The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Don't Faint or Anything

2007-05-26T08:24:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I have decided to post again. I'm not promising anything but hopefully this will be th first of many to come. (ha) I have decided to broaden the scope this blog to include more than just churchy type of issues. So we shall see what happens.

Today my daughter Brittany graduates from high school. This is definitely one of those events which falls under the category of bittersweet. While I am very proud and am l0oking forward to seeing what the future will bring into her life, I can't help but wonder where the years have gone. With today also comes the realization that in less than three months she will be packing her bags and heading off to Western Kentucky University to start a brand new phase of life, one that will bring a new level of independence and require a greater level of responsibility. I hope we have prepared her and I'm thankful for the privilege that God gave me when He brought her into our lives and allowed me to be her dad.

Below I have added a video that we had made for this occasion. Special thanks to Andy for putting it together. (I think he did a pretty good job)

I Bet I Get a Lot of Comments for This

2006-07-24T17:49:00.000-07:00

Ok,ok, I am back. This is going to short. I hope to (no promises) have something a bit longer and more substantive later this week. Here Goes

How many Fundamentalists does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

None, the church split over whether to use 60 or 100 watt bulbs.

Feel free to add your own twists.

Flock of Fundies

2006-06-25T21:03:00.000-07:00

I leave tomorrow morning for the annual IFCA International Convention in Lousivlle KY. I will have a report when I return.

Lazy Post

2006-06-24T19:13:00.000-07:00

So is what follows below a long overdue call to biblical unity or is it an example of self righteous naivette. I find myself vasilating. If only it were so simple.

Amalgamate

(From Five Iron Frenzy's Upbeats and Beatdowns)

You've got a cause now I heard you braggin'

Always the fastest one on the bandwagon

So sit down and I'll tell you What I'm feeling, What I'm feeling

For lack of better words you are stealing, you are stealing

all of my joy away from me. Whatever happened to our unity

We cut ourselves our own limbs we severed

It's time for us to pull together and stand, as one

all eyes are pointing towrds the Son

Drop your fists now, what you resent

Let's not forget who we represent

and fall to our knees in unity.

Another day now, another doctrine Another monkey wrench in the system

Some folks kneelin', some just listen Some fallin' out of the pews from twistin'

I don't care kids, how you do it,

united we stand and we'll pull through it

All were dead once, all enslaved,

now pull together 'cause we've all been saved

We cut ourselves our own limbs we severed
It's time for us to pull together and stand, as one
all eyes are pointing towrds the Son
Drop your fists now, what you resent
Let's not forget who we represent
and fall to our knees in unity.

The only Jesus the world's gonna see, is the Jesus in you and me

So pick up your cross and stop your swiningin'

stop and look at the stink you're bringin, 'to this body with you fightin'

You bust more knuckles than the wrong's your rightin'

What's important is where we relate, it's the meaning of the word Amalgamate

Reflections on Father's Day

2006-06-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

About a month ago (Mother's Day actually) my wife was talking to her mother on the phone. She had visited us a couple of weeks earlier and when she returned to California my wife had her take our Mother's Day present for my mom with her (thus saving on costly postage). Well she had forgotten to give it to her and so my wife was teasing her and reminded her to not forget the Father's Day gift we had sent for her dad. As I was listening to this, for a brief second I thought, "I wonder what we should get my dad for Father's Day?" Then I remembered, you don't get people in heaven Father's Day gifts.

The fact is that since my dad passed away a year ago January I miss him more than I thought I would. He was a unique man and a unique father. I used to think that he and I were polar opposites. There were times I didn't always appreciate his quirky sense of humor (his seeming inability to be embarrassed) and frequent opinions(which irritatingly almost always turned out to be right) yet I always had this great desire to please him. I wasn't always sure how well he and I related to each other but I was always proud of him.

The older I get the more I find myself emmulating him. I have discovered the joy that comes from doing some oddball thing in a semi-public place and watching your kids wish they could seap into the floor. As I followed his footsteps into ministry I began to find his insights far less irritating and much more insightful. I remember him introducing me to John MacArthur and how pleased he was to tell him that I was a pastor too. I know how much I enjoy meeting people that knew him and telling them that I am his son.

One of my favorite memories of my dad took place the last summer we lived in Santa Rosa. The thing is, we didn't have any idea at the time that we would be moving in about 9 months. We were staying at a lake with my parents and my sister's family. Every morning my dad and I got up early and went fishing out on the lake in a neighbor's small boat. During the entire week we caught a sum total of about three fish (he caught them all) and I think I had maybe one bite the entire time. So basically it was my dad and me on a quiet lake talking our way though the cool mornings. I don't remember one single thing we talked about but I do remember how cool it was to be there with him. The thing is, that week was the first time I really started to notice that he was getting older. He got tired on the walk to and from the boat and he needed my help getting in and out. It was really the first time that I began to realize that he might not always be here. When we moved here I really wanted him to come out and help me. I thought it would be good for both of us because I realized how much we had come to understand each other. I still feel bad that he and I never got that chance.

So this Father's Day I have found myself a bit meloncholy but I am thankful that I have had a dad that I miss so much. My prayer is that in emmulating him my own sons will one day want to do the same.

That Hymn Thing

2006-06-10T21:30:00.000-07:00

This is a post that has been brewing for some time now. If you look over at my sidebar you will notice that one of my links leads to the official web site of IFCA International. This is a fellowship of churches and believers to which I and the church I pastor are members. My father was also a member and for three years served as its president. His father was one of its early members and both of the churches that they pastored for years were members. It has a rich heritage of standing for the truth and a zeal for the Word of God.

Since accepting the call to be the Pastor Teacher of a local church my appreciation for the fellowship and accountability a body such as this provides has grown immensely. I have found myself encouraging some of my friends who are involved in ministry to join and have waxed eloquent as to its virtues. One of the hesitations that some of these friends have mentioned to me is their perception that the IFCA is a movement of mostly grumpy old men who spend the majority of their time criticizing other Christians and when approached with any idea or concept that was formed after, oh say 1955, makes them think that they have caught a whiff of the burning tire of error. (I stole that line from Garison Keillor). I have assured them that such is not the case, that these stereotypes are unfair and are not based on objective truth.

Imagine my chagrin then as I opened the March/April edition of the Voice Magazine (the official publication of IFCA International) and read an article entitled The Value of the Hymnal. Now, I was not in the least bothered by the title of the article. As you will note from my last post, I have a deep appreciation for hymns. I think if and when churches choose to totally disregard these songs from our past they do so at a great disservice to themselves. As I started reading I was hoping to find an articulate defense of gems such as And Can it Be and How Great Thou Art along with a call for balance in utilizing the best of both the old and the new in our worship. Instead I was met with the same tire arguments waged in the past in a battle that never needed to be fought in the first place.

Here are some of the points made by the author:
The rejection of the hymnal has all but eliminated the singing of parts in church music. Ok, and that is a problem because? First of all I sing parts to most contemporary songs and I didn?t realize that four part harmony was a sign of spiritual health.

Abandonment of the hymnal makes it more, not less, difficult to clarify the message of Evangelicalism. Huh? In the article he never really goes on to say why or how.

Removing the hymnal increases the profanation and deterioration of beauty and order in the church. I personally can't think of anything more profane than I Stand in Awe of You.

Because the constant use of contemporary music may (italics mine) well arise from questionable motives. Um, couldn?t the same be said for the constant use of traditional music?

Here is my point. As Fundamentalists we need to argue for that which is truely fundamental otherwise we end up looking silly. I realize that my tone here might seem a bit sarcastic but this stuff really gets to me. I find it very interesting that in the Psalms God encourages us to use a variety of modes and instruments in our musical worship. In the book of I Timothy when Paul instructed a young pastor as to how the church ought to conduct itself he did not have much of anything to say about styles and forms. Evidently there is freedom when it comes to that. I can remember at a conference that I attended a number of years ago that the leader asked us how most people would judge whether or not they have been in an affective worship service. He then asked how we thought God would judge whether or not a worship service had been effective. When it comes to this issue we all have to remember what is truly fundamental. I haven?t come to be pleased or even moved but rather I have come to exalt Him.

As Promised Earlier ...

2006-06-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Things about me which confirm my membership in the Fundamenalist for Life Club:

I have a Scofield Reference Bible on a prominent place on my desk.

I generally keep my hair cut over my ears.

I wear a suit and tie when I preach on Sunday mornings.

If they want my hymnbook they will have to pry it from my cold dead hand.

I always sing "Amen" at the end of the Doxology.

I have never preached a sermom through dance or in costume.

I don't clap after someone sings a solo in church (little kids excepted).

Demon alcohol has never crossed these lips.

Or his equally evil cousin tobbaco

Things about me that could get me kicked out of the Fundamentalist for Life Club:

I don't actually use the Scofield Reference Bible (it was my grandfathers).

My church has drums and I have even been known to play them from time to time.

I think the KJV only folks are a bit off their collective rockers.

I generally lose the coat and tie for Sunday evening services.

I occasionally visit the cinema.

As I post this I am listening to Barenaked Ladies ("If I had a million dollars we wouldn't have to eat Kraft Dinner....)

From time to time I will engage in civil conversation with the local United Methodist Pastor.

I am not totally convinced that the universe is less than 10,000 years old (that one is bound to ruffle some feathers assuming of course that anyone reads this)

And most shocking of all; I sometimes pray with my eyes open.

Back by Popular Demand

2006-05-31T18:51:00.000-07:00

Ok, I admit that I have been a terrible, terrible blogger. I could make up excuses like that I have been extremely busy (which I have), or that my computer burst into flames (which it didn't) but the truth of the matter is that I just haven't been feeling particularly inspired or motivated to blog. So the question is do I just give it up or do I dedicate myself to better living through blogging? - dramatic pause- I will give it one more try. I will endeavor to submit at least one post per week unless I am gone or my computer bursts into flames. So look for the first of these posts to appear tomorrow evening.

On a More Serious Note

2006-04-11T20:29:00.000-07:00

I have noticed something as I have done a bit of surfing through the blogeshere. There appear to be a lot of blogs written by young, apparently very earnest and sincere guys. Most of them are pretty young (my age and younger which makes sense considering we are talking about cyberspace) and they are writing from what appears to be a primarily Reform perspective. A lot of them have been strongly influenced by the ministries of men like John Piper and R. C. Spoul. These men in turn have been strongly influenced by the the Reformers (Martin Luther and probably to a greater extent John Calvin) and also Puritan writers and preachers (the creme-de-la-creme being Jonathan Edwards). I can understand the attraction. Piper and Sproul and others like them are intelligent, articulate, and godly teachers and apologists. I have benefitted from reading them and am glad there are men like them out there. In turn I believe we also owe a lot to the theological heavyweights of the past.

Having said this, I do have some concerns. I can't help but wonder if at times some of the appeal of this particular theological bent is as much intellectual as it is spirtual. It involves a lot of complicated arguements and deep thought. Sometimes I wonder if the simplicity of the Gospel gets obscured in all the scholarly jargon. There also at times appears to be a bit of spiritual smugness, a sense in which some of these well meaning young scholars think they have discovered a sphere of truth that the rest of us haven't been insightful enough to find. A final concern is that it seems that they have a huge dependence on their human mentors. When I read them it appears they quote Edwards more than they quote the Apostle Paul.

In 2 Timothy 2:15 it say, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth." Later in chapter 3 verses 16 and 17 it says "All Scripture is inpired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness so that the man of God may be adaquately equipped for every good work." As we study and seek God's truth, by all means let's see what insights we can glean from godly and wise men both past and present but lets not neglect to rely even more on what the Scripture simply says for itself .

You Might Be a Fundamentalist if....

2006-04-10T17:34:00.000-07:00

With apologies to Jeff Foxworthy (this is just for fun so please don't get all defensive)

1. You refer to the NIV as the Nearly Inspired Version.

2. You not only know what flannelgraph is but can identify it by its smell.

3. You're afraid that listening to the Gaithers might appeal to your flesh.

4. You just polished off two long johns and four cups of coffee in the pre-Sunday Scool fellowship time but you don't drink or smoke because your body is the temple of the the Holy Spirit.

5. You think your girlfriend's new coulots make her look hot.

6. You favorite author is Jack Chick.

7. Your mental image of Jesus has Him wearing a white robe with a blue sash.

8. You think John MacArthur is just too darn liberal.

9. Your upset by the fact that I just said darn.

10. You look for hidden 666 symbols in bar codes when you pick up products at the store.

Feel free to add your own in the comments log.

I Promise to Be a Better Blogger

2006-04-10T17:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, ok.... I know I haven't posted in ages but since my readership is able to be counted on one hand it isn't like I have been disappointing too many people. I will do better.

What's in a Name?

2006-02-23T16:43:00.000-08:00

I guess the big question is why start a blog if you are never going to post? Good question. The answer is that the road to Sheol is paved with good intentions and I didn't plan on a combination of various church needs coinciding with a double bout of stomach flu hitting our family unit. I know, I know, excuses are like armpits everyone has them...
Having given a mission statement, I feel that a brief explanation of the blog title is appropriate. So here goes... I grew up in the home of a pastor who grew up in the home of a pastor. Both my father and grandfather were godly men for whom I have the highest respect and admiration. My grandfather died when I was 6 and I wish I could have known him longer and better. I lost my dad a little over a year ago and miss him everyday. Trust me, his wisdom and counsel would come in real handy these days. Because of this background I grew up sitting in a front row seat for the ecclesiastical goings on over the last 30 years. Our church was definitely on the conservative side but not to the extreme. But some of the other churches and pastors that we rubbed shoulders with were a bit more, oh let's say, stringent in their approach to how Christianity ought to be carried out in church and everyday life. Movies? (a fairly big issue in our house) NO WAY!!!! Rock and Roll music? BEWARE THE DEVIL BEAT!!! Guitars in the sanctuary? WORDLY ENTERTAINMENT!!! The King James Bible? IF IT WAS GOOD ENOUGH FOR PAUL IT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!!! (OK I never actually heard anyone say that but you get the drift). Stylish clothes? NEVER!!! (Ok, once again I never heard any of them condemn stylish clothing but they did seem to go to great lengths to avoid them.)
The problem was that those with whom I found myself most closely identified in regards to theology and doctrine seemed to be lacking some major components of what seems to be basic Christian practice: things such as love, compassion, humility and joy. Again let me state, I am not talking about my dad. He demonstrated all those things in abundance. Also, not everything about these guys was bad. They had a love for the truth and zeal for evangelism and I saw some great things. But I also saw combativeness dressed up as contending for the truth. I saw spiritual pride wrapped up in biblical separation. I saw racism camouflaged as common sense. I saw my youth pastor pushing his hair behind his ears as he was getting off the bus at a church regional event to give it the appearance of not actually covering his ears (for thus sayeth the Lord: A mans heart shall thus be judged by the width of skin which shall appear over his ears) All of these things were being done in the name of Fundamentalism to help ward off the encroachment of Liberalism.
I found myself becoming very uncomfortable with carrying the label Fundamentalist. Add to that what the Muslims were doing to the term and I was pretty much in full flight from it. I went to Bible School. Not the one everyone else went to, but to one that some would have considered a bit suspect. I found the wonderful world of the Evangelicals. Thought I had found my true brethren. Good theology (mostly) without all the attitude, lots of friends and plenty of heartfelt discussion. I began my campaign for those I knew and loved to cast off the shackles and join in. But alas, youthful dreams get shattered and the real world and starkness of ministry brought about some new perspectives and a new appreciation for my spiritual roots.
Just as in my childhood days when the term Fundamentalist began to stray from its roots to stand for something it shouldn't have, today the term Evangelical has lost any meaning at all. So a guy might not think all the Bible is inspired, he's still an Evangelical. You're not sure Jesus is the only way to eternal life? No problem, your still an Evangelical. Hey I know what... let's all sign an agreement that says even though you deify Mary, recrucify Christ everyday, and say I have to have a priest absolve me, we should all just get along and pretend none of that matters.
Therefore my cause has changed. Let's take Fundamentalism back! At least let's make an attempt at exposing that which is wrong and at times ridiculous and bring back to the forefront that which is right and good about Fundamentalism. Reluctant though I may be, I am what I am, a fundamentalist. (See, that wasn't so hard!)

Should you choose to accept this mission...

2006-02-11T15:55:00.000-08:00

The purpose of this blog will be to define, defend and at times deride the theology and practice of the contemporary Fundamentalist/Dispensationalist Movement by means of reminiscence, observation, Biblical scrutiny, discussion, humor, self-deprecation and the occasional rant. If I can't do that maybe I'll just write about baseball.

Hello?...Is this thing on?

2006-02-06T18:31:00.000-08:00

Ok, here goes nothing.