If This Makes You Mad....I'll Be Ok

Boy, as Southern Baptists we are amazing, aren’t we? I am writing on Thursday, March 10th and I am seeing everything from Facebook posts, to comments on various web-sites of how many people were “saved” during bike week. As of right now, the total is over 300. If I felt this was true, and knew for sure that there was a clear presentation of the true gospel, I would be leading the way in rejoicing! However, I have been raised a Southern Baptist, and in my experience, so many who claim how “Southern Baptist” they are in our churches today, have no clue of the history and legacy of Southern Baptists. All that to say, I have been to the big evangelistic events, crusades, concerts, and strongmen parades, and have seen thousands raise hands, fill out cards, cry - and watched Baptists give incredible reports that rival Pentecost! I have seen the reports of these salvations, but I am wondering where the evidence of salvation is in the days following. Typically the presentation at these events goes something like this:

• 3:00pm—Show some type of Jesus video
• 3:05pm---Tell all the people that they can have a personal relationship with Christ today if they pray the following prayer
• 3:15pm---Ask them to fill out a card that gives “proof” of their commitment
• 3:18pm---Give them some material in a SBC Bag to show our passion for follow-up.

Churches are contacted and informed that these men or women in the area “accepted Christ” and need follow up. (No sarcasm at all at this point)…But, prayerfully a church that really comprehends the gospel gets the name and goes to share with the individual. If not, someone either mails them something or goes by their house and tells them that they heard the good news and discusses baptism and the importance of walking down the aisle Sunday. Is this how evangelism should be done? Is this how Christ did it? Is this how Paul did it? It is not bad enough we do this all over the country; we take this weak, false gospel elsewhere.

Not too long ago, I spoke with a man who was in India on a mission trip. He said he went in to a village and preached and led over 100 people to Christ during one sermon. Can God save 100 people? Certainly… but, you can also go into a polytheistic culture with no doctrine, no grasp of the gospel, and lead people in a prayer and report 100 saved by a hand raised…and in all probability, they just added Christ to one of their 1000 other gods!

If you are thinking that some of the higher ranks in the convention may not like this…I have had the honor of preaching at some state conferences, but I can live the rest of my life and be fine never doing it again. My calling, and your calling is not to create a message, not to make it more palatable - our job is to share the gospel and get it right! We are neither to add spin nor to talk them into a decision. I can’t save anyone - that is the work of the Spirit of God. We can, and have messed up a lot of things through the years, but we can’t mess up or fail to communicate the gospel correctly – that is our calling! By all means, we must get the message right.
I’m not done yet…




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As of Friday night, the "gospel" has been presented over 2200 times with 348 "salvations."

I Can't Add Anything to This List....It is Excellent!

http://thelowercase.wordpress.com/2011/01/18/15-excellent-points-that-must-be-made-in-the-abortion-debate/


Above is the link to the article....but below is a summary of the incredible list of points that should be considered when we have a discussion dealing with abortion: 


January 18, 2011


15 excellent points that must be made in the abortion debate
Posted by stephenleecavness under Uncategorized
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from John Piper:

1. Existing fetal homicide laws make a man guilty of manslaughter if he kills the baby in a mother’s womb (except in the case of abortion).

2. Fetal surgery is performed on babies in the womb to save them while another child the same age is being legally destroyed.

3. Babies can sometimes survive on their own at 23 or 24 weeks, but abortion is legal beyond this limit.

4. Living on its own is not the criterion of human personhood, as we know from the use of respirators and dialysis.

5. Size is irrelevant to human personhood, as we know from the difference between a one-week-old and a six-year-old.

6. Developed reasoning powers are not the criterion of personhood, as we know from the capacities of three-month-old babies.

7. Infants in the womb are human beings scientifically by virtue of their genetic make up.

8. Ultrasound has given a stunning window on the womb that shows the unborn at eight weeks sucking his thumb, recoiling from pricking, responding to sound. All the organs are present, the brain is functioning, the heart is pumping, the liver is making blood cells, the kidneys are cleaning fluids, and there is a fingerprint. Virtually all abortions happen later than this date.

9. Justice dictates that when two legitimate rights conflict, the limitation of rights that does the least harm is the most just. Bearing a child for adoption does less harm than killing him.

10. Justice dictates that when either of two people must be inconvenienced or hurt to alleviate their united predicament, the one who bore the greater responsibility for the predicament should bear more of the inconvenience or hurt to alleviate it.

11. Justice dictates that a person may not coerce harm on another person by threatening voluntary harm on themselves.

12. The outcast and the disadvantaged and exploited are to be cared for in a special way, especially those with no voice of their own.

13. What is happening in the womb is the unique person-nurturing work of God, who alone has the right to give and take life.

14. There are countless clinics that offer life and hope to both mother and child (and father and parents), with care of every kind lovingly provided by people who will meet every need they can.

15.Jesus Christ can forgive all sins, and will give all who trusts him the help they need to do everything that life requires.