| Editor: David E Marlett Th.D. | |
| January 17, 2001 | Vol II #4 |
"Statesmen...may plan and speculate for Liberty, but it is religion and morality alone, which can establish the principles upon which Freedom can securely stand." --John Adams
***
"Being a lover of freedom, when the [Nazi] revolution came, I looked to the universities to defend it, knowing that they had always boasted of their devotion to the cause of truth; but no, the universities were immediately silenced. Then I looked to the great editors of the newspapers, whose flaming editorials in days gone had proclaimed their love of freedom; but they, like the universities, were silenced in a few short weeks.... Only the Church stood squarely across the path of Hitler's campaign for suppressing the truth. I never had any special interest in the Church before, but now I feel a great affection and admiration for it because the Church alone has had the courage and persistence to stand for intellectual and moral freedom. I am forced to confess that what I once despised I now praise unreservedly."--Albert Einstein
By Pastor Steve Mays, Faith Baptist Church, Laurens, SC
Our Lord commanded us to take the Gospel to every Creature. Every Independent Baptist Church I've ever been a member of, or preached in, or for that matter, even visited, has had an organized world missions program to carry out this command. I've tried with the help of the Lord to make the programs I've personally been involved with grow and go forward. Every single year that I have been saved, I have participated in a Missions Conference. I have given to missions. I have visited several mission fields. With God as my witness, I believe I can honestly say, "I LOVE MISSIONS". I feel it is necessary to preface my article with these remarks because the rest of what I will write will no doubt, cause some to wonder.
For years I've heard how there is a shortage of missionaries. Now after thousands of calls and letters of introduction I can't help but wonder if we haven't got a glut of missionaries or at least of people calling themselves missionaries. For some time I've been disturbed at what gets called a missionary.
What is a missionary? I was taught that it is someone crossing a cultural barrier to start an indigenous church? Now it seems that a missionary is anyone that wants local churches to provide them with monetary support. At a pastors fellowship last May one good pastor described how he started his church a quarter of a century ago. He told about the struggle of working a job and making visits and building a church. He added that if he were starting now, he could call himself a missionary to his city and go on deputation for a year or two then start. I think it has become a joke what we call missions. Many of the evangelists are calling themselves "Missionaries-Evangelist" now. Why? Because having the tag 'missionary' means it's ok to have fifty churches send you monthly support regardless of the fact that you do no real missions work. In allowing almost anyone to call themselves a missionary, real missionaries are suffering. Fewer dollars are available for them because of these hobos. I think its high time we define what a missionary is and begin making application with the definition. I for one am sick of the gospel bums that want to sponge off of missions programs of our churches. What does God think about all this? Can anyone find the call to be a mission executive? Isn't that what missions directors are? What would Judson or Carey or Livingston think of missions in 2001?
Sadly, missionary work has become a catchall. Everyone has become a missionary. Men who preach on missions are missionaries. Evangelists who don't have enough meetings or support are missionaries. I think I'll be a missionary-pastor to my congregation. Do you need some support? Hyphenate your title and got get some. We can all be missionaries. Why not?
[ BroMays@FaithBaptistTrumpet.org ]
Friday Church News Notes, January 12, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
Polling by the Barna Research Group in the year 2000 demonstrated that the term "born again" is almost meaningless in America. A majority of people claim to be born again, but 44% of these same people say they don't believe in absolute moral truth and not one of those who were polled said that being a committed follower of Jesus Christ was their main goal in life. Barna surveys also found that two-thirds of teenagers do not believe in Satan or the Holy Spirit, while half of them believe that Jesus sinned. These facts remind us of the necessity of being careful and thorough in preaching the Gospel. It is wrong to assume that people in North America today have a basic understanding of biblical truth. Even those who are familiar with basic Bible terms often have an unscriptural definition of them. To the average person, the statement "I am a sinner" does not mean that I have wickedly and willfully broken God's laws and am therefore justly subject to His wrath. It means, rather, that I have some vague imperfections, that I lack self esteem, or some such other unscriptural concept. In light of these facts, we see the danger of the presto-bango, want-to-go-to-heaven-then-pray-this-prayer method of soul winning. We must be diligent to preach the Gospel in obedience to Christ's command, but we must do it carefully and scripturally.
One word comes to mind for me. You might say, "Sin, Death, Cross, Hell, Lost." These are sad words, and I'm sure you could make the point. I considered these words but none brought the sorrow and unspeakable frustration that this word does.
The saddest word in the Bible is "Almost".
Paul had just preached the Gospel to Agrippa, telling him of Christ death on the cross and how he could receive forgiveness of sins and eternal life by faith in Christ.
(Acts 26:28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.)
Almost... What does that mean? I believe, but I'm too busy? I believe, but my position in life is worth too much? I believe, but I just can't accept it now?
Almost persuaded to receive the gift of salvation, but lost.
How close do people come and reject Christ at the last. Satan will give any reason, any excuse, to keep a lost soul from escaping hell and gaining the salvation that Jesus paid for with His blood.
Felix did something very similar.
(Acts 24:24 ...when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee.)
Felix trembled, on the verge of salvation but it wasn't convenient. Not now, I have things I want to do first? Not now, My friends and family won't understand? Not now, I'm to busy to think about eternity?
Christ didn't say, "Not now." when it was time for him to die for your sins. I didn't say, "Not now." When God prompted my heart to write this. Please, don't say, "when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee." That convenient season may never come.
God says:
(2 Corinthians 6:2 ...behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)
It's a choice you have to make.
(Joshua 24:15 And if it seem evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.)
Don't sit on the fence, waiting for something to knock you one way or the other.
(Romans 14:5 ...Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.)
This is the convenient time, this is the day to be more than almost persuaded. Choose today, to receive Christ. If you have received him, know this.
You are a Child of God.
(John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:)
An your place is reserved, secured by God.
(1 Peter 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.)
Paul Payton
http://www.JustBible.com/
Friday Church News Notes, January 12, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
Sporadic persecution against churches in India continues unabated. On November 26, an evangelical church in Gujarat state was attacked by 200 extremist Hindus armed with swords and knives. They destroyed church property and placed idols in the sanctuary.
Friday Church News Notes, January 12, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
While President Bill Clinton was visiting Vietnam in November, police raided the Sunday service of Grace Church, confiscating Bibles and threatening the congregants. Pastor Nguyen Hein told the press, "Although they always said that Vietnam has religious freedom, we are always in persecution."
Friday Church News Notes, January 12, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
Totalitarian regimes are attempting to control access to the Internet. In the spring of 2000, the military rulers of Myanmar (formerly Burma) banned the Internet and imposed a seven to fifteen year prison term for unauthorized ownership of a modem. In January 2000, communist China tightened control of the Internet by banning the publication of all unapproved news content on web sites. The only news information allowed in China is that provided by the state media.
Friday Church News Notes, January 12, 2001 (David W. Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061-0368, fbns@wayoflife.org)
Norwegian missionary Trond Berg has been in jail in Nepal for more than two months. He was arrested on October 29 in a small town in eastern Nepal after being attacked by a mob of Hindus led by a man who claimed Berg's sending organization promised to give him $1,000 if he would convert to Christianity. Berg was severely beaten by the fanatical mob and could not lie down for several days after his arrest. Berg claims that the accusation is a lie and that false evidence was brought against him at a preliminary hearing. In December he was moved 300 miles to the Central Prison in Kathmandu, the capital city, and is awaiting trial. Attempts by the Norwegian embassy to get him out on bail have been unsuccessful. If convicted of proselytizing, he could face up to six years in jail. Berg's wife and their three children have returned to Norway to the "nondenominational" Living Word Church they represent.
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