NRBC Blog

I have just finished reading an article sent to me on “Alcohol, Acts 29 (Churches), and the SBC.” The so-called “emerging church movement,” of which the Acts 29 churches are a part, has gained the reputation of being “soft on sin” in favor of providing an environment where unchurched people can feel comfortable. There are certainly extremes on both sides; from Mark Driscoll’s statement in his book, “Radical Reformission,” that abstinence from alcohol is a sin, to the exclusive views of some independents who don’t seem to get along with anyone but themselves. Somewhere in the middle are churches who say they want to connect with the unchurched wherever they are, even if it’s in a bar.

On March 4, NBC’s “Today” show capitalized on this issue which separates and confuses many Southern Baptists. In their report, “Beer and Bibles: New Churches Lure Young Members,” they interviewed an SBC pastor who’s church has ties to the emerging church movement, Darrin Patrick, founder and senior pastor of The Journey in St. Louis.

Although Patrick said that his church does not condone the use of alcohol, they do sponsor a discussion group, “Theology at the Bottleworks,” that meets in a bar where alcohol is available to participants. How does this fit in with traditional Southern Baptist culture?

Obviously, this issue is not going away. Every church… every serious believer will have to deal with it. The question is will we deal with it according to scripture or according to our culture… whether church or secular culture. Both are making constant impressions upon us.

First, it is obvious that Jesus was not soft on sin. Yes, he had more to say about the sin of hypocrisy He saw among religious people than He did the sins committed by His secular hearers; yet, He did not deny the presence of sin or its consequences. Let’s face it! Without knowledge of sin, there can be no repentance, and without repentance, there can be no salvation.

That having been said, are there “gray” areas that might be sin to one person but a valid choice to another; IE, the use of alcohol? I find that there are heated responses to that question on both sides! For me, I know that my testimony is more important than my choice options, and I am to refrain from anything that might cause my “brother” to stumble. So, “for me and my house,” alcohol is out!

But, most of the world does not share my view. The unchurched are influenced by a culture of humanism, secularism, and often hedonism. They are out there by the billions, all over the world; a world Jesus said we are to “go into” and make disciples. Unfortunately, a majority of traditional churches have maintained a philosophy of “if you build it, they will come.” But, they aren’t coming, and the Bible directive does not say that they have to! We are to go to them.

So, where do we go? Where did Jesus go? He went to a wedding feast, to homes where there were gatherings of questionable people, and He met on the street, by the sea, and on the hillside… anywhere people would meet with Him. And, He taught them… He taught them the Truth! Would He have gone to a bar and “had a drink” with them? In our culture, I question the “drink,” but I have no doubt that He would have been willing to teach any group who would have given Him a listening ear and a receptive heart. He loved people; He loved “real” people; and, those who came to Him, He never turned away!

The problem we are facing today is that we are more concerned about our preferences than God’s orders. We will debate culture and tradition in the church while never giving our lost neighbors a second thought. I don’t agree with much of the emerging church’s view of sin, but I am inspired by their zeal to reach the unreached. I can learn from them without laying aside doctrinal purity and without compromising my testimony of a saved man who is being conformed to the image of Christ. There is a world to reach, a commission to carry out, and a purpose to be fulfilled. Will we do it, or will we just sit around and argue differences on how it is to be done? If we choose the latter, I hope that our meetings won’t conclude with a couple verses from “So Send I You!”

What do you think?

(Last week, we changed service providers, and this Blog was removed. I'm putting it back on for your reading.)

This morning, I was reading the account in Numbers 16 where there was a rebellion against Moses and Aaron. Korah, a descendent of Levi, along with Dathan, Abiram, and On, descendents of Reuben, took issue with God's leaders. They said, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them,  and the Lord is among them. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the Lord?” Moses, in turn, told them, “Tomorrow morning the Lord will show who is His and who is holy…” IE, whom He had selected and set apart to lead His people.

That is exactly what happened. If you are familiar with the story, you know that the next day 250 men were burned alive when fire came down from heaven and consumed them as they were offering “unauthorized” incense to the Lord. And, the leaders, who had refused to come to Moses, were buried alive along with their entire families when the ground opened and engulfed them! Were Moses and Aaron perfect before the Lord? Absolutely not! They would soon disqualify themselves from leading Israel into the Promised Land because they robbed God of His glory at the waters at Meribah. (Ch. 20) Yet, God’s leader was His leader, and He would take care of the discipline. The people were to follow!

Does that still apply in the New Testament? In Ephesians 4, Paul writes, “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.” They are God’s gifts to the church. And, are they to be followed? Again, in the book of Hebrews, the author writes, “Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.” They are God’s leaders, leading God’s people, and are accountable to Him.

Some would say, “That’s a lot of authority!” But, then, that sounds a lot like, “You take too much upon yourselves, for all the congregation is holy, every one of them…” Is God not able to take care of Himself and His church?

Yes, God does act through His church when an elder teaches contrary to Scripture. Discipline is to be swift, thorough, and public. Unfortunately, most of the disagreements that arise in churches between the members and the leadership involve matters of preference and direction, not doctrinal soundness. After all, “isn’t the whole congregation holy!”

The incident recorded in Numbers 16 took place in the wilderness, and I am afraid that most of our conflicts are wilderness experiences. We take our eyes off the Lord and onto ourselves and what we want… what we like. But, God is leading His church forward, and He calls leaders to lead it. Who will we follow? Who will we obey? Are we who claim to be such Bible-believers as scriptural as we imagine?

What do YOU think?