Maxson Central

http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2005/jul/05070704.html

Clearly, Jesus would not vote for something like gay "marriage"; however, this issue brings up an interesting question: What question should guide what we do and think?

On the surface, What Would Jesus Do–WWJD–appears to be a good philosophy. And it is if done correctly. However, while Jesus was God our impression of WWJD is not supposed to be our final authority. What we think is based on human reason, thought, and results in , really, making our own god. How do we know what Jesus would do? We have to look to the Bible–the word of God–to really find this out. Since Jesus is God and God cannot commit sin, he would never lie. He would never do anything contrary to what He had already said. If God says homosexuality is a sin in one place, He would not condone it in another. So, done right–looking to the Bible for the answer to the question–WWJD could be ok. If, on the other hand, we base our answer to WWJD on what we THINK Jesus would do, then we have created our own god.

Have you ever read In His Steps? It is a book about a pastor who challenges his congregation to do ask WWJD before they make any decision and the results in their town. The book is in the public domain and you can download In His Steps here.

I was reading BPNews yesterday and found this article about Emergent Evangelism. This article deals with something I have been thinking about for several months now. How do you "grow" the church? Here is a quote from the article:

Only a return to Scripture can cure a wandering church in need both of repentance and resolve to accurately and passionately preach to people in great need of the salvation of God.

How do you grow the church? Not by "programs." Not by "get big quick" schemes. The church gets bigger by getting more people saved. DUH!

Do you ever look at the stats and see how many Southern Baptist churches fail to baptize one person in a year? This is just sad. As a church, we need to wake up! Look at Europe! What cultural christianity! How sad!

Numbers aren't important, but if we really believe that Jesus is the answer, why don't we tell people? Why are we sitting on our padded pews every Sunday barely singing while a lost world goes to hell?!

Cyndi and I visted Salem Baptist Church Sunday. The people were very nice and friendly. They are a smaller congregation (200ish people). They have a small building and are in the process of moving to a new location with more room. They are a growing congregation.

It is interesting how we got hooked up with them. My parents were at the convention in Nashville. Messengers from Salem were at the Convention in Nashville. They ended up in line next to each other at a barbecue joint. They got to talking and we ended up being invited.