FC Interviews Greg Locke, Former Evangelist, Pastor, And Young Fundamentalist

From Jason Skipper:

JS:  Tell us a little about your background. Where are you from? How did you grow up? Did you grow up in a Christian home? When did you come to trust Christ?

GL;  I was born in the same area in which I now pastor.  I had heard the Gospel many times as a child, but refused to trust Christ.  I was heavy into the world of Rap music for most of my early teens.  I was expelled from the local high school, on probation five times and was eventually sent to a children’s home 40 miles away.  I was almost 16 at this point.  It was at the home that I trusted Christ at a youth revival meeting.  For a much more detailed account, you can listen to my “Unshackled” story.  http://www.unshackled.org/listen_03.html  (#2735)

JS:  How old are you at present?

GL:  I am 33.  My wife Melissa and I have been married for 13 years and we have three boys: Hudson-Taylor, Evan Roberts and Malachi Gregory

JS:  Tell us of your post-conversion years. Did you not spend time as an evangelist?

GL:  I lived at the children’s home for four years.  I then went to Ambassador Baptist College in North Carolina.  The Lord was very gracious to us as a young couple and we were able to launch into evangelism and travelled extensively for 10 years.  We held meetings in 43 states and 15 foreign countries.  Three years into my travels I also completed a masters Degree in “Revival History” from the Baptist Theological School of New England.

JS:  What moved you to come off of the road and pastor a church?

GL:  There are several factors that make up our transition a little over three years ago.  First and foremost was my continual burden for a solid, Bible preaching church in my hometown of Mount Juliet, TN.  Several years before we started Global Vision, I helped a young man plant a church about 15 miles away.  We were able to help a great deal financially from our book royalties.  I thought that this would relieve my burden.  However, it turns out that it only intensified it.  Another factor was my growing weariness with the stereotypical idea of the modern day evangelist.  While I do believe that God has gifted some men with the ability to handle travelling and hold multiple meetings; the Lord brought me to a place of absolute boredom with it.  We had averaged 700 services a year for many years.  Amazing doors were opened to us, but I was tired of seeing lives touched and then leaving those people behind.  I longed for a more close knit personal relationship with people.  I wanted to be a part of their spiritual progress and growth.  I have many friends in evangelism to this day, and I thank God for them.  But I was restless over the “seven suits and seven sermons” idea.  My heart was bursting at the seams to preach expositionally through whole books of the Bible.  I wanted to get involved in people’s lives.  If I might speak so boldly, I think we have over travelled the “evangelist” when in fact he is a New Testament church planter.

JS:  How do you enjoy being a church pastor?

GL:  Words could not describe the joy I have experienced in pastoring GVBC.  Indeed it has been more difficult than originally expected, but I thank God for the honor.  In my mind there is no comparison between evangelism and the pastorate.  Although I still get out a few times to preach through the months, I feel like my preaching has more of a platform.  It didn’t take very long at all for the Lord to flip the switch in my heart.  I will have to say that the transition took longer for my wife than myself.  I have received numerous opportunities to pastor elsewhere.  But I so dearly love the people of Global Vision Baptist Church. We have just crossed the 3 year mark and we are all growing together.

JS:  What is your greatest concern for the people that you pastor?

GL:  I never want them to get caught up in religious politics.  Our church is in no one group or camp, and by the grace of God it is going to stay that way.  We need no other approval other than the New Testament.

JS:  Looking back over your ministry, can you define any significant shifts in your thinking as regards fundamentalism? Are you a historic fundamentalist, a cultural fundamentalist, or do you define yourself in some other manner?

GL:  Wow, that’s a huge question.  I am certainly a historical fundamentalist.  I do believe however that the term has been greatly abused and misrepresented.  I find it distasteful that so many have the idea that their standards, preferences and traditions are to be engraved as “fundamentals” of the faith.  Our church stands uncompromisingly on the authority of God’s Word.  We let folks know right up front where we stand on Biblical doctrines.  It was a glorious day in my ministry when I realized I can be a fundamental Bible believer and not be a jerk about it!  I call it being bold without being belligerent.  I would have to say that I have changed my thinking in a number of areas.  All of us are products of our training.  We all, at some time or another, repeat things we have heard others say.  I used to say a lot of “Amen” statements because of the crowd I was with.  As a Pastor now, I would not have had myself in for a revival in my younger years.  Not because I was a heretic, but because I wasn’t gracious enough.  I have found that fighting over women in pants, going to movies, Southern Baptists, Billy Graham, 1611, BJU vs. PCC, ect is nothing more than a huge waste of everyone’s time.  I heard a message the other day that I had preached years ago and I made a few critical statements about screens on the wall in church.  Well, we have two and we use them in every service.  I think far too often our POSITION is right but our DISPOSITION is horridly wrong.  In a nutshell:  God has had to break me so I could learn to work with broken people.

JS:  What do you anticipate in the future for your ministry? For fundamentalism?

GL:  As far as GVBC is concerned, the Lord is doing great wonders in our midst.  We are still a very young church.  We have very little transfer growth.  We have mostly new converts and unchurched folks.  We don’t yet have our own building and we are currently in our 15th location.  We started with a handful and through much trial and error, we have grown to about 130 people.  I really sense God at work in our midst.  My heart is here and I pray that God will allow me to be faithful for many more years to come.

Now for Fundamentalism…..I’m not a prophet, but the “movement” needs a major revival.  Several new church planters have gone with the word “vintage.”  I like that tag a bit better.  The word these days has truly become an “f” word gives off a weird picture of a guy with a towel on his head or a Jim Jones group or even some ridiculous excuse for a Baptist church that has a non KJV Bible burning as a publicity stunt.  I am a fundamentalist in the doctrine in which I believe and in the stand that I take.  But I am in no one’s mold and will not be manipulated by the self appointed “popes” of the Independent Baptist movement.  I fear that the fundamental movement that we have known is afraid of the culture, and therefore is rapidly becoming a nice sermon illustration of “the good ole days.”

From Will Dudding:

WD:  From your experience in traveling around the country, what is your opinion of the current state of fundamentalism?

GL:  Because of my previous response to “Fundamentalism”, let me just say that:  It was a day of great liberation when I learned that God is able to use people whom I disagree with.  I think we have thrown a lot of godly people “under the bus” and we need to wake up and see that God is bigger than our little fundy-bubble world.

WD:  Do you see any signs of a major move of the younger generation of fundamentalists to a more biblical approach to ministry (IE: expository preaching, commitment to theology, true evangelism and not easy believe-ism, focus on making disciples, graciousness in fellowship and separation, etc…)? Or is this found only a in few isolated incidents like us?

GL:  That is a great question and the answer is a resounding, YES!  I believe that guys are beginning to see the major importance for life change in expository preaching.  For me, it has been the redirection of my entire ministry.  I also think that many are beginning to understand the importance of relationship evangelism and not just screen door foolishness.  The newspaper can quote all the numbers they want about salvations; I want to know whose lives are changing.  Discipleship has been embarrassingly overlooked and it seems that now many pastors are finding the right balance.  Sad to say that some young men have been treated like trash and have “thrown the baby out with the bath water” so to speak.  I know of dozens of men that have gone way out into left field of liberalism.  I certainly do not believe there is wisdom in that, but I do have a better understanding of why they leave.  Our movement has been marked by ego, harshness, secondary separation and flat out meanness all in the name of being filled with the Spirit.  In my travels I would say that across the board, my generation is seeing God do amazing things as we find who God made us to be and refuse to be crammed into the mold of an Alumni status.

WD:  When  someone says Independent Fundamental Baptist, what do you want to come to people’s minds? In other words, what should be the hallmarks that identify us?

GL:  I tell folks that indeed we are an Independent, Fundamental Baptist Church.  But the difference is simple: I didn’t start a church so that Independent, Fundamental Baptists would show up.  We are reaching brand new folks for Christ.  I’m not interested in another churches sheep.  I want to reach the lowest of the low and train them in the unchanging doctrines of God’s Word.  As far as the movement is concerned, I can’t make a identifiable assessment.  But in regards to Global Vision Baptist Church, we are known and want to continue to be known for 3 very simple things.

POWERFUL PREACHING

EXTRAVAGANT GENEROSITY

RADICAL COMPASSION

In conclusion I would like to say to those young men in fundamental circles considering the ministry…..  I can think of no higher calling than that of a New Testament Pastor.  I would strongly encourage you to press forward with the burden that God has placed within your heart.  Don’t let anyone rob you of your calling.  To stand before people and declare “Thus saith the LORD” is an honor that we are unworthy of.  We must take seriously the responsibility to be , as Spurrgeon said, ‘ a mouthpiece for deity.”  It is not about our personalities or giftedness.  The ministry is not about our education or the lack thereof.  It is all about the glory of God.  We must point men to HIM, and be through at once with man worship.  You are to be the unique person that God has designed you to be.  You get one shot at this fleeting life, so quit making excuses and jump head long into the work of reaching people for Christ.  I’m not much of anything, but if I can ever lend a helping hand or serve you in any way, do not hesitate to call our office at 615-613-2385.  May God bless you as your storm the gates of hell and show forth the majesty of Christ.

No Compromise On The Gospel

It seems that the Manhattan Declaration has somewhat in common with extreme fundamentalism.  Both obscure the gospel through moralism.  God and country seem to be getting much attention these days.  Sadly, though that is a good thing, God gets the short end of the stick so-to-speak.  The gospel gets muddled so that those who believe in justification by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone and those who believe in a sacrament or works based justification are all considered Christians.

While most fundamentalists would not do that, they do spend far too much time trying to change people from the outside in, rather than plainly proclaiming the gospel as God’s saving power that will change people from the inside out.

With this in mind, I decided to post this exposition of Galatians 1:1-10.

Here at Fundamentally Changed, we love Christian morality.  We love the USA.

More than that, we love the gospel, and will not compromise it for any of the other.

No Compromise

Gal 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father: To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Gal 1:1-5)

Wasting no time, Paul identifies himself. His identification, however, is more than just a name. He is not Paul, but an apostle as well. Neither is he an apostle of men, but an apostle of Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Jesus from the dead. In other words, Paul is stressing to the people that he was both called and sent of the Father and the Son. He was neither chosen by the vote of any assembly, nor sent by any man. Usually when one speaks in this manner the hearers should beware, because abusive leaders are characteristically quick to assert their authority while humble leaders are slow to do so. Authority is easily and quickly abused. Paul, however, is not of the sort to do so. In fact, Paul is somewhat reluctant and cautious when asserting his authority. This is evident in his letter to the Corinthians (2Cor 11:30;12:11). Paul would rather rejoice in having been made weak rather than in the fact that God had honored him with the gift and office of the apostolate. It is indeed true that Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ and the Father who sent Jesus. Luke’s account of Paul’s conversion confirms that truth (See Acts 9:1-22).¹

Why does Paul speak of himself in this manner? When one considers the epistle to the Galatians as a whole it is seen that Paul had preached the gospel to them and they had believed it. Sadly, there were those who corrupted the gospel and misled the people. While doing so, it seems that Paul’s authority, calling, commission, and status as an apostle was called into question. Some have come saying that angels had given them another gospel (See Gal 1:8,9), and others probably had asserted that they had more authority and knowledge than Paul, as they were from Jerusalem and were associated with the Jerusalem church.² Reluctant though he might have been, Paul was forced to present his credentials and explain his authority for the sake of the gospel.

Paul uses his normal greeting by expressing his desire that his readers receive grace and peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. It is necessary that we notice Paul’s stating that grace is not from the Father alone, but from Jesus Christ who is our Lord.³ He continues his greeting while laying a foundation for the whole of the letter by stating that grace and peace comes through the redemptive work of Jesus who died for our sins, and to deliver us from this present evil age. He makes a similar statement to Titus telling him that Jesus “gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Tit 2:14) Paul mentions Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection here both to show us that we receive grace and peace through Him as well as to establish from the beginning his own confidence that we are set free from sin by God through Christ’s redemptive work. This is a corrective to the legalism that was prevalent in the Galatian churches. We can only stand in awe of such inspired wisdom that enables a man to write an introduction that both wishes his readers well and establishes such a strong and firm theological foundation for his letter.

Paul states that the redemptive work of Christ was according to God’s will. This, too is a statement calculated to help the Galatians see that God’s way of salvation is through Jesus alone, and not through the works of the law. God planned for Jesus to come and die for our sins. Jesus Himself said as much when he said, “Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour: but for this cause came I unto this hour.” (Jn 12:27) Peter would later speak of Jesus’ life, ministry, and redemptive work as being God’s plan (See Acts 2:22-24;4:27,28).⁴ Paul is serious about expressing to the Galatians the fact that Jesus is God’s ordained way of salvation. If he can establish this truth from the beginning, he will be able to build on it for the purpose of destroying legalism.

While the final part of Paul’s greeting may seem to be simply an expression of praise, it is actually much, much more than that. While he says, “to whom be glory for ever and ever”, Paul is not only praising God, but also stating God’s plan and purpose in sending Christ to die and rise again for our redemption. God’s goal in all that He does is for His glory. In the letter to the Romans, Paul expresses awe and adoration when contemplating God’s glorious plan, saying, “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.” (Rom 11:33-36) Everything was made by God for Himself and for His glory.⁵

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. ⁹ As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. (Gal 1:6-10)

Without further ado Paul plunges into his message to the Galatians. Normally, Paul gives thanks for the ones to whom he writes. He does this even for the carnal Corinthians (See 1Cor 1:4-9). There are no thanks, however, for the Galatians. Neither does Paul commend them for any good in the lives. Instead, Paul immediately says, “I am SHOCKED at you!”

Shocked? Indeed. The Galatians had removed themselves from God the Father, the One who had called them into the grace of Christ.⁶ They had fallen away from the Father. Thinking to have improved themselves, they had actually deserted God. How is it that they had deserted the Father? The Father had called them into the grace of Christ, but they have now abandoned the truth of grace for a legalistic self-righteousness. They had traded gospels.

Paul’s complaint against the Galatians is that they had left the Father for another gospel- message of glad tidings.⁷ That message, however, was not gospel. There was simply no good news to be found it that message. As a matter of fact, it was only a perversion of the true gospel. The true gospel is about Christ, but this gospel is about self effort instead of Divine grace in the person of Christ. Remember, “the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (Jn 1:17) Thus the gospel of grace is the gospel of Christ. We cannot have gospel without Jesus and the grace of God given to us through Him. Sadly, there were those who were changing the good news into something that is of an opposite character than that of grace.⁸ The Galatians had fallen away from the Father by accepting this pseudo-gospel that rejected His grace.

Notice that Paul knew that the Galatians were neither experiencing and enjoying God’s grace, nor the new “gospel” that they had received. They Galatians were being troubled and agitated by those who changed the gospel of Christ. The gospel is the power of God to save those who believe (Rom 1:16), and it is the good news of God’s glorious happiness that He chooses to share with us (1Tim 1:11;Mt 25:21). To change this gospel of grace and glory is to take all of the joy out of it. It is no wonder that the Galatians were troubled. They now stood in doubt and fear about their souls. No longer were they standing securely in the grace of God⁹, but were dependent upon themselves for their acceptance before God. They were troubled indeed with heart trouble. They were unsettled, insecure, doubting, and struggling to conform to the demands that this pseudo-gospel placed upon them. By accepting this perversion of the good news, rejecting grace, and moving away from God the Father (Isn’t is precious to think of God as a caring Father instead of as a harsh taskmaster?) the Galatians had allowed these false teachers to agitate their once peaceful hearts- hearts that had once had peace because of the grace of God in Christ.

As we read verses eight and nine we see Paul pulling off the gloves to fight with bare fists. He simply states that he had warned them in the past of false teachers, and now warns them again. His warning is also a command: excommunicate the false teachers. Let them be anathema! They do not love the Lord Jesus, so they are accursed by God¹⁰, and should be removed from the fellowship of the church. Should they protest that they had seen a vision, or received their teachings from an angel, Paul emphatically states that they would still be accursed and should be excommunicated. He understands that Satan and his angels often disguise themselves as the angels of light and ministers of righteousness.¹¹ Paul demands that the Galatians not even have fellowhip with him if he changes and does not preach the gospel of grace. Salvation by grace is that important. Apart from grace there is no salvation; neither is there salvation apart from Jesus. (The writer recommends that the reader pause at this time and read John 14:1-6, Acts 4:12, and Eph 2:1-10.) It is for this reason that we should take a no compromise stance when it comes to grace and the gospel. To allow any tampering with the gospel of grace will be to allow the perversion of the gospel. When the gospel is perverted the souls of men are jeopardized.

Paul now asks, “am I now trying to please men, or am I trying to please God?” He is, of course, trying to convince men of the truth while seeking to please God by speaking truly. Sadly, it seems that the false teachers had claimed that Paul was a man-pleaser. He admits that he was in the past by saying, “if I still pleased men, I would not be the servant of Christ”.¹² His former life as a Pharisee was indeed a life of pleasing men. That had changed, however. Now Paul seeks to please God. One cannot charge him with being a men-pleaser, as he has just declared accursed those who preached contrary to grace. This would by no means please men. It would anger them instead.

This passage tells us much about the heart of the apostle as well as the heart of God. God simply is not pleased when the gospel is distorted in any manner. Whether it is by grace being used as an excuse to sin¹³, or by grace being replaced by works, God despises the perversion of the gospel. Too often we are prone to be men-pleasers. We want so very badly for people to think well of us. We desire to allow the world the opportunity to do as they please and still profess Christianity, so we lead them to believe that they can live as they please and still be saved despite warnings to the contrary¹⁴. On the other hand, we may seek to show our fellow Christians how much that we agree with them and impose on people rules and regulations that are either unBiblical or extra-Biblical, and tell them that they must observe these things if they are to please God. In so doing we are often found guilty of transgressing against grace. How truly sad this is. It is time for those who preach and teach the Word of God to sound a blast of the trumpet against false teaching and false teachers. It is time to stand firmly for the gospel of the grace of God which is designed to give glory to God. Let us accept and proclaim God’s grace in His Son Jesus Christ and preach the gospel.

Let there be NO COMPROMISE!

1See also 1Cor 15:9,10;2Cor 11:21-33;12:1-13

2We do not definitely know this, but can reasonably infer that something similar to that must have happened, because Paul emphasizes that he had a relationship with the apostles in Jerusalem although he was not dependent upon them for his theological knowledge (See Gal 1:15-24;2:1-10). In fact, having heard of Paul’s conversion to Christ, the Judaean churches glorified God because of him.

3See 1Pet 5:10 cf Jn 1:16,17 God is the God of all grace, but Grace came through Christ.

4Paul also notes that Jesus’ redemptive work fulfills the Scriptures. Cf Rom 1:1,2;1Cor 15:1-4

5See also Col 1:15-17;Rev 4:9-11. Also, notice Jesus’ words in Jn 12;27,28;13:31,32. Of special significance is John’s statement that our sins are forgiven for His name’s sake (1Jn 2:12).

6The Father calls us to the Son by the Spirit. See Gal 1:15;Jn 6:44;Mt 16:13-17;1Cor 12:1-3

7The gospel is glad tidings, or good news. See Lk 2:10,11;Rom 10:15

8 It seems to be a trivial matter to teach the Law and affirm works, but this does more damage than human reason can imagine. Not only does it mar and obscure the knowledge of grace, but it also removes Christ and all His blessings, and it completely overthrows the Gospel, as Paul says in this passage. The cause of this great evil is our flesh. Steeped in sins, it sees no way to extricate itself except by works. This is why it wants to live in the righteousnesses of the Law and to rest in trust in its own works. Therefore it knows nothing or nearly nothing about the doctrine of faith and grace, without which the conscience cannot find peace.

Luther, M. (1999, c1963). Vol. 26: Luther’s works, vol. 26 : Lectures on Galatians, 1535, Chapters 1-4 (J. J. Pelikan, H. C. Oswald & H. T. Lehmann, Ed.). Luther’s Works (26:vii-55). Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House.

9In Rom 5:1,2, Paul states that we stand in grace. Not only are we saved by grace through faith, but we are secure in that grace. Our very standing before God is “in grace”, not in works of our own.

10See Jn 3:19-21;1Cor 16:22

11 If he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. (2 Cor 11:4) Such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Cor 11:13-15)

12See Mt 6:24;Eph 6:5-8;Col 3:22-25;4:1

13See Jude 1:4

14See Mt 7:21-27;Gal 5:19-21;Heb 10:24-31

An Interesting Piece on The Manhattan Declaration And Fundamentalism

Do you think that fundamentalists blur the gospel and come near to replacing it with moralism?

Ben at Paleoevangelical thinks so, and notes that there is a parallel in the Manhattan Declaration.

Some Preliminary Thoughts About Miracles

First posted on Pastoral Musings.

Many years ago one of the fundamentals of the faith that the historic fundamentalists contended for was that Christ truly performed miracles. Sometime in the future I shall deal with this issue more in depth, the Lord willing. At this point I would simply like to point out a few things that should be considered about miracles in general.

1. Jesus Himself spoke of the miracles that He did as being real. (Jn 10:37,38;14:11-13) To deny miracles is to deny the words of Jesus. One must deny the truthfulness of Jesus’ statement. Of course, one could always enter into the higher critical mode and declare that those were words attributed to Jesus and not something He truly spoke. When we do that, we open up even another can of worms. The problem simply grows larger the harder one works to deny the miraculous.

2. To deny the miraculous is to deny much of the history of the book of Acts as well as the Gospels and even the teaching of some of the Pauline epistles. To top it off, one would also have to deny much of the content of the book of Revelation and of the Old Testament, too.

3. Of course, one would also have much to deny about the nature of God if they reject the supernatural. What kind of god is it that cannot/does not perform miracles? What kind of god is not supernatural?

4. Finally, one would have to be God to truly be able to state conclusively that miracles do not happen. They would have to be both omnipresent and omniscient to ever be able to truly make that statement. All of our experience deals with our short life. God is timeless and is not limited by time and space constraints. He knows all things, too. He alone is omniscient and omnipresent. We will never have enough knowledge to declare conclusively that miracles do not happen, or that they have never happened.

This leaves us with the necessity (if we are to be intellectually honest) of at least allowing for the possibility of miracles.

Just musing…

NC Church Burns Bibles On Halloween

A few weeks ago we posted about a North Carolina church that planned to burn Bibles and other Christian materials on Halloween.

I had hoped that the media coverage would have made them slink back into their cave like a member of the Taliban, but it seems to truly have taken place.

The Wall Street Journal has an article about this event and has titled it Burnt Offerings.

What irony!

You see, it was on October 31, 1517 that Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-Five Theses on the door of the church in Wittenberg. This act is marked as the official beginning of the Protestant Reformation. One of the hallmarks of the Reformation is the fact that the Scriptures were translated into the vulgar, or common, language. No longer was it locked up in Latin and inaccessible to the common man.

While we respect and love the King James Version we must say that the burning of Bibles is more in tune with Halloween than it is with Reformation Day and Reformation faith. There is more satanic movement behind the burning of Bibles than there is true, Biblical faith and principle.

As a Burnt Offering the burning of Bibles is more in line with the wicked act of king Jehoiakim instead of the spirit of righteous Jeremiah.

Let it thus be stated, then, that the Burnt Offering of Amazing Grace Baptist Church is unacceptable to God, and is probably akin to the strange/foreign fire of Nadab and Abihu.

Mohler on Separation from Heretics

No doubt the Bible speaks of both unity and separation. Often the case is oversimplified: fundamentalists emphasize separation too much while evangelicals emphasize unity too much. I think there are many exceptions to this, and whether one wants to be called a fundamentalist or evangelical is, honestly, irrelevant to me. I think any Christian and church should strive for a biblical balance between these two concepts. Does Dr. Mohler find that balance in his response here? Why or why not?

Church Still Works by Paul Chappell And Clayton Reed

Interesting interview here on Ed Stetzer’s blog.

Paul Chappell has teamed with Clayton Reed to write a book called Church Still Works.

If you’ve read it, give us your impression.

Fundamentalism Being Redefined?

I recently received a letter from my Bible College Chancellor that was sent to all the graduates of Golden State Baptist College and in the letter, concern was expressed about the redefinition of fundamentalism. The part of the letter that really got my attention was:

“Before our very eyes, fundamentalism is being redefined; and so many are buying into it hook, line and sinker. It shocks and horrifies me. So much of what we see in the name of fundamentalism and old-time religion today would have been fought by Lester Roloff, John Rice, Jack Hyles, Oliver B Greene, Harold Sightler, Lee Roberson, Tom Malone, Curtis Hudson and others like them. I am alarmed at the rapid decline of our churches and at the acceptance of the modern, user-friendly approach (which by the way, is bringing in the crowds, but will never preserve a nation).”

Several questions come to mind when I read this letter.
First – What does he mean by fundamentalism being redefined? If it’s what folks like us are trying to do on this blog, then I rejoice that an impact on those in hysteric fundamentalism is being made that causes them fear. But we don’t have big churches and Bible colleges, so I kinda doubt it. He mentioned the “user-friendly” church; is that what Fundamentalism is being redefined into? Can anyone point to where that is happening? Where is Rick Warrenism redefining fundamentalism? I guess you could look at TTU and Highland Park Baptist Church, but it’s already pretty obvious that they have totally defected from Fundamentalism.

Second – Is he making reference to the “young fundamentalist” movement that is emerging mostly among those who are in the GARBC, FBFI, BJU Maranatha and Northland circles? They are in such a minority in comparison to them and they are almost completely ignored.

Third – What does he mean by rapid decline of our churches? According to Paul Chappell’s latest book ‘Church Still Works’, Independent Baptist Churches are growing. Perhaps he’s referring to the West Coast Baptist College style of fundamentalism? They’re a little more tech savvy and a little less extreme than the “Hyles” stream which could very well constitute as being “user friendly”, especially when you use screens to project the lyrics of your hymns. *gasp*

What do you think this concern is really about?

A Fundamentalist Future?

Dr. Jeff Straub of Central Seminary in Minneapolis has a 4 part series now finished over at Sharper Iron on the future of fundamentalism.  He has some good things to say and his series is worth reading.  (Go read his series: part 1, part 2, part 3 and part 4)

Now, I’m a sucker for charts (is that bred into me from being raised a Baptist dispensational fundamentalist?).  And the series includes a really good one.  It is a taxonomy of Evangelicalism and Fundamentalism.  Per the chart most of us blogging here would be considered “New Image Fundamentalists”.  A few of us may be more at home currently, in the “Evangelical Right” or “Historic Fundamentalist” categories, I’m not sure.  I thought his description of “Hyper Fundamentalists” is pretty spot on.

What are your thoughts on this series and the chart in particular?  Should fundamentalism worry about its future?  Should we?

How The Doctrines of Grace Will Change Your Life

Romans 8:28-31
Introduction: This doctrine is one that is usually ignored by many preachers because of the objections that it raises in our carnal minds against the sovereignty of God in everything. However, when you submit your mind to scripture and let this truth sink deep into your being, you will find that there is a whole level of gratefulness, security, and wonder in salvation that you never knew before.

1. The Promise of His Purpose
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

A. Optimism in All Things
This text begins with confidence and ends with it – we know! This is certainty about God’s sovereignty over all things work together for the good. God seems to allow a lot of bad things happen that seem to have no purpose or no good outcome as a result. It could lead to despair and worry if you did not have the hope that you were in God’s loving gracious favor. Even if you believe you have been given grace to be saved, you still may doubt that all the things that happen in your life are for a good purpose. However, Paul tells us we can know for sure that all things, not most, some or a few things, but all of them work together for good.

B. The Objects of Goodness
This promise of all things working out for good is not for everyone. It is specifically made to one group of people: those who love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. The two descriptions are not two types of people; this was two ways of describing the same people. Those who love God are those who are “the called” according to His purpose.

I want you to see those two words “the called” and mark them in your Bible. There is a special kind of calling that happens to those who are believers. When you trusted Christ, you were called, beckoned, summoned by God to come to Him and you believed and came.

1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
Jude 1:1 Jude, the servant of Jesus Christ, and brother of James, to them that are sanctified by God the Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called:
1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.
1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.

Now, you might be thinking: “isn’t every one called to salvation? Doesn’t God call out to whosoever? Yes, he does and this is what is known as the general call. It is spoken of by Christ in Matthew 22:14 For many are called, but few are chosen.

The general call is necessary so that the chosen will respond to that call through what is known as “effectual calling”. This is the kind of calling being spoken of in these passages mentioned. It is the kind of sovereign calling of God that summons us out of darkness into light. When you believed, it was because you were being called to Christ and He made you willing to repent and come to Him.
It is no wonder that those who are ‘the called’ are those who love God! 1 John 4:19 We love him, because he first loved us.
This calling us unto salvation is according to His own purpose. The ultimate purpose of God is His own glory. We who are saved, were called to salvation with that purpose in mind.

2. The Predestination of His Purpose
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.

How did this calling take place? Why did God choose to call me and not someone else? On what basis did God make his choice to call us? The next two verses spell that out for us clearly. Paul begins at the very first step which takes you all the way back into eternity. Verse 29 tells us that they whom He called were those whom he did predestinate. Their calling was predestined. What is predestination? We will explore all of these terms. Keep going back down the chain and you will see that predestination was determined on the basis of foreknowledge. That is where it all began and it is where we will begin.

A. Foreknowledge – pro-gnosko: Pro is the antecedent that means ‘before’ in order and time. Gnosko is the Greek word for knowledge. God’s knowledge of those whom he would predestinate was knowledge beforehand. This is the most critical point to understand because there are two schools of thought on what “to foreknow” actually means.
a. The Arminian View – to know one’s decision to believe before hand and upon that basis, predestine to call and save that person. This is informational knowledge.
b. The Calvinist View – to know the person beforehand and upon that basis, predestinate, call and save that person. This is relational knowledge.

So which one is it? Why does it matter? It matters a great deal because it will affect the way you view everything! Let’s look at the implications of the first:

The Arminian View: If God foreknows your decision then His choosing of you is dependent upon you ultimately. This also compromises God’s independence and makes him dependent upon you for His choosing and not ultimately according to His purposes. This view also compromises God’s power since events in the future are foreseen independently from God’s decrees and it makes God have to construct His will around the events that He sees coming.
The other implication of this view is that it goes against what the Bible clearly teaches about man’s nature – dead, hostile, enmity, corrupt – because it keeps man’s will totally neutral and unaffected from original sin. It gives man’s free will liberty and power to choose against his own nature which the Bible clearly says he cannot. Because of this view of free-will; then evangelism tends to become a quest to manipulate men’s wills to simply make a decision instead of seeking for his regeneration. This view sees his decision as the precondition for regeneration.

The Calvinist View: Foreknowledge according to the Calvinist view is not knowledge of information, but knowledge of relationship and knowledge of predetermination. This idea of foreknowledge fits the biblical use of the word in the few passages where the word is used:

Acts 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
This verse teaches that God predetermined Jesus’ death on the cross, He didn’t foresee it.

Romans 11:2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew.
In speaking of the Jewish people, God has known His people beforehand, this is a knowledge of relationship that was predetermined in the eternal counsels of God.

1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.
So, those who are elect or chosen are chosen on the basis of God’s foreknowledge: predetermined relationship that He had with them before they were even created.

For further information on this idea, study the use of the word “ginosko” in the New Testament and you will see that it is almost always used in an intimate knowledge of someone. Matthew 1:25 And (Joseph) knew her (Mary) not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.
This doesn’t mean that Joseph didn’t know who Mary was; it means that they didn’t come together intimately as husband and wife.
We see this used in knowing and not knowing in: Galatians 4:8-9 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods. 9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

To summarize this then, foreknowledge is God’s predetermined intimate knowledge and relationship with His people before He ever created them. In God’s mind and heart, there have always been a people of God whom He has loved, and He has known them from eternity past. It is on this basis that they are chosen ‘elect’ and predestined to be conformed into the image of Christ and so on.
This view keeps God’s independence uncompromised – he chooses according to His own good will and pleasure and is bound to nobody’s decision but His own.
This view keeps God’s sovereignty uncompromised – he does not have to accommodate His will to the wills of His creatures who make decisions independently of His ultimate control.
This view makes salvation a truly free gift of grace since there was no preconditions to whom God would give it. This makes man completely and utterly dependent upon God for every aspect of His salvation, even his faith to accept God’s gift. This view does not compromise man’s free will either as some would contend because man is not forced to believe against his desires, God changes his desires so that man then freely chooses. (And God has the right and the ability to change those desires without man’s permission – if He needed permission, man’s opposite desire would always say no.)

B. Election
In our text, the word election is not stated. He goes from foreknowledge to predestination without mentioning election. It would be like mentioning a baseball player running from first base to home plate without mentioning second or third base since it’s already common knowledge that you’d have to pass those bases in order to get to home base. But we can fill in the blank by using 1 Peter 1:2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.
People are chosen by God for salvation on the sole basis of God’s pre-knowledge of them. There is no other reason given. This is why it is called “unconditional election” because the only condition for our election is God’s free will and gracious mysterious sovereign purposes that are past finding out.

This is seen clearly in the following text:
Ephesians 1:3-6 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: 4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: 5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, 6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Predestination is based on election which is based on foreknowledge. We have been chosen for predestination and predestination is God’s plan for the individual which includes justification, sanctification and glorification.

Ephesians 1:9-12 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: 10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him: 11 ¶ In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

When you start asking yourself: “why me? Why not him/her?” the only answer you can have biblically is that it was according to His good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself who works all things after the counsel of his own will. It is not for you to know, it is for you to accept and bow down in humble gratefulness that God loved you in this special “redeeming love” before the foundation of the world.
Some try to say that election isn’t being chosen for salvation, but for “blessings”. That is half true, because the “blessings” that are being spoken of include salvation! This text could not make it more clear:

2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Perhaps you’re thinking to yourself – “this isn’t fair! Everyone should have the right to choose for himself first! It’s not fair that God makes that decision first. Doesn’t that make my decision to trust Christ not a decision at all?” When your corrupt, autonomous, independent sinful mind starts to think these thoughts which will naturally happen to all of us, God has an answer to your objections:

Romans 9:9-15 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sara shall have a son. 10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac; 11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) 12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger. 13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. 14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
The charge of God being unfair is like the pot calling the tea kettle black. All human beings deserve nothing but hell! That would be fair. So, who are you to questions God’s mercy if He chooses to show it to only a few to whom He has decided to show it? That’s the point of this passage. God has the freedom and right to show compassion on whomsoever He chooses and is not under obligation to show it to anyone else.

Romans 9:19-23 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
So the next objection was anticipated: then if God has already chosen, doesn’t that make my choice null and void? How could my choice really be mine? And if God has chosen not to save others, then how can He find fault in their unbelief since it was predetermined?
To this question the Apostle Paul gives a reply which is even more offensive and inflaming! Essentially his answer to the question is not to explain it so it will be reasonable to you; his answer is “Shut your mouth! Who do you think you are to question God’s purposes?”

Then in verse 22 he gives a hypothetical situation and asks “what would you think of God if this were the case?”: 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Would this be unfair, unjust and cruel if God had predetermined to make his glory known by showing grace to those whom he has before prepared for glory by contrasting his grace against the backdrop of His wrath against those whose rebellion he has put up with for the sole purpose of making his power known in their destruction? Does God reserve the right to do this for His own purposes? The rhetorical answer to this question is “of course, now shut up and bow down to His sovereign majesty!”

C. Predestination
So, now that we’ve dealt with foreknowledge and election, what were we elected for? We were elected for predestination: Ephesians 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.
Ephesians 1:11-14 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: 12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. 13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

Predestination is the word in Greek – pro (before) orizo (horizon, boundary). These are the horizons or boundaries that God has set in place beforehand for certain individuals whom He has chosen according to His foreknowledge of them. What are the boundaries that are set for us? To be adopted as children by Jesus Christ; to obtain an inheritance; to be a praise of His glory; to trust in Christ; to be sealed with the Holy Spirit and finally in our text – to be conformed to the image of His Son so that Christ can be first in rank among many brethren!

D. Effectual Calling
Let’s go back to our text in Romans. What is the next step in God’s grace?

30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called:
Remember we began with this idea of calling. This is a special, individual call that beckons or summons someone to faith. This is called effectual calling, because this call doesn’t fail to bring a person to faith in Christ. This is the calling that raises the spiritually dead to spiritual life. This is regeneration – being born again! John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Those who receive Christ and believe on His name are children of God and they are those whom have been born of God, not of their own will or their own pedigree. God supernaturally gives birth to them.

E. Justification
and whom he called, them he also justified:.
When a person has been called to faith in Christ, the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them as their own righteousness and in God’s justice, He can justify them and declare them as righteous as if they had never sinned. This is called forensic justification – the legal declaration of one’s righteousness based on the merits of another – the perfect substitute, Jesus Christ. This is the link in the chain where most of us start in our understanding. We were saved at this point, but had no idea of all that God did to make it happen for us from the foundation of the world.

F. Glorification
and whom he justified, them he also glorified
This is an amazing phrase! Those whom he justified (aorist active indicative) he also glorified (aorist active indicative). Glorification isn’t something that happens until we get to heaven and shed this mortality. However, in God’s economy it is a work that has already begun and is finished from His view. If you’re justified you are already glorified in God’s eyes. You’re just as saved as if you were already in heaven. This is how Paul could say: Ephesians 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Your glorification has already occurred in God’s perception of reality!

3. The Confidence of His Purpose
31 What shall we then say to these things?
So, what should our response be to these things? That’s not fair? How dishonoring to God such a response is when God’s people fail to understand and appreciate their election. Rather your correct response to this doctrine should be and must be this: If God be for us, who can be against us?

Confidence in God! This doctrine should cause you to trust Him more and make you bolder than ever in your Christian walk. This doctrine should bring you to your knees in humble gratitude for your election. It should also cause you to bless the Lord in a new freshness of worship that you were never able to give to Him before.

This doctrine will change the way you look at everything. You will see everything from a Theo-centric point of view if you really get it. God becomes the blazing center of everything. You will be able to sing with the angels “Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty, the whole earth is full of His Glory!” because you will see that this is the greatest good and chief end of all creation – to give God glory in one way or another as He has predetermined it should. You will no longer see yourself as the chief object of salvation. Instead, you will see yourself as a means to a greater end – the exaltation of Jesus Christ by your participation in a greater plan than you ever imagined you were a part of. You will no longer see the purpose of the world as God trying to fix the mess that Adam made, but God pursing His own glorification by use of everything including evil.

This doctrine will change the way you look at your sanctification – you will no longer be striving to appease God or earn His good favor by your obedience and compliance with His Word. Instead, you will see sanctification as a pursuit to know and enjoy God as you have been known and loved all along.

This doctrine will change the way you look at your mission of evangelism – you will no longer be trying to rescue people from hell by doing anything that will cause their will to concede to the gospel message. You will be seeking for men’s new birth by means of the gospel so men can know and enjoy God in this life and the next, as they have always been known and loved by God as His elect. Being rescued from hell is just an added benefit. The real benefit is that they will come to know God!

Thank God for the recovery of this doctrine by the reformers. I hope that men will have the guts to stand up and proclaim these truths this Reformation Day!