Is Your Church Dead?

In preparation for this evening's Bible study (we are currently walking through Revelation), I found myself looking deeper at Revelation 3:1-6 - the Church at Sardis - and doing some soul-searching.  Sardis - The Dead Church.  What comes to mind when you think of "dead"?  The church at Sardis was pronounced dead by the Lord because, while the surface looked like a living church, the core was actually dead as a doornail.

But what makes a church "dead"?  It means that something has caused it to die in the eyes of the Lord... and what is connected with death throughout the Bible?  Sin.  While these six verses represent the only biblical reference to this church, what we can surmise about the death of this church is that some form of un-dealth with sin had brought the church down.

But again - what constitutes a dead church?  Maybe it would be better to look at what a "living" church is.  Is it the number of people attending or a membership roll?  Is it a big beautiful building or sprawling campus?  Is it a great worship band, or a charismatic popular preacher?  No.  A living church is one that is completely obedient to God.  A living church is one that, as Christ put it, keeps His commandments - the chief of which is to "go and make disciples..." (Matthew 28:19). Of course - we can step further back to an earlier commandment of Jesus, one that should be a driving force to push us to share Christ and make disciples - to love our neighbors.  If you love people, then you will want to share Jesus with others.  If you love the Lord, you will go.  You won't just rely on others to go for you - but you will go.  A church that is alive is constantly on the "go" to share Christ, but not to leave it there as so many have done for far too long, but actually discipling them into maturing Christians who then in turn are sharing Christ and leading others in spiritual maturity.  A living church is not defined by the attendance or property, it is identified by the heart -

So what does a dead church look like?  It could have high attendance.  A dead church could have lots of programs and even the best worship band around.  A dead church could even have a charismatic preacher that people really like.  But if it relies on putting up a facade of "stuff" instead of the Word of God, the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the empowering of the Holy Spirit, then it might be dead.  Does your church rely on past glory, ignoring its current condition, it might be dead (or on its way).  If a church is more focused on material things than spiritual things - it might be dead.  If a church is more focused on the social troubles of the world than seeing hearts and lives changed through the Gospel... it might be dead.  If your church is more hung up on ritual and history than the Word of God, then it might be dead.  If a church is more concerned with pleasing men than God, it might be dead.

But this passage also contains real hope (Revelation 3:2).  If the real, born-again believers will wake up (be watchful), honestly and completely look at their condition, and be willing to make the changes necessary beginning with confronting sin and non-biblical teachings.  If they will "strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die".  In other words, if they will build on spiritual truths - solid biblical doctrine - and build on it by uncompromising teaching and preaching of those truths.

Another component of real revival of a dead (or nearly dead) church is the believers must keep (hold fast) to these truths - in other words - they must not just read, study, and preach those truths - they must LIVE them (Jesus said if we love Him, we would keep His commandments).  And finally, and possibly the most important component of revival - believers must repent.  While there is no salvation without repentance, we are also commanded to repent of our sins even after accepting the gift of eternal life.  Repentance helps us to remain humble to the Lord, eliminates roadblocks to our spiritual growth, prayer life, and our own witness for Jesus.  Unrepented sin is like a virus or cancer to our own spiritual life, and to the life of the church as well.

The only hope for a dying or dead church is real revival that only comes from following Christ's instructions here - and as long as there are faithful, born-again Christians there who are willing to repent and rebuild on the only real foundation - the truth of God's Word, living that Word, and to wake up!

It's all in your viewpoint

One of the most divisive issues in churches today has nothing to do with doctrine, theology, or even salvation.  Why do Christians allow these things that are of no eternal consequence to become the huge issues they are?


Well - for one, the two sides of the argument tend to be closed-minded, and they often base their view on their own experiences (though sometimes very limited), and then won't take an honest look at the whole picture.


What I am referring too is - Worship Music.  A simple look at the many denominations and congregations will find such a wide variety of music in worship that one might easily get confused.  There is little doubt that there is music that is not appropriate for ANY worship, while there is also a plethora of quality, scriptural, and God-glorifying music available as well.  So - why the debate?


Simple - preferences.


Just as one person may like Country and Western, another likes Classical music, and yet a third may like Rock and Roll, music - as it has developed in the church also is heavily influenced by preference.


We Baptists call ourselves (rightfully so) "New Testament Churches".  This is suppose to mean that we follow God's model, doctrine, methods, and theology as spelled out in the New Testament.  While God's Word is wonderful, marvelous, and as 2 Timothy 3:16 puts it: All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works, very little is spelled out in the 27 books of the New Testament on "how to do worship".  We can easily see that preaching, celebrating the Lord's Supper and Baptism were regular parts of the worship, but what else?  


Ephesians 5:19 is the only reference to "New Testament music" (and that in the middle of a more general topic of Christian conduct and fellowship): Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.  Colossians 3:16 uses similar language.


The extra-biblical historical record indicates that the bulk of music used in the early church (1st and 2nd Centuries) was the Psalms, often set to music.  While the bulk of the Psalms were traditionally sung by essentially "professional" musicians in the Temple and synagog, they only made musical sense (particularly in meter) in the original Hebrew, which the growing Gentile portion of Christianity did not know.  As the Psalms are translated into the vernacular (the common language - which moved from Aramaic for those closer to Israel, to Greek which was the majority language for most of the known world).  In translation, much of the musical quality of the original Psalms was lost.  So early Christians would set Psalms and other scripture (even some of the New Testament letters they received) to the music of folk songs of the time.  Interestingly enough, if one had traveled around visiting Christian churches in the first century or so of history, the musical worship would have seen marked differences, though the texts would have been quite similar.  


But enough with the ancient history lesson, and lets move on to more recent musical history within churches, particularly Baptist churches.  Before I proceed (cautiously!), let me clarify my own position somewhat - I am a firm believer in using good, solid, biblically-sound, God-glorifying, and reverend music in our worship.  The trouble comes in how one defines those terms!  But let us continue:

Many of us have experienced it - Many of the "traditionalists" (often, but not always, represented by the more mature in congregations) just won't have or tolerate anything not found in the old Broadman, Heavenly Highway Hymns books. Some even go out on limb of "that is what REAL worship music is"...

Then you have the mostly "younger" folks who know and "feel" that the more modern/contemporary stuff is the only "real" worship music. Just as misguided and closed-minded as those they disagree with.

Those supporting the "old" hymns love those old hymns because that is what they grew up with. There is a lot to love about much of those hymns, many of which were written in a way that brings God honor and glory to God, and express some wonderful and encouraging spiritual truths.  It is this style (actually, a collection of styles) that represents all they have ever known, and is what is near and dear to their hearts. What they fail to see - SOME of the current music fits the exact same description for most of the younger generations. It is what they know and understand.

Since so many on both sides cannot agree.. lets just look at what is "traditional"...especially for Baptists:

As mentioned in the first part of this entry, all the way through the late 19th Century, a great deal of Baptist hymnody was based on the Psalms. Many of the more conservative Baptists in Britain (where nearly all US Baptists came from/through) also used more poetic, usually unison music, with sometimes complicated melodies. Print music was rare - and part singing unheard of. Until the more "show/burlesque/Vaudeville" - styled music that makes up some of those "traditional" hymns in our more beloved hymn books - there would not have been anything that made you want to tap your toes or clap your hands. There wouldn't have been anything with a fast tempo. 

Then comes the early 20th Century and the hymn writers from several different protestant faiths that picked up tempos, used more showy melodies and harmonies that mirrored those of the secular and folk music of the time. In some circles, it caused a backlash, and for many - including of many Baptists, acceptance came slowly. Yet so many of those formerly "edgy" and "modern" hymns are now the "traditional" and by some considered the "only appropriate" music for worship".

So one must ask a couple of questions - what is the biblical example of music for worship, and what was the purpose?

The primary uses of music in the Bible were:

1. To glorify God, celebrating His goodness, His deliverance of His people, and in building a spirit of joy among God's people.
2. To teach.  Yes - to teach.  Particularly in the Old Testament, much of the text (in Hebrew) is metrically written so that it can be sung or chanted as a means of remembering and/or memorizing it.
3. To lead the heart to God and to love His word.

Biblical use of music was never to glorify one's self.  It was not to reinforce carnal behavior. It was not to cause division, but to lead the congregation directly to the throne of God.

Assuming the Lord doesn't return before then, what might worship music be like in 50 or 100 years?  Will the old Fanny Crosby, Wesley, Philip Bliss, Robert Lowry, and so many other great hymn writers bee much more than a blip on the musical radar?  It would certainly be a shame to lose so much great, God-glorifying music!  On the other hand - what about the growing movement to return to setting the scriptures to music in a similar way the Hebrews did in the Old Testament, for use in their worship?  Artists like Mac Powell, who have labored to write music to effectively convey scripture passages - will they have made an impact?  What about the "con temporizing" of our more "traditional" hymns?  The updating of the melodic and harmonic content while preserving the text and spirit of the original?

What about the plethora of scripturally/doctrinally sound music coming from the "Contemporary Christians Music" (aka - CCM) field?  I will be the first to admit that there are some truly bad so-called "Christian" songs playing on the radio, and even in some church buildings on Sundays - but they are no worse than some of the seriously flawed or even pagan-influenced songs found even in our beloved old hymn books.

As a trained musician who was exposed to a wide variety of musical styles and genera from literally birth, I have an appreciation for a very wide variety of musical styles.  On the other hand, by taste in the music used in formal worship is significantly constrained.  But regardless of what side of the music debate you find yourself - lets all be honest in our viewpoints.  Taste and preference play a far bigger roll in our view than does the actual value or "appropriateness" of a particular musical style.  

The argument over music in church has been playing out for many centuries.  Even in the Catholic church - music was nearly completely banned when the melodies and harmonies became so beautiful, the clergy felt that it would detract from the words.  How many of our old favorite hymns are so dear because the music is beautiful?  I will likely never see (at least here on this earth) a complete resolution to this ongoing debate.  But I believe that if churches in general would look at music in worship for what it is suppose to be - and what it historically was used for (as listed above), we might find more common ground that any party might have thought.  The choice of music in a church should not be exclusionary - i.e. - it should never cause a person/worshipper to fell left out of the opportunity to praise our redeeming God.  Dogmatically sticking to one form of worship music, to the complete exclusion of all others has that net effect.  If a church just arbitrarily chooses to become a "contemporary" church - throwing all the old and beloved hymns out - they are, for all practical purposes, throwing those to whom those hymns were their means of connecting, of worshipping, right out the window!  Yet a church that just as arbitrarily rejects all music not found in the pages of one of the old beloved hymnbooks is guilty of the same offense - just against another group.

For a somewhat humorous look at the issue, see Bro. Harmon's posting here:

Dr. Harmon's post

Losing Your Salvation?

One debate that Christians have fought in for a very long time is the doctrine of "eternal salvation of the believer".  While God's Word is incredibly clear on the issue, despite the pontification of those who would wish to take the joy of salvation from others.  Romans 8:38-39 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.


Some would say that this passage is just about God's love for His creation in general... yet other verses are just as clear:


John 10:27-28  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand."


True believers - those redeemed by His amazing blood - hear His voice and respond, they follow Christ (obedience to His Word) and He gives them Eternal Life".  Those who are truly redeemed shall never perish - and CANNOT be snatched (plucked/removed/dropped from) Christ's hand.  How much more clear does God's Word need to be?


Philippians 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.  Who began a "good work" in the believers in Philippi?  God the Father, through the Holy Spirit!  It is the Holy Spirit who acts as our preservative - our keeper.  


2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.  The old thing has "passed away" - passed away, as in death.  Gone.  Buried.  When one truly accepts Jesus Christ as their personal savior, in complete repentance and becomes fully obedient - they put the old self away - the old self is nailed to the cross with our sins.


The problem that causes confusion and eventually false doctrine on the matter - that so many professed Christians "fall away" - either by "backsliding" (returning temporarily to the sins of the flesh), or by flat out running away from the Lord (and fully disavowing their faith.  But again - God's Word deals with this:  1 John 2:19   They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.


If a man starts out and makes a profession but gives it all up, he will never be saved, because he was never born again to begin with, he was never truly changed by grace divine.  True saving faith leads to a revolution within the person - one that results in the death of the old self, the chains of sin, and the will to sin.    As Dr. Ironside once wrote:"it is quite possible to join a church, to make a Christian profession; it is quite possible to observe the Christian ordinances (Baptism and the Lord's Supper), to teach and to preach, and yet never be born again."


You see - Romans 10:9-10  ⁹that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;

for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.

Confessing with your mouth doesn't get you saved (though many cling to a "confession" (or sometimes called a profession).  Yet just SAYING you are saved or have trusted Christ are not the same thing as appropriating God's gift of Eternal life.  The believing in your heart is the key.  But even "believing" or "faith" are sorely misunderstood terms.  I have "known" and even had "faith" all my conscious life that Jesus was real, that He was the Son of God, that He died on the cross to pay for the sins of the world, that He rose from the dead.  Yet until I actually placed my complete trust in His redeeming work.  Until I acknowledge my sin and the cost of that sin.  Until I went beyond being sorry, to truly being grieved by my life of sin, and repented - consciously chose to TURN FROM willful sin - then that "faith" was not a saving faith.

The unfortunate truth - evangelists and churches have laid claim to many numbers - of people who have "confessed" Jesus Christ.  Some as the result of an emotion experience - others because "friends did it", and yet others because their parents wanted them too... and the list goes on.  Is it any wonder we see so many seemingly just "walk away" from church, from a relationship with God, and from what looked like salvation?  

But what we have to remember God's Sovereignty.  It is God who calls us to repentance, to faith (which HE gives), and ultimately, to salvation.  We cannot "keep ourselves" - but the sovereign, all-powerful, and Grace-giving God can.  

The doctrine of losing salvation can only come from the one who would like nothing better than to convince one of God's Elect that they are lost - because they will act the part, damaging their testimony and impact on the world for God.  

This is why I so clearly see and believe the words Paul recorded in 2 Timothy 1:12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.

Park View's Annual Friendship Banquet

Well - tonight is the night of the annual "Friendship Banquet".  Some entertainment lined out, a few fun games, and some great food is scheduled.  I know the pork shoulders sure smelled good when I took them out of the smoker last night (11 hour smoke...fallin' off the bone!).

This year's theme is a bit different - instead of getting all formal, and having lots of silverware to wash, and people getting worn out before it even begins - we are nocking the formality way down.  Further - as an interesting connection to this very page - the theme is "Who is on Your Friends List?".  The scripture tied to this is Hebrews 12:1-2.  The idea is this:  we find ourselves surrounded by "friends", both in our "real life", and for many - online.  What does our "friends list" reflect about us?  Further, are the friends on our list the type that are described in the Hebrews passage- friends who you can rely upon in their influence, example, and support, that you can turn lose of the sin that so easily besets us.  Are those we are around the kind that we can truly call a "team" that not only makes us better, but ultimately brings honor and glory to God?  IF not, then maybe it is time to re-evaluate our friends list!

I hope you all can make it tonight staring at 6:00PM.