We Are Not Alone

When I was young, my maternal grandfather warned me that two subjects start more fights than any others: religion and politics.

(Unfortunately, that was, and remains, his out for never discussing spiritual matters.)

Those that read this site know that on religious matters, I do tend to stir the pot more often than not.  My personal life and church life could be so much simpler were I to ignore scripture and go with the "modern Christian" flow.  Were I to be satisfied with the "milk" that flows from our pulpits and "Christian" music, instead of desiring more, I could show up once a week to church, punch a time clock so to speak, and go home and live like the rest of America.  Sometimes I feel cursed for actually believing that "sound doctrine" is important in the lives of true believers of Christ. I feel a burden because I believe that Paul was right when he told his young pastors to maintain sound doctrine within the churches they oversaw.

(As an aside, more often than not, those that eschew sound doctrine, are those that aren’t sound.)

I am frustrated, no, I am angry that "discipleship" groups can meet and never open the Bible.

I am frustrated, no, I am angry that everything has to be a program.

I am frustrated, no, I am angry that the Bride of Christ looks and acts like the Whore of Babylon so often dressing in the same raiment, speaking the same soft lies.

(Thanks to Stephen Altrogge over The Blazing Center for his post What Are We Really Talking About?)

In recent months, I seem to have garnered a reputation for being a "trouble maker" because I expect leaders to speak truth.  I expect yeas to be yeas and nays to be nays.  I expect answers from those in church authority to be absent of bias and political motivation or agenda. It has been indicated to me that my beliefs on ministry are the exceptions.

In the last week, I have had the opportunity to listen to three different pastor conferences online.  It has been a great blessing, in hearing Mark Driscoll admonish pastors for their views of the church and preaching.  It has been a blessing to hear John Piper talk about discerning false teachings.  For those that are really tied up in being a Southern Baptist and refuse to listen to anyone outside that denomination, Dr. Al Mohler’s session on what preaching OUGHT to be was amazing.

In the music world, my friends and brothers in Christ, The Museum, released their first album, Reverse This Dying Trend.  It is available on their site or via the Itunes Store.  The lyrics call for believers to live as Christ expects us to.

So why all this ranting?  We are not alone.  If you are reformed in an unreformed church, trust me, there are others in the same position.  If you feel like you are swimming against the stream of post-modernism and liberalism in the church, you are not alone. 

I encourage you to continue to be faithful.  Continue to be obedient. Visit the conference posts and follow the links to some very solid preaching. God places his people for a reason.