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DOES GOD CARE ABOUT NUMBERS

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By Ken Blue

Often we hear preachers, in their pious zeal, state that God does not care about numbers; He only cares about our spiritual condition. That is, God is more concerned about quality than He is quantity. Now, I agree that the last part of that statement is correct. God is more concerned about the spiritual condition of a church than He is about its attendance. However, I have observed that many pastors justify their lack of numerical growth by assuming their little group is ultra-spiritual.

If conditions are conducive in your location for growth, I doubt the health or spirituality of your church if you are not reaching the lost. A church is not spiritual because it is large or small. However, a small church that has no goals, plans, or desire to reach the lost is not spiritual. It is lazy. The way pastors justify their stagnation is by finding fault with those churches that are reaching the numbers. They suggest that these churches are not doing things God’s way; that is the reasons for the growth. The reasons given for their own lack of growth is; “we are doing things God’s way.”

God does care about numbers. John 3:16 says He loved the world enough to die for people. There is a book in the Bible called Numbers! God had the people numbered. The commission is to go to all the world and to every creature. In the parable of the great supper, God was upset that his house was not full. He re-commissioned His servant to get anyone who would come that His house might be filled. Also, He counted the sheep and noticed that one was missing. So, those pastors who are excusing their lack of outreach by pretending they would rather have a spiritual church, while criticizing growing churches, are hiding behind a spider web of hypocrisy.   

A wise pastor realizes that you don’t have to sacrifice spiritual maturity for outreach, nor do you sacrifice outreach for spiritual maturity. A healthy church will work to balance all that is required of the church. The church is commanded to reach the lost and get them into the church. It is commanded to mature the believers through sound doctrine and unity. Then, each believer is to be trained how to serve the Lord. This involves more than soul winning and tithing. Finally, the church should producing pastors and missionaries. You don’t drop or ignore any of these. Like the juggler, all four of these ministries must be in the air at all times.

A danger for all churches is that they turn inward and focus only on their little family. This may look good and feel good, but it is not good, nor a sign that your church is healthy or godly. God does care about numbers; numbers are people, and God wants your church to reach them and bring them into your church.

OPEN DOOR BAPTIST, PASTOR MURPHY, AND THE GRACE OF GOD DID IT AGAIN!

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By Ken Blue

Hey Pastor! Sunday, August 29th, Open Door Baptist had 2 professions of faith, 21 people joined the church, 14 baptisms, 27 visitors, 540 in attendance and 51 people to take the 101-401 disciple class! God continues to bless in an unusual way under the leadership of Pastor Murphy. This growth continued right through the summer months.

If you are tired of the same old negative hash, the axe grinding, the hobbyhorses, and the hairsplitting, you need to contact Pastor Murphy for some practical help on what they are doing to reach people and get them enrolled in their discipleship ministry.

Your church can grow if you have a vision, desire, and proper information on how to reach people. Someone has said, “Where there is no vision, the people perish, and where there are no people, the vision perishes.”

Pastor Murphy can be reached at: http://www.opendoorbaptist.com/index.asp.

DOING A WRONG THING RIGHT AND A RIGHT THING WRONG

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Wrong Things

By Ken Blue

The reader will notice that these two events stand out like bookends of all that transpired between I Samuel 6 and II Samuel 6. In first Samuel, the Philistines had defeated Israel and carried away the ark. The consequences of that event are in chapter six. Then, in II Samuel chapter 6, King David attempts to bring the ark to Jerusalem. What I want us to note the similarity of the two events, how each was exercised, and what the results were.

“And the men did so; and took two milch kine, and tied them to the cart, and shut up their calves at home:  And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart… And the kine took the straight way to the way of Bethshemesh, and went along the highway, lowing as they went, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left; and the lords of the Philistines went after them unto the border of Bethshemesh.” 1 Samuel 6:10-12.

“And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God… And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart… Uzzah put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.  And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.” 2 Samuel 6:2-7.

 The Philistines were the enemies of Israel and of God, but because of the wickedness of Israel, He allowed the Philistines to defeat them and carry away the ark. Defeat and servitude were the repeated history of Israel throughout much of the Old Testament.

The Philistines found that the presence of the ark was not a blessing to their land or their bodies; both were plagued. As a result, they acknowledged the greatness of the God and reasoned how they might stay the plague and get the ark back to Israel.

They decided an atonement of golden images should accompany the ark. To verify that the plagues were indeed from God, they would try an unquestionable test. They made a new cart and attached two cows that had baby calves. The calves were secured in stalls and the mother cows were sent down the road with the ark. If the cows left their calves behind and took the ark back, without drivers, then there would be no doubt that all was of the God of Israel.

Now, everything they were doing was wrong, but they were doing right! First of all, the ark was not to be in the possession of the Philistines. No other transportation was allowed other than the priest of Israel. But God, in His grace, not only allows them to return it on a cart, He permitted them to physically handle it when taking it from Israel and when returning it. In addition, the offerings to God were idols of gold! God accepted their efforts and healed them of their plagues.

This teaches us that we cannot pin down or patent how God is going to deal with the lost. In some cases, ignorance may be a blessing. They demonstrated more fear of God than wicked Israel.

On the other end of the story we find King David attempting to bring the ark up to Jerusalem, but his efforts are wrong. Once again we see a new cart made and pulled by two oxen. How the ark was moved to the cart we are not told, but someone had to lift it. Regardless, none of this was done the right way, and David knew it. A right thing, bringing the ark home,  was done the wrong way. To add to the lesson, the oxen shook the cart, and Uzzah put for his hand to steady it. God killed him!

[perfectpullquote align=”left” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The Christians responsibility is much greater than those of the world.[/perfectpullquote]

The lesson is this; “But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.” Luke 12:48. Israel had the Law of God and all the instructions concerning the handling and moving of the ark. “For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.” Romans 9:3-5. Therefore, the Philistines received few stripes compared to the judgments on Israel.

Christian, God expects very little from the world. They are ignorant and in darkness. But, you and I are children of Light, and our responsibility is much greater than theirs. The problems with Christianity are not the fault of the world. Most problems are rebellion, unbelief, and presumption of believers. Sometimes wrong things can be done in a right way, while the right things are done in a wrong way. Maybe we should evaluate our ministry and make sure we are doing the right things the right way.  

A BAPTIST BRIDE CHURCH; YOUR KIDDING ME

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By Ken Blue

It is amusing to watch Baptist Briders compass land and sea for any scrap of Baptist history to prove the only real church today is a local Baptist bride church, and that Jesus became a member of the Baptist church; which is His bride. Because of the great ministry of Charles Spurgeon, his name is often used to prop up Baptist bride teaching. However, Spurgeon would reject most of those who use him as their predecessor.

I have read much written by Mr. Spurgeon, and I would recommend his writings to all. We have sold many of his books in our bookstore over the years. I have no argument with Mr. Spurgeon. My complaint is with those who use his name to give authority to a false doctrine, while ignoring, or going completely counter to other things he believed and did.

For example, if you would like to see the wrath of the Brider; remove or leave the name Baptist off your church; Spurgeon did. The church he pastored for 38 years was The Metropolitan Tabernacle! Take the name Baptist off, and witness the sweet, sweet spirit fly out the window.

Also, Spurgeon followed John Calvin’s teaching of the TULIP. Spurgeon was a five point Calvinist. I am not sure most Briders would go so far as to preach that the non-elect were pre-destined to hell.

Baptist Briders pride themselves in their belief that they have maintained a true Baptist heritage since the first Baptist, John the Baptist. Do Baptist Briders have musical instruments in their churches? The early church did not, and all Christians opposed them for centuries.

Note again what Spurgeon said about musical instruments. “What a degradation to supplant the intelligent song of the whole congregation by the theatrical prettinesses of a quartette, the refined niceties of a choir, or the blowing off of wind from inanimate bellows and pipes! We might as well pray by machinery as praise by it” (Commentary on Psalm 42:4).

On another Psalm, Spurgeon said, “Praise the Lord with harp.’ Men need all the help they can get to stir them up to praise. This is the lesson to be gathered from the use of musical instruments under the old dispensation. Israel was at school, and used childish things to help her to learn; but in these days, when Jesus gives us spiritual manhood, we can make melody without strings and pipes. We who do not believe these things to be expedient in worship, lest they should mar its simplicity…We do not need them, they would hinder than help our praise… ‘Sing unto him.’ This is the sweetest and best of music. No instrument like the human voice. As a help to singing the instrument is alone to be tolerated, for keys and strings do not praise the Lord” (Commentary on Psalm 33:2).

Another Baptist said, “Staunch old Baptists in former times would as soon tolerated the Pope of Rome in their pulpits as an organ in their galleries, and yet the instrument has gradually found its way among them…How far this modern organ fever will extend among our people, and whether it will on the whole work a RE- formation or DE- formation in their singing service, time will more fully develop.” (Benedict, Baptist historian, Fifty Years Among Baptist, page 204-207)”

The Baptist, Andrew Fuller presented the history of the music of the early church. ““The history of the church during the first three centuries affords many instances of primitive Christians engaging in singing, but no mention, (that I recollect) is made of instruments. (If my memory does not deceive me) it originated in the dark ages of popery, when almost every other superstition was introduced.”

So, which is it? Shall be build our church of the Scriptures, rightly divided, or on the tradition of men? Briders will need to search for someone other than Spurgeon to validate their perpetuity. Remember, history is always tainted by those who write it. The Word of God must be our authority.

ARE BAPTIST COWARDS

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TOO COWARD TO USE BIBLICAL INSTRUMENTS

cowardBy Ken Blue

There must be some logical explanation as to why we go to the Old Testament to support a doctrine or a standard, and then tiptoe past obvious passages which teach an unavoidable truth. That truth is the use of instruments in worship and praise.

However, if you want to see a pastor squirm and crawfish, challenge him on why he ignores this clear teaching in the Word of God.

If you don’t believe Baptist are cowards, in this matter, observe how they are chained to the piano and the organ. They actually fear to introduce any of the following instruments.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Cowardly Baptist chain themselves to the piano and the organ only.[/perfectpullquote]

  1. And his brother’s name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ. Genesis 4:21
  2. “… with psalteries…with cymbals…with trumpets continually before the ark of the covenant of God.” 1 Chronicles 16:5-6.
  3. “With… cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King.” Psalms 98:6.
  4. “And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them.” 1 Kings 1:40.
  5. “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe…” Isaiah 5:12.
  6. “And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.” Exodus 15:20.
  7. “…the king stood by a pillar …and the trumpeters by the king, and all the people of the land rejoiced, and blew with trumpets…” 2 Kings 11:14
  8. “…And when the burnt offering began, the song of the LORD began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel.” 2 Chronicles 29:27
  9. “…the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of musick, like David.” Amos 6:5
  10. “And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing, and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with trumpets.” 1 Chronicles 13:8.
  11. “ Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.

Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs. Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.” Psalms 150:3-5.

All of the above were used by Israel to serve and praise God. You will find all kinds of stringed, wind and percussion instruments in the above list. Really, don’t you shun them because you fear the brethren? “The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.” Proverbs 29:25.