Challenge of Our Culture

In an article found in the very useful compendium The Art & Craft of Biblical Preaching Rick McKinnis describes three cultural myths or mindsets that make ministering in the United States challenging at times. His article caused me to ponder the prevalence of the same or similar attitudes found in much of Canadian fundamental movement. Over the next few blogs I intend to post my thoughts on the mindsets he identifies. I will, of course, adjust or adapt them to fit the movement with which I am familiar.

It seems that within much of our movement we have the ingrained belief in the supremacy of the simplistic. This mindset reveals itself in these interrelated ways-

• The use of pithy and trite statements to speak to areas of great complexity in life. Just one example of many possible. If I had a quarter for every time I heard, “Let go, and let God,” I would be quite a bit closer to the support level I need! Not that the statement is without its truth. The problem is that it is just blurted out like so many other clichés, none of which are explained with reference to the situation at hand. What does it truly mean to “let go?” How does one go about “letting God?” Most people who hear the statement in church have absolutely no idea. I dare say that many who utter the statement in the churches have no idea. Yet this sagacious advice is tossed out to speak to just about any trial of life! Much the same could be said about the many Christian clichés in our common vocabulary.
  
• The sermon content in many of our pulpits. Serious exposition of the Bible is often jettisoned for the sake of a easier message for the people. Though it may retain hearers in the present, this does no favours to those hearers in the future.
  
• The aversion to the deeper doctrines of the Word of God. This aversion is shared by those in pulpit and pew alike. The attitude seems to filter down from the pulpit. How many times has the misuse of Scripture Itself been used to justify this attitude? “These doctrines will corrupt you from the simplicity in Christ!” You wonder how some of these individuals would articulate such doctrines as the Trinity, Virgin Birth, or the Hypostatic Union!

This mindset is incredibly damaging. I am all for stating teaching and doctrine in understandable terms. The problem is being simplistic. Comprehensibility is the key. The simplistic mindset does not promote comprehension. It misses this by treating complex matters in such a surface manner that no understanding is possible, or by assuming that a matter is not necessary to be understood. Several possible results of this mindset await. One, as people are faced with the rigors and complexities of life they find that the simplistic does not adequately address their trials. Disillusionment is a very probable consequence. Two, too much “junk food” ruins the appetite for a hearty meal. Third, the pastor and people alike have little or no grasp of fundamental doctrine. This leaves them unable to answer the objections of those who would contradict. It also leads to an incorrect understanding and application of separation. Not knowing what is truly fundamental brings a church and pastor to the point of identifying as fundamental that which is merely preferential or often political.

So what ought we do in light of this?
1. Recognize the complex nature of the “real world.”
2. Shy away from the use of trite expressions. If one is to be used that does have practical and theological merit, clearly explain what is meant rather than assume the hearers have this understanding.
3. Preach the Word! Preach it in all of its beautiful and unified, but also divisive and difficult truth. Make the truth clear to your people, don’t sacrifice it!
4. Do not despise doctrine! May your delight in it overflow into the lives of your people.

Why Don't I Post More?

In response to some who have asked and perhaps others who have wondered why I do not post more blogs on the site, I think I should explain. First, I do not want to be consumed by blogging. There are others who seem to be able to post prodigously and carry on both family and ministry life. At this point, I have not developed the talent! And to be quite honest, this is not that high a priority! Second, pre-field ministry makes blogging a difficulty. It is very difficult to spend time doing this on a different computer (your host's) from night to night. Perhaps if I had a better laptop with the whole internal wireless high speed modem thing and an attending high-speed wireless internet plan spanning North America, it would be easier. Third, every time I do blog my father's sagacious definition of a fool resounds in my memory. Don't know where he got it from, but it is good! "A fool is someone who has nothing to say and says it anyway!"

Having said this, my upcoming schedule seems to be lending itself more to spending time doing this. I plan to crank out at least three posts a week for the next couple of weeks. I hope that in doing so I do not prove myself a fool! Another of my father's sayings is "Better to remain quiet and have everyone think you a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt!"

Some Thoughts from Blaise Pascal

“We never keep our minds on the present moment. We remember the past, as though we wanted to slow down the passage of time. And we look forward to the future, as though we wanted time to accelerate. We wander about in times that do not belong to us, and do not think about the only time that does. We dream of times past and future, and flee from the present. The reason is that the present is usually painful. We push it out of sight because it distresses us – only on those few occasions which are truly enjoyable are we truly sorry to see time slip away. We try to reduce present pain with joyful hopes of the future, planning how we are going to arrange things in a period over which we have no control and which we cannot be sure of reaching…The past and present are our means, and the future alone is our end. Thus we never actually live, but hope to live. We are never actually happy, but constantly planning how to become happy.”

Hypothetical Question

Here is an email message that I sent to a number of friends several months ago. It generated some interesting responses.

Here is an entirely hypothetical question. Let’s say that you had to move and minister elsewhere. You could only take a Bible and five books. Let’s say you are going to an English speaking area. What do you bring? My list-

1. Bible- The King James Study Bible (Nelson Publishers). It has my Bible of choice for the last seven years. Excellent, conservative, and largely dispensational (derived, not imposed) study notes. Great book backgrounds. Very readable font. Excellent footnotes.

2. The New Linguistic and Exegetical Guide to the Greek New Testament by Cleon Rogers, Jr. It is filled with an incredible wealth of material. Really a library in itself. I have used my copy so much since I got it a few years back, that it is falling apart. And the book is not shabbily constructed!

3. The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge Basically an incredibly huge book of cross-references, a few explanatory notes, and other study aids. Its value is in the vast cross-references. The Bible is the best commentary on itself!

4. A Vision for Missions by Tom Wells. A short book, but one that is rich in God-soaked theology. My favorite book on missions, and one that I am always reading. It warms my heart every time that I read it.

5. Preaching that Changes Lives by Michael Fabarez. It is not the largest book on the subject, but it is the most practical and challenging that I have encountered. One to continually read and reference.

6. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy Complete in One Volume by Tolkien. I think that I would want a book for diversion, and this one is so large and complex that it would still entertain for many years of re-reads.

Some that did not make the list, but were definitely in the running-
Strong’s- the ultimate find it.
The Pleasures of God by John Piper. His best, in my opinion. Edifying, challenging, and comforting.

Another kind of list-

Bible- Either The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures or The Word on the Street

The Christian Religion by Friedrich Schleiermacher
Self-esteem: the New Reformation by Robert Schuller
Mysticism and Logic and Other Essays by Bertrand Russell
Thus Spake Zarethustra by Nietzsche
Being and Nothingness by Jean-Paul Sartre

Catch the irony of Sartre and Schuller on the same list?