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ARE WE HYPER?

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ARE WE HYPER?

hyperAn Assistant Pastor asked me, “Pastor, are we hyper dispensationalist?” I was sure he had heard that term from someone who disagreed with where we make the dispensational divisions. I explained to him that the word “hyper” simply means that you go further to the right on a subject than the other guy. That is, everyone to the right of them is hyper and everyone to your left is liberal. That leaves them on dead center.

That’s were every pastor thinks he is located, including myself. We are confident that we are neither hyper nor liberal, and because we are balanced and on center with Scripture, we are qualified to identify all who differ as being in error.  “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” 2 Timothy 2:15 .

The King James Bible is the infallible Word of God. However, your interpretation is not infallible, that is evident; unless we assume we are incapable of error. So, are we hyper? To some, we have gone too far; to others, we have not gone far enough. I guess that leaves us right on dead center!

THINGS YOU WON’T FIND IN OUR CHURCH

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THINGS YOU WON’T FIND IN OUR CHURCH

Spoof on Standards
you won't find

By Ken Blue

 

 

You won’t find a screen with a bouncing ball
Our nose is in the hymnal like the Apostle Paul.
You won’t find drums or a base guitar
Or a piano — like those in honky-tonk bars.

We shun the organ; Luther called it, “The ensign of Baal”
We don’t use sound systems, we scream and yell.
Women don’t wear pants nor do they speak
We like them inferior, feeble and meek.

Power Point and Laptops are taboo and banned
We reject background music it’s carnally canned.
We don’t have air-conditioning or a patted pew
Our people love Jesus and sweat it through.

We don’t use gimmicks to reach God’s elect
Their predestined already, so what the heck.
We don’t serve coffee to the privileged guest
We’re after the chosen and ignore the rest.

We don’t preach sermons on liberty and grace
A good dose of guilt keeps people in place.
Our only ambition is to grow and thrive
All sermons are on soul winning and giving the tithe.

We don’t have television or Bibles on CD
We maintain the standards of A.D. 103.
We don’t have Internet; we reject this modern age
But we hope you do and will access our church’s web page.

MOTIVATION OF A TIMEX

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“TIMEX; IT TAKES A LICKING AND KEEPS ON TICKING”

MotIvationTwo things can be expected in the ministry; you will “take a licking,” and you must “keep on ticking.” Since we have no way of knowing on which front the enemy will attack, we must put on the armor of God and be vigilant. We have little control over when or where Satan will attack. However, we do have a responsibility to “keep on ticking.”

I have found that the number one cause of “burnout” in the ministry is discouragement. How can we deal with this deadly enemy of our souls? Let me say up front that we all get discouraged at times. What is the answer?

Internal motivation is not an acceptable source of motivation. It is rooted in self and pride. This dynamic does not honor God nor does it have His interest at heart.

External motivation is temporal and short lived. Therefore, the pastor who is motivated by it will live on an emotional rollercoaster and turn into a cheerleader in order to keep the hype going for his own motivation.

Eternal motivation is the only acceptable motivation for the Pastor. This motivation keeps him going because it sees outside self and beyond the temporal. We must keep in mind that the value of our service will be determined by the Lord and will be rewarded by Him. If our purpose is to glorify Him and fulfill the purpose for which we were created, we will be motivated with eternity’s values in view. We can then, “take a licking and keep on ticking.”

WHITEWASHING THE SCAPULARS

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WHITEWASHING THE SCAPULARS

scapulars

Some of the brethren condemn your choice of friends, music and instruments while whitewashing the scapulars of those who would scorn them for their hypocrisy. The men they pretend to esteem would refuse to preach in their churches if they were alive today.

Spurgeon said, “… What a degradation to supplant the intelligent … by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by …strings and pipes… We do not need them. That would hinder rather than help our praise…” (Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on Psalm 42.)

Wesley said, “I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685)

Luther said, “The organ in the worship Is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)

Adam Clarke said, “… Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”

For the life of me, I cannot figure out those who are under the delusion that their church is like those in Paul’s day. They refuse to accept the departure they have made. Yet, they are quick to condemn anyone who moves twelve inches from them. You must be “just like”…

Some things never change. Some of the brethren continue to whitewash scapulars of the dead while crucifying the living who will not march to their… dare we say “drum”?

WHY I AM NOT A RUCKMANITE

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Hero Worship

 

By Ken Blue

I discovered years ago, if you agree with any person on any point or issues, and if that person is disliked, you will be identified as a follower, and will be railroaded. There are many good men who have helped, and encouraged me in the ministry. To my knowledge, every one of them has been under attack on some issue. All flesh is grass.  Dr. Ruckman is a friend to this preacher, and has preached several times at Open Door Baptist Church.

 I believed that the King James Bible was the Word of God, long before I met Dr. Rukman. I also was a dispensationalist in my early walk as a believer. Someone had provided me with Clarence Larken’s Dispensational Truth fifty years ago. I was not a Larkenite. However, Dr. Ruckman was instrumental in helping me to better understand the Word and the dispensations.

Dr. Jack Hyles preached at Open Door dozens of times, and I attended his pastors’ school, at least the same number of times. I learned much from him about building a soul winning church. However, I am not, nor have I ever been a Hylesite.

Dr. Tom Malone was my pastor, and the president of the college where I attended and was ordained to the ministry. No one ever tagged me as a Maloneite. Dr. Jim Vineyard and Dr. Curtis Hudson were also guest speakers, yet I was not branded a Vineyardite, or a Hudsonit. Dr. Noe was one of my professors and a good friend. He too, preached at Open Door several times. Still, there was no stigma of being a Noeite. Dr. Dave Reese is also my good friend, but I am not a Reeseite.

[pullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]If you have nothing more to do than play ecclesiastical cop, you should get out of the ministry, and get a real job.[/pullquote]

This is not a defense of Dr. Ruckman; he doesn’t need me to defend him. However, on many issues I would stand with him, as I would the other men I have mentioned. Also, Dr. Ruckman has been more helpful, more accommodating, and more open to me than all those listed above.

“So, who is the man of God you follow?” You ask. The answer is no one. I gave up hero worship a long time ago. 1 Corinthians 1:12 “Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.” If your so called friends abandon you because you have a friend, or attend a pastors school, or have someone to preach, they don’t approve, wipe the dust of your shoes and move on. Thank God you are free of those who want to control you, or hold you hostage so you will make them your “ite.”

Now, you know that I am not anyone’s “ite.” I’m just a poor ex-Baptist preacher in the far, far away corner of the North West United States. I also have more friends than I can count, and I have them without them being an “ite.” If you have nothing more to do than play ecclesiastical cop, you should get out of the ministry, and get a real job. You’re welcome.