Blogging Block

As is obvious I haven't been blogging much lately at all. This isn't because I dislike blogging; I don't have any intention of quitting any time soon. The reason the posts have been so infrequent is that I have a raging case of blogging block. For whatever reason, I just don't have many new ideas worth sharing. I could, of course, throw some blather together just to get attention. However, that's a waste of everyone's time. I'd rather go a while between posts, and then actually put something of substance together. Just please keep checking back now and then. More posts will eventually appear.

As for my life, things are going well. Grandparenthood is awesome. What a blessing from the Lord it is to see and cherish the next generation. I'm still running quite a bit. My next big goal is tackling the full 26.2 miles at the Savannah Rock n Roll Marathon in November. Regarding church issues, we still gather simply with a small group of other believers. It is a sweet time of fellowship.

20 Cognitive Biases That Affect Your Decisions

Good stuff here from Mental Floss. The first step in avoiding these pitfalls is being aware of them.

From the Department of Redundancy Department?

I've been told by some who shall remain nameless that I say the same things over and over on my blog. In essence, the accusation is that I'm being redundant. Is this true? If so, is it a problem?

Is my blogging from the Department of Redundancy Department?

I admit to spending a good amount of time pointing out the numerous problems embedded within institutional Christianity. I make no apology for this. However, I also write about other issues such as family and culture. Additionally, other posts look at positives we see in scripture as far as the church is concerned. I attempt to then make application to today's church. Finally, sometimes I blog about simple church practices and activities that I find both important and interesting. To sum up, this blog looks at much more than just institutional problems.

For the sake of argument, let's just say that my posts focus more on the institution and its absurdities than on anything else. Is this a problem? I think not. Here's why. First, each week institutional Christianity rolls along, largely unimpeded. The pastors do their thing. The people sit quietly. The offering plate fills up. Society is not changed. Because of this, at least some of us outside the institution must point out the problems. Blogging is one of the few avenues I have. As long as the institution keeps up its traditional nonsense, I will discuss the unbiblical nature of what I see. The institution's redundancy leads to my redundancy. We must keep these issues in the minds of other Christians. Otherwise, no change will come within the church.

Second, many bloggers who prefer simple church and are willing to discuss institutional problems also have another problem: they are weak doctrinally. I'm not sure why it is, but a lot of those outside the institutional walls hold unbiblical positions on issues such as homosexuality, gender roles, the atonement, and Hell to name a few. Many also border on universalism. The term "squishy" is a good way to describe their doctrine. Therefore, I'm part of an odd, small number of bloggers who hold orthodox Christian beliefs and also reject institutional church practices (Arthur is another in this odd camp). Since our number is so small, we must continue to bang the same drum.

If this seems like redundancy, then so be it. Nobody is forced to read anybody's blog.

Looking Forward to Reading This Book!

This just arrived. I can't wait to read it! Dave Black said he was enjoying it; that's good enough for me.

Christians Shouldn't Fly the Rainbow Flag Either

I've never seen or heard so much talk of flags. Why are flags even important? Do they matter?

They do, in fact, matter because they represent ideas. And as the saying goes, "Ideas have consequences."

As many of you know, I live in the American South. Thus, I see my share of confederate flags. They mostly fly at private residences. Over the past month or so the confederate flag has been all over the news. Opinions about this flag are wide ranging. Emotions run high almost whenever the topic is brought up. A few years ago I put my opinion about the confederate flag on this blog. The post is entitled Christians Should Not Fly This Flag.

There's another increasingly popular flag that also stirs the emotions: the rainbow flag. Generally speaking, this flag represents the homosexual community. If you fly the rainbow flag it means that you are supporting the homosexual lifestyle. I'm not surprised that secular society is now rallying around this flag. However, what bothers me is just how many self-professing Christians support homosexuality. It's as if they've never read the bible (maybe they haven't) or just don't care what it says.

Despite what some revisionist interpreters would like us to think, the scriptures are clear on the issue of homosexuality. The words penned in the bible actually mean what they mean. It is instructive that the entire church was in agreement that homosexuality is sin until just recently. To think that all Christians everywhere were wrong about this for 1900 years is very arrogant.

Because the bible is abundantly clear on this topic, followers of Jesus Christ ought not in any way support homosexuality as a valid lifestyle. Part of this is not flying the rainbow flag.

As a reminder:

"For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error." Rom. 1:26-27

"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." I Cor. 6:9-10

"Now we know that the law is good, if one uses it lawfully, understanding this, that the law is not laid down for the just but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who strike their fathers and mothers, for murderers, the sexually immoral, men who practice homosexuality, enslavers, liars, perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound doctrine, in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted." I Tim. 1:8-11

Additionally, below is everything positive the bible says about homosexuality:

If you follow Jesus Christ, don't fly the rainbow flag.

Probably Not a Good Idea

"We've Got a Better Idea!"

God has shown us his plan for his church in scripture. However, what we read in the bible looks far different from what we see in most of the church today. Why is this? The reason is that today's church thinks it has better ideas. Otherwise, the biblical model is what we would see followed.

This may seem harsh, but when we begin to list the ways the modern church looks significantly different from the church in scripture, we see that it's true. The bible shows us one thing, and today's church responds with, "We've got a better idea. Let's do (insert item) instead!"

For example:

In scripture we see churches gathering in houses.

Today's church responds with, "Let's meet in large, expensive buildings instead!"

In scripture we see churches meeting in informal ways.

"Let's have scripted ceremonies instead!"

In scripture we read of free-flowing, spontaneous gatherings.

"Let's have bulletins instead!"

In scripture we see much dialogue as the church comes together.

"Let's listen to monologue sermons instead!"

In scripture we read of the church meeting for the purpose of edification.

"Let's meet for worship instead!"

In scripture we see the Lord's Supper celebrated as a full meal.

"Let's eat a snack in a funeral-like setting instead!"

In scripture all of the spiritual gifts are used to build up the body.

"Let's limit the expression of spiritual gifts to the ones we like instead!"

In scripture we read of the entire church gathering together regardless of age.

"Let's split up into age groupings instead!"

In scripture all the church is equal. The elders were simply part of the body.

"Let's create a clergy and treat it differently than the laity instead!"

In scripture the elders always came from the place they served.

"Let's hire pastors we don't know instead!"

In scripture the elders worked like everyone else.

"Let's pay salaries to professionals instead!"

In scripture we see preaching primarily to the lost.

"Let's have preaching mainly to the church instead!"

In scripture we read that we are free from the OT law to follow the law of Christ.

"Let's focus on the Ten Commandments instead!"

In scripture we see that every day is the same in Christ.

"Let's make Sunday into 'The Lord's Day' instead!"

In scripture the young adults are expected to act as such.

"Let's have youth groups instead!"

In scripture we see the church give its money away to assist those in need.

"Let's keep most of the money (to pay the bills) instead!"

In scripture we read of believers giving freely, without compulsion.

"Let's give a tithe instead!"

In scripture the church simply gives as it sees need.

"Let's have budgets instead!"

In scripture the church seeks unity in decision making.

"Let's vote instead!"

In scripture everyone is a member of the church.

"Let's have local membership instead!"

In scripture we see an emphasis on the New Covenant.

"Let's have a church covenant instead!"

In scripture we see Christians unite in Christ.

"Let's be united with those that agree with us instead!"

In scripture we see every Christian in a city as part of the church in that city.

"Let's split into denominations instead!"

In scripture we see the church serving the needy.

"Let's read lots of theology books instead!"

In scripture we read of the church taking responsibility to educate its people.

"Let's build seminaries to educate the future clergy instead!"

In scripture the church read the bible (the Hebrew scriptures).

"Let's read out of our quarterlies instead!"

In scripture the Holy Spirit brought life wherever he saw fit.

"Let's have scheduled revival services instead!"

In scripture all days are holy. The church celebrated Christ whenever it gathered.

"Let's celebrate Christmas and Easter instead!"

In scripture only Jesus is referred to as the Senior Pastor.

"Let's call some other man the Senior Pastor instead!"

In scripture the church is a God-created organism.

"Let's form an institution instead!"



This list does not suggest or imply that the early church was perfect. Far from it. However, we can see what was approved and what was not by the apostles. Christ has given us, through apostolic writings, a plan for his people.

It is categorically not a better idea to move away from God's plan for his church.

What we generally see today is so different from the church in scripture that we have to ask if it is even the church. It is much more of a man-created institution. They are not the same.

God's plan is best. When we follow the principles and models he has laid down, much positive comes from it. The question is simply whether or not his people will follow it.