Evangelists and Calvinists

I find it somewhat amusing that some SBC Evangelists are bemoning the rise of Calvinism in the SBC (see BP article from Jan. 11th). Don't they know that George Whitfield was one of the greatest evangelists ever and that he was a hard-core Calvinist? or how about the great "soul-winner" and baptist pastor C.H. Spurgeon? He was also a Calvinist. This reflects a larger debate in the SBC over this subject. The main points of Evangelical Calvinism are 1) man is unable to save himself. 2) God chooses to save sinners. 3) Christ attoned for the sins of all who have or will believe in Him by shedding His blood and dying on the cross in their place. 4) The Holy Spirit effectually draws men to Christ through the Gospel and 5) a true believer will be saved. These are all biblical truths concerning salvation. Most Baptist's hold to these tenets, so I don't see what all the fuss is about?

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!
Celebrating the birth of Christ is a good thing. I know some of our puritan brothers from the past didn't do it, but I believe it provides a great oportunity to say to the world: Jesus the Messiah has come and He is coming again (soon)! People will dispute the date, but Edershiem in The LIfe and Times of Jesus the Messiah
has a great explanation of this; I believe silencing the critics. Another thing some Christians rail about is the so called pagan origins of Christmas. Certainly that may be valid, but does anyone think of that today when putting up trees, etc. and after all isn't that what the Gospel is all about: making things new in Christ. My best advice... celebrate Christ at Christmas; exchange gifts in memory of the greatest gift Jesus Christ, put up a Christmas trees remembering the evergreen as a symbol of eternal life in Christ Jesus, and light-up candles or Christmas lights (or down here in New Mexico- luminarios)because the Light of Christ has come into the world, and above all prepare your hearts for His coming again.
Merry Christmas!

Mormons Embarrased by Their Own Doctrine

Recently, Mike Huckabee made a remark in an interview: "Mormons believe that Jesus and the devil are brothers, don't they?" This unleeshed a firestorm of attacks against him. The Mormons put out an official statement saying that anti-mormons always use this type of retoric to bash them. Mitt Romney flat out said that the idea of Jesus and Satan being brothers in Mormon theology was not true. Problem is...
it is true. Mormons teach that Jesus and Lucifer are spirit brothers, both son's of one of the Mormon gods, Elohim. I say one of the Mormon gods because they believe that there are many gods:"In the beginning, the head of the Gods called a council of the Gods; and they came together and concocted a plan to create the world and people it" (from a sermon by Joseph Smith Journal of Discourses Vol.VI, pg.5). However, Mormons, as seen by the reaction of Romney and his church don't seem to want to admit these doctrines. Are they embarrassed by them? Mormonism is not a Christian denomination. It is a non-Christian cult. Pointing out the doctrines of mormons is not an attack unless you feel the doctrines are so crazy you don't want to admit to anyone you believe them.
If that's the case you should repent and leave the Mormon church. If not admit your doctrines and defend them; do not lie about them or try to hide them, as the Mormon Church and Romney seem to be doing.

Politics

I do not like to talk about political campaigns from the pulpit, but I feel free to express my personal opinions in this open forum. God is not democrat or republican. God is sovriegn over all. It is He who establishes governments and likewise it is He who brings them down; all for His glorious purposes. However, we as American citizins should use our right to vote while we still can. That said I freely admit that I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God before I am an American. I have one King and one Lord who I am to obey and it is the Lord Jesus. So, when it comes to my vote I will not knowingly support anyone for office who is pro-abortion, I will not knowingly support anyone for office who is not a Christian (that is an evangelical, Bible believing, Christ-follower). If no candate fits my litmus test: I will not vote. Now some will say, you should support your party or at least support someone who has the same moral values. I say nuts! Enough of my rambling... suffice it to say that I am glad that God is in control. and Mike Huckabee can win if we will support him and if God wills it!

High Church Baptist?

Sunday evening I participated in an ecuminical thanksgiving service. I was asked to lead the responsive reading, and this I did from Psalm 118. We had a grand entrance, the congregation singing 'We Gather Together" and the respective clergy all processing in their finery. Not to be out done, I donned an alb and borrowed a stole. I think this is about the funniest thing one could see: a baptist in an alb and stole. Some might think that was a compromise of baptist principles or flirting with popish traditions; it was neither, I just like to dress up. It is part of my make-up, it is the way I was wired. Since I was a child, I dressed up: I had a costume for everything. If I was watching a war movie on the Saturday matinee, I would drag out my army suit and plastic tommy gun. If I were playing cowboys and indians in the backyard, I could select from my closet a cowboy hat, boots and capguns, or a feather headress and bow and arrow as the mood might suit me. Sundays at our house was a formal occassion. My mother believed in the saying, Sunday best". I was always dressed in a suit and tie, or nickers and a bow tie. I loved it. It has never changed: when I ride my motorcycle-leathers, when I go to my cousin's ranch-cowboy hat and boots, when I play the bagpipes- kilt, when I preach- sometimes a suit and tie, sometimes a frock coat, sometimes a zoot-suit, sometimes a button up shirt with blue jeans (which Christianity Today calls the new dress for the post-modern pastor), sometimes my doctoral gown and hood, and last Sunday evening an alb and stole. You can call me a high church baptist, you could call me crazy but just don't call me late for supper.

Convention

I just got back from the BCNM Convention in Albuquerque. It was very good; in fact, I wish that the SBC conventions were as fun. There was great music, challenging messages from Bobby Welch and Wayne Barber, and quick and easy business sessions.
The California fires were on everyone's mind, especially the disaster relief crews. The DR people are just waiting for the word to go. While I'm on the fires, I found it interesting that the fires broke out just after Gov. Schwarzenegger signed House Bill SB777. This bill prohibits any bias against homosexual, transgender or bi-sexual lifestyles in public schools. Kindergarten and up would learn about these practices and be taught that they are normal alternatives. Could the fires be a wake up call. Most westerners don't think God would do such things. I'm afraid our view of God is skewed. The Bible declairs that God is Holy! Holy! Holy! but we don't like to see God in this light. All we want to hear is grace, mercy, and love not sin, repentance, and righteousness. I thank God that He is rich in mercy, for I need His mercy more than any living person, but how can I see mercy untill I see my sin in light of a Holy and (dare I say) angry God. Go figure...

The Occasional Blogger

Well, it has been months since I last posted a blog. I think I should have named my spot: The Occasional Blogger instead of Light for Living. Today I have a moment of peace to pose three thoughts for pondering.

1. Why do many in our country embrace President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad? My feeling is that, realativism, which has been so hard at work in our schools, has become the formost philosophy of our day. Therefore, people do not believe in evil. Oh, you have a few that call out evil, but they are castigated as intolerant fundamentalists. When a class of philosophy studens at a state university wouldn't admit Hitler was wrong and evil- we have a problem. Of course, I see this as a sign of the times- the approaching Day of the Lord. Which leads me to my next question.

2. Why do so many Christians shun the study of Bible prophecy? I see so much scepticism, doubt and fear among Christians concerning this topic. It drives me crazy that many seem to love this world more than they love Jesus and His Kingdom. Don't we believe what we pray: "Thy Kingdom come". I say come Lord Jesus. We are called to "watch" not bury our heads in the sand.

3. Why did the SBC adopt the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message if they didn't believe it? One day at a Baptist meeting, I suggested that this particular group could save a lot of writing on a doctrinal statement if they simply stated that they were in agreement with the Baptist Faith and Message 2000. You would have thought I had denied the Holy Trinity. I'm suprised some didn't pick up stones to hurl at me. Instead they hurled comments: "that's too controversial", "we don't agree with the BFM 2000", etc. I was somewhat doumbfounded. I guess I'm ignorant of all the subtleties of Baptist thought, but I figured if you want to be a Baptist you ought to be in agreement with Baptist doctrine. Go figure.