Twelve Perspectives for Coming Generations
1. Talking about the Gospel is as removed from evangelism as talking about driving is from racing in the Indy 500.
We like to talk about the gospel but we are unwilling often to do the grinding work of telling the lost about Christ. A witnessing church is the product of much intercessions, a pastor who demonstrates this by his own action and which makes this a high priority.
How many of you have shared Christ this month? Led someone to Christ this year?
Ezekiel and the watchman scripture was read. “I’m not sure what that means, but I am sure that I don’t want to find out.”
Elton Trueblood – if I do not open the door for another, it may never be opened. I may be the only one who holds this key. (I type too slow to get the whole quote).
2. The culture is your friend in the same way that a brown bear is your buddy.
Black bears will maul you but a brown bear will stay with you until your theory of the creator is confirmed!
Not all of culture is wicked, but it is given over to evil.
Enjoy culture, but a life of holiness is rule by Christ, not culture.
3. Being saved means something quite different than being picked up as a hitchhiker on a hot day.
Much more happens to us at salvation than simply being rescued from hardship.
4. A Christian who has not seriously suffered is like a Rolls Royce with no engine.
While beautiful, it has no use. The godly in Christ Jesus WILL suffer.
Future leaders need seminary, partly because of the crucible. But the ripening of the soul through injustice is essential.
5. Most people who say they believe the Bible do so in the same way they believe in Bhutan. They visit seldomly and have no idea what it contains.
We must proclaim the full counsel of God.
6. Mature elephants have less energy, but they can find water when they need it and they never fight or kill needlessly.
In which he trains his guns on bloggers!
I understand why, but it irritates me.
7) Ecumenism at its finest form is like using a lion in the breeding of monkeys.
It ends up killing both of them!
We need to seek doctrinal purity. Believers church. Immersion.
8) A preacher’s ability to deliver a sermon is admirable, but it is like a pilot who can fly, but cannot take off or land on the aircraft carrier.
One can do so much good for God that we do no good for God’s people.
The care of the flock is crucial to the pastoral role.
9) Arrogance is as charming to God and God’s people as a wounded bull is to a cowboy at a rodeo.
A man cannot be haughty when he has been walking with God. It is our diminution of self that demonstrates spiritual growth.
Pride is the chief enemy in scripture. A recovery of humility and integrity in Christian social media is essential.
10) I didn’t get this one – I was thinking through his last statement.
In addressing Corinthian believers – “I determnined to know nothing but Christ, and Christ crucified” Faith needs to rest on power of God not wisdom of men.
11) When it comes to a fence, a wise traveler will seek to understand why it was built before he tears it down.
Alcohol. Dancing, etc. We were, at times, legalistic. But there were reasons.
Two most devastating industries – beverage alcohol and porn. How can we not build a fence?
We are responsible not only for the commandments but also for the wisdom of God’s Word.
12) When you get into a Texas Shootout, when you draw your pistol, it is too late to call timeout.
Think things through – consider the law of unintended consequences.
I get weary of shots taken at bloggers. I realize that some bloggers are WAY out of line, and every shot he has taken is well deserved – sometimes by me.
But don’t just focus onthe bloggers and social media. The problems exist in pulpits and in classrooms, not just on social media.
It’s too easy to act like its just bloggers who are the problem
David, I agree that the real issue is not problems with bloggers, or Calvinists, or Traditionalists, or Denominationalists, or any number of “ists.” The real problem is the “man in the mirror.” Too many of these aphorisms could have my name attached to them. I try to remember that when I ask my congregation to speak to others about Christ, they will give me a better hearing if they see me doing it myself. These are difficult days for evangelism. Things have changed greatly over the last 40 years of ministry. One thing has not changed (maybe two): lost people… Read more »
I am all for gaining insight and wisdom from previous generations. I have much to learn and I want to exhibit humility in learning from those with much more experience. But I also think that insight needs to be communicated in humility and not with condescension and arrogance. I think too often the “what you young guys need to know” type messages and posts don’t come off or get received as intending to be helpful but as telling “those guys” all the ways they are wrong and don’t get it. Which means all the ways they might be right and… Read more »
Amen, Jason.
yep
smh
We are truly blessed to have Dr. Page Patterson in a leadership position in our SBC….truly blessed.
David
Amen, I agree totally – Volfan.
Right as the rain, Vol. Dr. Patterson was a leader, is a leader, always will be a leader. Leaders do not make everyone happy. Nor is it possible to make everyone happy and still be a leader. Dr. Patterson is a leader.
No one disagrees with that, Vol. I certainly don’t. Not sure why you would “smh”.
You seemed to be implying that Dr. Patterson was self serving, arrogant, and condescending. That is why I just had to shake my head.
David
I thought I was pretty clear and explained how those messages often “come off”. I made no such accusation against Patterson. In fact, in the last sentence of the post I stated that often these types of messages come off that way even though that is not what the intent was. I’m not sure what Patterson’s intent or tone was, so I’m not going to assume anything of his intent or delivery. Thus, if you re-read it I never made an accusation against him. My post was about these types of messages/posts in general, and I thought I made that… Read more »
Vol got it right about your post. A couple of provisos tossed in doesn’t change the context here (this particular counsel from Dr. Patterson) and the words you chose to use. This list doesn’t come off at all as you describe, perhaps the issue here is either your choice to vent in general in response to a specific post, or perhaps you just personally resist this sort of direct advice.
Oh, I’m just saying stuff in general. Anything you don’t like wasn’t anything I intended.
Yes, the context of this discussion was Patterson’s address. I explained why these messages rarely hit home with their intended audiences. His message was a springboard for something I have been thinking about for a long time. You can reject my points if you want, but I didn’t mock Patterson or question his motivations, nor did I reject his points in his message. His points are fine. I just pointed out how these messages could be better received…if the true intended audience was young pastors. None of that in any way diminishes Patterson’s suggestions, which could be helpful for all… Read more »
Jason – you forgot to use the word “may” – that is the ultimate safety net – so we have been told. If you had said – “PP May come off as arrogant and condescending – even if he does not mean to.” that would have been OK. As the use of the word “may” inoculates you from any accusation of being in any way negative. If Vol, keeps true to form – he will defend you i IF you use the word may – as he has done before. 😉 🙂 🙂
Tarheel may be a
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David R. Brumbelow
Jason,
Just typical Pattersonisms … I’m glad he is a conservative. His antics work for some…and he is no political dummy.
Well, at least, he did speak of preaching the whole counsel of God, and I have written a response, favorable, to an article he wrote on Election (Eight Theses on Election). Dr. Patterson actually wrote something that indicated Calvinists (Sovereign Grace believers is the better term, more biblical) and Arminians could work together in spreading the Gospel.
I forgot to add that he evidently delivered a speech in which there was only one flaw, the one mentioned by our esteemed editor or whatever the title is. However, to give credit where credit is due, we do have bloggers who are pills, and we all make mistakes.
I have a blog and don’t take offense when someone criticizes bloggers unless they are criticizing something I’m doing that I believe is right. Hopefully they are not rightly criticizing something I’m doing wrong. Maybe part of that is also because I would primarily define myself in other ways, rather than first as having a blog. No criticism to anyone in particular, just my thoughts. Paige Patterson is a hero of the SBC Conservative Resurgence, a scholar, an evangelist, and has served as a pastor. Those factors usually come out in his preaching and his practice. It is always worth… Read more »