As if Joel Osteen's best-selling book Your Best Life Now isn't bad enough, you can now gather your family and friends together for a wonderful game of positive thinking, therapeutic encouragement, and self-esteem building.

 

Don't worry, no one loses, you do not pass Gethsemane and collect carrying your cross daily, nor will you have to worry about wrong answers because it is better that you enjoy the game than worry about being "right." I cannot think of a better way to spend my evening than watching Joel Osteen smile from ear to ear and tell me how I can live up to my most potential. (Is sarcasm considered "negative thinking"?)

 

I know the New Testament teaches things like killing sin, carrying a cross, dying to self, suffering for God's glory, living for truth over positive feelings, and having Christ-esteem over self-esteem, but last I checked, our culture isn't interested in that kind of product.

 

I am often asked “Why do bad things happen to good people?”  Don’t get me wrong, I understand why people ask that question.  But there are some seriously flawed misunderstandings that are at the essence of this question. {BTW, the better question is “Why do good things happen to sinful people?”  No one wants to ask that question because no one wants to admit sinfulness.} 

 

First of all, who is good?  The Apostle Paul could not be more clear when he writes, “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understand; no one seeks for God…for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:11 and 23)  The only thing “good” about us (presalvation) is that we are still created in the image of God even after the Fall.  My problem is that I tend to think more highly of myself than I should and consequently think I deserve more from God than I have. 

 

Second of all, what is bad?  Clearly evil exists and there are things that take place that we can affirm are evil.  However, there are many examples in the Bible were God brought about (and I do mean caused it) suffering for ultimate glory.  There is no better example of this than the cross!  Jesus, who was perfect, was killed according to the predetermined plan of God (Acts 2:23) and yet as a result “brings many sons to glory.” (Hebrews 2:10)  My point is that sometimes we suffer as a means of being conformed into the image of Christ and should be cautious as to what we call “bad” when it may be ultimately for our “good” even if we can’t see the final result (See Job, “the Lord gives the Lord takes away, blessed by the name of the Lord” Job 1-2). 

 

Thirdly, remember that we live in a fallen world and as a result will face many dangers, toils, and snares.  We, along with the rest of the created order, are longing for the redemption and restoration of the entire cosmos (Romans 8).  As a result of a fallen world, ANYONE is subject to cancer, homes destroyed in a hurricane, financial loss, loss of family members, unexpected tragedies, and death at every turn.  When these things happen (and they will at some point) we need to remember that what is happening is a creation in chaos, the creation is longing for her King, creation is screaming with you at the funeral “Come Lord Jesus” that the curse of sin would be no more!

 

I close with pointing you towards Peter’s words in 1 Peter 1.  “In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”  Peter says this right after speaking about a salvation “ready to be revealed in the last time.”

 

These words should grip our hearts.  The suffering of God is not bad, for it tests the very authenticity of our faith and authentic faith brings God more glory!  We remember, as the Psalmists writes, “though I walk through the valley of death I will fear no evil for God is with me.” 

 

So remember, beloved, your joy isn’t a goofy smile; it’s being able to praise God when you’re in the mist of suffering.  Your hope isn’t that nothing ever goes wrong; it’s that Jesus will one day make things right.  Because your best life wasn’t meant to be lived now; your best life will come later!

 

Pastor Wes

Recently I have been reading a book entitled The Shape of Faith to Come by Dr. Brad Waggoner, who serves as the president of B&H Publishing.  Dr. Waggoner is a former mentor of mine and was one of the most influential factors that led me to pursue a PhD in Church Leadership.  

This is the saddest book I have read recently!  Not because it is poorly written, not because it is filled with errors, not because the research is flawed, but because the content of this book is so alarming concerning the reality of discipleship among evangelical churches that it depresses me.  But not only that, it reminds me that we have a lot of work to do in order to effectively contend for the faith.  

He surveyed 2500 Protestant church attendees concerning some of the fundamental doctrines of the faith.  His findings are eye opening.

•    Concerning the accuracy of Scripture, only 54% strongly agreed, meaning that 46% of Protestants are not strongly convinced of whether or not the Scripture is true.   
•    Concerning whether or not a Christian can earn salvation, only 23% strongly disagreed (meaning that 77% either think they can earn their salvation or are not sure).  It should be pointed out that among Southern Baptists only 50% strongly disagreed that salvation can be earned.
•    Concerning whether or not other religions outside of Christianity can lead someone to God, only 32% strongly disagreed and only 46% of Southern Baptists strongly disagreed.  This is alarming!
•    Concerning whether or not individuals are born sinful, only 56% strongly agreed that we are born sinful and 15% agreed somewhat.  Combining these stats means that almost 3 out of every 10 Protestants do not believe humans are born in sin, which was an early church heresy known as Pelagianism.  
•    Concerning the physical/literal resurrection of Jesus, only 72% strong agreed that the resurrection actually happened.  
•    Concerning the belief in the Trinity (One God revealed in Three Persons), 70% strongly agreed.  
•    Concerning the sinlessness of Christ, 54% strongly disagreed that Jesus committed any sin.  Among Southern Baptists, 76% strongly disagreed.  In other words, almost one-quarter of Southern Baptists do not “strongly disagree” that Jesus might have committed sins while on earth.  This means, according to these numbers, one-quarter of Southern Baptists are heretics if these numbers hold true.  
•    Concerning the Second Coming of Jesus, 67% of Protestants strong agree and 13% agree somewhat, which means that 20% of Protestants to not believe in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ.  
•    Concerning Satan and Hell, 58% strongly agree that Satan is real and 54% strongly agree that hell exists.  

Brothers and Sisters we have work to do!  We must reclaim the faith once for all delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).  As Waggoner rightly points out, “too many leaders appear to be more concerned about attracting a crowd than fostering genuine spiritual transformation among believers.”(49)  I could not agree more!

I think that the alarm is sounding and it is time for us to wake up.  If parents to not start taking seriously the responsibility of instructing their children in the truth of God, if youth pastors do not start taking seriously the need of raising up a generation who can articulate the true faith, if pastors do not take seriously the uncontaminated preaching of God’s Word regardless if it “tickles the ear”, if churches to not take seriously the necessity of faithfully telling others the truth of the gospel, these numbers will only get worse.  

The only thing that comforts me when I think about the sad reality of spiritual formation among our churches is that Jesus clearly told us that He would build His church and the gates of Hades will not prevail (Matthew 16:18).  However, knowing that Jesus is Sovereign over the building of His church does not dissolve our responsibility as His church to be faithful is standing firm in the gospel.

For…

I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Maker of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord:
Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried;
He descended into hell and on the third day He arose again from the dead;
He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; and he shall come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit; the church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting.    {Apostles Creed}

While this may not be our father’s faith, it is our Father’s world.  While we may be pressed, we will not be crushed.  While we may be persecuted, we will not be abandoned.  We must stand firm and proclaim the wonderful truth of God for generations to come!

Standing with you,
Pastor Wes

"For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven."

This past Sunday evening we studied the attributes of God, something I absolutely love to do.  I love studying the attributes of God because it reminds me how small I am.  While the Bible is clear concerning the personal aspect of God’s attributes (His love, mercy, justice, etc.) the Bible is also clear that He is “Holy-Other.”

I remember as a kid watching a commercial on TV advertising the "My Buddy" doll. I can still sing the song..."My buddy, my buddy, my buddy and me." (For those of you who remember that song, it will be stuck in your head all day now!) I think of that commercial often as I hear people talk about their salvation. We sing songs about "walking in the garden alone" with God, and emphasize strongly the importance of having a "personal quiet time."  These are important things, but we must always remember that while God loves us personally, there is a greater cosmic story taking place than our individual salvation.  

These verses in Colossians point us to the fact that God is doing a work much bigger than you or I. God's plan is all about the reconciliation of all things under Christ. While this does not mean the salvation of all people (universalism), it does mean that God's plan is a cosmic plan that is restoring all creation under the sovereign kingship of the Lord Jesus Christ.

I want you to think about these few thoughts today...

1) God's plan of redemption is cosmic-- When God says "I love the world" (Jn 3:16), He doesn't just mean people. Humanity is the climax of His creation, particularly because they are the only part of creation created in His image. Therefore, God has a special and passionate love for humanity, but He loves all of His creation and is out to restore it from the curse of sin (Read Romans 8).

2) God's plan of redemption requires conversion-- Because of sin, we must change. It is that simple. Since God is changing (i.e. restoring) the entire cosmos, we too must change.  God may accept you as you are, but He will not leave you that way.  

3) God's plan of redemption is all about Christ-- this passage in Colossians 1 makes this point clear. The goal and glory of God's plan is centered on one main character...Jesus of Nazareth. Even though we live like we are the main character in God's story, it has always been (from the beginning) about Christ.

4) God's plan of redemption is continual-- The story of God is unfolding, it is a process. The restoration of creation does not happen in a vacuum and neither does the Christian life. Just as God's plan is getting closer and closer to complete and total restoration, so must our lives reflect that also. If all we have is a "past decision" and not an ongoing process of conforming to Christ, we might be fooling ourselves.

So remember, God loves you, but He is not like you.  God cares for you, but his plan is not all about you.  It’s big, it’s cosmic, and it’s all about Jesus Christ and the reconciliation of all things, in heaven and on earth, to Him.  To Him be the glory forever!!

Joining with you for His eternal praise!
Pastor Wes

I have been asked by a few people to share my thoughts on the growingly popular book The Shack, a book that has been endorsed by the likes of Michael W. Smith and Eugene Peterson. The book has received mixed reviews from all sides of the theological spectrum.  I will keep my comments brief for I have written a lengthier article that I will be happy to send you if you want to email me.

 General Thoughts

One should keep in mind that the book is fictional and written as allegory.  Even with this in mind, words (even when meant as allegory) still communicate certain things and therefore should still be analyzed.  One should also know that the book was written out of a traumatic experience in the author’s life and not everything that is theologically inaccurate necessarily reflects the author’s view (I’m giving the benefit of the doubt here, I could be wrong).  The book is not meant to be a systematic theology, but anytime something, or someone, is trying to articulate the nature of God, one should always watch with a careful eye.

Let’s be clear upfront, I am not saying one should not read the book or that the book is completely unhelpful.  I am saying that if one does not read it carefully he or she may find themselves missing some subtle errors. 

 General Concerns

 Scripture:  Minimizing the Word in Written form

•  “In seminary he had been taught that god has completely stopped any overt communication with moderns, preferring to have them only listen to and follow the sacred Scripture, properly interpreted, of course.  God’s voice had been [reduced to paper], and even that paper had to be moderated and deciphered by the proper authorities and intellects…Nobody wanted God in a box, just in a book.  Especially an expensive one bound in leather with gilt edges, or was that guild edges.”  (65-66)

•  Comments:  The idea that God’s Revelation is “reduced to paper” is to minimize the means through which God has chosen to speak.  It seems to offer a “new and better” way of communication with God.   The Bible is the unique and special Revelation of God and not to be viewed in a way that limits God’s Revelation, but rather is how God chose to reveal Himself.  Therefore the “Word” is the foundation and the norm of all that we are to believe, as well as the filter of our experiences.

 God:  False Image

•  Comments:  First of all, it is never wise regardless of the genre to image God [the Father] since the Bible prohibits it (Exodus 20:4).  God is spirit (John 4:24) and therefore there are to be no images made of Him.  Christ, on the other hand, is different because He took on flesh and manifested Himself in the likeness of man (Romans 1:22-23). 

God:  Revealed Identity

•  “If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I love you.  For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me Papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you keep from falling so easily back into your religious conditioning.” (93)

•  Comments:  God has clearly revealed Himself as “Father” and the Holy Spirit as a “He.”  Therefore, to be manifested, even in allegory, as female is a manipulation of God’s revelation of Himself.  My guess is that given the “nurturing” aspect of this man’s experience, he chose to reveal God as feminine.  Then when he “needs a male figure” God becomes a gray-haired man in the end.  Also, the fact that both God the Father and God the Holy Spirit appear in bodily form is problematic.

 God:  Trinitarian Concerns

• Hierarchy:  The book specifically teaches that there are no roles or hierarchy within the Godhead.  “Mackenzie, we have no concept of final authority among us, only unity.  We are in a circle of relationship, not a chain of command…hierarchy would make no sense among us.” (122)  “So you think that god must relate inside a hierarchy like you do.  But we do not.” (124)

•  Comments:  This is well beyond the bounds of Scripture and leads to serious implications of how God is imaged within the home and church.  The Bible is very clear that the Son submits to the Father and the Spirit submits to both the Father and the Son [John 5:26, John 14:28, John 5:23].  The loss of the hierarchical structure of the Godhead is a rejection of the self-revelation of God.

•  Modalism [early church heresy]:  “His gaze followed hers and for the first time Mack noticed the scars on her wrists, like those he now assumed Jesus also had on his…we were there together.” (95-96)  “When we three spoke ourself into human existence as the Son of God, we became fully human…” (99) “I am sorry that you, that Jesus, had to die.” (103)  He does however balance this view on page 101.

•  Comments:  The issue of Modalism is harder to see.  At some points the author holds to an orthodox view (101) but at other times communicates God the Father as being expressed in God the Son.  God the Father does not die on the cross.  God the Father did not become human.  God the Father did not become the Son of God.  To view God the father as being expressed in the form of God the Son is a form of Modalism, though not as explicit as it could be.  Regardless, it is an unbiblical view of the Trinity, at least at some points in the book.

 God:  The Sovereignty of God

•  “Mack, just because I work incredible good out of unspeakable tragedies doesn’t mean I orchestrated the tragedies.  Don’t ever assume that my using something means I caused it or that I need it to accomplish my purposes.  That will only lead you to false notions about me.  Grace doesn’t depend on suffering to exist, but where there is suffering you will find grace in many facets and colors.” (185)

•  “We created to share in that.  But then Adam chose to go it on his own, as we knew he would, and everything got messed up.  But instead of scrapping the whole Creation we rolled up our sleeves and entered into the middle of the mess—that’s what we have done in Jesus.” (99)

•  Comments:  The problem with the above quote is the Bible.  God is not some Holy janitor who only comes along and cleans up people’s messes [“turns things into good”].  God is the Sovereign Creator of the universe and He does whatever He pleases.  Also, the idea that Jesus is “Plan B” is to deny Acts chapter 2.

 

• “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed by the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)
• “So shall we accept good from God’s hand and not adversity?” (Job 2:10)
• “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that [God ordained the event] many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20)
• “For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope.” (Romans 8:20)
• “If a calamity has occurred in a city, has not the Lord done it?” (Amos 3:6)
• God "works all things after the counsel of his will" (Ephesians 1:11). This "all things" includes the fall of sparrows (Matthew 10:29), the rolling of dice (Proverbs 16:33), the slaughter of his people (Psalm 44:11), the decisions of kings (Proverbs 21:1), the failing of sight (Exodus 4:11), the sickness of children (2 Samuel 12:15), the loss and gain of money (1 Samuel 2:7), the suffering of saints (1 Peter 4:19), the completion of travel plans (James 4:15), the persecution of Christians (Hebrews 12:4-7), the repentance of souls (2 Timothy 2:25), the gift of faith (Philippians 1:29), the pursuit of holiness (Philippians 3:12-13), the growth of believers (Hebrews 6:3), the giving of life and the taking in death (1 Samuel 2:6), and the crucifixion of his Son (Acts 4:27-28).

 Communication without Mediation

•  We only come to God through a mediator.  The idea of “hanging out with God [the Father]” in the Shack without any for of mediation would bring immediate death.  One of the main points of the book of Hebrews is that you have a great high priest, Jesus Christ, and only through Him can you come before God. 

• “For there is on God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ.” (1 Tim 2:5, see also Hebrews 4:14-16)

 These are just a few things I would warn people to be cautious of, some of which are extremely dangerous.  I am not attacking the author or tell you to burn The Shack (no pun intended).  Read the book; just make sure you know what you are reading.  So feel free to go into the Shack, just make sure you take your Bible with you!

 

Pastor Wes

 “I love my translation, but not that much.”  Such was the thought going through my head as a man once explained to me how he would haunt his family after his death if they did not put a KJV Bible in his casket at his burial.  Though I did not say it, I should have told him that he ought to be more concerned about reading his KJV Bible (particularly those passages about haunting your family) than whether or not he’d be buried with it.  After all, I’m pretty sure he would not be reading it at that point anyway.  His point, however, was clear…there was only one translation for him.  

I am often asked what translation I prefer or what translation I use when I preach.  The answer is the ESV (English Standard Version) and sometimes the NASB (New American Standard Bible).  I grew up on the KJV, then moved to the NIV, later enjoyed the NASB, and now prefer the ESV (a journey that could only come from someone in the SBC).  Now before I tell you why I like the ESV so much; let’s look at the kinds of translations to pick from.

1)    Literal Translations:  these English translations attempt to translate the exact words and phrases from the original languages.  Examples of such translations are the KJV, NKJV, NASB, ESV and the HCSB.  The advantage to these translations is their literal approach, though sometimes they are criticized for readability.

2)    Dynamic Equivalent Translations:  these English translations attempt to translate the original meaning of a text while modernizing the language and grammar.  They are sometimes known as a “translation of a translation.”  Examples of such translations include the NIV, Amplified Bible, RSV, and the NAB (just to name a few).  The advantage of these translations is their readability, though often they are criticized for word translations.  For example, in Romans 8:5 the NIV translates the Greek Word (sarx) as “sinful nature” when the word actually means “flesh.”  I will not go into why I think this is an unfortunate translation of the word.  

3)    Free Translations (Paraphrases):  these English translations attempt to translate the Bible without emphasis on the original words or language.  Often a paraphrase wants the reader to know the “idea” rather than the “actual meaning” of the text.  Examples of such translations are the Living Bible, the Message, and the Good News Bible.  The advantage to these translations is that they are very easy to read, though they are highly criticized for their lack of original meaning.  

Understanding these categories will help you understand why I favor the ESV and the NASB, with the HCSB very close behind.  The main reason is that I want to be as literal to the text as possible with I read the Bible (which is why I often go to the original languages as much as possible).  Let me be clear, I am not saying that the NIV (or other DE translations) are unhelpful or should not be read.  I am saying that the reason I prefer the above translations is the literal approach.  

To take the argument one step forward, the reason I prefer the ESV over the other literal translations is that, along with being literal, it is easy to read.  While I love the NASB and other literal translations, the ESV provides (in my humble opinion) the best balance between literal accuracy and modern readability.

It is important for all of us to keep in mind that no English translation is perfect.  Most of our English translations are, however, extremely reliable.  When we say that we believe that the Bible is without errors we mean that the Bible, as it was originally written by the apostles and prophets, is without error.  Anyone who claims that their English translation is the “Authorized” or “Only-Inspired” Bible is very misinformed.  An English translation is only as good as its…translation.  Fortunately we have mountains of evidence demonstrating the reliability of our English translations.  

As a pastor, I do not find the paraphrases to be very helpful at all and rarely encourage people to read them, particularly if you are doing any kind of serious study.  I think that the Dynamic Equivalent translations have their place, but once again I rarely use them.  I usually recommend that people find a literal translation for the following reasons…

i)    A Literal translation takes into consideration the original author’s style of writing.

ii)    A Literal translation gives readers more confidence that the translation reflects the original Greek and Hebrew words and meanings.  


If you would like more information regarding Bible Translations I would refer you to “Choosing a Bible: Understanding Bible Translation Differences” by Leland Ryken.

So there you have it, there is a brief explanation as to why I love (and use) the ESV Bible…but you don’t have to burry me with it!

Faithfully Yours,
Pastor Wes

As we enter into a new year we are expanding our web-based ministry.  This blog will exist to give commentary on a variety of theological issues, engage in cultural commentary, and provide ministerial resources for the purpose of contending for the Christian faith and building up the body of Christ.  We hope to accomplish this through a variety of formats (audio and video clips, written articles, discussion boards, etc.)  Feel free to email me (wfeltner@tbcdecatur.org) if you have any questions (theological, ministerial, practical, etc.) you'd like answered, issues that you feel need to be addressed, or ways in which we can enhance this ministry.
 
In the mean time, we ask for patience with us as we work on format, design, and various other setup issues.  I will post during the construction so check back over the next week or so as we get this thing up and running.  I hope all of you have a wonderful New Year!
 
Pastor Wes

    Do any of you have someone in your family that is hard to buy for?  Either you aren’t sure what they want, or they have so much you’re not sure what they need.  The easy thing to do is to buy a gift card and let them pick something out for themselves so that you don’t have to worry with the hassle.  After all, they’ll probably return what you buy anyway!

But you have to give them something, right?  After all, isn’t Christmas more about giving than receiving?  Aren’t we supposed to demonstrate a servant-like attitude and give without any expectation of what we might get in return?  

I pondered these questions as I read Psalm 50.  If finding the perfect gift for a family member is hard, imagine picking out a gift for God?  

Meditations on Psalm 50:1-5

God has all that He needs because He is sovereign over the earth!

    God, by His very word, commands the sun to rise and set (vs. 1).  Is it any wonder what the Psalmist calls Him the “Mighty One?” (vs. 1)  God’s beauty shines forth from Zion (vs. 2), His glory and power causes the cosmos to began raging (vs. 3), every animal of the field belongs to Him (vs. 10), all the cattle on the hillside (which was a lot of wealth in those days) has God as their owner (vs. 10), every bird that flies across the sky flaps their wings because God is their provider (vs. 11), every grasshopper than leaps through the field is God’s, all because the world and everything in it belongs to the Mighty One, the Lord our God (vs. 12).

    It is rather safe to assume that any gift God ever opens (I’m being metaphorical here) will receive a response like, “Thanks, but I already have 500 million of those.”  But we have to give God something right?  It is better to give than receive, so what do I give God who (I’m being literal here) really does own everything in the universe?   

God judges His people for the gifts they bring to Him!

    God, as the righteous acting judge, calls His people to be gathered to Himself.  He calls for His people to listen to Him (vs. 7) as He, the righteous judge, makes a charge against them (vs. 7).  God judges them, not for bringing gifts (i.e. sacrifices), but for acting as though God needed their gifts or that their gifts were ultimately for God’s benefit.  This is precisely why the next few verses (10-12) explain that God is not in need of their sacrifices, He created and owns the very animals they are bringing to Him.  The reason God is requiring gifts is not because God enjoys a good present from time-to-time, but because His people need to be reminded daily that they are the ones who are lacking.  In other words, the gift (sacrifice) says more about one’s need for God, than God’s need for gifts!

God would have us receive rather than give!

    God defines for His people what a God-honoring gift is like (vs. 14).  It is turning to the Mighty One of heaven and earth, with a gift in hand that He already owns anyway, and saying to him, “Thank you.”  Thank you for providing for me, loving me, forgiving me, sustaining me, saving me, and giving me everything I will ever need in full abundance.  And when we give that gift, a gift of thanksgiving to God for all that we have received, God gets all the glory!  

So as your struggling to find that perfect gift this year for the family member who has it all, remember that your Father in heaven is the Mighty One who has the entire universe in His hands.  He has given you more than you’ll ever know and is not looking for a gift in return, just a grateful heart.  I guess as we stand before our God it is truly better to receive…than give!


Merry Christmas,
Pastor Wes