Author: tmart2007

Blogger on RhetoricandHomiletics.org

Justice

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Matthew Martens has worked both as a federal prosecutor (9 years) and as a criminal defense attorney (11 years). His cases have ranged from capital murder, drug trafficking, firearms violations, and child pornography, to securities fraud, mortgage fraud, voter fraud, and public corruption. He has tried more than two dozen cases across the country both as a prosecutor and defense attorney. He is currently a partner in the Washington, DC office of one of the world’s largest law firms. Matt’s first book, Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (Crossway), is due out in early 2023.

“How is it possible when it comes to criminal justice in the US we have two opposite camps? One cries ‘defund the police’ & the other ‘more law & order.’  My conversation with Matthew Martens is enlightening. Have a listen and learn.” — Jen Oshman

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“When it comes to criminal justice we have two opposite camps in this country: one side cries “defund the police” and the other side demands more “law and order.” How is it possible to have two very different perspectives on the same criminal justice system? And how should Christians be grappling with the way justice is currently carried out in our country?

On this episode we hear from Matt Martens who is a criminal lawyer, a graduate of Dallas Theological seminary, was a federal prosecutor for 10 years, has written for the WSJ and WaPo and is currently writing a book entitled Reforming Criminal Justice: A Christian Proposal (forthcoming with Crossway in 2023). Martens has a unique and qualified perspective with his robust background in both theology and both sides of our legal system.

From a theological perspective, Martens says Jesus not only declares us just, but is making us just. Meaning the gospel is not only about our individual salvation, but also our sanctification and how we live amongst one another. Part of preaching the gospel is seeking justice in our midst.

From a legal perspective, Martens says many Americans just don’t know how our system really works. He says there are outrageous injustices built into the system that the average person simply doesn’t know about. He wants to change that through his presence online and in his forthcoming book.

Two primary reasons we don’t see our criminal justice in a unified way, Martens says, are because we have varying degrees of education about our history as a nation and varying degrees of knowledge and experience with how our justice system currently operates.

Have a listen and learn. Martens covers a ton of both history and present realities. You’ll hear about how our criminal justice system was organized after the Civil War and how some of those practices remain today; how jury selection can have a huge and unjust impact on the accused; how both our bail and plea bargain systems coerce innocent people to confess guilt to crimes they did not commit; the realities of a broken policing system that leaves many crimes unsolved and prevents victims from experiencing justice; and more. Martens closes this episode by telling us what you and I can do to seek justice in our own localities.” — Jen Oshman

Podcast LINK —  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/all-things/id1449943664?i=1000548574978

You can follow him on Twitter @martensmatt1.

5 Red Flags

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“Everything rises or falls on leadership” was one of the repeated quotations made by Dr. Lee Robertson, of Tennessee Temple days.  While teaching there, I heard it personally repeated by Dr. Roberston, by many of the students who attended over the years, and often by me.

While some may want to carp about the statement, stating that such a statement fails at giving proper weight to the Lord’s working and activity, the statement is thoroughly supported by repeated examples in Scripture.

Change leadership, and you change the direction, growth, and the blessing of the Lord — i.e., Psalm 78:67-72.  Who was sitting on the throne over Israel was all the difference.  Character, initiative, corruption, lack of vision, back-sliding, selfishness, wisdom, foolishness, stubbornness, insight, selflessness, presence, absenteeism, a self-serving spirit, laziness, et al. all impacted the effectiveness of the various leaders of Scripture — and today!

God not only ordains the end — blessing and cursing — but He ordains the means to that end!  The qualities of the person in charge are some of the means.  No pastor would take the position that the “who” has little to no impact in ministry!

What are some of the signs, indicators, or red flags that signal that there is a leadership problem?

^

#1 – A Lazy Organizational Culture:  Take note of the staff’s general work ethic!

Almost every one of us has the tendency to gravitate to less, not more.  We get complacent and lazy, and motivation can wane.  That is why leadership is built into every area of life.  There must be leaders who challenge and push the paid staff (and gingerly the unpaid) to work, and to work hard.

There is a reason the world includes supervisors, foremen, floor managers, and parents!  Not everyone has initiative and self-motivation.  An “ant” understands that — Proverbs 6:6-8 — the sluggard does not.  Effectiveness and accomplishment require leaders who expect and demand a solid and strong work ethic!

^

#2 – An Overall Decline In Attendance:  Is there meaningful and significant numerical growth?

No ministry is investing thousands and thousands of dollars and hours of paid and volunteer work, only to see little-to-nothing coming out of it all — out onto the “shipping dock.”  No business can survive long with that scenario.

When you begin to hear the words “quality, not quantity,” you have a clue that leadership is failing at the job. That is the “rhetoric of failure!”  Who is not for quality?  Nevertheless, it is not that you can’t have both — and should!

A ministry leader or pastor is called to a ministry not to maintain but to grow both deep and wide.  No ministry believes they are calling a “maintainer of the status quo.”

Adding a few straggling sheep from other ministries, seeing few saved, baptized, and joining the church, or adding numbers by newborns may be a commentary on what leadership is willing to accept as “growing.”

^

#3 – The Sheep Are Neglected:  It is no longer about the sheep, but it’s about the institution.

There is a reason that the leader is called a shepherd, the shepherd of the flock.  He is not a hireling, merely hired to watch over the sheep for a period of time, with no skin in the game.  He is a good shepherd and cares.

When a shepherd doesn’t know the name of their sheep, is uninformed/misinformed/disinterested in the condition of the members and friends of the church, doesn’t know whether they are even in the church service, and rarely visits personally — you have a leadership problem — a could care less leadership problem!

No, it is not a delegation problem.  It is not that the shepherd has failed at delegation, but at being the shepherd!   Shepards don’t farm out caring!  But hirelings do!

^

#4 – The Same Old “Same Old:” The ministry is just cruising along on the same old roads.

There are ways to reach people for the Lord!  Those ways continually change societally and culturally.  While a ministry may be comfortable with the old roads, and those old roads are not right or wrong, the question is — good – better – best.  Is there a better way to accomplish the same goals that bring a better rate of return on money and effort?

You can still go around the neighborhoods and put door hangers on the resident’s front doors.  You can do that or send oversized postcards by the thousands to everyone around the church.  Nothing wrong with that attempt; you are at least doing something.  However, is there a better way?  Is there a way that the energy, time, and cost are less and the effectiveness is equal or greater?  That is the question!

“Going down the same old roads” is a leadership issue!  Engaging more of God’s people in the ministry’s creative thinking, planning, and operations requires a leader who understands that there are people who are really good at creatively reaching out to people in the community.  It takes humility to accept the reality that others may have something worthy of consideration and implementation.

Change also means more work!  That goes back to the first point — laziness.  Some don’t want to think about change because it involves work!  At times, thinking about change is quickly dismissed because of the anticipated work involved in executing that change or new program.

^

#5 – Absentee Leaders: The leaders can’t be found when it comes to the church’s ministries.

The lack of leadership presence in ministry is all too common these days.  Maybe one pastor shows up or shows up for a very brief period of time.  Teachers, youth pastors, ministry leaders, deacons, board members, and/or associate pastors are not even expected to be present during this-or-that event.

The result is that few of the leaders — paid and unpaid — attend the concert, program, celebration, wedding, or funeral; the leadership expresses no such expectation!

Invisibility is acceptable! Why? Too often, because they themselves can’t be found at anything other than what they “must be” at themselves.  They don’t want to be bothered by ministry expectations any more than others in positions of leadership.

Can anyone justify why a youth pastor would not be at a kindergarten, middle school, or high school program or graduation ceremony?  Even if there were conflicting events, why not show up for whatever time one can, before or after, if possible?  Why not reschedule if you can?  How about putting someone else in charge until you can get there?  Have your spouse attend when you cannot, to rightfully excuse you?

There are ways to be present, visible, and caring — but it’s a leadership problem!  It is a leadership problem because there is little personal expectation, and therefore less than little when it comes to others!

^

The reality is that ministry leaders and pastors are too often like the sheep they lead.  They are self-serving and primarily interested in the same grass and comfortable pastures their sheep graze.

They want the leadership title of “shepherds” but want the same comfortable life as the sheep.

Sadly — and it is sad — this has been, and will continue to become, more the norm!  — Driverless ministries with no one really at the wheel, engaged and caring about what the ministry could be and should be!

Baseball Rules For Ministry: Tie Goes To The Runner!

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When a teacher spoke to me about one of my children, I knew this; her words were the truth about the situation! That wasn’t just a nice platitude or an “old school” mentality — but “far more.”  It was an operating principle!

The “more” was that as the church pastor and administrator of the Christian school, I knew it took something meaningful for a teacher to come to me with an issue! If it was important enough for a teacher to step up to the bat, then it was right to give it serious attention! If there was even or ever a tie, it went to the runner — the one who felt strong enough about a concern that they felt they should at least make it to first base!

Pastors know this, or at least should know this unless they find some lopsided consolation in thinking otherwise . . . .

There is an immense amount of natural grace
given to a ministry leader and/or the pastor(s) of local church ministry!

. . . . and for various reasons — and for good reasons.

  • He is their pastor!
  • They voted on and called their pastor to their ministry.
  • His position and title rightfully matter to God’s people.
  • He ministers to them from the pulpit about godly living.
  • God’s people believe that they ought to be careful and cautious when speaking about ministry leaders or their pastor(s).
  • “There is no perfect pastor or perfect church.”
  • The shepherd is over the flock.
  • We want to believe, and we ought to believe, that the pastor(s) is an honest, good, and godly person.
  • God’s people want to believe the best about their leadership.
  • The pastor is working with a wide variety of people with varied opinions.
  • “Success” is a quieting agent.
  • If he has been there for years, whatever differences there were/are, are no longer that significant.

If ministry leaders or pastors read the above list, they are feeling fairly good right now!

“Yes, heading up a ministry and/or being a pastor isn’t an easy job! People need to cut some slack when it comes to being critical. We are working hard at ministry and doing the best we know how with such a diverse span of individuals and families — no less in today’s culture!”

For all those reasons — and more — there is a lot of grace extended to ministry leaders and pastors! Not, “there ought to be a lot of grace extended,” but there is!

God’s people are typically, overwhelmingly, and exceptionally hesitant to do much more than mildly “bleat” about a decision, action, or regarding their shepherd.

There are biblical truths and principles that genuinely support being gracious and kind towards those in leadership!

The difficulty is that those truths and principles can also be used as a cloak to hide behind. That is why the list seemingly gets longer and longer when it comes to present-day examples of ministry wrong-doing!

Examine the all too numerous and varied cases of ministerial wrong-doing, and you will see how the truths and principles of Scripture were used to ward off legitimate criticism. A few — and often too few — people were speaking out because there is a lot of grace given to ministry leaders and pastors!

There are clear biblical truths that are legitimate guidelines for church behavior . . . . .

  • be slow to speak and quick to hear
  • speech seasoned with grace
  • the fruits of the Spirit
  • patience, kind, tenderhearted, forgiving one another
  • Matthew 18
  • salt and pure water from the same fountain
  • and many others!

However, they can be, and are, also used to quiet and/or evade criticism — even legitimate criticism or serious wrong-doing! [1]

It is difficult to go to a ministry leader, deacons, and surely one’s pastor to address an issue of concern!

When that happens, the concern needs to be genuinely acknowledged.

Beyond that, there needs to be some serious listening and attentiveness about the concern because, like the teacher, the employee or member has been debating whether to step up and go to bat, to speak up — or to stay on the bench and out of the lineup, or even out of the game!

It has been a hard decision for even the most plainspoken because, like all of us, their lives are also about relationships. They understand that there may be, and usually are, repercussions from speaking out and addressing a situation. The official referees and even your other players have been known to turn on you and they know that then — It’s game over!

Even the most outspoken and forward understand the relational risks regarding their ministry or church! They live their lives around family, work, and the church! Their ministry and/or the church is where they live a good part of their lives!

Any believed “tie” ought to go to them, the runner.

If they decided to go to bat, they should get the presumption that there is something worthy of a fair and genuine discussion.

As they try to make it to at least first base, not only should the time and effort be given to them to make their case, but the legitimacy of their concerns ought to be seen as “safe” for an honest evaluation!

^

^

1. The proof is far too obvious and repeated when it comes to pastoral wrong-doing — case after case continually shows up on today’s landscape! The Scriptures warn about that phenomenon because that is exactly why and how wolves are able to hide as sheep. They quote the Bible and use it as a cloak. They make it appear that they are just being biblical and seeking to be like Jesus!

When called out, they use biblical truths and principles as a cloak — Matthew 15; I Thessalonian 2:5; John 15:22; I Peter 2:16!

The biblical truths and principles are biblical! But they can be and are used to silence and/or cover!

They . . . .

  • are not lazy — just patient and watchful
  • were not unloving — but are like Jesus, who called out the money-changers
  • were not unfriendly — just trying to be careful
  • are not indifferent — just seeking to be discerning
  • are not greedy for gain — just planning & thinking ahead
  • were not stingy — just being frugal
  • are not covetous — just want to use it/that for the Lord
  • were not uncaring — just walking circumspectly
  • did no wrong — but prayed about it
  • are not evasive — but like Jesus, suffering the wrong
  • were not sinfully angry — it was just righteous indignation
  • did not lack a heart for the lost — but trusting God to direct / to open the door
  • did not overlook or ignore needs — they were merely redeeming the time
  • were not a respecter of persons — just trying to give honor where honor is due
  • have not been immoral — just misunderstood / judge not

Mac Arthur / Piper / Your Pastor: There is a theological-ideology in play!

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More About Jesus - Hymnary.org

The Hymn is titled, “More About Jesus” [1]

More about Jesus would I know,
More of His grace to others show;
More of His saving fulness see,
More of His love who died for me.

More, more about Jesus,
More, more about Jesus;
More of His saving fulness see,
More of His love who died for me.

2

More about Jesus let me learn,
More of His holy will discern;
Spirit of God my teacher be,
Showing the things of Christ to me.

3

More about Jesus; in His Word,
Holding communion with my Lord;
Hearing His voice in every line,
Making each faithful saying mine.

4

More about Jesus; on His throne,
Riches in glory all His own;
More of His kingdom’s sure increase;
More of His coming, Prince of Peace.

^

There is a distinct theological difference, that has significant implications, between “More” and “Total.”  Over recent years, and up to 2022 there has been no lack of books, sermons, articles, and blogs on the theme of “Commitment” or “Total Commitment,” or “Totally Committed.”[2]. When you read the same books, you think the same thoughts!

First of all, I understand the concept of being committed to Christ.  Who would argue the position that a believer should not be committed to our Lord?  Just ask Peter!

But yes. . . let’s ask Peter — and the disciples . . . .

“Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples.”

I have always been taken back by the hymn, “Are Ye Able!”

 “Are ye able,” said the Master,
“To be crucified with me?”
“Yea,” the sturdy dreamers answered,
“To the death we follow Thee.“

Refrain:
Lord, we are able.
Our spirits are Thine.
Remold them, make us,
Like Thee, divine.
Thy guiding radiance
Above us shall be
A beacon to God,
To love, and loyalty.

Totally Committed — Who? — “The sturdy dreamers answered, To the death we follow Thee.”

“Lord we are able” — Who would say that knowing what we know today?

It is not that they were not sincere, but that they were unable, as are we!  Peter learned that when he stepped outside of the boat and began walking.  As he saw and felt the water and the waves, he began sinking.  What happened?  He lost his spirit of total commitment!  Like we would have!  Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!

While a righteous and desirable goal, that goal is unreachable this side of heaven, even with those who walked with Christ for three years on earth and witnessed what we ourselves wish we could have seen with our eyes. [3]. It implies the possibility of total sanctification on this side of glory.

While there will be areas that we may claim to be totally committed, there will always be areas that we are not.  Even in the areas in which we believe we are totally committed, given the right circumstances, we will fail, as did the disciples.  He that thinketh he standeth, take heed!

To hold that up as an attainable goal is not only unrealistic but unbiblical and perhaps even dangerous. [4]. We believe that the Scriptures teach progressive sanctification and another day and another place of final glorification.

More, More About Jesus! — THAT is the realistic, biblical, attainable, and righteous aim of God’s people!

“Total Commitment” is a leaky boat that some do not even personally recognize they themselves are in.  Some actually believe and/or preach as if their boat has no leaks!  It leaks as they preach!

The truth is,
all boats are leaky boats!

As previously stated, there is a theological-ideology that promotes such an unbiblical and damaging vantage to God’s people.  It is centered on an ideological framework that marks men like John Mac Arthur (Lordship Salvation), John Piper [5], Dr. John Street [6], and the new Calvinistic movement. [5]

It is unhealthy to preach glibly about being total commitment and thereby leave the impression that such is an attainable goal this side of glorification.  It is destructive, not productive! To speak about total commitment in one area of life, no less in all of life, is hurtful, not helpful!

  • better
  • greater
  • improving
  • growing
  • put off / put on
  • crucifying the old man
  • confession / repentance
  • reaching forward to the goal
  • that I might obtain
  • put my body under subjection
  • stronger
  • striving
  • race with patience
  • add to your faith
  • more faithful
  • MORE

. . . . . are the words that capture the Christian life.

“Progressive Sanctification” — That has been the historic position of Bible-believing Christianity!

If you want people to feel down and discouraged – ride that horse you think is a thoroughbred.  I say it’s a nag, and it will leave people far short (guilty and dispirited ) of where they could and should be in their Christian life!

1. https://www.songlyrics.com/savannah-ellis/more-about-jesus-lyrics/

2. https://www.growingchristians.org/devotions/total-commitment/
https://unlockingthebible.org/lifekey/a-totally-exclusive-commitment/

Total Commitment


https://thebiblechristian.com/?p=1454
https://www.bibleoutlines.com/blog/luke-923-27-the-total-commitment-involved-in-discipleship

What is Total Commitment?


https://gewatkins.net/examples-of-commitment-in-the-bible-a-study-on-pauls-commitment/

3. Even after the resurrection, they struggled with boldness, with total commitment (Acts 4:29)!  Peter struggled with hypocrisy out of fear (Galatians 2).

4. Who Is John Piper, by Barnabas Piper

5. Listen to these words!
John Piper: “My life’s commitment is to talk about the Bible in such a way that fake Christians feel fake — so that they can be saved.”

Is that really our “life’s commitment” as pastors? Our life’s commitment as pastors is far broader than that singular goal!  Nevertheless, Piper and other pastors have that as their goal as well, and those who listen will see that it is low-hanging fruit, week after week.

Genuine Christians also end up feeling fake when it is this kind of “all-or-nothing” kind of Christianity that people must measure up to in order for them to believe they are saved.  No surprise when people lose their children to this kind of false standard of sanctification!  Ask Barnabas Piper!

John Piper: “I am part of the New Calvinism, and feel a fatherly responsibility to continually speak into it dimensions of truth that I think it needs to hear. As a part of the New Calvinism, I have a debt to pay to Westminster Seminary and the lineage of Reformed theology that you represent. There would be no New Calvinism without you.” — John Piper
–https://reformedforum.org/john-pipers-twelve-features-new-calvinism/

6. John Street heads up the counseling ministry of GCC and Master’s Seminary.  It is the same theological-ideology that is reflected in the third counseling video cited in this link.  Street expects a 4-year-old girl, who is being sexually assaulted to come to the place in her life where she understands that what has happened is from the hand of God — Glenda’s Story.  He makes the argument based on Psalm 119 — It is good that I have been afflicted.  He also makes his argument from the life of Joseph, who was hated by his brothers and sold into bondage, as if that is to even be compared to being sexually raped as a 4-year-old.

David’s “affliction” was not the sexual trauma experienced by a child, but exactly what the word “affliction” means in the context of Psalm 119 — to be humbled, put down, or distressed.  God did not afflict Glenda, as God personally and directly afflicted David out of His faithfulness (Psalm 119:75).  If Psalm 119 applies to Glenda, then God would then be the author of terrible wickedness!

I am certain that Joseph did not start out where he ended.  Joseph ended with – “God meant it for good.”  I am certain that Joseph had his good days and his bad days, and over time, he had more good days than bad.

None of God’s people jump to spiritual maturity, but we get there over time and through continual and continued spiritual growth!

John Mac Arthur & John Street: There is a theological-ideology that underpins it!

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There is a theological-ideology that underpins the lack of sensibility, love, care, and concern for people who are indeed the recipients of wrong-doing, mistreatment, abuse, and injustice.

A 4 year old girl was sexually molested by her father — repeatedly.  In that situation, John Street [1] invokes Pslam 119:17 —  “It was good that I have been afflicted that I might learn thy statutes..”

If you believe that no one would take such a position or make such a case, read the transcript in its context, or watch the presentation with the link provided.

It is a theological-ideology that twists the nature and purpose of suffering and argues for patience under trials, since it all works out for your good and God’s glory!

You can easily grasp the theological-ideology from John Street’s seminar session on church counseling!

You may not want to read or listen to John Street.
It is repulsive!

Here is the transcript of John Street, session 3 . . . .  and the youtube LINK

even in the midst of their trial to be the kind of person that God wants them to be

Jesus Christ did not come to help us escape all the hardships of life

it is through those hardships that we actually learn to obey we learn to remain true we learn that he

has greater purposes and we learn his faithfulness through all those

hardships now that’s hard and in most abuse counseling you don’t hear that because

most abuse counselors will be very quick to get that person to escape

and not teach them god’s faithfulness or the importance of their faithfulness

in counseling or in in living out uh Christianity even in the midst of

severe affliction so it’s important that we work with that

um and we and it’s important that they understand that

take your bible for a moment let’s go over I think this is best illustrated probably in psalm 119

and you know every time I go to this particular Psalm Psalm 119

um and read these verses over again I’m really convicted by them because of my own sinful human nature

and depravity um but here the psalmist says

uh before I was afflicted I went astray but now in verse 67 but now i obey thy word

notice that verse 67 psalm 1 1967 before I was afflicted I went astray but now I obey their word

could it be that part of this affliction is to help us to understand obedience you know it’s easy to obey god when

things are going smooth right that’s very easy but it’s very very difficult to obey God when things are

going against us when affliction is coming our direction that’s very difficult and immediately

right after that in verse 68 he says thou art good and thou dost

good now within the context here he’s talking about affliction being a part of the very plan of God for our lives

sometimes and and even in the midst of that we’ve got to realize that God is good

and he does good when you listen to some Christians pray and you and they pray and they say oh oh god you

are you are just so good oftentimes I think what they really mean by that is oh you’ve given me so many

things that I enjoy in life and you’re just so good well if God were to take away all

those things and replace all those things that you enjoy in life with affliction would he still be good

absolutely he would be but I’m not sure that’s the way a lot of Christians would view it

here the psalmist is saying in the midst of his affliction he’s able to look and say God you are

good that’s not wishful thinking that is what the psalmist really

believes and you doest good you only do good teach me thy statutes

he says then you skip down to verse 71 he says it was good for me that I was

afflicted that I may learn thy statutes it was good that I was afflicted yeah

and in fact our english translates at the hebrew tense here as a past tense I was

when in reality it’s actually the the hebrew can also be i am present tense it was good for me

that i am afflicted this is a present tense reality that’s going on all right that i may learn your statutes

um are you able to say that is the person that you’re counseling in this particular abuse

situation are they able to look to god and say it was good for me that i went through

this that was good for me that is often difficult

there’s a story that I’m aware of of a young lady in fact it’s written it’s entitled Glenda’s story

and it’s about affliction by um about a young girl who later on grew up

to be a woman got married but when she was young girl her mother hated her

wanted to put her to death her sister despised her her father when she was a baby left and

her mother remarried a stepfather and the mother being a severe drunkard

the stepfather couldn’t hardly put up with her and ended up sleeping with Glenda from

the time that she was four years of age and because there was no sexual fulfillment with the step with the

mother the stepfather ended up finding a sexual satisfaction with this young girl for several years she’s hated by her mom

hated by her sister her mom’s a drunk her stepfather is sexually abusing her

you can imagine the kind of life that this girl grew up in and even in the midst of this in her inner biography of her life

she admits to the fact that I as i look back now I realize that even as a young

girl i had sinful tendencies and propensities even in the midst of what was happening

to me now you don’t hear that in a lot of abuse literature all right what you hear is uh you’re a

victim this is a horrible thing that’s going and certainly this girl did not bring anything upon herself at all

but at the same time she realized the depravity of her own heart when going through this

and her own depravity in response to this and eventually the story goes in her

life that a group from a Christian college ended up or actually was a neighborhood

church with her it was a group from a neighborhood church that ended up leading her the lord

and she later on as she grew up became a registered nurse and and went on and married a man and they

had a wonderful family what normal people would have been affected or marred by that supposedly

for the rest of their life they this would have been a life-defining tragedy that occurred to them

with Glenda that wasn’t true because she handled those thoughts biblically she realized the onset her own

sinfulness as a result of this and she realized that God intended it for good

there’s another story

a book that’s written called dory the girl that nobody loved by dory van stone uh

her pastor uh Lutzer their moody church wrote the

introduction to the particular book but there’s a story of a girl who was from the time she was a little child was sent to an orphanage

she was horribly abused beaten severely and cruelly by the orphanage director eventually later on went on

to a foster home was sexually abused and terribly beaten in several different foster homes came back to the orphanage and it was

her story where a group from a Christian college came in she came to Christ as a result of that

and eventually she married a Christian guy and they went off into the mission field and she talked about how she could look

back on her life and see that it was through all of that even abuse during early childhood that god

was preparing her for the rigors of mission field and that it was nothing for her it was wonderful i mean you know it’s

not like she enjoyed pain i don’t want to give you that impression at all but compared to the other women who were her age who were having problems on the

mission field she had no problems you know I mean this is nothing compared to what i grew up with

what she was enduring and she and her husband went to a remote tribe in new guinea

and served very faithfully there for years until her husband passed away

well i mean this is what we’re talking about here it’s good for me that i was afflicted that i may learn by statutes

and then you skip down and you take a look at verse 75 uh he says i know and and the the hebrew

word here is uh for knowledge is I experientially know

I experientially know o lord that thy judgments are righteous and

that in faithfulness thou has afflicted me

I experientially know that now we have a tendency to think that God is being unfaithful when he’s afflicting us

but the psalmist had the right view of god that god is being faithful in his affliction

wow

now you may think well maybe the the psalmist at this particular point

deserved what he was going through maybe it’s the type of affliction that he brought it upon himself because he

was misbehaving in some way or sinning in some way well that’s not true because you skip down to verse

78 and he says may the arrogant be ashamed for they subvert me with a lie

what’s implied there is the suffering that he’s going through is unjust suffering unjust abuse

1. John Street heads up the counseling program at GCC and Master’s Seminary.

I remember talking to a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  As most realize, the Jehovah’s Witnesses will not serve in the armed forces, give allegiance to the United States flag, or be involved in law enforcement.  In our talk, I asked him what he would do if someone broke into their home and was attacking his wife or his daughter — assaulting them physically or sexually.  His answer was — “I would pray.”

My response to him was . . . .

If you are saying that you represent what the Scriptures teach as the righteous and proscriptive will of God, as found in the Bible, then I have good reason to not believe anything you say as being biblical.  If you can so twist the Scriptures to allow for that kind of response — “I would pray” —  then you have the ability to twist Scripture to mean anything!

I remember talking to an individual who was a pastor/Bible teacher/reformed theologian/and-or Calvinist who repeated that God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him. . . . .
[You can finish it!]

There Is An Ideology Behind The Scenes That Feeds This Kind Of Thinking!

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A Shocking Disclosure Of What Passes For Biblical Counseling! [1]

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

The article, the supportive materials, and the video of Dr. Street’s teachings
will leave you aghast!

What is often left unaddressed is what fuels this type of so-called “biblical” counseling mentality!

As you read and listen, you can only ask — How does this go unchallenged?

It is unchallenged and allowed to survive because of a shared ideological-theological mentality.  Those who live in the same camp actually listen and nob approvingly!

Instead of saying . . .

  • “Are you really serious?
  • “You truly believe that what you are saying is biblical?”
  • “Where in the world do you see that approach in the Scriptures?”

. . . . it goes unchallenged — until it is seen in its actual outworking in real-life (i.e. Eileen Gray [1]).

It is no surprise that men like John MacArthur, allow such positions to be held and taught at GCC,  Master’s Seminary, and their graduate counseling program.  There is a theological ideology that props up such thinking!

At least two tenets of that theological ideology involve the . . .

#1) Margalizing Human Instrumentality: God’s ends include the means.  We are called on to pray for those who are without Christ, live a godly life before them, and speak the Gospel.  All those are part of God’s means for seeing one come to Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit.  God has not only ordained the end, but He has ordained the means.

The Devil tempted Jesus to jump off the Temple pinnacle, and trust God that the angels would uphold Him.

the pinnacle of the temple . . .
And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the temple,
and said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down from hence:
For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee:
And in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

Luke 4:9-12

The simple answer was that the Lord God would take care of His Son and one of the ways that the Father does that is by not jumping!  The means is common sense, don’t force the Lord to use the supernatural when He has already ordained the natural as the ordinary means and method of operation!

Likewise, there is a way that the Lord uses to protect a wife or a husband from abuse, danger, or even the possibility of bodily injury or death — “run” “flee” “hide” et al.

That is what David did as he dealt with King Saul.  There was a period of time that he sought to act wisely and during which he was also willing to determine, with the help of Jonathan, if his relationship with King Saul could be salvaged, but in the end, he ran and hid!

#2) Twisting God’s Sovereignty: The previous point is connected to this. God’s sovereignty does not preclude human instrumentality.  The Lord’s sovereignty is not meant to encourage purposeful endangerment.  The Lord is sovereign, but I am still going to the doctor, getting immunized against tetanus, and leaving a foreign country when the circumstances dictate danger for my wife, children, and even myself as it becomes necessary and clear!

God is sovereign, but that is no reason to be stupid!

^

What is the theological ideology behind such teaching and preaching?  At best, a twisting of Calvinism, at worse, the donning of Calvinistic glasses that can no longer discern biblical sanity from incredulous nonsense! [2]

Hundreds of pastors and counselors listened to Dr. Street, without any significant challenge to such an approach!  How anyone can read and listen to what Dr. John Street proposes and argues, without questioning the thinking that underlies such thinking, is beyond belief!

^

1. https://julieroys.com/head-counseling-john-macarthur-school-wife-endure-abuse/?mc_cid=32ca3ab5b6&mc_eid=846862a5e0

–https://julieroys.com/macarthur-shamed-excommunicated-mother-take-back-child-abuser/

2. One source of such a baffling counseling perspective is John Piper who has been preaching and teaching this same approach for decades!

At least that was his position until his son was remarried after his divorce.

Like I said . . . “until it is seen in its actual outworking in real-life,” until it is on our doorstep and we are forced to examine what we actually taught as biblical!

I rather doubt that John Piper believed/believes, — at least until then — that God was glorified by the divorce and remarriage of his son, and his presence and support at the ceremony.

I do not disagree that any father should be there, as was John Piper, for his son’s remarriage, if there is going to be any kind of helpful relationship between his son and new daughter-in-law!

The point is that John Piper’s viewpoints on marriage and divorce, on the rightfulness of remaining in marriage while suffering emotionally, spiritually, and physically, and his years of encouraging people to stay and not separate or divorce is seriously in error, biblically absent, and impractical dangerous.

His position changed from that held in 1989 and up till 2014.

Barnabas and Lauren were married on July 24, 2020,

— https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/to-a-spouse-considering-divorce

March Madness: With A Different Take!

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The World Has Gone Mad

 

The Church Has Gone Mad

While the final game was last night, there were games throughout the month of March into April.  One could make the argument, but it is a fairly weak argument, that church youth groups planned nothing for the final game because it was a school night, and the game began at 9. I understand the rationale that may be proffered.

However, do we actually believe that many teens were not staying up to watch the game?  Yes, yes — having an event at the church or a home would have added another half hour or more to the event, parents would have had to pick up their kids, and . . . . and . . . . . 

No, I don’t buy into it all because there are ways to do something if we want to do it bad enough

  • How about three-four-five area venues? 
  • How about a zoom party with food delivered to homes via Doordash? 
  • How about a roving youth pastor(s)/ leaders who “makes it and takes it” to selected homes based on a drawing?
  • How about t-shirts for the winners of a contest?
  • How about a 6 pm shootout at the church 
    (sorry, just off-the-cuff ideas, literally!)

How about this past Saturday evening for the final four? 

How about any or every weekend playoff for the National Championship?

Friday, March 18
Saturday, March 19
Sunday, March 20 
Friday, March 25
Saturday, March 26
Sunday, March 27
Saturday, April 2 

All had games early enough to plan a youth group event around — “We will be up, watching the game.  Come on over to our house, or the church, and watch it with us.  Come when you can, and leaven when you must.  Does anyone need a ride?”

I would suggest that “March Madness” is not just about Basketball, but it is about ministry madness! 

Where are the ministries and local churches that are taking advantage of an opportunity to meet new people, strengthen relationships, and seize the opportunity to minister in wholesome ways? 

What has happened to

  • “that all means I might win some” 
  • approaching ministry like Paul at Mars Hill
  • living a missional life
  • “as you go into all the world”
  • commitment to evangelism
  • selflessness with our time and resources
  • seizing the opportunities, for the days are evil
  • working hard in ministry (Proverbs — the sluggard)
  • et al.

Something has changed when it comes to ministries, local church leadership expectations, and youth group pastors!  I remember the days when we have 100-150 kids during March Madness, packed out the youth building, gave away sneakers, replica jerseys, and gifts.  Church referees officiated basketball games before the playoff game, and then came to watch, and more!

This is certain — Most teens are going somewhere during these events, during Spring break, Thanksgiving break, over Christmas, on Friday- Saturday evenings, and/or on many a summer day.  If it is not something planned and promoted by the church, it will be that which I planned and promoted by the world!

The world is not as mad as the local church!  If you doubt that, listen to the Lord’s parable!

“And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: 
for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.

The children of the light, those who can see with greater clarity and vision lack the heart and drive to seize the opportunity the world will grab every time! 

And then we talk about where the world is headed, how the world has gone mad!  

No, where is the church’s trajectory!

The lack of vision, creativity, passion, and selflessness in ministry is
March
MADDNESS!

  • Madness Vectors by Vecteezy

 

 

 

 

 

 

Many Are Coming To Realize How True This Is!

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I think I heard this same assessment somewhere else. . . . recently!

Gavin Adams:

“A Disruption in the Making

This problem isn’t pandemically induced, either. This disruption has been building for years and years. Church problems are societal and generational, not viral. In 2016, 17, 18, and 19, most churches felt the results of the growing disruption. Still, they made no significant ministry model changes because, for the most part, they were paying their bills. I hate that this is true, but churches tend to resist change until the money is gone. And by then, it’s usually too late.

Financially, many churches thrived during the pandemic, hence the lack of ministry model change progress. Sure, everyone broadcasted or posted something online for a few months, but the dedication to new models and strategies was halfhearted. Most churches simply got by until people could come back. Why? Because they could pay their bills.

You’ve no doubt noticed one more thing: Plenty of your church people aren’t coming back. “

√ The problem is RELATIONAL!  God’s people are not appreciated, respected, cared for, and/or valued!

√ And where and when that most often occurs, it is theologically-ideologically driven.

√ There is a theological ideology that drives that dismissive spirit within the church.

Who Is John Piper – By Barnabas Piper

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“Barnabas Piper:”

Barnabas Piper is one of Dr. John Piper’s two sons. His interview with RNS speaks loudly about what went wrong in the Piper household, and apparently, a lot went wrong with both Barnabas and his brother Abraham.[1] [2] [3]

Religious New Service [interview]: What is one thing people would be shocked to learn about the Piper household?

Barnabas Piper: Depends on who you ask. Those who are huge fans might be surprised to know that our family has a lot of tensions and quirks. We have dysfunction and conflict. We don’t always get along very well. It’s not the idyllic repository of peace and knowledge they might have painted a picture of in their heads.

Much more has already been written about all that has taken place in the Piper home. It’s not a pretty story, and I have little to add other than to highlight two insightful and often overlooked comments made by Barnabas Piper. One involves theology, and the other revolves around child-rearing.

#1) Theological

Religious New Service: What is one thing people would be shocked to learn about the Piper household?

Barnabas Piper: Depends on who you ask. Those who are huge fans might be surprised to know that our family has a lot of tensions and quirks. We have dysfunction and conflict. We don’t always get along very well. It’s not the idyllic repository of peace and knowledge they might have painted a picture of in their heads.

Religious New Service: A while back, your dad rather publicly enacted church discipline on your brother, and even excommunicated him from the church. Did you support this at the time?

Barnabas Piper: I understood. “Support” might be a bit too strong because it was too sad to be supportive of. My brother at that time was not a believer, by his own admission. So it was a case of removal from church membership after years of trying to restore him. Also to say my dad did the discipline isn’t quite fair. It was a decision by a board of elders. In all, I understood why it happened based on the church’s membership standards, but I always felt the sense that it had to do with the “manage your household” criteria out of 1 Timothy too. And that made it feel like something unique to a family in our position.

^

It was both comments — “at that time was not a believer . . . . trying to restore him,” that came across so strange. Barnabas is speaking about his brother’s behavior as a “young man.” Abraham’s ex-communication took place at the age of 19. Now, Abraham was either a believer or not a believer at a point in time. [4] He was either a rebellious believer at the age of 19 or he was never an actual believer in the atoning work of Christ. He was either a professor of saving faith, or a possessor of saving faith at the age of 19. Therefore, Barnabas seems to be saying that “at that time” when he was 19, he was not a believer.

However, you don’t “restore” someone who was never a believer. “After years of trying to restore him” implies that he was a believer and that he needed to begin living as a believer.

“After years of trying to restore him” is an odd way of speaking about salvation or coming to Christ. But it is not an odd way for some who hold to the theological ideology of Dr. John Piper — “Calvinism.”

It is one thing to say some only profess Christ, and later come to the realization they never were actually believers in the work of Christ for them on Calvary. That is not “restore.” That is putting one’s faith in the work of Christ and being “born-again.” for one’s salvation. The wording used by Barnabas does not fit that scenario.

There have been numerous articles on whether a “5-point Calvinist” can actually hold to the doctrine of eternal security. Merely google the numerous articles — “Calvinism Eternal Security” – which address this issue. There is a reason for the endless list of articles that appear — the Calvinistic teaching of “The Perseverance of the Saints.” [6] [7]

Barnabas Piper clearly understands and reflects his father’s position and teaching about Saving Grace – or not so saving Grace! [8]

^

#2) Child-Rearing

Religious New Service: What was the biggest negative you experienced growing up in the Piper household? . . . 

Barnabas Piper: The biggest negative was not connecting with God in a personal way. My dad’s view of, and relationship with, God is so big and so powerful that it looked like the only way to come to God. But it didn’t work for me. It wasn’t until I was out of college and things kind of fell apart for me that I encountered God’s grace and the person of Jesus in a profound way on my own.

What Barnabas Piper states about his rebellion against his parents and home life is instructive! It highlights at least one of the causes accounting for what is sometimes seen by members of a local church.

As stated by Barnabas Piper, some pastors “lose their children” because of their theological ideology. Some pastors see life and living through “Calvinist Glasses” that allow for the possibility of constructing an unreachable high and holy God. The message sent and received is that if a believer loves God anything less than they do, anything less than total commitment, there can be no relationship with Him. No matter what your age, situation, background, growth, the period in life they found Christ, or lifelong experiences — if you don’t desperately love Jesus for all that He is — AND NOW —  you have woefully fallen short of what it means to be a Christian — and you may not even be saved!

With that approach, the average “Joe” just can never measure up. The choices are – love God desperately and be satisfied in Him alone, or fly coach, be second class —at best — maybe you are not a Christian at all. There is little to no room for real struggle, ups and downs, less than “all our hearts.” It is all or nothing!

There is little room for progressive sanctification — experiencing great success in one area and significant struggles in another, periods of dryness and periods of great communion, times of severe struggle and times of great victory, for periods of great service and periods of hindered service, et al.

^

While I stated the other revolves around child-rearing, it also revolves around preaching and teaching. The impact of what Barnabas Piper describes is not only about him personally, but it goes well beyond the walls of his home.

When a pastor, such as John Piper, infuses this type of thinking in his home, be assured it is also taught in the local church setting. As people pick up on this “pastoral home tone,” it infects other families with that same all-or-nothing level of Christian living!

Insecurities and doubts intrude after a sermon and throughout the weeks that follow. Those sitting under a pastor’s ministry began to absorb the same tone and attitude. They may begin to wonder why they feel so different about their relationship with Christ. No longer is our understanding about our relationship with Christ as Dane Ortlund [7] so warmly states . . . . .

“[Justification] is the most counterintuitive aspect of Christianity, that we are declared right with God not once we begin to get our act together but once we collapse into honest acknowledgement that we never will.”

“Intercession is the constant hitting ‘refresh’ of our justification in the court of heaven.”

“Christ turns the Father’s eyes to his own righteousness…to avert his gaze from our sins.”

“Christ continues to intercede on our behalf in heaven because we continue to fail here in earth. He does not forgive us through his work on the cross and then hope we make it the rest of the way.”

“Our prayer life stinks most of the time. But what if you heard Jesus praying aloud for you in the next room? Few things would calm us more deeply.”

~ “Gentle And Lowly” Chapter 8

Why? Because a God who is unreachable and may no longer really like us anymore, no less love us, is the tone of sermon after sermon. The spirit felt is that maybe we can never attain and be totally committed as we sincerely pursue — and as some claim, they themselves have attained, from the pulpit!

P.S.

Barnabas repeatedly cites how many PKs he has spoken with around the country. He speaks of how many PKs have fallen away, and how many live their lives for Him. Whether Barnabas Piper’s experience accurately reflects the PK world, I have no way to assess it. While I have seen PKs rebel against the home life of their parents, my experience says that it is not as typical as Barnabas Piper would like to suggest and thereby increase his comfortability with his own response.

Ruth and I raised four PKs. I made it clear to our family that I would leave the ministry before watching any of our children rebel against all we believe and I preach. If I can’t sell a love for the Lord at home, then I will not sell it to others.

I want to say THANK YOU to the hundreds of PKs who were examples in the church to other families, fellow teens, and their brothers and sisters. Thank you for being than youthful example, and surely for those and others who struggled in the arena, fought the good fight (and it is a good fight), and were not bitter, but enjoyed the ministry, along with mom and dad! 

A special thanks to our four PKs! 

When mom and I die, we are leaving behind four more soldiers to take our place, and 13 engaged or in training should our Lord tarry!

♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦♦

1. https://faithit.com/marriage-is-over-barnabas-piper/

2. http://thewartburgwatch.com/2018/11/19/barnabas-piper-pushes-back-at-john-piper-on-divorce-and-pastor-david-derksen-writes-a-grace-filled-book-on-divorce-and-infidelity/

3. https://churchleaders.com/news/394762-not-desiring-god-john-pipers-son-criticizes-his-upbringing-to-925k-tiktok-followers.html

4. Becoming a believer takes place at a point in time. That is why it is called “born-again,” compared to marriage/wedding, spoken of as “whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved,” and illustrated by the thief on the cross — “the guy on the middle cross said I can come.” [5]. We are then called on as believers to live out that new birth, that union with Christ, our salvation, and the declaration that nothing can now separate us from the love of God which is found iin Christ Jesus.

5. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xk9wgJBoEd8

6. There are many who are “Calvinistic” in that they question one or two of the five points — the “L” and the “P” of T-U-L-I-P. They do not hold to or significantly divert on the “Limited Atonement” and “Perseverance of the Saints.”

7. Those who are “5-Point Calvinists” in the full sense hold to Calvin’s understanding of the doctrines of grace. Likewise, their preaching reflects the tone and spirit of Calvinism. There is a repeated emphasis on the possibility of not really being a Christian and even the hint that you may have lost your position in Christ. I say hint, because with some, the sermon is fogged up with affirmations that they are not saying what they are saying — They are not saying you can lose your salvation, but it sure sounds like that is what they are saying!

Dane Ortlund’s book “Gentle and Lowly “is so popular because it is such a contrast to such preaching found across America’s pulpit today!

8. If you want to see the double talk, reconcile these statements . . . .

“It follows from what was just said that the people of God WILL persevere to the end and not be lost. The foreknown are predestined, the predestined are called, the called are justified, and the justified are glorified. No one is lost from this group. To belong to this people is to be eternally secure.”

“Our faith must endure to the end if we are to be saved. . . . Obedience, evidencing inner renewal from God, is necessary for final salvation. . . .There is a falling away of some believers, but if it persists, it shows that their faith was not genuine and they were not born of God. . . . The fact that such a thing is possible is precisely why the ministry of the Word in every local church must contain many admonitions to the church members to persevere in faith and not be entangled in those things which could possibly strangle them and result in their condemnation. God justifies us on the first genuine act of saving faith, but in doing so he has a view to all subsequent acts of faith contained, as it were, like a seed in that first act.”

Link: To the full PDF by John Piper On Perseverance of the Saints

Hillsong: Take A Page Out Of The RZIM Playbook!

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A three-part documentary on a ministry that fuelled the revolution in church music across the nation.

Some warned about it, but few took heed.[1]

I would suggest that they just close it down! 
Take a page out of the RZIM playbook.

1. https://www.christianpost.com/news/hillsong-pastors-claim-they-warned-brian-houston-about-carl-lentz.html– https://hillsongchurchwatch.com/2015/01/31/why-hillsong-music-is-dangerous-to-sing-in-your-church/

— https://hillsongchurchwatch.com/2014/12/19/houstons-2014-god-given-vision-part-1-new-grace-scrutinised/

— https://www.christianpost.com/news/hillsong-pastors-claim-they-warned-brian-houston-about-carl-lentz.html