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We Are Not God’s Gift to Earth

One of the things that has frustrated me about modern young Evangelicals today is a certain amount of theological arrogance. I’ve talked to many people my age who are convinced they are God’s gift to the church, that they have all the right answers and that they are going to bring about a new reform in Christianity. My problem is that they too often forget about the thousands of years of believers who have gone before them and dealt with some of the same issues we’re facing today. Homosexuality, yep, that’s been going on since Genesis. Drunkenness, look no further than Noah. Tattoos? Yep, that’s in there too (but not necessarily to say Christians shouldn’t have them as many people say today).

The Gospel Coalition has a fantastic blog today titled ‘We’re Not the Ones God Has Been Waiting For.’ In the article he offers 3 reasons why we tend to think we’re far better than those who have gone before us:

1. We make an idol of cultural acceptance.

2. We think we can do ministry better than our fathers.

3. We put too much weight in our own abilities.

The saying goes, “Those who don’t know history are doomed to repeat it.” This is also true in the church. Starting in the 90s we had a rise of a new church movement called the emergent church. Relevant, a magazine I subscribe to recently said,

(The emergent churches’) critique of rigid pietism and narrow theology devolved into a less interesting, rehashed theological liberalism. Driscoll and Seay fled the movement, and those who remained were either marginalized among evangelicals or became a a small avant-garde sect of mainline Protestantism. The emergent movement’s rise and fall remains a warning against reform movements that lack a theological center.

Again, it seems to me that the emergent church forgot about the thousands of years of church history and tried to rebrand the church as something new, but it’s all been done before. I’m grateful that despite a changing culture and a church doing its best to keep up with that changing culture, there is a solid rock who has never changed and never will. I hope and pray other church leaders my age will not neglect to study church history and read from other people who are much smarter than we are as we do our best to lead the churches God has called us to.

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by mikethestrand on March 18, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Blog, Church, History
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 18, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/18/we-are-not-gods-gift-to-earth/

The Pope Is Probably the Antichrist, Part 2

Yesterday I posted a blog ‘The Pope of Probably the Antichrist‘ and pointed people to another blog with the same title. While my blog was meant to be taken with a grain of salt (I wan’t actually saying the new Pope is the antichrist), the blog I linked to was very helpful in thinking through what some of the Reformers thought about the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church.

The main issue I see with the Roman Catholic Church is with justification (see John Piper on what he would ask the Pope). If the Catholic church says that they do not teach that we are justified by faith alone, through Christ alone then they are teaching a heresy. I do not think Christians today are willing enough to call people out for theological issues. Many people will say they don’t agree with someone else but people within the church are too often willing to allow many false teachings to slide by without properly confronting them.

My response when people ask about the Catholic church is that yes, there are many people within the Catholic church who are not believers, just like there are many people within the E Free Church, who are not believers, and the same can be said about every other denomination in the world. The world does not need Christians who just go to church on Sunday and leave it at that. James 1:22 says, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” If a brother or sister claims to be a believer but is not acting as the Bible commands, they should be confronted of the sin in their lives, and if they are not willing to repent there should be questions about their faith.

So ultimately, do I think the Pope is the antichrist? No. But I do think the Catholic church teaches some things that are contrary to Scripture and I look forward to the day when Christ will return to right all the wrongs that have gone on in the world today.

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by mikethestrand on March 14, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Blog, Church, History
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 14, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/14/the-pope-is-probably-the-antichrist-part-2/

The Pope Is Probably the Antichrist

I’ve said before that the only virtue praised in America today is “judge not, lest you be judged.” This includes people within the church, yet the Bible commands us to help each other in our struggle with sin (see Galatians 6:1-2, James 5:16, Colossians 3:16, Ephesians 4:25, James 5:19-20) and that includes “judging” as many people tend to use that word today.

There was a very interesting article on judging written at the Cripplegate today on the Catholic church and their election of a new pope. He brought up some points that I had never heard before, that Luther, Zwingli, Calvin, and Edwards all condemned the pope as being an antichrist. The article ends by saying:

And if calling the Pope the antichrist seems like a very unchristian thing to do, I assure you that it is not the theology of the thing that has changed in the last 50 years.Today’s reluctance to make that connection says a lot about how far our evangelical culture has drifted, and very little about the Pope.

The whole article is worth reading, and a good check of where we as the church have been and continue to go. How can we continue to hold true to the Gospel of Jesus Christ dying for our sins and raising to life on the third day, now sitting at the right hand of God until he will return to judge the living and the dead in our current culture?

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by mikethestrand on March 13, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 13, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/13/the-pope-is-probably-the-antichrist/

Coy Mathis – Continued

One final thought on this issue that wasn’t expressed very well in my last blog, was referenced in my Blueberry Donuts blog, and expressed early on in my blog about this issue. At what age can a child “know” that they are a boy or a girl. In this case it seems that it’s very much the parents pushing, and ultimately the parents are the ones who need to be directing their children in what is appropriate and not. I find it hard to believe that a child at the age of 18 months would identify themselves as a girl without and prodding from their parents. So my answer to this issue remains the same-Coy should not be using the girls bathroom, but the parents are the ones who need to be held responsible for it. Sexuality in our culture is becoming a very grey issue, yet thanks to Scripture, Christians can and should treat it as a much more black and white issue than our culture allows.

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by mikethestrand on March 8, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Blog, Life, Relationships
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 8, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/08/coy-mathis-continued/

Creating a Contrast Culture

The Gospel Coalition had an interesting article yesterday titled ‘Create a Contrast Culture in Your Church‘. The article starts of with many people asking what program the church uses to produce the discipling, evangelizing, and hospitality that are easy to see. The answer is not a program, but rather that they offer tools to create a different culture of discipling, evangelizing and hospitality.

One of the phrases that most stuck out to me was: “Think about the local church as an embassy from the future.” I had never thought about that before. Christians on this side of heaven are preparing for a new heaven and a new earth where we will constantly be in God’s presence in a New Jerusalem. I think there has been some great work done on helping us appreciate that heaven will not be us sitting around on clouds playing harps, but instead a place where we will continue to do the things we love to do, but without pain and suffering, just like the Garden of Eden (see Randy Alcorn’s Heaven).

The article then lists 12 ways churches can create a culture that contrasts the culture of the world around them. One of the most important that I see in this list is number five:

Encourage church members to build their lives into one another’s. Yes, we want friendships outside of our churches. But Christians should also prioritize relationships within their churches, where they can leverage the same ministry of the Word in one another’s lives.

I think it’s far too easy to neglect the church family for your own family or for your own wants and desires. I think people have a far too narrow view of their relationships-the relationships they have with people who are believers will last for eternity. The phrase “blood is thicker than water” is true, but the reverse is true for the church body, “water is thicker than blood.” Those of us who have been baptized into the body have a new family that we need to invest our lives into and encourage them regularly, and even more as each day brings us closer to the day of Christ’s return.

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by mikethestrand on March 7, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 7, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/07/creating-a-contrast-culture/

One Family?

I just read this fantastic article titled ‘One Family Under God‘ at the Ligonier website. The article is challenging the assumption that churches should have a separate children’s church because we are called to be one body. This is something that I have felt at can often struggle with at the church I serve now, especially as I help out with the youth group ministry.

I think the most powerful point in the article is:

A church that ministers effectively to all age groups will keep the gospel alone as the foundation for church life and unity. Believers of all ages must be taught that our union with Christ, regardless of age, is what makes us one body. A tenyear- old Christian has more in common with an eighty-year-old Christian than with ten-year-old unbelievers. Where this is recognized and celebrated, real gospelcentered community thrives.

I’ve said this since I came to this church! We cannot have each different age group spending time only with that age group. I think this has changed the landscape of the church and has contributed to the decline of twenty somethings going to church. We are to be one body for a purpose-not fragmented pieces of a body spread throughout different locations.

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by mikethestrand on March 6, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Blog, Church, Life, Relationships
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 6, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/06/one-family/

Zion – Hillsong United

One of the things about being a musician and leading the worship through music at a church is that many of the songs start to sound the same. There was a funny video put on youtube that is incredible true: How to Write a Worship Song in 5 Minutes or Less. All it takes is 4 chords and some popular “catch phrases” that people like to sing. Is this enough? As I’ve said before, I’m tired of Christians writing bad music, and the popular worship music that has been written recently has all started to sound the same. Yes, the words are good and I think many of the songs are very good songs, but I’ve been hoping and waiting for a little innovation. Enter: Hillsong United with their new CD Zion. This is the exact kind of worship CD I’ve been wanting to write!

I was first introduced to Hillsong United after my senior year of high school with the song “Mighty to Save” which I still do regularly at my church. I think Hillsong has tended to be on the front lines of worship music. We’ve gotten used to the music at church being: an acoustic guitar, an electric guitar, piano, keyboard, bass, drums and a couple singers. I think Hillsong is starting to push back to that a little on this album. Someone on my facebook commented that it sounds like a mix of Passion Pit and Mumford & Sons. The Passion Pit comparison I can see, but not so much the Mumford & Sons one (side note: for a good Mumford & Sons comparison, listen to Rend Collective Experiment, another one of my recent favorite worship bands). Sure the guitars and pianos and drums are still there, but the main focus musically has been shifted to the electronics, which I think is a good change. In my first listening, my favorite songs are: Relentless, Oceans, Scandal of Grace, and Mercy Mercy. This CD is a must buy for those who are tired of hearing the same songs used for worship. Get the Deluxe Version too-the remixes are fun to listen to.

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by mikethestrand on March 1, 2013  •  Permalink
Posted in Blog, Church, Music
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Posted by mikethestrand on March 1, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/03/01/zion-hillsong-united/

Blueberry Donuts – Caught Not Taught

I’ve been reading and hearing a lot lately about why students are leaving the church, and even last week wrote a blog on it. Yet as I’ve been doing more reflecting on it, I really think it gets back to the responsibility of the parents. No where in Scripture do I see church leaders being held responsible for what is going on in kids’ lives. Sure, James 3:1 says, “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness” but I don’t see the teachers being held accountable for another persons sin, but I do see it being the parents responsibility for their children (Eph 6:1-4, Deut 6:6-9, Titus 2:4, Proverbs 22:6). Now I want to be careful to not cross into legalism here, and I think many times the phrase “it takes a village” to raise a child is very true. We need the church and the support of the people in the church to help raise children-parents need to be willing to admit they can’t do it on their own. Yet what I see throughout Scripture and in my own life is a very important phrase to remember in being a parent. What kids learn is often caught not taught.

This morning I went to the grocery store to buy some more creamer for my coffee. Every time I go to get creamer I grab a donut on my way. This donut it a blueberry donut, which is my favorite donut for one reason – that’s the exact kind of donut my dad always used to get when I was growing up. I remember there was a donut shop in La Crosse, Wisconsin that my dad would take me to (I don’t remember the name of it) and they had a blueberry donut that my dad apparently really liked and would get every time. Because of that, I would also get a blueberry donut, and they continue to be my favorite to this day. So parents: what are you teaching your kids today? Do they see someone who is following Christ with their whole life, or someone who just goes to church because it’s what they are expected to do? Children are a lot more observant than you might think so be careful: your actions speak a whole lot more than your words.

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by mikethestrand on February 28, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by mikethestrand on February 28, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/02/28/blueberry-donuts-caught-not-taught/

Frozen By Indecision

I found an article this morning (thanks to Tim Challies who posts links to blogs every day) titled ‘Are You Worshiping the Idol of ‘Open Options.” It’s a fantastic article that says a lot of things that I’ve been saying for years! I have struggles with this issues throughout my life as well when trying to figure out which college to go to, who to date, what to major in, where I should work and a host of other questions. In the middle of these struggles, Kevin DeYoung wrote a book called Just Do Something that has become my go-to book on God’s will and making decisions. The title of the book is so helpful in determining the will of God in your life: just do something! Anything! God will continue to guide you! My Senior Pastor uses the picture of a car, it can’t change direction if it’s standing still.

I can think of many people my age who just refuse to make decisions and try to spiritualize it by saying, “I’m just waiting to figure out God’s will for my life.” I hate to say it, but by not doing anything you’re outside of God’s will! Paul says in 2 Thessalonians 3:10 “If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” And in 1 Thessalonians 4:2, Paul again says, “For this is the will of God, your holiness.” Stop and read that last word again. HOLINESS. If you are living in a Christian community, submitting to the leadership of the church, regularly learning and growing in the Word and continually being conformed into the image of Christ, then go make some decisions! Find a good spouse and get married and have some kids, take a job across the country that helps you provide for your family, grow up and move out on your own, make some mistakes and continue to be made more like Christ! Trust his faithfulness as you continue to walk in a manner worthy of the calling you have received.

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by mikethestrand on February 22, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by mikethestrand on February 22, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/02/22/frozen-by-indecision/

Introverted Evangelists

Found this article titled ‘The Introverted Evangelist‘ yesterday and found it very insightful. On every personality test I’ve ever taken I’ve been an extrovert to the extreme! I love people, I love being around people and never like being alone. Talking to people is generally very easy for me and the instant I walk into a room I have new best friends. Because of this it is often hard for me to identify with introverts.

The main point I liked from the article was:

What is an evangelist anyways? An evangelist isn’t a personality type or a personality disorder, but an evangelist is one who brings good news, both in the proclamation with the mouth and their actions. If this is the case, where does it say that an evangelist is going to be an extrovert or introvert? What if God’s plan was for everyone to do the work of an evangelist? (2 Tim 4:5). Think of the power of the church if we empower both the extrovert and the introvert to be the representation of the good news in the way that God has made them? How many more people would be reached for the sake of Jesus?

We took the youth group to a Dare 2 Share conference a couple weeks ago that fell into the extrovert evangelism camp. During one afternoon we had to go to a mall and share the Gospel with a stranger. Many of the students weren’t very comfortable with this, especially the introverted ones. I don’t think trying to talk to strangers is always the best way to evangelize.

The church needs both introverts and extroverts to be the body. We are different and can and should use our gifts and personalities to God’s glory. I hope and pray I’m able to reach out and influence the introverts I know, but continue to encourage them to live out their mission to make disciples.

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by mikethestrand on February 21, 2013  •  Permalink
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Posted by mikethestrand on February 21, 2013

https://pastormikesmusings.com/2013/02/21/introverted-evangelists/

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