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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.

THE WATER MARK

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money

Keeping your money tank full

By Ken Blue

“There is treasure to be desired and oil in the dwelling of the wise; but a foolish man spendeth it up.” Proverbs 21:20.

“He that gathereth in summer is a wise son…” Proverbs 10:5.

“The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;” Proverbs 30:25.

Pastor Dallas Dobson was a dear friend of mine; he is now with the Lord. Both of us were from Arkansas and had many of the same childhood experiences. I remember a story he told me that is worth repeating. Hopefully, it will help other pastors.

We were discussing church finances, and he asked me if I remembered the water towers use by the old steam engines that came through our town. I assured him I did. He said, “If you remember, there was a gauge on the outside of the tower to indicate how much water was in the tank.” I told him that I remembered clearly the tower and the gauge.

“Well,” he said, “I look at our church finances like one would look at the water tower. I know how much money it takes to operate our church each month. I keep the tower filled with enough money to keep our church running for at least three months; even if we never have another penny come in during that time. That way, if there is a major emergency, we could continue to operate while we waited for rain.”

From that time forward, I determined that we would maintain enough in the tank to keep our church operating for a minimum of three months. I know many churches are struggling and it is very difficult for them to put anything in the water tower. But, I suggest that you start now and put a little in this special fund until you have an adequate reserve on hand.

Some pastors believe they must spend every penny each week. Therefore, when a special need arises, they are unable to do anything about it. If you work a secular job, you should not attempt to purchase property or build buildings. Also, you should not start supporting missions until you are fulltime, and have started this fund. Missions is not the golden calf, nor should you assume that God will increase your income because you increase your expenses. Many of the special meetings may need to cease until this fund in established.

Beware of borrowing money, and be wise as to how you spend or save it. “The rich ruleth over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender.” Proverbs 22:7. Put money in the tank and then keep an eye on it. It is not a lack of faith to save; it is Scriptural, and it is a mark of good senses. In fact, it is an act of biblical wisdom!

BULLETINS: BURDENS OR BLESSINGS?

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Church Bulletin Notes

Church Bulletin

By Ken Blue

It seems that there are some things churches are expected to do, and one of these is the church bulletin. Now, my purpose is not to “rant” against the bulletin, but to stir up your mind so the bulletin can become a meaningful tool and not just a traditional practice.

Many church bulletins are pathetic and a waste of money and time. They say the same nothing every week and every comment is in the exact location each week. There will be a list of songs, a last Sunday’s offering and attendance, and who works in the nursery this week. The only new news is the potluck next Sunday afternoon.

The bulletin must be clean and attractive. A church in Alaska called theirs the “Sunday News.” The purpose statement of the church should be on front or on the first page so it can’t be missed. Rather than a menu of songs, have the song leader or music director write articles about the history of one of the songs to be sung. Books are available on the history of hymns.

There should always be a different message in the bulletin from the pastor about some victory, and the philosophy of the church. Write on the subject of the month. Give a progress report on what is being accomplished and what the church vision is.

I recommend that the pastor’s sermon title and outline be in the bulletin. The title, the text, and the main points should be listed. Sometimes the sub points could be added. Leave a blank space where the key word is in each line. As you preach through the sermon, you will state the keywords and people will write them in. This keeps their mind on the subject and gives them the outline to take home. Learning is being processed through the ear, the eye, and the pen. Everything is being reinforced by the people’s participation.

You can make your bulletin count, and you should use it as a tool to communicate your message, your ministry, and your purpose. Stretch your imagination and vision and make the bulletin worth the investment.

I ask my wife what frustrated her most when she was doing the bulletin for our church. She said the thing that frustrated her most was that I did not get my notes to her in a timely manner. I’m sorry I asked.

I also ask Barb Hughes to give her insights on the church bulletin; here are some of her comments:

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Bulletins CAN BE a resourceful and informative vehicle of church news.[/pullquote]

hughes2_sm“I have been doing our church bulletin off and on since 1974, and have learned much. Bulletins CAN BE a resourceful and informative vehicle of church news. Sadly, many churches use them for carrying “fill ins” and “funnies” or inspirational drivel. These bulletins tend to be time and money wasters. Surely it’s not a surprise that members fail to read them.

Our church’s bulletin is a MINISTRY, first and foremost. It fulfills our Church motto (included on the cover) “Bible Baptist Church exists to lead people into a redemptive and growing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.”  We post:

  • Meetings where people can get church information and services for preaching.
  • Opportunities to serve the Lord and outreach.
  • Fellowship news with other members of the church family.
  • Websites and email information is available.
  • Teaching cds and dvds are listed and updated weekly.
  • Changes of activities that members will need to know are noted.
  • The weekly and Sunday schedule of events is updated/changed every bulletin.
  • Help wanted ads are regularly posted. Filling open positions in a timely manner and who to contact.
  • Offerings and birthdays/ anniversaries are mentioned weekly (members can send cards to others).
  • A note of information and emphasis from the preacher for the current week.
  • Back of the bulletin has space available to record notes from messages.

FILLER is generally a scripture of encouragement or encouragement to get involved in stewardship and missions, instead of FLUFF.

Suggested ideas: Find someone who will do the bulletin as a ministry, not a burden, or a “useless task”. They should be fairly knowledgeable with programs that create newsletter pages. Make sure the bulletin is COMPLETELY updated and rearranged each week. You don’t want it to be BORING or TEDIOUS. (Some features can/should be in the same place each week to lend “stability” to the design.- schedule for example).

Filler material, if needed, should be uplifting and scriptural for the most part. We occasionally run some funny, but it’s rare. If the bulletin consists of mostly FILLER materials, consider NOT PUBLISHING for that week.

BIGGEST FRUSTRATION would be mechanical failures or my own failures to do the job, for whatever reason. If people do NOT provide their news, they don’t get published. I recently began designing our bulletin covers and print them directly onto the paper each week.”

Hope this helps!
Barb

SHOULD BAPTIST CHURCHES HAVE ALTARS?

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By Ken Blue

“1. An elevated place or structure before which religious ceremonies may be enacted or upon which sacrifices may be offered. 2. A structure, typically a table, before which the divine offices are recited and upon which the Eucharist is celebrated in Christian churches.” – The American Heritage Dictionary.

Having been saved and reared in Baptist churches all my life, it never occurred to me that much of what we do is steeped in tradition. We have borrowed these from Judaism and the Catholic Church. One of these is the so-called “altar.”

One way the altar is justified is by placing the tithes and offering on the communion table as an offering from the people; Thus the sacrificial altar. Another defense of the altar is to sing, Is Your All On The Altar Of Sacrifice Laid? Then we plead with Christians and sinners to “come forward to the altar and get right with God.

Thus, we, like Catholics, have come to accept the altar as part of the church furniture, and getting people to it is the goal of the sermon. Coming to it is an act of sacrifice, dedication, and surrender.

None of the church epistles have any suggestion that such an apparatus was to be installed. The idea would probably have been abhorred by the early church.

The following information concerning altars in Protestant churches is taken from Wikipedia Encyclopedia.
“A wide variety of altars exist in various Protestant denominations. Some Churches, such as Lutheran and Methodist will have altars very similar to Anglican or Catholic ones, keeping with their sacramental understanding of the Eucharist. In Protestant churches from Reformed, Baptist, Congregational, and Non-denominational traditions, it is very common for the altar to have on it only an open Bible and a pair of candlesticks. Many of these groups use a very simple wooden table, known as a Communion Table, adorned perhaps with only a linen cloth, and would avoid any suggestion of a sacrifice being offered.

Some evangelical churches practice what is referred to as an altar call, whereby those who wish to make a new spiritual commitment to Jesus Christ are invited to come forward publicly. 
[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Tradition is a powerful thing.[/perfectpullquote]

It is so named because the supplicants gather at the altar located at the front of the church (however, the invitation may be referred to as an “altar call” even if there is no actual altar present). Most altar calls occur at the end of the sermon…This is a ritual in which the supplicant makes a prayer of penitence (asking for his sins to be forgiven) and faith (accepting Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior).

Altar calls may also invite those who are already fully members of the Christian community to come forward for specific purposes other than conversion; for example, to pray for some need, to rededicate their lives after a lapse, or to receive a particular blessing (such as the Gifts of the Holy Spirit) or if they are called to certain tasks such as missionary work.”

So, the question is, should Baptist churches have altars and an altar call? If not, how would we carry on business? Tradition is a powerful thing. Should we, or could we function as well without the altar?

IF YOU CAN’T SEE IT, YOU CAN’T FIX IT

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THE NEED FOR FEEDBACK

FEEDBACK
Card from Al Hughes’ church in Port Orchard, WA.

By Ken Blue

It is obvious that each person has, what is called “a blind spot.” That is an area where we cannot see. Not only is this factual relating to our vision, it is also true in all other areas of life. Others see what we are blind to. We need their help in pointing these areas out, if we are truly interested in improving our ministry and personal lives.

Recently, I was having lunch with a fellow pastor in Vancouver, Washington, and we were discussing this very matter. He reached to the center piece on the table and pulled out a card which asks for our evaluation of the restaurant. The questions ranged from the quality of the food to the cleanliness of the establishment. There was no place for your name. You were simply instructed to leave it for your server.

Pastor Al Hughes, along with a few other wise pastors, have seen the need and value of having as many eyes as possible surveying their church and noting the impression the church makes on them. Brother Hughes has allowed me to post the card and message they are implementing FEEDBACK

Ken Blanchard, the co-author of “The One Minute Manager,” said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” “Feedback” is information about reactions to a product, service, or a person’s performance of a task, used as a basis for improvement. Organizations need feedback from their clientele and constituents to improve how they serve and relate to them.

A local church is no different. People need to communicate feedback to the church leadership so they can evaluate how to better meet the needs of the congregation. Sometimes people leave a church without ever giving a solid reason why. When asked why they are leaving they are very evasive. Consequently, the church can never correct the problem.

Therefore, I am asking you to take a few minutes to complete the “Help Us, Help YOU” feedback card enclosed in this bulletin (more cards are available on the information table in the foyer). You will notice, there is no place to put your name, therefore your feedback will be anonymous. After completing the card please put it in the offering plate or you may mail it to the church. In the future, one of these feedback cards will be included with every welcome letter we mail to first time attenders at BBC.

Hopefully, the information on these cards will help us to help you have a more meaningful worship experience and walk with the Lord at BBC. Thank you in advance for your feedback! God bless you.