It is important to know where we stand on religious issues. It is important for pastors and their congregations alike. The following resolutions are statements of positions declared in the 2003 Fall Conference of the Ohio Bible Fellowship.
Archive for the '2003' Category
OBF Fall Conference Resolutions
Published December 1, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Evangelism , History , Local Church , Missions , Resolutions ClosedPostmodernism
Published October 15, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Local Church , Paul Hamilton ClosedOurs is not an easy time in which to witness and minister, but it is an exciting and needy era. Skepticism and relativism mark the prevailing philosophy in society today. On most any state college campus you will find young people who will argue that absolute truth cannot be known, or is not even important. All around us people are mildly amused by anyone who claims there is definite right or wrong. The majority of Americans live by a creed that says, “reality is what I choose nd what works best for me.” The disciple of Christ who seeks to be a faithful and effective witness must be like the “children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do…” (I Chron. 12:32). Knowing the scriptures enables us to know the nature of man, the errors of godless reasoning, and the real answer for sinful man’s needs.
Christ Clarifies Worship
Published September 1, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Local Church , Steve Spence , The World ClosedControversy over worship styles is escalating. The sides are identified as “traditionalists” and “contemporaries.” Each side claims to champion the cause of true worship. Consider the following quotes from representatives of each camp. Andy Park, acclaimed worship leader and contemporary Christian musician, in a ChristianityToday.com exclusive titled, “Defining Worship” writes:
There are many different legitimate musical styles you can use in worship music— everything from classical to rock, from black gospel traditions to liturgical traditions. I think there are strengths in each of those traditions. Some of my favorite moments come when instruments are playing gently and most of what you hear is the congregation singing. On the other hand it’s fine to rock out; the Bible is full of exuberant joy in worship. Both extremes, the quiet and the loud, have their place. We’re emotional beings, and we need to worship with all of our emotions from quiet to raucous celebration. I love to see the youth jump around and go crazy. And I love seeing people be quiet as they listen to God. And I love everything in between. There’s good in all of it.
A Potpourri of Problems for Pastors
Published August 1, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , John Ashbrook , Local Church ClosedOfficial Tolerance of Immorality
Let me begin with a simple statement: Homosexuality is the ultimate sin of a decadent society. Two things are true of that statement.First, it is biblically defensible. It is the truth which was demonstrated by the fire of God’s wrath at Sodom. It is the truth set forth in Romans 1:26, 27 when God said:
For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.
Second, it is politically incorrect in the twenty-first century. To make the statement is to be considered criminally intolerant.
The Day Man Needs
Published July 1, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Family , John Ashbrook , Local Church 0 CommentsOne 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.
Schools on the Slippery Slope
Published May 15, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Disobedient Brothers , John Ashbrook ClosedWheaton College
The Chicago Sun-Times for February 20, 2003 carried a story headed, “Wheaton College Relaxes Strict Conduct Code.” The story reported that the college would now permit campus dances and that the faculty and staff would now be allowed to smoke and drink off campus, as long as no students were present. A college representative, Pat Swindle, reported that the College trustees had decided that, “Drinking and tobacco use are none of the college’s business.” In those classroom discussions, which always come, the teachers could simply say, “There is nothing wrong with smoking and drinking; but you have to wait until you are as old as we are.”
Training Children to Be Ministry-Minded
Published April 1, 2003 2003 , Family , Local Church , Marvin Gassman ClosedThe 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.
Cedarville University and the New Evangelicalism
Published March 1, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Dan Greenfield , Disobedient Brothers ClosedToday’s parents and pastors face a difficult situation when the time comes for finding the right college to send their young people to. So many different things are considered in this important decision: cost, location, quality of education, facilities, size of the school, programs offered, and extra-curricular activities, to name a few. Although the responsibility for educating our young people ultimately rests with our homes and local churches, a college education can either greatly enhance that preparation or do the exact opposite.
Continue reading ‘Cedarville University and the New Evangelicalism’
Winter Conference Resolutions
Published February 1, 2003 2003 , Current Issues , Local Church , Resolutions ClosedIn each of our Ohio Bible Fellowship Conferences we try to declare some resolutions on issues which concern us. We trust that they inform and encourage our Fellowship constituency and other readers of the Ohio Bible Fellowship Visitor. The following resolutions were passed in the Winter Conference.
I was looking through a Methodist booksellers list of old books. I was scanning quickly; then, there it was: Murray, Harold: Dinsdale Young, The Preacher. I ordered the book and watched to see if I might claim the prize. Sure enough, it came.
