Ancient Paths Blog

When It's Ok Not To Enjoy Church

There's a prevailing - and I think unfounded - assumption among American Christians that church should be enjoyable.  Most people approach church involvement as if they were about to attend a dinner theater production: we dress up; we leave in time so as not to be late; we expect to be greeted at the door and escorted to our choice of seating; we hope the music is to our taste and that the pastor's speaking is winsome, engaging, and delightful.  Then, of course, on the way home we review the whole as if we were critics about to write a column for the "Arts & Entertainment" section of the paper.  I say this perspective is unfounded and want to suggest that, sometimes, not enjoying church is an expression of genuine Christian faith.

From the Creed - and in Jesus Christ...

Creation and Redemption

The second and largest section of the Apostle's Creed begins with a shift in focus to the very heart of the Christian faith - the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In this transition from creation - "maker of heaven and earth" - to the Son the creed reflects a biblical flow of thought

Who Do You Say Jesus Is?

The question of who is Jesus is one that Jesus Himself asked!  "Who do men say that I am?" He asked His disciples one day.  Why He would wonder about the publics' understanding of His identity shows that it is of vital importance.  In fact your very life - your eternal destiny - hinges on how you answer.  Who do you say He is?

From the Creed - Maker of Heaven and Earth...

A Biblical Ecology

In my last post "From the Creed," Creation: A Philosophy You Can Live With, I made the point that only the Christian confession of God as Creator provided a philosophy of the natural world that one could live with.  It provided escape from the Gnostic dilemma of physical self-destruction on the one hand or the gnawing guilt of hypocrisy on the other.  A similar tension regarding the natural world exists today; and only the fact that God is Creator provides a view of the natural world that works on the pragmatic level.

From the Creed - Maker of Heaven and Earth...

Creation - A Philosophy You Can Live With

The last thing said of God the Father is He is "Maker of heaven and earth..." - a fact plainly taught in scripture when we read in Genesis 1:1, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth..."

This was a significant statement in the early years of the Church given the teachings of Gnosticism prevalent at the time. 

From the Creed - Almighty...

That God is Father and every good notion of fatherhood flows out of Him provides the setting for the next statement of the creed: that God is almighty.  There is wisdom in the sequence of descriptions of God here.

From the Creed - the Father...

A Timely Word For Today

Not only does our confession of God as Father speak against the cold and unfeeling monotheism of Islam but it also addresses an alarming need in American society: the plight of fatherlessness.

David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values describes our situation this way,

Are You Qualified, Brethren?!

"Are you qualified brethren?  Let me hear you say it?"

"Uh huh... Amen... Preach it now..."

"I say, Have you been qualified by the Savior?!"

"Amen preacher!  We're qualified!"

From the Creed - the Father...

A Relational God

Another implication of our confession of God as Father is that He is not solitary.  This is an extension of the thought about Father being a relational concept.  But we need to be clear about this.  All the descriptive names and titles for God - Creator, Sustainer, Protector, Provider, Redeemer, etc. - pertain to His relationship with creation, with us.  But His designation as Father pertains to His relationship with the only begotten Son.

Why Baptists Should Insist on Immersion

Preface

The position elaborated in my last post - that I'm a Baptist who would not insist on immersion in every case - almost cost me my ordination.  The committee, composed of a retired Bethel theologian, a denominational executive, and a prominent conference pastor, was in no mood for heresy; and it was only my assurance that I would not trumpet this at my review that they allowed me into the club.  (What red flags are posted to my dossier at headquarters I can only guess.  It would explain why I'm never invited to speak or take part in committees...).  Having shared this, it may come as a relief to some that I now present the case as to why Baptists should insist on immersion.