My recent posts reminded me of the story of Marcus & Narcissa Whitman, missionaries to Walla Walla, WA in the 1840s. Some have been critical of their mission and methods. It seems to me their critics look at their efforts from the ‘wisdom’ and comfort of distance – a distance in years, the comfort of modern society. The Whitman’s gave their lives for Christ, giving the gospel to the natives of what what would become the Walla Walla area, and pouring out their lives and skills ministering to spiritual and physical needs of all who came their way. This is the story of their departure to the mission field.
by on 8.21.08
Hudson Taylor on missionary parents
As a follow-up to my post, ‘praying for missions’, a friend sent me this bit on Hudson Taylor’s parting with his mother as he first went to China. Of course, in Taylor’s day, the parting meant the real possibility of never seeing, never hearing, never conversing again in this life. Today, at least, missionaries even in remote areas can at least have some regular communication with home by way of telephone or e-mail.
This is from The Growth of a Soul, vol 1 of Hudson Taylor’s biography by Howard and Geraldine Taylor, son and daughter-in-law of Hudson Taylor. The excerpt comes from pp. 186-187.
by on 8.21.08
praying for missions
My friend Scott Dean has a moving post reminding us to pray for a missionary’s parents as well as the missionary. I think this is worth remembering, especially for missionaries in far-flung and difficult to access places. My parents are visiting with us this week. My mission field is almost in our back yard, so to speak (I can drive to my parent’s house in a day, if I have to). But for those in remote areas, Mongolia, for example, or many places in Africa, the South Pacific, etc, it is rare for parents to be able to visit their children. Yet these parents are among the most important ‘rope-holders’ a missionary has. Let’s lift them up in prayer also.
by on 8.20.08
interesting
Franklin Graham unhappy with movie about father
An article discusses an upcoming movie about Billy Graham. It has this interesting paragraph concerning Franklin Graham’s biggest objection to the movie:
A scene Franklin Graham found more “troublesome,” DeMoss said, was one he categorized as embellished. In it, Bob Jones Sr., then-president of fundamentalist Bob Jones College, tells young Billy Graham, a student who has questioned some of the school’s strict views, that he will never amount to anything. In the scene, darkness partly obscures the ranting Jones.
DeMoss said Franklin Graham felt that the scene “completely misrepresented Bob Jones” and has written a letter to Bob Jones III, now president of Bob Jones University, assuring him that “we didn’t collaborate on the film.”
UPDATE: Christianity Today weighs in with their own article.
by on 8.20.08
its not just the old fundies who worry
Others are at it also: “An open letter to young Southern Baptists“.
What is with this?
- Simple intergenerational angst, once known as “The Generation Gap”?
- The Spirit of our Age?
- The whole world has gone mad?
Personally, I’m opting for that last one.
by on 8.18.08
what one wishes DMD said
A friend of mine recently gave me a set of CDs containing the messages from the 2007 Mid-America Conference on Preaching, a conference hosted every year at Detroit Baptist Theological Seminary.
Unfortunately, none of the sessions from the 2007 conference appear to be available on-line, but I would encourage you to seek out a copy for yourself. In particular, I would like to draw your attention to a workshop by Dave Doran on this subject:
Conservative Evangelicals and Fundamentalists:
Recognizing the Differences
I have been critical of Dave for his message this summer at the FBF. If he had presented the material in this workshop at the FBF meeting, there would have been nothing to criticize.
I am going to include a few clips below. Dave’s presentation on this occasion was extremely clear and helpful. What mystifies me is how he can be so clear on some occasions and so confusing on others.
Be that as it may, I want to give you a summary of Dave’s presentation, taken directly from the accompanying pdf notes file that must have been included at the workshop itself.
by on 8.17.08
8.17.98 gbcvic sermons
Here are the links for the latest sermons in our ministry at Grace Baptist Church of Victoria, Victoria, BC.
The Moral Man’s Treasure (Rm 2.2-5)
Paul continues to dismantle the justifications of the moral man by noting his agreement that God’s judgement is according to righteousness, but then asking, if that is so, how the moral man presumes to escape God’s judgement. Or, if that is not enough, does the moral man despise God’s goodness and forbearance, presuming it means he has already escaped judgement? God’s goodness and forbearance is intended to lead man to repentance – any rejection of God’s blessing only serves to further build up the moral man’s treasure … the wrath of God to be revealed in the day of wrath, the day of the revelation of God’s righteous judgement.
The call of this message is to those who think of themselves as ‘good guys’. The call is a call to repentance and faith in the only One who will enable escape from the wrath of God.
by on 8.16.08
on contending
I was speaking to my son this afternoon about the difficulty of contending for the faith. Clearly, we are called to contend. We are told that conflict is inevitable in the ministry. We are told that wolves will plague the flock from without and perverse men will arise from within. We are told to guard the flock of God.
If a man will not contend, or despises conflict in the ministry, he ought to get out and get a ‘real’ job. If you are called to the ministry, you are called to contend.
But contention is fraught with danger. On the one hand, the man who contends may find himself labelled as contentious and a crank. (He may be contentious and a crank.)
On the other hand is the ever present dangers plaguing the church from within and without. And there is the command of God.
May God grant us the wisdom to know when, where, and how to contend.
by on 8.14.08
on further review…
A few more thoughts on my DBTS post. (From the department of “can’t leave well enough alone”).
- The answer to my initial question is “Yes”.
If you care to check the thread where I interact with DD, you will see that my question, “is this characteristic of DBTS” must be answered, “yes.” Now, what we do with that, what it means for the future of fundamentalism, where we go from here… those remain open questions. Uncertainty reigns.
by on 8.14.08
would you have the character to do this?
Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner
A church in Florida rejects the ‘tithe’ of a member who won 6 million in a lottery.
In a preacher’s meeting, someone once asked Dr Bob III what to do if someone put a lottery ticket in the offering plate. Before he could reply, I blurted out, “Check the numbers.” Of course it got a big laugh. Me and my big mouth.
But, really, do we have the character of our convictions? Or do we just give lip-service to preaching against the sins of this age?
It reminds me of the joke about the two country fellows who were out walking when one of them says, “Homer, if you had a million dollars would you give me half?”
Homer says, “Sure, Zeke, we is best friends. If I had a million dollars I would give you half.”
Zeke thinks a while and says, “Homer, if you had a hundred thousand dollars, would you give me half?”
And of course Homer agrees. Zeke keeps lowering the number until he comes to this: “Homer, if you had two hogs, would you give me one of them?”
And Homer says, “Now, Zeke, you know I got two hogs.”
Are our convictions real, or are they as strong as Homer’s?
(BTW, I checked the website of the church in question. They would seem to be a good bit apart from me philosophically, but on this issue, I think they are taking the right stand.)
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