Redrawing The Lines

If you haven't figured it out by now, I am an idealist. I believe that culture of family and church in most evangelical circles is not what it should be. I believe that we have allowed satan to erase the lines that help direct us to what God desires for our churches and families. What is very humbling is that in times past, I have been used by satan to do this work of erasing. I suppose that is why I am so passionate about making sure that the lines get redrawn. The days ahead are way too precious to waste wondering where to go for lack of direction.

So what are these lines? Well, Let me suggest 4 that we would do well to redraw in our churches and families:

1. Line One: Daily Spiritual Warfare - Ask any of my brothers in ministry and they will tell you that I am a broken record when it comes to this one. It's hard to re-draw a line that you don't realize has been erased. Doing spiritual warfare daily helps you to see what the enemy is doing and to find the help that the Lord is so ready to offer. As a resource to help you this area, download this very simple daily reminder: Daily Preparation For Spiritual Warfare

2. Line Two: Family Worship - This line is sorely lacking and any improvement in this area would help tremendously. It's not rocket science, its just families at least once a week turning off the TV and opening God's Word together. If you don't know where to start Providence Baptist Church has a 7 year Bible Reading Plan that you can easily download and follow.

3. Line Three: Churches That Equip Families - Churches have to re-focus their mission on equipping families instead of replacing them. We need churches and families that cooperate and help one another. This is the dynamic coming together of Deuteronomy 32:46-47 and Acts 2:42. This may sound simple, but its not. It's radical and its going to take some radical pastors to redraw this line. A good reference for this line is a book entitled reThink by: Steve Wright.

4. Line Four: The Preaching and Teaching of the Gospel - This line above all others is the one that satan fears the most. It is the only means of changing the hearts and minds of people. No lasting change can occur except through the teaching of the simple gospel. In fact the gospel is so simple, that until we are willing to simplify our lives to get down to its level we will continue to pass it by on the way to our next Bible study. If you need some encouragement in this area, let me recommend a book entitled The Bruised Reed by: Richard Sibbes.

Okay, so I am an idealist. I believe that someone is going to read this and take up their chalk to start redrawing with me. If you do, leave a comment and let me know. It's always easier when you have a helping hand.

The Greatest Barrier To Church Reform

As our families go, so go our churches. I am convinced of this more than ever. To deny this fact is not only silly, it's irresponsible. Yet, even this week, I was confronted by the thoughts of a youth ministry educator who patently denied that equipping parents is the corrective for students dropping out of churches. When I hear such sentiments it really clarifies why so many of our young student ministry leaders are poorly informed. I, however, will save that discussion for a later time.

I think I have come up with a theory why its is so difficult for churches to change the way they approach student ministry, and ministry in general for that matter. The reason is not Biblical per se, it is cultural. We have allowed the culture to shape how we do family and church so much that things that were expected in previous generations are foreign and novel to us today. For instance, consider the practice of family worship.

There was a time when it would have been an embarrassment for a father to forsake the regular reading of God's word, praying, and worshipping in his home with his family. Somewhere along the line a lie crept into the minds of our parents (dad's in particular) that they didn't need to do that because, after all, that was what they paid the youth pastor to do. This led to youth pastors having to take on responsibilities that were never meant to be theirs and has landed us right in the middle of the youth drop-out crisis we are in today. The hard part of fixing this problem is that for reform to occur, it is going to require changing the cultural mindset of both families and pastors and its going to have to start with pastors. This is where it gets tricky.

I admire the honesty and integrity of men who follow God's call to be pastors. It's not a job for the faint of heart. Yet, if they are not willing to change the culture of their own homes, then there is no point expecting the youth pastors and much less the parents in their churches to do the same. At some point, some radical is going to have to stand in his pulpit and say, "I don't care if it costs me my ministry and my livelihood, I am going to put my family first and take the leadership for seeing my children are discipled." This is not easy.

Please keep in mind, I am not saying that churches should do away with student ministry. Far from it. I think the need for student ministry is greater than ever. The focus of student ministry, however, has to be equipping parents to do what God has called them to do and then coming alongside them to hold them accountable and to help them. This is also not easy.

Yes, I believe the greatest barrier to real church reform is a wrong cultural idea of what families and churches are supposed to be like. If somehow this stony ground can be plowed, then maybe we can begin to see God sow some seeds that will result in a great spiritual harvest. What is at stake is not trivial it is a matter of life and death at least that was Moses opinion...

[Moses] said to them, "Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. They are not just idle words for you—they are your life."
- Deuteronomy 32:46-47a

A Must Read For Men In Ministry

Coming soon to a bookstore near you is a must read for all men in ministry. The book is entitled, A Practical Guide For Life And Ministry. The author, David Horner, brings to this work 30 years of ministry experience. The things that he shares in this book reflect the character and integrity of a man who has overcome the pitfalls of vocational ministry by resting completely in God's sovereign grace. I say this without hesitation because this author is also my pastor.

I have sat under David's teaching for over 10 years. His clarity of focus, his passion for the Gospel and for the sufficiency of Scripture, and his love for his family has been a model that has inspired me greatly. God has his hand on David's ministry and you only stand to benefit from reading and applying the wisdom that you will find in this book.

A Practical Guide For Life And Ministry will be available in early March. A brief synopsis of the book can be found at the Baker Books website. It is also available for pre-order from Amazon. More information can be found about David and his teaching ministry at the Providence Baptist Church website.

Weekend Update: Riding The Coat-tails Of Frodo and Harry

It's that time of year again. The supermarkets are filling their aisles with stands for fruitcake ingredients. Shopping malls are interviewing male retirees with white beards and jolly dispositions, and Hollywood is distributing several silver screen gems to get you to part with your entertainment dollar. Here at Two Institutions, we like to be out front giving you a heads-up on what to expect before you pack-up the family and head to the discount matinee.

Due out in December is a film billed as a "narniaesque" children's adventure entitled "The Golden Compass". It is based on a series of children's books written by Phillip Pullman who was described by New Yorker journalist Laura Miller as "one of England's most outspoken atheists." The film has already garnered criticism from our Catholic allies in the culture war. Bill Donahue, president of the watchdog group The Catholic League has produced a video entitled "The Golden Compass Agenda Unmasked" which can be found at their website by clicking here.

I have had no opportunity to view the film, but I have watched its pre-release trailer which can be found by clicking here. From a philosophical standpoint, I have some serious concerns about this one especially as it seems to be pitting enligtened witches against an evil repressive "church-like" enemy called the "magisterium". Of course, the depiction of people having "daemon" spirit guides who appear to them as cute, cuddly animals is also very troubling. Whether this move should be viewed by your family is up to you to decide but at least be aware that this movie, from what I've seen, looks a lot more like Mordor than the Shire.

Mea Culpa: Clarity Matters

There is an old saying that goes, "If you don't like the message, don't shoot the messenger." Well in this case, this messenger deserves to be shot a couple of times. I'm afraid that in my eagerness to follow a lead, I have overstepped my bounds. Having thus confessed, let me make something crystal clear.

This blog and its authors do not agree with the particulars of how Dr. Patterson handled the firing of Dr. Sherri Klouda.

What we have a real problem with are the un-Christian tactics that many have resorted to because of this action. Further, we affirm the Biblical teaching of proper male leadership in both the home and the church. That's all we are saying. I apologize if I confused anyone in this regard. So I invoke the words of good old Alexander Pope...

To err is human; to forgive, divine.

The Path To Sexual "Tolerance".

What precedes sexual tolerance? How does a church, or a family for that matter, go from healthy sexual expression of its members to tolerance of whatever sexual practice society embraces? This question was dealt with poignantly in the latest missive on Dr. Al Mohler's blog. Ever the vigilant religious watchdog, Dr. Mohler gets right to the heart of the problem...

"This process does not start with issues of sexuality, of course. Long before these churches faced controversies over sexuality, they had already allowed the doctrinal foundations of their churches to be eroded and compromised.

In other words, a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on doctrine preceded a "don't ask, don't tell" policy on matters of sexuality."

Now lets take his statements to their logical conclusion. If doctrinal compromise precedes sexual tolerance then logically to avoid sexual tolerance a church or a family should teach its members sound doctrine. So, how good of a job are evangelical families and churches doing at teaching its members sound doctrine. To quote a famous Eight-Ball, "Outlook not so good."

You can't have sound doctrine without practicing the self discipline of Bible study and teaching. This responsibility doesn't just rest on the shoulder of pastors either. Parents you have a command to teach your children sound doctrine regardless of the support of a pastor. This is especially true of fathers. When Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:1-3, he was speaking to a pastor, but aren't fathers the shepherds of their flock at home? Do fathers have any less of a responsibility to follow these words in their homes than pastors do in their churches?

The path to "sexual tolerance" beings at home when fathers abrogate their calling. The path to "sexual tolerance" also begins in the pulpit when a pastor cares more about the opinions of the folks in the pew than the Father in heaven. I hope that before we get too far down the path to "sexual tolerance" that God will ignite a fire in our hearts and we will erect the much needed road-block of sound doctrinal teaching.

Churches Live or Die By The Family

It may not come as a shock to many of you, but according to Professor W. Bradford Wilcox at the University of Virginia the success of the church is inseparably tied to the success of the traditional family. The research of Professor Wilcox was featured in Dr. Al Mohler's blog today. The entry can be found by clicking here.

According to Professor Wilcox,

Currently, men are 57 percent less likely to attend church regularly if they are not married with children, compared to men who are married with children. Women are 41 percent less likely to attend church regularly if they are single and childless. Marriage does more than bind a man to one woman; it also ties a man to a local congregation.

If anything this research should be a wake-up call for the church. What are we doing to create an environment that builds strong families. When I examine the weekly schedules of some churches, I have to scratch my head and just wonder what are they thinking. I will never understand how we have been sold on the bill of goods that in order to minister to families we have to separate them, throw activities at them, and condition students to depend on pastors instead of parents for discipleship. Shameful.

I hope that you will take the opportunity to read this article and think about the ramifications. Look at how your church treats its families. Especially take note of how your church treats the families of its pastors. If we wonder why our families in the pews are broken its because the families of many of our pastors are just as broken. We expect our pastors to live at church and minister to our families to the neglect of their own. Pastors, if you are reading this, don't let another week slip by without challenging your families to return to a biblical model. Set the example by arranging your schedule to center around your family first. The family you save may be your own and according to Dr. Mohler and Professor Wilcox you may be saving your church to boot.

Some Numbers To Think About

I know that I’ve railed against the use of numbers in evaluating ministry. I stand by what I’ve said and I still believe that many pastors are practicing a cult of numbers. Just listen to a couple of pastors talk and time them to see how long it takes for one to ask the other, “Whatcha running?” There are some numbers, however, that are useful in measuring your success. In fact, if these numbers are bad then you can mark it down that you are headed for a train-wreck in your ministry.

The numbers that I am referring to are numbers like:

The number of hours you spend each week loving your wife as Christ loved the church

The number of hours of undivided attention you give your children each week

The number of times you sit the family down together for a meal and talk and have fun

The number of times a week you and your family spend time reading the Bible and praying together

The number of times you pray for your wife and children each week

It is tragic to see a pastor grow a ministry where scores of people are filling the pews only to find out that his family has been ignored and neglected. Yet for all the warnings, I see and hear of pastors every week who know their staff and their deacons better than they know their children. God have mercy!

Not everyone is intended to have children. In fact some people choose not to. That decision is between them and the Lord. If, however, you have chosen to have children, and make no mistake they are a blessing (Psalm 127:4-5). Then you had better love on them, disciple them (Deuteronomy 6:4-9), and raise them to honor God (Proverbs 22:6). Sometimes this means doing things you don’t like to do or want to do. Some times it may mean going home instead of going on visitation, or not having a lock-in with your youth so that you can stay up late with your children instead.

All of you know of the great work of Dr. James Dobson. His ministry spans generations and reaches around the globe. What you might not be aware of is how he almost never came to be. When he was a junior in high school, his dad was an evangelist whose star was on the rise. His dad would spend days on the road speaking at churches, conferences, and other public gatherings. One day he got a letter from his wife telling him that James Jr. was out of control. She told him that he had become too much for her to handle and that he needed to come home right away. James Sr. had a choice to make. In a matter of days, he came home, he put his house up for sale, and he moved his family to a town where he took a church so that he could be at home to see his son through the last two years of high school.

After James Jr. graduated, James Sr. tried to pick up where he left off two years earlier. In that time many of the older pastors that were familiar with James Sr.’s ministry had retired. He received very few invitations to come and speak. The decision to come home had cost him his ministry but the result was a son who had straightened out his life and who would later start a ministry of his own called Focus On The Family. Do you think James Dobson Jr. may have been led to do this because of the example of his dad? Chew on that bone for a while.

You can do the math, but rest assured that when we stand before God He’s not going to ask us how many hours we spent at church this week.