Criticism and correction are two very hard things to receive. Often we find ourselves on the defensive in either of these situations. In fact some people fail to understand the difference between the two and do not know how to handle or respond to them. It is on my heart today to share some of what God has taught me over the years on these issues.
The Critic ... Often people in ministry especially seem to encounter this person. They never seem to be happy with you, they find fault it seems in everything. So often we tend to write such people off as those who just do not like or support us. We describe them as difficult, complainers, antagonistic and negative. They tend to be painted with a brush that places them in a camp of people who have no value to add and only cause problems or issues. I am not going to say that there is no truth in any of that sentiment but I have come to realize that often people are mis-understood and the more they are mis-understood and they feel that no one is listening to them, they fall into a pattern of trying to be heard. Often this pattern comes across as very negative and harsh. Sure there are some that truly are just against us for some reason but many people labeled that way I think are unjustly labeled because of our lack of dealing with things properly.
When we interact with someone perceived as the Critic, we need to take some time to hear them, even if they are upset and we think they are totally off base. They need to be heard and we need to listen to them for the nuggets of Truth rooted in what they are saying. Even if someone has poor delivery of the information, there may be some Truth to it. So we are first to listen to them.
Second we are to ponder what they are saying and truly ask ourselves and God if this is true and if it is then how am I to respond and if it is not how am I to respond. We must take some time and not respond in a reactive defensive way. If there is even a small amount of Truth present in the message we have received we need to acknowledge that and express what we intend to do about it. The portions of the message that we believe are not valid need to be exposed as such, but in as loving and gracious a way as possible.
Third we must pray for the person who has brought this forward, that God would give them proper insight, patience and grace for others and that they would seek to honor God and learn how to interact with others in a healthy way.
The Correcter ... When we receive correction it is important that we not confuse it with criticism. Too often people feel threatened by even loving and gentle correction and respond poorly. Biblical Correction is always to be done in love and with grace for the person being corrected. It is to follow much prayer and study to ensure that the correction is given properly. When we receive this type of correction we need to respond positively with repentance and a desire to move in a fresh direction. If you believe that the correction is not based on Truth and is incorrect then you must not get upset and defensive but rather you must expose any lies or mis-representations and proclaim Truth in return with grace and love for the other person. Make sure you are walking in humility to receive correction properly, or we can sometimes place ourselves in a sinful prideful state by setting out our arguments of defense and winning over our corrector to see our side even if we are in the wrong. Correction can come not because of our lack of Truth or Logic but because we may have a delivery that causes hurt or division with others. So we must be even more receptive to correction in a healthy way so we can grow and not continue to hurt others.
Just like criticism can be unfounded so can correction, but both need to be dealt with properly. I know this blog is not exhaustive on these matters and I do not consider myself an expert. Rather I have had to learn a lot of these things the hard way, because I was critical, because I was prideful and did not receive correction well. God can work in your life as He has in mine and crush a heart of stone and replace it with a heart of tender flesh.
Keep short accounts with each other and walk in love. Extend forgiveness for the wrongs done and the hurts caused. If God has saved you and your accuser as well, then the same Spirit resides in you both and is grieved when we fail to show humility, grace and love toward one another.
Let us walk together
Pastor Bruce
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
No Other Gospel
I have been pondering the Gospel and the mission of the Church a lot lately. Today is no different.
Galatians 1:6-10 (ESV)
Galatians 1:6-10 (ESV)
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
The true message of the Gospel of Jesus is of the utmost importance. I have found so many that talk of the gospel but when you hear their "gospel" you find that it is lacking. A troubling thing. At what point is a partial gospel message no longer the gospel at all?
As a ponder this I find myself humbled because I am certain that at times I have not given the most complete gospel message. Yet I find myself continually challenged to improve my understanding and presentation of the Gospel. Recently I was challenged by a man who said I talked too much about sin and that Jesus never declared anyone a sinner. Some people would have just disregarded this person, but I will be pondering this in my heart and increasing my study on the subject to ensure that my teaching and presentation are accurate.
What about you? How is your Gospel message and understanding? Does the Gospel you know and share include the following?
I know that this is not an exhaustive list but consider what happens when significant Biblical Truth is not being understood when a "gospel" is being shared. I have heard people talk of how you can be a Christian and an Atheist, that following the teaching and life example of Jesus makes you a Christian and has nothing to do with believing God. This of course is a total lie and is so very far from the Truth. I have heard people talk of God as love, and of course Love is one of God's key attributes as taught in the Bible. Yet often a message is given that God is love but no balance of our sin and God's justice, showing that Jesus is the answer. A God is love, accept Jesus as your friend and go to heaven message is not a full Gospel. Some have been told a message that included a lot of talk about God and His Holiness, our sinful state and how our behavior must become pleasing to God. Yet the Bible teaches that our behavior will never please God, only through the saving Grace of Jesus will we ever be in a place where God is pleased with us. We live an obedient life not to please God more, but because we are to live submitted to Him and to give Him honor, our lives are not our own.
Anyway I could go on and on but I ask you to consider embracing a True and Full Gospel. If you want to learn more about the Gospel try out this video.
http://youtu.be/-nhgIV16piw
Pastor Bruce
What about you? How is your Gospel message and understanding? Does the Gospel you know and share include the following?
- An understanding that God exists
- That God is the creator of all
- That God exists as 3 persons in perfect unity
- That God the Son came to earth as the man Jesus
- That Jesus was fully God and fully human
- That Jesus lived a sinless life
- that Jesus willingly gave himself up to suffer and die for our sin on a cross
- That Jesus sacrifice is the only way to have our sin and its penalty removed from us.
- The penalty for sin is death and eternal separation from God in a place of suffering called Hell or the Lake of Fire
- That Jesus rose from the grave after 3 days
- That Jesus has been given all authority to judge
- That Jesus the judge also has the ability to save
- Salvation is when we recognize our sinfulness and repent of our sin, accepting Jesus and His sacrifice as payment for our sin and making Jesus our lord.
- Jesus will declare salvation for all who truly follow Him
- Those who accept this gift of salvation by the Grace of God through Faith in Jesus are secured by Jesus and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
- We who receive Salvation are to live in obedience to Jesus and His Word (The Bible)
- Our primary Goal in this life as a follower of Jesus is to Glorify God and to enjoy Him forever.
- As we go through this life we are to grow in our faith as a disciple, living and speaking so that others would also come to know our Savior and Lord, Jesus.
I know that this is not an exhaustive list but consider what happens when significant Biblical Truth is not being understood when a "gospel" is being shared. I have heard people talk of how you can be a Christian and an Atheist, that following the teaching and life example of Jesus makes you a Christian and has nothing to do with believing God. This of course is a total lie and is so very far from the Truth. I have heard people talk of God as love, and of course Love is one of God's key attributes as taught in the Bible. Yet often a message is given that God is love but no balance of our sin and God's justice, showing that Jesus is the answer. A God is love, accept Jesus as your friend and go to heaven message is not a full Gospel. Some have been told a message that included a lot of talk about God and His Holiness, our sinful state and how our behavior must become pleasing to God. Yet the Bible teaches that our behavior will never please God, only through the saving Grace of Jesus will we ever be in a place where God is pleased with us. We live an obedient life not to please God more, but because we are to live submitted to Him and to give Him honor, our lives are not our own.
Anyway I could go on and on but I ask you to consider embracing a True and Full Gospel. If you want to learn more about the Gospel try out this video.
http://youtu.be/-nhgIV16piw
Pastor Bruce
Monday, May 6, 2013
The true gospel of Jesus Christ - by Paul Washer (playlist)
The importance of the Gospel, the True Gospel as found in the Bible. I urge everyone to view this video clip and consider what brother Paul Washer has to say. This is a matter of highest importance. I care about you and want you to know that there is a good God who cares as well.
Pastor Bruce
Pastor Bruce
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Should Church have a strategy? or just a Biblical model?
I have been taking in some info again lately on Church leadership etc... and one thing that has come up is that the Church needs to do more than just pray, the leaders need to do more than just read their Bibles and such talk then ends with an encouragement towards strategic planning. Yet I am not convinced. Sure I agree with the logic of failing to plan is planning to fail, but maybe the modern Church movements are to concerned with their model upgrades, strategic planning and visionary goal setting. Not that it is wrong to move forward but I believe we are not spending enough time in taking the "Church" back to the Biblical model.
The Bible gives us plain teaching about the operating principles for the Church. Read the New Testament starting with Acts and look for how the Church did things, how leadership was trained up, how leaders were put in place, how the Church grew and was established and how multiplication of Churches occurred. You can see a pretty clear pattern of principles for the Church to operate by. Our Mission has not changed, we are to go and make disciples, baptising them and training them. The process of going through life and taking the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus with us is still to be how we live. The Church is to expand because we take the message of the Gospel to the lost world around us and as people respond to Jesus we form new local Church communities. In these new Church communities we train and equip the new believers until they are ready to move forward in an autonomous and yet interdependent way as a part of the greater Mission of the Kingdom.
So here is what I see taught plainly in the Bible as a strategy for the Church. If you are starting as a Church planter like the early Apostles, then begin by loving the community around you enough to share the Truth of a Biblical Gospel of repentance found in Jesus. Then take the new believers and begin to train them and baptise them and continue to train them so that they would be true Disciples of Jesus. Part of this training is to get everyone to serve with their gifts and abilities, to grow as leaders and to know how to go and make more Disciples of Jesus. This should lead to more Churches being established. Proper Biblical strategy replicates roles as well as abilities, we should not fear that we are training someone to take our role, we should enjoy that reality.
If you are starting in an existing Church situation then you have a harder job. You need to begin by helping your current Church get on board with the Biblical mission we have been given by our Lord Jesus. Then follow the same principles as above but they should be happening out of the team in your current Church, instead of the lone or small Church planting team.
The Biblical model allows for big Churches and small Churches but whether big or small, they are all to be "replicating" Churches. No Church should set a strategy based on a singular high calibre leader, rather the high calibre leader needs to do the hard work of replicating their ministry in others who are called to join them in it. Then as the Church grows it will be ready to replicate. Too many large Churches today have embraced a model that allows for the glorification of people by seeking to create larger and larger audiences for them to talk to or sing to etc... These types of paradigms create an attitude that it is better to listen to this particular person and so we will add another thousand seats to grow, or we will add three more satellite locations to grow. Instead they should be preparing other leaders to grow where new work is needed. This way the model can be replicated easily also it is a better fit for the way the Bible teaches us to grow Churches.
Believe me it can be a struggle, but more and more I am convinced that it is the road I must stay on. I must seek at all costs to follow the Biblical model. You can choose to join me in this, not by moving here and joining FFBC (although you are welcome) but by making a commitment to be Biblical as much as you can be and to be a part of helping your local Church to do the same.
Let us walk together
Pastor Bruce
The Bible gives us plain teaching about the operating principles for the Church. Read the New Testament starting with Acts and look for how the Church did things, how leadership was trained up, how leaders were put in place, how the Church grew and was established and how multiplication of Churches occurred. You can see a pretty clear pattern of principles for the Church to operate by. Our Mission has not changed, we are to go and make disciples, baptising them and training them. The process of going through life and taking the testimony of the Gospel of Jesus with us is still to be how we live. The Church is to expand because we take the message of the Gospel to the lost world around us and as people respond to Jesus we form new local Church communities. In these new Church communities we train and equip the new believers until they are ready to move forward in an autonomous and yet interdependent way as a part of the greater Mission of the Kingdom.
So here is what I see taught plainly in the Bible as a strategy for the Church. If you are starting as a Church planter like the early Apostles, then begin by loving the community around you enough to share the Truth of a Biblical Gospel of repentance found in Jesus. Then take the new believers and begin to train them and baptise them and continue to train them so that they would be true Disciples of Jesus. Part of this training is to get everyone to serve with their gifts and abilities, to grow as leaders and to know how to go and make more Disciples of Jesus. This should lead to more Churches being established. Proper Biblical strategy replicates roles as well as abilities, we should not fear that we are training someone to take our role, we should enjoy that reality.
If you are starting in an existing Church situation then you have a harder job. You need to begin by helping your current Church get on board with the Biblical mission we have been given by our Lord Jesus. Then follow the same principles as above but they should be happening out of the team in your current Church, instead of the lone or small Church planting team.
The Biblical model allows for big Churches and small Churches but whether big or small, they are all to be "replicating" Churches. No Church should set a strategy based on a singular high calibre leader, rather the high calibre leader needs to do the hard work of replicating their ministry in others who are called to join them in it. Then as the Church grows it will be ready to replicate. Too many large Churches today have embraced a model that allows for the glorification of people by seeking to create larger and larger audiences for them to talk to or sing to etc... These types of paradigms create an attitude that it is better to listen to this particular person and so we will add another thousand seats to grow, or we will add three more satellite locations to grow. Instead they should be preparing other leaders to grow where new work is needed. This way the model can be replicated easily also it is a better fit for the way the Bible teaches us to grow Churches.
Believe me it can be a struggle, but more and more I am convinced that it is the road I must stay on. I must seek at all costs to follow the Biblical model. You can choose to join me in this, not by moving here and joining FFBC (although you are welcome) but by making a commitment to be Biblical as much as you can be and to be a part of helping your local Church to do the same.
Let us walk together
Pastor Bruce
Monday, April 29, 2013
Life is Precious
I am sitting and pondering life, how precious a gift that it is. Yet so often we see and hear about people throwing lives away in an instant. Bombings, shootings, abortions, wars the horror of daily happenings in the world today and yet we can become de-sensitized.
Every life should be treated with value and respect. Not because of some law or humanistic perspective. But we should seek to protect life because life is a gift from God. Even when someone does such horrible things to destroy other lives we must weigh very carefully if we are to take their life away. The destruction of a life is a very serious thing.
Yet I sometimes find myself feeling as though there are too many lives being taken without any justice being dished out. Justice is not vengeance it is actually how we attempt to love the rest of the population by protecting them. I believe that men especially were created with a purpose to protect those who are most vulnerable. Part of that protection is the serving of justice.
I want to call on Christian men everywhere to be those who will not stand by and allow these horrors to continue. WE need to get involved. If you have been a witness to a crime, you need to report it. If you see a life being endangered then you need to attempt to save it. If you need to jump on a gunman or grab a bomb and run away from a crowd, then do it. Christian men know where they will be for eternity, many others around them may not be ready to face God, we are ready to meet our Lord.
I do not advocate a politically motivated Church movement but a gospel oriented one instead. Yet I do believe that each of us has a responsibility to be active in making a change. However you need to do that as a an individual as long as it is within the laws we are under and not against the Bible, then please say your piece and make a difference. If we are horrified by a bombing or a shooting, why are we so silent about the thousands of children slaughtered daily around the world by abortions of convenience. Life is a gift from God and it is precious. Taking a vulnerable and defenseless life in a pre-meditated way is considered murder.
We need justice to be enacted to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Men let us be who we were created to be. Men who love and follow God. Men who love and care for their families. Men who speak Truth and proclaim the Gospel. Men who stand up for Justice and protect the oppressed and the vulnerable. Men who are warriors at heart. Men who refuse to live in fear of people or this world but do have a healthy fear of God.
Pastor Bruce
Every life should be treated with value and respect. Not because of some law or humanistic perspective. But we should seek to protect life because life is a gift from God. Even when someone does such horrible things to destroy other lives we must weigh very carefully if we are to take their life away. The destruction of a life is a very serious thing.
Yet I sometimes find myself feeling as though there are too many lives being taken without any justice being dished out. Justice is not vengeance it is actually how we attempt to love the rest of the population by protecting them. I believe that men especially were created with a purpose to protect those who are most vulnerable. Part of that protection is the serving of justice.
I want to call on Christian men everywhere to be those who will not stand by and allow these horrors to continue. WE need to get involved. If you have been a witness to a crime, you need to report it. If you see a life being endangered then you need to attempt to save it. If you need to jump on a gunman or grab a bomb and run away from a crowd, then do it. Christian men know where they will be for eternity, many others around them may not be ready to face God, we are ready to meet our Lord.
I do not advocate a politically motivated Church movement but a gospel oriented one instead. Yet I do believe that each of us has a responsibility to be active in making a change. However you need to do that as a an individual as long as it is within the laws we are under and not against the Bible, then please say your piece and make a difference. If we are horrified by a bombing or a shooting, why are we so silent about the thousands of children slaughtered daily around the world by abortions of convenience. Life is a gift from God and it is precious. Taking a vulnerable and defenseless life in a pre-meditated way is considered murder.
We need justice to be enacted to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Men let us be who we were created to be. Men who love and follow God. Men who love and care for their families. Men who speak Truth and proclaim the Gospel. Men who stand up for Justice and protect the oppressed and the vulnerable. Men who are warriors at heart. Men who refuse to live in fear of people or this world but do have a healthy fear of God.
Pastor Bruce
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Politics politics politics
As I sit here drinking a coffee waiting to meet someone I find myself immersed whether I like it or not in a conversation regarding politics. Not that I took part but rather the coffee shop I was in had been overtaken with the volume of a few guys in suits trying to sort out the latest political issues, the kind of discussion that used to draw me in but now like most if the room I have a huge distaste for.
Guys in suits, the establishment, too often Christians have sought to solve societies issues through such people. Yet it is a waste of time. People need Jesus not political agendas. Politicians included, they need The Lord in their lives.
Now the suits have left and a relaxed atmosphere has once again appeared. Interesting how people in suits with politics on their brains can increase the stress level in a room an decrease the level of community at the same time.
I find myself being reminded that I am here on mission for the King of Kings and not to be overly concerned with the politics of man. Sure we all have a responsibility to vote and be familiar with the issues but it should not overtake my life or a room that I am in, at least because of me.
Stand for Truth, live your Faith, be on mission for The Lord.
Pastor Bruce
Guys in suits, the establishment, too often Christians have sought to solve societies issues through such people. Yet it is a waste of time. People need Jesus not political agendas. Politicians included, they need The Lord in their lives.
Now the suits have left and a relaxed atmosphere has once again appeared. Interesting how people in suits with politics on their brains can increase the stress level in a room an decrease the level of community at the same time.
I find myself being reminded that I am here on mission for the King of Kings and not to be overly concerned with the politics of man. Sure we all have a responsibility to vote and be familiar with the issues but it should not overtake my life or a room that I am in, at least because of me.
Stand for Truth, live your Faith, be on mission for The Lord.
Pastor Bruce
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
What about sin?
So what about sin? "Sin is not problem for me because I was forgiven by Jesus" ... I have received this response from so many. There is an element of truth in that response and yet there is so much missing.
Often I hear people talking about the sins of others, the sins of society and proclaiming a need fro a renewed righteousness. Yet we fail so often to talk enough about the reality of our own sin. Our own weak and pride-filled nature that seeks its own way daily. I know that I struggle daily with sin. My humanity is still here. Sure Jesus has shown victory over sin, death and hell, but even though I am forgiven it does not mean I never sin.
I really believe that we need to embrace a deep sense of humility, repenting of our sin and embracing the Lordship of Jesus in our life. This should not be a one time event. Salvation is a one time event, Baptism is a one time event, but daily Christian living is to strive for humility and repent of our sinful attitudes and actions as we seek to live in obedience to our Lord Jesus.
Sin is around us everyday, the world is a messed up place and it is because humanity runs on a nature bent towarpridefilledds sin. People cannot help themselves, sin is natural to us. Jesus is our only answer for sin. His forgiveness of our sin is once and for all. Yet while we are still walking on this earth we will not live in perfection. We need to repent of our own self. When we live in sinful ways it is because we have taken the reigns, taken control. When we are in control then sin is at the front of things. When we live in submission to Jesus, then He is in control and He is operating in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Righteous living cannot happen because of me, but it can happen because of Jesus living in and through me.
Deal with your sin, seek to live under the Lordship of Jesus, walk with humility in obedience to Him. Do not hide your messes of life and pretend that life is perfect, this is pride and it is a sin. Honesty is required, Integrity needs to be your decision, Transparency is to be a lifestyle.
Let us walk together
Pastor Bruce
Often I hear people talking about the sins of others, the sins of society and proclaiming a need fro a renewed righteousness. Yet we fail so often to talk enough about the reality of our own sin. Our own weak and pride-filled nature that seeks its own way daily. I know that I struggle daily with sin. My humanity is still here. Sure Jesus has shown victory over sin, death and hell, but even though I am forgiven it does not mean I never sin.
I really believe that we need to embrace a deep sense of humility, repenting of our sin and embracing the Lordship of Jesus in our life. This should not be a one time event. Salvation is a one time event, Baptism is a one time event, but daily Christian living is to strive for humility and repent of our sinful attitudes and actions as we seek to live in obedience to our Lord Jesus.
Sin is around us everyday, the world is a messed up place and it is because humanity runs on a nature bent towarpridefilledds sin. People cannot help themselves, sin is natural to us. Jesus is our only answer for sin. His forgiveness of our sin is once and for all. Yet while we are still walking on this earth we will not live in perfection. We need to repent of our own self. When we live in sinful ways it is because we have taken the reigns, taken control. When we are in control then sin is at the front of things. When we live in submission to Jesus, then He is in control and He is operating in and through us by the power of the Holy Spirit. Righteous living cannot happen because of me, but it can happen because of Jesus living in and through me.
Deal with your sin, seek to live under the Lordship of Jesus, walk with humility in obedience to Him. Do not hide your messes of life and pretend that life is perfect, this is pride and it is a sin. Honesty is required, Integrity needs to be your decision, Transparency is to be a lifestyle.
Let us walk together
Pastor Bruce
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