Speaking, Pink, Elephant (part 1 of 2)
One of the biggest issues our churches face today is the question of gender roles, and specifically the role of women in the home and in the church. As I begin my seminary studies today in the year 2007, the Bible’s teaching on the primary roles and responsibilities of man and woman is being undermined, questioned, if not simply made unclear. If this was 1907 or 1807, this would not be an issue that would bring about such discussion or controversy. Even since God’s inerrant Word has been canonized it is only these last 50 or so years that the feminist movement has risen to undermine biblical manhood and womanhood. We live in a unique era where we face some of the most dangerous attacks on Scripture that have rarely been faced before.
The evangelical drift away from Scripture’s complementary view manhood and womanhood towards (wo)man-centered egalitarianism has recently affected me in a most disturbing that is (literally) very close to home. I am deeply saddened right now, hearing earlier this week that it is happening at the church I previously attended back at home in Toronto. While something like this may have previously happened before unbeknownst to me, I regret that that day had finally come on September 30, 2007 and it is something that Satan has seared into my memory and journal. Whereas this elephant in the room was previously invisible and quiet, I can now see it clearly and I hear it speak. (It is pink, and everybody is listening to it talk.)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on us sinners.
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Hermeneutics 101
I have been quiet as I do not want to publish something irrationally, impulsively, without love and humility. I apologize for you faithful readers who yearn to be fed biblical truth in a manner of humble orthodoxy. I am delaying my next article for this very reason. I learned of something that happened recently that has left me significantly heartbroken, saddened, disappointed, disturbed, mad, and furious with a biblical anger. (For a hint at the issue at hand, see my latest Twitter update)
For the time being, I just ask that you would read, interpret and apply the following passage to you and your relationship to 1) Christ, and 2) your church — especially verse 28, which I have highlighted in bold. I hope you won’t read your own thoughts and ideas into this passage, but that you would rightfully interpret the text within its original immediate context and the larger historical-redemptive context in which this passage is located.
23 Now before faith came, we were held captive under the law, imprisoned until the coming faith would be revealed. 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. 27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.
Top 10 Churches
Top 10 Largest U.S. Churches
1. Lakewood Church, Houston Texas – Joel Osteen (47,000)
2. Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, Ill. – Bill Hybels (23,500)
3. Second Baptist Church, Houston – Ed Young Sr. (23,198)
4. Saddleback Church, Lake Forest, Calif. – Rick Warren (22,000)
5. LifeChurch.tv, Edmond, Okla. – Craig Groeschel (19,907)
6. Southeast Christian Church, Louisville, Ky. – Dave Stone (18,013)
7. North Point Church, Alpharetta, Ga. – Andy Stanley (17,700)
8. Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va. – Jonathan Falwell (17.445)
9. Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. – Bob Coy (17,000)
10. The Potter’s House, Dallas – T.D. Jakes (17,000)
Top 10 Fastest-Growing U.S. Churches
1. Iglesia Cristiana Segadores de Vida, Hollywood, Fla. – Ruddy and Maria Gracia (3,050, 109 percent growth)
2. Calvary Community Church, Phoenix, Ariz. – Mark Martin (2,344, 26 percent growth)
3. Elevation Church, Charlotte, N.C., Steven Furtick (1,965, 444 percent growth)
4. New Life Church, Conway, Ark. – Rick Bezet (2,000, 108 percent growth)
5. Valley Bible Fellowship, Bakersfield, Calif. – Ron Vietti (3,600, 52 percent growth)
6. Fellowship Church, Grapevine, Texas – Ed Young Jr. (3,000, 30 percent growth).
7. Thomas Road Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Va. – Jonathan Falwell (4,750, 37 percent growth)
8. The ROC (Richmond Outreach Center), Richmond, Va. – Geronimo Aguilar (2,100, 100 percent growth)
9. Redemption World Outreach Center, Greenville, S.C. – Ron and Hope Carpenter (2,000, 31 percent growth)
10. Champions Centre, Tacoma, Wash. – Kevin and Sheila Gerald (1,500, 30 percent growth)
(HT: Christian Post)
Sovereign King and Caring Lord
He reigns in distant realms of space, Psalm 103:19; Isa. 40:25, 26
Where whirling galaxies abound; Psalm 104:2He governs every molecule Isaiah 45:12, 18
That quivers whispered words to sound;He calls in place the bravest waves Job 38:8-11
Who hurl themselves to land from sea; Psalm 104:9His seal impressed the continents; Job 38:14
He orders all majestically. Psalm 8:1, 9; Psalm 95:3-5He hears the kidling on the crag, Job 39:1
Directing sunlight warm its way; Deut. 33:13-15He sends the spring and autumn showers Deut. 11:14; Psalm 65: 9-13
For which the flowered valleys pray; Joel 2:21-23; Matt. 6:28-30He satisfies each varied kind Psalm 145:15,16
Of all creation, great and small. Psalm 104:10-18His word sustains the sum of them; Heb. 1:3, Psalm 100:5
In faithfulness He rules them all. Psalm 104:24, 1Thess 5:24Oh give Him praise with full accord, Psalm 96:7-9
This Sovereign King, and Caring Lord; Psalm 62:11Who caused in time the worlds that be, Gen. 1:1, Psalm 33:6-9
Yet calls man to eternity.His grace shall ever be explored, Eph. 2:4-7
His glory fills both earth and sky; Psalm 19:1, Hab. 2:14To Him your worship rightly bring; Psalm 35:28
Your tongue, His Name, to magnify. Psalm 34:1-3
by Kevin Hartnett, 1/99
The Courtship Path
This is the 2nd post in a series I am doing on the book, 5 Paths to the Love of Your Life (ed. Alex Chediak. Th1nk Books, 2005).
Dr. Albert Mohler, President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, gives this endorsement:
Dating is an issue of Christian controversy — and for good reason. This fascinating new book brings together some of the most important thinkers and writers on this issue, producing a dialogue that will stretch the mind and encourage Christian thinking. Read this book — it’s sure to become a focus of much conversation.
If you missed my post on Chapter/Path 1, make sure you read up on the Countercultural Path before reading on!
Chapter/Path 2 (Douglas Wilson):
The Courtship Path
Definition
Courtship is the active, involved authority of the young woman’s father (or head of the household) in the formation of her romantic attachments leading to marriage.
Distinctives
- Courtship is not egalitarian because it believes in a female submission to a male head of the home.
- If there is an absence of headship, either because of neglect or a literal absence, young couples should seek out advice from their church on how to continue their courtship. This will probably result in an assignment of surrogate parents.
- Physical involvement when courting should be completely avoided. After the couple is engaged, it should be limited to holding hands, brief kisses, and hugs.
- The will of God is rarely an acceptable excuse to conduct courtship in a self-defined way, such as a man pursuing a woman who has repeatedly rejected his interest in her.
- Platonic relationships are a myth and are not an excuse to spend one-on-one time with a member of the opposite sex outside of courtship.
Key Verses
Key Benefits
- Love develops within a supportive, protective, and encouraging environment.
- Sexual purity is more realistic and attainable.
- Trust in the relationship results because intentions are more obvious from the get-go.
- Baggage occurs less often because all aspects of the relationship are more intentional.
- Courtship creates an environment for obeying God by honoring one’s parents.
Potential Problems
- Courtshippers may become overzealous to the point of forcing their method on others.
- Parents may become domineering and manipulative, using the authority of courtship to make unwise, ungodly decisions in all areas of their children’s lives.
- Couples may claim they are courting to appear Christian but may ignore the real principles and make up their own unhealthy rules.
Personal Reflections
Phriday Photos
Over the next week, I’ll be uploading the photos from my brief trip to North Carolina and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. So keep your eye out for some good pics these next few days!
Get Out. Now!
In Mark 4:18-19, Jesus is in the middle of explaining the Parable of the Sower and narrows in on the seeds that are sown among the thorns. “They are those who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.”
What I realized as I studied this passage in the cafe was how much this is representative of those in our churches, and especially the young women. During my quiet studying, a bunch of girls passed by the Founders Cafe and I overheard one of them saying something along the lines of, “It sucks so bad that I don’t have the money right now to go shopping.” (Do I need to mention that this happened on the campus of Southern Seminary?)
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Watching a movie in North Carolina
I saw “The Bourne Ultimatum” tonight with my friend, Ron, here in Raleigh, North Carolina.
In my entire life, I have never been in a movie theater / cinema where:
- Nobody was there to rip my ticket (it was pre-ripped for me) & guard the entrance to the individual screens
- NOBODY else was in there watching the movie, except the two of us. Nobody else!
- There were only 2 people working: one person at 1 of the 2 ticket booths, and 1 person selling/serving food at the food counter
- And there was nobody else watching the movie in our theater screen!
That is just unbelievable! Honestly, if we were not Christians… we could easily have gotten away with not paying for the movie and could have seen any and every movie we wanted that was playing! While it was the 9:45pm show we were watching, there should have been at least…. a couple more people watching the movie?! There were only about two handfuls of cars outside the cinema too!
Did I mention that there were love seats? I could probably bring my girlfriend / wife in to see a movie… and have the theater room ALL to ourselves!!! That is just unbelievable 
LOL
For the record, this was the Marquee Cinema (Wakeforest 12) in Raleigh, NC.
Fall Break at Southeastern
Arrived safely at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
Will be here until Wednesday afternoon. A friend from Southern is considering transferring here, so I’m just tagging along for the road trip! I gotta say, North Carolina is pretty pretty… they have a lot of housing here at SEBTS but it’s very spread out.
