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SHOW ME THE PICTURE OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH

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WHY THERE IS NO BAPTIST CHURCH

Baptist CHURCHBy Ken Blue

Recently a family took a two week vacation, traveling across the country to visit sites of interest. They were faithful in church attendance each Sunday and sought out a Baptist Church whenever possible. The wife said to her pastor, “Pastor, I was so disappointed. It was almost impossible to find a ‘Baptist Church that looked Baptist.’”

Her response echoes the thoughts of many who believe churches must look like other baptist churches to be considered Baptist. She was not speaking of the physical configuration of the buildings. What she meant was every Baptist Church was different and none were like her home church.

[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is no such thing as the Baptist Church. There are only Baptist Churches, and every one of them is independent and autonomous.[/perfectpullquote]

This is the mentality of many. They have in their mind that the Baptist Church is God’s favorite and that each one should be a carbon copy of their own. Once a group of churches form a close net fellowship, the next move is for a leader to arise and begin teaching how the other churches must look and believe. What many have forgotten is that there is no Baptist Church. There is a Catholic Church, a Presbyterian Church, a Lutheran Church; But, there is no such thing as the Baptist Church. There are only Baptist Churches, and every one of them is independent and autonomous.

The reason some are so critical of other churches, is because they have a mental picture of what a Baptist Church must look. Of course, they think it should look somewhat like theirs, or it isn’t truly a Baptist Church. Perhaps the reader could give us, from the Pastoral Epistles, a clear picture of what a Baptist Church looks like; then we could all conform to their image. Until then, each pastor should pastor his own church and wait for the picture.

THE NON-EVANGELIST; EVANGELIST

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THE ROLL OF MISSIONARY – EVANGELIST

DCP00346By Ken Blue

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;” Ephesians 4:11.

I have no interest in hurting anyone’s income. My objective is to give a biblical definition and explanation of what I, and many others believe the ministry of the evangelist should be.

In the early church, all of these were contemporary. However, in time, the apostles and prophets passed of the scene. Some suggest that the call of the evangelist also ended. Personally, I do not believe it has, but I do believe the title and the purpose has been greatly misunderstood and abused.

The Bible does not mention the missionary at all. Although all believers have a mission, the title of the missionary is never mentioned. The reason for this, I believe, is that the evangelist did what the missionaries are now doing. In other words, they were missionaries. Also, every local church is to do the work of an evangelist, or missionary, by starting new churches.

The evangelist/missionary went to the cities and villages and preached the gospel to the lost. Sinners were saved and in time, a pastor was appointed to pastor the new church.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The evangelist went and preached the gospel to the lost. When enough sinners were saved, a pastor was appointed to pastor the new church.[/perfectpullquote]

Albert Barns says. “What was the precise office of the evangelist in the primitive church it is now impossible to determine. The evangelist may have been one whose main business was preaching, and who was not particularly engaged in the government of the church. The word properly means, “a messenger of good tidings;” and Robinson (Lex.) supposes that it denotes a minister of the gospel who was not located in any place, but who travelled as a missionary to preach the gospel, and to found churches. The word is so used now by many Christians; but it cannot be proved that it is so used in the New Testament.” (Barns notes).

“Evangelists were itinerant preachers like our missionaries, as Philip the deacon (Ac 21:8); as contrasted with stationary “pastors and teachers” (2 Ti 4:5). The evangelist founded the Church; the teacher built it up in the faith already received.” (JFB).

“The gift of an evangelist (euaggelistas ). This is the gift of carrying the gospel all over the world. It is the gift that specializes in proclaiming the gospel to the lost of the world. It would include both what we call the evangelist and the missionary”.—Preacher’s Outline and Sermon Bible – Commentary.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary says, “a “publisher of glad tidings;” a missionary preacher of the gospel (Eph. 4:11). This title is applied to Philip (Acts 21:8), who appears to have gone from city to city preaching the word (Acts 8:4, 40). Judging from the case of Philip, evangelists had neither the authority of an apostle, nor the gift of prophecy, nor the responsibility of pastoral supervision over a portion of the flock. They were itinerant preachers, having it as their special function to carry the gospel to places where it was previously unknown. The writers of the four Gospels are known as the Evangelists.”

Many of today’s evangelists are anything but the founders of New Testament churches. Today we have Evangelist that: Sing, Tract, Clown, Construct and even tell pastors how to run their churches.  It is not uncommon to see evangelist who: work at county Fairs, Rodeos and Stock Car races.  There are evangelist who work with: Children, Teens,  families and a host of others. The only true Evangelists are those who are winning souls and establishing churches. The rest are nothing more than traveling gypsies.

HOW TO GET ATTENTION IN CHURCH

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ATTENTION GETTING TRICKS

ATTENTIONBy Ken Blue

For anyone to claim that he or she has not enjoyed the attention of others would be less than telling the truth. But, if you are the sort who craves it, here are a few tips that usually work.

The first is, to loiter in the foyer or stand at the back of the church until after the music or the announcements have started. Then, simply walk in by yourself, and make sure you go all the way to the front two rows of the church. There is absolutely no way this method can fail. People from every location within the building will turn their eyes in your direction and notice you!

Now, just in case this method doesn’t satisfy your craving for attention, you can add heel-taps to your shoes. Each step will say, “Here I am! Look at me!” The only thing that could possibly surpass this tactic would be to come in on roller-skates.

Not every person who arrives late is seeking attention, but when the same people, or the pastor, walk down the aisle after others are seated, and the service has started, you can bet they are attention seekers.

Now you know the secret to getting noticed at church. If you are not among the attention seekers, would you please look our way as we strut in so our efforts will not be in vain?

WHO CAN UNDERSTAND THE UNKNOWN TONGUE

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GOD WANTS US TO UNDERSTAND

understandBy Ken Blue

“If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad?” 1 Corinthians 14:23.

The Sunday morning sermon, in some churches, is like a doctrinal dissertation in a Bible college or Seminary classroom. It is so deep; not even the preacher understands what he is talking about. Paul called this ministry “madness.”

The goal is not to display our Bible knowledge, but to communicate God’s Word so others will understand and obey it. This can only be accomplished when we understand the people to whom we minister and they understand us. Paul said, “…except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken?” 1 Corinthians 14:9.

We would do well to ask, “Is my message prepared for a few ‘deeper life’ Christians, or will the least skilled in the Word of God understand what is said?” Remember, the burden is not on the listener; it is on you. People who can’t understand you will say that you are insane.

AMORAL: MUSIC OR INSTRUMENTS

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USE OF MUSIC OR INSTRUMENTS IN THE CHURCH

musicBy Ken Blue

The “switch and bate” by some of the brethren is to associate musical instruments with certain groups or individuals, and then make you think the instrument itself is carnal and evil. Music and musical instruments are not the same. Music instruments are amoral, regardless of your dislike for certain ones, and all the ranting and raving in the world will not change that fact.

Most fundamentalist believe you have “stepped over the line” if you have guitars, bases guitars, electric pianos, or drums in your church. They cannot help it; that was the way they were trained and conditioned to respond. If they go to the Old Testament for their examples of worship, they should also go there for their choice of instruments.

If we were true to old paths and followed our forefathers, there would be no instruments in any of our services. The use of instruments in church came some four hundred years after the founding of the Christian church. Prior to this, instruments were associated with the devil, dancing and the Catholic Church. The only instrument permitted for centuries was the organ. Later the piano was introduced, but was not allowed to be played during the “worship” service. It was a bar room instrument. Evangelist, John R. Rice said the reasons churches do not win souls is because of the use of the organ. (See his book; Why Our Churches Do Not Win Souls).

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Music and instruments are completely different issues.[/perfectpullquote]

Only until recent times have churches allowed what we call “Specials”. Choirs and congregational singing was all that was allowed. It was deemed worldly and sinful for one person to sing a solo.

grenadeMusic can be wicked, worldly, blasphemous, and vile, but musical instruments are amoral. They are like a hand grenade; they can be used to commit suicide or to defeat an enemy.
Their use is determined by the person holding them. So, don’t let some slick preachers and evangelist “switch and bate” you, by pretending the two are the same. Music and instruments are completely different issues.

Yes, we too can draw a line, and we will draw it for ourselves. Why allow some other church or pastor to draw it for your church? He doesn’t know where the biblical line is. He simply draws it where he thinks it should be, and then wants you to believe you dishonor God if you don’t stop at his line. I assure you, there is music that I dislike, but that is a different matter.

If you can’t find anything to criticize a church about; criticize its music. It matters not that they believe the fundamentals of the faith, have souls saved each week, send out pastors and missionaries and believe the King James Bible. You see, music is that gray battlefield where you can fight until you are blue in the face, but you can’t defend your position from Scripture. All you can do is discredit those who don’t follow your lead.