Are You Running from Your Book?

There is a lot of misunderstanding and misinformation about “fundamentalists” these days. For one thing, Islamic Fundamentalists are frequently being called “extremists” by authorities and in the news, because they have returned to a literal interpretation or practice of their holy book, the Quran. I have done a little study on that book, and while it is often self-contradictory, it does seem that the terrorists are practicing their book fairly accurately. This would make them very much “Muslim” even if they are being left behind by some of the modern moderates who use the name.

Webster’s definition of “fundamentalism” is what I have in mind, which is, “a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles.” For Muslims those principles are found in the Quran even though their imams are given wide latitude in interpretation. For Orthodox Jews their basic principles are found in the Talmud and the Torah, and for Biblical Fundamentalists, the first ones to get the name, it is the 66 books of the Bible.

Those of us who are still willing to be identified as “Biblical Fundamentalists” are doing our best to practice the Bible carefully. By the way, the Bible says that we are to love our enemies, do good to them, and pray for them. The sixth commandment forbids us from murder, and Jesus said that harboring hatred in our hearts is just the same. If in this matter, or in any other, we stray from the practice of God’s Word, we are failing fundamentalists! Sadly the failures are the ones who get the most press and taint popular impressions of those believers who are still committed to God’s authority over man’s.

Once in a while it seems that it is necessary for all of us to be reminded of where we find our best and most basic guidance. That is true especially (but not only) in matters of faith. Many of us come from a background where we, our parents, or grandparents, were guided by a particular book, and for many Americans that book was the Bible. Today, though, there are fewer people all the time who believe that there is any book which has authority over them personally.

Some mainline churches openly place church tradition equal to or above the Bible. Those traditions are often based on rulings or findings of church leaders at some point in time, but they amount to the authority of men. Our church is “traditional” in many ways, but we do not believe that any tradition should be kept or begun if it is not in keeping with Scripture. That belief comes from the Bible itself. We recognize that churches will have different ways of doing things, but all of us will answer to God measured by the absolute standard which is His Word.

Cults are known for following books written by their leaders, or just a particular contemporary personality. Sometimes they include the Bible but re-interpret it or add other books to “explain” it authoritatively. Followers of any faith make a choice, and it should be a conscious and well-informed choice to place their hope and trust in a certain authority. For myself, I cannot imagine placing my trust in anything less which would be anything other than the Bible. Neither can I imagine giving my children or other Christians counsel and direction from any other, inferior, source. This is not just the way my parents lived, the Bible has given me every reason to trust it and no reason to doubt it.

Referring to Christ, the Bible says, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” Acts 4:12. “His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him that hath called us to glory and virtue:” II Peter 1:3. It seems that the Bible is not a “good book” if it is lying to us (or deceiving people who take it naturally and literally) on this or any matter. I believe that there is one true God, and that the Bible is truly God’s Word.

Perhaps this article will spark some good discussion, and I hope it is discussion related to the most important issues of life today and eternal. Our church is a group of people who love to help others find the truth about God’s way of salvation and abundant life, please contact us if you need a Bible or have questions about it, www.southportbaptistchurch.com is a good place to start, or “southport baptist church” on FB. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” John 14:6.

If you know of someone in particular need of solid spiritual footing, or if you believe as I do that there are many people who would benefit from a return to basic understanding and practice of faith, please share this message with them. There is a temptation for Biblical Fundamentalists to duck and cover while under fire in this day, but it is our responsibility to spread the good Word!

"It Is Finished"

“It Is Finished”

G.S. Jones

Clearly Jesus is done with His mission of salvation, you might say that the gift is wrapped and sitting under the tree...  Even though, as our High Priest, He now is sitting down on His throne in Heaven, He still has more that He wants to do with us.  Let me encourage you today to determine not to be a half-way, Sunday morning, good enough, Christian!  Let your life and service reflect what Jesus did for you on the cross, because, “It is finished!”  Someday soon, years or minutes from now, He will take our lives into His hands and say “It is finished” to us!

The apostle Paul was not a perfect man by any means, but the Lord allowed him to testify in Scripture that when he came to the end of his life he had done what the Lord asked him to do.  II Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.   I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:  Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”  How will we know we are finished?  When the Lord crowns our service for Him!

Created to glorify

Saved to sanctify

Molded to identify

Elect but not elite

We will only be complete

On the day we lay our crowns at His feet.

No Mark

No Mark

G. S. Jones  6/19/14

Lord, let me be seen to fail,
     Before the world to flounder, and need,
Let me lose at everything,
     So long as in Your eyes I succeed.

Lord, I’ll do without respect,
     A name, station, or reputation,
Without fame, without demand,
     Popularity, or the world’s admiration.

Lord, if it be Your will
     I shall serve alone,
By men unloved, unsought,
     Unheard, unknown.

Lord, let every word of mine
     Die without a quote,
Fade and be forgotten,
     Like the dust in which You wrote.

Lord, I need no mark of my time,
            When I finished or begun,
No recognition in this life,
            Only, Your “Well done.”

Forsaking Forgetfulness

Why is it that people are so prone to forget what others have done for them?  Perhaps you have not thought of it that way, but you must acknowledge that there is a sad lack of gratefulness in our world.  It may be a modern problem, but as I look at Scripture I see that it was an ancient one as well.  Here are a few suggestions for the causes of our sinful forgetfulness:

Pride is a common root of sin, we need to be wary of how it crops up and causes trouble in many different ways.  Gratitude is an admission that what we have was or at least helped along by someone else.  If think about it we realize that we are not at all self-sufficient.  That is especially true in the most important things like our country, our freedoms and our salvation.  We ought to remember and never forget that these are precious gifts.  God is to be praised for them and some men also ought to be remembered and thanked.

a gift, a sacrifice

Busyness may be an excuse for a lot of things (which means that it is usually a lie) but it is a real reason for our lack of thoughtfulness.  We endeavor to fill every moment with some kind of activity, entertainment, or noise, and the world has a constant stream of things to keep us from having a quiet moment.  Have you noticed that our society thinks it is a high tribute to have a minute of silence for someone?  That may be the right idea, but it is hardly enough time for a true memorial.  We need to schedule quiet times into every day and make them a priority or we will never be thoughtful people!

Inadequacy is a complicated way of describing our simplicity.  Some of us may not know how to express our gratitude well, so we fail to do it at all!  I have enjoyed visiting memorials to Washington, Jefferson, and Lincoln and being reminded of their gratefulness for their God and country.  The best examples, though, are found in the Psalms.  Read and study them, or even pray them back to God if you are at a loss for words.  Forsake forgetfulness and be grateful!

Keeping On       

I’ve dreamed many a dream that never came true

         I’ve seen them vanish at dawn

But I've realized enough of my dreams, thank God,

         To make me want to dream on.

I’ve prayed many prayers when no answer came

         Though I waited patient and long.

But answers have come to enough of my prayers

         To make me want to keep praying on.

I’ve trusted many a friend that failed

         And left me to weep alone

But I’ve found enough of my friends to be true

         To make me keep trusting on.

I’ve sown much seed that fell by the way

         For the birds to feed upon,

But I’ve held enough golden sheaves in my hands

         To make me keep sowing on.

I’ve drained the cup of disappointment and pain,

         And gone many days without a song.

But I’ve sipped enough nectar from the roses of life,

         To make me want to live on!

- anonymous                

So Near to a Mother’s Heart

By G.S. Jones

Who knows us best,
Who ever loved us more,
Than our Creator, Savior,
      and Lord?

What is His plan for us,
Long ago made, now being unfurled,
To bring us to life,
      and into this world?

Could He have been more tender
In giving us a start,
By placing us so near
      to a mother’s heart?

Could there be on the Earth
A better glimpse of above
Than what the Father has given us,
      in a mother’s love?

"Inter-Denominational" Oxymoron?

Two very different approaches to the value of being identified as a “Baptist” ministry have come to my attention recently.  The particulars are not important, my opinions about the two institutions are of little interest to anyone, but there is a principle involved which is worthy of some careful thought.  One church involved has the kind of name which could just as well be a group of dentists, their name says nothing about their identity, so I dug a little deeper and found that they are an “inter-denominational” church.  The founder came from a Baptist school which says that it has not changed its doctrine over the years, but has not hesitated to be associated with this mystery church.

Let me be positive in describing the importance that I see in being identified by what I believe and where I stand.  My favorite illustration for the importance of denominations is found in our pockets.  Our money has specific “denominations” which represent specific values.  What if nickels dimes and quarters could be used interchangeably?  That would result in chaos and an inevitable loss of value.  There is nothing magical about the names of church denominations, some put more emphasis on baptism than “Baptists” do.  However, the names of churches have come to represent values, not just traditions, but differences in doctrine.  There are plenty of churches which use the name “Baptist” that are nothing like my church, but I believe that mine holds to the historical Baptist values.  The other churches are free to change their name, and likely they will.

Some people confuse a denomination with a church hierarchy.  We believe that a New Testament church should be autonomous in every way.  We call ourselves “Independent Baptists” but the designation should be unnecessary because Baptists have always stood for autonomy even if there is some compromise on that value in the large conferences.

Back to my fellow alumni at the mystery church, I could understand if he saw the values of our denomination as being corrupted and the names having human rather than divine origin.  In that case, though I would disagree with him, I could see him calling his fellowship a “NONdenominational” church.  If language means anything then an Interdenominational church is a mixture, conglomeration, and certainly a compromise of the various church traditions, doctrines, and values.  Which ones do they mean to include?  Which do they mean to exclude, if any?  Why are they not telling folks which five or six or more denominations they like?  Why are they unwilling to be identified with something identifiable?  I call the term “Interdenominational” an oxymoron because it speaks of an indistinct distinction, a non-specific specification, an unidentified identity.

At the same time that I learned of the previous church, I heard about a well-established institution making a strong statement about its Baptist identity.  Many of the marketing types would say that this is a risk, but that school has a solid history of trusting God to provide for them, and He has a long history of meeting their needs and blessing them beyond expectation.

That institution stepped even further out onto the ledge when it went on to say that its Baptist identity was causing it to limit its associations.  Some would call this “second-degree separation.”  I will not try to exhaust that subject, but “second-degree separation” seems like another oxymoron because it refers to separating from people who are not separating from others.  If someone is not being obedient to the clear commands of Scripture to be separate (Romans 16:17, II Corinthians 6:17), my choice not to link my ministry with them should be first degree separation.

It takes great courage to stand one’s ground while the battlefront seems to be moving quickly past, and the danger of being outflanked and left with little or no earthly support is very real.  In my view it is worthwhile to make that stand, even while I recognize my brother’s liberty to retreat.  I choose to stand even with a denominational name, because I believe that it expresses my values.  Above all else I stand because I want my ministry to mean something and, ultimately, to count for something.