Category Archives: Christian Living

by Anthony Baker | October 2, 2010 · 10:48 pm

The Other Side of a Coined Phrase

You can talk all you want about what we’re NOT supposed to do, but we DO it all the time. Who hasn’t seen the video of the panel of judges that were totally awestruck, not to mentioned very embarrassed, when Susan Boyle began to sing? Judging by her looks, this was not supposed to be a superstar singer. The whole crowd was guilty of thinking the same thing…”What is this ugly woman doing on stage?” Subconsciously they were thinking, “Only beautiful people can sing beautifully.” Oh, how wrong they were!

I have heard it said all my life, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Since I have done some research, that would mean I would have to be younger than 70, because that phrase wasn’t even coined until the mid 1940’s. Anyway, I have been taught, as most people have, that we are not supposed to make assumptions about people simply on the basis of appearances. As a matter of fact, long before “don’t judge a book by its cover” was coined, Benjamin Franklin said, “Don’t judge men’s wealth or godliness by their Sunday appearance.” We all know that we shouldn’t judge a man’s character by his appearance (or even by the color of his skin, as Martin L. King, Jr. would have said). But with all that said,

I can’t help but think that there is another side to this coin (coined phrase, that is).

While it may be true that we shouldn’t come to a conclusion about someone based solely on appearance, how many books would you pick up and open if on the outside there was nothing describing the inside? How much money is spent these days on cover design, I wonder. Go to any bookseller and browse any isle and tell me what you find. Are any of the books simply bound with only the title and the author printed on front? Probably not. Every kind of trick imaginable is employed to catch your eye and cause you to open the cover to see what is inside. Now, not every cover will appeal to every reader, but the author will know ahead of time what type of audience he is trying to reach, therefore he will have a cover designed to appeal to the reader that will most likely buy the book. How foolish would the writer be if he spent thousands of dollars for a design that appealed to the wrong crowd? Even more, what would be the purpose of writing a book that had a cover which said nothing hinting of the content?

The other side to this “book-judging” coin is that even though we should not pre-judge a book by what is on the cover, the cover should give us some clues to what is on the inside.

For example, take a look at the title of the book to the right. If you were to pick this book up at a book store, you would assume that on the inside there should be at least a hundred recipes, correct? Really, the title of the book should give you confidence that inside resides the answer to all those questions you’ve had recently about how long you should roast a kangaroo tenderloin. Shouldn’t it? It says “How to Cook Everything.” Well, by dang, I would assume, based on the cover, there should be, by my judgement, a kangaroo recipe in there somewhere. I don’t know if there is or not, but do you see my point? If you say you’re something, or if you want to give a certain impression, then be what you say you are, or kangaroo eaters are going to be disappointed.

Now, Jesus did say in Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” He also said, “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment” (John 7:24). The problem is that when we say that we should not judge a book by its cover, we imply that we can NEVER make ANY judgment based on what we see. Seriously, how practical is that? Jesus never said that we could never make righteous judgments. As a matter of fact, consider these words of Jesus as found in Matthew 7, verses 15-20:

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”

We are not supposed to come to any rash, prejudiced conclusions about people. That is a fact. We have no way of knowing whether a nice, fluffy sheep is a wolf, or not. By outward appearances alone, all we can determine is that if it looks like a sheep and sounds like a sheep, it must be a sheep….until it starts to act like a sheep-eating wolf. Then, when a sheep starts baring fangs at us, it is safe to judge, and there is no sin to be added to our account.

Righteous judgment, as Jesus mentioned in John 7:24, CAN be made if it is in reference to the fruit being inspected. The fruit of a wolf is different than a sheep. But here’s the point:

If a sheep claims to be a sheep, it should act like a sheep, not a wolf!

What is on the cover of a book SHOULD tell what is on the inside. What we look like on the cover SHOULD make others want to read what is inside. What we look like on the outside SHOULD mirror the message of the Author’s Word. As believers in Christ, we claim to be something special. We have the imprint of our Saviour written on our binding. Jesus has a reputation as an Author, and what is inside our covers should not bring shame to His writing ability. It may be wrong to judge a book by its cover, but it is equally wrong to claim to be a book that you’re not.

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Filed under Christian Living, General Observations, legalism, World View

Tagged as Agriculture and Forestry, Benjamin Franklin, False prophet, Jesus, Livestock, Matthew 7, Never judge a book by its cover, Sheep, Susan Boyle

by Anthony Baker | September 23, 2010 · 11:52 pm

Does Divorce Disqualify?

I will never forget the phone call I got from a church in Rome, GA about 14 years ago. Someone on the other end of the line was part of a search committee looking for a new pastor. They had gotten my resume and were impressed enough to give me a call. Everything was going well until they asked a very pointed question, “Bro. Anthony, does your wife have a spouse that is still living?” I responded with a cold, clinched-teeth, squinted-eye “Yes,…..ME.” Unfortunately, this would not be the last time something like that happened.

What I encountered on the telephone that day was not unusual, nor unexpected; but it hurt. You see, I had chosen to marry a woman who had been divorced, even against the wishes of our (then) pastor, who said marrying Valerie would “put the final nail in the coffin” for my ministry. However, even knowing that many disagreed, we married, anyway. I was aware of the Scripture (1 Tim. 3:2) being used, but I was also in the process of becoming free from the legalism that had bound me for so long…legalism that oozed with a self-righteousness that wanted to limit me based on another’s determination of my spirituality, not Biblical truth (and it didn’t hurt that the late Dr. Spiros Zodhiates gave his approval).

Let me be clear about a few things…

First, I have never been divorced, so for me the whole argument of 1 Timothy 3:2 should be moot. Second, my wife was abandoned and left with no choice but to divorce (she was the innocent party), and it happened before she was a believer. Thirdly, her ex-husband remarried and divorced again before I even met her. By all accounts, both she and I were clear from any “adultery” issues. Also, I am the husband of one wife, and Scripture NEVER said “must be the husband of one wife who was the wife of one husband ever.”

What DOES Scripture say?

1 Timothy 3:2 “A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife...” Also, verse 12 says, “Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife...” The difficulty with these verses is not what is being said, but how it is interpreted. Is Paul telling Timothy that in order to be a pastor or deacon or elder in a church, you must have only been married once? Could it be possible that Paul is even saying that a man of God MUST have a wife, because being single would disqualify one from ministry? These are things that have been debated for centuries. Some believe that a pastor or deacon or elder should have never been divorced (or married to a divorcée) . Others believe that in order to be a proper leader, one must be married. Still, many commentators believe that the proper rendering of the Greek is “one-woman man,” implying faithfulness and character over the number of wives. What the Scripture says is one thing, but as William D. Mounce put it, “The Greek gives us a range of possibilities, but our theology is going to determine our interpretation.” (http://www.koinoniablog.net/2009/03/can-an-elder-be-divorced.html#comment-captcha)

I think there’s another way to look at it…

Take a look at 1 Timothy 3. Read through verse 12. The best I can figure is that there are between 16 and 17 qualifications for the bishop, and between 6 and 8 for the deacons. All of these are preceded with a literal or an implied “must be,” as in “must be blameless,” or a “must have.” How does this affect the argument that an elder must have only been married once, never remarried, or never divorced? Well, think of any great pastor that you know of. Think of any great man of God that has stood behind the pulpit and faithfully proclaimed the Word of God. Has he always been blameless? Has he always been on his best behavior? Did he ever get drunk, covet, lose his patience, or curse his wife or children in anger? Was he ever a novice, a beginner subject to pride? If so, then according to the logic of some, he should never be able to preach or lead in God’s church, for just as a man “must be the husband of one wife,” so he also must be “blameless, vigilent, sober, well-behaved, given to hospitality, patient, never greedy, and always in control of his house and children.” Do you see it? If your interpretation leads you to believe that the bishop must have only had one wife ever, then the same hermeneutic (the study of the principles of interpretation) should apply to the other “must be’s.” “Must be the husband of one wife” = never divorced. “Not a novice” = never been a beginner in the faith. Doesn’t make sense, does it?

1 Timothy 3:1-12 is in the present infinitive tense (i.e., must be / dei einai). The requirements listed are ones that describe a man of character and faithfulness, of sobriety and gravitas; not a beginner or one untried and unproven. What I see is a list of requirements that may not have always been present in a man, but should be NOW, after God has done a verifiable work in his life. In other words, the Bible says a bishop “must be,” not “must have always been,” or “must have never done.” Paul said, “and such were some of you: but ye were washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – 1 Corinthians 6:11

Here’s my point…

I believe that there are plenty of men and women (especially men) that are sitting back or hiding out because someone has convinced them that they are used up and un-usable. For instance, I can think of men right now, who because of whatever reason, are divorced. Yet these men, now Christians, are sold-out, God-fearing, faithful, Spirit-filled fathers and husbands with proven testimonies and unimpeachable character. Sadly, however, because of mistakes made when they were young, unsaved, and stupid, they cannot serve as deacons, much less as pastors. On the other hand, I can think of several pastors today who were once murderers, drug dealers, fornicators, extortioners, and abusers of mankind (gay, for those of you in Rio Linda). They are accepted and given full reign as leaders in the church, but not the ones who were divorced. So, like I said in a previous post…

if the Pharisee and the Publican sat down with a pulpit committee in the average Baptist church, which one do you think they would hire?

Answer:

Depends on which one “had a living spouse.”

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Filed under baptist, Divorce, General Observations, Independent Baptist, legalism, Relationships and Family, Uncategorized

Tagged as Bishop, Divorce, First Epistle to Timothy, God, Marriage, Religion and Spirituality, Theology, William D. Mounce

by Anthony Baker | September 21, 2010 · 7:00 pm

Goodbye to a Family Friend

I don’t want to do it, but it must be done.

Why do some things that should be so simple have to be so hard? What is a car? Is it not just a machine? Does it have personality? Does it have feelings? Well, when you have driven a care past 300,000 miles, you tend to question reality. Seeing this car leave our family is going to be, no it IS difficult.

Several years ago I actually took the time to look for a specific brand, model and year of car. I wanted a 1994 Honda Accord EX. After searching the car lots and the papers, one morning, when I first got to work in Clarksville, TN, I logged onto the local paper’s website. There, for the first time listed, was a car meeting the exact specifications I was looking for. What was better, it was a one-owner (garage-kept by a literal “old lady”), and the asking price was at least $1000 under value. I was the first to call and said, “I will be right over.”

The little blue Honda has been through a lot with our family. It has had me drive it to appointments while I was wearing a suit and tie. It has endured me driving it all hours of the night while delivering pizza. It has carried the sick. It has raced to the aid of friends and relatives. It has even carried the load once packed into a Ford Crown Victoria that broke down on the way to Chattanooga from Kentucky (I will never underestimate my wife’s ability to pack again).

With nearly 340k miles on the old car, and with another in the shop, we have decided to let this one go. The possitive side of the story is that someone else is going to get some benefit from it. I still has life in its engine. It still

One last look inside (my legs look wimpy)

looks pretty good, too. For that matter, I think that the 1994 Honda Accord was the prettiest body style that Honda ever came out with. Even the newer Honda we have, a 2001 EX, is not as elegant. As a matter of fact, the ’94 gets better milage. I do like the V6 in the 2001, though.

I hate it when change comes, especially when it requires the loss of an old, faithful friend. This little Honda has been as faithful as they come. It has never given us any problems that didn’t come with just usual wear and tear. It was literally the best investment I ever made. So long little friend. You will be missed.

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by Anthony Baker | September 16, 2010 · 11:09 pm

Happy Birthday to Me!

A whole lot has gone on this year. I have had a few serious health scares. My wife, Valerie has had more than her share of health scares. Our girls have had difficulties, and even our dogs have had problems. Man, it has been interesting. But one thing I can do it genuinely celebrate the fact that I have gotten older. I lived one more year.

September 17, 1967, was when I was born. As I described it to a kid on the bus yesterday, “I was born before Austin Powers got transported in time.” I really don’t know if she understood what I was talking about. Anyway, Iwas born in the 60’s. I put it another way a couple of years ago when I was speaking to a Vietnam veterans group in Soddy Daisy, TN. I said, “When you were ‘in country,’ I was ‘in womb.'” Fortunately, they actually got it and thought it was funny. Good thing…they could have killed me, unlike the 10 year old.

Now, I have gotten some cool things for my birthdays over the years, thanks to loving parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, girlfriends, friends, co-workers, and other assorted associations. But I can’t think of anything more cool, more fun, or more seriously (did I say) cool than a new 4G iPhone. I have actually entered the most sophisticated, up-to-date, high-tech world of modern gadgetry. Best of all, it is a brand new phone; not one handed down from somebody else who decided to upgrade, but felt sorry for me. Who can I thank for this work of Apple art? My lovely wife and children (and who knows, maybe even my son-in-law).

I am 43. I won’t be long before I am 50. Before I die there are several things that I would like to do at least once. There are a few things that I would

like to do again. One thing that I would like to do is drive a 67 fastback Ford Mustang again, one like I use to have. I can still smell it. I can still remember the feel. Of course, I can still also remember rolling over several times in it, all the while praying to God “please don’t let me die!” Anyway, I would love to drive one again, if not own one.

Another vehicle I would love to own again, or at least drive, would be a 68 F100 like my dad used to have. That was a REAL truck. I don’t see how the new ones even hold a candle to it. When my dad was still alive, we used to imagine a perfectly restored 68 F100 pulling a scary, mean, black-on-black (like mine was) 67 Fastback on a trailer to a car show. Now that kind of setup would cost as much as a house. Oh well. I can still dream, though.

Well, at least I have my family that loves me. And even though I don’t have the truck and the car, I have a dang cool phone. I have nothing to complain about. Happy birthday to me!

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by Anthony Baker | September 14, 2010 · 10:34 pm

You Don’t Have to be Perfect to be Used

So, a Pharisee and a Publican walk into…let’s just say…a search comittee meeting…

You know the story of the Pharisee and the Publican, don’t you? Jesus told the story, as recorded in Luke 18:10-11

“Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican.”

Imagine that instead of the temple, they walked into a search committee meeting. A meeting of people designated with the task of finding, let’s say, a new pastor for a church (at least that’s the way we do it in the Baptist denomination). They walk in, introduce themselves, compare resumes, and one gets the job. Which one? The one that fits the picture of what every Christian fit for service should be – perfect.

Sunday night I shared with my congregation that God doesn’t just use perfect people, but people who have made mistakes, REAL people. But sadly, within the church today, there are many men and women who have felt inferior and useless because of sinful and broken pasts. They are the people who sit on the pews, week after week, doing all they can to be faithful in life, but are forbidden to hold positions in the church. They are much like the Publican, men and women who know they have failed before, but want to be forgiven and start new. They are not the ones that look down on others for mistakes they’ve made. They’re not Pharisees.

Have you ever considered how dysfunctional the characters of Genesis were?

I read through the book of Genesis last week in a couple of sittings. Reading a book of the Bible that way, especially in a different translation, can help you see the story from a new perspective. This time I was just astounded at how messed up these people really were! There was so much “stuff” going on that if it were today, it would make an episode of Jerry Springer, or TrueTV look tame! Consider, if nothing else, the sad story of Jacob, Leah, and Rachel. This was a seriously messed up family with real marital problems. At one point, Leah and Rachel get into a jealous argument over a son’s mandrakes. Just imagine you were a marriage counselor and listened in to the following story…

Reuben went out during the wheat harvest and found some mandrakes in the field. When he brought them to his mother, Leah, Rachel asked, “Please give me some of your son’s mandrakes.” But Leah replied to her, Isn’t it enough that you have taken my husband? Now you also want my son’s mandrakes?”

“Well,” Rachel said, “you can sleep with him tonight in exchange for your son’s mandrakes.” When Jacob came in from the field that evening, Leah went out to meet him and said, “You must come with me, for I have hired you with my son’s mandrakes.” So Jacob slept with her that night. – Geneses 30:14:16 HCSB

Twice Abraham told other people that his wife, Sarah, was his sister so that he would not be harmed. Joseph’s brothers hated him and sold him to traveling salesmen. Jacob and Esau were seriously at odds. Leah, poor thing, kept trying to have children so that her husband, Jacob would love her. Jacob’s father-in-law, Laban, got him drunk on his wedding night and gave him the wrong wife – on purpose. The son’s of Jacob (founders of ten of the tribes of Israel) lied to a bunch of men about making a covenant, then proceeded to slaughter all of them after they had convinced them to be circumsized. It just goes on and on. Messed up, I am telling you!

Nevertheless,

God told Abraham in Genesis 12:2-3 “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” How is this even possible? If God can use Abraham and his family with all their problems to bless the nations, then He can SURELY use ANYBODY!

Check in next time, and I will continue my thoughts on this subject. I will be addressing the legalistic applications of 1 Timothy 3, the portion of Scripture most likely used to keep the Pharisees in the pulpit, and the Publicans in the pews.

Here’s a teaser: should divorce keep one from serving as deacon or pastor?

Tell me what YOU think.

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by Anthony Baker | September 11, 2010 · 1:22 pm

Heaping Coals, Instead of Burning Korans

Being that it is in the news everywhere, I couldn’t help but weigh in on this story.

Has anyone ever stopped to ask, “Why are we so worried about what Pastor Terry Jones does?” Sure, there have been many, from Franklin Graham to President Obama, who have stated their opinions. People in the news all the world over have commented about it saying, “Nothing good can come of this…” and all that. The main reason that is stated by Christians is that this Florida pastor, by burning Korans, will not only incite violence, but turn people away from Christ. The “Christians” say that this pastor is not acting according to Scripture. Maybe.

I would like to submit that the real reason that most people are against this pastor burning Korans in public, which he has a right to do, is because they are AFRAID! Did you read what I just said? People are AFRAID of what Muslims, the “peaceful” people, will do. Now, would someone tell me, prior to 9/11, would this have been an issue?

It seems to me that terrorism is winning, and winning big!

Why is it that Terry Jones is/was wanting to burn the Koran? The reason probably rests in the desire to see some resolution to the inequity in the world. Just recently I showed to my congregation the video, Obsession – Radical Islam’s War Against the West, in which there were multiple scenes of Muslims burning American flags, crosses, etc., and speaking publicly of how Christians, Jews, and anyone else that differs with them are just “cattle.” In one of the scenes there was an Islamic group standing in New York City, speaking English, proving their loyalty to the Qua-ran and Islam by walking on an American flag and saying, “Allah Akbar!” Not one person did a thing to stop them. But could you even imagine the opposite happening? Death and mayhem would take place, not just on the streets of New York, but all over the world. So it’s ok to burn a Bible, but not a Koran. RIIIGHT!

Protesting in Afghanistan

Protests have taken place all over the world over the POTENTIAL burning of Korans at the Florida church. Nothing had even happened, yet people were rioting, burning stuff, threatening to kill. Where are the protests, the riots, the murders, the fires of destruction when crucifixes were dipped in urine (see picture at left) by Andres Surrano and called art? Did Catholics march through Rome burning American flags? Did Baptists burn art studios? When Christians did speak out in this country over the funding of such art with tax dollars, the media accused the Christians of being bigoted and incapable of “understanding true art.” What happens when a cartoonist just draws a picture of Mohammed? Oh, well, cutting his head off is the only logicgal thing for “peace-loving” people to do. Just doesn’t seem too fair, does it?

So, you see, Pastor Terry Jones is feeling the frustration that comes with seeing others do things that offend you, but never being allowed to speak out. If everything was fair, Christians should be able to burn Korans just as easily as Jihadists can cut of the heads of people they don’t agree with (Kaafir).

But let me be fair, there are, supposedly, Muslims who do not believe in what the so-called “radicals” are doing. The don’t believe in terrorism. They hate what happened on 9/11. They say that the Koran is being misused in order to justify killing. For example, here are some verses from the Koran:

(Qur’an 60:7-8):

“It may be that God will grant love (and friendship) between you and those whom ye (now) hold as enemies. For God has power (over all things), and God is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

God does not forbid you, with regard to those who fight you not for (your) faith nor drive you out of your homes, from dealing kindly and justly with them: for God loves those who are just.”

(I don’t want to sound like a pessimist, but really, does not the Muslim world consider us as those who “DO fight you for your faith, and DO fight you for your homes?“)

The fact is that most of the world runs in fear at the thought of offending a Muslim, but Christians can be made fun of at every turn. Islam is on the rise, and it is primarily because FEAR that they are able to grow. Even if there are “peaceful” Muslims around us, their sympathies still lie with their brethren, and few will stand up and condemn groups such as Hamas, the PLO, etc. The average Muslim, whether he likes it or not, is benefiting from terrorism in its purest form. The world, including America, is changing its habits, beliefs, and customs, not to mention the Constitution, in order to placate a TERRORIST religion.

Well, back to Terry Jones. Does he have the right to burn the Koran? Yes, he does. Should he? I don’t think so. The reason for not doing it should not be based in fear, though. The reason for not doing it should be based on the Bible. Not a Bible of milk-toast, wimpy, cowering Christianity; but a Bible filled with the courage of Christ. Jesus was the MOST offended of all people. He came to love and to save the lost, but they mocked and crucified Him. He, of all people, could have poured out unspeakable horrors upon the earth in a matter of seconds, calling ten thousand angels to His defense. However, He did not. He knew that His purpose had to be completed, to die for sinful man, so that those who “know not what they do” could be saved.

Even though we have the right to be angry and demand justice, we should show Biblical love.

Ephesians 5:1-2 tells us to “be imitators of God, as dearly loved children. And walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.” And as verse 15 says, we should “pay careful attention” to how we walk, “because the days are evil.” Fact is, people of the world, including Muslims, are watching us. Even though Satan would blind their eyes to the Truth of the Gospel, they can still see the love of Christ when it is expressed through the life of a Christian. Admittedly, giving up our right to respond to injustice, as with burning the Koran, might seem unfair, but doing such things, just to make the other side angry, defeats the command of Romans 12:14, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.” Further more, verse 17 says, “Do not repay anyone evil for evil.”

Burning the Koran is either an act of revenge, or an attempt at justice.

I would say to all of those like Pastor Jones that I understand your frustration and pain, not to mention your anger at obvious inequities in what is considered fair and just. But to intentionally provoke, knowing the consequences, would be stirring up unnecessary strife in an already troubled world. There may come a time when one can no longer “turn the other cheek,” but Romans 12:18 tells us, “whenever it is possible, live at peace with all men…” What is the reason for this? Because as verse 19 says, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” The best thing that we can do in this world to reach the lost, including the Muslim, is to love them. Granted, that may be easier said than done. On the other hand, consider God knows what He is doing, and He makes a promise that is found both in Proverbs and in Romans 12:20-21:

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. For in doing so you will be heaping fiery coals on his head. Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good.”

Maybe, instead of burning Korans, we should be “heaping coals.”

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by Anthony Baker | September 1, 2010 · 11:55 am

“What do these stones mean?”

While driving my school bus just the other day, I happened to ask a couple of teenagers about their knowledge of the battle of Lookout

Mountain during the Civil War. They had no knowledge that there ever WAS a battle on that mountain! I was completely dumbfounded. Every day we drive across the foot of Lookout Mt., right past monuments and markers, right beneath the cannon placements above, and yet they never even knew there was a battle there! Unbelievable!As I see it, somewhere there was a breakdown in the education these children were given. How is it even possible that teenagers could graduate from schools in Chattanooga and never know that one of the key battles of the Civil War, the very war that liberated their ancestors from slavery (they were African-American), was fought in their own back yard?

Was this information not considered important enough to teach in public school?

The Battle of Lookout Mountain

When I took just a few minutes to share some facts about what happened in and around Lookout Mountain and Chattanooga, making them look out the windows up to the low-hanging clouds that covered the bluffs, they began to understand some things. When I related how desperate the Union troops were, the seemingly invincible fortress that was Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, and then used the clouds right in front of them to explain the “miracle” that took place, history came alive. I asked them to imagine how scary it was to a guy that may have walked all the way down from New York, just to look straight up that mountain and know that he was going to have to go up it with just a rifle and a bayonet.

Most American young people do not care about history because they have never been led to make a connection with the past. When it becomes personal, either by making it relevant or intriguing, they take ownership. We can’t just sit around and blame our children, or other’s, for not knowing what we do not teach them. The very same thing can be said about our faith and what we believe. Consider the following Scripture:

Joshua 4:4-7 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: and Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of Jehovah your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel; that this may be a sign among you, that, when your children ask in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? then ye shall say unto them, Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of Jehovah; when it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

What can we learn from these verses? What principles can we see that could help our youth better understand our Faith, not to mention our history? Here are just a few observations.

“When your children ask in time to come…” If our children are not asking questions, they need to be. We need to lead them to places and discussions that would cause them to ask the right questions that lead them to discover truth.
“These stones…” There needs to be stones of remembrance, monuments, memorials in each Christian’s life that cause others to ask “the reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:15).
“Then ye shall say unto them…” Do we know what to say when they do ask? We had better! What a loss and a missed opportunity when a child, even an adult, asks “what does this mean,” and we have nothing to say.
“Your children…” It is our responsibility to teach our children, not the state, nor a stranger. Ultimately, we will be held accountable for what they learn, and from whom.

I can’t be held responsible for all the children of America, but I will be held responsible for mine (that’s one BIG reason we homeschool). You will have to answer for yours. And when it comes to the others that ride our buses, or mow our lawns, or stand in line, or or sit in our Sunday School classes, or whatever, don’t waste an opportunity to explain the reason for the “stones,” even if it’s a big mountain.

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Filed under Christian Living, General Observations, Homeschool, Relationships and Family, Uncategorized, World View

Tagged as American Civil War, God, History

by Anthony Baker | July 29, 2010 · 9:45 pm

Happy Birthday to Haley!

Ten years ago, yesterday, our little Haley Brianna Baker was born. Born in Hopkinsville, KY, she is a true Kentucky Wildcat. Well, being from Tennessee, I know very little about what a “true” wildcat from KY should act like, but if Haley is any clue, they’re nothing to mess with.

Tomorrow is the big party. We are really going to take advantage of living next to a church gym. The party is going to be science themed, with all kind of experiments (cool ones, of course) that the kids will be able to do. One of them will actually involve making ice cream in freezer bags!

Ten years ago, my daughter was born, but I really didn’t know what to think. You should have seen her! You know how everybody always says, “All babies are beautiful?” Well, to be completely honest, I shocked the nurse beside me when I said, “I don’t think she is mine.” Who could have blamed me? Do you know who she looked like? FRED SANFORD! You know, from the tv show “Sanford and Son?” White, Baptist preachers should not be having babies that look like old, black comedians! You should have seen you look on the nurses face. “Don’t say that,” she replied in a strong whisper which my wife was not supposed to hear.

Just a couple of days later, my wife carried Haley into the sanctuary of Hillcrest Baptist Church. I can still see her carrying that little bundle in her arms. The proud look on her face was beaming, as mine must have been, also. It was more than just the pride of having a new baby to show off, however. What most people can’t understand is that it was also a sense of pride that we were able to take our little girl to her first church service in her life, the first one after the day she was born, and dedicate her to God.

Psalm 127 compares children to arrows in a quiver, and verse five says that a man is happy whose quiver is full of them. Sadly, we can’t have any more children. Haley will be the last, naturally. She was our last home-made arrow, but we are happy with what we have. I just pray that God will continue to give us the grace to rear our children in such a way that, as arrows, they will stay sharp, straight and fly true when they are released to pursue their God-ordained target.

Why were Valerie and I so proud? I don’t really know for sure. But one thing I do know is this: it was really cool to think that we were responsible for bringing into this world one more weapon that would be destined to put some hurt on the Devil. Happy birthday to our littlest “Arrowhead!’

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Filed under Relationships and Family, Uncategorized

by Anthony Baker | July 27, 2010 · 8:52 am

Wearing Crocs to the Hospital

Life has happened pretty fast over the last year. I just looked and it has been almost a year since I last posted anything. How sad!

I think that one reason for my long absence was my lack of things to say, especially in the light of so many other blogs that have so much content. Does it ever cross anyone’s mind as to what these people do fo a living? I pastor a church, drive a school bus (which I hate), and go to school full-time (I just started back this summer on-line at Tennessee Temple). Well, I have something on my mind today.

What should a preacher wear to visit a church member in the hospital? I have always been accustomed to dressing up, at least in such a way that looked dress/casual. Today is going to be different. It is going to be 100 degrees again. Our only car just lost its air conditioning. So what am I going to do?Wear a silk camp shirt (untucked with palm trees on it), blue jeans, and a pair of crocs with no socks. Is this wrong?

Appearances do have a lot to do with how people perceive us. In reality, going to the hospital to visit the sick, especially the dying, may not be best accomplished with Crocs and a cool shirt. There are times when tact and wisdom are needed. In other words it is very un-cool to wear a t-shirt to a funeral. Pastors are real people, though. Sometimes our congregations want to feel like you are accessible now and then. When they want a friend, they like the blue jeans. When they need a spiritual rock, a leader, a prophet of God, I think they usually prefer the suit and tie.

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Filed under baptist, Christian Living, legalism

by Anthony Baker | September 7, 2009 · 4:51 pm

The Doctrine of Separation Examined

There are so many destructive teachings that are simply corruptions of actual truth. One of those is the doctrine of separation. Practiced within the more independent and fundamental sects of Christianity, this doctrine is mainly derived from 2 Corinthians 6:17, ” Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you…” The idea is that if one group does not agree with another in all areas, then association is considered sinful, or at least liberal.

I personally believe that this has been taken way too far within the body of Christ.

A few Sundays ago I was at a church where a missionary was speaking. I really enjoyed hearing what he had to say. What disappointed me was what was on his prayer card. Listed on the back, in his statement of beliefs, was the “doctrine of separation.” However, during the message that he preached, he spoke of how it was good to be able to talk to a Charistmatic believer in Mongolia. He spoke of how it was good, in a land that so few missionaries frequented, to find anyone to talk to that was a Christian. But when it came to working together, that was a different story.

Years ago, in 1992, I was given the opportunity to travel to Romania for a month. Long story short, in order to do some first-time evangelical work in a small village, two other young guys and myself were priviledged to hire a young interpreter to help us. Actually, he was helping a Pentecostal church group rebuilding grain silos during the day. Because he was free in the evening, he helped us. He even helped us make friends with the Pentecostal group. We didn’t have services together, but we did get to have friendly contact. Ultimately, because of this unplanned cooperation (the Church of God folk paid the interpreter for us) around 80 souls came to accept Christ as their Saviour in one week.

When I got back to the U.S., thoughts crossed my mind about how Baptist missionaries could develope ways to work together with other Christian missionaries in third-world countries, especially where the work was great. Pooling local resources and manpower for mutual benefit seemed something totally logical to me; but not to BIMI, the mission agency with which I had traveled. Unlike Southern Baptist missionaries, independent Baptist missionaries have to raise their own funds to reach the field and to stay there. To me it seemed that being able to work with other Christians to accomplish like goals was a no-brainer, but not according to the doctrine of separation which BIMI held true to, as do most independent Baptists with which I have been aquainted.

The belief that Christians cannot work together, worship together, or evangelize together to reach a common desired goal is crazy. There are areas that make Baptists (of which I am) different from other denominations, and rightfully so. These differences, however, are more often than not of little eternal significance. Baptists believe in baptism by submersion, for instance, while Presbyterians normally do not. Is that worth saying that when it comes to winning the lost for Christ that we must remain separate in all things? Even if a friend of mine is a five-point Calvinist, does that mean that I can’t walk down a street with him as we both preach salvation through Jesus alone? I like what article XIV of the 2000 edition of theBaptist Faith and Message has to say on the subject:

“Members of New Testament churches should cooperate with one another in carrying forward the missionary, educational, and benevolent ministries for the extention of Christ’s Kingdom. Christian unity in the New Testament sense is spiritual harmony and voluntary cooperation for common ends by various groups of Christ’s people. Cooperation is desirable between the various Christian denominations, when the end to be attained is itself justified, and when such cooperation involves no violation of conscience or compromise of loyalty to Christ and His Word as revealed in the New Testament.”

When it comes to the legalists and the Pharisaical crowd that promotes separation to the extent of mutual exclusion, finger pointing and self-glorification (i.e., “I am right with God and you are not, because you don’t believe the same as me.”), maybe isolation isn’t that bad. More people than not, I truly believe, think that working together for the greater good of the Kingdom is biblical. Only a small minority of so-called “fundamentalists” within the Christian faith feel otherwise. However, the problem is not so much that we believe that working together is good as long as there is no compromise, it’s getting us to actually DO it. Let the “separatists” stay separate if they wish, but let the rest of us unite where possible to form a true Nation of Christians, the body of Christ.

Say what you will about the “herd mentality,” but it is the loners that the lions and wolves look for first. There truly is strength in unity.