SBC=>ENCOUNTERS

To WHOM Are You Devoted

Today we find so many people to whom folks are devoted–passionately, fervently, zealously devoted. They’re devoted to leaders, pastors, friends, families and celebrities. They’re devoted to viewpoints, doctrines, theologies and principles. They’re devoted to churches, denominations, parties, and establishments. They’re devoted to causes– poverty, hunger and epidemics. The list is endless.

“Devotion to a cause is the great mark of our day, and in religion it means being devoted to the application of religious principles. A disciple of Jesus Christ is devoted to a Person, not to a principle….There is a difference between devotion to a principle and devotion to a person. Hundreds of people today are devoting themselves to phases of truth–to causes. Jesus Christ never asks us to devote ourselves to a cause or a creed; He asks us to devote ourselves to Him, to sign away the right to ourselves and yield to Him absolutely.” Oswald Chambers.

Sometimes we try to develop a ministry to reach certain folks, and find our efforts foiled. Sometimes we struggle in our churches to motivate, to inspire and still fail to spur folks on toward love and good deeds. Is it possible our focus is amiss? Do we truly love Jesus? Do we truly believe He is working in our lives? If Jesus is not the motivating force within us, then our words will ring hollow.

When our efforts fail, could it be the Lord is trying to redirect our attention, to fulfill a purpose we cannot even fathom? Even Paul’s desires to spread the gospel were pre-empted by the Spirit of God. The direction he thought was the way to go, was not where God wanted him to go.  Had it not been for the imprisonment of Paul from his travels, we would not have the mighty writings of the New Testament for guidance and instruction. Paul counted it all joy, he saw his imprisonment as an opportunity to share the gospel where Romans would hear. Paul learned to be content with and without, in prison or free–with help or without. God used his circumstances, gave him a thorn in his flesh and Paul surrendered Himself totally to the Savior.

God knows where His children are today, too. And should we wander off in any direction for any reason and take our attention off Him, He is bound by His own promises to bring us back to His protection, His care and His sustaining grace. I believe God cannot tolerate loyalties divided. He is a jealous God.

When we get off on a tangent of our own to fulfill a need in us to accomplish something, to prove something, is it any wonder when what we do seems to fail?

Is it any wonder when we seek to go in one direction we’re met with roadblocks? Sometimes it is not the devil to whom we should credit the difficulties in life, perhaps it is the Lord to Whom we should praise?  For it is written:

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2.

And also, remember the words of Peter,

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested with fire, may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen, you love.”1 Peter 1:6-8a.

What a friend we have in Jesus! In His grace we find all we need and more. Makes me wonder why we seek after lesser things from people, networks, organizations, entities, institutions, politicians and the world. He and He alone deserves our devotion. "Do you love, me?"  do you love Me?  do  you love Me?" the risen Lord asked Peter.  "Feed My sheep."

"You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love." Rev. 2:3-4

Many things to which we devote our energies, emotions and time, are very good things. Many battles we wage are worthy of fighting. As Christians, does our devotion focus on Jesus, or to what we are rightly devoted?  Is Jesus lifted up to draw all men to Him, or is He sometimes buried beneath the rhetoric of the right way to do this, or the proper way to do that?  I wonder.  I really do.  selahV

AN Encounter With What Is NOT In Scripture, by Johnathan Pritchett

WHO IS JOHNATHAN PRITCHETT, anyway?

OKAY...if you follow along with Johnathan's reasoning below, we come to where I am, the lowly person in the pew who does not see things in Scripture as others see things. I just take it as it comes and accept what God says as what He says. The reason I do this, is because I do not "get" all the positions from all the theological minds in the universe. To me, it is like a prism and everyone is seeing their own color play out on the billboard of life.  I have tried.  And I still try.  But, it seems, my brain just ain't that big--it can't hold all those colors.  And I am getting old, folks.  What in the world am I going to do?  The day of my "completion" is closing in fast.  I wonder if there is any need for all of the stuff folks tell me I am in need of knowing, understanding and "embracing".  I don't think so.

Therefore, if you will, I particularly like this little paragraph that Johnathan writes and I do not want it to get lost in the entirety of his exegesis (I think that is the right usage here), explanation below.  So before you read what he has to say at SBC Today, about the passages that are constantly thrown out at non-Calvinists in theological debate, note what he writes here:

"One of these days, all believers on all sides of the spectrum will have to hang it up and recognize that the Bible says LESS than what people think it says. When we make it say more than it does, we add to it our conjecture." Johnathan Pritchett

Johnathan, today is "one of these days" for me.  In fact, I suppose it has always been "one-of-these-days".  I truly concede that I do not know all the suppositions, presuppositions, conjectures and other words that mean a word means what it says or doesn't mean what it says.  I just don't know what everyone else means.  I do know what I mean when I say, I believe in Jesus.  And I trust in Jesus.  And I am assured that if others believe in Jesus and trust in Jesus that He will save them and forgive them of their sins, because He said so.  I just hope someone else out there in the world-wide-web understands that when they "encounter" Jesus, He has done what He said He will do, and He is going to do what He says He is going to do.

Now, for Johnathan Pritchett:

Well Done My Good and Faithful Servant

I read through a series of posts I encountered which share some of the kingdom work of fellow ambassadors for Christ.  I think these posts give us a peek behind the curtain of what can often be a very lonely, tedious and sometimes unappreciated ministry contribution in the SBC.  In Dr. Terry Dorsett's series of articles on Bivocational Ministers, I find repeated similarities to problems which all ministers face in any church situation.  Several seeds of wisdom are offered to help men who are planting churches and are seeking to grow their church plants.

After reading these, my heart became burdened for we Southern Baptists to pray more for the young men (and some older men), who endeavor to fulfill their calling in this way.  They are the ones we rarely come in contact with.  They are so busy working, sometimes raising families, and trying to build churches and grow them, that their internet contributions and their attendance at conventions are basically non-existent.  They are the grassroots voices to be sure.

Would you take a moment today to pray for their work?  That God would encourage them in their bivocational struggles.  That they would see the potential in each person they minister to and recognize their gifts to the body?  That more of the sheep they shepherd would become strong leaders, would grow in wisdom and knowledge?  That they not grow weary in the race set before them?

If you ever wanted to know how to pray for a group which is sorely neglected in our work as ambassadors for Christ, you need only read these posts to compile a list.  It would help to add these bivocational leaders to our personal prayer lists and then to offer them up in prayer during our weekly church prayer times.  "Pray ye the Lord of the harvest"

"This series looks at the importance of bivocational ministry and bivocational ministers in today’s church:
Part 1: Bivocational Ministry is a Growing Method for Ministry.

Part 2: Lay People Are Willing to Help Pastors – But Only If They Are Trained.

Part 3: Rethinking Our Perception of Bivocational Ministry.

Part 4: Bivocational Ministry is Normal.

Part 5: Bivocational Ministry Is More Common Than Most People Realize.

Part 6: Bivocational Pastors Must Learn to Delegate.

Part 7: Bivocational Ministers Sharing Leadership Results in Healthier Churches

Dr. Terry Dorsett is a bivocational pastor and church planting missionary in Vermont. He is the author of Developing Leadership Teams in the Bivocational Church and Bible Brain Teasers: Fun Adventures through the Bible. He also serves as a church planting catalyst with the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention. He has a passion for helping the next generation discover a meaningful faith and become leaders in sharing that faith with others." SBC Today

Laid-back Calvinist and Angry Arminian Square Off at SBC Voices

I think this cartoon is a very biased representation of an angry stubborn Arminian versus the calm reasonable and laid-back Calvinist.  I copied it from SBC Voices for a critique of sorts.  Not only is it biased in the demeanor of respective characters, it is a misrepresentation of the New Calvinism today.

Just look how happy-go-lucky that old and settled, Calvinist appears with his hand tucked carefully inside his pocket, versus the scowling dark countenance of the Arminian who has his hair slicked back like a Fonzie wannabe and his arms folded in defiance blocking all comers who try to soften his stand.

Yep...this is not a fair and balanced neutral representation at all.  Most New Calvinism folk don't wear ties, or suits and they are young and restless and rapper-friendly looking.  At least that's how they showed up at the microphone in Orlando to ask the convention to affirm their co-harts, ACTS29 Network, a strictly reformed group of brethren of the Mark Driscoll paradigm. Though the Josh Shank rap was received amicably, with laughter and frivolity, the motion died a quick death.  Who knows, with the new and improved look from the new ACTS29 president, Matt Chandler, the hip "rappers" may be able to get a second this year on a motion to affirm the network of reformed thinkers.

Anyway, some fellas have a little discussion going on over there at Voices. You might think it worth following if you are into the historical, and not-so-historical, origin of the SBC and all-things related to the undeniable Calvinist influence via ten-percent of the SBC.  I think it might help you see some of the conversations and how that those who do not hold to the 5-point Petals of the Tulip find themselves being accused of attitudes unbecoming, and well, just plain under-read and rather lacking in knowledge in all things Calvin.

Six years have come and gone with me trying to define (in my own mind), the positions of Calvinists on stuff within the SBC since I discovered it meant so much to a tiny portion of folks within the convention. I had no clue they'd felt so ostracized all my years in serving SBC churches, you see.  But after my hubs retired to the Oklahoma territory, had a heart attack and we lost our 33 year-old son, my internet writing tossed me right in the center of the discussions I'd never known existed.  I'd been too busy, teaching youth, young-married Sunday School classes, being a minister's wife, running a conservative newspaper, operating my own antique business and sharing Jesus with whomever I met, to even notice that I'd been doing church all wrong all my life--including how I came to know Jesus. (Well, according to the Calvinists I ran into on the blogs.)  To be sure, I know I know Jesus.  Just don't know if He and I met quite the way Calvinists say I was suppose to.  But...no biggie.

I confess I am still at a loss as to how they feel about a bunch of things and just when I think I am figuring something out, another spokesperson from the camp-of-all-things-soteriological (coats), tosses another cloak over my eyeballs.  It is just more than I can wrap around my right-sided brain and stuff inside my frontal lobe.  I think, that the older I get, the less it matters anyway.  The reason I think this way is because the core of folks with whom I associate are about as oblivious to this and apathetic to it as I was once ignorant. And, my ignorance is still border-line stupidity.

Granted, I comprehend a few buzz-words, and grasp enough of the jargon to know when I probably ought to stay out of a conversation and refrain from agreeing or disagreeing.  Heaven forbid, I jump into the stream and ask a question.  The idea of that makes me shudder more than a hound-dog after a swim in an Oklahoma mud-hole. Ya see, I've already been hooked, tagged, weighed and found to be about three points shy of the looney-bin. Anyone who would dare post 4 back-to-back video sermons of Dr. Adrian Rogers on predestination really needs to be under therapeutic care for their "passive aggressiveness" if they can't recognize them for the "rants" they are, don't you think?. (I called my therapist this morning and have an appointment for May 14th to determine what to do about my passive aggressiveness. jk)

That said, until then, I am going to stand where I have always stood, like a tiny shrinking violet in the center of these two cartoon dudes and bloom where I am planted.  And if more violets bloom around me and Dr. Adrian Rogers and those of his kind, all the better. selahV

GOOD WORDS FROM Dave Miller on Sex

A few days ago, I addressed an op which I felt dealt a bit too preachy on "how to address sex" in the pulpits of America (and perhaps beyond).  Dave Miller, editor of SBC Voices, had his own take on the subject and I find his 6 Points far better than Dr. Ed Stetzer's 5 Points.  Perhaps you'll see what I mean here with a portion of Dave's post:

"So, for me, the “how do we address sex in church?” issue is not a theoretical one.  It’s very practical.  I have to do it Sunday.

So, here’s my thoughts on how to handle this hot-potato issue:

1. God made us male and female and called his creation very good.  Sex was made by God as a gift to husbands and wives. We need to remember that.  If I act as if sex is dirty, shameful or disgusting, we insult God’s creation.

2. Sin has, in fact, made sex into something dirty and disgusting for many people, because we have turned from God’s plan, ignored his ways and embraced immorality and impurity. So, I cannot treat sex lightly, or feed into the sexually-charged culture in the way I treat the topic.

3. Some topics deserve to be treated in private, not in public.  If you want to know my opinion about certain practices, ask me in private.  I’m not going to address them here or from the pulpit.  I will address them appropriately, but not publicly.

4. Using sex and sexual topics as a means of attracting a crowd to the church is, to me, a sort of ecclesiological prostitution; what one cult used to call “flirty fishing.”  It is my role to address sexual topics when they come up, but it is not my role to be a sex therapist or to promote sexual activity among my members.  Using a series on sex to promote church attendance just seems crass to me.

5. Thank God my dad taught me verse-by-verse expository preaching.  Pick a book and preach through it.  Then, when a subject comes up, you can just blame the Bible!  I’m not addressing sex on Sunday because I’m a perv, I’m addressing it because I’ve finished chapters 1-4 and now it’s time for chapter 5.  So much is solved by preaching verse-by-verse.

6. Preaching about sex is like walking a tightrope.  This is a real part of real people’s lives and the Word speaks to it directly, apologetically and unashamedly.  I need to do the same.  However, I need to be tactful, respectful, avoid crassness and crudity.  Walking that tightrope is not easy.  Especially when you are my size (and age). (excerpt from Dave Miller, SBC Voices: As the Kerfuffle Turns)

For those of you who rarely take the time to read the comment sections in blogs, I think there is another portion of this "hot potato" conversation worth mentioning which I have copied and pasted for your convenience:

Bill Mac wrote:

I’m going to take a bit of a contrary view here. I think the bible speaks very little about sex, and for the most part the church has done due diligence in teaching about it. Now, the sum total of verses that talk about sex may be dozens, but the messages are few, and simple.

Don’t have sex before you are married.
Get married to someone of the opposite sex.
Have sex only with your spouse.
Enjoy it.
Don’t withhold sex from your spouse.
Don’t lust after people other than your spouse.

Easy peasy.

Has the Christian church really withheld the above? And if not, what’s the problem? If someone is preaching through the books then by all means don’t shy away from the sex verses, but it’s not really that hard. The verses quoted in the article is encapsulated in what I’ve written above.

We don’t need books on sex, and seminars on sex. People know how to have sex. Sometimes they need to be told when and with whom. That message is pretty simple.

14DAVE MILLER REPLIES:

I can see your point, Bill, but I’m not sure I agree. In a culture as sexually sick as ours, I think the need to address things more directly and more biblically increases. Kids in my church come through high school having a certain (unbiblical) set of sexual values drummed into them. They are taught that it is unthinkable hate to question the righteousness of the homosexual lifestyle.

In a culture like that, it is more important to address sexual morals biblically (and perhaps more frequently) than in healthier cultures. I do not think it is advisable to ignore the topic. Not in a culture as sexually charged as ours. That leaves the other side shaping the values of our young people.

TO WHICH I REPLIED:

Dave, I am not sure, perhaps Bill Mac will return and expound, but I don’t think he would at all disagree with what you are saying here. It behooves the church and minister to address the misinformation which you describe. It is extremely important not to water down the word to be politically correct as society is doing in the school systems with the introduction of books like I Have Two Mommies, etc. That is more than appropriate for you. In fact, I think it would also go a long long way for a minister to take the time to address this issue in a closed session with all his youth teachers and leaders who will be the main influence of their young people.

For my part, I am no longer a youth leader, but I did address these issues with the permission of parents in our youth group sessions. Today I address them with my grandchildren and it is a topic we discuss on occasion over dinner when the littlest of these are not present.

I think if all preachers took the approach you share in your six points in your op, then there would be no hunger for the “hype” we see in the man from Seattle and his kind. My greatest concern at this juncture is that by validating his kind, we not only invite greater misuse of the sacred texts of Scripture, but risk the multiplication of his kind of “hype” and sensationalism. And the scariest part of that is, when one thing loses its sensationalistic attraction, the systematic bent to follow is to create a greater Circus and more explicit acts to draw the crowds. selahV

So, there you have another look at the way to approach the "hot potato" subject within the church situation.  I cannot stress any stronger my complete and utter dismay towards my opposition to others within our convention who continue to endorse Mark Driscoll's book, REAL MARRIAGE.  Especially, when one reviewer said he ought to republish it under the title REAL SEX, because that is how it written.

Another prominent Southern Baptist voice offers another review of this book as a result of the "kerfuffle" Mark Driscoll's book and presence at Liberty University caused.  I think it is well-worth taking the time to read and to consider as a warning for all those who would consider using Driscoll's book as a "marital counseling" guide. (And to be clear, this is exactly what happened to some dear young couple I know who have lived a celibate life and are getting pre-marital counseling...this is part of the reason for my own interest and my public outcry). Below is a portion of what Heath Lambert, Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, Boyce College, Louisville, Kentucky writes:

"Because I am a professor who teaches many classes on marriage, a pastor who does ministry with many married couples, and a husband who is married, I have a great stake in books on marriage. I am always interested when a book on marriage is released. I am always excited when such a book is written by an influential Christian leader and his wife with the potential to influence massive numbers of people.

I really wanted Real Marriage to be a helpful book and was concerned when I began hearing that many of the reviews on the book were negative. I was even more concerned when I found, after reading the book myself as well as a number of the reviews, that many of these negative reviews were far too favorable of the book. In fact, I was sad when upon completing the book it was clear that this book is a dangerous and troubling one that will cause confusion and difficulty in many marriages.

It is not as though there is nothing of any value in the book. The problem is that the good elements of the book are so frequently obscured and/or contradicted by very many bad elements of the book. The mingling of these helpful things with a lot of bad things are what I refer to as the ironies of Real Marriage." Excerpt from The Ironies of Real Marriage A Review of Mark Driscoll, Real Marriage: The Truth about Sex, Friendship, and Life Together. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2012.

I do hope this offers another, less "hyped" and greater-balanced, perspective into what has become an extremely volatile discussion and debate among Southern Baptists today.  If not, it is not for lack of trying to walk Dave Miller's "tightrope" in my sweatpants and "Ask-About-My-Grandchildren" tee-shirt. selahV

RELATED POSTS ON MARK DRISCOLL "KERFUFFLES":

Hariette Petersen on: Redefining Sin, Discernment, Admonishment, and Exhortation

Peter Lumpkins on: Mark Driscoll responds to Peter Lumpkins

The Irony Of Life

SOMETIMES IT CHANGES EVERYTHING.

Hubs and I went to dinner tonite.  I haven't been out of the house much lately because life has been dealing me some pretty heavy blows with various things. I even tried to get my grandson to pick up my husband from work.  As I drove to his office, I really had no plans to eat out...it had been a very long day, preceded by some very tough days.  Somehow we ended up at the steakhouse.

While we waited for our coffee, we talked about nutty things that had happened in his day.  One ironic and odd thing after another--one misunderstanding after another that created havoc with his day.  The realtor got info twisted up and sent him places to do things that couldn't be done and it was a crazy sort of day.  We laughed at the confusion.  He is so even-keeled, so patient and tolerant.  Little bugs him in life...unless it bothers me.  Then he is concerned.

So it's my turn to share and the thing that stood out in my day was an email I'd received.  I told him how the emailer wanted to clear up a misunderstanding of sorts that we had.  So over our baked potato and salad, hubs and I discuss the email, the content, and the sincerity or insincerity of the emailer.  Hubs already knew about the whole situation because I share everything with him.  So he and I measure and weigh all the water that has flowed beneath the dam of life and all the factors entailed in its wake.

We discuss the entire issue--from back to front.  We consider my options, the possibilities, the futility of even trying to communicate given the set attitudes I face and the differences in opinion of how and why the train first jumped the track in our communication.

I'm pondering the whole situation and thinking I might just ignore a very prominent man's advice and go ahead and email an answer to this person.  I know from experience that not all email exchanges have deadends.  At least mine don't.  Hubs is leary.  He's not all that keen about the idea.  He has always believed that people are going to think what they want, no matter what you say, or do.  No matter how much you try to explain things.  He wants to protect me.  He loves me.  He knows the way things have been going.  He's read it all.  But I'm mulling this around in my mind, you see.  My head says one thing, and my heart says another. I want to trust, but I know I haven't been trusted, so I'm still troubled.

I'm not too happy about how the last exchange went with the emailer in question.  I was cut off with the old proverbial, we'll just have to agree to disagree, since I "wasn't hearing" what the emailer was "saying".

Questions pop into my head like popcorn in a microwave.  Would it make a bit of difference?  Will it change how I write and blog?  Will it change the emailer's opinion of how I write and blog?  will it change the emailer's mind about me?  Will it make a difference to the world-wide-web?  Will it change anyone's mind?  Will talking it over prove anything?  Will it restore the trust that was broken?  I don't know.  But I'm thinking, okay.  This email really, really, really could be sincere.  I really, really want to believe this is on the level.  I am even drafting my response.  Then I decide to pop over and go over a recent conversation in a comment stream, and, lo, and behold, I discover the emailer had written a very ironic post that dealt with an issue I had just recently addressed--only with an entirely different viewpoint.  I read the post and my mind overrides my heart again. Futility.

Irony.  It's really amazing sometimes how ironic life can be.  And I think...nope.  My heart was wrong again.  Hubs is right as always.  So, I file the email away and say to myself, "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God." Psalm 43:5  C' est la vie, such is life, they say. Que sera sera, whatever will be will be.  selahV

REDEFINING Sin, Discernment, Admonishment, and Exhortation

Is the Mark Driscoll debacle at Liberty University simple a "fuss" that will fade away with him climbing into his limo and leaving the campus?  Perhaps.  For some.  But this "fuss", "kerfuffle", "brew-ha ha", will most likely not end with a one-night stand by Driscoll's speaking event.  No.

The truth is, the influence Driscoll has been granted by the LU leadership has sanctioned his words and his mis-interpretations of Scripture.  His viewpoints now enter the bedrooms and philosophies and marital counseling offices of future ministers and Christian leaders of tomorrow.  Indeed, some will reject them.  Others will try to emulate.  Some will follow and later find their marriages and relationships destroyed or maimed.  "Kerfuffles" have their way of making lasting impressions sometimes.

I consider the lightheartedness of SBC Voices directed toward all those who challenge the status quo in the Christian community of faith for their lack of discernment as merely a "kerfuffle" less than amusing.  In fact, if the recent post above is meant to "amuse" we might evaluate what  a-muse means in light of Adrian Rogers' words.  "A" means "not" and "Muse" means "to think".  When we treat admonishment and exhortations as amusing, we are simply "not thinking".  That said, I defer to John MacArthur on the involvement of Christians in societal and cultural problems today such as speakers for a Christian school:

"Reclaiming the culture is a pointless, futile exercise. I am convinced we are living in a post-Christian-society--a civilization that exists under God's judgment. ...abundant evidence suggests that God has abandoned this culture to its own depravity. Certainly He is not interested in superficial moral reform for an unregenerate society.  God's purpose in this world--and the church's only legitimate commission--is the proclamation of the message of sin and salvation to individuals, whom God sovereignly redeems and calls out of the world.  God's purpose is to save those who will repent of their sins and believe the gospel--not to work for external corrections in a morally bankrupt culture." John MacArthur, The Vanishing Conscience

It's disheartening, for me, to see the amusements of some Christians. It's discouraging to witness coarse jesting attributed to that which other Christians find in opposition to the Gospel message and objectionable as an entre` served up to the consciences of young minds.

Is there really no more sobriety of mind when it comes to things which affect society's behavior and views?  Have we truly become so anesthetized to culture's sinful call, that we no longer see the blackness of the soul, the severity of condoning immoral choices, or laughing at that which opposes the Trinity of God?  When sincerely-presented dissent is batted away like mosquitoes on a summer night, and swatted down as pesky little insects with no more regard than an insignificant "kerfuffle", we have come to a time when discernment is redefined and admonishment is a badge of honor and endorsement to go and do likewise.  selahV

THUS SAITH Dr. Ed Stetzer, Daniel Akin on Mark Driscoll

And all the people of the congregation bows to the "authority" of those who exhort women and men on Scripture regarding what is done and is appropriate in the bedroom between them and their husbands. Should we say, "Amen"?  Well, not quite yet .

Ed Stetzer, Author and Church expert extraordinaire, exhorts the on-line world regarding, not church planting, or missiology, but:

"Sex.

That is a topic that many don't think belongs in a church, let alone a study bible. As I have written before, Christians might consider. I wrote five things (and you can find the full article here).

The first four included:

First, we need to move beyond discomfort on the subject...

Second, we need to answer the critical questions people are asking...

Third, when talking about sex, hype does not help...

Fourth, teaching on sex, or at least the same levels of teaching on sex, is not for everyone...

The fifth point included this information:

Fifth, we need to talk more, not less, about sex.Yes, the Song of Solomon is about a relationship and, yes, sex-- let's grow up and stop pretending it's only an allegory. I know this is shocking to some, but let's get honest. God is pro-sex, and I am thankful for the Song of Solomon which shows that clearly." Ed Stetzer dot com 

Now, shall all the people lift up their "voices" and cry "holy, holy, holy" as the words interpreted by men of pure and holy mouths, with pure and holy minds (absent of any self-serving ideas), are preached in their sight and hearing?  Certainly, we must know that these holy men never follow after their own ways or lusts of the flesh. Surely preachers comprehend every jot and tittle of what is right regarding Biblical and marital "sex".  And the priesthood of the believer is silenced because she is told to sit down and shut up and listen to those in authority over her.  Respect these men.  Moreover she is told to "grow up, stop pretending, and be honest".

TO ED STETZER'S 5 POINTS

Says Dr. Stetzer: "First, we need to move beyond discomfort on the subject..".

TO WHICH I SAY: Why? because Ed Stetzer says so?  Because Ed Stetzer is so ordained and educated in the psychology and physiology and anatomy of sexual intimacy"?   Does he have some gadget to measure our "comfort" zones?  How does he know anyone is discomforted, anyway, by the subject of sex? Is he speaking for himself?  For a rebuttal to Ed Stetzer's assertion to move beyond that which makes one uncomfortable, let's just look at what John MacArthur says:

"MacArthur says it is hard to think of a more appalling misuse of Scripture than turning the Song of Solomon into soft porn. ‘When a speaker deliberately arouses lusts that cannot possibly be righteously fulfilled in unmarried college students or when his personal illustrations fail to guard the privacy and honour of his own wife that is far worse than merely inappropriate. When done repeatedly and with the demeanour of an immature bad-boy, such a practice reflects a major character defect that is spiritually disqualifying… The fact that it is so controversial now is simply more proof that evangelicals have become too much like the world, and too comfortable with the evil characteristics of our culture.’ (Part 3)" Excerpt from A Dearth of Controversy

Please take time to read John MacArthur's account of how far afield one preacher who finds great delight in talking about sex to the point of over emphasizing his favorite book of the Bible, HERE. 

Says Dr. Stetzer: "Second, we need to answer the critical questions people are asking..".

TO WHICH I SAY:  Here we are again being told by Ed Stetzer what we "need" to do.  Who made Ed Stetzer heir-apparent of answering "critical questions people are asking" and telling us we, also, "need to answer" them? Who is asking them? did he do a survey?  Who deemed these "critical questions", anyway?   In fact, W.A. Criswell, Dr. Stephen Olford, and Dr. Harold Hunter might disagree with Ed Stetzer:

"Dr. W. A. Criswell, Dr. Stephen Olford and I once had a conversation in which we all three agreed that preachers should restrict themselves to being spiritual counselors because they have neither the calling nor the credentials to be sex therapists." Harold Hunter, President Trinity College in Newburgh, Indiana

Who are writing the books on sex regarding Scripture?  Are we so dumb we cannot interpret these passages for ourselves?  If so, is it a "spiritual" leader's responsibility to go beyond their field of expertise, and beyond what is in the Bible and begin discussing details of what is NOT in the Bible?  Does Mark Driscoll or any other writer who gives "answers to these critical questions" have "the calling and credentials to be sex therapists"? When we consider who is counseling troubled couples, to whom do we look?  Having watched the video of Mark Driscoll's claim to seeing things, perhaps he is the man to give us a peek into that which causes us discomfort on this subject matter:/HERE 

So says Dr. Stetzer: "Third, when talking about sex, hype does not help..".

TO WHICH I SAY:  I could not agree more. "Hype" is defined as: "

1. to stimulate, excite, or agitate . 2. to create interest in by flamboyant or dramatic methods; promote or publicize showily: a promoter who knows how to hype a prizefight [or marriage seminar]. 3. to intensify (advertising, promotion, or publicity) by ingenious or questionable claims, methods, etc. [by suggesting long-held and physically harmful methods are okay for use in birth control]  4.to trick; gull.  Hype is described as "excessive publicity and the ensuing commotion.  2. Exaggerated or extravagant claims...".  online dictionaries...just google "hype".

In other words "hype" may well be the promotion of a controversial spokesman and his ideas to stimulate, excite and agitate. It "does not help" if that spokesman whose very sermons are projected as "hype" for the "contextual" language of Seattle's anything-goes culture, either.  To endorse as spokesman to "answer such critical questions", someone whose very interpretations of the Song of Solomon have been characterized by John MacArthur as "RAPE", should give us all pause.

However, when we have our very own president of our very own seminary, Dr. Daniel Akin, (an esteemed and respectable man of God), stepping up to the platform to address the "critical questions" of the hour, and endorsing Mark Driscoll's book, it gives this Southern Baptist even greater pause.  What in the world is he thinking? Is there no "hype" in this?  Was Dr. Akin's his own book, left lacking in answering all these "critical questions"?  Must be.  For now we have our very own Vice President of Research and Ministry Development for LifeWay Christian Resources with the Southern Baptist Convention, Dr. Ed Stetzer, give us his on-line analysis of the problem we all have with this subject.  Has Dr. Stetzer switched from church missiology research and begun researching sex?

Aside from the "Rape" of the sacred text Songs of Solomon, Stetzer, Akin and Driscoll cite this book in Scripture as most significant to our Biblical understanding on this subject.  So Dr. Akin endorses Mark Driscoll, (a man whom witnesses say used those texts to publicly brow-beat a wife while he was admittedly, angry and disgusted with her for her lack of intimacy and inability to satisfy his every longing in the bedroom.)  It was Grace's fault they had no intimacy.  Let's forget about the fact that this man was also sexually active before marriage, and is seems less concerned with his own responsibilities in the lack of intimacy he and his wife suffered as a result of not remaining pure before marriage.  But let's blame it all on Grace who failed to divulge every indiscretion and sin she ever committed before they married.  Not only is she used as his scapegoat for his own inability to have a loving relationship, he writes a book for the whole world, Christian and non-Christian, to spotlight her indiscretions, then leaves it as a portion of his legacy for his five children to have of the mother they are to rise up and call blessed.

But that doesn't matter, Dr. Akin reads Driscoll's marriage book, and says let's endorse it, and thereby validates a speaker for young and old alike to hear him speak at his tour of Real Marriage conferences.  Thanks, but no thanks gentlemen.  If this is what you call a husband of integrity who is sanctioned by God to "band" around his wife and protect her from "gullibility" and emotional abuse, spiritual harm, and public ridicule, in order to "answer critical questions", then I am not going to idly sit by as a female Believer, with my head covered, cowering in a corner, and say, "have at it".

This "tell-all" voyeurism of real life sitcoms and what goes on in a couple's bedroom needs less, not more visibility.  Less, not more discussion and details.  Less, not more "hype" as Dr. Stetzer exhorts in his five points above.

I could not have greater concern about any one thing, other than the Gospel message, than the protection of young couples as they begin their marriages.  A young woman and man who choose to marry need the church's support in every way possible.  They will struggle with roles and be inundated with cultural philosophies, and social pressures that are second to none they ever received at the hands of high school peers.  If the devil can control the lives of married couples and manipulate their priorities and views as they have children, and raise children and incorporate standards inside their homes, he can effectively destroy the first and most viable institution for growing a Christian and furthering the Gospel message.  Even when a couple tends to spiritual business and seeks God with all their hearts, it still suffers the assaults of Satan. Many preachers today preach a distorted version of "submission" for a wife.  And this "submission" has led to many a divorce, a few homocides, suicides, thousands of women on anti-depressants and anxiety medication, and at least one "burning bed".  But hey, let's get honest.

So says Ed Stetzer:  "Fourth, teaching on sex, or at least the same levels of teaching on sex, is not for everyone..."

TO WHICH I SAY:  Really?  And how would you segregate those for whom "teaching on sex, or at least the same levels" be done?  So it is not for Sally and Sue, or Billy and Bob?  how do you promote your teachings in a church environment where young ministers are handing out copies of Mark Driscoll's book to virgin couples as part of their pre-marital counseling?  How do you help them distinguish between what is good, and pure, and holy and acceptable to "teach" young couples who have managed to remain celibate against all odds and peer pressure?  Hmmmn?  How do millions of copies of a book sell due to respectable Christian men endorsing it, and then tell them to skip Chapter 10?  How do you explain to them that not all marriages are filled with the problems that this dysfunctional couple had due to their sinful practices before they gave their vows and years afterwards?  Is there any forewarning? No...

So says Dr. Ed Stetzer: "Fifth, we need to talk more, not less, about sex.Yes, the Song of Solomon is about a relationship and, yes, sex-- let's grow up and stop pretending it's only an allegory. I know this is shocking to some, but let's get honest. God is pro-sex, and I am thankful for the Song of Solomon which shows that clearly."

TO WHICH I SAY:  "Grow up and stop pretending", Dr. Stetzer?  "Be honest", Dr. Stetzer?" "Shocking to whom?" Just which of we Southern Baptists out here in blogland need to "grow up and stop pretending" anything?  Just who told you that we who are vocal about this situation we find repugnant with the latest "hype" and "kerfuffle" in the online-media fury, are not mature, or pretend that the Song of Solomon is anything less than the Word of God?  Who says God is not "pro-sex"?  Indeed, "let's get honest", here.

Why did you choose to platform this piece, your article, at this time about this subject and so fervently endorse Dr. Danny Akin's book, God On Sex, published nearly 9 years ago, when Mark Driscoll of Acts29 Network sits in the wings of Liberty University to speak to thousands of Christian women and men?  Why now do you choose to speak out on these "critical questions" as Mark Driscoll comes under such fire for his book and his conferences and his alignment with Southern Baptists and Liberty University?  If your article is all about "Sex", and dispelling discomfort, then I have left "Kansas" once again.

What exactly does God say when it comes to unmarried couples?  Who is to counsel young women?  Older men?  Single men?  A physician?   

Just "how should we talk about sex," according to the man you say is:

"Another well-known pastor, Mark Driscoll, has recently published a book on the marriage and sex entitled Real Marriage. While the book apparently leaves no bedsheet unturned, it has received both commendation and criticism from reviewers."

"No bedsheet unturned", eh?  Isn't that a bit of "hype" for describing a book that one of our seminaries is supporting, and others within our convention are promoting?  Amazing that so much chatter and "hype" is on the cusp of Seattle's enlightened-one descending upon Liberty University to impart his wisdom and pull back the bedsheets today, isn't it?  selahV

GOD So Loved the Entire World

WHY? Why does God love the world?  Why does He create a world and love it?  Why do you have a child and love it?  Does it do a single thing for you?  Does it serve you?  Does it worship you?  Does it sing your praises every day?  Does it please you in every single thing it says and does?  Do you want your child to live with you forever?  Do you want your child to love you because you say so or because he wants to?  If he does not love you as you hoped when you brought him into the world, do you stop loving him?  Neither does God.  Would you do anything, even giving your own heart as a transplant to make sure your child lived with you forever if you could? So would God...and so did He.

"For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should have everlasting life" John 3:16

And because God is holy, holy, holy...He knew the only way He could have the world with Him for an eternity was to make them holy also.  And so God sent His Son into the world to become the perfect, undefiled, unblemished, totally pure and holy sacrifice for the sin of man.  And just as the unblemished lamb was sacrificed in the Old Testament for the sin of people, Jesus became the Lamb of God who obediently and willingly gave Himself to make we who believe in Him, blameless in order to receive the everlasting, holy life.

Without God, holiness is impossible.  With God all things are possible.  He who is in Christ is holy, is righteous, is secure forever--not through his own goodness, his own perfection, his own ability to keep the law of God, or walk a straight line which man has determined is pure and holy.  Our righteousness is in Christ.

Our walk--the way we live as blood-bought Believers--is a manifestation of a holy God living within us.  It is a manifestation of the growth we are making through dying daily to ourselves and living unto Jesus.  It is a manifestation of our willingness to yield to the Holy Spirit's conviction and leadership in our lives.  It is the manifestation of the "captivity" of our every thought willingly surrendered to Christ's.  It is the manifestation of the new-birth we have in Him and the crucifixion of our flesh.

In that we were yet sinners, He gave His life as propitiation (payment) for our condemned souls.  He did this because He loves what He creates in His own image.  He wills that the whole world would believe in His grace and His Son and that we would live with Him and serve one another forever.  He wants to give us all He is, His complete holiness.  And it is ours as soon as we turn away from ourselves and turn to Him with open hands and receive His Son--the keeper of our faith--that single moment when we place our faith in Christ, He seals us and keeps our faith in His holy vault of love forevermore.  And no one can snatch it from His hand.  No one.  No thing.  No power.  No principality.  Nothing.

Each morning we rise to a new day with new mercies from God.  He gives us these because He knows we need them.  We need His mercy and His grace to live in this fallen world--this corrupt world--this unholy world.  Each morning the Lord gives us His daily Bread to feed us and strengthen us and assure Himself of our well-being. He opens up His palm and says, "There she is, she is covered in My Son's blood".  And because He knows she belongs to Him...He smiles.   

At least, that is how I see the reason God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son.  Otherwise...why bother?  selahV

Mark Driscoll, Liberty University Students, and Other Folks I Do Not Know

What do you know about people on the internet?  For that matter what do you know about authors of books? or those who endorse books? What do you know about people who invite speakers to universities--do their trustees approve?  What do you know about anyone who supposedly preaches a gospel message but lives a life contrary to the doctrine they preach?

Do you follow them blindly because someone endorses their controversial book?  Do you believe their words because a few supporters blindly discount another who challenges their values, viewpoints, and behavior?  Do you?

Franklin Kirksey, wrote in his wonderful post at SBCToday: ”Regrettably, some Bible teachers today try to make people think everything is okay regardless of what they believe or how they live.\”

Kirksey's words prompted a question in my mind. What do we do when "some Bible teachers today try to make people think everything is okay regardless of what they believe or how they live."?  It's very difficult to comprehend the mind of man. The Word of God tells us that man does what is right in his own sight. The Apostle Paul has a few words to offer:

"Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you have learned; and avoid them." Romans 16:17 (embolden mine)

Sadly, unless man looks to God, and seeks His discernment in all things, the "divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine" that they learn will come back to haunt them. God will not be mocked.

In the meantime, what are we instructed to do?  Well, when you encounter someone who "causes divisions and offenses", God's Word says to first "mark" them.  I find this word a very remarkable word in the midst of an instruction to dealing with those who "cause divisions and offense", don't you?  What does it mean to "mark" someone? 

I think first we must see who is to be the "markers" according to the passage.  The "brethren" are to "mark" those who "cause divisions and offense".  Each and every Christian who finds a person who "causes divisions and offense" are to "mark" said person.  Why?  Well, to keep themselves from getting taken in by their words.  And also, to forewarn others...like Paul and Joanna Petry (who were once part of the leadership), coming forth in testimony against Mark Driscoll and Acts29 practices, reservations mount toward the unreliability of Acts29 Network and the teachings therein.

God does not want his innocent and vulnerable children who have learned the correct doctrine, to fall prey to ones who teach "contrary to the doctrine we have learned" to be led astray.  to follow after their leadership.  to pattern ourselves after their character, their viewpoints, their attitudes and behavior. It behooves us to look to those we respect in the faith for advice at times and:

"Mark them - Observe attentively, cautiously, and faithfully Philippians 3:17; be on your guard against them. Ascertain "who are" the real causes of the divisions that spring up, and avoid them." Barnes Commentary notes on Romans 16:17

So here we have the reason to "mark" or "observe attentively, cautiously" study, watch and vet a person who causes "divisions and offenses" which are "contrary to doctrines we have learned". By marking them, and attentively observing the person's behavior with close inspection, and weighing their words against other things they do that do not balance out with their words, we are able to discern what is true and pure and good.  We know why we are to watch them.  Because at the end of verse 17, it instructs us in the way we should go--"avoid them".

Among other things I find troubling about Mark Driscoll and the latest controversy over his "marriage" book which some say disrespects his wife and blames her for everything in their dysfunctional marriage" is the previous articles which "mark" his behavior as in this excerpt from a Baptist Press article:

"Another Acts 29 church (also non-SBC) -- the Seattle-area Damascus Road Church -- sponsors a men’s poker night for which gamblers are encouraged to bring beer. The website also states: “There is just something about having food on your plate and a drink in your hand that makes fellowship that much easier. Whether the food is healthy or fattening, or the drink is coffee or beer, we desire to follow Christ's example.”

The alcohol issue goes straight to the top at Acts 29, whose president, Mark Driscoll -- who is pastor of the Seattle-area Mars Hill Church -- wrote in his book, “Radical Reformission,” that abstinence from alcohol is a sin. In a chapter titled “The Sin of Light Beer,” Driscoll explains that he came to this conclusion while preparing a sermon on the Lord’s miracle at Cana where Jesus turned water into wine.

According to information published on the church’s website, Mars Hill sponsored a New Year’s Eve party that included a champagne bar. Mars Hill’s website also advertises “beer-brewing lessons ... whenever a large group of (Mars Hill) men get together.”

Driscoll is controversial also for once having the reputation of the “cussing pastor.” However, as he recounted on his blog, he finally listened to a friend who helped him realize he was becoming known for “good theology, a bad temper, and a foul mouth,” and he repented, starting with a public apology." entire BP article HERE.

Public apologies are important. They help us discern a repentant heart.  However, when one portion of one's spiritual weakness is acknowledged and confessed, changes must follow.  And if when we continue to "observe attentively", the person and a ministry and more and more and more witnesses relate testimonies, one's "public apology" fails to assure us to do anything in life but "avoid them".

One man's idea of solid sermons on the Song of Solomon, is another man's judgment of Rape/link(John MacArthur on Driscoll's sermons).

"Regrettably," as Kirksey says above, "some Bible teachers today try to make people think everything is okay regardless of what they believe or how they live."  Indeed, "some Bible teachers" and universities and seminary presidents, try to make people think everything is okay.  All the more reason, my brothers and sisters to heed the warnings of God and the instructions of His saints.  selahV