By the way, since the seminar is 30$/person plus hotel, “Limited Resources” does not mean limited funds but zero to a few talentless instrumentalists (though one probably begets the other).

I have decided that I am going to be a good Christian and undercut my brothers and sisters in North Carolina. For the low price of 20$/person, I will teach you how you can truly worship with limited resource in just 4 simple verses. But wait! That’s not all, if you read this post now, I’ll throw in an extra Scripture verse that proves my bias! Speaking of scripture, let’s see if we can glean some wisdom in its pages on how to Worship with a few talentless instrumentalists.

1. Consider killing your son, but don’t (Abraham and Isaac – Genesis 22)
2. Learn to program a PERL array of hashes (Holy Array – 1 Chronicles 16:29)
3. Make a footstool (Holy Footstool – Psalm 132:7)
4. Be IN God’s spirit (True Worshiper – John 4:23)

And finally, the extra Scripture I promised you comes from Song of Solomon 8:8. Commonly referred to as the “proves everything and anything verse”. Since this is only a 20$ seminar, you’ll have to look it up on your own.

I trust you found this exciting course in Leading Worship with Limited Resources helpful. Be sure to check out my next course, How to Kill Your Enemies and Still Love Them.

I generally fall in line with the “regards every day alike” category. Sunday is no more special to me than Saturday or Tuesday or Friday. If you think Sunday is a special day, than that is fine with me. However, one thing has me perturbed about our Sunday tradition as Christians. From my experience, there is usually a pretty high emphasis on attending Sunday morning church meetings. A lot of Christians believe it is wrong to work on Sunday because it interferes with meeting on Sunday mornings. These same people often times attribute the command to rest on the Sabbath (Saturday) with resting on Sunday (not the Sabbath). But many of these same people have a tradition of going out to eat after their church meetings on Sunday. Of course this means that they are in essence supporting the working class on a day that they feel it is wrong to work on.

So, if you believe it is wrong to work on Sunday, do you support other people working on Sunday? If so, how do you justify this?

She said, “WOW! I’ve gotta stop cussing in front of you…”

I explained to her that I didn’t want her to censor herself in front of me. Then we started talking about “church” life. She and her husband aren’t really church people. They both went to Methodist churches from time-to-time growing up though. Recently her husband expressed interest in going to a local Methodist church. He wants to go somewhere that he can hear the word preached without feeling pressured into anything weird. She said that she wasn’t really into the idea, but wanted to go with her husband anyway.

Up to this point in our conversation, I had already explained that I am a heretic and defined the word for her, as “a professed believer who maintains religious opinions contrary to those accepted by his or her church or rejects doctrines prescribed by that church.” I explained a little bit about my history, what I believe, what I don’t believe, etc. Basically just enough to let her know what I am all about.

Knowing this, and having her recent church experience, she had some questions/concerns for me. This is what they were (in her words).

1) During one songs, they sang about Immanuel… who is Immanuel? I thought they were suppose to worship God?

2) When it was time for prayer, everyone bowed really low with their heads down. Why did they do that?

3) After the community prayer, instead of everyone saying “Amen” they all started to say their own little personal prayers – is that normal?

4) After the service a couple cornered us and asked if we were saved, it was really ackward.

5) The husband of the other couple convinced her husband to fill out a vistor’s card. Then they received a call that afternoon asking if they were going to visit that night.

6) They had “children’s church” during which they took up an offering/tithe. Our little girl felt bad because they were trying to build a new church building and gave 10.00$ to the offering. I feel like that’s wrong, that should be up to the parents, not pressured little kids.

Hearing some of these questions and concerns, I had the feeling that I knew exactly what Paul was saying in 1 Corinthins 14, “Therefore if the whole church assembles together and all speak in tongues, and ungifted men or unbelievers enter, will they not say that you are mad?” Granted, this is about “tongues” not about Christian Music, Childrens Church, Prayer Stance, etc. I think it still relates though.

Somehow we have been taught to feel holier when we are in “the house of God” and have inherited a pathological dependency upon an edifice to carry out our worship to God. At bottom, the church building has taught us badly about what church is and what it does. It is a contradiction of the very nature of the ekklesia – which is a countercultural community. The Church building impedes our understanding and experience that the church is Christ’s functing body that lives and breaths under His direct headship. – Page 42

You are so Holy, I hope for the day when you make the Earth like Heaven. I desire so much to do your will and I ask that you feed us and protect me, my family, and The Family from the temptations of the devil. Help us all forgive, just as you forgave us, are forgiving us, and will forgive us.

As you know, I have a problem – I just don’t believe, period. I don’t believe that Sundays are any more important than Tuesdays or Fridays. I don’t believe that Worship Services are the same as Worship. I don’t believe that G.R.O.W. is worth a hoot or A.W.A.N.A. or any other program for that matter. Sure they’re not bad, they even have good things about them, but I just don’t care for them. I don’t believe that the church’s buildings are important. In fact, I’ve come to find them to be a waste of money, even laughable. Please, help me understand, why don’t I believe like the others?

Lord, you know that I believe in your people. You know that I love them, that I want to grow with them, in you. How can I do this, if I don’t believe in these other things? They don’t understand me… they don’t want to understand me. Why can’t you make me want to be in the Building? Why can’t you teach me to love Sunday more than Tuesday or Friday? What should I do? What can I do? I ask that you help me understand, please.

Dr. Akin and I agree that integrity is an important thing when choosing our leaders (1 Timothy 3). My main question regarding this essay is, what is integrity? Integrity isn’t avoiding unusual situations, it is what you do when you’re in an unusual situation. Dr. Akin himself admits that he has been accused of being a Pharisee, legalist, sexist and Neanderthal but then says that he has never been accused of adultery. What does this tell us? Nothing. The people who are closest to Dr. Akin, those who know him best, have seen him accused of these other things – but they know him well enough to either realize that they are not true, or perhaps realize that they are. I personally feel that if Dr. Akin was alone with another woman, he would not cheat on his wife. In other words, I feel that Dr. Akin does have integrity, not because he refuses to be with another woman alone, but because of who Dr. Akin is, what I know about him, etc. By the way, Dr. Akin has two secretaries in an enclosed office (window on the main door), I could be wrong, but I doubt that he has another male in the room with him at all times. Regardless, I have never thought that he was having a three-way with his secretaries or sending one off to run an errand so he could be with the other.

You see, the Saddleback Ten Commandments, do not mean that the staff of Saddleback have integrity. These rules only give the appearance of integrity. There is a huge difference between integrity and the appearance of integrity. If I wanted to give someone the appearance of integrity, I would make rules that seemed to be noble and then sneak around behind those rules (many cult leaders do this). If I moved to Saddleback and was hired as their staff, how would they know that I had integrity? They wouldn’t, they don’t who I am, what I truly believe, etc. (perhaps you can find some other applications here).

Consider this fragment of scripture as an example of what Jesus did when he was in the face of unusual circumstance:

Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee. And he had to pass through Samaria. So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour. There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “I am a man of integrity and I cannot be seen with a harlot like you.” Immediately, Jesus left that place and protected his integrity. – John 4:1-7

You probably won’t find any examples in scripture of Jesus protecting his integrity, you’ll probably find that Jesus did things a little differently. It seemed like he didn’t care about what the world thought about him. Jesus had integrity and only a man of true integrity can chat with a prostitute about the Kingdom of God without worrying about what others will say. I think I will follow Jesus’ example this time. Even if it means that I open myself up for attack from pharisees, non-Christians, and the like.

What do you think?

Here is the email:

Integrity In Ministry: A Word From The President’s Heart

By

Daniel L. Akin

For 30 plus years I have been burdened for the personal integrity of those in the ministry. The reasons are simple. Integrity is a biblical requirement (1 Tim 3:1). And, the respect for those in ministry is at a low ebb, especially in our nation. Of course one major area of importance is how ministers conduct themselves with the opposite sex. I have always challenged fellow pastors to make a rock solid, non-negotiable commitment: “I will never be alone with a woman who is not my wife.” This commitment and conviction has not always been applauded. I have been accused of being a Pharisee, legalist, sexist and Neanderthal. I was once accused of having “psycho-sexual hang-ups in need of therapy!” But praise God and by His grace, I have never been accused of adultery because in almost 30 years of marriage, I have never been alone with a woman other than Charlotte. I have no plans to change this.

Sexual temptation is a powerful reality, and a wise person will never forget that no matter how much you love Jesus, “the wrong person plus the wrong place plus the wrong time will equal the wrong thing happening.” Look no further than to the tragic story of King David, a man the Bible says was after God’s own heart.

Sexual immorality exacts a heavy price tag. It will cause you to dishonor Christ, wound the church, break the heart of your mate and lose forever the respect of your children. That is a price only a fool would pay.

This issue was brought to my mind again in a recent blog by my friend Ed Stetzer. By the way, I am excited to tell you that Dr. Stetzer is going to join our faculty as a visiting research professor. Personally I am thrilled we will get to share him with our friends at LifeWay. In Ed’s blog he referenced the “The Commandments for Saddleback Staff” by Rick Warren. Here is Rick’s list.

1. Thou shalt not go to lunch alone with the opposite sex.*

2. Thou shalt not have the opposite sex pick you up or drive you places when it is just the two of you.*

3. Thou shalt not kiss any attender of the opposite sex or show affection that could be questioned.*

4. Thou shalt not visit the opposite sex alone at home.*

5. Thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex alone at the office, and thou shalt not counsel the opposite sex more than once without that person’s mate. Refer them.

6. Thou shalt not discuss detailed sexual problems with the opposite sex in counseling. Refer them.

7. Thou shalt not discuss your marriage problems with an attender of the opposite sex.

8. Thou shalt be careful in answering emails, instant messages, chatrooms, cards or letters from the opposite sex.

9. Thou shalt make your co-worker your protective ally.

10. Thou shalt pray for the integrity of other staff members.

*The first four do not apply to unmarried staff.

These are wise words for any minister of any sex or age. These are principles that will help us in finishing the race well for King Jesus. Integrity as it relates to your sex life is not optional for the minister of the gospel. It is essential. Take the high road in this area. Be cautious and be careful. Stay close to Jesus and stay close to your mate. End your race with no regrets. It will glorify God, and you will be glad you did. I love you, and thank God for the honor of serving you here at Southeastern Seminary. What a blessed man I am.

This is taken with Alan’s permission from here.

Developing a Biblical Ecclesiology Lecture
This is a lecture that I delivered concerning how my ecclesiology – my understanding of the church – has changed over the last few years.

Click here to download a pdf version of my PowerPoint presentation.

Click here to download the entire file (52 MB). Or, click the play button below to play the file online.

Click here to read Alan’s post regarding his lecture.

The Practice of the Early Church

Session 3 – Elder-Led Congregational Consensus

(Steve Atkerson)

Everyone agrees that Christ is the head of the Church… opinions digress from that point.

Elder-Led Congregational Consensus is a little different than Elder-Rule form of church government.

Who is in charge here? Luke 22:23-27

We are not to be like the Gentiles.

How much authority should church leaders have? The same authority a child has, the same authority a servant has.

Leaders have authority, but it is a different type of authority (one that is unlike the Gentiles).

Who were the letters to churches written to?

Romans 1:7 – To all, not just the leaders

1 Corinthians 1:2 – To all, not just the leaders

2 Corinthians 1:1 – To all, not just the leaders

Galatians 1:1 – To all…

etc., etc., etc.

Philippians 1:1 – To all… “including the overseers and deacons”

etc., etc., etc.

Hebrews 13:7 – To all… and then asks them to “greet all of your leaders and all the saints.”

etc., etc., etc.

1 Peter 5:1-3 – Written to the elders “among you.”

Elders are important, but there is a decided lack of emphasis on Elders. We should appreciate them for their service (1 Thessalonians 5:12).

It appears that the authority that Elders have is the authority to persuade people to the truth.

Authority resides with the church corporately, not with its leaders.

Matthew 16:18-19

Matthew 18:16-17

Church leaders don’t make decisions for the church, the make decisions with the church. Perhaps like the Senate, a group of people can bring what they think should be done (leaders) and but they with the rest of the church decide together.

Doing it this way, means you will have to love each other enough to put up with one-another. You won’t always agree with one-another.

Acts 1:15,23 – Peter recognized a problem, need to fill Judas’ spot, but the 120 put forward two possible people.

Acts 6:3,5 – Recognized a problem of with feeding the widows, but the church picked the seven.

Acts 15 (22-23) – With the whole church…

1 Corinthians 5 – The whole church decides

1 Corinthians 6 – The whole church judges

Consensus is based on unity – Psalm 133:1; 1 Corinthians 1:10; Ephesians 4:3-6; Phillipians 2:2; Colossians 3:15; John 17:11,20-23; 1 Corinthians 10:17; Ephesians 4:11-13;

Hebrews 13:17 – Obey is 13:17 in the Greek is actually more like “allow yourself to be persuaded or convinced by” your leaders or take their advice. Submit in 13:17 is more like “yield or surrender.” This is a process or battle after which one yields (or surrenders). Submission still occurs, but the picture is one of serious discussion and dialog prior to one party giving way.

The authority of “obey” and “submit” is merely that of the gift of persuading one to the truth.

The point of the verse is not to be a blockhead.

Caveat – 1 Peter 5:5 “You younger men, likewise, be subject (hupotasso) to your elders” and this is the word that really means to submit.

James 3:17 – But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.

Conclusion:

There is a surprising lack of emphasis on church leaders in the letters to the churches.

Congregational consensus is the NT norm for church government (not majority rule, not elder rule). Church polity is to be that of consensus, not command. Authority resides in the church as a whole, not its leaders (Mt 18:15-20).

Generally speaking, church leaders have the same authority as children and slaves (Lk 22:24-27). Leaders are to lead by persuasion, example, life-style, influence and teaching (Heb 13:7).

Elders are to be given special consideration in the consensus process (Heb 13:17), especially when dealing with block heads and young Turks!

Churches are to be more elder-led than elder-ruled (1 Pe 5:1-3).

The Practice of the Early Church

Session 2 – Participatory Church Meetings

(Steve Atkerson)

1 Corinthians 14:26 – What do we learn about the NT church from this verse? Diversified, Spontaneous, …

Change “each one” to “only one” which option is today’s church more like?

Is the church you meet with like this?

Acts 13:14-15 – Should the church meeting reflect what the synagogue in the NT looked like?

Acts 14:1 – They allowed audience input from the synagogue meetings.

Acts 17:1-2 – Paul’s custom – reasoned with them

Acts 17:10-11

Acts 17:17

Acts 18:4

Acts 19:8

There seems to assume that there was some sort of audience input in the synagogue meetings.

Singing – 1 Corinthians 14:26, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 5:19

Teaching – 1 Corinthians 14:26, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:42, Romans 12:6-7, 1 Corinthians 12:28, Ephesians 4:11, 1 Timothy 1:3; 2:11-15, James 3:1

Preaching – Acts 20:7 – Paul preached to the disciples (greek is dialegomai – discussed)

Never preached in a church meeting.

Preaching is a evangelist – outside the church meeting.

Various Charismatic Gifts – 1 Corinthians 14:26

Other gifts to consider:

Acts 2:42 – Prayer

1 Timothy 4:13 – Public reading of scripture

Acts 14:26-27 – Reporting what God is doing through them

How to consider one another (Hebrews)?
Is there a testimony the Lord would have you bring?
- Could you purpose to begin a time of conversational prayer?

Is there a song you like that would edify the church?

- Is there some subject or passage of Scripture to teach on?

What has the Lord shown you this week in your time with Him?

Does your wife spend more time preparing for the meeting (cooking) than you do (considering how to encourage the church)?

A Worship Service – Romans 12:1-2, John 4:21-24

The NT never refers to a church meeting as a worship service.

Tongues – 1 Corinthians 14:26-28

Only a few a week (one at a time), if it is done, it must be with an interpretation.

If there is no interpretation, it must not be done – teaching us that sometimes we can have a legitimate gift from God that he doesn’t want us to use in the meeting.

Prophecy – 1 Corinthians 14:29-33, 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

Only a few a week (one at a time), if it is done, it has to be tested.

Same teaching about the gifts of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 – Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater.

The Role of Women – 1 Corinthians 14:33b-35

This passage is controversial… you need to study it and decide for yourself.

But this passage does indicate that their meetings were participatory.

Perhaps this verse is showing us more that the men should be leaders. This could be a dynamic silence that sucks the men into leadership.

Two Questions – 1 Corinthians 14:36 – You have no choice but to contact your church meetings anyway than this.

The Lord’s Command – 1 Corinthians 14:37 – Obey the commands of the bible.

Three Imperatives – 1 Corinthians 14:39-40

Desire earnestly to prophecy.

Don’t forbid to speak in tongues.

All things to be done properly and orderly.

Conclusions that can be drawn from 1 Corinthians 14

Participatory

Fitting and Orderly

Edifying

Lord’s Command

I realized that this is exactly what happens on Sunday mornings. A group of people get up every morning, do a certain routine to meet in a special place. At the group I last met with, they would all get together to listen to a short little greeting and a sweet little story. This is the get-ready-for-church light-switch. Once it is on you can turn on the other light switches. If you miss this meeting, don’t worry there is an override switch that we’ll talk about momentarily.

At the end of the get-ready-for-church light-switch they flick on the time-to-learn light-switch. Turning on this switch moves everyone from their current location to a different location where they can sit down and be taught a bible lesson during Sunday School. At the end of the Sunday School lesson, a bell usually rings which causes everyone to move back into the room they were just in, here they wait for the next switch to be turned on. This switch is the override switch.

The override switch is important because not everyone comes to the early morning light-switch event, and often miss Sunday School too. What happens is a music leader starts to play music and everyone starts singing. Whether you are in the mood or not, the override switch is turned on and you are in full blown “worship.” This light-switch is most important because it prepares you for the next light-switch, the sermon light-switch. As soon as the music is done and you have reached your full worship potential, the sermon light-switch is turned on. Flicking this light-switch causes everyone to sit and remain absolutely silent (apart from saying “amen” or “Mmmm” in agreement). There is no more need to sing, since you have hopefully reached your worship potential and are ready to truly hear the word of God preached. At the end of the sermon, someone says a prayer and all the light switches are instantly turned off.

Turning off all the light switches means it is time to do what you want. The majority of the people get up, leave the building, and go to their respective homes or go out to lunch with their families and friends.

This is what I call Light-Switch Christianity.

P.S. When I thought about writing this post I did a search for “light switch Christianity” on Google. Oddly enough the first hit was this Christian “worship” band: http://www.lightswitchband.com/.

Request from the Deacons

In reverence to God and respect for others, please do not get up during the sermon (unless there is an emergency). Parents – please take your children to the restroom before the worship time or, if needed, during the offertory. Also, please turn off all beepers, cell phones, and wristwatches. Thank you!

(bold, italics, and underlining is original)

From time to time I listen to a certain lady, a pastor’s wife, counseling other ladies on a radio program. She gives them great advice on how to be submissive, to be gentle spirited, to be kind, etc. – all very Biblical things. But sometimes I cringe at some of the things she says. It may be because I live in a “liberated” society, but I think it is something else. I think it might be sin… not on her part or even on her husbands part – but on my part.

You see when I listen to this lady talk, I often think about how great it would be to have control over someone like that. I silently think to myself, “Man, if I could Lord it over my wife like that, that would be great.” I think about all the things I could do… or not do. I could come home, sit on the couch and expect to be served, with a smile… always. If not, I could throw it in her face and make her feel guilty for not obeying me and feel justified. I could expect the house to be impeccable, the children to be out of my hair, the lawn to be mowed, money to be made, etc. I cringe because I know that this is a desire to do something that does not come from love and thus does not come from Jesus.

In Ephesians 5:23-24 we read, “For the husband is the head of the wife, as Christ also is the head of the church, He Himself being the Savior of the body. But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands in everything.”

If we stop there, we can see that it is very important for the wife to submit to the husband. I am by no means denying that. But what if we continue in this passage?

In Ephesians 5:25-27 we read, “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”

This seems to add a bit of complexity to the idea that we should lord it over our wives. We, husbands, are called to love our wives as Christ loved the church. The example given? To the point of death so that our wives might become set apart, even glorified – not above God but above ourselves.

Now I am by no means the perfect husband, I make plenty of mistakes, and I more often than not put myself before my wife. I know there are other husbands out there who are just like me. We need to remember, our wives are a jewel in our lives. We need to tend to them, take care of them, and sacrifice for them. We can only successfully do this when we look to Christ and follow his example.

I pray that we all, husbands and wives, would follow Christ’s example for our model… and not the traditions of men. That we would not place unbiblical expectations on each other, nor would we promote these expectations on others. But edify one another and encourage each other to love and good works.

Consider the situation where you are sitting among a group of believers, listening to someone teach. The teaching is very inspiring and challenging. You are really enjoying it. Beside you, a baby starts crying. Can the crying baby distract you from worshiping God? If we assume that you can only worship by listening to the teacher, then the baby would be a distraction. If we assume instead that the way you respond to the crying baby and the baby’s mother reveals your obedience to God, then you can continue to worship – even if you cannot hear the teacher.

This started to make me think about how we handle “distractions.” In Alan’s example, the baby becomes the distraction. Often times we remove distractions from us when we meet. We have children’s church, we have the nursery, we have contemporary services vs. traditional services, and the list could go on. None of these things are bad, or evil, or anything, but often they are created to remove distraction. We have children’s church because children get bored in real church, so we deal with the children by removing them from the situation. Babies tend to poop and cry and make all sorts of noises, so we send them to the nursery. Older people don’t really like contemporary music, so we have singing time with hymns and a separate singing time with newer music for the younger generations.

As I said, none of these things are wrong, in and of themselves. However, is it possible that these things tend to hide our sin? When your children get rambunctious, you’ll get an evil eye or two. Someone will surely gossip about how they could not hear the sermon, how misbehaved your children are, etc. By removing the children, the people do not have to deal with their sins because they can act like perfect little people. The same goes for the other examples I listed above.

As I have been contemplating these issues, I started to wonder what else we use to hide our sins. It occurred to me that legalism is the biggest thing, I think we also use doctrine to hide our sins, man-made rules and regulations, even our buildings can be used to hide our sins.

I suggest you ask yourself how you are hiding your sins.

I pray that God would reveal to us our sins and the devices we use to try to hide them from others. I pray that we would be more transparent before his Church and before Him, that we would confess our sins instead of hide them. I pray that He would strengthen us and those who we encounter to be more open to forgiving, guiding, and urging each other to love and good works. Most of all, I thank Him for all that He has done in our lives through His sons work on the cross and escape from Death.

Here is a link to an excerpt from the ABCNews story I saw: http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3140436

This group, which refers to themselves as the Pilgrim United Church of Christ, associates themselves with the United Church of Christ (UCC). Many of you may know who they are. They are pretty much considered a liberal organization. They openly affirm homosexuality, divorce, etc. You may have seen their commercials, you know, the one where they show a bouncer outside of a church building, not allowing lesbians, homosexuals, mixed marriage families, etc. into the building. Or the one where these same people are being launched out of the pews for the same reasons.

Here they are from YouTube.com:

The motto, place on a banner outside of their building, reads “All are welcome.”

My questions are these: If “all are welcome,” why did they have to make a vote? To those of you who have children, how would you respond? To everyone, how should you respond?

[UPDATE]
P.S. Do not mix up the United Church of Christ (UCC) with the Church of Christ. Both parties will probably be pretty mad at you :).