tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415658708707994862.post7356036128355349159..comments2023-10-03T04:23:48.046-07:00Comments on Reformed Mafia: Top Ten Small-Church Pastor Challenges (part two)Machine Gun Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17501532765910479437noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415658708707994862.post-53332622804715064382008-06-04T19:17:00.000-07:002008-06-04T19:17:00.000-07:00rhett, nah you're kiddin', right?Not kidding. Ther...<I>rhett, nah you're kiddin', right?</I><BR/><BR/>Not kidding. There are SBC churches that are fond of neither Calvinists nor African-Americans.<BR/><BR/>Sad but true...Machine Gun Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17501532765910479437noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415658708707994862.post-69171104638082167892008-06-04T11:17:00.000-07:002008-06-04T11:17:00.000-07:00rhett, nah you're kiddin', right?Gordan- You know,...rhett, nah you're kiddin', right?<BR/><BR/>Gordan- You know, it takes a while to raise a family and you can't force a child to do what is beyond their capabilities. Also, being two-in-one-flesh, I have come to realize after twenty plus years, that you cannot scrub your wife with the fuller's soap incessantly unless you engender irritated thin skin. What we can do is to establish a vision, then goals, then the means to accomplish them. In all that though there must be confidence in relationship; a trust that someone knows what is right and that they are right in what they know. Otherwise no matter what is attempted it will fail. Like all discipline, discipleship takes submission, but the rule of Scripture is that we not Lord it over others. Instead we are given the tedious process of washing by the effectual water of the Word and doing so in such a way that it does not frustrate the children.<BR/><BR/>As you said, if the commitment is out of a true regenerate heart, a true dedication to the advancement of the Gospel, and if you can demonstrate the biblical validity, then a reasonable person will fall in line. For what other purpose do we have shepherds, appoint them to positions of lookout, leader and lecturer if we are not willing to go where they see is the best pasture? That being said, it does not exempt the body of Christ from taking on the character of the world. Like spoiled children, it is much harder to rediscipline, than it is to discipline correctly to begin with. And we all have the tendency to become settled in our ease.<BR/><BR/>Finally, it does take a generation to raise a family and what would help is if our churches adopted the attitude that we are in it for the long run like we are in marriage and for the purpose of preparing the next generation to take our place. If we did that, we would be more careful who we marry ourselves to in cooperative relationships. We would also be more diligent in achieving the common goal of bringing to maturity infants in Christ, esteeming others better than ourselves, rather than setting the goal as personal agenda.<BR/><BR/>Let the motto be: A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children...Strong Towerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13834108238546908018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-415658708707994862.post-90451950039249450432008-06-03T13:45:00.000-07:002008-06-03T13:45:00.000-07:00Cultural Conditioning... Would that include how ce...Cultural Conditioning... <BR/><BR/>Would that include how certain majoritarian minded Southern Baptist Churches around here don't seem too fond of African-American children participating in their AWANA program??Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com