Salt Lake City, Utah (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (Utah)
Filed under America, Apologetics, Culture Wars, The Magnificent Fifty
Barriers to Church Growth #7
A very revealing study was done, leading to a book detailing how 300 churches went from declining or dying, to growing. In Comeback Churches, written by Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson, there is a list of 30 different barriers to church growth. Having received permission from the publisher (B&H Publishing Group), I would like to discuss a few of them.
“People think of giving as being for their own honor.”
“Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” – Matthew 6:2-4 KJV
I don’t have a problem with buildings, wings of buildings, rooms, sanctuaries, pews, or stained-glass windows being named in honor of people. It’s when those people give money in order have their names put on those things.
One of the most commonly used complaints against the church is, “They only want your money.” Just throw a rock into any crowd and the chances are high that you’ll hit a disgruntled, self-proclaimed atheist who thinks that way.
But even though most churches aren’t all about money (if they were, then why are so many struggling with tight budgets?), there are some folk within the church that like others to know how much money they have. These are the ones who pay the bills, and everybody knows it.
Jesus spoke of those who give just to be seen. I know people like that. They don’t give anonymously, heaven forbid. No, they hold a new conference and write an over-sized, four-foot-long check to the church, while posing for the camera.
These are the people who think they have more say-so in the congregation of believers. They think they have earned the right. Some even give in order to purchase titles, such as “prophet.” What’s worse, that very practice is applauded within a particular denomination. How sad.
What we need are more people who are willing to give because they love the Lord, not praise. I love the scene in Facing the Giants where a wealthy man gives the coach a new truck. Then he looks over at his son and says something like, “Don’t you say a word.” Now THAT’S what I’m talking about!
God gives to us so that we can give to Him. When it is money that we give, it is to be for His glory, not ours. So, if you want recognition, why not wait a little while for the kind that will come from your Heavenly Father?
The praise of men is worthless, if not simply envy in disguise.
Related articles
- Barriers to Church Growth, #6 (Selfish Prayer) (therecoveringlegalist.com)
- Barriers to Church Growth. #5 (Honoring Self) (therecoveringlegalist.com)
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (Texas)
Austin, Texas (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
Granite Monument (1961): A 6-foot-high monolith inscribed with the Ten Commandments is located on Texas Capitol grounds. The Supreme Court on June 27, 2005, ruled in favor of the display handing down a 5-4 decision that reversed the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals’ decision that would have had the monument removed.
Filed under America, Apologetics, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (Tennessee)
Nashville, Tennessee (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
Tennessee Constitution, Article 1, Section 3 (1870)
That all men have a natural and indefeasible right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of their own conscience.
Tennessee is my home State. I am thankful that the Constitution of my State affirms my right to worship Almighty God according to the dictates of my conscience. However, federal law trumps State law, and one day this freedom may be taken away in its entirety. Nevertheless, the right to worship God is not a right given by Tennessee or Washington, D.C.; it is a commandment given by the Almighty, Himself.
Should the right to worship according to the dictates of my own conscience be denied, including the right to publicly speak the name of Jesus, I will have to echo the words of Peter in Acts 4:20, “We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”
The dictates of any constitution will have no bearing on the command to “go into all the world and preach the gospel,” including Tennessee.
Go Vols! 🙂
Filed under America
Life Unexpected
“Look on the bright side, at least I have more sermon illustrations.” -Anthony C. Baker
Filed under Uncategorized
The Significant Contributions of Christianity to Healthcare and Education
What a fantastic and well-written argument against those who have nothing else to say but stuff like, “Christianity is responsible for wars, oppression, discrimination, etc.” In reality, Christianity has saved more lives – literal, not just spiritual – than many imagine. It’s time the truth be taught again.
In 2001, 75% of those polled by the Pew Research Center indicated that religious institutions have played a role in solving important social problems (Stonestreet, 2016), yet by 2016, the percentage had dropped significantly to only 58% (Lipka, 2016). This figure is disappointing, suggesting that the memories or knowledge of positive Christian influences have diminished. Accordingly, the intention of the following blog is to identify and share the significant contributions of Christianity to healthcare and education.
Healthcare in Ancient Times
In the Croatian Medical Journal, Tatjana Buklijas (2008) states that “while institutions providing some form of medical treatment existed in ancient Greece and Rome, neither of these cultures organized community care for the sick, poor, and needy (Risse, 1999). A radical change occurred in the late Antiquity, with the rise of Christianity, which embraced charity as one of its basic doctrines. The first hospitals were founded when Christianity became the…
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Filed under Uncategorized
Happy Earth Day 2018
Embracing Diversity
Let’s face it, I have a wide variety of people who follow this blog. They range from the ultra-right-wing conservative branches of the political and religious spectrum to the left-wing, tree-hugging, tofu-eating, god-hating leftist trolls who do nothing all day but listen for billy goats to cross their pitiful bridges. Obviously, I’m happy you’re here reading this, no matter who you are.
It may be strange to hear a conservative Christian say it, but I embrace this diversity! My arms are extended and waiting to offer hugs to anyone and everyone who would let me show love. I may not affirm how you choose to live, and I may disagree with what you believe, but at least I care about you.
That being said, I know someone is going to be offended by what I’m about to write. However, there’s always another day and another blog post that you can enjoy. As the climate fluctuates, so do the posts of this blog 😉
Another Earth Day
A lot of melted glacial water has floated to the ocean since the first days of Earth Day celebrations. Predictions have come and gone, and yet the world is still flowing right along. A little warmer, maybe, but still here.
Early predictions from the first Earth Day in 1970 guaranteed that we would not be around until the year 2000. Some predictions had the world ending by 1985. Yet, here we are in 2018 and nothing much has really changed.
Do I believe that the earth might be a little warmer than it was in 1970? I guess it could be. I mean, I haven’t really been checking the temperature every day since I was three years old. But what I do know, is that we still have four seasons every year. Just like it’s always been, seasons change, and so will the epochs of nature.
If global warming is truly a thing, do I believe that man is contributing to it? No, I don’t. It has been warmer, then it got colder (they called it the ice age). Then, for some reason, long before man used coal and gasoline-powered engines to industrialize the world, things got warmer! Man had nothing to do with it!
A Proper Perspective
What I do believe is that God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). He created both the earth and day, and night, and time, and matter, and us. This is His world, not ours; but we are to be good stewards of what He has given us to manage.
I do not believe it is the Christian thing to do to waste resources, t0 pollute the environment, to run crazy with all of our self-pleasing pursuits at the risk of damaging creation. God cares about his creation, which is why one day He will remove the curse that is upon it because of sin. However, because creation belongs to the Creator, it is not the creation that we should be worshiping; we should be celebrating the One who made it.
If kept in the proper perspective, World Earth Day could be a good thing. On the other hand, if all it is meant to be is an anti-capitalist, anti-God, celebration of a deified planet, one where humans are taught to be the scourge of the earth, rather than the epitome of creation, you can keep it!
In reality, I sort of feel like paraphrasing the apostle Paul when he was writing to the church at Corinth: “But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you” (1 Thessalonians 5:1).
Just take care of what God has given you, praise God for it, and leave the season changing to him (Daniel 2:21).
PS, here’s a great article for today by reporter John Stossel.
Filed under blogging, community, current events, General Observations, Global Warming, Weather, World View
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (South Dakota)
Pierre, South Dakota (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
South Dakota’s State Motto and Seal (1889) and Flag (1992)
Under God the People Rule
To read the purpose behind this series of posts, CLICK HERE to read the introduction.
I would encourage you to share these posts.
Filed under America, Apologetics, Christianity, Culture Wars, God, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundations of Faith (South Carolina)
South Carolina Executive Proclamation (1994): WHEREAS, We each have been richly blessed by The Almighty whose divine providence our founding fathers sought as they established these United States of America…WHEREAS, The importance of our Christian Heritage to the Institutions, values and vision of our nation is immeasurable…THEREORE, I, Carroll A. Campbell, Jr., Governor of the State of South Carolina, proclaim November 20-26, 1994, as “CHRISTIAN HERITAGE WEEK” in South Carolina.
Well, there ya’ go. 🙂
Filed under America, Apologetics, Christianity, Culture Wars, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
The Magnificent Fifty: Foundation of Faith (Rhode Island)
Providence, Rhode Island (Artist: Susan Cassidy Wilhoit)
Constitution Preamble (1842)
We, the people of the State of Rhode Island, grateful to Almighty God for the civil and religious liberty which He hath so long permitted us to enjoy, and looking to Him for a blessing.
If you want to read the purpose behind these posts featuring state capital buildings, CLICK HERE to read the introduction.
I would encourage you to share these as much as you would like, even with those in your state capitals.
Filed under America, Apologetics, Culture Wars, Faith, politics, The Magnificent Fifty
The Recovering Legalist 