The Ohio Bible Fellowship Visitor

As a parent and a pastor, I’ve thought often of Ephesians 6:4. However, until recently, I haven’t understood the connection between its two imperatives: provoke not your children to wrath, but bring them up in the nurture (disciplined instruction) and admonition (compelling warning) of the Lord. Two points are particularly important, I think. Continue reading ‘Exasperation or Instruction?’

Since the beginning of Christianity, believers have been warned of enemies from both outside and inside the church (Acts 20:29–30). Fundamental churches have long been aware of attacks in the form of apostate teaching and the social gospel. As well, fundamentalism has responded to brethren who have refused to separate from unbelieving and disobedient believers and ministries.

In recent years, new dangers to Christ’s Bride have arisen, oftentimes noticed but sometimes even promoted by men and ministries who should know better. Amazingly some of these threats originate from the most unlikely of sources—the Christian home!

Continue reading ‘Dangers from the Home?’

In one of my books I have used a quotation from Dr. Theodore Cuyler, Pastor of the Lafayette Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn in the last half of the 19th century:

“For one, I care little for the government which presides at Washington, in comparison with the government which rules the millions of American homes. No administration can seriously harm us if our home life is pure, frugal and godly. No statesmanship or legislation can save us if once our homes become the abode of ignorance or the nestling place of profligacy. The home rules the nation. If the home is demoralized, it will ruin it.”

Today we can do little about “the millions of American homes.” However, I would like to give some guidance to hundreds of Christian homes. I would like to direct your attention to the first great Bible text on the government of the home.

Continue reading ‘The Government of the Home’

“Church Endorses Same-Sex Marriage.” So screamed the head-line of the Cleveland Plain Dealer on July 5, 2005. The accompanying story went on to tell that the 884 members of the United Church of Christ General Synod, meeting in Atlanta, had spent the fourth of July adopting a resolution endorsing same sex marriage. The resolution is rather lengthy, consisting of thirteen “whereases” and seven “let it be resolveds.”

Continue reading ‘Perverting Marriage’

The grief of a family
For several weeks the media flooded our minds with the sordid details of a family feud. A husband wanted to let his wife die as she had supposedly requested. Her parents wanted her to live. Both sides of the dispute fought to the bitter end, appealing and defending in every court available.

When we all got into the discussion, some said, “I certainly wouldn’t want to live like that!” Others said, “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to die like that!” Some thought that it was a merciful thing to “let” Terri die; others were sure that the process was nothing short of murder imposed by judicial decree.

The loss of a leader
Then before we settled our minds on that subject, Pope John Paul II died. He was old and had lived a full life of service and had accomplished much, leaving a respected legacy. He was ill and it was wondered by many how much longer he could continue to serve in his office. Everything possible was done to preserve his life and to prolong his tenure as Pope. But in spite of it all, he died.

When we all got into the discussion, some said, “I hope that I can live so long!” Others said, “I hope that my doctors try that hard to keep me alive, but in the end I want to die peacefully, as he did.” We haven’t always been so willing to discuss the subject of death. Now that we have begun, let’s look further into the subject.

So far we really have been discussing life. Yes, we looked at its end, but the living conditions have been our focus. We have not considered who really determines the length of life. And we certainly haven’t discussed the eternal condition beyond the grave.

Continue reading ‘At Least We’re Talking about Death’

Moral changes within the soil of man’s thinking do not take place abruptly, but gradually and insidiously. Like leaven kneaded into bread dough, such changes eventually permeate the whole. The seeds of gospel truth sown by the apostle Paul changed the pagan mind-set of the old world. The seed thought of, “justification by faith alone,” sown by Martin Luther, produced the reformation. Early in the 20th century Lenin sowed the seeds of economic socialism which produced a Communist state.

The seeds of the sexual revolution, sown into the thinking of American society for over 40 years, have produced a massive cultural shift in our nation’s moral thinking. That which was once hidden in the closet had made it all the way to center stage. The shift in moral thinking has given expression to the most radical views regarding human sexuality that can be imagined. The growing ascendancy of a morally neutral attitude toward the immoral behaviors of homosexuality and lesbianism indicate that the seeds of the sexual revolution have grown into a tree. A biblical response to the issue of homosexuality is much needed.

Continue reading ‘From the Closet to Center Stage’

One of the methods recommended by the church growth gurus is the policy of preaching to felt needs. Men and women feel the need of comfort, companionship, self-worth or acceptance. Therefore, a pastor is to tailor the Gospel to meet these felt needs.

I would like to address a different kind of need. You may call it an unfelt need. Modern man has the need but does not know it. Hence, my title, “The Day Man Needs.” I will proceed by asking four questions about the day man needs. Let’s address the first of these.

Continue reading ‘The Day Man Needs’

The number of young people choosing a life of service in Christian ministry appears to be on the decline. Christian college leaders tell us the great majority are choosing secular careers. Fundamental church leaders and parents who desire God’s best for their youth, and who recognize the blessing and eternal benefit in a life of ministry, have a great desire to train up children to be ministry minded.As a pastor, and father of four grown daughters serving in full time Christian ministry, I have been asked to speak to this subject of training up children to be ministry minded. I have often pondered the question of how I came to my own convictions and ministry mindset. As I think back over those early years of our girls lives, I can only respond that it is by the grace of God.

There are, however, basic Bible principles given to us for our instruction that, when violated, can have a devastating effect on our children’s inclinations toward Christian ministry. Yet, when followed, God uses them to produce the fruit He has designed in the believer’s life.

Continue reading ‘Training Children to Be Ministry-Minded’