Buck Burch

Presidential Generosity Summit- Buck Burch

2012-02-02T14:56:00.000-05:00

Send North America: South

2012-01-31T08:59:00.000-05:00

The Quilt

2011-12-05T11:33:00.001-05:00

Last week in Atlanta, we experienced our first frost of the year. I know, many are thinking, “Wow, we’ve already had weeks of snow!” But last week’s weather reminded me of a special event in our life about 4 years ago.

In early 2007, the ladies of Byron Baptist Church contacted us with a question of how they could bless us as their missionaries. Some churches sent things in the mail that we passed on to our Russian colleagues or new believers. Others prayed intensely for our ministry. We appreciated each effort our supporting churches made to be a blessing to us. Unfortunately, Leslie and I had already experienced the disappointment on numerous occasions when churches sent care packages to Russia. Some packages made it; some came with things missing.We even had one package of little cards written by children in a Sunday School class, but the package arrived 8 months late. That church was so surprised when we finally contacted them to acknowledge receipt; I guess they figured we had just not cared to send our thanks. So, when Byron Baptist asked what they could send, I quickly said, “Don’t send anything; just please pray for us.”

But the ladies were persistent about wanting to do something for us, so I began to think about what could be done. Outside our St. Petersburg apartment a heavy blanket of new snow laid on the ground. I watched shivering Russian children walking to school, and my mind somehow envisioned a warm blanket of God’s love covering the people I saw. At that point, I quickly went to my computer to type our answer to Byron Baptist Church: Would you make us a quilt, a blanket that will represent your love for us and God’s love for the nations? Some might think this was an audacious request, but I really felt like it was the right response.

Only later during the summer of 2007 did I find out the other side to this story. Byron Baptist Church women received our response with shock. Not one among them knew how to quilt.

But with an attitude that can only be described as faithfulness and joy, they brought in an outside consultant to explain the process, and they mobilized their ladies to begin work.

Slowly at first, the work began as the ladies listened intently to what should be done.

Some youth also participated in the design and stitching.

We arrived for our summer stateside assignment in

Georgia In June, and Byron Baptist Church requested I come to preach. After the service we were presented with the most beautiful quilt I’ve ever seen in my life.

On the reverse side of the quilt, prayers were written out with signatures of those who labored to produce this masterpiece.

The quilt is still the centerpiece of our bedroom, and each morning we awaken to pull back the cover and read the faithful messages of those who wanted us covered in prayer and warmth. My prayer for the nations today is that, through the labor of His church, the Lord would gently lay His quilt of grace and salvation.

A Test of Authentic Faith

2011-12-02T13:18:00.000-05:00

The truest test of authentic faith is the measure of adherence to the tenets of that faith as outlined in sacred texts. The tenets of faith usually come in the form of written rules or standards expressed through the offices of spiritual leadership and based upon some writings. To truly be Buddhist should be more than having a statue of a smiling fat man in the foyer. It would entail studying the Tipitaka or Tripitaka and structuring one’s life accordingly. A casual Buddhist is not a Buddhist, just a fan of Buddhism. To be truly Muslim is more than knowing how to wear a hijab. Ask any devoted Muslim what the Koran means to her, and you will see the level of authenticity of devotion in that religion. A casual Muslim is a cultural Muslim, but not a true adherent to Islam. You get the point.

To be truly Christian is to be more than a casual observer of a historical spiritual movement. It is more than crosses, or fish signs, or mass, or Sunday School. It is most markedly expressed by faith in Jesus Christ, God the Son, as He reveals Himself through scripture (orthodoxy) and as He expresses Himself through His Spirit’s empowering act to save us and make us holy (orthopraxy). The casual Christian is not a true Christian. Christianity is not something you simply “Like” on Facebook. There are no “almost saved.”

Maybe that’s why there is such a strong battle going on today as to the level of adherence to the Bible within Christianity. Thirty years ago, the question was voiced, “Is the Bible really the true Word of God and without error?” At least among Southern Baptists, that question was answered with a resounding YES. But today, it seems the question has morphed into “Does this true inerrant Word of God really apply to my situation today?” The answer is still “yes,” but many aren’t shouting it out on specific issues. Instead, the heat of the battle is making some say, “yes..well, maybe.” May God grant us faith to live what we read.

Take the scientific theory of evolution, for example. Within the scientific community, there is relatively little tolerance for alternative theories of origins. To say that an intelligent Being that you cannot measure with physical attributes supernaturally intervened in creation is outside of the academic discussion. Moreover, to say that that same Being actually created and governs those physical laws appears to be all the more ludicrous. That’s why when a true Christian wants to study the sciences in a public university, he is often faced with an ultimatum to deny his faith in favor of limited physical data. In today’s educational world, even professors can lose theirjobs if they favor another theory over evolution. And yet, many will say that they are Christian but deny the Scriptures that prescribe their beliefs.

Radical proponents of an alternative sexual lifestyle and LGBT bullies have shoved an agenda into the more recent American culture. The very fact that in October a Southern Baptist college like Shorter University would have to ask its faculty to sign an affirmation of a biblical view of sexuality would have seemed redundant a few decades ago. And yet, some other “Christians” have voiced their concerns that this is too radical a stance, not loving enough. Last month, students had to be “lovingly” evacuated because of a bomb threat over the issue. My, how we have evolved!

It’s not limited to Southern Baptist colleges either. In September in Fort Worth, a high school student was suspended because he said, and I quote, “I’m a Christian. I believe gays are wrong.” Apparently at least one teenager in Texas still believes that the Bible is relevant. A month earlier, a graduate student at Augusta State University was expelled from her psychology program because she refused to deny her Christian beliefs that homosexuality can be cured with Jesus. This only followed a similar incident at Eastern Michigan University where another orthodox Christian was kicked out of her master’s program because of her views that homosexuality is morally wrong. I will only barely mention how the public has expressed intolerant outrage over Christians who are asked to define their beliefs in arenas like beauty pageants or political offices. Authentic Christians have to make a choice to believe even when its inconvenient.

The fact is that a true Christian is a Christian because he or she is a devoted follower of the Christian text as the avenue through which God the Spirit reveals Himself. Revelation demands transformation, and that transformation sometimes requires a faithful public stand. Thank God, He has given the local church as the community in which that transformation is affected. If you are facing disgrace, humiliation, loss of employment, isolation, or even other forms of persecution, find a local church that preaches the Word of God as truth and stands as a community to support you.

November 7: When a Southern Baptist gets saved

2011-11-04T10:22:00.000-04:00

November 7 is a very significant date in my life. November 7 was my paternal grandmother’s birthday. I asked Leslie to be my wife around 10:30pm on November 7, 1990, and she said yes. But perhaps the greatest association is that on November 7, 1984, I was born again.

Growing up in a Southern Baptist preacher’s home with a godly mother and father who sensed a life’s calling to make sure their children were rightly reared, I was brought to church from the day I was born. As a Southern Baptist kid, I’ve experienced the full range of SBC life- RA’s, meals, Baptist summer camp, VBS, Training Union, Sunday School, revivals, meals, church visitation, more meals, Bible drill, Jot the Dot, and even SBC annual meetings (which for a kid was like playing trick-or-treat for all the booth give-aways and, if you were good, a few comics purchased from the Baptist Book Store). Ahhh, the good ol’ days.

I remember learning about church and about God early in life, and like many kids, I walked an aisle to be saved and baptized at age 6. My father was precautious of my juvenile resolution, so before I was baptized I had to complete a Billy Graham basic bible study course by mail and received a little gold certificate for completion. And so, with my baptism I had become a full-fledge member of a Southern Baptist church with all of the voting and arguing rights inherent therein. But from the age of 6 to 16, I struggled with what my “decision” really was. I’m certainly not against childhood decisions; matter of fact, my own children accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior early in their lives as well. I just knew during my preteens and early teenage years that I could not sense a real relationship with a living God. Over the years, I’ve come to understand that many youth have the same struggle after an early childhood decision. I felt empty and lost.

Fast forward a few years to that particular Autumn night in 1984. As a freshman in college, I was sitting on the end of middle row number 6 at Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia, listening to Jerry Johnston preach a message entitled, “The Marks of a Christian.” It seemed as if his sermon points were an outline of my life’s struggle to maintain my outward Christian appearance and church membership, while I knew the inside was hollow. The deathblow to my self-image came with his words, “If you’ve convinced yourself that you are a Christian because of some words you’ve said somewhere to someone, and yet your perpetual sin remains unchastised by God, chances are you’re not saved.” He went on to explain that God spanks his children when they willingly live in sin, but he said that God doesn’t chastise those who are not His own. I felt the Holy Spirit convict my very heart, and I walked forward to receive Christ as my complete Savior and Lord. I knew more about the sinner’s prayer than the fellow that counseled me in the counseling room, but that night the specific order of words in a prayer didn’t matter. God had touched my heart, and I responded in faith and confessed my sin before him. I asked him to be my Savior, once and for all, and to be my Lord, to rule me for the rest of my life. Some folks may say I gained the assurance of my salvation that night; God knows the full story. All I know is I once was lost, but now I’m not. And yes, I have rejoiced in the spanking hand of God in my life since then.

I called Mama and Daddy that night to tell them the news. I was scared to death that they would be upset or offended that my actions that evening might cast a negative light on their spiritual leadership. But on the contrary, they were ecstatic and supportive. I was re-baptized on the following Sunday at Thomas Road by co-pastor Rev. Jim Moon. I didn’t publish that much back home, because I didn’t know how folks would take my being re-baptized in an independent Baptist church, let alone being baptized by a Rev. Moon. But that week marked the beginning of my new walk toward spiritual maturity, a journey I’m still on and will find its last step at death to be the most complete. A couple of years later, I transferred my membership to East Griffin Baptist Church, where I began to develop as a Southern Baptist youth minister. And the rest is history. Or so I thought.

A few years ago, I received a call from a church clerk in the Southern Baptist church I was a member prior to attending college. The dialogue went something like this:

Clerk: “Brother Buck, we were going over our church roles, and we noticed that we still have your letter.”

Buck: “Oh (chuckle), that’s funny. That’s because I got saved after I went to college, so I got a new letter when I was baptized at Thomas Road Baptist Church.”

Clerk: (Silence) “I don’t understand. Your family moved their letters when they joined East Griffin Baptist Church; did you not join there too?”

Buck: “Yes, I did. But I transferred my letter from Thomas Road.”

Clerk: “Well, what about your letter here?”

Buck: “Well, I wasn’t saved when I was a member there.”

Clerk: “So what your letter?”

Buck: “I guess it’s invalid, because I am saying I got saved later.”

Clerk: “Well, this is awkward. What do I do with your letter?”

Buck: “What do we normally do with letters of unsaved church members?” (Oops, I thought, bad wording).

Clerk: (Silence) “Nothing. Their names stay on the roles.”

Buck: “Well, it looks to me like we have two options: I could stay on your roles as an unsaved church member with the right to drop in at the next business meeting and vote; or you could just throw the letter away.”

Clerk: “I guess it would be best to just get rid of your membership. We’ll vote to remove you as a member.”

Buck: “Thank you. And I love ya’ll very much.”

There really should never have to be a choice between church membership status-quo and right spiritual standing before God, but sometimes the line that is drawn in the sand is one that Jesus draws. Like W.A. Criswell, former pastor of FBC Dallas, once said, “Saved church members make better church members.” Sometimes hard choices have to be made when a Southern Baptist gets saved.

Upcoming Generosity Celebration in Appalachee Baptist Association 1/12/2012

2011-10-07T07:15:00.000-04:00

Fort Valley First Baptist Church State Missions Offering

2011-10-07T07:10:00.000-04:00

Fort Valley First Baptist Church had a creative way of emphasizing their State Missions Offering Goal this year. Jay Vineyard spoke at First Baptist Church of Fort Valley recently, and I was excited to see a creative poster that one of their dear senior ladies, Mrs. Dorothy Hudson, had made. It showed how a simple offering from a church in Fort Valley had reaching effects all over the state of Georgia and beyond. Praise the Lord for all of the efforts of Georgia Baptist churches this year in support of State Missions!

Appalachee Baptist Association Generosity Campaign

2011-09-10T06:53:00.001-04:00

In just 3 weeks, we will continue to celebrate what God is doing through the Generosity Initiative in Appalachee Baptist Association, this time at First Baptist Church of Monroe. All materials for these conferences are provided free of charge to participating Appalachee Association churches through your gifts to the Cooperative Program. Dr. Frank Page, President/CEO of the Executive Committee of the SBC, will be our keynote speaker that evening as we focus on planning a church's annual stewardship calendar.

Appalachee Baptist Association

Generosity Campaign—September 22, 2011—FBC Monroe

6:10 - 6:45 Attend first of two conferences

“Managing Your Money for the Master” - Buck Burch

“Unlimited: God's Grace and Glory” - Dr. John Bryan

6:50 - 7:30 Attend second of three conferences

7:40 Keynote Inspirational Message - Dr. Frank Page

Managing Your Money for the Master ……Buck Burch

This conference gives a brief overview of a wonderful eight-session study that explores pesonal money management as a part of Christian discipleship. It is a biblical approach to drawing the connection between spirituality and Christian daily life. It is a highly personalized study that churches can use in small group sessions for discussion and outreach. Churches would benefit greatly as they offer their community the sound financial advice found here. The study answers questions like:

· What kind of manager am I?

· What does my lifestyle say about my discipleship?

· How can I set financial goals?

· What tools are available for planning my future financial success?

Unlimited: God's Grace & Glory……..John Bryan

Since oceans, mountains, and skies can portray the unlimited quality of God, don't you think He also would want man as the culmination of His creation to portray the unlimited quality of God in our lives? This emphasis is a three-Sunday church stewardship resource will be used association-wide in Appalachee in January of 2012! It is specifically designed to assist congregations to help members see the unlimited rather than the limited potential available through faithful lifestyle stewardship. The Unlimited: God's Grace & Glory session will help church members visualize their stewardship responsibilities as:

· Experienced through the Gospel

· Expressed through our Giftedness

· Exhibited through our Generosity

Keynote Address…… Dr. Frank Page

Please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYB9t7LrzGg to watch Dr. Page's greeting to the Appalachee Baptist Association, and become a Facebook friend of "Generosity: Appalachee Baptist Association" here: http://tinyurl.com/4x7wmvj!

Upcoming Speaking Schedule- Sept & Oct

2011-08-29T08:38:00.002-04:00

Some have asked about Buck's Upcoming Speaking Schedule & Visits:

September 2011

9/4 - Calvary Baptist Church, Rhine, GA (lead stewardship seminar) - 11AM
9/4 - First Baptist Church, Eastman, GA (preach at home church) - 6PM
9/6 - SE Regional Assn Meeting, Baxley, GA (networking) - 10AM
9/11 - Bethlehem Baptist Church, East Dublin, GA (State Missions Emphasis) - 11AM
9/11 - Poplar Springs South Baptist Church, Dublin, GA (State Missions Emphasis) - 6PM
9/13 - North GA Financial Success Seminar, Gainesville, GA (attend) - 6:30PM
9/14 - East Central GA Regional Assn Meeting, Washington, GA (networking) - 10:30AM
9/18 - Lovely Grove Baptist Church, Eastman, GA (State Missions Emphasis) - 11AM
9/18 - First Baptist Church, Reynolds, GA (State Missions Emphasis) - 6PM
9/21 - GBCMMC, Duluth, GA (New Assn Missionary Orientation) - 5:30PM
9/22 - First Baptist Church, Monroe, GA (Appalachee Assn Stewardship Emphasis)- 6PM
9/23 - GBCMMC, Duluth, GA (New Ministers Orientation) - AM
9/25 - Pleasant View Baptist Church, Pitts, GA (State Missions Emphasis) - 11AM
9/27 - South Region Assn Meeting, Ailey, GA (networking) - 10AM
9/28 - First Baptist Church, Middleburg, FL (Ordination Service for IMB Missionary) - PM
9/29 - Valdosta Assn Meeting, Valdosta, GA (networking) - AM

October
10/4 - Second Ponce DeLeon Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA (Missions Emphasis) - 11AM
10/11 - Little River Baptist Assn Fall Mtg, Pleasant Grove Baptist, Rochelle, GA - 4:30PM
10/13 - Telfair Baptist Assn Fall Mtg, Blockhouse Baptist, Jacksonville, GA - 5PM
10/18 - Ebenezer Baptist Assn Fall Mtg, Dry Branch, GA - 9AM
10/18 - Merritt/Summerhill Baptist Assn Fall Mtg, Pleasant Hill Baptist, Dawson, GA - 5PM
10/25 - Kilpatrick Assn Fall Meeting, Sweetwater Baptist, Thomson, GA - 3PM

Jesus is Lord

2011-08-24T20:29:00.000-04:00

For a limited time, you can download Matt Papa's "Jesus is Lord" MP3 from Amazon.com absolutely free. Go pick it up.

Jesus Rules

2011-08-24T10:54:00.000-04:00

For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. – 2 Cor. 4:5

It is an interesting word: Lord. Back in the day when men wore powdered wigs and panty hose and snorted snuff from the back of their hands, the title lord had a certain meaning of male gentility or class status. But it also meant ownership of some substantial property. They were czars in a sense (which later became retranslated as ‘sir’) or masters (which later became ‘mister’). In some languages, that has carried forward with dualistic implications of male propriety and property management (ie. “Senor” in Spanish means Mr. or Lord). Consequently, the English word Lord is often misunderstood, even sometimes by those who cry out in cathedrals "Lord, have mercy!" in the Kyrie Eleison liturgy.

Maybe a better word would be “boss” or “owner,” because that carries with it the understanding that someone has ownership and rights to manage us. So Paul was saying in reality, “We are not talking big about ourselves, but we’re saying that Jesus Christ is the Boss, and we are working for you because He owns us.”

So, the big question for us today is: Is Jesus really Lord?

I wore a T-shirt to school one day that said, “Jesus Rules.” Interestingly, a Muslim math teacher stopped me and said, “Says who?” He was actually pretty angry at the time, so I thought he had taken my T-statement to be demeaning to his exaltation of Mohammed. Later, I found out that he was more of a liberal atheist than a devout Muslim, so his anger was most likely generated by a sense of “no religion should make any exclusive claims.” But Paul was pretty straightforward about Jesus being the Boss to the exclusion of everyone else.

Is Jesus really Lord? Says Who?

Actually the mainstream “orthodox” Christian church says that He is Lord. I use those qualifiers to define what is a true church from cults. Romans 10:9 says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, you will be saved.” This is one of the fundamental tenets of the Christian faith. Any “church” or group that claims otherwise is not Christian. By definition, Christianity is following Christ as the ONLY means of salvation; therefore, the Christian church says that Jesus is Lord or Boss. Unfortunately, there have arisen some groups that, in the name of embracing diversity, have posited that there are other ways to be saved apart from a verbal profession of faith in Christ. I’m sorry, folks, but I’m not drinking a mixture of one part lemonade with one part poison. Jesus alone is Lord; if He is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all.

Individual Christians should have the daily testimony that Jesus is Boss. 1 Corinthians 12:3 says that “nobody can say Jesus is the Lord except by the power of the Holy Spirit.” If anyone has received Jesus as Savior, he has received Him also as Boss. Christianity is not a cafeteria plan where one item can be picked and the other left at the counter. It’s also not an installment plan, whereby you get larger increments of Lordship over time. When the Spirit of Jesus invades a person’s heart at the moment of salvation, Jesus becomes Boss immediately. So it is normal for a true Christian to verbally acknowledge that Jesus rules everyday.

One day, every person and angel will say that Jesus is Lord. Philippians 2:9-11 says that there is coming a day when “every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is really the Boss.” It’s really just a matter of timing and compulsion. To establish Jesus’ ownership personally now by faith opens up a life of freedom (see 2 Cor. 3:17). To reject that absolute truth until faith is no longer possible is not only unintelligent and reckless, it is tragic (Rev. 20:15). Perhaps this is not a popular thought in our modern pluralistic world, but it is nonetheless the truth.

So the ultimate question is: Is He your Lord?

Think back again about ownership of property. Does Jesus own you? Does He own your heart? Is He the Boss of your mind? Does He get management rights over your stuff? Like Paul was saying, we should not pose these questions because we think we’ve got it all together, but Jesus does. So let this small post be a ministry to you for His sake.

Together We Are/ Empty Hands

2011-08-17T13:42:00.001-04:00

Ministry Criticism- 1 Cor. 4:1-24

2011-08-11T09:11:00.001-04:00

(From a sermon I first preached at Bethel Baptist Church, Eastman, Georgia, on June 28, 1992)
Someone once said, “Wherever there are two Baptists, there are usually three opinions.” In any human organization, because of the presence of fallen humanity, there is usually some form of criticism about the way others are doing something. There is a wealth of talk prevalent in every church, and it seems that some of it revolves around how badly things are going in some aspect of church life. Some complain about the attendance, while others grumble about the worship style. Some people have a problem with the preaching, and others are never satisfied with the extent of pastoral ministry. I chuckle at one line in the old song “Excuses” when a woman is upset that the preacher “didn’t even shake my hand.”

I’ve discovered that criticism can be divided into two categories: useful and venomous. While constructive criticism is sometimes very valid and can be used to shape a more effective ministry, there are times when criticism is not only unjust, it is downright destructive. I have to be careful that I’m not being critical of the fact that there is unjust criticism, so here are a few points from the apostle Paul’s ministry that can benefit us when we are on the receiving end of criticism. I pray these points will be useful to you whenever you face cricitism.

1. Recognize that your ultimate critic is not men but the Lord (vs. 1-4).

According to Paul, the Lord will critique your faithfulness at His appointed time (vs. 2). If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord, you will not face eternal punishment in hell, but your good works will be critiqued (see Rom. 14:10 and 2 Cor. 5:10). Men will criticize your faithfulness and stewardship sometimes because you’re doing something that they’re not (vs. 3). Joel Barker has a famous quotation: “Those who say it can’t be done are usually interrupted by others doing it.” I think that’s so true. Matthew 12:2 shows how the Pharisees constantly found fault in Jesus’ disciples. In Mark 3:2, they even watched for a time to accuse Jesus himself. The fact is we all have blind spots that only the Lord can see (vs. 4), so he should be our real critic. Although we have been placed within communities of accountability called the church, ultimately we answer to Jesus above all others.

2. Don’t let criticism sidetrack you from your task of real ministry (vs. 3).

Paul said, “To me it is a very small thing that I may be examined by you, or by any human court; in fact, I do not even examine myself.” Paul’s not saying he’s against self-examination (see 1 Cor. 11:28), but he is saying there is a time and place for it- “before the time” (vs. 5). Isaac Murray illustrates this in his story of how a little dog, harnessed to an old-timey lawn mower, stopped pulling to bark at a passer-by. The boy who was guiding the mower said, “Don’t mind the dog—he is just barking for an excuse to rest. It is easier to bark than to pull this mower.” Sometimes it’s easier to criticize than to keep working. And while there’s nothing wrong in examination/taking a test, it shouldn’t stop your progress in ministry; it should enhance it.

3. Don’t let criticism make you a critic (vs. 5)

As I mentioned above, we have to watch our own words. Do our words come across as critical? Are we being unjustly critical of the critical? We also have to guard our hearts. The Lord will “disclose the motives of men’s hearts,” so far be it from us to guess at why a man is being critical of us. Thomas Fuller once wrote, “Search others for their virtues and thyself for vices.”

I read an excerpt from John Wesley the Methodist, chapter 20, that gives a great example of avoiding being critical:

“John Wesley and one of his preachers were once taking lunch with a gentleman whose daughter had been greatly impressed by Wesley’s preaching. The itinerant, a man of very plain manners and little tact, was conversing with the young lady, who was remarkable for her beauty. He noticed that she wore a number of rings, and taking hold of her hand, he raised it, and called Wesley’s attention to the sparkling gems. “What do you think of this, sir,” said he, “for a Methodist’s hand” The girl turned crimson, and the question was awkward for Wesley, whose aversion to all display of jewelry was so well known. But the aged evangelist showed a tactChesterfieldmight have envied. With a quiet, benevolent smile he looked up, and simply said, “The hand is very beautiful.” The young lady appeared at evening service without her jewels, and became an earnest Christian.”

4. Understand that unjust criticism comes from pride and jealousy (vs. 6).

In verse 6, Paul called it being “arrogant in behalf of one against the other.” Do you realize that unjust criticism is often the overflow of a discontented heart. Because of pride’s devastating effect on the host, it is often fed by attacks on others; but it costs the host in the end. Lucifer’s pride cost him the choir and got him eternity in hell. Cain’s pride cost him his brother and got him the label “first murderer.” The Pharisees’ pride cost them their relationship with the long-awaited Messiah. When we recognize the source of the criticism, it is often easier to handle. We can even pity or sympathize with the hurting critic.

5. Make a distinction between unjust criticism and pastoral correction (vs. 14-15, 21).

It is a modern epidemic to pass out criticism without being open to receiving any correction. The bible often talks about having spiritual mentors who can help guide us through areas where we may have blind spots. Who is your spiritual tutor? Spiritual father? Even the bible itself should be our corrector- Hebrews 4:12- sharper than a double-edged blade. A good pastor knows how to “rightly divide the word” or, in more modern terms, show how the eternal truths of the bible apply to a given situation. We should be open to pastoral correction and not merely throw it into the category of pharisaical criticism.

6. Unjust criticism reveals spiritual immaturity (vs. 14, 21).

Paul used words like “my beloved children,” “with a rod,” and “spirit of gentleness” to describe not only his relationship with the Corinthian church but to identify the nature of their immaturity. He was basically saying the same thing my mother used to say when we kids were doing something rebellious, “Do you want me to bring my belt?” Actually, it was my Daddy’s belt, and I know he got tired of having to take it off. It may sound harsh, but Paul was simply identifying how childish was the critical spirit among the church. In Galatians 6:1, he said, “you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.” In other words, some folks have disciplined themselves to become more spiritually mature, so they should act like it especially in times of stress.

The next time you face criticism, which may be sooner rather than later, let Paul’s words encourage you to recognize the situation for what it really is and give you the wherewithal to seek your direction from the Lord, His Word, and the spiritual disciplers He has placed in your life. Even in the midst of an abundance of criticism, we can find a peace that surpasses our understanding.

I’ll end with a poem entitled “The Critic” from The Pentecostal Testimony-

A little seed lay in the ground,

And soon began to sprout;

“Now which of all the flowers around,”

It mused, “shall I come out?

“The lily’s face is fair and proud

But just a trifle cold;

The rose, I think, is rather loud,

And then, it’s fashion old.

“The violet, it is very well,

But not a flower I’d choose,

Nor yet the Canterbury bell—

I never cared for blues.”

And so it criticized each flower,

This supercilious seed,

Until it woke one summer hour—

And found itself a weed.

Theology of Blessing

2011-08-05T09:08:00.000-04:00

The nature of blessing is much like blood distributed throughout the body. A good heart carries blood a long way. Good blood vessels are responsible for distributing 1800 gallons of blood to your extremities each day, removing impurities and delivering nutrients that you need. But when something blocks that flow, the heart is arrested, and the whole body shuts down. If something isn’t done to restore normal flow, you die. God’s blessing flows according to similar principles:

1. God desires to bless us.

2. God desires to bless the earth and all people through His children.

3. Our disobedience blocks the reception/distribution of God’s blessing.

4. Our repentance can remove the blockage.

As a child in Middle Georgia, I would accompany my father to rural Baptist churches. During times of severe drought, farmers would sometimes call a special prayer meeting for rain. I still remember hearing older farmers humbly crying to God for a blessing of rain and some relief from the intense heat that was killing crops, cattle, and even friends. Then, like men of faith, they would go outside and wait. When the first drop fell, someone would ask with a smile, “Did you feel that?” These meetings shaped my theology of blessing.

Last year I spent the summer months in Moscow where the capital city experienced not only record temperatures but sweltering smoke from peat fires burning out of control. It was impossible to see enough to drive, so the streets became a scene from some apocalyptic movie; just a few souls walked the sidewalks with wet cloths covering their nose and mouth. I read the newspapers each day with sorrow as I watched the death count move above 10,000. Tons of water were being dumped on these fires but really to no avail. Russian Baptist churches met to pray for rain and for a cool northern breeze. Russian church services were almost unbearable as people choked through songs and helped fainting elderly women. There seemed to be no place to hide from nature’s devastating effects. I won’t forget how in the wee hours of one blistering hot July morning, I heard people laughing below in the streets as the first drops of rain began to fall. Opening my fifth-story window to the darkness of the city, I felt a wave of rain hit me as it started falling harder and harder. I turned to Leslie who had joined me and said, “Did you feel that?” The laughter below turned to praise, and God’s name was being exalted from the awnings of a nearby storefront. People were dancing in the street. There was no denial that this was a blessing.

These days, most rural churches have ceased having specially-called prayer meetings for rain. Somehow we’ve moved beyond a rustic, childlike perspective into an almost existential fatalism – “if God wants to bless the earth with rain, He’ll send it.” But I would challenge this approach on theological grounds. It seems that the Bible presents a contrasting picture of our active participation as intercessors for blessing. Old Testament men of God were called upon to pray for blessing based upon the commitment and obedience of God’s people (see Deut. 11:17 and 1 Kings 8:35). And although Jesus says the blessing’s effects are felt by sinners and saints alike (Matt. 5:45), the Bible tells us that God’s blessing is a promise contingent upon the obedience of His people (Mal. 3:10). Apparently there is a special distinction in God’s mind as to who are His servants and who are not (Mal. 3:18), and yet God wants us to be His conduit through which His blessing flows to everyone as a testimony (Gen. 22:18). Economically, the world needs a good “rain”. So I am praying that God would bless those who are obedient to Him in tithes, in devotion, and in witness- so that all men might know the great and awesome power of our God. It’s a big prayer, maybe not politically correct, but it’s biblical. Did you feel that?

Registration Now Open for Free Seminars

2011-08-03T13:55:00.000-04:00

To register for the free Financial Success during Difficult Times seminar in locations throughout N.Ga., go to http://www.gabaptist.org/nga

North Georgia Financial Seminars

2011-08-01T12:02:00.001-04:00

“Financial Success during Difficult Times”– free seminars led by Dr. George Barnett, owner of MPE International, Inc., a Georgia-based international corporation that offers a full range of leadership development opportunities from a Biblical perspective. Sponsored by the Georgia Baptist Convention. Everyone is invited to attend. You have a choice of nine different times and locations, so find the one that is nearest or most convenient to you:

East Central Georgia			Location: Abilene Baptist Church, Augusta
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	August 22	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

East Central Georgia			Location: Wrens Baptist Church, Wrens
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	August 23	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

East Central Georgia			Location: Northside Baptist Church, Milledgeville
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	August 25	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

Northeast Georgia			Location: Beech Haven Baptist Church, Athens
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	September 12	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

Northeast Georgia			Location: Oak Grove Baptist Church, Gainesville
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	September 13	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

Northeast Georgia			Location: First Baptist Church of Toccoa
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	September 15	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

Northwest Georgia			Location: Grove Level Baptist Church, Dalton
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	September 19	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

Northwest Georgia			Location: Tabernacle Baptist Church, Cartersville
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	September 20	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future

Northwest Georgia			Location: Ellijay First Baptist Church
Session	Date	Time	Who Should Attend	Topics Covered
1	September 22	6:30- 8:30	Anyone interested in improving their financial situation	Personal Budget, Managing Debt, Managing Money, Managing Your Future