Thoughts on Acts 15 and Early Church Leadership

paulbarnabas.jpgA few nights ago, Denise and I were reading the scriptures together when I was struck by what we see in regard to church leadership in Acts 15. When we are discussing how Jesus established leadership in the early church, and how that leadership functions, this passage is crucial. The implications for the claims of some churches in regard to authority are obvious.

We ought to go all the way through Acts 15. Take note:

1. The leadership of the church in Antioch responds to a crisis involving Judaizers by sending Paul and Barnabas to Jerusalem “about this question.” Acts 15:2

2. The leadership at Jerusalem is referred to as “the apostles and elders.” “Apostles” is a term that goes back to Jesus, but “elders” goes into synagogue leadership, which the early Christians adopted as the leadership model for themselves. So, at least at this point, the leadership of the church in Jerusalem is plural and possibly of two different types. The church in Antioch recognizes the authority of the Jerusalem leadership in the case of settling controversies such as this one. Acts 15:3

3. In Acts 15:3, those welcoming of Paul and Barnabas are described as “the church and the apostles and the elders.”Continue reading “Thoughts on Acts 15 and Early Church Leadership”

How “Traditional” is the Traditional Service?

fumc.jpgHere in Kentucky, where the worship wars/generational church division is everywhere and spreading, many churches are attempting to navigate the rocks of a potential church split by using multiple services.

I’ve been associated with multiple services since 1984, when I joined the staff of a large church that had both an 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. service. Most of my ministry friends are involved in multiple service options and an increasing number of them are doing a “traditional” service early, and a “contemporary” or “blended” service mid-morning. I’m aware of churches doing contemporary first, or even on another day (or evening,) but the contemporary service is increasingly the “lead” service in the Baptist churches I am aware of that are trying to navigate the various divisions that are tearing many churches apart.Continue reading “How “Traditional” is the Traditional Service?”

Real and Present

magnifyingglass.jpgAdjectives are sneaky. You have to keep your eye on them. Especially those that tend to be redundant and, perhaps, confusing.

Let’s say that “Bob is present.” Now let’s say “Bob is really present.”

What exactly do we have here? Well, that could depend on context, of course, but ordinarily, it would be redundant, and I’d red pen it as unnecessary.

Now, I’m poking this hornet’s nest on purpose.

It’s Sunday a.m. in Anytown, USA. Folks are in their churches, calling on God in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Jesus said that where two or three were gathered in his name, there he was in the midst of them. Present.Continue reading “Real and Present”

Message to Tom Ascol: Write the Book

man-shadow-cross.jpgUPDATE: Go into the comments and read the post by Pastor Scott Dontanville. Just go read it.

For those of you who are going to write me a hurt/angry note saying I’m picking on your church, I’m not. And if I am, I don’t know you anyway, so there’s no need to complain.

I just spent ten minutes reading something I’ve read/heard hundreds of times before: an established, traditional church, experiencing some signs of aging, goes through a process diagnosing its problems, developing/selling a plan for the future and asking the congregation to work with the leadership to bring the church through a period of decline into a future of growth and prosperity.

In those plans are predictable words: Plans. Consultants. Marketing. Children. New Staff. New facilities. New families. Communication. Outreach. Programs. Growth.Continue reading “Message to Tom Ascol: Write the Book”

Denise Spencer – Recommendation & Review: The Divine Hours Pocket Edition by Phyllis Tickle

41mx2n6psil_aa240_.jpgOur book reviewer today is my wife, Denise. Read her blog at Denise Day Spencer.

I have, in the past few months, become enamored with the idea of praying at various times during the day–not because I want to be more pious than the next person, but because I need it.

And so Michael recently presented me with a book: The Divine Hours Pocket Edition…on the condition that I would review it. Sounds like a good deal to me! I’m not the one in the family who usually does book reviews, but here goes.

Continue reading “Denise Spencer – Recommendation & Review: The Divine Hours Pocket Edition by Phyllis Tickle”

Riffs: 07:02:07: John Piper on Why Christian Children Should Be Confused

logo.gifUPDATE: Read Greg’s story prompted by this post, and feel free to add your own.

I’m listening to John Piper’s program, Desiring God Radio, for July the 2nd, and the topic is “Pastoral Thoughts on the Doctrine of Election.” (Available in print and in audio.) It’s a good topic and a well-done program, but in one of his points, Piper says something extremely relevant to the issue of how we bring our children into a mature embracing of the faith.

In a point on how we need to know the doctrine of election and believe it even if we don’t understand it, Piper uses this illustration:

One of the implications of this point is that we will not always know how some particular doctrine in the Bible is good for us. We Americans are especially pragmatic and demanding. If we don’t see the payoff of a doctrine immediately, we tend to ignore it. We are like foolish children when we do that. Every parent knows that children must be made to learn things without knowing how they will someday be useful. We teach them the particulars of table manners when they are small, for example, so that later they will be able to navigate every social situation with grace. And they don’t have a clue why you are telling them to hold the spoon a certain way and keep their elbows off the table. They have to take your word for it that the sun is standing still, the earth is a ball, the green vegetables will make you healthy, and the little bag of rat poison will kill you. If children must know these things before they know why or how, imagine the distance between us and God and how much we may have to know without knowing how it will help us.

The effects on our lives of what we know are always more than we know or can explain. Sometimes we must simply learn something because God says it’s true. Then later we may see how the knowledge protected us, or strengthened us, or humbled us, or purified us, or guided us, or enabled us to see other things as true. The issue boils down to trust. Do we trust that God has revealed what is good for us to know?

Continue reading “Riffs: 07:02:07: John Piper on Why Christian Children Should Be Confused”

Riffs 06:30:07: Mark Shea on Measuring Doctrine by Poetry

logo1.gifIt’s irritating that a really helpful piece of thinking is on a podcast, but it’s a short one: The June 29th Catholic Exchange Podcast with Mark Shea. It’s entitled “Measuring Doctrine by Poetry.” Protestants be warned: ignore the Marian devotional context and Shea’s general snarkiness towards evangelicalism. Truly Reformed and theology geeks: take proper offense at Shea’s in-your-face parody of how that tribe might read a poem by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. (Truly hilarious.)Continue reading “Riffs 06:30:07: Mark Shea on Measuring Doctrine by Poetry”

On Harry Potter and Wicca: A Helpful Letter

harry-potter-and-the-order-of-the-phoenix-wii_03.jpgHarry Potter will be much discussed soon as both the book and the next movie appear in July. IM lurker Brian sent me this letter in response to a BHT post linking an anti-Harry Potter “ministry.”

Brian discusses the claim of a connection between HP and interest in Wicca. Very interesting and valuable discussion and resources.

Dear Michael,

I read your post on one Christian’s association of Harry Potter with Wiccan growth with interest.

As it happens, I am heavily involved in outreach to Wiccans and occultists, and I’d like to address some misconceptions.

1) I’ve never met a Wiccan who was not a convert from Christianity (although converts from Judaism do exist).

2) I’ve never met a former Christian/current Wiccan who converted because of Harry Potter.Continue reading “On Harry Potter and Wicca: A Helpful Letter”

iMonk 101: Jesus + The Paperwork

paperwork.jpgHere’s a fairly recent post on the subject of closed communion: Jesus + The Paperwork. Yeah, it’s pretty blunt. I don’t know if I would write it this way now, but my mind hasn’t changed. In fact, with Alastair’s help, I feel even stronger.

I respect the practices of those who differ with me on this. I have no desire to change your mind. But this is where I am: if we can’t commune, we’re taking Jesus’ most powerful metaphor of inclusion in the Kingdom of God, and using it to slam the door shut.

Just to make you think. (This was the one you wanted, Kyle.)