The Sum Total of a Christian

Does anybody need a:

• definition
• description
• digest
• distinction
• designation
• depiction
• design
• diagram

of what a true or biblical Christian is?

Among many places you will find one of the best definitions, descriptions, distinctions, and digest of what a real biblical Christian in Romans 6:18.

"And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness." (Romans 6:18, NKJV)

This verse is a fundamental conclusion about what a Christian person is. 

A Christian has been - past tense - freed [by his/her death in Christ] once and for all, and has been made a slave of righteousness.

A true biblical Christian was once a slave to sin but is now been made to be a slave to righteousness.

A transfer of ownership has taken place. A transfer of dominance has taken place. A Christian is no longer under the master and dominance of sin, but is now under the master and dominance of righteousness.

Anything less or anything different, is not a Christian. That is right, you cannot claim to be a disciple of Christ and live under the mastery and dominance of sin.

How to Kill Pride

To Help Cultivate Humility & Weaken Pride

Practices of Special Focus and Concentration

1.      Study the Attributes of God – the incommunicable attributes.

          Study attributes that have no human reflection or illustration

·        Study Wayne Gruden’s Systematic Theology

·        Study A. W. Pink’s Attributes of God

·        Study A. W. Tozer’s The Knowledge of God

·        Study Stephen Charnock’s Attributes of God

2.      Study the Doctrines of Grace – salvation from first to last is of God

·        Study the doctrine of election

·        Study the doctrine of calling

·        Study the doctrine of justification

·        Study the doctrine of perseverance

3.      Study the Doctrine of Sin – sin is our mean, abject condition

·        Study the delicacy of sin

·        Study the destructiveness of sin

·        Study the deceitfulness of sin

·        Study the desire of sin

4.      Study the Evidences of Grace -  in the lives of others

·       Actively look for ways that God is @ work in others

·       Accurately examine the Apostle Paul as an example

·       Attentively familiarize oneself with fruit of the Spirit

·       Affectionately look to God to lead you to the evidence

What is Fellowship? Part VII

When the Pastor Excuses Sin...

...Everybody Looses!

I have alluded to a extremely troubling statement that was made during a recent discussion about the topic of fellowship. First, this statement was made by a pastor (yes, I know they are all human).

Second, it was I believe an overall statement but it really was a tale-telling paragraph. Third, when I processed it and really thought on it, it blew me away.

Let me say I am going to paraphrase because I can not remember the exact words that were said. However, what I am about to share with you is as close as it really was.

In the early stages of the discussion, someone said,

"One trouble with fostering fellowship is when there are cliques within a church. It is hard for a new person to be accepted or hang out with some people." He went on to say, "We really don't have cliques. We just have some people who like to hang out together. They like each other and have things in common. They just like hanging together."

On the surface that sounds all good and well, right? After all I like to hang out with people that I like and that I have some things in common with. You would never find me hanging out with a bunch of metalheads. Now, find me a group who love (d) the Possum and I'll hang with them all day.

Think carefully on that statement. It is an unfortunate truth that most congregations have cliques. Sometimes we call them "The Powers that Be." Sometimes we call them "The Old Guard." Many times we don't call them anything but we see them. More tragically, we often see the effects these cliques have on the body and on new people.

I have lived in a town  where you could be established for twenty years and still be considered both new and as an outsider. I have seen churches where people have given up trying to penetrate a clique after being a member for several years.

Cliques are very dangerous. They focus on themselves and refuse to let new people "in." It is not just being refused "membership" or participation in the clique that is the major problem. It is the fact that the cliques are unaccepting and non-Christlike. 

New people are not welcome. They are not treated as brothers and sisters who share the same father. They are often treated like the "red-headed step-child." They are not nourished, edified, encouraged, instructed, matured, or discipled.

So, for a pastor to recognize that his church has cliques only to excuse it furthers sinful behavior. It is one thing to see a problem but it is another to fail to correct it. What is worse is to allow the problem to continue by excusing the behavior by giving it a different name. To say that we don't have cliques, we just have people who love to hang together who won't let new people hang with them seems incongruent to me with Christianity.

Now in all fairness, no one picked up on that statement and the discussion went off into another direction. No further explanation and/or information was given by the pastor who made that comment. I don't want to put words in is mouth nor do I want to make a blanket indictment without all the additional facts. After all I don't know what his full thought process on cliques may be. Not to mention the fact that I really like this guy.

But -we can not excuse sinful behavior. I guess the first question we must ask, "Are cliques sinful?" Notice I didn't ask if cliques are natural. I didn't ask if cliques were inevitable. I didn't ask if cliques existed in all congregations. I am asking if they are sinful.

If they are we as shepherds must take steps to prevent them and to break the up if they are discovered. We must teach every member to accept, welcome, and nurture every member of the body.

Give me a break! I realize that first of all, this is extremely difficult. It just needs to worked at! Prayer is a difficult discipline. For it to become natural or second nature we must work at it. 

Second, we do have to protect our congregation, our family, and ourselves. We must make every effort to determine if a new person is in fact a believer and not a tare. I realize we would deal with or handle tares a bit different from the real McCoy.

Remember you don't get to choose who will be your fellow siblings in your family. You learn to accept, love, and care for the brothers and sisters that come along. The body of Christ is no different. You don't get to pick and choose your brothers and sisters whom Christ has elected to salvation and placed in your local congregation.

You have to learn to accept, love, and nurture them like you would your fleshly brothers and sisters. My one brother and three sisters are as different from me as night and day. But I love them, I need them, and when I can in a Christ-like manner I try to nurture them.

My post today is not designed to deal with cliques. Nor is intended to encourage congregational members to nurture every believer with the congregation sans cliques.

My point is this - "Houston, we have a problem!" When a pastor or pastors excuse sinful behavior very rarely will congregational members eradicate sinful behavior. In other words,  if we permit cliques to exist because we think they are just a group of people who like to hang together, new people will never have a chance. 

They will be the ones who come to you one day and say "Pastor, we are leaving because we can't find fellowship." By the way, rarely will they say, "Pastor we are leaving because we can't penetrate the cliques that you have excused."

Well, I think I have said all that I can say for now about fellowship. We have spent several days at this and I hope I have shared something that might be useful.

Book Review: The Works of John Owen Volume 6 Temptation and Sin

Title:  Temptation and Sin
Author:  John Owen
Publisher:  The Banner of Truth Trust
Published:  1967
Edition:  8th Printing
Pages:  648
Genre:  Non-Fiction - Theology
Binding:  Hardback
Price:  $28.00

Be killing sin or it will be killing you! Owen must have gotten this idea from the Apostle Paul, "For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." (Romans 8:13, NKJV)

Owen's volume Temptation and Sin is probably one of the best, if not the best book, apart from the Bible on putting to death the deeds of the body. Of course the deeds of the body refer to sin. I make this statement because of the depth and clarity Owen gives to the doctrine of Sanctification. His use of Scripture, exhortation, edification, and encouragement is a major benefit to the believer who struggles with sin.

The purpose of the author if found in his opening sentence in the Preface. Owen writes, "I shall in a few words acquaint thee with the reasons that obtained my consent to the publishing of the ensuing discourse. The consideration of the present state and condition of the generality of professors, the visible evidences of the frame of their hearts and spirits, manifesting a great disability of dealing with the temptations among themselves, they are encompassed, holds the chief place amongst them."

Owen reinforces this opening statement with these words, "That what I have of direction to contribute to the carrying on of the work of mortification in believers may receive order and perspicuity...and reduce the whole to an improvement of the great evangelical truth and mystery contained in them."

Owen's theme is taken, as previous suggested, from Romans 8:13 - the putting to death of sin. His thesis is also found in the succinct sentence of, "Be killing sin or it will be killing you."

Owen used both exposition and argumentation to develop his theme and thesis. Owen skilfully employed both explanation and analysis to present his argument. Owen expertly presented the facts concerning temptation, sin, and the believer's responsibility to put to death sin.

Owen also employed the technique of argumentation to instruct and persuade his readers concerning the truth of his thesis. Owen is clear in the fact that he wants his readers to be both informed and proactive in the putting to death of sinful deeds for their spiritual welfare.

As usual with Owen, I found this book to be both interesting yet difficult to comprehend. Owen is a very able expositor of the Scriptures and handles them carefully and accurately. Owen is extremely objective and uses ample Scripture to make his point (s). However, it goes without saying that one must take their time and make an effort to truly understand what Owen has said. At times I found myself reading and re-reading the same paragraph a number of times until I "got it." Though this can be somewhat tedious and taxing it is more than worth it.

The reader must take note that there are at least three (3) books or essays contained in this volume. They are On The Mortification of Sin, Temptation, and Indwelling Sin. 

There is also a massive exposition of Psalms 130. They all relate to Owen's theme and thesis. Owen uses each one to build his case. Each of his arguments (contained in this main points and in the body) are scriptural and therefore true.

The scriptures make it plain that God did not save us to leave us in our sin. Sin is an ugly, evil, and destructive force that desires to destroy everything in its path. Owen fights for the reader to recognize sin, it's deceitful tactics and design in order to victoriously put it to death. Owen is clear and concise giving the reader all the necessary information and tools in order to combat sin. 

John Owen was a noted pastor, lectured before English Parliament on a number of occasions, and Chaplain to Ireland and Scotland. He was an adviser to Oliver Cromwell (Lord Protector of England)

Temptation and Sin format is an 8 3/4 x 5 1/2 x 1 1/4 hardback. The binding is library binding. The typography is small and single-spaced. There are no maps, no illustrations, or photographs. 

This book has very few footnotes. There are no end notes, indexes, or bibliographies. The reader should be aware that Owen makes much use of the scriptures.

My general conclusions are that this book if well worth the reading. It is a book that should be next to every believer's bible. If one were to purchase a single volume of Owen I would recommend that purchase to be this Volume.

How Do You Explain Sin?

"Original sin is the only rational solution of the undeniable fact of the deep, universal and early manifested sinfulness of men in all ages, of every class, and in every part of the world."

--Charles Hodge

What is Fellowship? Part VI

Now, I know that having said yesterday that I have only seen fellowship twice since my conversion and today, a lot of pastors, individual members, and congregations of going to get their socks in a bunch. I know it is usually a different article of clothing that gets in a bunch but I don't think I can say that in a G-rated blog.

A lot of pastors and congregations are going to make the case that they have a good and have good fellowship. After all they smile each time they see you, they shake your hand, they even ask you how you are doing - lingering long enough to get the perfunctory "fine" response. They will point out their regularly scheduled pot-lucks, bible studies, quilting and crafts, VBS, neighborhood outreach, and or any other number of programs. They call all these things fellowship. They will think I should have seen these things and thereby should have seen "fellowship."

However, as I pointed out, these things are not in and of themselves fellowship. They can and should lead to and facilitate real, true, Biblical fellowship. Sadly, most of the time they do not. Sadly, you could not tell the difference between some of these activities and a secular activity if it weren't for the "name" attached to them and a few bibles that may be present. I have been at a few pot-lucks that would have made Peyton Place look tame. 

What is fellowship? Well, since we have discussed it previously, suffice it to say, that fellowship is the intimate edification of a fellow believer. Remember J. I. Packer's definition?

"[Fellowship is] a sharing with our fellow-believers the things that God has made known to us about himself, in hope that we may thus help them to know him better and so enrich their fellowship with him. "Sharing": Fellowship is, secondly, a seeking to share what God has made known of himself to others, as a means to finding strength, refreshment, and instruction for one's own soul."

First of all, true and biblical fellowship begins with God. God has made fellowship with him and with each other possible through His Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Second, God intends and works to fulfill His intention of making us one in absolute unity, conformity, and likeness to His dear Son through fellowship with Him and with the saints. Spiritually intimate participation and sharing with our Sovereign and the Saints is the means and manner of finding strength, refreshment and instruction for the soul of each all members of the body of Christ.

What did I see at the Bremerton Bible Church (BBC) and Living Water Community Church (LWCC)  that I had never seen before? What instruction did I hear that I had never heard before? What was the difference?

The congregants - the members were taught a number of biblical truths. They were expected and held accountable to live out those biblical truths. They were shown by the Elders what was expected of them. They were assisted, empowered, and monitored by the Elders. They were given an opportunity to "practice" what they were taught. They lived out on a daily basis and in public/private places what they had been taught.

How did this come about? First, let me say that I was not aware of BBC or LWCC when the Elders first began to teach and practice biblical fellowship. So, I am not sure what precipitated this emphasis nor do I know what it "took" to accomplish it. I do know what "toll" it took on the congregation.

Second, I am not pretending to relate everything that was either said or done to facilitate the level of fellowship experienced and was practiced at BBC and LWCC.

The elders dispensed [this occurred at BBC - LWCC met in a school and did not have Sunday evening services] with the "preaching" on Sunday nights. This was no problem because the preaching Sunday morning was more than adequate. Sunday evenings the body would gather for a pot-luck meal. It is hard to beat the "breaking of bread" together to foster an intimate setting. After all, look at the experience of the early congregation in Acts:

"And they continued steadfastly in the apostles doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers." (Acts 2:42, NKJV)

"So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart." (Acts 2:46, NKJV)

"Now when they had come up, had broken bread and eaten, and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed." (Acts 20:11, NKJV)

Who isn't aware of the pot-lucks that the Corinthian Community Church used to throw? Some members got stuffed and drunk at those gatherings. Unfortunately it was at the expense of poorer believes who were left to remain hungry. 

Christ loved to eat and drink by the way. He ate and drank so much with common people the religious crowd accused him of being a glutton and a drunkard. (Matthew 11:19)

The difference in BBC's pot-lucks was seen in the conversation. The Elders encouraged the conversations to focus on God, Christ, biblical things, the morning sermon, the Sunday School lesson, the Small Group topics - in other words spiritual things. Yes, at times conversation included the kids, grandkids, illnesses, and such. We were taught to talk about the Lord, our faith, and our Christian walk.

 We were taught and encouraged to talk about our struggles, difficulties, failures, falls, and even sin. Yes we also talked about blessings, victories, answers to prayer, and ministry opportunities.

We also were taught how to praise God and share blessings. The congregants were trained to take the focus off of themselves and what they did and place the focus on God and what He did. That is an education in itself! 

We were taught to be open, honest, and transparent. We shared our needs - spiritual, physical, financial, and/or material. We were taught to meet those need at that time. If a dentist bill needed paid someone volunteered to pay it. If a lawn needed mowed someone said that they would do it. If groceries were needed we gave and they were purchased. If someone needed a car and someone had two they loaned and even on occasion gave someone a car.

We were also taught when and how to confess sin to one another. First, we were cautioned as to what sins should actually be confessed in a mixed gender public setting. Second, we were taught what words to use. We were taught not to use words like mistake, problem, or similar. We were taught to use words like, sin, transgression, wickedness. We were taught to say, "I sinned" not "I made a mistake." We were taught to take responsibility and to become accountable.

We confessed to one another or the group. We wept with many, laughed with many.

We then participated in the Lord's table together. It wasn't with tiny stale cracker-ettes and thimble sized cups of grape juice. We had loaves of bread and glasses of wine and juice. We were given a real appreciation for the Lord's Table. We participated in it together. We shared together. 

Of course we sang songs of praise and worship. We were taught biblical fellowship. When we left the time of gathering we lived what we learned and had just practiced. 

The nice thing about being around those believers was the fact that when you met them on the job, in their home, in your home, at the park, at the ball-game, at Freddie's, at Wal-Mart, or at Taco-Bell they were the same as they were when they gathered at the meeting place. The conversations centered on God, His glory, His goodness, His blessing, and His grace. We prayed for one another in the aisles of Wal-Mart as easily as in the meeting house basement.

What I am saying is that the congregants truly participated and shared the things of God that He had made known to us about Himself in the hope that they would help us to know God better and to enrich our lives as brothers and sisters in Christ.  Even on a Monday night while watching Monday night,oops I just dated myself, I guess I should say on Sunday night watching "Are you ready for some foot-ball?" Sunday night football they were the same.

How is this different than many places I have visited or been a member of? Well, first, in some cases the conversation was never about God, His glory, His grace or His blessings. It was also about self, secular things, and material things. In many places no one shares their intimate needs, struggles, or fears nor do they inquire about anyone else's needs, struggles, or fears. Exhortation, encouragement, instruction, reproof, correction, or assistance is left up to the pastor. Burden bearing is rarely seen. 

There is no doubt we can have fun and good food at a pot-luck. There is no doubt some good things can be taught and shared at a bible study. But it doesn't end there. Fellowship isn't something that can be scheduled or programmed. It can't be "expected" to happen because Christian people are meeting in a "Christianized" building or setting. There is not doubt that most congregations like and even love one another. 

However, as we try and conclude this post, we can experience biblical teaching, eat good food with friends at a pot-luck, and experience zero fellowship. This is why on occasions a faithful member of a good bible-teaching evangelical church can say to their pastor, "Pastor, we just can't find fellowship at our church." 

They can find friends. They can find good food. They can find a lot of activity and programs to either be involved in or sit in. They can find people that truly like them and love them and call them brother of sister. But many times they can't find people who intimately share the things that God has made known about Himself with the design to help them know God better and to enrich their relationship with God. Many times they can't find someone who with share what God has made known of Himself with them as a means of strengthening, refreshing, or instructing their souls.

Well, I have rambled on for too long. Please forgive me. 

What is Fellowship? Part V

During the recent discussion about the subject or topic of fellowship, a very interesting - and revealing - statement was a made. During the same discussion a very interesting question was asked. If I have "room" in today's post for both I would like to offer my thoughts. If answering the question takes to many words then we will talk about the statement tomorrow, Lord willing.

Some asked how much time elapsed between our conversion and the first true or biblical teaching on fellowship? I really think this is a great question. Let me try to answer this question and explain it under the following three (3) heads:

The Expectation

Moments prior to his ascension Jesus reiterated the marching orders of the congregation he was forming in Matthew 28:19-20:

"Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20, NKJV) (Emphasis in bold is mine)

Each epistle was written to counter various doctrinal or practical errors which arose in the various communities and congregations. Many times the epistles would contain explanation, exhortation, and education on "what to teach" and "how to teach" the things Christ had "commanded." In other words each epistle gives insight, instructions, and information on how to edify, exhort, and encourage one another in the faith.

The expectation is a given isn't it? Christ expects his disciples to teach all that He taught and commanded to the new disciples that each and every one of us are commanded to "make." It isn't rocket science. It is a matter of being obedient. 

What are we do do? We are expected to make disciples, we are to baptize them, and we are to teach them. Do you see the order? I don't get it when we either fail to do any and all of what we are commanded. I surely don't get it when we circumvent parts of our instruction and allow the so called disciples we have supposedly made to circumvent parts also.

We are to make disciples. We do this by being effective witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and by the proclamation of the gospel. How does by faith "come?" It comes by hearing the Word of God.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; ad you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and to the end of the earth." (Acts 1:8, NKJV)

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Romans 10:17, NKJV)

We are to baptize them immediately. It doesn't say give them a choice, give them a class, delay the baptism or down play it. There was no such thing as an unbaptized believer in the early New Testament assembly. Why is there today? Christ's instructions are not ambiguous or confusing - make disciples and baptize them. How much more simpler did Christ have to make it?

We are to teach them. Teach who, disciples who have been baptized. Today we want to either, teach before we baptize or teach unbaptized "converts." I don't get it. You wouldn't fry the egg before you cracked it would you?

The expectation includes teaching disciples what biblical fellowship is, how to facilitate it (trusting in the power of God), and how to participate in said biblical fellowship. Having said this you would have thought that I would have been taught all about fellowship at my conversion, right?

The Experience

First, let me say I grew up in a very unusual organization. I am very surprised I was saved at all in this organization. My conversion goes to show you that God saves His elect in-spite of how badly a pastor, a congregation, or a "fellowship" can mess up His Word by humanistic methodology. 

Second, my experience will not be a blue print for your experience or the experience of other members of the body of Christ. It merely goes to illustrate my answer to the original question, how much time elapsed between conversion and the first instruction about biblical fellowship.

My home congregation and Baptist fellowship (association and/convention) was heavy on the first and second portions of what we call the great commission. At least numerically. I now look back through the lense of Scripture and gag at how many of the so called conversions were more than likely spiritual abortions. My original organization was good at decisional regeneration. They could get people to make decisions and they could get them in the water. Teachers they were not. Good, solid, Bible teaching was very few and very, very, very far between.

Our philosophy was win em', wet em' and work em'! Do it quick because many burned out in the first few months and most were gone within three (3) to five (5) years. Lasting fruit was not an expectation but a surprising rarity. 

Biblical counseling and Biblical discipleship were frowned upon and considered the enemies of "soul-winning." Soul-wining was the name and numbers was the game. One noted preacher spoke for most of the pastors when he said, "Counseling! Discipleship! You want counseling? You want discipleship? Show up at 11:00 am on Sunday mornings! That's when I counsel or disciple!

Of course what he meant by that was the morning sermon that consisted of either "agin' preaching" or soul-winning exploits. What's that? What is "agin' preaching?" Oh, sorry. It is preaching that is "against" something. You know like against sin, drinking, dancing, smoking, or chew and going with girls who do. You know preaching against TV, mixed-bathing (you might call it swimming), jeans, long-hair, an anyone not a baptist. Sunday after Sunday it was a steady diet of "agin" preaching. Preacher was sure nuff agin's sin!

My point is we were not taught to confess our sins to one another, bear one another's burdens, strengthen one another through accountability, instruction, or biblical fellowship. I attended a well known church in San Jose, CA. I then moved to Pomona to go "bible college" and joined a more well known church in Pomona. I then joined a well known church planter to help him plant a church in Upton, CA. I joined a church in Torrance, CA when I was hired as an assistant pastor. I eventually moved to northern California to assume my first church. Those of you who know my story, know I assumed that church twice. 

All this time I did not receive any teaching or instruction on biblical fellowship. Nor did I see biblical fellowship in practice in any of these congregations. 

I eventually left that church as you know because it became obvious that we were never going to get on the same page. It still exists by the way with its original philosophy and behavior.

I found a new fellowship or organization after that experience. I attended a church in Reno, NV. I moved eventually to Redding, CA where I finished Bible College. I graduated and moved to Washington to attend seminary but ended up as pastor a small failing church for six years. During all this time from my conversion on April 12th, 1972 until I became acquainted with the Bremerton Bible Church of Bremerton, WA in the fall of 1995 I never received biblical teaching about fellowship.

The Examination

Twenty-three years as a believer and no instruction about this topic. Now, I know what you are thinking and what you are going to say. And you are right! I have no excuse. I offer no excuse. I make no excuse. I should have learned it myself. I should have taught myself. After all, I studied the Bible for spiritual health, for enjoyment and even for a living. How could I miss it? I don't know.

Let me say this please:

• it took me 13 years to realize my original fellowship or organization was biblically incorrect

• it took 30 years to learn what real and true biblical spirituality was all about

• it has taken 12 years to develop my biblical thinking, training, discernment, and understanding to overcome the first 29 years of faulty teaching and training

• I have matured and grown spiritually more so in the last 12 years than I did in my first 30 as a believer

• it has just become the past 3 months that I have come to fully understand Romans chapter 6

I have seen real, true, Biblical fellowship twice in my Christian life. Only twice. In one congregation in Bremerton and in one congregation in Vancouver. 

So, when I answered the question, how much time elapsed between my conversion and when I was first taught biblical fellowship, I answered, twenty- three years. Needless to say the group was shocked and thought I was off my rocker.

Lord willing, tomorrow I will share what I was taught and what I saw. Looks like we will have to wait until at least Monday to discuss the revealing statement that was made during this discussion.