Benson's Blog

Canadian Justice System

2007-08-25T09:58:00.000-03:00

I listen to talk radio quite a bit. If I am driving in my car, there is a good chance I am listening to talk radio or a sermon on CD.

One topic that comes up frequently (on talk radio) is the Canadian justice system. It usually centers around a criminal who has just been released or just been convicted of a serious crime and how they are getting nothing more than a slap on the wrist. I have to say, as I listen to these stories, I am frustrated that people who are convicted of serious crimes--like sexual assault, rape, child pornography, child molestation, murder--are released back into society after very little punishment or are convicted and given ridiculously light sentences.

Admittedly, this is an incredibly complex and involved issue. One such issue is the amount of funds it takes to incarcerate someone. If we took a hard-nose stance on crime in the criminal justice system, it would likely have HUGE fiscal implications. I doubt people would be as quick to speak if they knew what the financial implications would be.

So, I totally understand that this is a VERY complex issue and often times people don't take everything into consideration. But, what could be done in our criminal justice system to seriously punish those who need it and rehabilitate those whose crimes are less serious?

Numbers and Spirituality

2007-08-14T08:12:00.000-03:00

Hey there people in the land of blogdom... I know it's been a while since I have posted anything...and it may be a while before I post again... but something has been on my mind that past few days...

It is no secret that the leadership of Moncton Wesleyan keeps a close eye on attendance numbers, giving numbers, goals, strategies, etc. I know there are some who look down on this practice... I honestly don't know why.

I believe everything is spiritual and that every area of my life ought to be offered up as worship to God. This is true not only of my devotional time, but also of my office time. With the right frame of mind...is one anymore spiritual than the other?? I just wonder if people who don't like churches that are concerned about "numbers" have put worship in a box and said, "Worship must look like this."

Could it be that those who see "Everything as Worship" are actually more open and spiritual than those who say, "No, Worship looks like this..."

Cheers!

On Shacking Up...

2007-05-05T19:42:00.000-03:00

My responsibility at the church where I work is to lead 1st-time-visitors to become fully committed members. I have been working at it for about 2 years now (my 2-year work anniversary will be July 11). One thing I have noticed is that there are a lot of unwed couples living together. It seems that the vast majority of unchurched couples who visit are not married and they live together. Back in the 50's...I think this would have been less common... from what I understand, it would have been seen as taboo by many people in North American society.

Now, it seems if people have been dating for any length of time at all...you can pretty much guarantee that they will shack up sooner than later.

It may shock you to hear this, but I can totally understand why people do this. Apart from my Christian worldview, I think it makes a good deal of logical sense for people to move in together. The logic behind "moving in together" seems pretty clear to me:

1. People who love each other and eventually want to get married can get a 'trial run' in to see how they make out living together. If they end up fighting all the time and living together is terrible, then a divorce has been averted.
2. It is becoming more and more cost prohibitive for people to live alone, so from a financial perspective, splitting the bills makes $$ go further.
3. A wedding is expensive and when people want to have their "dream wedding" but don't have the $$ yet to put it together, why not live together until you can do it the way you want to do it.

These are just the 3 from the top of my head... I am sure I could come up with other reasons why it would seem like a great idea...

However, the amazing thing is... from what I have seen, people who live together first very often end up either not staying together or divorcing soon after they get married. Even though it may seem to make a lot of sense, it doesn't seem to work. People move in... people move out... People move in... they go through a hard time... they get married... (often times I think it is a last ditch effort to repair the relationship)... and then the soon get a divorce...

So... 1. I don't think it is God's will for two people to live together if they are not married and are involved in a sexual relationship. 2. I can see why it would make sense to people who are far from God to do so. 3. Amazingly, even though it seems to make sense, I think it rarely leads to a lasting and fulfilling marriage.

I would conclude that sin, even though it can make a great deal of sense on the surface, will make a fool of us in the end anyway. You can't disobey God's plan for a healthy marriage relationship and expect to get a healthy marriage-like relationship. Even when you think it will, sin doesn't work.

Has anyone else thought about this? What do you think?

Tithing in the New Covenant

2007-04-28T10:00:00.000-03:00

I will always tithe (at least, and more) regardless of what anyone says on the issue. It is a very practical way to battle envy, greed and materialism.

Some have said that it is only an OT concept and doesn't move into the New Covenant. In Matthew 23:23, Jesus hits on tithing in a bit of an indirect way... "you should have done the former without neglecting the latter"...

Here is my confusion and question: People are often quick to say, "ahhh that's an OT concept" as if to say "that no longer applies"... 1. How can we distinguish between what roles over and what does not... (from OT to NT) and 2. Are Jesus' implicit words in Matthew 23:23 enough to stand on for New Covenant tithing?

Even if this is an elementary question... I would appreciate your serious consideration and response... :) Thanks!

Who Knew?

2007-04-21T16:34:00.000-03:00

It's been so long since we have played... In some ways it seems like yesterday... in other ways it seems like so long ago... In any case... We had fun in those days...

I must be growing up...

2007-03-27T14:30:00.000-03:00

I have done something that makes me think I must be growing up... at least a little bit. I think my youth may be starting to be tempered with little hints of wisdom...

A day or two ago I typed up a posting for this blog about people complaining and whining about ministry. But as I read it, I thought it was a little bit harsh and could hurt people as they read it... or if it didn't hurt them it would just tick them off. And while I believe everything that I wrote in that posting was true... that didn't make it right.

That is one thing I am learning in life--just because something is true, doesn't make it right! It's like the person who calls someone else a nasty name and then defends their actions by saying, "Well...it's true!" It could be true that they are a _________ ... but that doesn't make it right to call someone a _____________ .

Furthermore, not every thought I have should be vocalized for all the world to read and see... My words have consequences when they are directed at other people... I need to choose my words more wisely and am thankful that God is teaching me and developing me...

So, while I will continue to grow in this area... (I'm sure it is going to be a life-long lesson for me) ...take solace in knowing that God is working on me and isn't done with me yet. Perhaps my "Ready... Fire... Aim..." is slowly becoming "Ready...Aim...Fire."

Cheers!
Benson

Pastors and Work

2007-02-25T22:11:00.000-04:00

I am curious what your views are on how much a pastor should work. I know there are HUGE variances in views about this... maybe that's why I would value your input so much...

Also, how do you think a pastor should spend this work time? In an "ideal" situation (I have no idea what this might mean)... how many hours would a senior pastor spend doing what?

I look forward to hearing back from you!

I'm Not Dead

2007-02-17T08:51:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone... Just thought I would let you know that I'm not dead... actually quite the opposite!!! Things are going very well!! It is great to be at a point in my life where I love getting up and going to work (I can hardly wait to get there)... AND I love finishing up my day at work and going home to Kristi and Mya (I can hardly wait to get there)!!!!

Perhaps someday, my life will slow down sufficiently enough to make the time to blog again... I know there are plenty of people who are FAR more busy than I am who still find time to blog on a regular basis... so this probaby either speaks to either the value I place on Blogging or the level of my efficiency... either way... I can't blog much right now...

Back in September, Kristi and I went to Chicago as I had a Small Groups conference at Willow Creek to attend. There were a few highlights from the trip in addition to me and Kristi having a blast:

1. Erwin McManus opened the conference and said two things that were extremely simple...yet profound and relevant for my life... Here's what he said:
-"I believe the Bible is true... But I struggle to believe the Bible is true." (I was encouraged to always engage in the struggle, b/c that is often where the Holy Spirit meets me in a manifest way).
-"I think sometimes the reason Christians grow cold or stagnant in their faith... is somewhere along the way, they stopped being a seeker." (I was challenged to never stop being a seeker...not in the sense that I haven't found a relationship with god...but rather in the sense that there is always more of HIM to seek)

2. Donald Miller was one of the speakers. I had never even heard of Donald Miller before this... I have since become well acquainted with him and his work... I have now read "Blue Like Jazz" and "Searching For God Knows What" both of which I would highly recommend if you are ready to be challenged in your relationship with God.

3. I went to a seminar called "The North Point Strategy" which initiated a relationship and process for which I am very grateful. Bill Willits (Pastor of Community @ North Point and author of North Point's Community book) presented North Point's strategy for leading people from the front door into relationship with God and others. I was blown away by the profound simplicity of the model and yet the incredible potential it had for life transformation. As a result of meeting with Bill afterward, he and I decided to grab breakfast the next morning and we talked about changing from a "Menu" strategy of groups and classes (Here's a menu of all the options and when they happen...take your pick...This has been our strategy for quite some time) to philosophy of creating just 3 environments that are created for the possibility and purpose of entering a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. As a result of our meeting together... I have been championing some shifts in our adult minsitry at Moncton Wesleyan and I am excited about the possibilities of the next few years... The strategy is simple and looks something like this...

1. Front Door (we are utilizing a web-based interactive data-base where we do continuous follow-up and tracking with new visitors in an effort to get them connected.

2. Starting Point (A first step for Seekers, Starters, or Returners... "A Conversational Environment where you can Explore Faith and Experience Community")

3. Group Link (A quarterly event hosted at the church with a casual atmosphere and an easy proscess of getting connected to Small Groups)

4. 8-Week-Challenge (8 weeks where you can "date" a small group... Not every small group is for everyone!!! If someone gets to the end of this 8 week group and says, "These are the weirdest people I have ever been with in my life... that's okay!! We will then make an attempt to get them connected again... However, many who begin the 8-wk.-challenge will continue on in a Community Group--aka Small Group)

5. 9 mo. - 12 mo. covenant to meet with the small group on no less then a bi-weekly basis.

Needless to say, this is a huge undertaking to get our present structure shifted to this new system of community and connection... I am up for the challenge and am really enjoying the process and am extremely excited about the possibilities in our near future!!!

I have also read 4 books recently that I would highly (!!!) recommend:

7 Principles of Effective Ministry -- Andy Stanley
Creating Community -- Bill Willits with Andy Stanley
Searching for God Knows What -- Donald Miller
Prayer -- Phillip Yancey

There... It will probably be another while before I post again... But you never know... maybe I will get on a roll again...

Grace. Peace.

"Where Somebody Knows YOU" vs. "Where everybody knows your name."

2006-09-18T08:41:00.000-03:00

Okay, so it's been a while since I have posted anything... Been quite busy and havne't been overely inspired to write... Probably a symptom of brain drain... I have been busy doing things I really enjoy and get pretty pumped about... but any free time I have had the past couple weeks has been enjoyed with Kristi and Mya... Well here goes a thought:

I am speaking this Sunday evening in the Fusion service. Sometimes speakers speak out of an area of strength... sometimes we speak out of an area of weakness... This Sunday evening is definatley an area of weakness. I am speaking on friendship... I am speaking about going beneath the surface... I am speaking about taking relationships beyond the weather and sports games and video games and cars and whatever...

All through the NT we read of times where Jesus is found with Peter, James and John... Noteably missing are the rest of the disciples... These were Jesus' close three... they did everything together... they were the ones he asked to keep watch with him in that dark hour in Gethsemane...

David and Jonathan come to mind when I consider friendship... In Samuel, their relationship is described in a covenant before the Lord... Similar to the commitment that is made in a wedding ceremony. They had a deeply meaningful relationship of commitment and itimacy.

I have pretty much sucked at this type of friendship over the course of my life. My friendships have typically gone to the "Cheers" level of commitment... "Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name..." I have literally hundreds of "friends"... people who would say, "Andrew is my friend"... People I could hang out with--and often do... However, when it comes to those 2 or 3 close friends who know what makes Andrew tick deep down... Not so much... The answer to this isn't going where "Everybody knows your name" but rather going somewhere where somebody knows YOU.

There are some exceptions to this in my life... Kristi is my best friend, and she knows me deeply. A.J. is a great friend of mine and I think we could talk about anything and we have a deep respect and commitment to each other... not that we keep in constant contact or anything... but we pick right up where we left off... My Dad is also a very close friend with whom I could talk about anything.

Then there are friends, who never cease to be our friends, but proximity makes deep relationship difficult... Scott Rhyno and Ty Camp would fit into this area of my friendships... They will always be my friends...deep friends even...but I rarely see them and this makes "John, Peter, and James" relationships difficult.

And so I speak out of weakness this Sunday evening... I speak about something I am not particularly good at... Making true "Peter, James and John" friendships...

Lest anyone think I am wining, I don't think I am... I am very content in my life and am very inviogorated by what I am and what I am doing... However, with that said, I do think that deep relationships are important...

So...for those of you who "know my name" but don't "know me"...what has made it difficult or non-compelling to get to know me? Much of this message is going to be about tearing down walls that get between us and others that are potential friends.

I appreciate your input! Thanks!

Life In Tension--"Your Kingdom Come...Your Will Be Done"

2006-08-28T06:41:00.000-03:00

Lately I have been trying to understand the Kingdom of God and what it means. I am reminded of Christ who taught us to pray, "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:9-10)."

My understanding of the Kingdom of God is that there is an "Already" aspect and a "Not Yet" aspect. The "Already" has to do with the reality that Christ has come and has ushered in the Kingdom of God through the incarnation. Because of the Christ event, there is a real sense in which God's Kingdom has already come.

On the other hand, the "Not Yet" aspect of the Kingdom of God refers to the reality that we still live in a fallen world where sin keeps us from experiencing the Kingdom in its fullness.

Some have seen this prayer and the tension found therein to push for social justice... claiming that it is our job as citizens of the Kingdom of God to be vessels through which the Kingdom of God is ushered in.

Let me use an example: Years ago Bill Pannell said, "11:00 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America." I personally do not believe this is a reflection of God's will or His Kingdom come...

So, what do we as Christians do? Are we to recognize the incongruities between the kingdom of the world and the Kingdom of God and look for ways to make the kingdom of the world submit to the Kingdom of God? Are we to be vessels through which the Kingdom of God is ushered in? How will this challenge the way we function in the Body of Christ?

Disclaimer: I do not claim any ownership of truth here... This is very much a thought in process... Help me think my way through this... Challenge my interpretation and my logic.

Life in Tension--Basis for Great Art

2006-08-16T07:37:00.000-03:00

One of the highlights of the L-ship summit this year was Bill Hybels' interview with Bono of U2. The main thrust of the conversation was toward understanding and responding to the Aids pandemic and world poverty. There was a side conversation that interested me as well.

Bono talked about Christian worship and gospel songs. He talked about the fact that most of them talk about "I am so happy" or "I have it all because I have Jesus" or "Ain't life grand now that I am a Christian." (For those of you who never heard Bono say these specific things...I am paraphrasing to get the gist...I think I captured his basic idea) For Bono, he felt that the words we sing as Christians in church are not a reflection of reality--in other words we fake it in an effort to make it. He said, "I understand that these songs are sung in faith...but I just don't find it real..." "Is it possible that Christians spend too much time acting like they wish they were rather than how they really are." Then he talked about something that is fascinating to me--Great art is found in the tension between what is and what could be! This caught my attention. Would it not be appropriate to sing songs to God...telling him about the crap in our lives...the questions that we have... the reality of how it really is sometimes... and then sing some songs of faith requesting God's help and victory?? I think this idea of Tension in great art is why I am really into Jason Upton these days. I find in him the tension found in David's hymns. Here are the lyrics from Upton's song "In The Silence"... I think he captures the tension of great art:

In the Silence
Jason Upton

v.1
Tired of telling you, you have me
When I know you really don’t
Tired of telling you I’ll follow
When I know I really won’t
Cause I’d rather stand here speechless
With no great words to say
If my silence is more truthful
And my ears can hear how to walk in your way

Chorus:
In the silence
You are speaking
In the quiet I can feel the fire
And it’s burning, burning deeply
Burning all it is that you desire to be silent, in me

v.2
Oh Jesus can you hear me?
My soul is screaming out
And my broken will cries teach me
What your Kingdom’s all about
Unite my heart to fear you,
To fear you’re holy name
And create a life of worship
In the spirit and truth of your loving ways

What are some of your ideas for displaying great art in the church? Do you (like me) think that Bono might have been on to something?

Cheers!

L-Ship Summit 2006

2006-08-13T16:40:00.000-03:00

The Leadership Summit is always my highlight of the year as conferences go. I always come back from this event with new and better ideas for influencing those around me. I love being around other leaders... there is something very energizing about being around people who understand the stakes of leadership... Understanding the reality of how many people are potentially effected by our decisions... good and bad! This year's lineup of speakers was nothing short of amazing:

Mike Breaux (Night before summit via simulcast)
Bill Hybels
James Meeks
Andy Stanley
Peg Neuhauser
Ashish Nanda
Jim Collins
Bono (U2)
Patrick Lencioni
Wayne Cordeiro

It would be difficult to share the overall experience in brief...so I will just share a few quotes:

"If a leader isn't sure where he is going, then the people don't know where they are going." -Meeks
"The less you do, the more you accomplish." -Stanley
"Never violate the principles of God in an effort to gain the blessings of God." -Stanley
"Hire someone from outside an organization if you want them to start something new. Hire someone from inside the organization if you want to hire to build an existing team." -Nanda
"The question should never be 'Are we great?' The question should always be, 'Are we better today than yesterday?'" -Collins
"Your work is too important to entrust it to the wrong person." -Collins
"In the social (non-profit) sector, you have to increase your expectations for greatness from your employees (volunteers) not decrease them!" - Collins
"There is no positive correlation between $$ compensation and people performing greatly...Great people will do great things b/c they wake up with the mission on their mind and to ask them to do otherwise would be to take their purpose away." -Collins
"You are only leading if the people who are following you have the freedom to do otherwise." -MacGregor/Burns --Quoted by Collins
"Don't make perfect the enemy of the good." -Lencioni
"You will teach what you know, but you will reproduce who you are." -Cordeiro
"The road to success and the road to nervous breakdown are sometimes the same road." -Cordeiro
"Sometimes the only way radical change happens in our lives is by radical pain." -Cordeiro

There is so much more that I gained from the Summit than what is represented in these quotes. I encourage anyone who is passionate about becoming a better leader and follower to block off August 9-11 next summer and get to The Leadership Summit. If you register early, it is very affordable and I have not been disappointed in the 3 that I have attended so far. For me, The Leadership Summit is not an option... It is a "must-attend" because of the axe sharpening that takes place in my life.

Cheers!

Great Vacation! Ready to Go!

2006-08-11T08:08:00.000-03:00

I had an amazing 10-day vacation. The first couple days, Kristi and I went camping. The next 5 days were spent here in Moncton just hanging out. Kristi and I were able to hang out a lot... Mya and I were able to do a lot of playing... We just had some awesome family Time!! And another great thing about it was that it cost us next to nothing!

The second weekend, we went to my parent's cottage in Coles Island and hung out my parents and my brother and sister and their families. Great times!!

I now feel refreshed and ready to go vocationally!! And to top it all off, my first day back at work is the first day of the Leadership Summit, which is always the highlight of my year for conferences etc. It never fails that I come away from that conference with a new annointing and conviction for doing Kingdom work.

I can hardly contain my excitement for this year! Ready to Go!

Needed "Kick-Back" Time

2006-08-01T22:17:00.000-03:00

This past weekend, I started my first vacation since becoming a pastor. We kicked it off by going to the Mirimichi and camping out overnight with some friends from Moncton Wesleyan. We played some games, had a camp fire, and (get this) went to Flo's Lounge for a little Karaoke!! It was a lot of nonesense and a TONNE of fun!!!! For the most part we just joked around and talked about stuff that in the "Grand Scheme of Things" probably won't make a whole lot of difference to the world... but I must say that for me... this was a much needed get-away... A time to just kick back and have some fun with some good friends.

On Sunday, Kristi and I joined everyone else for breakfast, packed up our stuff and then went on a 3 hr. Tubing trip down a river... It was a very relaxing, fun and (at times) halarious!!!

This was a great start to what I hope will be a recharging vacation...

Monday and Tuesday (today), I have spent all day with Kristi and Mya... It doesn't get any better than this!!!

Death -- Who is Responsible?

2006-07-18T12:36:00.000-03:00

Hi Everyone. Our church has just suffered a great loss. Last week, a 19-year-old was killed tragically in a car accident.

Is his death God's will? or Is his death the work of the enemy? or Is it neither?

I would very much appreciate your input on this one.

Thanks!
Andrew

Preaching

2006-07-06T09:25:00.000-03:00

Preaching is one of the strangest things I have ever been involved in:

-I love to do it.
-I take it very seriously.
-If I am to do it well, it requires a tonne of my time.
-When I do it poorly, it still requires a tonne of my time.
-When I think to myself, "What did I just drop on these poor people...that sermon sucked"...it is inevitable that many people (usually more than other times) will come and say, "God really used that to speak to me" or "I really needed to hear from God...and I did."
-It is a mystery of the Infinite working through the finite.
-There are times when I preach a sermon and it really connects with the people...then I will preach the exact sermon to another group and it seems to fall flat.
-Preaching is very powerful... People forget speaches, but when God speaks to them through the spoken word, they are impacted for life!

These are just a few of my thoughts on the mystery of preaching...I could literally go on all day...but won't... what could you add to this list?

"13 Things Men Wish Women Knew"

2006-07-05T23:48:00.000-03:00

I recently read this on someone else's blog... there were some on the list that could be offensive, so I took them out... the rest of them...I thought were pretty good...

These are the things some men wish women knew, but usually are too cowardly to tell them:

1) Men are not mind readers.

2) Learn to work the toilet seat. You're a big girl. If its up, put it down. You don't hear us complaining about you leaving it down though we need it up usually.

3) Subtle hints do not work for most of us. Strong hints don't usually work. |Just tell us what you want, and assume we are thick as a post.

4) Yes and no are perfectly acceptable answers to most questions. We are not being coy.

5) A headache that lasts for 10 months is a problem. See a doctor.

6) Anything a guy said in an argument 10 months ago is inadmissable in a current argument. In fact all comments become null and void after seven days. They have a shelf life.

7) If you think you're fat, please do not ask us our opinion. There are no right answers to such a question.

8) If something we've said can be interpreted in two ways, and one of them makes you mad or sad, then of course we meant it the other way.

9) Christopher Columbus did NOT need directions and neither do we.

10) All men see in only 16 colors, like a Windows default setting. Peach for example is a fruit, not a color. We have no idea what mauve is. Also, men only smell certain things-- things like hamburgers cooking.

11) If you ask a question you don't want an answer to, expect an answer you'd rather not hear.

12) If we ask what's wrong and you say 'nothing' we will assume you are telling the truth. Don't be shocked if we don't ask again in five minutes.

13)I am in shape. Round is a shape!

How Much of an Environmentalist are You?

2006-07-04T21:10:00.000-03:00

I guess I am only partly an environmentalist...and maybe then, not a very good one.

I own a vehicle that is super good on fuel... my Toyota Echo gets @ 54 miles/gallon on the highway... but I don't separate my garbage as well as I should... Well...okay...so I don't separate it at all...

I am very much in favor of drinking fair-trade, organically-grown coffee b/c it saves lives every year and b/c thousands are killed by the pesticides used on the cheap coffee we drink... BUT I just bought a bottle of "round-up" yesterday (used to kill weeds) when they had a much more environmentally friendly one that was much more expensive and not nearly as effective at killing the weeds in my yard...

I really enjoy the wilderness and am not a fan of cutting down the rain-forests, but I am the son of a Wood Contractor and have cut my fair share of trees and will probably cut many more...

I definately think that our planet is getting warmer and that we are beginning to see the effects of years of abuse... I believe that it is ignorant to claim otherwise...

I don't purposfully litter, I don't dump hazordous waste, I don't drive anything that is brutally hard on the environment, but I'm not a tree hugger either...

It seems to be a 'sexy' or 'hip' thing lately for Christians to talk about the environment and about how being a citizen of the Kingdom should effect how we treat this planet... What are your environmental practices? How should having a Christian Worldview effect the way we act toward the environment?

Cheers!

What are your favorite Movie Lines?

2006-06-30T08:38:00.000-03:00

My wife and I are very different when it comes to one aspect of movie preference. She wants to see new movies...ones that she has not seen before. I do too sometimes. But I think what I enjoy the most, is when I pull out one of my top ten favorite movies of all time and watch it for another time... One of these movies for me is "A Few Good Men" starring Tom (the psycho) Cruise, Jack Nicholson, and Demi Moore. I would not even venture a guess at how many times I have seen this movie... I just love it...

My favorite line in the movie is when Tom Cruise's character Daniel Caffey who is a Harvard Law grad practicing in the United States Navy, gets extremely frustrated with Demi Moore's character Jo--also a laywer (but not nearly as good a lawyer)-- Caffey gets so upset with Jo and her comments surrounding a case that he sarcastically and passionately says the following:

"Oh, I'm sorry...I forgot...you were sick the day they taught law at law school."

That is a great line!
What are some of your favorite movie lines?

What is a Nominal Christian?

2006-06-25T20:15:00.000-03:00

What is a nominal Christian? In my mind I think of a nominal Christian as someone who has at some point in their lives admitted they were a sinner, repented of their sin and accepted God's offer of relationship with Himself through Christ. After making such a commitment (once upon a time) they then proceed in a life of nominal commitment. They may go to church on Sunday and they may say a prayer here and there... But after their church attendance and their prayer or two are out of the way...they are pretty much focused on everything else...and what I am imagining is that they do not see the "everything else" things through the lenses of the Word.

Is there such a thing as a nominal Christian?
If so, what are they like?

Mormon's Panties

2006-06-23T08:11:00.000-03:00

Hey everyone. Sorry I've been a bit of a slogger lately... been in the middle of a move! The end result is great... The process itself sucks!

I have been doing some comparative studies on Christianity and the cults--namely The Church of Jesus Christ of the Ladder Day Saints, The Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses.

My understanding is that Mormons have some special undergarments that they always wear... Does anyone know what this is all about... Sounds pretty kinky to me...

I remember hearing a prof. at Bethany Bible College joke around about Mormons not making it to their eternal planet if they didn't have them on... Is this true? Just a joke? What are the Mormon's panties all about anyway?

Thanks for your help!

Scholar's Verbal Diarrhea on Mega-Churches

2006-06-07T20:34:00.000-03:00

I recently read this opening line on a blog post by a well known Christian scholar: "I have to admit that I have problems with mega-churches, and many of their pastors." Actually, the post speaks positively to how Rick Warren is responding to his recently acquired wealth in the aftermath of his mega-selling book, "The Purpose Driven Life." But I have heard a load of negativity while at Asbury and while hanging around people who want to pursue education professionally. Frankly, I am sick of hearing it! I could deal with this certain scholar's blog opening with the line, "I have to admit that I have problems with books like 'The Purpose Driven Life' and here is why." That is a different discussion altogether and one that should be encouraged. However, it has been my observation that the longer people are involved in Theological education, the more disdain they have for mega-churches. There is a positive correlation between time spent in Theological Education and negative opinions toward mega-churches! Further, I have not heard what I would consider a well thought out opinion for such negativity. The only arguments I have heard are the ones that go something like this: A. That mega-church is a mile wide and an inch deep! (blah...blah...blah) B. The only thing they care about is numbers and money (blah...blah...blah...blah) C. There are too many people there...the church is just too big (are you serious?!)

Questions:
1. Does anyone know at what point a church becomes a mega-church?
2. How can anyone--by general rule--have problems with mega-churches and their pastors?
3. What do you think about Mega-churches? What is your critique?

More Ink Spent -- Part 2

2006-06-05T21:06:00.000-03:00

In all of the Bible, there is no book that has been more written on/about than Romans. In the book of Romans, there is no chapter that has had more ink spent on it that Romans 7. So, to the layers and layers of ink I add my own. Since it was Witherington that re-sparked my interest in this discussion, I will quote him here: "One would think with all the ink spilt on this text that we could get it right. Yet there are almost as many views of this text as there are major commentaries and dissertations on it. Oddly enough, one of the most fundamental problems in Evangelical exegesis of Romans is the failure to read Romans cumulatively, rather than sound-byting it. This failure manifests itself when Romans 7 is read as if it has little or no connection with Romans 5." Well...one thing is for sure...whether others do or not, Witherington seems to be pretty certain he is right!

Since Witherington's interpretation is closely linked with Romans 5, I should mention what we have here. In 5:12-21 we see Paul talking on the one hand about sin coming into the world through one man, Adam... and on the other hand about sin being atoned for through one man...the God-man Jesus Christ. In a sentence, as Achtemeier puts it, "those who belong to the race of Adam are under the power and reign of sin. The only way to escape this is to join another race of humanity--those who are in Christ."

In Romans 6, anticipating that his listeners may have questions about his discourse, Paul goes through a couple questions that he will answer for them. "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase?...Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace?" To each of these questions he answers emphatically ma genoito. The Greek here is not subtle... It is the Greek equivalent of "I should be shot for thinking this would be right thinking." Some have translated it as "Let it never Happen!"

Finally, we get to Romans 7. In Romans 7:7-24 in particular...what the heck is going on? What has Paul been smoking here? Augustine, Luther and Calvin would contend that in this passage we find Paul giving autobiographical material. We see here a picture of the normal Christian life. This seems increasingly unlikely to me, especially in light of what we read in the rest of Romans and especially in the Pastorals. Whatever this text ultimately means, I am convinced that it cannot be a picture of the expected Christian life. In my opinion many people have been hijacked by the history of interpretation on this one.

What many scholars believe is that beginning in verse 7, Paul uses a rhetorical technique known as impersonation (prosopopoia). Scholars who believe this is taking place are again divided over just who Paul is impersonating here. It ranges from the idea that he is impersonating himself, as he was before coming to Christ to impersonating Jews as Christians would perceive them. Witherington takes a different route.

Witherington believes that in vv. 7-13, Paul is impersonating Adam and in vv. 14-25 Paul is impersonating Adams descendants. In Witherington's words, "But who is the 'I' then who is speaking here? In my view the I is Adam in vv. 7-13, and all those who are currently 'in Adam' in vv. 14-25." You will recall that Adam was the last historical figure that Paul mentions back in 5:12...after answering some of his listeners expected questions, Paul comes back to Adam in the form of impersonation.

What we find in vv. 7-13 is an actual re-depiction of the Fall.
v. 7 sin committed by Adam and Eve was a violation of the tenth commandment--they coveted. "I did not know sin except through the commandment." Witherington says, "This condition would only properly be the case with Adam, especially if 'know' in this text means having personal experience of sin."
v. 8 Law (singular)... Who in biblical history was under one commandment and that one about coveting? Answer: Adam
v.9 "I was living once without/apart from the Law" ... Who but Adam?
v.11 ff. sin is personified in this text...as if it were like the snake in the garden... "Sin took opportunity through the commandment to deceive me."

In vv.14-25 and continuing into ch.8 BWIII suggests that, "what we have...is a narrative of a conversion and its theological and spiritual implications seen after the fact and from a Christian perspective." In other words, Paul is impersonating one of Adam's heirs who is tired of the struggle with sin... he is at the end of trying to make it to God via the law and is ready to accept God's grace in a conversion experience.

"It appears then that Paul is describing in Romans 7-8 the anatomy of a conversion, and in Romans 7:14-25 we find a person under conviction of sin, but still in its bondage, and crying out for conversion."

There are a lot more nuts and bolts to Witherington's interpretation, but I think I have captured the basic gist. I hope I have not hinted at where I land on this text...b/c to be frank--I'm not sure!! Help me out here... what do you think? Do you think BWIII has nailed it... What is your interpretation? Why?

More Ink Spent -- Part 1

2006-06-05T09:30:00.000-03:00

It's been a while since I have been around blogdom...been busy with other matters...it's good to be back.

Recently I have been reading a book entitled The Problem with Evangelical Theology: Testing the Exegetical Foundations of Calvinism, Dispensationalism and Wesleyanism by Ben Witherington III. Interestingly enough, this book was "instigated" (see the 'to' page) by Jerry Walls who is co-writer (with Joe Dongel) of Why I am not a Calvinist. Ben and Jerry (he he) share a common wall at ATS as their offices are right next to each other and knowing their personalities...there is no doubt some interesting discussion that takes place between them... Not too far into the book (page 1 of chapter 1 to be exact), BWIII takes a stab at Jerry and the like--"Sometimes scholars in the Reforemd tradition sound remarkably like John Wesley, and sometimes scholars in the Arminian tradition talk about things like total depravity and 'once saved always saved,' when they are not busy toying with nonbiblical notions like openness theology." (OOOOOOH) I can see Jerry smirk as he reads this line.

I took a few classes from BWIII while at ATS and he was one of the main reasons that Asbury appealed to me. He is a brilliant scholar who will have soon written a major commentary on every book in the New Testament as well as several other recent books. He is one of the best known and well respected present-day NT scholars in all of Evangelical Christianity. He is also a pretty cool guy who brings his guitar to class from time to time just to jam. He was taking requests in NT intro one day and I asked for Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young... He didn't miss a beat... He started playing "Needle and the Damage Done"... BW is a great man of God and humble follower of Christ... and he is a blast to be around. He is a pacifist... which chaffs at me a bit... but I am far more of a pacifist than I used to be!! BWIII's specialty and sometimes original contribution is his socio-rhetorical emphasis seen in all of his commentaries. This has bothered many a scholar who would suggest he gets too caught up in sociology, anthropology and rhetorical criticism and thereby misses the "clear and basic interpretation of the text." I am not convinced that BWIII has done anything of the sort. His knowledge of Greek is impeccable and while I don't always agree with his interpretation, it is not because I find his scholarship wanting. His famous comment in NT Intro was, "A Text without a Context is just a pretext to make the text say whatever you want it to say." GREAT LINE... (Not sure if it is originally his)

So far The Problem With Evangelical Theology has been a great read...though I have only been through the first section, which challenges Calvinst exegetical foundations... I guess we will see.

Look for Part II coming soon... I will Spend even more ink on Romans Chapter 7 (the most written about passage of scripture in all of the NT) -- a passage that BWIII gives an interesting spin to... one I am not sure I can accept.

Grace. Peace.

Ode To My Wife and Stay-At-Home Moms

2006-05-17T22:07:00.000-03:00

Okay...so some of you are going to read this post and say things like "Suck-up", "Andrew is in the doghouse and needs to do something to get out." "Andrew is trying to get lucky"...and any other number of things. None of these are true...but you can think what you like...

I am crazy about my wife! I hope all you husbands out there are as crazy about your wife as I am about mine. I have heard that some jerk guys out there are not as turned on by their wives as they head into the "family" stage of the marriage. I think this is the strangest and dumbest thing I have ever heard. It has been just the total opposite for me! I see Kristi being the amazing mother she is to Mya and I see so many more incredible things in her that I never saw before. I didn't think this was at all possible (because she was so hot to me before)...but becoming a mother has just made Kristi that much hotter!

I have heard some guys talk as though being a stay-at-home mom is no big deal. They get upset that their wives "don't get more done...even though they are JUST a stay-at-home mome." First of all there are very few things that tick me off worse than hearing people say their wife is "Just" anything...but ESPECIALLY a stay-at-home mom!!! My wife is not only a stay-at-home mom (a job to which there is none greater that I am aware of)...she is also doing what she can to earn extra income to make our $$ situation less of a stretch! I can't tell you how much I appreciate her commitment to this family!! She is second to none in my world!

I am not a fan of country music (though I have to admit...I have enjoyed the odd Hillbilly tune)...I think this song's lyrics were written as a great salute to all you ladies out there who have the incredible more-than-full-time-job of being a stay at home mom! Here's to you!

Lost my job, came home mad
Got a hug and a kiss and thats too bad
She said I can go to work until you find another job
I thought I like the sound of that
Watch TV and take long naps
Go from a hardworking dad to being mr.mom

Well
Pampers melt in a maytag dryer
Crayons go up one drawer higher
Rewind Barney for the fifteenth time
Breakfast at six, naps at nine
Theres bubble gum in the baby's hair
Sweet potatoes in my lazy chair
It's been crazy all day long
and it's only Monday mr.mom

Football,soccer and ballet
Squeeze in scouts and PTA
And theres that shopping list she left thats seven pages long
How much smoke can one stove make
The kids wont eat my charcoal cake
it's more than any maid can take
Being mr.mom

Well
Pampers melt in a maytag dryer
Crayons go up one drawer higher
Rewind Barney for the sixteenth time
Breakfast at six, naps at nine
theres bubble gum in the baby's hair
Sweet potatoes in my lazy chair
Been crazy all day long and its only monday mr.mom

Before i fall in bed tonight
if the dog didn't eat the classifides
i'm gonna look just one more time

'cause
pampers melt in a maytag dryer
crayons go up one drawer higher
rewind barney for the eighteenth time
breakfast at six, naps at nine
theres bubble gum in the baby's hair
sweet potatos in my lazy chair
been crazy all day long
oh
been crazy all day long
and its only monday mr.mom

balancin checkbooks, jugglin' bills
thought there was nothin to it
baby,now i know how you feel
what i dont know
is how you do it

(honey, your my hero)

Consumerism and Christianity

2006-05-12T12:02:00.000-03:00

There is a struggle that goes on inside my head that I could use some perspective on. It is the struggle of being a committed disciple of Christ in North American in a consumeristic society. My interest has recently been piqued by two things: 1. Nathan Crawford's blog has some interesting stuff related to Christianity and Consumerism (http://ncrawford.blogspot.com/) and 2. Our missions banquet here at the church (It was called "The Real World"... Everyone payed $10 to go to a banquet where they thought they would be recieving a multi-course meal... 90% recieved just rice, 9% recieved fish or chicken, and one person recieved lobster, steak, burgers, cake, fries, soda, salad, pizza...etc.etc.etc...the person couldn't share any of the food and all the leftovers--which was most of it--were thrown out afterward. It was a representation of the reality of our world where most people have no control of the food they will get on a day-to-day basis).

For better or for worse we live in a culture that believes the more stuff you get, the happier you will be. Our poorest would be considered rich in most of the world. We spend billions of dollars on toys that will be outdated the month after we buy them and there doesn't appear to be any decline in our appetite. I use "we" here in a general sense...at least for the most part. If people could see mine and Kristi's financial budget right now, I doubt there would be a single person that would say, "I cannot believe they spent money on that...they are so consumeristic!" And yet I still find myself struggling with what a Christian's response to world hunger, poverty, and charity ought to be.

For instance, if I were to change my diet, clothing preferences and give up every vacation that I am planning on going on for the rest of my life--like taking my daughter to Disney Land someday etc. etc. etc., then I could give more of those resources to someone else who is in need. Perhaps those are extreme measures...afterall, by North American standards, Kristi and I are both modest and generous.

Where do we draw the line between deserving, enjoying, and being "blessed" and the fact that so much of what we use (such as this computer...that was actually given to us but you get the point) is not a need, but a want? What is too much? Are we as North Americans the ones who are going to need the miracle of a "camel going through the eye of a needle"? (Matt. 19:24, Mk. 10:25, Lk. 18:25)

Where have you drawn the line?

What Happened to Evangelism?

2006-05-10T07:52:00.000-03:00

It seems to me like there is a tendency among young pastors to under-value evangelism. I am not sure this is an explicit tendency... Pastors don't necesarily say, "I don't think evangelism is importnat," but I wonder what an analysis of pastor's schedules would tell us about their desire to lead people into a relationship with Christ. I am not a fan of the phrase "soul winning" because I find it is just a funny way to describe the process of leading someone to Christ, but I wonder if some of us young bucks (and doe(s) as the case may be) are dropping the ball on personal evangelism. As I have been reading some of the old dudes--esp. Wesley and Finney--I find people who were absolutely driven to lead people to a relationship with Jesus Christ--to an experience of justification.

As I have the chance to talk to different young pastors, I hear a lot more discussion about doctrine, beliefs, strategies (but rarely for evangelsim) and community (usually inward).

As I have read Wesley and Finney, it seems like their pursuit for truth always led them to be more passionate about evangelism--not less! My conversations with colleagues as of late has rarely (if at all) led to a discussion of a plan for intentionally leading people to Christ. Is passion for Truth enough? Shouldn't passion for Truth lead to a passion for personal evangelism?

I am not saying that I have the "be all and end all" approach to evangelism... but I do make it a weekly practice to get to places where people will be receptive of hearing the Gospel message.

What are you doing to lead people to Christ? Should you be doing anything? Is "I just live my life and pray someone will take notice that there is something different" enough?

Grace and Peace.

Seeker Insensitive

2006-05-03T11:56:00.000-03:00

Last week I had the opportunity to visit with a couple who had absolutely no concept of Church, the Bible, or of Jesus. They were completely unchurched! Usually even "unchurched" people have some concept of who Jesus was and what he did and may even know that Christianity teaches that Jesus died for people's sin and rose from the dead and that they claim his resurrection. Not this couple...they really didn't have any idea of anything related to our faith.

They were in their mid-30's, were successful in business, had two children (a boy and a girl) and had a beautiful house with 2 SUV's. And yet, they found themselves growing weary of "life as usual". They were beginning to think beyond the two bookends of life (birth and death) and were beginning to ask "what if there is something beyond?" "Can I really make sense of a world that says I came from nothing and will go back to nothing?" "What's it all for?" Now, I'm not saying that they were completely freaked out with where they found themselves... they are just beginning to ask important questions! "What is life about?" "Why am I going through this?" "Is there hope for our marriage?"

I had a blast talking to them. I was expecting to have a half-hour visit and ended up excusing myself (they would have kept me longer) 2 hours after my arival.

Now, I consider myself to be a fairly "seeker-sensitive" person. However, as I was talking to them, I found myself using words that meant absolutely nothing to these people. Strange words like "resurrection" "salvation" --these people gave me blank looks--and rightfully so--these are important words, but only after they have been given meaning in context of the Christian faith. As sensitive as I was trying to be...I found my language wanting in the area of relevance. So I come back to one of my life missions and am challenged to be more creative in my communication: "I will speak about real things in real ways to real people."

I pray that I will continue to be able to have meetings like this one where I will be given the chance to shed a little light and sprinkle a little salt!

Thoughts? Comments?

Grace and Peace,

Sin and Sanctification

2006-04-28T12:43:00.000-03:00

Hey all you smart people out there. You are going to have to help me with a dilemma that I have never understood re. Entire Sanctification.

Entire Sanctification is a work of grace whereby (among other things) God cleanses a Christian from original sin. Many Wesleyan scholars have used very dramatic terms to express how original sin is done away with. The following words/phrases are used: eradicated, exterminated, extirpated, crucified, dead to sin.

It is further understood that our bent to sin is transformed into a bent to the things of God. Entirely Sanctified, we are now empowered with the Baptism of the Holy Spirit to desire what God desires for us. This is what caused the hymn writer to say, "Take away my bent to sinning."

So what's the problem?

Questions:
If original sin is dead (as in dead=no longer alive in us; the "old man" has kicked the bucket),
If our desire is no longer toward sin, but toward obedience,
If we are cleansed from all sin and empowered for God's will

THEN How is it possible to fall from this level of grace?

Answers that have not worked for me:
-We still have a free will. (Yes, but our will is now cleansed and we no longer desire sinful things)
-On earth we will never be free from temptation. (How can evil even be tempting to a person who is completely sold out to God)

Just so you know, I do think it is possible to fall from any point of grace experienced here on earth. However, I do not know how to philosophically or theologically or biblically explain my dilemma.

Do you have it figured out?

New Favorite Church Word: Community

2006-04-22T14:47:00.000-03:00

Every so often the church comes up with a new word or phrase that becomes it's favorite or most important. Let me give you a few examples of some words or phrases we have liked in the past: "It's a God Thing", "God is Good--All The Time--All the Time--God is Good" (Oh how I loved that one!), "Seeker-Sensitive", "Purpose-Driven", "Post-Modern" (I am not convinced that any post-modern person would call their church service a "post-modern" service...that is why I get a kick out of places that advertise their service as "post-modern"), "Contemporary", and "Fellowship"...which is closely related to one of our new favorite words--COMMUNITY.

What does community mean? The English word "community" shows up in the Bible 86 times, but only once in the NT. The NT greek is plathos and this word has a wide range of meanings from "a large number of people" to "a meeting or crowd" to "a body of members; fellowship, community, congregation."

Since I am the "Pastor of Community" here at Moncton Wesleyan, I thought it might be important to know what I am actually the "pastor of." Community seems like such a broad term. Does this describe my job?

A word closely related to community is koinonia, which is usually translated as "fellowship" in our English translations. It shows up 9 times in the NT and its derivations show up many more. It is an important word meaning "close association involving mutual interests and sharing; association, communion, fellowship, close relationship, participation.

I think this word--koinonia--is actually closer to the title that would fit my job best. Mind you "Pastor of koinonia" really doesn't have a great ring to it...so I guess for now I remain the Pastor of Community (understanding in my own mind that koinonia is the word I am thinking). Actually this word doesn't fully fit either, because my job description is summed up as "taking first time visitors and leading them to covenant membership." This involves Frontline ministry (ushers, greeters, parking, etc.), Visitor Attraction/Retention, Discipleship, Small Groups, and obviously a lot of Assimilation (Oh yes, "They will be assimilated").

I am sure most of you are bored out of your head by now with all this morphology, but maybe now at least I understand "Community" (what I am a pastor of) a little bit better. How about you...what are some of your favorite (or NOT SO FAVORITE!!!) church catch phrases?

Why Mocha Wesleyan?

2006-04-20T11:07:00.000-03:00

For those of you who know me, it will come as no surprise that one of the first ministries I have implemented here at Moncton Wesleyan is a Cafe ministry called Mocha Wesleyan. I love coffee...especially good coffee! Yes there is a difference between cheap coffee and not-so-cheap (but not that expensive) coffee!

As the Pastor of Community here, it is my job to get as many people connecting in as many ways as possible. It was amazing to me that after church on Sunday nights, many people would leave and disperse to the 42 Tim Horton's located in the Metro Moncton area. So I had an idea for a specialty coffee ministry offering different types of coffees and teas as well as a cafe mocha drink and hot chocolate. Drinks come with a whipped topping if you desire with chocolate sauce and then you go to a table with all the fixins to get your drink just the way you like it.

Mocha Wesleyan is a win-win-win-win etc. ministry!!! It supports cross-cultural justice by offering fair-trade coffees that have been organically grown--which means lives are saved as a result of not using harmful pesticides and chemicals. People are paid a fair wage to produce healthy coffee! This is a Win!

Mocha Wesleyan also provides people who attend our church the opportunity to drink high-quality hot drinks at a reasonable price with friends. Instead of leaving after church and going to the 40ish different Tim Horton's accross our city, our people can stay right here and enjoy the fellowship along with their chemical free coffee, tea, hot chocolate or cafe mocha! This is a Win!

All profits from Mocha Wesleyan will go directly to the team responsible for missions here at Moncton Wesleyan, which is headed up by Carl Gilles. Each month there will be a specific missions focus to which we will send our profits. This is a Win!

Finally, Mocah Wesleyan is partnered with Down East Coffee Roasters--a locally owned and opperated business that is passionate about fair trade coffee which is chemical free. This is just another way that the Church can partner with the local community for the greater good of our world. This is a Win!

So far this ministry has been effective at accomplishing all of our goals. If you ever visit Moncton Wesleyan...come and visit Mocha Wesleyan as well.

Cheers!

Confessions of a Thought in Process

2006-04-15T10:40:00.000-03:00

I have come to the conlusion that I would be considered a heretic by most of the evangelical community (and probably many of you). Why you ask? Because I have "Open Theism" tendancies. Yes...it's true...I do not believe that God exhaustively knows the future. Now before any of you decide to burn me at the stake, at least let me explain myself...then if you choose to burn me at the stake then at least I will have been heard first.

I had absolutely no idea that I was an "Open Theist" until I was at Asbury Seminary and I was sitting in a class with Dr. Alan Coppedge entitled, "John Wesley's Theology for Today." I immensely enjoyed this class. However, as we were dealing with the issue of omniscience, providence, free will etc... I raised my hand and ignorantly asked the following question: "Dr. Coppedge, wasn't it Wesley's view that God self-limited himself so as not to exhaustively know the future, to allow for our free will?" Now some of you may be thinking this is an innocent enough question, but if you know Dr. Coppedge (whom I admire and played golf with), he looked at me with a severe look and said, "No Mr. Benson...that would be 'Open Theism' and most of the evangelical church consideres that heresy.".... RIIIIIIIGHT!

Okay, so I thought I always thought this way...even before BBC (and maybe I have). but upon asking some questions of a few respected people connected with BBC, they let me know that Dr. Taylor taught "Open Theism" as it relates to free will and God not exhaustively knowing the future becasue God puts a "Self-limitation" so as to allow for free will.

Now those who would be considered orthodox on this view would be quick to say that "knowing" the future is not the same as "causing" the future. In other words, God can allow for me to have a free will while still knowing exactly what I will choose. For them Knowing does not equal causing. They would further argue that if God does not exhaustively know every last detail of the future that somehow this would take away from his omniscience (God knowing everything). At least this is what I understand (admittedly, I am not a well versed Theologian).

This is my view: If God exhaustively knows everything about future events, then he always knew everything about future events. Because of this, God knew before he created me that I would choose The Way (leading to eternal life) or the other way (leading to eternal death and separation from God). If God knew that I would choose eternal death before he even created me...and he still chose to create me... to me this would make God a cruel and non-compassionate Deity. When God creates individuals that he knows will choose eternal death, to me that is in effect determining some to eternal retrobation. Therefore, I conclude that in order to make mankind truly free, God had to make them without ultimately knowing whether they would choose Him or not.

Let me put it another way: If Kristi (my wife) and I were pondering having another child, and I could somehow know before having that child that it would be a retrobate and choose evil over good and would spend an eternity separated from God...I would go have a vasectomy.

Therefore, my only conclusion so far (this is a thought in process) is that a loving God who creates human beings with free will would have to be open (at least somewhat) to the happenings of future decisions/events/circumstances of humans.

In Dongell and Walls' book "Why I am Not a Calvinist", Dongell says the following about Clark Pinnock: "Though Pinnock has drawn a line in the sand betweeen himself and process theology, his denial that God infallibly knows the future has caused many to conclude that Pinnock now stands outside the pale of orthodoxy on this matter and that Open Theism should more accurately be termed 'finite godism.'" This is footnoted by Donell and Walls with the following: "Thoug I (Joe Dongell) disagree with Open Theism at key points, I hesitate to label it as heretical, especially since Pinnock has taken pains to distinguesh Open Theism from process theology. Actually, we (Joe Dongell and Jerry Walls) do not completely agree with one another on the question of divine foreknowledge." This leads me to wonder if Walls has some "Open Theism" tendencies as well.

Have you thought about this? What do you think?

Are We Really THAT Dumb?

2006-04-11T10:09:00.000-03:00

Something that amazes me over and again is the fact that our culture continues to buy into the idea that stuff will make us happy. I meet people every week who have sold their soul to acquiring things that ultimately make them miserable. Okay...so at first it may bring them a certain amount of pleasure or thrills or whatever, but then they realize that a nice expensive car is still just a car and that the humungous house they purchased is still just a shelter and that the entertainment system and stereo still shows the same programs and that you have to pay extra if you want to get the special effects with the t.v. and that the no interest no payments time is up and the interest rate after the 2 years is actually 28% which means that even if they make the monthly payments they will end up paying for the new furniture 3 times instead of once (or nonce if they were only to realize that they didn't need it in the first place). The thing that is ironic in it all is the fact that stuff they were acquiring which was supposed to bring them happiness is the VERY THING that brings them the most greif, stress, and is the major contributor to their newfound friend anxiety and depression.

If you are reading this and thinking to yourself, "Andrew is just exagerating to make a point"...I really don't think I am. The number of people declaring bankruptcy has grown exponentially in the past decade and there are no indicators that it will slow down. And all of this is a result of buying into the big lie--happiness equalls acquiring stuff.

Bankruptcy is not just one of bank accounts though. More and more people are finding themselves spiritually, emotionally, and sexually bankrupt as well. Take sex for instance. People buy into the idea that the more sex they can get with the widest variety of people in the widest variety of ways will bring them the most happiness. It usually stems from an addiction to pornography. It becomes like a drug they are addicted to. First, maybe certain types of porn turns them on...but then that gets old and so they look for different porn...but pretty soon that porn doesn't do it for them either...and so they move from sexual encounter to sexual encounter until nothying but the most perverse encounters imaginable will turn them on...eventually they become emotionally bankrupt with nothing left to give... nothing "does it" for them anymore...the very thing that was supposed to bring them the most excitement has been the thing that has put them in bondage.

I want to make a case for a balanced life being not only the most beneficial--we have always heard that--but also the most invigorating and exciting life imaginable. When we live in balance financially, we are free to enjoy the most important things in life--which are actually not things at all. We become free to spend time on the most important relationships in life. When you look at your sexuality as a "been there done that--what's next" experience...then things get old fast. However, when you experience sex in the context where God meant it to be--it never gets old (At least it hasn't for 5 year...I don't anticipate that it will any time soon and from what I have heard from some retired people...it gets less frequent, but much better--if that is possible).

Life the way God intended us to live--in the context of his Word--is the most invigorating way to live regardless of whether you believe He exists or not. Many think that life in balance is boring--but I believe it makes for one incredible ride (no pun intended...well maybe a little pun intended).

What I can't beleive though is how stupid human beings are. They still believe that the person with the most stuff or most stories at the end of their life wins. How strange. How sad.

So, what do you think?

Women in Minsitry -- Revisited

2006-04-09T11:55:00.000-03:00

WOW! My original posting on this topic really gained a lot of attention and discussion. I have always had an interest in the topic, but never more so than after I took a class at Asbury Seminary entitled, "Women in the Ministry". Thanks to everyone who participated in the discussion and for being so open and honest about your views. It doesn't help anyone when we beat around the bush and skirt the real issues at hand. I personally make the following observations:

1. The Wesleyan Church IS making steps to promote women in the ministry--much more than I had previously realized. I was especially pleased to have pointed out (by my beautiful and intelligent wife I might add) that the Atlantic District in particular has made more strides forward in the past decade than in the past 100!!! This statistic was never meant to point to number for number equality...but toward progress--something it does very nicely! Thanks Kristi for keeping it real with the facts!

2. There is room for growth in the numbers of women involved in full-time paid ministry. However, I think I picked something up from this interaction that I didn't realize before... The change probably doesn't need to take place among the leadership as much as it does among people of individual congregations (indeed, female laity may play almost as big a part in this as male). As A.J. pointed out, he (and I conquer) has never known a leader or professor in the Atlantic District of the Wesleyan Church who believes in or teaches on prohibition of women in the ministry! This is significant!

3. Since posting my original article, I have thought about the women I respect in ministry. Some of them were mentioned by you throughout your responses. The thing that is amazing to me is that these women whom I respect greatly...achieved my respect not by taking on "Women's Rights" as an issue. Rather, they gained respect by many for their passion for Christ and serving His church. SO this is where I find myself. Is it more beneficial for the cause of "Women in the Ministry" for women to be passionate about "Women in Ministry" or is it more beneficial for women to be passionate about Christ? I am beginning to think the latter...but where does that leave the issue of "Women in the Ministry." Perhaps...(and this is a thought in process) it would be better for the cause (both the cause of Christ as well as "Women in the Minsitry") for men to be vocal about the topic...while women work harder (and we have suggested at least twice as hard as men) at doing God's work.

4. I know several (3-4) lay women who have read my first posting and the comments from it and they have been very turned off by what they perceived as feminism gone extreme. I am not even suggesting that they are right (necessarily), but their reaction has led me to wonder if: Since, "Women in Ministry" is a touchy subject...and, since people tend to interpret even moderate feminists as "feminazis." Therefore, women should take their cues from "Christ...who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (or constantly clenched after)...but made himself nothing...emptied himself...died...even on a cross...but through that process was proven to be the greaetest of all!!" I know this is definately for men and for women...but perhaps it could speak directly to the cause of "Women in the Ministry" as well and specifically to their conduct and their "attitude" (I plead for the umbrella of grace here)

And so...I find myself pondering...

I am not saying...
There shouldn't be more women in leadership/pastoral ministry.
Something doesn't need to be done.
Just forget about the issue.

I am saying...
Laying down our lives (regardless of the gender) and being emptied of ourselves and getting to the work of the Kingdom may be the best way to deal with the cause of "Women in the Ministry".

Grace. Peace.
Andrew