Guarding the sacred trust...

When I went to seminary, Dr. Paige Patterson my seminary president challenged all of us studying for pastoral ministry to always be vigilant against doctrinal error and remain faithful to the Word of God. Dr. Patterson of course has many battle scars from the war in the Southern Baptist Convention over the inerrancy of Scripture in the 1970’s and 80’s. He and others who labored with him are heroes to me for keeping our denomination from staying on the liberal theological course it was headed. In his tutelage of us preacher types, Dr. Patterson knows well the dangers, pitfalls and ramifications of doctrinal error and the high cost of ensuring our denomination would stay true to our Lord Jesus Christ and His inspired, inerrant and infallible word. Dr. Patterson assembled a team of professors at SEBTS who faithfully taught myself and  many others like me that we must take seriously our responsibilities before the Lord to guard the sacred trust of Scripture and to “contend earnestly for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3).  Dr. Patterson and the faithful professors I learned under were following through with what the great Apostle Paul challenged Timothy, his young son in the faith to do.

Timothy was the pastor of the church at Ephesus when Paul wrote to him; giving Timothy instructions for his ministry in Ephesus. Those letters (Epistles) God preserved in the New Testament and are identified as 1^st & 2^nd Timothy. In 1^st Timothy 6:20-21, Paul concluded his first letter to the young pastor with this prophetical warning: “Oh Timothy! Guard what was committed to your trust, avoiding the profane and idle babblings and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge – by professing it some have strayed concerning the faith. Grace be with you, Amen.” What Paul was referring to primarily was the Gospel message but also the truth of Scripture that was entrusted to Timothy by the Apostle Paul himself. Timothy had to stand against false teachers roaming around claiming to have more knowledge, teaching salvation was obtained through intellectual and philosophical means, not by faith in Christ. This heresy was known as Gnosticism after the Greek word for knowledge called gnosis.

The word “guard” in that text means to watch closely and keep secure. A Roman guard was typically four squads of four soldiers, a total of 16 highly skilled and trained warriors who would lay down their lives to protect what they were guarding! The phrase “Committed to your trust” is all one word in Greek. The word means a deposit, similar to a bank deposit and the person responsible for watching/guarding/keeping secure the deposit – in this case the truths of Scripture. The guard was none other than this young pastor named Timothy. Paul was expecting Timothy to be a spiritual Navy Seal, a spiritual warrior committed to guarding the truth of the Word of God. Safeguarding the truths of Scripture continues to be a sacred trust this pastor is committed to.

I’m sharing this with you because our church was about to implement the use of a Sunday School curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources called “The Gospel Project.” This is the flagship new curriculum Lifeway has been advertising for months. It is a curriculum that would provide Bible Study resources for preschool, children, and youth, all the way through senior adults in our Sunday School/Bible Study classes. Upon hearing of this new curriculum, Pastor Mike and I were encouraged and excited about it as the advertised aim of the curriculum was to show that the message of the Gospel is woven throughout the Scriptures. Dr. W. A. Criswell, the great long time pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas called it “The Scarlet Thread of Redemption” in a famous sermon he preached through the entire Bible. We were under the impression this curriculum would take a systematic theological approach, would tackle tough issues and give Christians tools to use in sharing the Gospel in everyday life.  The concept as we understood the aim of The Gospel Project is a great one. However, we’ve uncovered a big problem with this curriculum. The advisory council, many of the writers and much of the supplemental sources cited throughout are from people who are Calvinists or Reformed Theologians who teach at reformed seminaries.

In short, Calvinism or Reformed Theology is a theological system that elevates the Sovereignty of God and His grace to a point that the free will of man is of no consequence. On the other end of the spectrum is what is called Arminianism; which elevates the free will of man and espouses among other things that you can actually lose your salvation. Those adhering to these theological systems have been arguing about these ideas since the 1600’s! Yet the Scriptures teach that God is sovereign, a God of grace, as well as the truth man has a choice to make to accept or reject the grace of God and His provision for salvation. This understanding of Scripture is one among many reasons we exist as Baptists. Historically, we are happily in the middle of these polar extremes as we consider ourselves to be “people of the Book”; embracing both Biblical truths of God’s sovereignty and grace along with man’s choice. As Baptists, we have historically seen problems with both extremes and the dangers of using a theological system of belief as the lens to interpret Scripture. Many Calvinists and Arminians use their systems as a filter of Scripture. However, Scripture should be the filter for the system of belief one adheres to. Typically this debate has been mostly confined to seminary campuses and is not something the average person in a Baptist church hears much about.

After we were made aware of this Calvinistic/Reformed theological approach of the curriculum; Pastor Mike and I have spent literally hours and days digging through this curriculum once we received the shipment to see for ourselves. We found it to be biased in how it explains and interprets the study themes. There are numerous subtle seeds of the Calvinistic approach to Scripture and many that are overtly obvious. The more we read and studied the curriculum, the more convinced we have become that this curriculum is not suitable for use here at Calvary. I am greatly disappointed because there is nothing wrong with healthy dialogue and wrestling with theological issues. But when a curriculum is designed to teach only one side of the issue; it is no longer a healthy debate but indoctrination and we cannot allow that indoctrination to take place here at Calvary. I do not believe extreme Calvinism accurately represents the truth of Scripture. We are not Calvinistic or reformed in our theology, something Presbyterians would be more comfortable with. I don’t appreciate Lifeway producing curriculum that promotes a flawed theological system to interpret Scripture. My biggest problem with extreme Calvinism is that it views salvation as deterministic where God divinely chooses who will be saved and who will not. It follows then that God is going to save some; He can and will do so without my personal involvement so there is no need for me to be a witness for Christ. This idea clearly violates the commandment to be witnesses in our Judea, Samaria and to the ends of the earth. The Great Commission then becomes more of a Great Suggestion and only whosoever God chooses may come and have everlasting life! Yes there is a doctrine of election taught in Scripture, but God’s desire is that no one would perish but that all would come to repentance.

Honestly, I was in shock for several days as I wrestled with this curriculum. I feel as though the sacred trust has been violated because the publishing arm of my convention seems to be embracing reformed Calvinistic theology. You should know Lifeway does not depend on cooperative program dollars and they are a for profit organization based on what they sell. They are guided by a President and Trustees who’ve been duly elected by our convention so there is accountability there. We are sending this curriculum back to Lifeway and I’ll be writing letters to President Thom Rainer and the board of trustees expressing my disappointment over this curriculum and explaining why we’ve pulled the proverbial plug on “The Gospel Project” curriculum. I encourage all SBC pastors I know to examine this for yourself and see the agenda within The Gospel Project curriculum. I hope you’ll send it back to Lifeway as well with your observations.

I want you to know as your Pastor, I will do my best to guard the sacred trust of Scripture and the faith once for all delivered to the saints. The Bible is our primary curriculum and any supplemental material we use must be faithful to interpret Scripture without imposing upon Scripture a flawed theological system of any kind. If you’d like to discuss this with me further; please call or email me for an appointment. Committed to guarding the sacred trust, from my little corner of the world to yours…

Ralph Green

Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

www.calvarybelair.com 

Subscribe to Pastor Ralph's Blog: http://pastorralphgreen.blogspot.com/  

Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RalphGreen  

Posted via email from Pastor Ralph

Summer Reflections...

I like to drive to a certain extent. Since we have 5 children and when they were all still home with us, air fare was typically not something we could consider, driving was our only option. My family has made numerous cross country trips from the east coast or the far north east back to see family and friends in Texas. From New Hampshire, it was a hard 3 day drive just to get to Texas and then another full day of driving to the Rio Grande Valley to see Cheryl’s parents. I have to admit there were times in that season of life I didn’t look forward to those brutal drives because of the stress on the kids which in turn would test the patience of us as parents. But there were lots of times of adventure and fun along the way. Attempting to find two hotel rooms side by side late in the night at a safe hotel with a tired family in the car always seemed to be a formidable challenge and adventure as well. Well this year Cheryl and I and our boys drove to Fort Worth Texas to be there with our daughter Rachel as she gave birth to our 4^th grandchild Cameron Tate Miller (I’ll show you pictures if you ask me). This particular drive was still as long as I remember but we had a nice time.  I enjoy looking at the different states and a 3,158 round trip road trip provides you lots of time to reflect on some things.

One thing I reflected on as we drove mile after mile on interstate highways was the freedoms we take for granted. Crossing state and county borders without meeting armed guards and having to produce papers that give you the right to enter the state or county is something every American should appreciate. Having been overseas now several times, much of the world doesn’t live that way. Routinely being stopped and questioned as to where you have been and where you intend to go is something many citizens of other countries believe is normal. Being secure in your person and your effects against search and seizure is something we take for granted. At many a checkpoint I’ve passed through, it was nerve wracking even though innocent, to have a soldier there with a machine gun looking through your luggage and examining your papers. We speak English (well at least variations of it) in every state, we don’t have to try and remember a phrase in a different language to express what we’re doing to a soldier with a machine gun. Watching fireworks last night here in Bel Air in celebration of the freedoms we enjoy caused me to be thankful for the men and women who have fought and died to give us the freedoms we so often take for granted. Folks, we need to guard our freedoms and the liberty we have. We are rapidly heading toward giving up those freedoms because of our apathy. If we’re not vigilant, if we don’t use the power we have in the voting booth, those liberties and freedoms will vanish.

Another reflection I had on my drive was an appreciation for my family. I am grateful to God for the wife, the children and the grandchildren God has given me. Riding a roller coaster with my sons or sitting in my daughter’s living room drinking coffee, watching her interact with one of my grandsons, listening to her teaching him, talking to him about Jesus as she feeds him breakfast was so special. Remembering how that daughter in particular used to test me to my wits end made me marvel at the grace of God and how His word sown into the lives of our children and grandchildren will produce men and women of character who honor the Lord Jesus Christ. The tears I’ve shed and the prayers I’ve prayed for my family are worth every drop as my children grow into maturity. I was also reminded because of something that happened while I was away that I still have a long way to go as dad and my children still need me to be faithful to correct, discipline and teach them to honor the Lord with their life choices. Whether they are 15 or 25, I am in a unique position to influence them for Christ.  I reflected that as my role changes with them and they leave the nest and begin life on their own, I can still set a faithful example for them and encourage them to honor Jesus. As parents and grandparents, you have the same encouragement and opportunity I have with your children and grandchildren, no matter if they are currently honoring the Lord or not.

I reflected on God’s provision for us with thanksgiving. Even though it was going to add mileage of another 300 miles to our already long trip, I felt as though we needed to go to Houston to see our home that I’ve not seen in person since we moved to Maryland. For reasons God alone seems to know, He has allowed us to carry that home for nearly 43 full months without it selling. While there was definite work Cheryl and I needed to do and it set us back from intended travel time and arrival back to Bel Air, the home was not in as bad a shape as I thought it would be having now had two families rent from us. Our house is vacant and actively for sale once again so we invested 6 or 7 hours cleaning up and fixing things and are praying it will sell. Stopping there allowed me once again to connect with our kind neighbors who’ve been picking up the circulars, junk mail, and phone books that make it unsightly. What a privilege to pray God’s blessings upon this sweet couple in their living room before we left town.  I believe they were moved and so pleased we came by to thank them. I still don’t know God’s purposes for that house that He owns. Our neighbors, real estate agents and anyone familiar with it are buffaloed as to why God has not allowed it to sell. As much as I’d love to sell it today, I’d rather ask you to pray for God to show me what His intentions are for it and that I’ll continue to have the patience needed to continue with it. I don’t mind telling you at this point I am weary with the stress of it; but I marvel that we’ve not lost it and God continues to provide for us and I am truly thankful.

Upon returning home much later than we planned, I have reflected that the work of the kingdom of God is not just the pastor’s and staff, it is the work for all believers to engage in and be committed to. I was pleased to learn of the ministry taking place with our supper summer of service, our youth mission trip to Philadelphia we’ll hear about soon, our summer mission trip to Maine and even as you read this, we have a team of high school seniors and leaders in Haiti sharing the greatest news ever that Jesus saves. I am so proud of you my church family and I marvel at the great church the Lord allows me to pastor. Seeing other ministries as we went to worship was wonderful and going to church just to worship and not lead was a blessing. It made me reflect on the blessings of being part of God’s work right here at Calvary.

Birchman Baptist Church in Fort Worth where my married children are members is a great church. Each Sunday, their call to worship is that wonderful hymn of the faith “Jesus Saves.” I am reminded as I saw the host of Harford County gather yesterday to watch our 4^th of July parade and see the fireworks, that Jesus saves. He wants to save every man, woman, boy and girl right here where we serve Him. He’s placed us here for such a time as this and we must be faithful to engage our community with that wonderful news that Jesus Saves! I’m glad to be able to share some summer reflections, safe at home, from my little corner of the world to yours…

Ralph Green

Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

www.calvarybelair.com 

Subscribe to Pastor Ralph's Blog: http://pastorralphgreen.blogspot.com/  

Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RalphGreen  

Posted via email from Pastor Ralph

The best & worst of times...

June 7, 2012

The best & worst of times...

One of the first big novels that I remember reading was by Charles Dickens called "A Tale of Two Cities". It depicts the difficulties of peasants and the events leading up to French Revolution. The beginning of the novel has some of the most famous literary lines ever penned: "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times..." It seems to me from a pastoral point of view, those lines are always appropriate as it's always the best of times and the worst of times depending on who I'm visiting with. The Holy Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to write in Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep." This time of year as the school year draws to a close, there is much rejoicing as students, teachers and parents are giddy with excitment that school is nearly over, graduation celebrations and summer vacation plans are being made. It usually starts in mid-May with college & seminary students finishing their final exams. They begin to see the light of day with joy instead of dread having burned the mid-night oil to cram for that last exam or write that last paper. College & seminary semesters concluding are the first wave that spreads to local schools and you can sense this anticipation building all around you and the count down begins as your children tell you how many days are left as you take them to school. On May 27th we recognized both our college and high school graduating seniors for this milestone in their lives and expressed our pride in them. It is a great time of year seeing caps and gowns and school colors on display. It's a great opportunity for ministry with baccalaureate services hosted by students and parents to honor God and be reminded of His grace to these graduating seniors. Last year I had the priviledge of speaking at C. Milton Wright's baccalaureate service and challenging the graduates on their future and sharing the Gospel with them. For several years our student minister Wally Yocum has been involved with the baccalaureate at Bel Air High School and this year was the primary speaker & I know he honored the Lord as he challenged those at that service.

It is this time of year when one begins to hear of wedding plans and I've recent occasion to discuss wedding plans with a couple seeking guidance as they prepare to start their new life together. What a joy to share God's designs and plans for marriage and to reflect on the blessings of my own marriage anniversary and my rich life with Cheryl. Hearing of the joy of couples in their engagements, seeing people propose in inventive ways like when the "kiss cam" is panning the stadium at Camden Yards; it is truly the best of times and it is appropriate to rejoice with those who rejoice. Sunday May 27th was also Memorial Day weekend to remember those who’ve paid for freedom with their lives. On the other hand for many others, it is the worst of times. Recent cancer diagnosis, phone calls jarring friends and family awake in the night with news of a calamity where someone fell and was injured, planning funerals for those who've had loved ones pass whether it was expected or suddenly never gets easier. Learning of new financial crises both nationally and in our own families seems to be more and more common place. I'm ministering to a man near death's door who as far as I know does not know Christ. I am broken for him and desiring fervently that he give his life to Christ before he steps into eternity. I covet your prayers for this man who faces an eternity in Hell apart from repentance and faith in Christ. Truly, it is the worst of times for many as well and we are to weep with those who weep.

Such is the nature of life with the good, bad and downright ugly. How do we deal with the roller coaster of life? First I would say we need to remember "on Christ the solid rock I stand all other ground is sinking sand." Good times come and go, hardships come and go but Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Keep your eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of your faith (Heb. 12:2)! Secondly lean on your church family. The family of faith, the family of God here at Calvary continues to amaze me as part of God's provision for His saints to minister and care for one another. In that same Romans 12 passage I mentioned earlier, Paul quickly outlines in verses 9-21 a number of practical ways for Christians to care for one another. Jesus said to His disciples the love we show for one another is a powerful tool to witness to the lost world around us. Last week I saw two excellent examples as people volunteered to cook for and feed a family after a funeral service. I also saw another group of people cook for and care for the pastors of our Susquehanna Association when Calvary hosted the monthly meeting for pastors and their wives. That little song with the phrase "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God" rolls in my soul seeing the people of God who make up the family of God caring for one another. I called one of our precious widows and asked her to reach out to another widow and her reply was one of gratitude that I would trust her with that assignment! Deacons are caring for sick, ministering to widows, helping folks in financial distress; Christians are intentionally acting with kindness.

Let me encourage you in these, the best of times & the worst of times to continue to be faithful to minister to and be sensitive to those who rejoice and those who mourn. Sometimes I’m so caught up in the distress of life that I don’t feel much like celebrating with those who rejoice but we are commanded to enjoy those times of celebration. One of the greatest things we can do is to pray earnestly for each other especially in those times that are the worst of times. Drop a card in the mail to someone struggling to encourage them. Take them a meal, clean house for them, serve them in some way. I’ve have seen and experienced how serving someone else in distress is a great cure for your soul as you walk through the worst of times in your life. God uses that to help you heal as you focus on the needs of others. I’ve often shared with my kids if we think we have it bad, just look around and we’ll find someone in much worse condition than we are to care for. Jesus showed us how to rejoice at the wedding of Cana Galilee, celebrating with those who celebrated. He also mourned and wept at the tomb of Lazarus. In both situations Jesus served others and expects us to follow His lead and do the same.

Finally, from a policeman’s point of view, be careful out there. The heightened activity of celebrations and vacations seems to cause people to throw caution to the wind in their haste to get to the celebration or get to the vacation spot. Just yesterday I saw two close calls of near accidents with cars and people in a hurry. We used to say in law enforcement: “It’s better to be late than turn up dead.” The lake, the beach, the pool, the mountains, wherever you are going will still be there so take your time and be safe. As we walk through the best of times and the worst of times, I want to encourage us to do it together as the family of faith; but reach out to those around us and maybe that will be what God uses to reach them for His kingdom. Living out the best of times and the worst of times, from my little corner of the world to yours…

Pastor Ralph Green
Sent from my iPhone

Posted via email from Pastor Ralph

Our treasured past & triumphant future.

One of my favorite Old Testament books is the book of Joshua. After 40 years of wandering in the desert because of their hard hearted rebellion, Joshua records God’s blessing upon the children of Israel to inherit the Promised Land that God had promised to Abraham hundreds of years earlier.  The whole book is God’s encouragement to His people to obey Him with strength and courage and His promises to bless that obedience. In Chapter 3, there is a fascinating test of faith as close to two million people are lined up at the Jordan River to march into the promised land. The Jordan River floods its banks at harvest time and was impassable. Yet God commanded the priests bearing the Ark of the Covenant to walk into the Jordan by faith. God promised when their feet touch the water, He’d dry up the river so they could cross and the water would pile up in a heap (Joshua 3:13). It mirrors what God did for the Children of Israel at the Red Sea escaping the pursuit of Pharaoh’s Egyptian army. That previous generation had died so God wanted to demonstrate to this younger, new generation that He would be faithful to them in the same way He had been to their parents and grandparents leaving Egypt. In chapter 4, God commanded that the Children of Israel retrieve 12 stones out of the dry river bed, one for each tribe as they crossed over. He told Joshua to take those stones and stack them up as a memorial to help their children remember what God did. 4:6-7 says when the children ask “What do these stones mean to you?” They were to answer that question: “That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be a memorial to the Children of Israel forever.” Of course the rest of the story is of their triumphant future in possessing the land God gave them and a record of the battles along the way. Joshua pictures a treasured past and a triumphant future for God’s people.   

Over the last several days, I’ve been intently praying for and preparing for some exciting news to share with you in more detail on Sunday evening June 10^th at 4:00 p.m. in a special called Church in Conference. In May/June of 2010, we formed a vision team to pray and seek God’s face related to our future ministry here at Calvary. That team met and prayed faithfully for over a year exploring our ministry needs, our facilities and what God wants to do in and through Calvary. After a year of praying, one of our church members in the construction business introduced us to an architect who has had extensive experience working with churches. After that initial meeting and sensing God’s leadership to work with this man, we began a running dialogue with him, our vision team, the trustees and our church council about developing our property with additional parking and space needs to prepare for the next 25 to 30 years of ministry here at Calvary. There have literally been hundreds of man hours from these church committees over the last two years to develop an updated master site plan on this campus the Lord brought us to and gave this church family back in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s here on Courtland Place in the heart of Bel Air and Harford County. The church has had a master plan to initially construct our sanctuary and fellowship hall that was dedicated on March 19, 1972.  There were even at that time plans to build an education wing which was constructed and dedicated 22 years later in 1994. Here we are 18 years after our education wing was completed examining the next phase of ministry at Calvary.

As I’ve been digging through our church records, reading minutes and history highlights, seeing pictures and reading news accounts of the famous steeple move from Baltimore Pike to our current building, I’m overwhelmed. First I’m overwhelmed by the grace of God to plant a dream in the hearts of several vision minded pastors from our area to see a mission church in the heart of Harford County in the county seat of Bel Air as they met in April 1948. Rev. Walter Burcham and Rev. Finney Bragg played a major leadership role to get the mission work started with services in the Odd Fellows Hall on Sunday afternoons. I am overwhelmed by the grace of God to assemble a group of 66 committed believers who would become charter members of what would become Calvary Baptist Church and for the sacrifices these saints made to make what we enjoy today. The church rapidly outgrew that Odd Fellows Hall and a few weeks before constituting as a church in May of 1949, moved to the Bel Air Theater on Main Street for services. For 63 years, Calvary has been a lighthouse to a lost and dark world around us, sharing the wonderful message that Jesus saves and has been a faithful Gospel preaching and disciple making church family.

As I’ve looked through our archives, I marvel at how the Holy Spirit of God has directed this church to purchase property on Baltimore Pike, erect a fellowship hall basement and construct a worship sanctuary above it in 1952. How they were sensitive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit to move the church to our current location, a move that I’m sure did not make sense to some at the time in the 1960’s but looking back, it’s easy to see the Lord’s hand and how His favor has rested upon their obedience. We truly have a treasured past and every time you see our steeple spire pointing to the Heavens, you should thank God for the faithful labors of those who have gone before us.

In dreaming about the future of Calvary and what lay ahead, I am also overwhelmed and in awe of what the Lord wants to do through us. I believe the Lord desires for us to have a triumphant future as we obey His command to continue to make disciples until He returns or calls us home.  Joshua challenged that next generation of the Children of Israel to be obedient to the Lord and they did so for many generations. The question before us is will we obey? We must if we desire a triumphant future. It is that simple. As Joshua said in 24:14 “Choose you this day whom will serve…but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

I want to invite you to come to our Church in Conference on June 10^th, 2012 at 4:00 p.m. We need church approval to present a proposal to the Town and County to approve a concept of how we can continue to build on and develop the property God has given us so we can carry out our God-given mission of making disciples. We are not ready to enter a building campaign by any means. The first step is that we’re merely seeking for approval from the community, the town of Bel Air and Harford County that our concept will meet the requirements in place. Much of the requirements and codes have changed since we began phase one and two on this property in 1970 and 1993. Our work with our architect accounts for these new requirements and we’re excited to share with you the big picture concept. This concept was developed from our architect who has spent hours with our leaders from our various ministry teams and committees as we’ve dialogued about current space utilization and future expansion. Let us all continue to prayerfully consider what the Lord would have us to do to secure a triumphant future of obedient ministry for the glory of God and to expand God’s kingdom. Let us be in prayer that God’s hand of favor will rest upon us in seeking the appropriate approvals from the community, town and county assuming the church gives us permission to move forward. I’m treasuring our past and excited about a triumphant future, from my little corner of the world to yours…

Ralph Green

Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

www.calvarybelair.com 

Subscribe to Pastor Ralph's Blog: http://pastorralphgreen.blogspot.com/  

Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RalphGreen  

Posted via email from Pastor Ralph

Super Summer of Service...

May 8, 2012

Super Summer of Service…

Summer is rapidly approaching as the warmer temperatures arrive and the school year is winding down, thoughts of summer vacation trips and opportunities to unwind and take a break are on everyone’s mind. Weekend trips to the beach, the lake or the mountains, going to see family and getting a change of scenery are wonderful things for our families to enjoy together. I really hope and pray your time off and away will be a refreshing encouragement to you. As the lead under-shepherd God has placed here at Calvary, I have some encouragement for you as we head into the summer months.

First of all, the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, the very Son of God, set an example for His followers after seasons of intense ministry, took time off to refresh and spend time by Himself or with His disciples. Jesus understood the rigors of ministry, He understood the reality that serving and investing in others is fulfilling and rewarding but it is exhausting work. Jesus also understood that life and ministry is a marathon and not a sprint. So to keep from burning out, Jesus regularly took time out to rest and to pray. For all of you who faithfully serve and labor for the Lord here at Calvary, let me encourage you that if the Son of God needed to rest and recharge, you and I most certainly do as well. God has built in a Sabbath Day of rest every seven days so I encourage you to rest. When Jesus rested, He didn’t take a break from God, He went places to pray and reconnect with His Father. You should too, go check out that church near where you are vacationing. Bring me a bulletin because I like to see what other churches are up to.

Secondly, I want to encourage you to plan ahead. It is important that if you have a Sunday responsibility and you are going to be out of town, make sure you have your responsibilities covered in your absence. That should be understood but sometimes it is not and when the summer breeze blows, the beach calls and off people go, so excited to go but they forget their responsibilities. On more than one occasion I have walked through our children’s or preschool departments on a Sunday in the summer and the volunteers are scrambling because people who were scheduled to work did not show up or make provision for their absence. Communicate and plan ahead if you are going to be absent.

This brings me to my third encouragement that many people don’t stop to realize. While you take a vacation and head out of town, your church is open 52 Sundays a year except this year we actually have 53 Sundays of ministry. People forget that our expenses continue even through the summer and many churches struggle during the summer months because giving declines. I know people don’t intend for that to happen, but in the hubbub and bustle to get loaded up and get out of Dodge, the tithe and offering is often forgotten. When I’m travelling, I plan my bill paying with my bank and I schedule out the payments that need to be made and I include Calvary in that process so I know my tithe and offering comes to God’s storehouse. Again, it’s a simple matter of planning ahead so let me encourage you make sure you don’t forget your tithes and offerings. I’d also caution you in these tough economic times not to take the money that belongs to the Lord to spend on your vacation. He will not bless that time of recreation if you rob from Him.

Fourth, for too many years, we’ve have slogged it out through the summer with a grueling schedule of activity in the summer that included trying to have services on Wednesday evenings. As a staff we’re challenging our leaders and ministries to have an intentional purpose for all we do. We’ve found that our Summer Wednesday schedule does not have the impact or reach the intended purpose. We made a recommendation at our last church in conference that was approved; that we cancel our Wednesday evening schedule for the summer except that choir and praise team will practice on Wednesday evenings.  What we’re proposing instead is what we are calling “Super Summer of Service”. We’d like to see families and Bible Study classes take on a servant evangelism project during the summer. It doesn’t have to happen on Wednesday or take place every week. We need to move church beyond the walls to engage our community and show God’s love in a practical way. These projects are fun and the only limitations are the extent of your imaginations. Here are some ideas to help stir the creative juices:

·         We’ll have access to a list of people who’ve recently moved to a 3.5 mile radius around Calvary. Put together a “Welcome bag” with an area map, coupons to local restaurants (your favorite places) or things to do, fresh baked goods and deliver this to the new family. Invite them to come to church with you. The church will supply the bags, maps and you all can organize putting the bag together and the delivery team. This is so effective! When we first moved to North Carolina to go to seminary, within a day, we’d met all our neighbors who brought pies or veggies from their garden and at least three of them invited us to their church. We have a mailing going to these homes and the list will be available the week of June 18^th.

·         Families with young children can schedule a play night in Shamrock Park behind the church. The church will provide juice boxes, water and wrapped snacks. Your family goes to play and offers others free juice or water and a snack. It opens up conversations and an easy opportunity to invite them to VBS July 16-20. You’ll be shocked at how simple and effective this will be!

·         Bible Study classes could offer a free car wash to show God’s love in a practical way. Be creative to the location it’s hosted and we’ll pay for the water for the business owner and the supplies to wash cars. Talk with people while their car is being washed. They are shocked it’s free and very open to talk about spiritual matters. We’ll provide an invite card or brochure about Calvary.

·         Goodie baskets for our police or fire departments are always a hit. Tell them their neighbors at Calvary appreciate them and we want to care for them and their families.

·         Feed parking meters during the day downtown or at the parking garage and put a card on the windshield telling them Calvary is showing God’s love in a practical way. We’ll provide the cards and the buy the quarters.

These are just a few ideas and there are many more you could do to take the church to the streets. Find a need in our community and fill it. Our plan is to have a big picnic at the end of the summer to give you a chance to share what God did with these simple service projects. The impact of this for the Kingdom of God will be profound and there will be people who go to Heaven because you cared enough to engage in Super Summer of Service! Pastor Mike will be coordinating this effort so let us know what you’re doing so we can help you make your project a successful endeavor. Sure there may be things we try and fail at it, but that’s okay because you never know unless you try!

Finally, be in prayer for these projects that people will see and hear about Jesus in our service and come to trust Him by faith. Pray for our Maine Mission team at the end of June, our youth going to Philadelphia on mission at the end of June, our senior youth headed to Haiti on mission in July, our 4^th of July musical and our VBS in mid July. All of these are great opportunities to see people come to Christ, not to mention our weekend worship services that happen every Sunday. Rest, refocus, renew your spirit, but let’s make Summer 2012 a super summer of service that expands God’s kingdom. I’m looking forward to some rest and refocus time, but also a super summer of service from my little corner of the world to yours…

Ralph Green

Senior Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

www.calvarybelair.com 

Subscribe to Pastor Ralph's Blog: http://pastorralphgreen.blogspot.com/  

Follow Me on Twitter: http://twitter.com/RalphGreen  

Posted via email from Pastor Ralph

A Letter to Addison

"This is the birthday song, it isn't very long, hey!" Happy birthday Addison! Two years ago today you were born on a Sunday morning in Fort Worth Texas. Your Mommy  and Daddy Ginny & Stephen, Aunt Rachel & Uncle Thomas and whole family were so excited you were coming into the world. We were concerned because both you & your mommy was having a lot of trouble as she was in labor. You started the journey into the world in the early morning hours of April 25th 2010. I'm your mommy's dad, grandpa "Pops" and a pastor in Maryland. The morning you were being born, your mommy's mom, your grandma "Nana" was on the phone with your aunt Rachel who was telling us that your mommy was having a hard time. In those early hours that morning, since we were so far away, Nana and I could only pray for the situation that was going on with you and mommy in Fort Worth. We had to trust the Lord would help you and mommy with this birth. I remember laying in bed praying while Nana who is a nurse was talking and sharing wisdom with Aunt Rachel about what all to do. I was scheduled to preach in a few hours and I was confident you and momma Ginny were in good hands. We went to church and held our morning worship services. I didn't know it while I was preaching but Aunt Rachel was sending Nana text messages telling her she needed to get on a plane to get down there as soon as possible because they needed help. Knowing you were having a hard time and mommy was too, our whole church prayed for you both during our morning prayer time that day and many people prayed for our family during those days. It was amazing! As a matter of fact, your home church, Birchman Baptist Church was an incredible blessing to our family. I am so thankful the Lord gives us tremendous church families who come alongside us in times of trouble. I'm sure you've figured out after almost two full earthly years in Heaven that Christian people are an amazing bunch of people. It's not really them so much as the grace of God and the Holy Spirit of God who lives in them that allows them to serve the Lord Jesus in such practical ways. It's crazy I know to think two years on earth have passed by but for you in Heaven, it probably seems like just a few seconds or even a minute.

Well during the Sunday School hour after our first worship service, I went to my office and quickly purchased a plane ticket for Nana and she had little time to pack. One of our faithful deacons and his wife drove Nana to the airport in Baltimore. Your Aunt Beth, Mommy Ginny and Aunt Rachel's sister rode to the airport with Nana and Mr. & Mrs. Owens. Nana got to Fort Worth and was so excited to see you there in the hospital. It wasn't long until we heard that there were a number of complications. That's just a big word that means several things happened that mommy couldn't control, the doctors couldn't control, and sweetie you had no control over. It's okay that none of us humans could control those events because the God we love and serve as a family was in complete control. He was then and as you well know He is today also. I don't have to tell you that because the Lord Jesus has personally shared with you all about that. As a matter of fact, Pops probably needs to hurry and finish because Jesus has a special birthday bash planned for you today!

Anyway sweat pea, Nana told Pops it wasn't looking like you were going to be able to stay with us very long here on earth so I needed to get airline tickets for me, Aunt Beth, Uncle Ralphie, & Uncle Garrett to come down to Fort Worth as soon as we could. You remember your Aunts and Uncles, they all took turns playing with your hands, stroking your beautiful brown hair and reading stories to you while you were in the hospital after we got there. Pops got to read you a "Winnie the Pooh" book and your Daddy Stephen's family were all there too. Your Aunt Holly & Uncle Matt from Houston came up to see also as well as your Great Grandpa Green and Great Grandma Green. Great Grandma Wychopen, you call her "momo" came too. "Papa" Wychopen came later after you got to meet Jesus.

The day before you got to go meet Jesus, your whole family took turns holding you and playing "dress up". Your mommy brought a whole department store it seemed of clothes for you to wear. We took lots of pictures of you and mommy had a bag full of hair bows to put on your beautiful little head. It was an amazing time and we will never forget it. The nurses at Cook Children's Hospital, the doctors and all the staff helped our family so much and figured out a way for us to hold you on a pillow because there were lots of tubes and a machine helping you breath. One of their staff made a clay mold of your precious little hands and feet and gave it to your mommy and daddy. We all cried seeing that. A few minutes after we learned that you went to meet Jesus while mommy was holding you, I'm sure you were so busy and happy to meet the Lord face to face, you didn't know; but Pops has been taught all of life to be thankful by your great grandpa and grandma Green. I went back into the NICU unit to thank the nursing staff for their great care and kindness to our family for that week we got to have you. I thanked them for their wonderful care for you and for all they did to make our brief time with you so special. They allowed all of us to crowd around your bed on dressup/picture day, to sing to you, to laugh, pray, read Scripture and yes cry. Those nurses heard your special daddy pray an amazing prayer I bet they won't soon forget. Because of you Addison, you helped your family witness to those doctors, nurses and hospital staff and tell them about Jesus. Your brief little life here on planet earth made such a great impact for God's Kingdom and I can't wait till Jesus shows us all how far reaching your little life has made. I know a lot of people talked to Jesus because of you and it gave Jesus a chance to talk to them. Anyway, when Pops thanked those nurses, they began to cry. They couldn't believe in the middle of such a sad time I would come back to thank them. One nurse got up and came to hug me. They told me often times after a baby meets Jesus the parents are so angry they yell at those nurses and say mean things. She told it meant so much to them to see our family and to be able to care for you. They said you have a special family and it's true. It's not that we're so great, it's just that our Savior is so special which of course you know first hand now.

I know you are but I'll tell you that your mommy and daddy are the most amazing parents because of how they have stayed faithful to Jesus in all of this process of giving you back to the Lord. Because of you Addison, their relationship with Christ is much different than most Christians because they have had to lean on Jesus more as they have processed their grief and sorrow. Nana and I marvel at God's strength and power shown in the lives of your mommy and daddy. They are a testimony to anyone who cares to notice of how God is bigger than the heartache of life. I'd be lying if I said it has been easy for them. It has been so hard, yet they continue to shine as testimonies of the grace of God and they remain loyal to Jesus. As a matter of fact, on the marker at the place in babyland where we laid to rest your little body, they put the words of Mr. Job. I'm sure you've probably met him by now, but what he said after losing all of his children and everything he owns continues to encourage us: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord." Mr. Job wrote that in his book that God included in His Bible in chapter 1 verse 21. Would you tell Mr. Job when you see him from your Pops that I am so thankful for those words the Holy Spirit inspired him to write and that he faithfully wrote down?

Addison, Pops is so proud of you and I'm so proud of your mommy and daddy. I've cried alot wishing somehow I could "fix it" for mommy and daddy. I wish I could wave a magic wand so you could come to play with your little brother Landon that God gave to mommy and daddy. You'd have a ball romping with Landon but watch out because he's a big boy! I'm sure you're faster than he is but I wish I could take you guys to the McDonald's playground and watch you play. Oh you'd also have a ball with your cousin John Thomas. He was born to Aunt Rachel and Uncle Thomas exactly one month before your brother Landon. They are a little over one year old. It's funny, John Thomas was born in February, Landon was born in March and you were born in April! One birthday right after another. I know the Lord scheduled John Thomas' and Landon's birthdays directly ahead of yours because He wanted to remind us His grace is bigger than our sadness of not having you here with us. Jesus wanted us to forever remember His joy and faithful provision is able to do "exceedingly abundtly beyond all we can ask or think." After you met Jesus, the doctors did some tests and learned about a rare problem both mommy Ginny and Aunt Rachel have. Because of you Addison, they were able to figure out how to care for mommy and Aunt Rachel in future pregnancies so that by the grace of God, John Thomas and Landon were born healthy. If you hadn't met Jesus, we would not have known and Landon or John Thomas might not have been born healthy. As we all celebrate their birthdays and yes even today as we observe your birthday without you being here, we know God's purposes and plans are greater than ours. I understand the hope Mr. Job expressed out of his sorrow and today on your birthday, I choose to say blessed be the name of the Lord.

Addison, I know you have to run because Jesus is waiting for you. What He has planned for you is much more important than anything old Pops could say. When you crawl up in Jesus' lap today and you see His warm smile. As He runs that nail scared hand through your precious brown hair, remember it's because of Jesus you are safe and secure at our true home in Heaven. Remember sweet pea it's because of Jesus you'll never have to suffer in this world of evil your family lives in now. Remember Addison that it's because of Jesus, your mommy and daddy whole family will see you again some day in Heaven when Jesus decides it's time. You need to pray to Jesus and ask Him to bring John Thomas and Landon to trust in Him by faith as soon as they are able to understand what Jesus did to save them. I know they are cute but they still have that sin problem that is going to have to be dealt with. That's what Aunt Rachel and Uncle Thomas, Momma Ginny and Daddy Stephen are praying for those boys, it's what Nana and Pops are praying for as well. We're all so thankful Jesus made a way for our sin problem to be cured and forgiven if people would just trust Him by faith.

One more thing Addison, would you give Jesus a hug from Pops today and tell Him I love Him?  Would you please thank Him for His grace and mercy to our family. I'm thankful that you are in His care and for all that He does for us. I can't really express it appropriately, but I'm confident He'll know what I'm trying to say.
Happy Birthday!

Love,
Pops

Posted via email from Pastor Ralph

The Slippery Slope of Compromise...

In two separate conversations in the last few days, I have been challenged in my spirit regarding the dangers of what I call "the slippery slope of compromise." Believe me; I know sometimes compromise can be a healthy thing when you are talking about the color of carpet or paint and items that have no eternal significance. However, in making decisions that do have eternal significance compromise can be a dangerous thing.

The first discussion is one I've had numerous times in my ministry related to believer's baptism and whether or not a person must be baptized by immersion in order to become a church member. In the New Testament, we have numerous clear examples that baptism was always by immersion. It was how the Lord Jesus himself was baptized and the early church faithfully followed that example. The very word means to immerse, to plunge under or to submerge. The ordinance of believer's baptism is a fundamental act of obedience for a person who desires to follow the Lord Jesus Christ. It is one of two ordinances or commands the Lord Jesus gave to His church to observe, the other being the Lord's Supper. It is in the most simple of terms a pledge of allegiance to Christ. In the class I teach on baptism, I tell folks it is like putting on the uniform of a Christian. In the first century, it was how the early New Testament Church knew someone's commitment to Christ was the real deal because for someone to be baptized by immersion, they were declaring to everyone they would be loyal to Christ and not Caesar, the Emperor of Rome. The Romans believed their emperor was a god and called for their subjects to worship him as god. You could be killed for not worshipping Caesar and many Christians died martyrs deaths in the Roman Coliseum for their loyalty to Christ.

For the early church, people could say with their lips they were devoted to Christ all day long but until they were willing to publically identify with Christ in baptism, undergoing the public spectacle of being fully immersed, they were not considered true believers. Why such a stringent standard? Because baptism meant you were willing to put your life on the line for Jesus Christ and die for Him. It meant that in the first century, it means that now in many parts of the world even though here in the United States we're not under a death threat if we're baptized.

Another important point is that God teaches His people with symbols and pictures. In the Old Testament, the sacrificial system demonstrated to God's people the high cost of sin as an innocent animal was killed and blood shed as a temporary covering for sin. Believer's baptism is a beautiful picture of the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. When a person is baptized they are picturing outwardly what Christ has done for them inwardly and that their old sinful nature has died is buried and as they come up out of the water, they picture the new life in Christ. Both baptism and the Lord's Supper visually illustrate for us the high cost of sin.

Okay, that's all good theological Bible teaching. Let's get to the real world application of it. Let's be honest. Baptism by immersion is a pain to pull off. At Calvary, it begins on Friday with a volunteer coming to the church to turn on the faucet to the baptistery and letting it run for a several hours to get it half full. They have to come back to the church to shut it off. On Sunday, another volunteer comes to the church early and turns it on again this time with warm water so it is at a comfortable temperature and filled to the appropriate level before the baptism takes place. A couple of men or women volunteers assist men or women candidates as needed getting robes on. The men help the preacher get his waders, robe and microphone on, we baptize and it's all over in a matter of minutes. Here come the candidates out of the baptistery soaking wet from head to toe, a robe slinging water all over the place and the preacher hustling out of his robe and waders to get back to worship in time to pray. Water everywhere, towels galore mopping up the mess. Then still another volunteer takes all the wet robes and towels home and washes them, dries them, folds the towels and hangs the robes with another trip to the church to put it back in place for the next month. Honestly, I'm tired just describing it.

In the church we started in New Hampshire, we used a portable baptistery that routinely sprung leaks under the strain of the water pressure and boy it made for a royal mess. Finding a spot in the freezing waters of the Ammonusec River behind the church wasn't much of an option either. The one time I did a baptism there in September, I thought I was going to drown when I slipped and my waders began to fill. I was sure they'd find my body in Lisbon 15 miles downriver! If I didn’t drown, I was certain I would freeze to death! With every baptism I have conducted, there is great joy in seeing new believers obeying the Lord in complete humility and submission to Christ. The beauty and powerful testimony of that ordinance and the impact of it on those who courageously obey is hard to describe with mere words. I am certain the Lord Jesus smiles brightly as Father, Son and Holy Spirit watch their children faithfully obeying God's command. 

This leads me to a recent conversation I had with a man who is currently in a mainline denomination church who has had it with the liberalism that has swept over the church he's been in his whole adult life. He's endured under a female pastor, a compromise he said he will never stand for again. The proverbial last straw for him is that she is determined ordain practicing homosexuals and their "music minister" is a homosexual with a live in partner. He wanted to know if there would be a place for him to serve the Lord at Calvary because he has fought against these outrageous activities in the church he loves all he can. There is no hope they will change and so he must find another place to worship and serve the Lord. I haven't answered his question completely as I'll need to talk with him further about his beliefs. 

Both these conversations start in different places but they end in the same place. You see compromise in seemingly little areas as to the proper method and mode of baptism leads the church away from fundamental obedience to the Lord's explicit command in Matt. 28:19-20: "Go and make disciples...baptizing (immersing) them in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all things I have commanded you."  On a practical level, from a human point of view, I understand how churches and whole denominations have said baptism by immersion is just too inconvenient. “Just sprinkle a little water on them and call it a day. Just to be safe, make the sign of the cross on their forehead so God will bless it. So begins the slippery slope of compromise because if Jesus really didn't mean immerse them, then there is probably other stuff He said that He really didn't mean either. He didn't really mean His requirement that Pastors be men who lead their homes well spiritually.” There is no end to where this slippery slope of compromise leads because it becomes very easy to pick and choose the commands we want to obey. Jesus didn't stutter when He said "immerse them and teach them to obey all things I commanded..."

Obedience is not easy, but God honors His children who are determined to obey Him no matter what and who refuse to compromise. It is not easy for this pastor to say to an individual I love that I will only baptize by immersion and you cannot be a member of Calvary until you obey the Lord's command, regardless of the reasons why they can't be immersed. For me to compromise on that issue places Calvary on the precipice of that slippery slope. As your Pastor, I'm committed to keep us far away from that slippery slope of compromise and I intend to do exactly what Jude commanded in Jude vs. 3: "contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints." Being faithful to obey the clear basic commands of the Lord Jesus Christ in how we practice believers baptism will help us be faithful to obey the more complex ones that have derailed many a church and denomination. Satan is the architect of all this temptation to compromise our obedience to the Lord's commands. Like Jesus, I intend to stand on the authority of God's Word and obey it fully. In so doing, we keep Satan from getting a foothold at Calvary and we'll glorify Christ in our faithful, loyal obedience. I don't know about you but I'm determined to obey Christ, from my little corner of the world to yours...