Lord, have mercy!

Click to watch Youtube video

You have to see the above video by Jack Schaap who is responding to some of the clips of his preaching shown on the recent 20/20 exposé of the IFB. He defends himself as if he were proclaiming the Gospel in those clips instead of simply being an idiot. I honestly want to cry as I watch this clip. I am reminded of the ongoing struggle in my own life to unlearn all of the bologna I learned sitting under men like this most of my life. I am so grieved over how quickly I can still come across in an arrogant manner and take stands in ungracious ways. The astute reader will be able to see traces of that even in past postings on this blog. My heart is grieved over the way that thinking like this STILL affects my marriage and my relationship to my wife even though I have been detoxing for many years. I am saddened that so many young preachers are looking up to fools such as this man and learning to be arrogant and un-Christlike and pretend that they are doing so as Champions of the truth. I am perplexed as to why my alma matter is having this guy come in and preach on a regular basis now. I am sickened by the silence within the ranks. This man should have thousands of IFB preachers calling him and encouraging him to repent! Any IFB pastor that openly fellowships with this man without calling him to repentance is a disgrace to his calling. He is openly and clearly unqualified to be an elder by Biblical definitions.

For those wondering, I am not an egalitarian. I do believe the Bible teaches there are roles for men and women. What this guy is screaming about, however, does not represent my beliefs or the teachings of scripture. The saddest thing of all is the admitted and blatant arrogance.

Truly ashamed of my past and very grateful for the grace of God,
Tony

Bible College??

My eight year old son said something very interesting (and pretty funny) last night at the dinner table. In the course of a fairly normal conversation he told my wife that he probably knew more than she did. My wife and I looked at each other and then she replied "Why's that?". Then he gave an amazing answer: "Because you went to Bible college, so you probably didn't learn math.". We laughed pretty hard, but inside I wondered how accurate he actually was when it came to his assessment of Bible college (not my wife). There are many Bible colleges out there that offer quality education and accreditation that are very useful in life, unfortunately, there are many that do not. Let's take a look at some of the major red flags when considering a Bible College...

1. Is it accredited?

This one is important. This means that the institution will ensure a basic level of quality education for the student. It is a system of accountability that is recognized and in many cases necessary for your degree to be considered legitimate.

Example: My wife has her secondary education degree from an unaccredited IFB college. She cannot even substitute teach in the state of Oregon with that degree. It's pretty much worthless outside of some Christian schools.

Here's a good article that helps answer some questions about the importance of accreditation.

2. Is it connected with a particular church?

If this is the case, then you are on the path toward indoctrination and not education. The goal of that church is to make you a nice fit into that church. You are going to be taught the in's and out's of how to reproduce yourself into that particular brand and not taught the benefits of critical thinking and genuine leadership. You will become robotically them instead of having the capacity and encouragement to be uniquely you.

3. Where did the professors get their degrees?

Before you decide on a particular school, look up the professors and see where they were educated. If they all graduated from the same school or type of school then you are, again, on the path toward indoctrination. If they come from various backgrounds then the chances for quality education are increased. You will be frustrated by some, but you will learn to think and you will grow along the way. This is a good thing.

**If they all graduated from the same institution for which they now teach, run away!**

There are many more (and maybe you would like to add your thoughts in the comments), but these three will knock out most independent baptist colleges from consideration. You may have to pay a little more for a quality education that actually means something outside of the IFB world, but it's far better than saving a little money to get your indoctrination papers that mean very little to real world employers.

Most IFB colleges were started because many of the students that they sent off to real colleges weren't coming back IFB (or their particular brand of IFB). Think about it....

Think. Love. Live.

I pledge allegiance....

A Revealing Backfire

Just thought this was interesting from the "Noteworthy News Notes" section of the SOTL Nov. 26, 2010 ed. (pg. 4)...

Updated NIV Bible Text Released

The release of the text comes after years of rigorous translation work by the Committee on Bible Translation (CBT). The members of the committee represent the very best in evangelical biblical scholarship. Its members are drawn from various denominations and from some of the finest academic institutions in the world. The CBT solicited and received input from scholars, pastors, missionaries and lay persons and reviewed every proposal, many of which led to revisions to the text.

"It has been a monumental undertaking to update the NIV..." said CBT Chair, Professor Douglas Moo. "We have invested countless hours of study and debate in pursuit of this vision, and we are delighted with the result. With this update, we believe the NIV continues to represent the optimum combination of transparency to the original documents and comprehensibility for the broad audience we serve."

- Christian Newswire

Sounds pretty good right?? I'm personally very interested in getting the new NIV and I couldn't believe this article was in the Sword of the Lord...then I read the 'Editor's Comments'...

Editor's Comments: They keep trying to get it right, but they admit that they have an agenda for continuing to tinker with it as the years go by. Sorry, fellas, we're still not buying!

The article the Sword chose was a brilliant plug for the new NIV! As a Christian who is concerned with thorough scholarship, cross-denominational unity of the body of Christ, and well thought out reasoning; I'm loving what I'm reading. Then, in bold letters, here comes the deflating, accusing, and arrogant retort that is totally devoid of any of the above. What a revealing backfire.

Glaring Inconsistencies

For reasons which I cannot explain, I have been receiving both Revival Fires and The Sword of the Lord newspapers for several months. For those of you who are unfamiliar with these two publications, they are published by two different 'camps' in the Independent Fundamental Baptist movement on a monthly basis. I can only assume that someone who has been privy to my ascent out of the IFB denomination is getting me these in an attempt to win me back to the movement. I can assure you, whoever you may be, that it has quite the opposite effect.

There are always fun things to read when we receive these in the mail. One time there was a sermon that was built around the assumption that all evil comes from the west because the sun sets in the west (who knew?). There are also interesting sections of the newspapers such as 'NOT FOR LADIES (Just for Men)' emphasis theirs and 'Helps for the Helpmeet'. These probably deserve their own blog post so we'll just leave those alone for now.

This months Sword of the Lord (Vol. LXXVI No. 24 - Nov. 26, 2010) was especially interesting to me. They have been running (for seven months now) an ongoing article entitled "The Case Against Calvinism" where they have attempted to build a, you guessed it, case against Calvinism. They have disparaged the character of John Calvin, written how all five points of the so-called TULIP are evil and claimed that all Calvinists hate evangelism with a burning passion. The problem isn't that they are against what they call Calvinism, because there are many Christians who hold to that way of thinking, the problem is in their amazing inconsistency. In this months issue in the bottom right hand corner of the front page is the seventh installment of their 'Case Against Calvinism'. Fine. It's what's in the upper left hand corner of the front page that is so disturbing. Directly diagonal from their seventh installment of 'The Case Against Calvinism' is a sermon entitled 'Only Trust Him' by none other that Charles H. Spurgeon. AMAZING! I wonder why they didn't publish Spurgeon's sermon entitled 'A Defense of Calvinism' instead? You see, Spurgeon was an unashamed Calvinist. Here are some quotes if you have any doubts, "It is no novelty, then, that I am preaching; no new doctrine. I love to proclaim these strong old doctrines that are called by nickname Calvinism, but which are truly and verily the revealed truth of God as it is in Christ Jesus." (Spurgeon's Sovereign Grace Sermons, Still Waters Revival Books, p. 170). And, "Calvinism did not spring from Calvin. We believe that it sprang from the great Founder of all truth." (Charles Spurgeon, Sermons, Vol. 7, p. 298). There is no legitimate denying that Charles Spurgeon was, in fact, a full-on five point Calvinist and he made no bones about it.

What is the big deal? Nothing, other than the fact that the SOTL has spent the last seven months building their case against calvinism (which is fine) only to publish one of the more outspoken calvinists of the 19th century on the same front page as the seventh installment. It is this kind of glaring inconsistency that is prevalent in this separatist movement, but rarely if ever called out within the movement itself because of blind faith in the so-called man of God, or for fear of the consequences of asking questions. It is glaring inconsistencies such as this one that takes these publications (and the IFB movement itself) from simply being arrogant and isolationist to being not credible with anyone outside of the four walls of their denomination.

1+1 never equals 3. No matter how much you print it, or how loud you yell it from a pulpit.

Think. Love. Live.

Trevor W.

The Hymn of the Legalist

The following Hymn, written by Stephen Altrogge is simply too good not to reproduce here!

Jesus Paid It Some

I hear the Savior say,
“You’re not doing enough;
Work your fingers to the bone,
I will save those who are tough.”

Jesus paid it some
I will do the rest
Sin had left a crimson stain
Now I will give my best

For now indeed I’ll try
To earn your love and grace
I’ll add the works I have
To complete the price you paid.

REFRAIN

And when before the throne
I’ll give my deeds to you,
I’ll hope I’ve done enough
To make you let me through.

REFRAIN (3x just to be sure)

http://www.theblazingcenter.com/2010/09/the-hymn-of-the-legalist.html

A True Hero

Heroes in the movement I grew up in all pastored big churches (or preached at the big churches) and became their own brand through preaching style, books authored (most of them very shallow and seemingly only written to fill the “I’m important so I must write a book” requirement), or by starting their own Bible college. These were the men you dreamed of being, the men you stood in line for to have them sign your Bible (this memory in particular makes me want to cry), the men who defined success as numbers. I am not writing to slam these men; I’m sure some of them have been sincere – though most were clearly arrogant and drunk on their own self-importance. I am writing with a burning contrast that in my mind demonstrates true greatness.

Yesterday morning, I stood at the graveside of Charles Longnecker. Who? That’s right, you never heard of him or saw him in the limelight. He never preached in a national conference; he never had hundreds of preacher boys acting like giggling girls waiting for his signature in their Bibles. He wasn’t cheered on a big platform, or revered for his pulpiteering abilities. It struck me as I listened to the testimonies of people who experienced his ministry, as I observed ten of his 13 children (one was greeting him in heaven) and over 100 grandchildren and great-grandchildren, that I was seeing true greatness. As we heard entries from his journal in which he was raw and real and humble with his Maker until his dying day, my eyes filled with tears realizing that this man was a hero. No, he wasn’t slick and quick with a superficial smile; he loved his Lord, loved his wife and children, and poured out his life in the service of others.

Let me give some observations before I give his obituary.

He was a humble man. He didn’t pretend to be a humble man. He was. I remember him coming to visit us in Vineland. I remember him treating an arrogant know-it-all young preacher with all of the respect and dignity in the world, even as I’m sure he saw huge areas of concern in my emphasis and ministry. I remember his gentle encouragement to love my wife and children. I remember, to my shame, hoping he’d be impressed with “my ministry” and never fully realizing the great man who listened to my clueless preaching as he nodded affirmation. In fact, I’m sure I didn’t see more than a small town pastor and missionary who happened to be a very nice man and grandfather. Oh to have him back in our church and honor him as the great man he was!

He loved his family and never put ministry above them. What an awesome thing to hear his children share the many ways in which they knew they were treasured and loved by their father. What a wonderful thing to watch personally over the years the love between himself and his precious bride, Dorothy. As I looked around me and saw the family, I realized this man was a hero in ways that ______________ ________________ could never dream of being. (Fill in your own blank, I have dozens of names that could go there). Nothing else matters at the end.

He avoided the excesses of his generation and exemplified balance. He didn’t compromise truth, yet he wasn’t rampaging about side issues. He kept it simple and focused on Christ. He wasn’t hung up on stuff. He knew what he believed, yet he had a meek spirit and knew to treasure the common bond in Christ. This is pretty intensely personal for me. I looked around me and saw the son and daughter who are part of a Pentecostal church (I was secretly saying… man, if they’ll raise their hands I’ll join ‘em!). I talked to the granddaughter who is worshiping and growing in a Presbyterian congregation. I listened to the uncle who is part of an ELCA church sing about the blood of Christ. I peeked over my shoulder at the “reformed” section of the family and then over at the quasi-Armenians and saw UNITY. There were non-denominationals, Baptists, CMA… all CHRIST LOVERS. None were black sheep. All were loved and treasured by a father who chose to show them the love of Christ instead of the love of argument. What could have been the recipe for factionalism and division in the family has only served to strengthen and unite. This is not possible amongst petty minded “heroes.” Only a true hero can have the patience and graciousness to pull this off. While other were burning bridges and screaming “compromise,” Charles Longnecker was busy loving Christ and loving his family to Christ. Other families may have more “doctrinal purity;” I am honored to, by marriage, belong to the Longnecker family.

He finished well. He never made a splash; he just ran his race. He finished his course! He left an incredible heritage and legacy, and he blazed a trail worth following. He’s a hero the only place it matters! He heard his Master say, “Well done!”

So passed Charles Longnecker. A giant among boys. May the name of Christ be praised!

What follows is the obituary of my hero.

Rev. Charles A. Longnecker (May 13, 1926-July 17, 2010) passed away Saturday at his Knoxville, Tennessee, home. He was 84. He was born in Chicago, Illinois. He was a son of Robert D. and Margaret (Osbold) Longnecker.

Rev. Longnecker served as a missionary pastor with the American Sunday School Union in Wisconsin for 7 years. He then joined the American Mission for Opening Churches (AMOC), and served for 28 years. During this time he pastored two village congregations in rural New York for 7 years, after which he pastored at White's Church, Peacock Corners, and Faith Bible Church, between Lightstreet and Orangeville, for 7 years. He then founded Bible Baptist Church with the objective of teaching the Bible based on Biblical principles. The church met in a former bakery on Everitt Street, Benton, before relocating to a Benton Township location on Route 239 in 1978. Rev. Longnecker served that church for 13 years. From Benton, he and his wife traveled to Kenya as missionaries with CHRISTAR Ministries (formerly International Missions) for 7 years. He was in the ministry from 1952 until 1995 when he retired. He was currently a member of West Park Baptist Church, Knoxville, Tennessee.

He and his wife, Dorothy M. (Ewing) Longnecker, would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary on August 10. Surviving, in addition to Mrs. Longnecker, are his sons and daughters-in-law: Mark and Nancy, Daniel and Cheryll, Timothy and Deborah, Joel, Nathan, Eric and Maureen; daughters and sons-in-law: Linda and David Duke, Virginia and Kermit Minnick, Jan and Daniel Belles; Grace and Robert Henrie; Sharon and Robert Wittke; Patti and James Pollock; Jill and Mark Carson; 34 grandchildren and 38 great grandchildren; brother and sister-in-law, Herbert and Wanda Longnecker; and sister-in-law, Joyce Longnecker.

He was preceded in death by brother, Fred Longnecker, and daughter, Gail (Longnecker) Belles.

Hidden in Him

Tony