Are you committing idolatry?

Tonight I heard a concern about the movie "The Passion of Christ". It was the first time I personally encountered someone having this issue in regard to that movie, but in retrospect , considering who it was voicing this "concern" I am not surprised.

The objection, for that is what it really is, comes from an application of the second commandment regarding graven images or idols. The pastors of this particular church believe that commandment prohibits any specific picture or imaging of Jesus, especially His face. (Please do not ask me by what convoluted process of pseudo-scholasticism they make an issue of the portrayal of Jesus’ face.) The bottom line is that in some minds, to have any kind of picture or portrayal of a Jesus as human being is considered the making of an image and therefore a violation of the commandment.

In response to these friends, I assert it is exactly that view and interpretation of the second commandment that puts people in a position of breaking the commandment. Here is what I mean.

Evangelical and Orthodox Christians hold to the truth that Jesus Christ was and continues to be in His incarnation, fully God and fully man. As a man He had and continues to have a human body, and thus while on earth He had a human form. To deny His humanity is as much a breaking of the second commandment as denying His Deity.

Part of the human form that Jesus had and continues to have includes a human face. To picture any human as faceless is to have an incomplete picture of that person’s human-ness. We dare not picture in our minds or in art an image of Jesus that doesn’t show all of His humanity. To do so makes that image less then what Jesus was and is as a human.

We are now in a "catch 22" situation. By nature, as God has created us, we are psychological beings. It is part of the way God has made us that we think visual images in our mind. The words of the story of Christ's life paint a picture in our mind in the form of a human image. Those of us who have physical sight picture the images in our mind that the story suggests. We do that instinctively and automatically because that is how God has made us. Each of us has in our mind an image of what we think Jesus may have looked like. We know we have no idea what He actually looked like, and we know the picture in our mind may not be accurate in detail, but we also sense it is accurate on the most important detail, that Jesus was a man with the body and appearance of a man including a human face.

To not picture Jesus at all in picture or other art forms puts us in danger of minimizing His humanity, and thus breaking the second commandment our friends are so concerned about. Our prayer and worship is not based on what particular image of Jesus as a man we may have in our minds, but those prayers and worship are based on the promises and truths of God's Word.

As of this date, I have not seen the Passion movie. I do plan on seeing it. When I do, I will be responsible for how I react to what I see on the screen. Neither Mel Gibson or anyone else will be responsible for how I react. Nor will I be responsible for how others may react to the movie. They will be responsible for and have to answer to God for themselves.

If I have a concern about the movie, it is that some will go to see it with expectations that are not in line with Gibson's focus and purpose. Some may expect more, positively, out of the movie then Gibson intended. Those people will be disappointed, but it will be their fault, not Gibson’s.

~ The Billy Goat ~

Elder led Churches versus Elder ruled Churches

Elders in Baptist churches? Conference examines the idea
(BPNews ) Feb 13, 2004, By Gary D. Myers

NEW ORLEANS (BP)--Elders and congregationalism. For many Baptists, these terms sound like polar opposites. However, according to some speakers at the "Issues in Baptist Polity" conference, the two may not be mutually exclusive.

The issue of the growing presence of elders in Baptist churches was one of the key discussions during the Feb. 5-7 sessions at the Baptist Center for Theology and Ministry of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary.

Mark Dever, pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., argued that a body of elders is the New Testament model of church structure. He made a clear distinction between "elder-led" and "elder-rule," flatly rejecting the Presbyterian model that makes a distinction between teaching elders and ruling elders. Instead, Dever offered a biblical argument for an elder-led form of congregationalism in which the congregation serves as a "final court of appeal" in the decision-making process....

"The biblical model is elder-directed or elder-led congregationalism," Dever said. "It is biblical and it is Baptist."

While there was support for elder-led congregationalism, the majority of speakers at the NOBTS polity conference denounced elder rule in Southern Baptist churches. Under the elder-rule model, the congregation has little or no say in the matters of the church. A select group rules and controls all or most of the decisions of the church.

In contrast, various presenters were at least open to the idea of elder-led model as a form of congregationalism. This is due in part to their general consensus on the biblical teaching about the number of church offices..."

Too much fuss over Gibson's `Passion'?

By WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY, Jan. 30, 2004, Houston Chronicle

"The argument over Mel Gibson's dramatization of the death of Jesus needs analysis, and this is not difficult to undertake, even for those who have not seen the movie, scheduled for release in February, on Ash Wednesday.

The plot line is remarkably brief. The biblical writers had no interest whatever in the kind of thing that interests Mel Gibson. He has taken on, after all, the greatest drama in human history, the crucifixion of the Jew who claimed divinity and persuaded much of the civilized world to accept his word. Matthew handles the whole thing -- from the order given down by Pilate, to the expiration of Jesus -- in less space than is taken by this newspaper column.

In that account, one line is spoken that most grievously offends several Jewish critics who have seen the two-hour film... "

Getting to the Altar on Time
Gerard V. Bradley in National Review Online January 22, 2004, 9:09 a.m.

"On Tuesday night, President Bush moved perceptibly closer to supporting a federal marriage amendment. But he stopped short of endorsing the idea, and gave no clue about which version — if any — he would ultimately get behind.

In his State of the Union address, Bush said, "Activist judges...have begun redefining marriage by court order, without regard for the will of the people and their elected representatives. On an issue of such great consequence, the people's voice must be heard. If judges insist on forcing their arbitrary will upon the people, the only alternative left to the people would be the constitutional process."

Now, if these words had passed the lips of our last president, one would scarcely be able to grasp their meaning. Bush makes no mention of an amendment at all. "Constitutional process" is a wide-open term..."

Bible Gateway : Revelation 10:2-4;: "He had a little scroll open in his hand. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. When he called out, the seven thunders sounded. And when the seven thunders had sounded, I was about to write, but I heard a voice from heaven saying, 'Seal up what the seven thunders have said, and do not write it down.'"

This past year a certain somebody, who will deservedly remain un-named here, wrote a book on the end times with the sub-title "How Could Everybody Be So Wrong about Biblical Prophecy". No, I did not waste my time reading this book, as I was already familiar with this writer's views on eschatology. I confess a certain skepticism and dismay came to mind in reading that sub-title. There is a degree of arrogance and lack of humility in that sub-title that has been characteristic of this particular writer's minstry in the past.

The passage from Revelation 10, regarding the seven thunders, should be enough to give all in the different camps of eschatology pause. Yes, we can know true things about the end times, but this passage insures we will not know everything about the end times until it happens. John tells us there were things he was told that he was prohibited from writing down. If we are not humble when wrestling through the things that were written down, this passage should make us humble, no matter how much we think we have the end times figured out.

~ The Billy Goat ~

Is Your Church Free from Cultic Tendencies

[It is very possible for a church, to be orthodox in doctrine and to still exhibit cultic tendencies. I found a disturbing number of these points described my former church, and amplified the reasons we left that church. Here is a checklist for responsible Christians, from the Spiritual Counterfeits Project . ~The Billy Goat ~ ]

"The following checklist of cultic tendencies by Charles Lesser was published in the October, 1991 Spiritual Counterfeits Project Newsletter. They are typical of a number of aberrational cultic groups and churches on the scene today.

1. Is your pastor fully accountable to a board of elders, presbyters, etc?
2. Is loyalty to Jesus and to one's own calling placed before loyalty to pastor and church?
3. Does your pastor encourage questions and suggestions? Is he approachable?
4. Does your pastor give equal attention to all kinds of people in his congregation?
5. Does your pastor readily admit his errors?
6. Does your pastor avoid boasting or hinting at a "special anointing"?
7. Is your pastor truly humble?
8. Are the sermons based on clear Biblical truths, not on "original revelations" or ax-grinding?
9. Does your church interact with other churches?
10. Does your church staff avoid secrecy?
11. Is power shared in your church (rather than preempted by a hierarchy)?
12. Does your church see itself as just one organ of the Body of Christ, and not the main one?
13. Is your church truly friendly?
14. Does your church emphasize ministry to people rather than church programs?
14. Are especially needy people cared for lovingly in your church?
15. Are church members encouraged and loved even when they leave?
16. Are relationships with former members encouraged or allowed?
17. Do the pastor and congregation avoid attacking and using as object lessons, former members or those who disagree?
18. Are families encouraged to stay together and spend time together?
19. Does your family worship Sunday service include children, at least for part of the service?
20. Are you encouraged in your own calling?
21. Are pleas for money rare and unemotional?
22. Are your children happy to attend church?
23. Are you happy to bring unsaved friends to your church?
24. Is there a diversity of classes, races, dress styles, ages, and occupations in your church?
25. Are people encouraged to hear from God for themselves?
26. Is there a single behavior standard for all people in the church?
27. Are all types of people considered welcome at your church?
28. Is the joy of the Lord present in your church?
29. Are you free from fear in your church?
30. Do you think more about God and Jesus than you do about your pastor and church?
31. Does your pastor include himself in any calls for repentance and forgiveness?
32. Are you clear that the pastors and elders never exaggerate or lie to make themselves look good?
33. Is your group encouraging of each other and free from gossip and rumoring?
34. Is there a humility of doctrine that points to the grace of God and His mercy for sinners?
35. Are you encouraged to serve in ministries or missions outside the local body?
36. Is there ever any pressure put upon members to give or lend money to leaders for their personal or business use (exclusive of church business or projects)? "

The Australian: Beagle ignores mothership's pleas [January 08, 2004]

"THE Beagle 2 remained ominously silent last night as the European Space Agency (ESA) renewed efforts to contact the tiny probe that landed on Mars on Christmas Day.

Beagle 2 was to have emitted a nine-note ditty penned by Britpop band Blur to announce its safe arrival on the red planet, but scientists have not heard from the probe since it was launched from its mothership, Mars Express.

NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter and several radio telescopes have so far been unable to obtain a signal from the probe.

But last night, Mars Express came within 315km of the Beagle 2's landing site near the planet's equator, giving ESA its best chance yet to make contact with the lander..."

Our British friends are having trouble finding their Beagle. Those of us who have a Beagle for a pet can tell them exactly what happened. Obviously upon landing on Mars, the Beagle immediately started sniffing around and found a scent trail. Beagle owners everywhere know what that means. That Beagle is on the trial and so totally focused on the scent that said Beagle hears nothing of it's outraged master's command to halt, stop, come back, or etc... A Beagles brain is in its nose, and as Beagle owners also know, Beagles are dogs of very little brain. In spite of that we love them anyhow.

~ The Billy Goat ~

Suffering for an Evangelical Faith
An Address to the National Evangelical Anglican Congress, Blackpool, England, 9/21/03
by Peter Moore, Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry

"...By any standards of measurement I am privileged, comfortable, secure, and as the string of degrees after my name indicates educated well beyond my intelligence. I have money in the bank, even a beat up old sports car in the garage at home. My wife doesn’t have to work. I grew up in the affluent suburbs of New York, got a scholarship to an elite private school, went to an Ivy league university, have a degree from Oxford, and – though I need to say it sotto voce these days – was baptized and cradled from birth in that bosom of the religious establishment, the Episcopal Church. What can I possibly say about suffering that can hold a candle to what so many others can tell you?

A significant handicap
I do, however, have one significant handicap. Because of it I am branded as an untouchable in some circles. I am treated with polite disdain and occasionally castigated as ignorant, bigoted, intolerant, homophobic, simplistic – and even dangerous. Three times when I have spoken in public I thought graciously and sanely I have had to have bodyguards. In certain circles I notice at social occasions I must initiate every conversation, and especially within certain parts of the Church the institutions with which I am identified are held in virtual contempt by people in positions of authority. My handicap? I am an evangelical...

Evangelical is a dirty word in American Episcopal circles – at least when it means something other than old Virginia low churchmanship with its fondness for Morning Prayer. And to be described as a "British evangelical" puts you just about on the bottom rung of the ladder..."

Cal Thomas: Howard Dean 'finds' Jesus
December 30, 2003

"Democrats have been trying hard in recent years to squeeze God into their politics, perceiving that Republicans have an edge on invoking the Creator to bless their policies. Democrats worry they suffer from a "God gap."

Bill Clinton and Al Gore, with their Southern Baptist backgrounds, were fluent in the language of religion, though not always in its personal application. Who can forget Easter Sunday 1996, when President Clinton emerged from church flashing a Bible for the cameras and later returning to the White House, where Monica Lewinsky got down on her knees to perform an act that did not resemble prayer?

Clinton and Gore often quoted what they said were verses of Scripture, which turned out to be incorrect and/or misapplied. And now Howard Dean will rush in where political angels have feared to tread and try to advance the theological ball down the field to see if he can score votes for his candidacy.

In an interview with the Boston Globe (Dec. 25), Dean announced that he is a "committed believer in Jesus Christ." He told writer Sarah Schweitzer that he plans to include references to Jesus and God in his speeches as he campaigns down South. That's the land of Confederate battle flags and pickup trucks Dean so recently disparaged. In the Globe interview, he said Southerners understand religious talk better than his fellow New Englanders...

Dean is from a Congregationalist background, a liberal denomination that does not believe in ministerial authority or church hierarchy. Each Congregationalist believes he is in direct contact with God and is entitled to sort out truth for himself. Dean's wife is Jewish and his two children are being raised Jewish, which is strange at best, considering the two faiths take a distinctly different view of Jesus..."

It's pretty clear that Mr. Dean knows not what fire it is he is playing with. ~ The Billy Goat ~

The Preacher's Mandate

Pray as though nothing of eternal value is going to happen unless God does it.

Prepare as giving "my utmost for His highest."

Seek not to "get a message" from the scripture, but seek "the message" of the scripture.

Be satisfied not with producing good content, put with producing good people.

Attend carefully to private and public walk with God, knowing the congregation never rises to a standard higher then that being lived by the preacher.

Be "persuaded that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation."

"Preach the word" - not about the word, not from the word, not with the word - affirming it is only proclamations of God's word that carry God's authority and His promise to bless.

Exalt Christ preeminently, trusting He will then draw people to Himself.

Balance declarations of "salvation by faith alone" with declarations describing the life Christ produces when He sees saving faith: transformed heart, desire to serve the Lord not self, growing affection for His word, increasing obedience, fruit of the Spirit, saltiness in society, maturing Christlikeness.

Depend solely upon God for the translation of spiritual truth into life.

Preach Christ's word in Christ-like demeanor.

Agree it is impossible at one and the same time to impress people with Christ and with oneself.

Allow the preaching to exude the fruit of the Spirit, lest the preaching fail to produce Christ-like lives.

Preach with humble gratitude, as one privileged to be an oracle of God.

Trust God to produce in the hearers His chosen purposes - irrespective of whether the results are readily visible.

(Published by The Cornerstone Trust, Box 1906, Cave Creek, AZ 85327)