Radically God-centered

As part of my time with the Lord in the mornings I am reading John Piper’s devotional entitled “A Godward life.” I am so grateful for the day several years ago when I first read “Desiring God.” The Lord has used Dr. Piper in an incredible way in my life. Today I believe I own every book he’s written and I am SO thankful for his heart and passion for the Glory of God.

This morning’s devotional, again, centered my heart on the reason for all of it. Allow me to reproduce his words verbatim…

“God has been merciful to us so that we would delight in glorifying Him for His mercy.” He then quotes Ephesians 1:4-6 and Psam 86:12-13. He continues…
“God’s love is the ground. His glory is the goal. Why is this important? It’s important because unless we understand this we will not know what love really is. The love of God is not God making much of us, but God’s saving us from self-centered sin so that we can enjoy making much of Him forever.”

Wow!!! That truth still blows my mind! The glory of God is the center of it all! I’m not saved to go to heaven or escape hell; I’m saved for the glory of His name!!!

Oh God, help me be radically God-centered today!!! Help me glorify You in every SINGLE thing I think, say and do!

Tony

Musings on expository Preaching

One of the things that has drastically affected my life and ministry was the decision made 8 years ago to begin preaching through the Bible verse by verse instead of continuing with "topical" preaching. The result has been profound, but not only in the way it has affected my congregation, it has been amazing in my life. It trully is something special (especially for someone who never trully saw this style of preaching modeled) to see a book of the Bible come alive, instead of cherry-picking thoughts here and there. I can think of several very real results in my life.

1. I was tied to the text. I had to really dig in and understand what the text as a whole was saying, not just take a superficial truth, add three tear jerking illustrations and a poem and deliver it. My first efforts were rudimentary, and I look back pained by the mess I made of Ephesians, yet I had to start somewhere! I began listening to expository preachers of God's Word. I began reading commentaries as messages and seeing the Word unfold before me. I also began to wonder what exactly I went to Bible college for... but that's another story!

2. I had to deal with difficult truths and study the Word deeply. A topical preacher never has to handle the hot potatoes. He can eternaly bypass them in search of the low-hanging fruit, but one who has committed to work through the text has put himself in the position of having NO choice! This was VERY good for me!!! Believe me, there have been many weeks as I sit down to study that I tell myself... "This would sure be a great week to preach a topical message..."

3. I have had a hard time with preaching "what I have been taught!" Let me explain. As part of my decision to preach expository messages I promised the Lord that I would preach HIS WORD and nothing more. Man, that sure has robbed me of some good "proof texts!" It's amazing how context can strip away the use of verses you have always heard employed in a certain way, and you find yourself realizing that scripture says something else entirely! As a result of being forced to be honest with the text, I had to reconsider some things I had been taught based on flimsy evidence and twisted verses. Needless to say, the teachings of men got tossed through the window and the truth of God won out.

4. I have more and more begun to see the incredible harmony of scripture. Instead of seeing groups of verses you begin to trully grasp larger arguments and fit them within the mosaic of scripture. My knowledge of the word and what it actually says has grown exponentially.

5. It has humbled me! With the growth I was describing there has been an incredible realization of how far I need to go yet. Every once in a while my mind will wander back to the cocky young punk this church called as a pastor over 9 years ago and shudder in utter disbelief. What in the world were they thinking! I wouldn't vote me in now, back then? Wow!!!! Lord, have mercy!!! I realize more than ever how inadequate I am to stand before a congregation and say "thus says the Lord!" There was a time in which bravado and my "stage persona" adored the art of "preaching" today I stand in awe that he could use me! I tremble at the though of mis-representing His words or sloppily presenting my thoughts anchored on one verse taken out of context!

6. It has kept me from hobby-horses and or reactionary preaching. It's hard to do all of that nonsense when you are tied to the text. At the end of the day the people are spared the emotional swings and nonsense that comes from preaching AT people or problems. The Holy Soirit is free to do His work. I could go on and name more benefits, and these are all in MY life! I believe that our church has been strengthened and the people have been grounded in a much deeper and better way than would have been the case before.

I am currently making my way through the book of Romans. This morning we were in Romans 4:13-17 as I preached the 22nd message to date in Romans. By God's grace, as long as He gives me the ability, the primary teaching that goes on in the church I pastor will be verse by verse through a book of scripture. I encourage you to consider the benefits of actually teaching what the Word says, not skipping around and taking a little of this and a little of that. God bless you!

Tony

The Myth of Pastoral Authority and It's Consequences

What I mean by pastoral authority is the myth that somehow there is a distinction between the 'clergy' and the 'laity', and that the Pastor is somehow above reproach and is not to be questioned.  This is not a biblical doctrine and is simply never taught in Scripture.  Many are ensnared in this 'cult-like' mentality that leads to, not only being abused, but thinking you (the abused) are the problem. Here is a good article that explains this mentality and it's dangers.  

"The Cult Leader in a Baptist Church"

Trevor

Trevor's Story

My story is not nearly as dramatic as Tony's but is just as full of grace and awe.  I grew up in Ripley, WV and graduated from Ripley High School in 1992.  I attended Ripley Baptist Temple until the age of 19.  My church was by no means a part of radical fundamentalism and my journey begins many miles and years away from those wonderful people.  I thank the Lord, as I look back on my journey of grace, for the wonderful and caring influences that He put in my life (and in many cases still in my life) from Ripley Baptist.   I love that church and those people with all my heart, and look forward to being with them when I visit my great hometown.    

In 1994 I began attending Crown College (Temple Baptist Church and Dr. Clarence Sexton) and met my future wife, Joy, in 1995.  We were married in July of '97 and I graduated in '98 followed by Joy in '99.  Crown is where Tony and I first met as roommates in 1995.  I was having a great time and met some wonderful people and never even thought to question one tenet of what it meant to be an Independent Fundamental Baptist.

All of that was about to change...

It all began on January 1, 1999 in Beckley, WV.  I had been hired by an IFB pastor who was the pastor of a community church.  I was hired as the assistant/youth pastor and couldn't wait to begin my very first job in the ministry.  I got there in my suit and tie and looked around with wide-eyed wonder at the pews and the pulpit and was genuinely excited at all of the possibilities and fun that lay ahead.  I knew how to dress, how to talk, had the right Bible and I was ready to go.  I was called into the pastor's office and the first thing out of his mouth on my first day of work was this:  "We cannot be friends.  I am the boss and you are my employee. Everybody has to know who the man is around here".  My heart sank. I was green and needed a friend.  From the 'courting' process that preceded my hiring I had no reason to think that he would be anything other than a friend.  My rose colored glasses of the IFB movement were slapped off my face and smashed under his oppressive foot.  It was all downhill from that point and it was only the first day.  I was worked to death and was told I wasn't working hard enough. I was worn out and had my job threatened.  I was dressed down and berated in front of my wife and told never to question the pastor. There were major inconsistencies and something was wrong, but it had to be me because he was the pastor.  He was the man of God and I knew I was to never question him or 'touch God's anointed'.  I wasn't to question or think, but simply follow or face serious consequences.  I was miserable and stuck.  The story is long and amazing and I will probably share more later, but the short of it all is that after fourteen months I was done.  

Joy and I moved out west to Pasco, WA in March '00 and we started Victory Baptist Church in October of the same year. Fresh off of my eye-opening experience I was determined to start an IFB church, but promised myself that I would never treat people the way that I had been treated.  We started an IFB church from top to bottom -- KJV only, hymns only, no pants on women, door-to-door soul-winning, extreme pastoral authority, etc. It was going good by IFB standards, but something wasn't right.  I was seeing many people say a prayer but nothing else. Some of them would actually hide when they saw me coming. One day, as I was door-knocking, I realized that I couldn't stand it anymore.  Something had to change. Two things happened that changed my life forever.  I began to think and I began to ask questions. That's when my presuppositions shattered and God's amazing grace came shining through.  God used the good and the horrible to help me see my need of Him and Him alone. My religion died and my relationship with my Rescuer began!

That's our desire for you.  Maybe you're beat down and told you aren't working hard enough. Maybe you have questions, but to even ask them would mean rebuke and possibly the loss of your job. Maybe your killing yourself trying to please a pastor who is never placated.  We've been there!  We've been beat up and had our jobs threatened.  We've been worried and scared, but by God's grace we survived and by His grace you will too.  We want to let you know that you're not alone.  We want to give you a safe haven.  This isn't a place to argue, but this is a place of encouragement and safety. This is a place to ask the hard questions without fear of retribution and ridicule.  This is a place of hope and healing. This is a place of journey and wonder.  This is a place to lift up and glorify our indescribable Savior!

My prayer is that God will make us brave, and that He will grant us the grace to break the chains of legalism and embrace the truth of His full salvation.  Once you peek your head out of the box of rigid legalism and see the glorious scene of our Savior that awaits, you will never go back.  You will be changed.  You will be brave.  You will be amazed!

Please don't hesitate to contact us and tell us where you are at on this journey of grace. Maybe you've been down a similar road. Maybe you see the inconsistencies and need some advice. Maybe you just need a friend.  Let us know.  

In Awe,

Trevor

Tony's Story

Well, a bit about me. I am a graduate of Crown College, though that's just the end of the odyssey. I spent most of my childhood on the mission fields of Mexico and Italy. When I was not there, I was sampling IFB'dom in America.

Our home church was First Baptist Church, Milford, Ohio - Dr. Charles Keen - Great man! Still the best pastor I have ever had! I spent one year at Longview Baptist Temple - Dr. Bob Gray. I spent my senior year at Cornerstone Baptist Church, Colorado Springs - Dr. Dean Miller (I was kicked out a week before graduation for "rebellion" and actually graduated from Lighthouse Baptist Church's school in Wyoming - Dr. Gary Knouf). My freshman year of Bible College was spent at P.C.C. My sophomore year was spent at Oklahoma Baptist College - Dr. Jim Vineyard. I finished at Crown College, Powell, TN - Dr. Clarence Sexton. I have been at most of the other schools and churches in the movement, many supported our family...West Coast, Golden State, Trinity - Fl, Midwestern, Hyles Anderson, to name some.

Where am I today? I have been pastoring a bilingual church in Vineland, NJ for the past 9 years. I have been on a journey to grasping and living grace and relationship. The Lord has done amazing things in my life! I am not angry or bitter at any of these people or institutions, though I have my share of bad experiences. The Lord used many experiences in my life to bring me to where I am today, and none of it has been wasted. I believe that most of the people in the movement I came from are very sincere and love the Lord. I am grateful for Christ being lifted up in any way shape or form!

Today, I profoundly disagree with many of the tenents of my roots. Though I am technically still a fundamentalist, as I unapologetically stand for the fundamentals of the faith. That term has become so attached to a certain strident and dogmatic strain of Christianity that it makes me a little nervous to use it. I have moved away from Legalism, Arminianism, KJVonlyism, Dispensationalism, Easy-believism, Secondary-separationism (did I just coin a phrase?) and assorted other "isms". I have moved MUCH closer to Christ. I have never been more in love with Him and less impressed with myself than I am today. I started out as a young hot shot determined to Pastor the next "big" church. He has truly broken me and shown me the wickedness, arrogance and idolatry of my heart. Blessed be HIS name! I started out with all of the answers; now I realize more than ever how clueless I am. I praise His name for His mercy in my life. If any of my experiences can be a blessing to you, praise His name!

Purpose for the blog

Trevor and I have been talking for years about some sort of presence on the internet that could serve as a resource for people walking the long, difficult and sometimes very lonely road away from oppressive pseudo-fundamentalism. This blog is our attempt to do just that. Our mission statement from the first is to lift up Christ, not to tear down any man or institution. Of necessity there will be some difficult issues raised and spoken about on these pages, but we will honestly seek the Lord with all of our hearts to keep a positive, constructive and Christ-honoring tone in all we say. To that end, we are specifically asking those who would simply attack or fight to do so elsewhere. This blog is not geared for the true "believer." If you are fully satisfied where you are, God bless you! We wish you no harm and do not wish to debate you. This blog is for those with questions. There are many questions that simply CANNOT be raised in the Extreme Independant Baptist circles both of us come from. To raise those question is to be "disloyal" or a "rebel" or a "liberal." As Ben Stein points out, questions not adequately answered don't tend to go away. If you're not satisfied with being told to shut up and get back in the box, this blog is a safe place to dialogue, test your ideas, or simply interact with others who have made the journey.

Both of us have struggled through many difficult questions. We do not pretend for a moment to have all the answers; in fact, part of maturing in Christ is coming to the point where you realize you DON'T have all of the answers. Though we have come to certain conclusions in different areas, we do not approach this blog dogmatically, rather seeking to encourage real questions and real thinking. You will probably leave here disagreeing with us, and you know what, outside of the box, that's not a crime! God calls us to use the reasoning faculties He has given us and to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit, NOT a man or a movement.

Both of us have experienced something akin to the title of this blog. Early on in the process as you wrestle with difficult questions and feelings in your heart, it's very difficult; but there comes a day when you break out of the box. A day when it fully dawns on you that you CAN think for yourself, that you CAN come to different conclusions than the ones being force fed to you! It's like stepping out of a box and seeing the mountains for the first time. You stare in sheer wide-eyed wonder, and you begin to realize that you have been confined all of this time in a man-made, tradition hardened box, and the whole time you had missed THIS! Our prayer is that you will experience that moment! Our prayer is that your journey will draw you closer to Christ as ours has, not take you to a place of bitterness and anger. Sure, you could focus on the box, it's makers, and keepers and be distraught, or you could focus on the mountains and soak them in, enjoying every single moment of your new found freedom.

Feel free to leave comments or questions. You can do so anonymously if that would be better for you. You can feel free to contact either of us and know that we will gladly be a sounding board for you and keep a confidence. There is a link provided to our forum where you can participate in a wide array of dicussions. May the grace of God keep you and may you rejoice in the liberty with which Christ has made you free! Blessings!


Tony