Ah, my dear brethren! there are many that are deceived by this method of reasoning. They remain where their conscience tells them they ought not to be, because, they say, they are more useful than they would be if they went “without the camp.”  This is doing evil that good may come, and can never be tolerated by an enlightened conscience. If an act of sin would increase my usefulness tenfold, I have no right to do it; and if an act of righteousness would appear likely to destroy all my apparent usefulness, I am yet to do it. It is yours and mine to do the right though the heavens fall, and follow the command of Christ whatever the consequences may be. “That is strong meat,” do you say? Be strong men, then, and feed thereon … For right is right, since God is God/ And right the day must win/ To doubt would be disloyalty/ To falter would be sin.

My favorite part: “That is strong meat,” do you say? Be strong men, then, and feed thereon

What applications can think of this for this truth?

Source: DO RIGHT THOUGH THE HEAVENS FALL (Friday Church News Notes, August 5, 2011,www.wayoflife.org fbns@wayoflife.org, 866-295-4143)

A couple of events caused me to ask this question recently. First, I attended a conference where several flawed men were honored. This was even acknowledged immediately after the presentation. Next, I have been studying Christian history intensely over the past few months. Many men of the past who are honored probably wouldn’t receive an invitation to preach at my church if they ministered in this age.  Most leaders have had imperfections and faults, but we generally remember them based on their embrace of certain truths. So, does God honor flawed men?

Unequivocally, the answer is yes.

He even inducts them into the “hall of faith” and presumably showers them with eternal rewards. How do I know? Hebrews 11 mentions several examples of individuals who personify living by faith. There’s Noah who blighted his testimony forever with drunkenness. Next in the list is a habitual liar (Abraham). Jacob is a man who is perhaps better known for his scheming than his faith in God. Yet the worship offered at the end of his life draws God’s commendation. An angry man who committed murder is lifted up (Moses). Gideon temporarily was an idolater. David, a man after God’s own heart, was an adulterer and murderer. Many of these men had multiple wives.

If your church was going to make a hall of faith, would you like to see murderers, adulterers, and idolaters lifted up as heroes to your congregation? What does this example mean for us today?

1. It does not mean pastors who violate the qualifications in Scripture should be allowed to remain in their office.

OT heroes do not equal NT pastors. NT believers have clear guidelines in order to qualify for the office of pastor. Pastors who violate these make themselves ineligible for the position.

2. It does not mean unrepentant sinners should be embraced and honored.

The individuals mentioned  in Hebrews 11 did not persist in rebellion and unbelief. Members of the church who persist in sin are to be confronted and removed from fellowship; embracing the sinner runs contrary to God’s plan (1 Cor. 5).

3. It does mean God uses imperfect saints.

The imperfections of leaders will not cause everyone to embrace their faults. Great failures do not negate great faith. The frailty of men actually reveals the glory and majesty of Christ (1 Cor. 1:26-31). We must not be afraid to hold flawed men up as examples to others of great faith and victory.

4. It does mean we should deal graciously with imperfect saints.

When rejoicing over the triumphs of others and not their failures, we demonstrate love (1 Cor. 13:6) and God’s gracious spirit (Hebrews 11). The Holy Spirit didn’t even feel the need to qualify every statement about these flawed men with disclaimers about their failures.

None of this is to say God does not recognize and judge sin – ask the saints of Hebrews 11 and they will heartily agree that God is holy and despises sin. However, these truths do challenge my thinking.

I’d like to have your assistance. Could you comment on this article to help refine my thinking? Is there something obvious that I’m missing? What additional lessons can we take from God honoring flawed men? What warnings would you give?

Could you ever contemplate a pastor sending his latest converts off to another church or organization to have then discipled, grounded, and matured in the faith? Your response to that notion would surely be, “Never! That’s unthinkable … ridiculous!” Why is it, then, that pastors who (rightfully) see the discipling of new believers to be one of their primary duties will send those from their congregation whom God has called into the ministry to someone else for training — often to a place far away, and often with results that are less than satisfactory?

The responsibility for equipping men for the ministry rests scripturally and squarely upon every Bible-believing Baptist church, and upon those whom God has placed in leadership, the pastors. This fact is made clear from Ephesians 4:11,12 — “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” There is no other organization or individual — outside of a church of the Lord Jesus Christ — that has the Biblical mandate to engage in the training and preparing of men and women for the Lord’s work.

Among Bible-believing Baptists there is general agreement that the “Great Commission” of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,was given to His churches, and that this involves the evangelizing, baptizing, and discipling of individuals. It is also generally agreed that only New Testament (Baptist) churches have the scriptural authority to ordain God-called men as pastors — and to send out evangelists whose objective it is to establish other churches of like faith and order. This being the case, there really is NO Biblical basis or rationale for the training of such men to be received in any other setting or under any other authority than the institution the Lord established for that purpose.

From a SCRIPTURAL standpoint, a pastor must be “apt to teach” (1 Timothy 3:2). Each church is the “pillar and ground of the truth” (I Timothy 3:15), and its pastors and evangelists (missionaries) are charged with the responsibility “the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Timothy 2:2).

From a PRACTICAL standpoint, there is no better place for any man to learn firsthand the order, operation, and ethics essential to the leadership of a church than by being actually involved in one. There is no need to send your best workers away to be trained by others and serve in another church.

From a PERSONAL standpoint, a close working relationship with one’s own pastor(s)—rather than professional academics—allows tremendous opportunities for insights and evaluation not found in any other setting. Training a man is much more than lectures and book learning (as important as they are); it requires that a preacher share his heart, his vision, his burden, etc.,with the preachers-in-training God has given him (2 Timothy 3:10,11a).

The apostles and those that followed them continued the pattern established by our Lord in the training of His men. It must be the same pattern we endeavor to follow, by God’s grace, to equip the saints for the work of the ministry.

Christians reproduce Christians. Churches reproduce churches. Pastors reproduce pastors.

1. Apparatus SIL

The Apparatus SIL fonts were designed to provide most of the symbols needed to reproduce the textual apparatus found in major editions of Greek and Hebrew biblical texts. The font family consists of 4 weights: Regular, Italic, Bold and Bold Italic. It was designed for optimum clarity and compactness when printed at small point sizes.

2. League Gothic

This typeface is in the public domain. This font is a display sans-serif, available for free download and use in personal and commercial projects. Designed by The League Of Moveable Type.

3. Contra

This legible font family comes in 2 weights: Regular and Italic. It works best for headlines and in large sizes.

[via Smashing Magazine]

What fonts do you use most in church publications?

Why would I want to do that?

Good question. Mainly, I want to improve my writing skills. The discipline of writing regularly will help me. I also want to improve my communication skills. Tragically, it isn’t one of my strong suits; yet, I am eager to improve.

How will I improve?

By following a guide written by Darren Rowse entitled “31 Days to Build a Better Blog.” I purchased the ebook, but now I realize that you can obtain all of the information in the ebook for free on Darren’s website. I’m not doing this by myself; I’ll be joining with many others through the Christian Web Trends blog. I’m not very familiar with the author of that blog; in fact, the first post I read was about this challenge.

Day 1 – Create an “Elevator Pitch” for your blog

The first day’s assignment is to create an “elevator pitch” and I found it challenging. Mostly because this blog hasn’t really had any focus since it was started in January of 2007. In fact, it has even changed names. At the start it was entitled “Rediscover God’s Word” and did have a focus (blogging through the Bible), but that changed when I wanted to blog about more stuff – hence, the current name: Stuff I Like. So, here’s my new elevator pitch:

Here’s my short version (for the tagline in the site header):

musings on the Bible, ministry, and technology

And the long version (for the about page):

My name is Jack Lamb and I blog at “Stuff I Like”. My blog is a place for my thoughts on various things that I like. I am very passionate about knowing and worshiping my God so you will find posts on the Scripture, theology, and ministry. I also enjoy learning about and utilizing new technologies. You can follow me on Twitter for links and helpful quotes. There’s not alot of personal information here, but you can connect through Facebook if you’d like.

What do you think? Does this give you a clear idea of what to expect at my blog?

Many today reject the church as vital or even necessary for Christians. There are multitudes of people who consider TV, books, magazines, devotionals, or podcasts as their “church.” Is it possible to have a vibrant spiritual life and successfully nurture our relationship with God apart from a local church? Is it just tradition that tells us we much be a part of one? Is it possible to move closer to God and farther away from the church? Are there lots of alternatives to the church when it comes to our spiritual growth?

The answer to all of those questions, according to Scripture, is a resounding no! Far from being one of many options for the Christian, the church is the primary means through which God accomplishes His plan in the world. It is His instrument to evangelize the world and to sanctify those who are born into His family. Therefore God expects a commitment to the church from everyone who claims to know Him.

Key Verse:
1 Timothy 3:15 “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.”

It’s the House of God

The phrase “house of God” indicates that the church is God’s dwelling place or immediate family. Both meanings are applied to the church in Scripture, and both provide profound testimony to its divine origin and significance.

The Church is God’s Dwelling Place – 1 Corinthians 3:16-17; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Ephesians 2:19-22; Revelation 1:12-13, 16, 20
If we want to be where God is, we need to be in His church, for that is where he dwells. And the way we relate to Him is largely dependent upon the way we relate to His church, for it is the house He has built with His own hands (1 Peter 2:5).

The Church is God’s Family – 1 Timothy 3:4-5, 12
If Pastors and deacons need their households in order, how much more should God’s own household be in order! We need to be in His family if we want to consider Him our Father. With Paul’s words in mind, how could people call God their Father while refusing to be a part of His family? Yet that plain contradiction essentially describes the position of those who say they have faith and salvation apart from the church.

It’s the Church of the Living God

The church proceeded from God and belongs to God. He is the living God – the only true God; at all times, He is personally and actively involved in its operation and enterprises.

It’s the Pillar of Truth

Paul’s next descriptive name for the church—“pillar” –tells us that it actually holds up the truth. God’s truth doesn’t stand without the church. Of course, Jesus promised that His church will be a permanent institution (Matthew 16:18). Our relationship to God and His truth is in mortal danger if the church doesn’t occupy its intended place in our lives. To those who abandon the church, their faith has crumbled—because they have torn away the pillar that upholds the truth.

How does the church function as a pillar of truth?

• Revelation: God chose to reveal the truth of the New Testament in and through the church –Ephesians 3:8-11
• Preservation: God chose the church to recognize His words and preserve them for all generations
• Proclamation: God chose the church to proclaim the truth to the world—Matthew 28:18-20
• Administration: God chose the church to provide the structure and order He has devised for worship and growth—1 Timothy 3:15
• Protection: God chose the church to protect the truth from error—Romans 16:17; Titus 3:9-11; 2 John 9-11; 1 Corinthians 6:1-6; Matthew 18:15-18; 1 Corinthians 5; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-15

It’s the Ground of the Truth

Think of this as the foundation that the pillar rests upon. Paul wanted Timothy to know that the church is the one institution that God has promised to preserve throughout all time (Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 3:21).  God hasn’t given this promise to rescuing America from decline or parachurch ministries.

1. He knew he was called of God

Before you quickly move into a place of ministry, be sure God has called you and equipped you for the job. You may not think you can do it, and others may have their doubts; but if God calls you, have no fear: He will see you through.

2. He depended on prayer

The Book of Nehemiah starts and ends with prayer. And in between, Nehemiah oftens sends up quick prayers to heaven and asks for God’s help. “Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers,” said Phillips Brooks. “Pray for powers equal to your tasks.” One mark of true spiritual leaders is their honest acknowledgment of their own inadequacy and their humble trust in the power of God.

3. He had vision and saw the greatness of the work

No matter what God has called you to do, it’s a great work because it’s part of the building of His church; and that’s the greatest work in the world. If you lose the greatness of a vision, you will begin to cut corners in your work, stop making sacrifices, and start looking for something else to challenge you. Nehemiah realized that what he was doing was far bigger than simply repairing gates and rebuilding walls. He was serving the Lord God of heaven and getting the holy city ready for the coming of the Messiah!

4. He submitted to authority

The call of God is not an invitation to become independent and ignore authority. Nehemiah respected the king and submitted his plans to him for his approval before he went to Jerusalem. Even more, Nehemiah submitted to the authority of the Word of God. He invited Ezra to teach the Law to the people so that they too would obey the will of God. It is a basic rule of life that those who exercise authority must themselves be under authority. Nehemiah was a man who was dependable because he was accountable.

5. He was organized in his work

He planned his work and worked his plan, and God blessed him.

6. He was able to discern the tactics of the enemy

7. He worked hard

This is what Charles Spurgeon said to the ministerial students at his Pastors’ College in London: “Do not be afraid of hard work for Christ; a terrible reckoning awaits those who have an easy time in the ministry, but a great reward is in reserve for those who endure all things for the elect’s sake. You will not regret your poverty when Christ cometh and calleth His own servants to Him. It will be a sweet thing to have died at your post, not turning aside for wealth, or running from Dan to Beersheba to obtain a better salary, but stopping where your Lord bade you hold the fort” (An All Round Ministry, p. 197).

8. He lived an exemplary life

You have nothing to hide and nothing to fear. It is when people start to lead a double life that they get into trouble, for nobody can serve two masters. Hypocrisy leads to further deception, until the deceivers get caught in their own traps.

9. He sought to glorify God alone

I fear that the church today suffers from having too many celebrities and not enough servants. The praise too often goes to the workers and not to the Lord. Particularly at some religious conventions, there is so much praise given to men that the Lord is left out of the picture completely.

10. He had courage

There is no place for timidity in leadership. Once you know what God wants you to do, you must have the courage to step out and do it. You must be willing to take some risks and occasionally make some mistakes. You must be able to take criticism, be misunderstood, and even be slandered, without giving up.

11. He enlisted others to work

True leaders don’t try to do everything themselves. They not only enlist others, but they also create the kind of climate that enables others to become leaders as well. Real leaders aren’t afraid to surround themselves with people who can do some things better than they can. Leaders don’t feel intimidated by the excellence of others; in fact, they encourage it. Their job is to challenge others to do their best and help get the job done.

12. He was determined

Nehemiah was determined because the work he was doing was a great work and he was serving a great God. He was determined because the city was in great reproach, and he wanted it to bring great glory to God. He was determined because he was part of a great plan that God had for the world as He worked through the Jewish nation.

So, the next time you feel like quitting, remember Nehemiah and stay on the job until the work is finished to the glory of God.

Excerpted from:
Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Determined (Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books, 1996), 148–159.

According to John 15:19, the believer is IN the world, but ought not to be OF the world, because the Lord has chosen us OUT of the world. Separation does not mean we must move into a compound or hide from everyone who is unsaved! The Lord has set us free from our old masters (the world, the flesh, and the devil) and has given us the power to live a life of righteousness that honors and pleases Him. So why should we desire to remain attached to the world system from which we have been delivered? John commands us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world…” (1 John 2:15). The “world” is the ungodly world system in which we live. As citizens of heaven, we must not become attached to the things of the world nor gain affinity for the world’s ideas, philosophies, and programs that oppose God’s Word. John goes on to give three reasons for our separation from the world in 1 John 2:15-17.

Because of it’s Opposition to the Father

“…If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” Love for the world is incompatible with love for God. The world system is at war with God and with His followers (see John 15:18-20). “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.” (James 4:4) The Bible makes it clear that we cannot love the world system and simultaneously live for God. Scripture gives us many principles to discern what is worldly so that we can please God with our lives.

Because of it’s Offers

Verse 16 effectively describes the nature of the world’s offers: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” Peter clearly commands us to separate from the ways of the world which characterized our lives prior to salvation, “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:” (1 Peter 1:14).

Because of it’s Outcome

“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” The world is only temporary. The pleasures of sin are only for a season (see Hebrews 11:24-25). Our lives should reflect this spiritual priority of striving for eternal rewards.

Separation from False Teachers

Usually this area is the easiest for believers to be obedient. We automatically know not to invite the local Jehovah’s Witness leaders to speak for our revival meetings! Sometimes the right action is not so obvious. Consider the following key New Testament passages about false teaching.

2 Corinthians 6:14-18

All believers are commanded: “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.” Instead of coming into close partnerships with the lost, we are to “come out from among them” and be separate. Any religious or spiritual endeavor (worship, evangelism, prayer, etc.) with those who have rejected Biblical truth or who preach a false gospel is a direct violation of this Biblical commandment of separation. In 1 Corinthians 7:1, Paul tells us to cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh (carnal, physical sins) and also from all filthiness of the spirit (spiritual infidelity by uniting with unbelievers).

Ephesians 5:11

“And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” We must not only separate from unbelief, but we must also sound a warning to others who might subtly be drawn into the apostasy so prevalent today.

Romans 16:17

“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.” Notice that Bible doctrine is the dividing line. Those who do not teach true doctrine are to be “marked,” or noted, and “avoided.”

2 Timothy 3:1-5

Paul describes the actions and attitudes of evil men and false teachers and warns Timothy that even though they possess “a form of godliness,” they actually deny the power of God and the gospel message. The believer’s response to these proud, conceited apostates should be to “turn away” from them.

Galatians 1:6-10

All who preach a false gospel are under the curse of God, and believers are commanded to refrain from any fellowship with them. The very fact that they have perverted the true gospel means that believers are to “let them be accursed.” We are to separate from false teachers and their false teachings.

From the Apostle John

The entire first epistle of John informs believers that one of the primary ways they can abide in Christ is to watch out for false teachers and “try the spirits” to see whether or not they are truly of God (1 John 2:18-20; 4:1-5). In his second epistle, he commands us to separate from false teachers (2 John 7-11). Those who accommodated the false teachers were described as being “partakers” of their evil deeds. In the book of Revelation, John records Jesus Christ Himself commending several churches for separating from false teachers and rebuking several other churches for failing to separate from dangerous false doctrines (Revelation 2:1-3:22).

Separation from Brethren

We are living in an ecumenical age where all religions and branches of Christendom are coming together in religious unity. When Bible believers refuse to have any part with the World Council of Churches, or fellowship with non-Baptist religious groups, or even work together with other Baptists, they are often called “narrow-minded,” “unloving,” “extremists,” etc. Yet the Bible clearly states that we are to separate even from fellow brethren when they fail to heed and obey the Word of God.

The Problems

Some brethren embrace those who teach false doctrine. Others possess an affinity for the world and seek to employ ideas and philosophies of the world in their lives and ministries. Some actually embrace and teach false doctrine. Others repudiate certain Biblical doctrines such as separation from error and false teachers. In each case, the fellow believer is compromising the truth and failing to heed the Word of God. To separate does not mean to act in an unkind or unloving manner toward the offending brethren or to refuse to speak to them or have anything to do with them. Rather, it means we must not associate ourselves with their ministries or their ministry endeavors. We must make sure that others know we are not identified with the doctrine they teach or with the philosophy of ministry to which they subscribe.

The Principles

Paul commanded the Thessalonian believers to “withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly” (2 Thessalonians 3:6). How were these brethren walking disorderly? They were not obeying the tradition, that is, the words and inspired writings of the apostle Paul (2 Thessalonians 2:15). Paul writes, “And if any man obey not our word by his epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother” (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15). Those fellow believers who do not obey the Scriptures are to be marked and avoided (see Romans 16:17).

The Purposes

1. Maintenance of church purity. 1 Corinthians 5 presents a case-study. Paul charged them “not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or coveteous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one no not to eat” (1 Corinthians 5:11). Whether this individual is a sinning believer or an unsaved pretender, the command is the same – “purge out therefore the old leaven” (1 Corinthians 5:7), that is, separate from him. When such church discipline is not enforced, unconfessed and unforsaken sin in the fellowship will harm and corrupt others (1 Corinthians 5:5-7). God has ordained separation in order to stem the leavening, spreading influence of sin.

2. Restoration of a disobedient brother. Unless the errant believer is rebuked according to God’s Word, he might continue his sin indefinitely. Separation should make the disobedient brother “ashamed” (2 Thessalonians 3:14). He is not an enemy, nor should he be treated as such (2 Thessalonians 3:15. One purpose for our separation from him is to bring him to a place of repentance and restoration (see Galatians 6:1).

3. Reception of a full reward. Believers should obey God’s Word and separate from disobedient brethren in order to receive a “full reward” at the appearing of Jesus Christ (2 John 8; see also 2 Timothy 2:5). It is possible for a disobedient Christian to lose reward at the Judgment Seat of Christ due to his compromised fellowships while on earth (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; Revelation 3:11). Anytime a believer is identified with any religious activity that it is not true to God’s Word, he will meet with God’s disapproval.

4. Consistency in the midst of theological confusion. As the promoter of confusion about God’s Word, Satan is busy sowing falsehood in churches today. A separated believer can maintain a strong, consistent testimony in the midst of the confusion of our day. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Corinthians 15:33).

Glorify Jesus Christ

Because we are bought with the blood of Christ, we cannot do with our bodies as we please. We must be sure that everything we do glorifies God. Paul told the Corinthian believers that every human activity must be accomplished to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). The Christian is not a law unto himself, for he is owned by another. This principle is also certainly true concerning activities that occur in the local church. As members of Christ’s body, all our activities within our congregation must be holy and glorifying to Christ. We glorify Him through evangelism, study of the Word, prayer, singing, fellowship with other believers, and observing the ordinances.

Evangelize the Lost

In Luke 24:46-49, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit so they could obtain the power necessary to preach repentance and remission of sins among all nations. The disciples, who would be filled with the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, needed to understand that they were responsible for witnessing to others about Christ (Acts 1:8). The responsibility to preach the gospel to every person in the world belongs to the church (Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:18-20).

Instruct and Edify Believers

The role of the Pastor: In Acts 20:27-31, the apostle Paul told the Ephesian church leaders to “take heed…to all the flock…[and] feed the church of God.” Believers must be built up in the faith and instructed in the Word of God. The pastor must fulfill his God-given responsibility to watch, warn, and instruct his flock. Paul also told Timothy to “preach the Word” (2 Timothy 4:2). This preaching to believers was to involve reproof, rebuke, and exhortation. Jesus told Peter, “Feed my sheep” (John 21:5-17). Pastors must nourish God’s people. God has given us church leaders for a purpose, and that is to instruct and edify us according to the truth of God’s Word (Ephesians 4:11-15).

The role of every Member: While the pastor has a tremendous responsibility, all individuals in the church are responsible to edify one another as well. Fellow Christians are to build up one another through encouragement and by provoking “unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24-25). To the church in Rome, the apostle Paul wrote, “We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let every one of us please his neighbor for his good to edification” (Romans 15:1-2).

Observe the Ordinances

Baptism: The ordinance of baptism pictures the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the believer’s identification with Him as a part of His body (Romans 6:3-5; Acts 2:41-42).

The Lord’s Supper: This ordinance is a memorial, a reminder to the believer, of Christ’s sustitutionary death on Calvary’s cross and a reminder of Christ’s imminent return for His church (1 Corinthians 11:24-26). Only true believers should partake of the Lord’s Supper.