Church Lingo

Out of the message yesterday morning we were reminded that the building is not the church, but rather we are. Francis Chan, a well known pastor and conference speaker said in a recent Catalyst article that it is not semantics. If we are going to realize this truth deep in our lives, our lingo needs to match. I have to admit I thought it interesting that from different people I talked to yesterday afternoon and in last night's service, I heard at least six or seven references to "coming to", "going to" "being at" or some other form of describing the building as "the" church.

So how serious is this? I tend to agree with Chan...it is so much more than semantics. Scripture refers to us as "over comers, joint heirs, blood bought, winners." Yet I know I personally in my words, I don't refer to myself that way.

Just a thought...maybe we need to get serious about our language.

Have a great week,
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Discipline

A few years ago there was a situation at a large church in Nashville that 71 people were actually "de-churched" from that congregation. In our present history, especially in Southern Baptist Churches, this is unheard of. No one takes discipline to that extreme. But because of the absolute venom that these 71 people publicly spewed about the church and her leaders, the church had a vote. This vote was a church-wide vote and the results were against these 71.

So how do you feel about that? Does the church of 2009 have the right to say there is sin in the camp and it has to be dealt with in such a strong way? The media got hold of this story and of course put their interesting spin on it. So what do you think?

Scripture says that being in the midst of discipline is never easy. But it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Let me have your feedback. I truly believe that the standard we are called to live by as a body of believers (and when I say standard I am not just talking morally, but Biblically) is far above that of another organization. We are called to have our word mean something. Let our yes be yes and our no be no...all other is evil says the Scriptures.

Look forward to hearing from you.

Love you,

pb

Day of Rest and the Lord's Day

As Tom Kemner taught the study lesson yesterday, all kinds of thoughts were going around in my head. Alex Wascolm brought up the point that everyday is a day of worship but there is one day per week that we have an intent and elevation of worship collectively. Tom pointed out that a day is 24 hours. The thought of what we do from midnight to midnight on one day a week came to light. If a day is 24 hours, then what we do with one day of the seven day week we have becomes pretty important.
In this 24 hour period, we need to accomplish the following:
1. Rest-ceasing from work activities and our normal routine of the other six days.
2. Collectively worship

So not to be legalistic, does that mean if these are "THE" two things that God asks of us on one day a week, why is it that our focus is on so many other things too? Why is it that we add to the list? Why is it that we subtract from the list? Why is it that we think it is okay to not tithe on that day, or not be involved in other collective times of worship so as to pick and choose what "we" want to do?

Just a thought...think about it and answer this question that I have to seriously answer in my own life. As I look at the Lord's day or Sabbath, am I giving 24 hours to intense worship and focus on the Lord?

Thank you to Chris Shirley and this series on Myth Busters and also for Tom Kemner being one of the best challengers of my thinking.

Have a great week.

pb

Context

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day and the subject of context came up. Through the years well meaning people have basically taught the Bible in error because the same well meaning people build a doctrine or judgment on one verse, or even worse a part of a verse. This seems to be used mostly for trying to use Scripture to prove a point instead of the point being what Scripture was proving.

For instance, go back with me to a very long running TV show..."Touched by an Angel." One of those feel good, everything always works out in the end type of shows. The angels said in many episodes "the truth will set you free." You hear that from many people's mouths....but that is NOT what Scripture says. The actual Scripture says, "If you abide in me, and My words abide in you, THEN you will KNOW the truth, and the truth will set you free." Just because we know a little truth doesn't mean we will walk in freedom. 1 Corinthians 6 talks about several things and I have heard many a sermon that stops before it reaches the good news. Verse 11 says "such WERE some of you." But now.... Hebrews 6 has been used to prove that if you turn away from the Lord after being surrounded with the truth you will go to hell. Verse 9 goes on to say that even though we are talking this way, we have better things concerning you.

So about this time you are saying...get to the point Phil. Okay...here you go. Get into the Word, but when doing so get into the whole Word We need to make sure that we keep things in context to glean the TRUTH. The enemy will use anything to keep us in bondage...anything...even the Word of God.

Think about it!

Love you
pb

Short and to the point

We use the word "amazing" to describe many things, but there is only One who is truly amazing. His name is Jesus. He is "Everything" and more! How can this be? How can He be more than everything? Because nothing we could ever think of in our finite minds could ever describe how truly amazing He is.

I hope that this week we together experience Him in a new and "amazing" way that takes us to a place of abandonment of our will to be engulfed in His.

Have a great week.

pb