Archive for April, 2009
Baptism is a common word to people of Christian faith and is still something many in our culture have heard of our sceen. However, not all Baptism’s are the same. When you say Baptism, what does that really mean? Do some we see infant baptism to other we see it as a beleivers baptism. Others may see it as a covenant while some see it as a decision of faith. Some may believe that sprinkling or pouring water is okay, while others believe in full emersion or dunking. So what is baptism?
Recently we had a Baptism Sunday at Broadman…we saw six people baptized. Some has a Catholic background and where baptized as an infant, but came to realize that it was now their decision to be baptized and follow Jeus. Others had be Christians for nearly 40 years…but had never been baptized and needed to step out in faith. One was a child who recieved Chrsit during VBS but was scared of the water and a par of googles and his faith in Jesus helped him overcome his fears. All of them had a different story that led them to that day and to their baptism, but they all had one thing in common – They all had professed Jesus as Lord and Savior, and each one desired to be Baptized as an act of following Jesus and associating their lives with Jesus.
Baptism is a beautiful thing. But sadly it seems to be a controversial thing about Christian faiths because we fail to follow the Scriputures and in stead follow church traditions or rituals. I would like to express an opininon that we need to make sure we do baptism for the right reasons and by the right methods so that we fulfill God’s purposes of Baptism.
I propose we look at the word baptize (Baptizo)…batpize, baptize, wash…by means to make “fully wet.” Or “Bapto” to cover wholly with water…to stain. This literally means to immerse, dunk or submerge for religious purposes.
With this understand I submit that a believer (not an infant) should be baptized and made fully wet by means of immersion.
Biblically, we have Christ’s example, Christ’s command through the Great Commandment, Christ’s Church using baptizm by immerision in the book of Acts and the Symbolic connection and association with Christ’s death, burial and resurrection. There is simply no other way to have Biblical baptism but to baptize by Jesus’ example and command. Nor can we avoid the powerful symbology of being bured with Christ in baptismal waters to be raised to walk in the newness of life that we have in Christ. For all who are buried with Christ in baptism have put on Christ to live for HIm.
May our act of baptism be a reminder to others that we serve the RISEN LORD.
For those who have not been baptized I ask you the same question that the Eunuch asked Philip in the book of Acts – “What is keeping me from being baptized?”
May you experience the power of the sacred waters of baptism in your life…may we be buried with HIm to be raised with Him to put on Him!!!!
Blessings!
PC
Praise the Lord….Cuyahoga Falls is one of the top 100 places to live in the United States! What a blessing to live in such a wonderful city. CF is truly a great place to live, but we know that because we live here. But being an all American city does not mean this city doesn’t need God. Let’s all remember that “Unless the Lord builds the city, out labor is in vain.” This city needs Jesus. This city is far from being a city that is built on a hill so its light can be seen by all. But we can be a part of making sure our light is not hidden.
Lets help make Cuyahoga Falls a greater city because the people love God and one another…let’s be a city that truly cares about moral issues…let’s be a city that has good Samaritans…let’s be a city that makes a difference for Jesus Christ.
Here is the link: http://top100.relocate-america.com/
Miss California Carrie Prejean did not win the Miss USA crown because she answered a polticially motivated question to the dislike of the judge who is a gay activitst. The question of whether or not gay marriage should be legal, is a legitimate question, but it should not be held against her if she answers it to a judges dislike. I have watched the pageants before, but I confess I did not watch this one. But I have watched the interviews and this invent. It seems clear that this question alone lost her the pageant. Was this right or wrong? What does this say about our culture? What does this say about her and all Christians in America?
Miss California answered the question by her convictions. She clearly believes that the country and family she was raised in does not support gay marriage. She said everyone has their choice or opinion and that she did not mean to offend, but that she believes in marriage being between a man and a woman. She later said it was Biblical and she does not regret her answer. I applaud her for that. Way to go.
It is ashame that this happened. It was wrong, clearly wrong. However, I believe this is a good thing. It is showing just how divisive this issue is to our culture and it shows who is causing the division…not Miss California, but those who do not care about anything but their own agenda, not the good of society! Hopefully, good citizens and Christians will rise up for the good of our culture and fight to preserve the sacredness or tradition of marriage for the good of society, not to be mean toward gay people. That is what she did by answering this question this way. She stood up for what is right! Praise the Lord! Her loss was wrong, but her statement was a victory.
She clearly suffered persecution and discrimination as a result of her answer. Yes, you read that correctly. She was discriminated against because she held to her moral and religious convictions. I do believe that is our first amendment right!? Where is the ACLU when you need them? Where are the alarmists? Where is the media? The truth is the liberally minded people or people categorized as lef in our culture and the media will never be seen calling this discrimination, but that is what it is! If someone lost the Miss USA pagaent because they answered in support of gay marriage, could you imagine the response? Why does it only go their way on their one way street? But it is the truth, she suffered discrimination and our constitution was violated at the Miss USA pageant. Perhaps we should have a recount? (My attempt at humor…sorry!)
The response of the audience shows that a majority still agree with her answer; however, there is a growing minority sympathic to the homosexual agenda to redefine marriage. What this tells us about our culture is that the traditions and values that have made our culture and nation great will be pushed and pushed until there are no traditions or values left…yes we will have new ones, but not the ones of our forefathers or from those who worked hard to make this nation great.
America is on a path of destruction and the coming moral collapse of our culture is right before us. We are beyond the crossroads in my opinion. The Miss USA pageant paints a picture of what America will become – an anti-God, anti-Bible, anti-Christian society that will allow the Persecution of those who hold to Biblical and traditional values. We all witnessed it during the Miss USA pageant…this is only the beginning I do beleive. Discrimination against Christians or traditional values will not be called discrimination by those on the left or with this type of agenda. You see those who have this agenda don’t truly want equality, they want it their way and they will do anything and everything to promote their agenda and force it upon our culture.
Thank you Miss California for your courage to speak the truth. It cost you something you work for all your life. Great will be your reward in Heaven. But the price was worth it for the whole world to see that you would not compromise the truth. That was refreshing and bold. I wish you the best of life and God’s blessings always!
I walked into the office this morning and my secretary had a tea bag attached to the cabinet above her desk and that got me thinking. I have no idea what many of you think about the tea party’s going on around America tonight, but I think they are a good thing personally. It caused me to go back and look at the history of the Boston Tea Party…those guys were patriots and risked it all. I thank GOd that we live in a nation in which we can have a tea party in freedom, but sadly I don’t know if the tea party’s will make a difference.
Before I proceed let me get one thing out in the air…can a pastor speak on taxes…should a pastor speak about taxes…isn’t this political and on and on go the questions…so what should a pastor do? Taxes are a reality in life and they impact our families, our communities, our commerce and much more; therefore, a pastor should bring proper perspective to these matters. A pastor is called by God to bring His truths to all matters…even taxes. It is sad that in our culture there are those who have tried to compartmentalize life so that common folk don’t view all of life connected to the Creator…but our forefathers knew better (read the Delcaration). But life is life and God is a part of our lives…this is a fact; therefore taxes and all other issues are to be spoken on from a biblical persepctive unashamedly. You cannot put God in a box, nor can you put your faith in a box. Our faith should impact our view of taxes…to let others tell you otherwise is a lie, deceptive, and harmful to the good of society.
Enough said…so what about tea party’s? First, I agree that the approach of the leadership in America today is to spend money we do not have and this should be protested becasue it is is not biblical. I am not saying the church protest it, but we as citizens have the right to protest it. Secondly, we must realize that Jesus said we should pay taxes “Give to Ceasar what is Ceasar’s, but give to God what is God’s.” We need to pay taxes for the good of society. So from my biblical perspective we are not saying taxation is wrong, but that the way government is spending is wrong and we pay too much in taxes already. SO I say let’s throw the tea bags in the harbor…there is nothing wrong with that. We need to stand, we need to be involved, and we need to say enough is enougy. Our Governemtn has got to get our priorities straight and as Christians we must speak Godly wisdom to this situation. It is not biblical to spend money you don’t have, it is not right to reinforce bad commerce through bail-outs, and it is not biblical to not balance a budget…and there is more I could say, but will stop there.
God intended government to be for our good…the good of all of society (Romans 13). However, when you have a President and Congress who are bailing company’s out for mismanagment and spending money we do not have and then not balancing a budget and on and on and on it goes…it is not for our good. We may get through the economic crisis, but someday we will reap what we have sown. Then you add on all the morality issues that our judical branch is creating…we have a mess…we are already reaping this and it will only get worse. I think the tea party is long over due. I am not sure we can trun back the core issue which is our values and morals. I beleive that taxation has a value/moral base to it. Sadly I think we are so far down stream that we missed the harbor opportunity.
Regardless, I also think the tea party is a good idea even though I believe it will have little effect for the politicians and the judges will continue to do what they want and the American people continue to loose ground morally and value wise each day. I don’t know if the voice of the people who care really matters and I don’t think a lot of people really care or know what is going on. It is a sad reality. We are kind of like Jeremiah…he was the weeping prophet. He came with a message that no matter what you do you are going down, but you still need to return to God anyway. In other words God turned them over to the results of their own doing and allowed Jerusalem to fall. He still loved them and wanted them to return to Him and His ways, but the consequences would not be altared. That message didn’t sit well with the people of Jerusalem and I am sure it doesn’t bring us a lot of hope either.
Regardless I think it’s tea time and that we have the GOd-given right to take such action as Christians and as citizens for the glory of God and the good of society. I can only hope and pray that it has some impact.
Following up on my blog from last week about Rick Warren and his position on Larry King Live about the gay-marriage issue.
After the dust has settled a little I still have some issues. It is not neccessarily what Rick Warren said, but what he did not say that is troublesome to me. I still believe that the Purpose Driven LIfe has great merit, is Biblically solid and God has used this work to accomplish some great things and transformed lives. I also still beleive that Rick Warren is a good man and that he does love the Lord. However…
Let me first applaud Rick Warren for clearly defining marriage as between one man and one woman. I can also understand him trying to not be associated with the anti-gay movement. For we as Christian’s are not anti-gay people. So what is the however? THe however, is that Rick Warren is involved in many cultural aspects. The mere fact that we find purpose from God (as he espouses in his book) means that we need to promote God’s purposes. Rick did promote the definition of marriage. In his mind he probably believes that he did enough. But the problem is that when asked about the Iowa Supreme Court decision he said he was oblivious to that and then went on to say that is not on his agenda. THis is the problem. It is GOd’s purpose to establish God-honoring homes…homsexual marriage is not GOd’s purpose. How can we live a purpose driven life when we cannot defend the purpose of marriage. Rick had an opportunity to stand for truth…in my opinion he fail short.
So now what? First, I believe my initial reaction was too strong. Looking over the actual footage…not what others have said or written about it reveals that Rick does hold a Biblical view. So the real issue is that there are many who beleive Rick did not take a firm enough stand and dodged the issue. This is something that still bothers me, but it is not something that I can reject Rick Warren’s ministry upon. I hope and pray that in the future Rick will not be oblivous to culturally relevant issues that the Bible clearly speaks about. I also pray that Rick will be more forthcoming and supportive of pro-marriage issues instead of taking a back seat and declaring he never attended or supported them. Lastly, may we realize that people who speak in public are allowed to make mistakes. Rick lost an opportunity in my opinion. I will give him the benefit of the doubt and say that I believe his intentions were good and that he does desire to glorify God…but along the way all of us that desire that sometimes fall short of GOd’s glory (Romans 3:23). But in the end thanks for Jesus who gives us the victory (Romans 6:23).
* I had told everone that in my assessment as more information came out I would be humble enough to change my position if neccessary. That is what this write up is about. If things change I will post more in the future. God bless – PC
The other day I was so blessed to be reunited with Harvard. Harvard was a foreign exchange student who attended Broadman about 5 years ago. I was blessed to lead Harvard to the Lord and baptize him before returnging to his homeland of Norway.
This past Wednesday Harvard and I had lunch and the very place that I shared Christ with him…at Rockne’s in Chapel Hill. We had a Max the knife burger…neither of us could eat the entire burger. It was good to talk about his faith and how America impacts Norway and to just catch up on life.
May God be with you Harvard.