Archive for December, 2008
Ordination
The Lord Jesus calls men individually to do a job for Him and equips them to do it (Jn. 15:16; Eph. 4:11,12). Ordination is seen as an approval of that man for the work of the ministry in whatever capacity God places him. The laying on of hands occurs at ordination (Acts 14:23; 1 Tim. 4:14) following the ancient custom of “passing on” or “transferring” authority (Deut. 34:9). Guilt was also “transferred” in this way (Lev. 1:4; 4:15; etc.). Paul saw the ordination of Timothy as the giving of a gift that needed to be exercised and stirred up for the work of the Lord (2 Tim. 1:6). Ordination, therefore, is a very serious matter. It should not be done hastily. Paul warns not to make this transfer too quickly (1 Tim. 5:22); the man being ordained should first be proved as to spiritual qualifications, traits of character and behavior, and levels of knowledge and experience (1 Tim. 3:1-10).
The Lord called me to the work of the ministry on March 21, 1999; it would be nine years before He would direct me specifically and I would yield to the mission field of Italy. The past nine years have been a time of spiritual growth where I have spent much time studying the Bible and serving the Lord as a 4th grade Sunday School teacher, deacon, youth pastor, Adult Sunday School teacher, and participating in various soul winning and preaching ministries. On December 14, 2008 I was ordained by the authority of my home church, Cornerstone Baptist Temple.
The evening was a special one; including the questioning from the ordination counsel and men of the church as well as the time of prayer before the service. It was special to experience the evening with Sandy, my parents, my two brothers and their families. I was touched by the singing of Leah Sandlin (My Jesus I Love Thee) and Preacher (Will I Wish I Had Given Him All?). It was humbling to see and hear the support of our church family throughout the evening. I was challenged by the great preaching from Bro. Mike and Bro. Steve as well as the charge preached by Uncle Roger. I was also moved by the love of Christ shown by Terry and Karen Terrell as they prepared and served the food for the small reception after the service.
The evening was replete with emotions and memories. It would be difficult for me to comment fully on all that I experienced and everyone that has had a part in my life and spiritual walk. I would, however, like to share some thoughts about each of the men that were on my ordination counsel, spoke at the ordination, and who have influenced my life in some way.
Rev. Mike Elliott is pastor of Anchor Baptist Church in Dayton, Ohio. I met Bro. Mike not long after we became members of Cornerstone in 2002; at that time he was a member of Cornerstone. As iron sharpens iron, Bro. Mike has been the main person I have consulted with on various questions of a biblical nature – he knows the Book. After I stepped down as youth pastor, Preacher asked if I would teach a Sunday School class with Bro. Mike called the Faith Builders. It was through the Faith Builders that I really got to know him well. Bro. Mike could easily be called “the weeping prophet.” Usually when he starts talking about the Lord, he breaks down and cries – he certainly isn’t a weak man, but his love for the Lord is apparent and moves him greatly. He also has great joy of the Lord. I broke down as I “preached” my testimony during the service, and I could hear Bro. Mike laughing every time my voice faltered. He wasn’t laughing at me but rather it was a laugh from his rejoicing in the Lord – I felt like he was saying, “He moves me like that too brother.” One thing that has always impressed me with Bro. Mike is his “conversations” with the Lord. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard him say something like, “The Lord told me” this or that and then he’d say, “I told the Lord,” etc. Obviously, the Lord doesn’t speak audibly to him but Bro. Mike is sensitive to the impressions from the Spirit as the Holy Spirit bears witness to his spirit. May I have the tenderness towards the Lord and His Book of a Mike Elliott.
Rev. Steve Brogden is a veteran missionary to Papua New Guinea (PNG). Bro. Steve returned from PNG several years ago to get his three daughters established in the United States. The Lord dealt with him after some time about returning to PNG as a missionary. A few years ago, Bro. Steve and his wife Cindy moved to Dayton from North Carolina to be sent out as missionaries from Cornerstone. I knew I liked Bro. Steve the first time I spoke with him. I’m not sure what it was but I felt like he was a kindred spirit. Bro. Steve preached a message on faith from Ezekiel 47:1-5 during our mission conference in 2007 – it moved Sandy and me deeply. After his message we went forward and I yielded to go wherever the Lord would have me serve Him. Looking back to 1999 when I first surrendered to the work of the ministry at Grace Baptist, I believe it was a partial surrender; I did not consider world missions at the time. In 2007, it was as if the Lord said, “I don’t want part of you, I want all of you.” Even though I yielded to go where God would send me, I still wrestled with God trying to distinguish His will from my own. Over the next year, I spoke often with Bro. Steve about the life of a missionary and the call to the foreign field. Bro. Steve always possessed a quiet confidence in the Lord’s call to PNG. I probably got on his nerves asking him repetitively how he knew God called him to PNG. He always responded with a smile and in that gravely voice he’d say, “I just knew brother” – in June 2008 the Lord finally gave me peace about Italy and I can say with complete confidence, “The Lord called me to preach the gospel in Italy. I just know brother.” May I have the steadfastness and faithfulness towards the Lord of a Steve Brogden.
Dr. Roger Green is pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Middletown, Ohio and he is my uncle (my mother’s brother). When Uncle Roger moved to Middletown from Sandusky to pastor Grace, I spent at least two nights a month at their house hanging out with my cousins from 1991 till when I got married in 1999. His boys usually slept in later than I did; so I always enjoyed breakfast with Uncle Roger and Aunt Brenda. Uncle Roger has always been a good story teller. I enjoyed listening to him talk about his childhood on the farm, my grandparents, and of course the ministry, among other things. There were great stories about his time in Ireland with Ian Paisley or praying with Hyman Appleman. I enjoyed listening to stories from his travels around the world; about eating food that I would never touch, difficult sleeping conditions to say the least, and the spiritual fervency and spiritual need among some of the poorest cultures in the world. I remember in my early 20’s marveling at the liberty he had while preaching; it seemed that he never looked at his notes. Uncle Roger baptized me at Grace when I was 18. He sat with me in his dining room and explained from an open Bible the doctrine of eternal security. He provided pre-marriage counseling to Sandy and me before he married us on August 14, 1999. He is well-loved as a pastor and truly has the gift of overseeing the flock. It was at Grace Baptist that I yielded to God’s call for the work of the ministry in March of 1999. I remember as the card was handed to Uncle Roger in the pulpit announcing my decision, he said, “This decision really doesn’t come as a surprise to me; but my nephew, Stetson Planck, has come today and he has surrendered to the call of God to preach the word of God.” May I have the power to preach and the wisdom in pastoring of a Roger Green.
Dr. Jerry Siler (Preacher) is our pastor at Cornerstone Baptist Temple in Dayton, Ohio. Preacher has built a ministry on compassion and love for others. He has demonstrated this familial love to my family on countless occasions. When I stepped down as youth pastor, he continued to allow me to fill his pulpit on occasion as well as encourage me to teach the Faith Builders Sunday School class, which turned out to be one of the greatest spiritual blessings of my life. Preacher is the most selfless man I’ve met. Sandy had a very grievous and difficult time while in labor with Isaiah; I remember she asked me to call Preacher so that he could be praying for her at home. We did not expect it, but at midnight he arrived at the hospital to pray. Preacher had never met Sandy’s grandfather and yet when he passed away, Preacher drove 45 minutes to the funeral home. He did the same when my grandmother died. I had an unexpected trip to the hospital last year and Preacher visited me in the emergency room. I have sat countless times in his office and have witnessed him moved to tears as he tells of another’s problems or burdens. There are so many people that could testify of his generosity, his love for others, and his selfless desire to see others succeed. He made sure my ordination service was a special evening and he left me with a lasting impression… Just as our Lord “took a towel and girded himself” to serve the disciples (Jn. 13), at the end of the evening after the ordination service when the private reception was over, it was Preacher that donned an apron and was cleaning the tables as we left. He doesn’t serve for recognition or attention; he serves for the benefit of others. May I have the compassion and love of a Jerry Siler, the kind of love that is declared in his life verse…
“Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” – 1 John 3:16
Would You Like to Know the Truth?
Not long ago Sandy went to bring in the mail and found a flyer stuck in the door entitled Would You Like to Know the Truth? It was a 7×9” full-color bi-fold pamphlet published by The Watch Tower Society (Jehovah’s Witness-cult). The pamphlet included the following questions with a brief explanation of “What the Bible teaches”: (1) Does God really care about us? (2) Will war and suffering ever end? (3) What happens to us when we die? (4) Is there any hope for the dead? (5) How can I pray and be heard by God? (6) How can I find happiness in life?
All the above are legitimate questions that many people the world over are seeking answers to. Of course, the answers are not to be found under the guidance of a cult like the Jehovah’s Witness nor from their perverted “Bible.”
Jehovah’s Witnesses claim that their teachings are the only real truth about the Bible. Would you like to know the truth about these ardent doorbell ringers who come armed with literature and “scripture” verses?
Charles Russell is the official founder of this cult. He was born in 1852 in Pennsylvania. As a youth, he developed a terrible fear of hell but later became convinced that it did not exist. After hearing a sermon on the Second Coming of Christ, he studied the subject and published his findings in a lengthy and complicated pamphlet that incorrectly interpreted many unrelated scriptures. The end result of his labor was the statement that Jesus Christ would return in 1874. He later changed the date to 1914. In 1912, Russell sued a Baptist pastor who had denounced Russell in a pamphlet. On the witness stand, Russell was caught in at least one lie; he said he knew Greek, the original language of the New Testament, but when asked to read some Greek letters he could not. Also, Russell had claimed to be an ordained minister, but under oath he admitted that he had never been ordained. Such willful perjury reflects badly on a man who claimed to have the one and only interpretation of God’s word.
When Russell died in 1916, “Judge” Rutherford was elected leader of the cult. In addition to the heresies taught by Russell, Rutherford taught that all human government is of the devil. The third president of the cult, Nathan Homer Knorr, emphasized training programs for Witnesses and it was during this time that they published a translation of the Bible that conformed to their false doctrines, The New World Translation.
Jehovah’s Witnesses are well known for their witnessing door-to-door. Why do they witness so much? They witness because they are working hard to earn salvation. Since Jehovah’s Witnesses do not believe in hell they have no fear of eternal punishment, but they do fear that they will not meet Jehovah’s standards for salvation. Russell denied the existence of hell and substituted in its place the death of the soul as well as the body – the doctrine of annihilation. He taught that a person could escape this fate only by accepting and preaching the doctrines of the Jehovah’s Witnesses.
In their typical freewheeling interpretation, the Witnesses claim that Armageddon will be worldwide, thermonuclear devastation. On one side will be all the nations of the world, Christians (who they say are of the devil), and all the heathen. On the other side will be the 144,000 (Witness leaders) and “other sheep” (rank-and-file door-knocking Witnesses). The result of the battle will be the destruction of all the nations and Christianity. Not one person who was against Jehovah and His Witnesses will remain alive. Only faithful Witnesses will survive Armageddon.
In addition to all of this heresy, the Jehovah’s Witnesses believe Jesus Christ is not equal to God but that He was created by God. They claim Christ was known as the angel Michael in heaven and when Christ came to earth, He was stripped of His angelic nature and became only a man. So it was only as a man that Jesus died on the cross and a man’s death is not enough to atone for the sins of the world. The Witnesses also teach that Jesus was not bodily resurrected, but only as a spirit.
The Jehovah’s Witness cult is the third largest religious group in Italy with over 228,000 members. (The Roman Catholic Church has 90% of the Italian population and there are over 1.3 million Muslims in Italy.) When we were in Italy last September we ate dinner one evening off the beaten path at a restaurant called Filetti di Baccalà. There was an Italian man sitting alone at a table near us. Recognizing we “weren’t from around these parts,” he asked if we wanted our picture taken as a family. (He did not speak English but rather motioned towards my camera). After he took our picture, I asked to take his. I thanked him and gave him an Italian gospel tract and said, “Spiega la salvezza in Gesù Cristo” (This explains salvation in Jesus Christ). He responded, “Testimoni di Geova?” (Are you Jehovah’s Witness?) His name is Pablo. I believe Pablo probably asked if I was Jehovah’s Witness because they were likely the only ones in Rome to have ever handed him anything with scripture on it; there are very few Baptist missionaries in Italy.
I wonder if Pablo had been searching for truth and how many run-ins he may have had with a Jehovah’s Witness falsely professing to know the truth from the Bible. How many Italians are reached by a Jehovah’s Witness for every one that is reached by a Baptist missionary, or an evangelical for that matter? The need for the gospel in Italy is great. The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are few.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses’ pamphlet asks, “How would you like to know the truth?” How will Pablo know the truth? The Bible says that the Holy Spirit reveals truth because He is “the Spirit of truth,” and “he will guide you into all truth” (Jn. 16:13). In a prayer to His Father, the Lord Jesus said, “thy word is truth” (Jn. 17:17) and that the scriptures testify of Him (Jn. 5:39). The Holy Spirit guides into all truth as we read the truth of the word of God about Truth incarnate, Jesus Christ.
I wonder if Pablo has ever read scripture other than what was written on that tract. It is in the pages of that old Book (the Diodati in Italian) that Pablo could discover the real truth, that Truth is not just a concept to be studied but is a Person to be received (Jn. 14:6).
[The information about the Jehovah’s Witnesses was taken from the book So What’s the Difference? by Fritz Ridenour]“…and how shall they hear without a preacher?” – Romans 10:14
Whose Fool are You?
Lurking somewhere in the shadows of our house there is a pirate named Turkeyfoot. He has somewhat of a Scottish accent and a penchant for phrases like, “Avast ye swabs,” “It’ll be Davy Jones’s locker for thee,” and “Shiver me timbers.” When agitated, his mannerisms become increasingly turkey-like in nature. Turkeyfoot’s thirst for blood and lust for gold can only be thwarted by the bravest pirate of all, Captain John Nobeard (aka Isaiah). I definitely do not like to be the center of attention but when it comes to my family I certainly don’t mind playing the fool; even if it involves donning a pirate’s hat and saying “Arrgh” repetitively.
People involve themselves in all sorts of activities even though they may be viewed by others as foolish. Take a look around our society and you will see people playing the fool publicly… There are men who paint their bodies and sit in the freezing cold to root on their favorite team. There are those who walk sidewalks with banners in support of politicians or those wearing sandwich boards opposing social injustices. Down the street from our house there is a person in a chicken suit trying to get people to rent an apartment. Are you willing to be thought a fool for a sports team, political party, or a social cause? How about your family? Whose fool are you?
It seems to me that increasingly Christians are less inclined to be thought a fool for Christ. I’m not referring to being obnoxious or ignorant, certainly we must do all things decently and in order, but are we more concerned about being accepted by society than taking a stand for Christ? The world is accepting of the sports fan, politico, and even those fighting zealously for a social cause, but the street preacher is seen as being weak in intellect, the believer holding the banner with scripture is thought ridiculous and absurd, and the couple passing out tracts door-to-door is viewed as being void of understanding.
Even among many Christians today, it seems building relationships with the lost is the only acceptable way of being a witness for Christ. I certainly think becoming involved in a person’s life presents natural opportunities to witness about Christ but it is not our only means of testimony. Most Christian outreach today appears to be designed to make the lost comfortable (or “not threatened”), but I think in reality many times the real motive is to make the disciple of Christ comfortable so that he will not be thought a fool. We are to proclaim Christ, privately and publicly (Acts 20:20), and are not to be limited in our methods nor desiring acceptance from the worldly-view. I’m a fool for Christ, whose fool are you?
“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” – 1 Corinthians 1:18