Entries from May 2007 ↓

This is a cropped and sepia-fied version of a photo I took this past Sunday at church, before any of the congregants arrived.

(As always, click for larger sizes.)

One of the perks of having friends who are missional church planters is that you can occasionally ride on the coattails of their interesting blog posts. (Because, really . . . you can’t be a missional church planter without a blog. It’s in the contract.)

My buddy Luke Camara — who I first met when I was in college, coaching Bible quizzing for my then-church, and he was a high schooler who quizzed for a “rival” church — recently posted about the issue of alcohol consumption and whether or not Christians may partake in the occasional “adult beverage” (without becoming drunk, of course). It brought to mind a great post from a couple of years ago by my friend and pastor, Greg Blosser, in response to a statement by Dr. Al Mohler (president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary) regarding the issue. I reproduce Greg’s post below.

As a Christian, former baptist and fellow evangelical, I am deeply concerned about the Southern Baptist Convention. Albert Mohler (president of a prominent SBC seminary) recently stated the following, effectively banning Jesus Christ from ministry in 99% of the Southern Baptist Convention:

“I can assure you of this: if you are associated with the use of beverage alcohol, I think I dare exaggerate not to say that 99% of all doors of ministry in the Southern Baptist Convention will be closed to you. And I do not believe that is an exaggeration. And let me tell you why…you may think, ‘That just shows high-bound and unthinking the Southern Baptist Convention is.’ Why should the Southern Baptist Convention or a local church take a risk? Why should it be in the position of deciding whether this is a problem or not. I mean, you have to understand, why would the church take that on? So, I am very concerned about this generation, and that’s one of the reasons why our integrity with the denomination, with our churches, requires that we not only have this policy, but that we talk about it, we teach it and we enforce it.”

In reply:

ATTENTION JESUS: While we at Grace Central Presbyterian Church understand that you’ve been known to imbibe adult beverages from time to time, we have carefully weighed the pros and cons and have decided that your services are worth “the risk”. So please know that you are welcome to minister with us, to us, and among us in any way you so choose. Please bring the wine.

What say you?

. . . Derek’s back. Tell a friend.

(In other words, Derek Webb has re-joined Caedmon’s Call for their latest album, Overdressed. Also, Caedmon’s has escaped CCM black hole Essential Records for INO Records. Excitement abounds.)

Zoë and her friend Kalista on the church steps.

I knew that this was being written months ago, but never actually read it myself until now . . .

Check out this article from Reformed Worship magazine on Grace Central Presbyterian (my church) and its ministry to downtown Columbus.  Good stuff.

WordPress 2.2 is go!

Let me know if you run into any problems with the blog.

By now, the news of Jerry Falwell’s death has gone out and is sparking reactions in the blogosphere, in the media, and in the “real world” ranging from sorrow to jubilation. A polarizing figure, to be sure.

I certainly had my disagreements with Dr. Falwell — both theologically and culturally (especially culturally) — but his passion for the Gospel of Christ is something I covet.

To those who would celebrate the man’s death, who would wish Hell upon him because of your disagreements (and there are plenty — just go to technorati.com and search for “Falwell”) — please consider the words of John Newton . . .

As to your opponent, I wish, that, before you set pen to paper against him, and during the whole time you are preparing your answer, you may commend him by earnest prayer to the Lord’s teaching and blessing. This practice will have a direct tendency to conciliate your heart to love and pity him; and such a disposition will have a good influence upon every page you write. . . . [If he is a believer,] in a little while you will meet in heaven; he will then be dearer to you than the nearest friend you have upon earth is to you now. Anticipate that period in your thoughts. . . . [If he is an unconverted person,] he is a more proper object of your compassion than your anger. Alas! “He knows not what he does.” But you know who has made you to differ.

. . . that I am not my own, but belong — body and soul, in life and in death — to my faithful savior, Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the Devil. He also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in Heaven — in fact, all things must work together for my salvation. Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.

- from the Heidelberg Catechism, Q&A 1

(I’ve posted this in the past on my other blogs . . . and you’ll probably see it again here from time to time. It’s good to have a reminder.)

A discussion at small group this past week got me thinking about this . . .

Why is it that so many denominations and church planting networks choose — either as a matter of policy or a matter of “that’s-how-we’ve-always-done-it” — to send church planters out on a 1:1 basis (ie: one planter for one church). It seems to make more biblical — and common — sense to send guys out to plant on a 2:1 basis (at least).

Consider Jesus’ sending of the seventy-two (or the seventy, depending on your translation) to minister. He sent them in pairs. When the Holy Spirit established the church at Antioch, he sent not only Paul, but Barnabas with him. I could go into some Old Testament examples of plural ministry like Jonathan and David, Elisha and Elijah, and others, and I think that those have merit — but honestly, I think those make a weak case. Fact is, though, that the biblical pattern for establishing ministry in the New Testament (at the very least) seems to be a plurality of leadership.

As far as common sense goes, it simply stands to reason that while one man may be extraordinarily gifted, there will still be areas of deficiency that another planter could meet. Additionally, a single church planter lacks the accountability that comes with having another biblically qualified elder planting with him. Sure, he might be “accountable” to his Launch Team/Core Group, but if he’s the sole “boss”, then what does that accountability really mean? Such a man may become arrogant and dictatorial.

(This could also be an argument to show the folly of single-elder church government, as opposed to a plurality of elders, but that’ll wait for another day.)

Don’t get me wrong — having more than one planter doesn’t guarantee success or faithfulness. Additionally, highly effective churches have been planted with only one guy at the helm. It can be done. But should it? Why don’t more denominations and planting networks require a plurality to start a church?

Any thoughts?
(I think it’s money. Actually, I know it’s money in at least one case.)

Striking a pose in Daddy’s study.