How independent are Baptists?

There are many Baptist churches across our land.  There are many types of Baptist churches across our land.  Many are associated with various man made organizations. When the Lord Jesus started the first Baptist church in Jerusalem (if it was not a Baptist church, please feel free to comment on what type it was), it was independent of everything man had a part in.  So now we are at the point that many churches will distinguish themselves as Independent Baptist versus the various conventions, associations, and fellowships that have been started.  Now I am not writing this to deal with all the problems you get into by joining the various man made organizations, but simply want to ask how truly independent are the Lord's churches. 

If you had to sign on the dotted line in agreement with anything man has in order to keep the Lord's church in operation, are you truly an independent Baptist? For instance, most Independent Baptists sent an application to the IRS so that they could be a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization.  And many of those churches also filled out the paper work with the state to become a corporation.  By doing so, you have bound yourself to play by the rules of the state and the IRS.  For you came to them seeking some advantages that they could give you.  Just like other churches joined the convention to seek the advantages that could be given them. 

Just asking, are you still as independent as you think you are?

But let it be known, that the Lord is just as powerful in 2009 as he was in 30 A.D. He did not need any help from Rome to start his church, or to keep it in existence.  Therefore he certainly does not need the help of the IRS or the state to grant his church the permission to exist as a corporation. It already exists as the body of Christ. 

Some may be asking, but how do we.....?  Just read the Bible, walk by faith, and let the Lord take care of his church. 

The race has changed

OK, so there was not a great response to our invitation for preachers to enter the Independent Baptist Preachers Mountain Bicycle Race (IBPMBR).  So lets make some changes.  The first course was 75 miles, I have shortened this one down to 35.  All of it off road again.  Starting elevation at 980' and peaks at 3210', but lots of ups and downs, think roller coaster.  The race would run when the temps will stay under 80 at the finishing line, therefore most of the race in the 60's and 70's at the warmest.  So for this area, some time between Nov. 1 - April 1.  Where you ask, the hills just west of Bullhead City, AZ and Laughlin, NV. 

So if interested, leave a comment and we will work with the entrants of setting a date, and enjoying some preaching.
For details from previous post concerning some of the details, see - http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/monocogman/666153/

Who says Christians don't have fun?

    So last night there was a beautiful full moon rising over the mountains. They sun had faded out over the western mountains.  The temperature had just dropped under 100 in the Arizona desert, and it was time for this preacher to ride up the mountain.  Lights on, iced up water and gatorade, said good night to my girls, and off I went.  Dusk quickly faded into night, and the lights were needed at full power. Little eyes look at you from the darkness, desert rodents scurry across the trail, and all sorts of creepy bugs have come out of their daytime hiding.  They leave me alone, and I leave them alone.

    After 8 miles of climbing, it was time to enjoy the twisting, fast descending trail. Trails take on a new challenge at night; even with powerful lights.  The computer said the speed peaked at 30 mph. There was no need for sun screen, and the ice did not melt near as fast.  18 miles later safely back in the driveway with temps under 90.  Now that is good, clean (morally) fun, that does not need to be confessed and forsaken.  Thank the Lord.  

    So its that time of the year in the Arizona desert to ride under the stars.  Any one interested in joining me?

Considering serving in the military?

We read in Hebrews 11:23
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment."

Men give commandments that are not in accord with God's commandments.  At that time as a Christian, man's commandments are not to be followed. 

In the news recently, we read this story from Reuters and One News Now  -

"The U.S. military is confirming that it has destroyed some Bibles belonging to an American soldier serving in Afghanistan.

"Reuters News says the Bibles were confiscated and destroyed after Qatar-based Al Jazeera television showed soldiers at a Bible class on a base with a stack of Bibles translated into the local Pashto and Dari languages. The U.S. military forbids its members on active duty--including those based in places like Afghanistan--from trying to convert people to another religion.

"Reuters quotes Maj. Jennifer Willis at the Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, who said 'I can now confirm that the Bibles shown on Al Jazeera's clip were, in fact, collected by the chaplains and later destroyed. They were never distributed.'"

If you are in active military duty, you have a decision to make.  Will you obey the Lord, or man?  God has given the orders to preach the gospel, and therefore try to convert  people to Christianity.  The U.S. military forbids this.  They are wrong, and will face the wrath of the Lord for their position. 

If you are considering serving in the military and are a Christian desiring to walk right with the Lord, you will have to purpose in your heart that you will obey God rather than men when orders are given contrary to the words of God.  And knowing you also must face the consequences for your obedience to the Lord. 

Just something to think about.

Preachers need preaching also.

Do you notice that sometimes preachers react to preaching worse than others?  Did you know preacher, that you are not above being preached to?  Your education and knowledge has not raised you up to a level that exempts you from being preached to.  You may think that preachers' meetings are only to be encouraged in, but you probably need to be preached at more than you realize.  This is not the writing of a disgruntled church member, this is a fellow preacher trying to help you humble yourself before the Lord, and to receive preaching from even the younger preachers you find yourself listening to.

"For God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble."

Who are your friends?

The Bible says, "Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go". 

Who your friends are says a lot about you.  Better to have no friends than the wrong friends. 

Jesus said in John 15:14,
"Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you."

A great man in the Bible was called the friend of God. 

Are you and the Lord friends?

Something to think about.

Very ignorant of Islam

Did you see the news?  Here is the quote -

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Barack Obama, making his first visit to a Muslim nation as president, declared Monday the United States "is not and will never be at war with Islam."

Islam is at war with us.  It was Muslims that flew those planes into the World Trade Towers.  It is Muslims that are suicide bombers.  It is Islam that calls the USA the great Satan. 

Mr. Obama, are you that ignorant?  Or is it because you are a Muslim?