A few days ago, a group of local pastors were asked to review some material that dealt with the doctrine of original sin.  The material in question stated that “the dogma of original sin is difficult to find in the Scripture.”  Since this is my blog, let me say that I think that statement to be absurd and that original sin is definitely, clearly and pervasively taught in the Scriptures!  When we speak of original sin we do not refer to the sin that Adam and Eve committed.  We are, however, talking about the result of that first sin.  Original sin refers to our sinful condition, from which actual sins flow.  We sin because we are sinners; we are not sinners because we sin.  We sin because, since the fall, it is the nature of human beings to be drawn to sin and away from righteousness.  David says that he was born in sin, and in sin he was conceived (Ps.  51:5).  The Bible teaches that not only are we persons from the moment of conception, but we are sinful persons.  Read the first three chapters of Romans and concentrate on 3:10-18 and it becomes evident that Paul’s assessment of humanity is far different than most starry-eyed optimist preachers of our day.  Romans 5:12 makes it clear that “all sinned” in Adam and that all who believe are made alive in Christ.  Original sin and the total depravity of mankind is a Biblical truth.  In the next post I will talk a little about total depravity and what it means.

People sometimes ask me, “If you were not a Baptist, what would you be?”  My answer is usually, “Ashamed!”  But seriously, if I were not a Baptist I would probably be a Presbyterian.  The reason for that would be because I believe that the orthodox among the Presbyterians honestly seek to honor and obey God’s Word.  One of my best friends in the world is a Presbyterian pastor in a suburb of Sydney, Australia.  I first met Dr Arthur Adams on a mission trip to the Fiji Islands where he served as the Dean of Theology at the Fiji College of Theology.  Now he is the Pastor of the Presbyterian Reformed Church in Epping, New South Wales.  Australia is a beautiful country but is sorely lacking in solid, evangelical churches that proclaim the Bible as God’s inerrant, infallible word.  The PRC of Epping is one of those that do.  Like the Psalmist I can say that “I am a companion of all those who fear You, who keep your precepts.” (Ps 119:63).  Pray for Arthur Adams and the work of the PRC in Epping and stop by their website here and say:  ”G’Day!”

Dr John Piper on the necessity of the gospel, good stuff!

The prevailing theological model of our day is pragmatism.  Simply put, theological pragmatism means “if it works it must be right.”  Or even more dangerous “if it works it must be of God.”  More than thirty years ago, as a young man in Bible College, I remember how scandalized I and some of my friends were by things that happened at a church in Nashville, where some of them interned for the summer in the bus ministry.  They came back and told everyone they had witnessed a bus captain who promised “to eat a live goldfish” if he got nine decisions off the bus that morning!  That kind of behavior is justified by the decisions that are produced.  Some years ago a prominent Baptist pastor had one of the first “Super Bowl” parties at his mega church.  He preached a sermon during half time and his deacons acted as ushers passing out popcorn and peanuts to the crowd.   When some were critical of his actions his reply was simply, “I had 15 decisions that night; how many did you have?  In other words, the end justifies the means and these examples pale in comparison to what is being done in many churches today.  In my opinion the driving force behind these kinds of methods is weak theology.  If you believe that it is up to you to convince people to come to Christ then by all means you must do whatever you can to manipulate them into “making a decision.”  It should be noted however, that over the course of time it has been clearly demonstrated in the Southern Baptist Convention that the overwhelming majority of these “decisions” are totally worthless at best and exceedingly dangerous at worst.  We have 16 million members on our church rolls and less than 25% of that number that could be found by the FBI, much less the pastor!  If on the other hand, you believe that “…salvation belongs to the Lord” (Jonah 2:9); and that the words of Jesus in John 6:37and 44 are true then you can trust in the power of the gospel to convert sinners without resorting to questionable methods.  Please don’t misunderstand me I believe with all my heart that we have a part in God’s plan of bringing sinners to Himself.  Our part is to proclaim the gospel and pray for sinners.  But God’s part is to “…convince them of sin and righteousness and judgment to come.”  In Numbers 20 there is an interesting story that illustrates my point.  Moses is told by God to speak to a rock at a place called Meribah and God promises to bring water from the rock.  Instead, Moses struck the rock in anger.  The Bible records that “…water came out abundantly…” and so to everyone watching God honored this method.  It worked therefore it must be right and it must be of God.  But we read in verse 12 that this incident cost Moses and Aaron entrance into the Promised Land.  They had failed to obey the word of God and forfeited the blessing.  God not only ordains the end He also ordains the means.  Let us strive to honor our sovereign God in all that we do, so that all the glory may go to Him.

Toward the end of Luke’s version of Jesus’ famous sermon he records these words of Christ: “Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do what I tell you” (ESV).  We fail to understand the meaning here if we do not understand that repeating a person’s name is a Hebrew expression of intimacy.  We note this several times in the Scriptures (Genesis 22; Exodus 3; 1 Samuel 3).  Also, in the New Testament when Jesus comforted Martha, when he warned Peter; and when He wept over Jerusalem-in each case the word is repeated for intimacy’s sake (Matthew 23; Luke 10; 22:31).  Some pretend to have a deep relationship with Christ, but this claim is denied by their failure to obey His commandments.  Jesus said plainly in John 14:15: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”  God does not accept those who merely hear.  He requires obedience.  It is not just a decision for Christ that admits one to eternal glory.  God also demands a commitment to submit to the Lordship of Christ and obedience to His demands.

We live in a culture that is materialistic to an astonishing degree.  I am constantly amazed,  and disgusted at the lengths people will go to in order to gain more “stuff.”  A popular bumper sticker a few years ago summed up this hedonistic lifestyle: “The one who dies with the most stuff wins.”  But the Bible constantly warns us about the dangers of trying to serve God and money.  Both the Old and New Testament are replete with admonitions to avoid this danger.  In my reading this morning I came across Proverbs 13:8 which says in the ESV: “The ransom of a man’s life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat.”  Very simply that verse refers to a kidnaping where a rich man could pay the ransom and be freed, but a poor man would never have to deal with the scenario because no one would kidnap him to start with.  What would be the point?  Maybe the answer to our materialism is as simple as well: want less!  A man once told me that not wanting something is, in many ways, better than having it.  If I have my heart set on a certain kind of car and finally obtain it then I have to worry about wrecking it, or someone stealing it or opening a car door into it at the mall.  But if I am content with the car I have (something that has been exceedingly difficult for me) then I don’t have all that worry.  The apostle Paul had a good word for us in Phil 4:11, “…I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.”

One of the most prolific readers that I know anything about is Dr Albert Mohler, President of  The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.  Dr Mohler has literally thousands of books in his personal library and by most accounts reads a book a day!  It is always interesting to know what such a man is reading and several times a year he gives suggestions for those who read his blog.  Check out what he recommends for summer reading here.

Last week I posted a video from Dr John Piper on the “prosperity gospel” and his opinion of it.  If you have watched the clip you know that he is not impressed with it.  Most Baptists are quick to condemn the charisimatics for their holding to this doctrine but many of us hold it “on the cheap.”  By that I mean we would not agree with the worst of the purveyors of this drivel, like Creflo Dollar, Benny Hinn or Joel Osteen but we will take it if we can slide it in the back door.  For instance, we will buy in to The Prayer of Jabez, which, in my opinion,  is nothing more than the prosperity gospel in a Baptist disguise.  Also, we are known for telling people that if they will tithe God will always take care of them and give them more money than if they did not.  While I certainly believe that every Christian should support their local church and other Christian organizations we should do so not out of any hope of return but because we love God and desire to be obedient to Him in all things, including the matter of sacrificial giving.  The promises of a return for those who give are general principles that must always be understood to operate within the confines of God’s will for our lives.  If you knew that God would let you go bankrupt if you gave to His church but also knew that He commands giving, would you give anyway?  One of our most famous Southern Baptists missionaries, Lottie Moon, starved to death because she gave away her own food.  According to many Christians today, God would never let something like that happen, but He did.

As I prepare a funeral message for a good friend who died suddenly last week I was reminded of the brevity of our lives and of the necessity of putting all our trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ.  He not only forgives all my sins but God also imputes all of His righteousness to my account.  Dr John Piper talks about this in this video.

On Sunday morning, May 31, 2009, Dr George Tiller was murdered in cold blood while serving as an usher at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Wichita, Kansas.  Dr Tiller has become infamous for his willingness to perform late term abortions.  Read what Dr Albert Mohler has to say about this heinous crime in this article.