by the Kingdom, necessarily, but by our church world. Their very straight answer will be, “Well, how many souls have you won to Jesus?” (Like numbers explain everything. And in our particular church world, numbers ARE everything.)

McKnight’s book is worth a look!

The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited

Posted in Church, Church Life, Theology and tagged | Leave a Comment
29 Sep 2011
4 Comments

Why I am a Confessing Pentecostal

The founding of the Assemblies of God (my denomination) was based on the lack of creeds in the very beginning. They believed in the Bible, bless God, and that was enough. It wasn’t long before theological controversy forced them into a statement of faith. (But it’s not a creed. ;) )

Over the years as I have studied more of Church History and spiritual formation and Pentecostal “sightings”, as I would call them, through the early church, I have grown in my appreciation for the creeds of the Church.

Scot McKnight’s book, The King Jesus Gospel, revolves around the basics of the gospel. His contention is American Christianity has more of a “salvation plan” approach rather than a “gospel” approach. The development of the gospel message in the New Testament, McKnight contends, is 1 Corinthians 15. Paul lays out the simple gospel.

McKnight then makes a bold claim. This simple gospel laid out by Paul in 1 Corinthians 15 is the basis for the Nicene Creed. In essence, to be Christian is to be in agreement with the creeds. Quite honestly, he asks, what could a Christian possibly disagree with in the Nicene Creed? What about the Nicene Creed is not gospel? (And, McKnight would say, add in the fact that much of 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 is in there, how can you deny the Creed and not deny the gospel?)

For the early church, to deny the creed was to deny the gospel. It is the very essence of the gospel.

McKnight articulates what has been going on in my own life over the past few years. I am far more “confessional” in my belief than I used to be. I am still solidly Pentecostal. Both “roots” are deep within the Church. This is just something I am learning to try to articulate better.

The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited

 

Posted in Church, Spiritual Formation, Theology and tagged
28 Sep 2011
4 Comments

The Pope and Pentecostalism

Pope Benedict made the following comments about Pentecostalism:

The geography of Christianity has changed dramatically in recent times, and is in the process of changing further. Faced with a new form of Christianity, which is spreading with overpowering missionary dynamism, sometimes in frightening ways, the mainstream Christian denominations often seem at a loss. This is a form of Christianity with little institutional depth, little rationality and even less dogmatic content, and with little stability. This worldwide phenomenon – that bishops from all over the world are constantly telling me about – poses a question to us all: what is this new form of Christianity saying to us, for better and for worse? In any event, it raises afresh the question about what has enduring validity and what can or must be changed – the question of our fundamental faith choice.

While the Pope certainly nails our weaknesses, there is the disappointment in the lack of acknowledgement to what has happened in say, oh, the last 100 years.

We, as Pentecostals, need to do far better in our dogmatics and our stability. There are gifts we bring to the Body of Christ, and we need to partake of the gifts other parts of the Body bring to us!

Posted in Church, Church Life, Pentecost, Theology and tagged
23 Sep 2011
2 Comments

The King Jesus Gospel — Messing Up the Message

I am beginning to work my way through The King Jesus Gospel by Scot McKnight. My church staff will be making our way through it the next several weeks as well.

The diagnosis of the “evangelical problem” resonates with me. The struggle over “decisions” and “disciples” has been something I’ve felt for all my years in ministry. McKnight lays out his take on why this isn’t working.

As evangelicals, we come up with ways to explain “the plan of salvation” to people. We want to lead them to a decision. The problem is that it doesn’t capture the gospel.

The Plan of Salvation, to put it crudely, isn’t discipleship or justice or obedience. The Plan of Salvation leads to one thing and to one thing only: salvation. Justification leads to a declaration by God that we are in the right, that we are the people of God; it doesn’t lead inexorably to a life of justice or goodness or lovingkindess. If it did, all Christians would be more just and more filled with goodnes and drenched in love.

The King Jesus Gospel: The Original Good News Revisited

Posted in Church, Culture, Evangelicalism, Evangelism, Ministry, Theology and tagged

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