Click the image above and it will take you to the web site.

In the past two months, God has brought us a new and wonderful opportunity of outreach that expands our ministry well beyond our local region. We have wanted for some time to enable “live streaming” of our Sunday worship services over the Internet so that people who can’t attend can feel like they are present with us. With the connection, equipment and software in place, on May 1, we began utilizing this exceptional opportunity to impact an even greater number of people for Christ. At or before the time of our three Sunday worship services (9 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.) you simply enter lmbc.tv into your web browser and you are able to view our services as they are happening. How cool is that?

This isn’t something new in other parts of the country, but it is new to us and it is already garnering a lot of “praise” from people who have to miss our services occasionally, are living where they can’t find a church home, or have health issues that prevent them from attending at all. Recently, one of our men who is unable to be at church due to providential matters told me that it made him feel as if he is still connected to the daily activity of our fellowship. And, we have already heard from people watching the services who are as far away as Poland, as well as from many in the states and in our own local community. I never knew just how big this ministry could be, but I’m now convinced that we can reach a significant part of the world right from the sanctuary of LMBC.

I once heard a speaker say that “someone is going to preach to more than a million people every Sunday … by way of the Internet.” At first I thought this was only fanciful thinking, but now I see how it can happen. Wouldn’t it be great if there were more than a million people tuning into our services live each Sunday? With our new Internet streaming it is no longer just a fantasy; it is now a distinct possibility! The potential for touching thousands (if not hundreds of thousands) has never been greater than it is right now. In fact, our recent statistics show that an average of 300 people already are watching our services on a regular basis.

For many years, we have broadcast our edited services on local TV (WCHS) and people have repeatedly told me they are tuning in each Sunday. But, I have never been as pleased as I am by the the positive responses we are hearing from this new ministry. I suppose that people know that the TV broadcast is an edited version of a past worship service (at least one month behind), and somehow they feel more connected to our church when they can see and hear the whole service live from beginning to end.

Just for clarification, this opportunity should never be a substitute for participating in person with a local church where you are serving and sharing God’s love on a weekly basis. However, there are many people who don’t have the privilege of attending a church like ours, who physically can’t attend church, or are in a church whose service times are different to our own worship services. These and many others would love to have our church come to them. That is what I’m being told by those presently utilizing lmbc.tv and if you’ll help me spread the word about this opportunity, I’m sure there will be many more who will respond favorably, as well.

One additional note, if you use an iPhone, iPod or iPad, you can now download a special web browser called “Skyfire” from the iTunes store that will enable you to watch the services on those devices, also. I tried this when I was away recently and it was wonderful to sit in a state far away from my home and participate in the services as they were happening.

What we need for you to do is to send invitations to your friends and family to inform them about this Internet streaming service so they can watch our services, too. It is free to watch and I believe could potentially be life-changing for many. Join me in praying that God will enable us to enlarge our viewing audience through this new medium of outreach to the far reaches of the earth. The Internet is bringing the world closer to us and us closer to the world so that we may give them the glorious message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Did You Know? You Can Judge a Book by Its Cover!

Christians and the Codex

It might surprise you to know that New Testament manuscripts were not written on scrolls. Most people think that the form of the modern book, known as the codex, was not invented until the Middle Ages. A codex is a book written on both sides of the page, with cut pages, bound on one side. In other words, a book! The roll or scroll was written only on one side as a rule, and it had columns with continuous pages stitched together. The codex was invented in the late first century AD. Christians may not have invented it, but they were the first ones to popularize it. For the first five centuries AD, eighty percent of all Christian books were on a codex while only twenty percent of all non-Christian books were written on a codex. For the first time in Christian history, followers of Christ were ahead of the technological curve!

The New Testament on a Roll

There are actually four New Testament manuscripts written on rolls. But all of them are on the backside or the verso side. Something else is written on the front or recto side. These papyrus rolls were reused by Christians—probably on rolls that had been discarded—who simply wanted to have a portion of the Bible at hand. In the Middle Ages, when very little was known about the ancient world, icons (a.k.a. miniatures) of the four Gospel writers (known as evangelists) were created that showed them writing on a codex. But this is historically inaccurate. We do not know exactly when Christians began using the codex-form, but it was most likely close to the beginning of the second century. Since all the Gospels are first-century documents, it is most likely that they were all written on rolls. In 2 Timothy 4.13, Paul asks Timothy to “bring the scrolls, especially the parchments.” The word for scrolls is biblia from which we derive our word Bible. It was the word for book, but was used for scrolls/rolls when Paul wrote this letter.

Some of the Implications for Understanding the New Testament

There are several implications for our understanding of the New Testament when we consider the form of the book then in use.

1. The Gospel of Mark almost surely ended at 16.8, with verses 9–20 added in the middle of the second century. Some scholars believe that Mark’s real ending was lost. But that presupposes that the early copies of Mark would have been written on a codex. Codices regularly lose material at the beginning and end of the book, just like modern-day paperback books do. But a roll would have been wound up, with the last section of the book on the inside. It would have been the most protected section of all. Thus, it is more likely that Mark intentionally ended his Gospel with an open-ended conclusion than that the real ending is lost.
2. The letter to the Hebrews, like every other New Testament document, would also have been written on a roll. An examination of ancient papyrus letters reveals two types when it comes to the addressee: they are either on the inside of the roll (as in all of Paul’s letters) or the outside. Hebrews was of the latter type. Frequently, because of exposure to the elements and handling by the courier, the addressee on the outside of papyrus rolls has faded. Sometimes the address was written on a label which was then glued to the outside of the roll. Either way, it seems likely that those to whom the letter to the Hebrews was written are unknown because the address was on the outside of the roll. The very form of this book, with the address on the outside, suggests that Paul would not have written Hebrews—as most scholars believe—since it does not conform to his modus operandi seen in all of his letters.
3. The book of Revelation speaks of a book that is sealed with seven seals (Rev 6). In order to get to each sealed section, the roll would have to be unwound. Then the wax seal would need to be cut before proceeding. If this book had been a codex, the reader could open the sections in any order, slicing open the seal he or she wanted.

Original article located at The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts

How the Bible's Formatting Can Shape the Bible's Reading

Written by Daniel B. Wallace

Matthew 9.36–10.3 in
Beza’s Greek-Latin New Testament (1588)

Did you know that verse numbers were not added to New Testaments until 1551? The first New Testament to have them was Stephanus’ fourth edition of the Greek New Testament. His text had two Latin versions and one Greek. He put in verse numbers so that readers could keep track of how the texts lined up. The first New Testament translation (based on Stephanus’ fourth edition) to use verse numbers was the Geneva New Testament of 1557, then the Geneva Bible of 1560.
 
The verse numbers added a new wrinkle to Bibles, however. Each new verse was indented as though it started a new paragraph. This created a problem for readers because seeing the verses in their contexts was now more difficult to do. The practice of indenting each verse continued with Theodore Beza’s Greek New Testament, which the King James Version (1611) was translated from. In turn, one or two of the KJV’s descendants (most notably, the NASB) also employed the verse-indentation scheme. Not only did this format make the context harder to discern, it also gave rise to illegitimate ‘proof-texting.’ Most modern translations now indent only the paragraphs, listing the verse numbers within each paragraph. What started out as a tool to help readers compare versions became a device to keep people from understanding scripture in its context. The lesson learned from this is that the very formatting of the word of God can shape how people read the Bible.

CSNTM

We Cannot Ignore the Subject of Sin...And Still Have the Gospel!

“From start to finish, Jesus’ life and ministry were aimed at dealing with our sin. The angel who announced His birth told Joseph, “You shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21b). This is why Jesus was born into obscure poverty, His infant body placed not on a royal bed but in an animal’s feeding trough. Though very God of very God, He was born into humiliation so as to take up the cause of sinners. This is why Jesus insisted on receiving the baptism of repentance. John the Baptist tried to refuse, saying, “`I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?’ But Jesus answered him, `Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.’ Then he consented” (Matt. 3:14b-15). This is why Jesus associated with sinners, a practice that drew the criticism of the Pharisees. They complained to His disciples: “`Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ But when [Jesus] heard it, he said, `Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners”‘ (Matt. 9:11b-13).

“Above all, this is why Jesus meekly submitted when He was unjustly convicted, even though Pontius Pilate had declared Him completely innocent. This was why Jesus accepted the dreadful lash of the Roman scourge, when He might have called down legions of angels to His defense. This is why He permitted Himself to be abused, allowed His body to be draped with a mock purple robe, and submitted His head to be pierced with a bloody crown of thorns-that He might be presented before history as the very picture of sinful mankind judged, condemned, and punished. And this is why the Son of God willingly took up the cross, forsaken by God and man, and died for sins He did not commit. Jesus Himself summed up the purpose of His whole saving work: “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

“Do you see why, therefore, we not only can but must bring up the issue of sin in our offer of God’s salvation? If sin was so important to God that He sent His only beloved Son into the world to deal specifically with it; if sin is so great a barrier between God and man that only the precious blood of Christ could remove it; and if Jesus was so committed to the salvation of sinners that He was willing to go to this horrific length to achieve it, how dare we cover up the topic of sin as some embarrassment to us or an impediment to the success of Christ’s church! Do you see why we must be willing to ask people to confess their sins in worship that is offered up in Christ’s name? Do you see why we must preach a gospel not just of cheery sentimentality but of the true and bad news of sin for which Christ paid so great a cost?”

Richard D. Phillips, Jesus the Evangelist (Kindle Edition)

The BIG Truth

Sunday, June 12, 2011, begins "The BIG Truth" project for our children's ministry (LKC). We will be invaded every Sunday by all kinds of dinosaurs. LOOK OUT...there's one flying around the lower lobby already so duck if you see him coming toward you!!

If you want your children to learn "The BIG Truth" about God's creation I encourage you to see to it that they don't miss ANY of these upcoming lessons.

Nearly every day your kids are bombarded with the message of evolution (i.e., the big lie). If parents and our churches don't give them biblical, scientific, and reasoned answers and explanations about God's creation, there will be a vacuum in their lives that the evolutionists will be glad to fill.

About 500 hours of work has gone into preparing for this project that will conclude with our VBS program called, "The BIG Dig." Your kids will actually be able to dig for fossils during VBS week along with a BUNCH (!!) of other exciting and fun creation stuff.

This is BIG...REALLY BIG!! And, it starts Sunday, June 12, 2011, at 10:30 a.m.

Ten Things You Should Ask God To Do for Your Children

There were several things that my wife and I prayed (regularly) for our children as we were raising them. This is not an exhaustive list, but it reflects the things we felt were important during their formative years. Whatever you do, make sure that you pray for these precious gifts God has entrusted to you. Our kids need us to intercede for them every day of their lives.

We Should Pray...

1. That our children will trust Christ as their Savior at the earliest possible age. (2 Timothy 3:15; Psalm 63:1)
2. That our children will be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. (Romans 12:1,2)
3. That our children will have a godly hatred for sin. (Psalm 97:10)
4. That our children will be caught whenever they do wrong. (Psalm 119:71; cf. 119:67; 94:12)
5. That our children will be protected from the evil one in every area of their lives: spiritually, emotionally, physically, and financially. (John 17:15)
6. That our children will always respect the authority over them. (Romans 13:1)
7. That our children will desire the right kind of friends and be protected from the wrong ones. (1 Corinthians 15:33)
8. That our children will be kept from the wrong mate and saved for the right one. (1 Corinthians 6:15)
9. That our children, as well as the ones they will ultimately marry, will be kept pure until their wedding day. (1 Corinthians 6:13-20)
10. That God will teach our children the virtue of true humility. (James 4:6)

Four New Testament Manuscript Discoveries

The article below was written by one of the men that was on the trip to Athens, Greece, with our son to photograph ancient New Testament manuscripts. On this expedition there were four new manuscripts of the New Testament discovered, in addition to the ones they originally traveled to document. This article references our son several times and describes the kind of work he and the team do when they take these international excursions. I think you will find it interesting and informative in understanding the work of The Center for the Study of New Testament Manuscripts.

Four New Testament Discoveries on My First Trip Abroad.
(written by Rory Crowly)

For the last two weeks of May, CSNTM’s Executive Director Dr. Daniel B. Wallace led a four-man team to Greece to photograph eight New Testament manuscripts at the Byzantine and Christian Museum (BXM) in Athens.

We had a stellar team. J. D. Lemming, a former CSNTM intern and seasoned expedition-vet, added some timely experience to the shoot. Paul Wheatley, another former intern of Dr. Wallace, also came with us. Because he and his wife lived in Athens from 2007 to 2009, he is fluent in modern Greek, is well versed when it comes to Athenian culture, got the four-man team cheap lodging, and knows all the great spots to get gyros. Having Paul with us was insightful and very important in terms of solidifying vital contacts for future expeditions, not just in Athens, but all across Greece. The expedition was undoubtedly significant for CSNTM in many respects, but for me it was the experience of a lifetime. This was my first time abroad and the first time to see the mission of CSNTM in action.

For the last year or so, I worked for the Center as a volunteer intern and have been recently hired as the new Intern Coordinator. I have been exposed to virtually all aspects of the organization, except for actually going on an expedition. With this incredible opportunity in Athens, I experienced the mission of CSNTM personally! Participating in the tedious, technical, and yet exciting digital preservation process, evaluating individual scribal habits, searching for significant textual variants, utilizing the very best in photographic and computer technology, developing new relationships with institutions for future expeditions, I was actually experiencing what CSNTM was all about!

From the moment we arrived in Athens, it was straight to work. We first went to the Greek Parliament, the Gennadios Library at the American School of Classical Studies, and then off to Athens University. At each one of these locations, we tried to do some front-end work for future expeditions. We evaluated and prepped some manuscripts, while gaining important contacts. Tuesday, it was off to the races with shooting. We arrived at the BXM bright and early to begin the shoot. All in all, we shot eight manuscripts consisting of just over 2,000 images in seven very full days of work. The last day of the shoot, J.D. and Paul stayed at the Byzantine to shoot the last manuscript while Dr. Wallace and I went back to some of the other locations to look at a few more manuscripts. During this time, we discovered a twelfth-century Gospels minuscule! After that, Wheatley and Wallace discovered another two Gospels manuscripts. Later, J.D. and Paul found fragments of a manuscript of Acts in the back of a Gospels manuscript. Altogether, this expedition yielded four New Testament manuscript discoveries!

Once we finished in Athens, we headed north to do some more front-end work. We first stopped off at Tirnavos, a little town off the beaten path. In the city library are hundreds of handwritten manuscripts, some New Testament manuscripts among them. (There aren’t too many city libraries in the States that have New Testament manuscripts, I imagine.) Then we headed to a place called Meteora. It was other-worldly, unlike anything I have ever seen before. Meteora, literally meaning, “suspended in air,” is one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Greece. It is home to huge sandstone pillars that shoot straight up from the forest landscape below. Some of these pillars are home to centuries-old Greek Orthodox monasteries. At times, I felt like I was on a Hawaiian island; at other times, like I was back home in the Rocky Mountains of Utah. 

The greatest part about it though was the hospitality of the nuns at one of the monasteries we visited. One of our contacts at the Byzantine was able to call the Monastery of Agiou Stephanou (St. Stephen) and set up a time to look at their manuscript holdings. I have never experienced anything like this before. The monastery was impressive all around and from the very moment we arrived, the hospitality from the nuns was warm and unceasing. They offered us Greek coffee (which has the grounds in bottom of it!) and the best homemade baklava I have ever had. Additionally, they provided lunch for us. Their manuscripts were impressive too.

In addition to a very productive trip for CSNTM and discovering four manuscripts for the world of New Testament studies, our down time on the weekends included sight-seeing at the Acropolis and Aeropagos in Athens, a trip to the ancient city of Corinth, and on our way back from Meteora a brief stop at Thermopylae where the 300 Spartans fought off the million-man Persian army. Not bad for a kid who had never been outside the U.S., I think. All in all, the expedition was a huge success for CSNTM and an experience that I shall not soon forget.

The Last Word on Harold Camping...

Over the last couple of weeks, we’ve all been made loathsomely aware of the doomsday prediction of Harold Camping. The news media was quick to pick up on his ruminations about the end of the world partly (I think) because it gives them opportunity to ridicule Christianity in general. I’ll admit that I, too, made fun of Mr. Camping as the day of his prediction drew near. To not distance yourself from his foolishness made it too easy for people to lump you together with him, since he claims to be a Christian and follow the Bible. I also joked about his prediction because it was incredibly presumptuous on his part, setting aside the sheer heresy of making such a claim. It was either laugh at his overt arrogance or boil over with anger for the shame and reproach he was bringing on the name of Christ. I chose the first over the latter for the sake of my own sanity. Of course, he is not the first to lay claim to possessing an inside track to God’s sovereign timetable, nor, I'm sure, will he be the last. Unfortunately, there always seems to be somebody waiting in the wings that thinks God has given him a special knowledge that has been withheld from every other diligent student of the Bible throughout the ages.

Now that Mr. Camping's mathematically deciphered “doomsday” prediction has passed (though he's now changed the date to be October, 2011), I feel compelled to make one final, clarifying statement about this whole matter before closing the chapter on him and moving on. 

While I believe that Mr. Camping and all others like him are to be dismissed out of hand whenever they make such ludicrous predictions, I do not want people to also dismiss the biblical truth that one day Christ will return. The Second Coming of Jesus is as theologically true as the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith, the virgin birth, the sacrificial and vicarious death of Jesus, the bodily resurrection of our Savior, the infallibility/inspiration of the Bible, etc. There will be a time when Christians are caught out of this world followed by a terrible time of judgment known as the Tribulation (Revelation 4-19) before Christ establishes His Kingdom on earth. That's the eschatology that I believe is systematically revealed in Scripture. Though good theologians may debate some of the finer points of the doctrine of the Second Coming, ultimately, they all affirm the orthodox position that He will come again. The primary problem with Mr. Camping (and others like him) was that he presumed to know the exact timing of end-time events when God has clearly indicated that no man knows the day or hour they will occur (Matthew 25:13).

There are numerous references that affirm the biblical truth of the Second Coming. For instance, when Jesus ascended back to Heaven following His resurrection the angels said He would come again (Acts 1:11). Jesus Himself told His disciples that if He went away He would return for His followers (John 14:1-6). Paul speaks about the coming of Christ being a comforting hope for the believer (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) and the writer of Hebrews says we should eagerly await His return (Hebrews 9:28).  John says that those who are expecting His coming will spiritually prepare for it (1 John 3:1-3) and he also closes the Revelation with a prayer for His coming, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20). I wholeheartedly affirm what the Scripture teaches...one day Jesus will answer John’s prayer. Until that day, you and I should be busy about the Lord’s work seeking to glorify Him and leading others to faith in Him.

Don’t let yourself be deceived by any person who says he knows the exact timing of our Lord’s return, but neither let yourself be cynical about the promise of His coming.

Clarifying My Position On Two Important Issues

One of the things I learned early in my ministry is to “take with a grain of salt” every report I hear that people find necessary to pass along to me. The reason for adopting this policy is because so much of what is said by people isn’t just verbal, but visual, too. That is, they say things in jest that unless you are there to hear the statements (i.e., their tone) for yourself, as well as see how they said it, you simply cannot tell if it was offered in good humor or as an actual criticism. Consequently, too often people take offense at things that were never intended to be offensive and end up hurt when they should have been laughing.

For the last few months I have taken this approach with comments that have been passed along to me which are reportedly being spoken by people that are outside the direct responsibility of my ministry and our church. Most of the time these types of things ultimately die on their own and never need to be addressed. On other occasions, though, it is important to say something about the comments primarily because you want those who follow your leadership to understand your thinking on specific issues. The later of the two is what prompts me to write this blog post today. Let me state clearly that I am not writing to "return fire" by pointing out some “contrived errors” where I believe my fellow servants have gone astray or veered from acceptable tradition. Actually, one of the greatest days in my life was the day I discovered that God didn’t hold me responsible for what every other church is doing. He only holds me accountable for being faithful to follow Him in my own ministry. Consequently, I don't have to concern myself with other Bible-believing churches or feel like I'm the worship police, called to enforce my preferences on other congregations. Neither am I writing to be argumentative with the people that have made these statements, but only so that you will know the facts about my position.

Needless to say, I am, however, deeply saddened by my fellow servants and their comments, primarily because these men have known me for years, have been friendly with me (though we don’t see each other frequently), and know my strong doctrinal beliefs. You can’t pastor one church in one city for twenty-eight years and it not be known where you stand on most issues, especially when you have a ministry that broadcasts its services on weekly TV. Neither do I believe that talking about another Bible-believing church or pastor in a derogatory manner aids the cause of Christ or helps our churches win more people to Jesus.

Apparently, the two major concerns that have caused these individuals to speak against me and our fellowship are as follows: first, they disagree with the style of music we use, which entails our blending of contemporary praise music with traditional hymns, as well as our choice of instrumentation to accompany the music. And, the second concerns the fact that I use something other than the KJV from the pulpit (I use the NKJV) and will not affirm their position that it is the "only" translation in the English language for the English speaking people. When I first heard about their statements I dismissed them out of hand and never thought another thing about them. But, because they have been repeated to me now on several occasions over the last few months I think it is appropriate to address them so that people who are fair-minded will know my heart and see that these criticisms are likely agenda driven.

Of these two accusations, the most disheartening one for me is their criticism of me for not using the KJV translation from our pulpit and not affirming that it is the “only” Bible in the English language for the English speaking people. I respect my brethren for their sincere desire to honor and defend the authority of God's Holy Word. I, too, want to honor and defend God's Word against the attacks of liberal skeptics. But, the fact is, I am neither a liberal, nor a skeptic. It should concern all of us whenever we hear someone maligning the Scriptures or denying the inspiration of the Bible. But, I have always preached the Bible as the Word of God and I will continue to call people to follow Scripture in whatever it affirms. I’m also very grateful that God has preserved His Word for us in approximately 6000 ancient manuscripts and manuscript fragments, as well as other languages where the Bible was translated in early church history and in the preaching manuscripts of the early church fathers. There is no other book in all of antiquity that is as well attested as God's Holy Word. Further, I have great respect for the King James Version as it is the text God chose to use for nearly 400 years in bringing people to faith in Christ and it was the translation I used for many years in my own ministry. Sadly, though, the battle over Bible translations has become so vitriolic that harsh and extremely defamatory comments are now common fare in this discussion. It seems to me that when the substance of your argument is insufficient to win the debate, that people too often resort to ad hominem attacks on those who disagree with them.  

What you should know about this issue is that the  KJV "only" perspective is not the historic position of the church, nor is it the view of most Bible-believing, evangelical scholars. It is not even the view of the translators of the King James Version or Erasmus in whom the KJV “only” proponents place so much confidence. If you really want to get a feel for how differently good people can see this issue you need only look at two of the most rigidly fundamental schools in the USA: Bob Jones University and Pensacola Christian College. Would it surprise you to know that they strongly disagree with one another on the issue of the KJV being the "only" Bible in the English language for the English speaking people? I have never heard anyone say that either of these two institutions are liberal in their theology. On nearly every (if not every) major point of Bible doctrine these two colleges are in agreement, as well as in their musical preferences, I might add. As the old saying goes, “even a greased BB wouldn’t fit between them.” But, on the KJV "only" matter they are miles apart. I use this not to endorse or critize either school, but only to illustrate that differing on this subject does not necessarily make you a liberal or mean you have compromised the truth. Further, it shows that this whole KJV "only" debate is not quite as simple as some people would like you to believe. From my own study on both sides of this issue I cannot personally see how the explanations that are offered by KJV "only" advocates can be supported historically, textually, and/or logically by the evidence. I simply do not believe the facts bear out their position, but that doesn't make me a liberal or our church worthy of hurtful criticisms.

Let me again personally affirm that I believe in the inspiration, infallibility and preservation of God’s Word, as do my brethren that criticize me. However, after diligent pursuit of this matter over many years I cannot affirm that the KJV is the “only” translation of the Bible that is reliable for our use today. And, it is untenable and illogical to me for a person to take a modern translation and compare it to the KJV to determine if it is a faithful rendering of God’s Holy Word (which most KJV “only” advocates do). The Bible was not written in English and only when a translation is compared diligently to the copies of the original Greek, Hebrew and Aramaic manuscripts, can you discover the quality of a Bible translation. Further, I believe that it is in the totality of this manuscript evidence, carefully compared by textual scholars, that we find God’s preserved Word in the original languages.

Simply put, God wants us to know His Word and I think that using a good modern translation is one of the legitimate ways we can better grasp what He is saying to us. If you choose to use the KJV because it holds a special place in your life and ministry, then by all means make it your preferred text. But, when a fellow Christian affirms his belief in the inspiration and infallibility of Scripture, but uses a different translation than the KJV, I don’t believe God is pleased when division is created over the issue.

As to the matter of our music program, I want you to know that I have never been more pleased with our worship music than I am today. We still sing hymns, but we have broadened our musical horizons to include other excellent compositions that move the heart and soul toward God. I have read and studied the Scripture consistently for the last thirty-seven years and I have never read one verse that states that a particular style of music is commanded, endorsed or specifically blessed by God. It is also undeniably true that many different types of instruments were used in the praise of God throughout the Bible, including percussion instruments. Unfortunately, too much of the debate concerning church music is generationally driven rather than Biblically driven. People grow up hearing and liking a particular style of music and that’s what they prefer when they come to church. There is nothing wrong with having a preference, but you cannot make it a law that everybody else has to follow or they’re not right with God. Most people don’t even know that some of the melodies for the hymns they love started out as secular songs that were adapted for church use by changing the words. It’s gloriously freeing when you finally discover that God can and does use people and things that are outside your own personal comfort zone.

For years I have said that Southern Gospel music is not my favorite style of music. It just doesn’t fit my ear, but I don’t belittle people or think them Biblically unsound because they love it and will travel hundreds of miles just to hear their favorite group sing. As long as the music is theologically sound and is enabling people to exalt Christ, then each of us is entitled to enjoy the style of our preference.

In our church we use many different styles and usually everyone eventually hears something they specifically like best. I think some people would like their church music tailored so that everything is exactly to their own personal preferences. Maybe we should develop personal sound booths in each pew with individual dials that permit you to choose your musical style each Sunday. Possibly we could make each seat a recliner pew so that people can be fully relaxed while doing their listening. We might even develop a means of allowing the individual worshipper to chose the specific sermon he wants to hear on any given Sunday. Of course, you know that I’m being facetious and trying to be somewhat humorous. The truth is, we all have to learn to be tolerant of each other when it comes to worship music. The older members of a congregation must accept that the young people aren’t necessarily going to like the same style of music in church that they liked growing up. But, neither should the young people be allowed to tailor all of the worship service specifically to their own personal tastes. Church is to be a blending of all types of people from many different walks of life with different tastes and preferences all praising God together...in unity. Aren’t we suppose to prefer our brother before ourselves and not just demand our own way? Shouldn’t the more mature Christians be among the most flexible in the realm of personal preferences? Isn’t it the immature that usually make the most demands and the mature that know the value of sacrifice? I make no apologies for the wonderful music we enjoy every Sunday in our services, nor for the diversity that God has allowed us to experience in this realm. We are among the most blessed congregations when it comes to singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. Whether it’s a hymn, psalm, or spiritual song all our music brings glory to God.

Let me close this lengthy article by saying that I love my brethren, even though they choose to misrepresent our church. You could go down the list of basic doctrinal beliefs and probably the only significant difference between us will be in the areas I’ve already addressed. I have not, nor am I going to compromise my doctrinal stance. It is the foundation on which I have built my ministry. Nor will I acquiesce on some of these secondary matters in order to please critics that apparently don’t know my heart or commitment to the truth very well. I’ll just keep loving them and seeking the best for them in the fashion Christ sought the best for those that misunderstood and misrepresented Him.

Jesus Saves

Because this is Memorial Day weekend and many people are traveling and away from church...I am going to take a break from our series: Are You A Fan or a Follower? We will resume the series next weekend by asking one of the most important questions you'll ever have to answer. 

This Sunday I'm bringing one of my all time favorite messages. I haven't shared this specific message in several years, but there is none that I like preaching more than this one. I believe that your appreciation of what Christ did for you on the cross will grow exponentially as you consider the wisdom of the cross. Hope you'll be in attendance tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. 

Tomorrow night at 6:30 p.m. we will have an abbreviated service and then head outside to enjoy some ice cream and fellowship together, as well as raise some much needed funds to help Lauren Gibson with her summer missions internship. 

Hope you'll be there and bring someone with you, too.