Ridgell's Originals

 Many churches are wrestling with new ways to interpret Scripture.  Ways that will lead to significant changes in leadership.  Or worship.  Or what the church sees as core teaching.  Here are a few realities that will happen when leadership decides to go in a new direction.

Everyone will not agree.  Some of your flock, probably a significant portion of your flock, will not agree with the new direction.  They will maintain a more traditional view of Scripture.  It will not matter how clearly you explain the new insight.  They will not see it.  You are convinced that God desires your church to move in new directions.  They will remain convinced God does not want his people moving in that way.  This will happen.  They love the Lord just as you do.

Some will not be able to continue being part of your community of faith.  It will violate their conscience and their view of Scripture.  Just as it would violate your conscience to not change things.  They are going to leave.  It will happen.

You are still family.  They are part of the flock you are tasked with getting to heaven.

So here are a couple of suggestions.  But I want to be clear.  I am not arguing right or wrong.  This is not a discussion of whether this should -- or should not -- happen.  But I hope it is food for thought when this happens.

Be firm in your convictions.  If you believe God is calling you to move in a direction that will cause some to leave your community, then you have to be convinced you are right.  Be clear that the new direction is where the church is headed.

Study the issue with everyone.  Not just the leaders.  Explain the why of decisions being made.  Be able to articulate the opposing view.  You can explain why you do not agree with it, but it does let people know all views have been discussed.  

Acknowledge that some will not be able to go along with the new emphasis.  Recognize that it is not a matter of who loves God the most.  Or who is smart enough to see what God really means in Scripture. 

Acknowledge that this will result in some leaving.  That they will always be welcome back but that all must do as they believe God would have them do.  Those staying and those leaving.  Emphasize that the leadership still considers all as part of the family of God.

Then offer to sponsor a church plant for those who must leave, including some financial support for a reasonable period.

No more church splits.  

Church plants.

Or keep arguing about who is right, who loves the Lord more, and who is really following the Spirit.  

Keep losing lots of members.  And keep seeing the spiritual damage done.

Will this work?

I doubt it.  Only God knows.  But I sure would like to see some church try this instead.   

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Wow.  

So nominee Jackson was asked about "woman" and couldn't answer.

A few thoughts.

It was a political question.  No one was trying to get clarity on what constitutes a woman.  It was a question designed to score points.  Jackson knows what a woman is.  She knows if she is a woman or not.  But to answer that question would absolutely endanger her nomination.  

Political question.  Political answer.

And yes, I do get how clever it was to ask that question.  Historic to nominate a black woman.  Awkward that she can't (or won't) be clear on what a woman is.  

Christians all up in arms.  Liberal political Christians incensed that she is being "attacked."

Conservative political Christians incensed that she will be nominated.  (Unless she tries to answer that question).

So here are my thoughts for Christians.

Quit trying to make your culture and government define gender.  

God did that a long time ago.  

And we live in a fallen world where so many things are not the way God made this world to be.  

So God sent Jesus to fix it.

Jesus.

Not governments.  Not culture.  

Laws do not change hearts.  And culture does not change truth.  

Some are already thinking I am too simplistic.  The Bible is not that clear.  You need scholars and culture and so many other things to discern what the Bible means.  

And I am.  I think I can pick up a Bible and understand what God wants.

So can you.  

I also think God is pretty clear about the kingdom I belong to -- and it is not the US of Joe Trump.  Or the Republicrats.  

Politicians are not God's chosen ones.  

They, like us, need Jesus.

Serve the right Master.  Advance the right kingdom.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Non-believers are not the same as believers and I do not treat them the same.

But aren't we both sinners.  Yes, but.  We are forgiven.  We believe in Jesus.  We died with him in baptism and were raised to a new life.  Our sins were washed away in that death.  We have no guilt.  His blood cleanses us.  Not the same for non-believers.

God loves us both and Jesus died for us both.  Those who believe in Jesus become part of the family of God.  Those who do not believe are not part of our family.  Those who believe and share in that death will live with God forever.  Those who do not believe will not.

Believers are held to a higher standard of behavior.  How we live and how we treat people.  Our standard is the way of Jesus.  Not so for non-believers.  Never expect non-believers to live like believers do.  Why would they?

Believers are held accountable for their sins by fellow believers.  Non-believers will be held accountable by God for their sins.

I love believers more than I love non-believers.  We are to love everyone as we do ourselves, but there is something more in our love for fellow believers.  Our new command from Jesus is to love each other.  We do good for all men but especially for those in our community of faith.

So I get what we mean when we welcome believers by saying we are alike.  

But it is not true.

Not true because of Jesus and only Jesus.

That is what separates us.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 Another Hope for Life Publications book is out and you need to get it.

Starting (or Restarting) with Jesus by Timothy Archer.

Full Disclosure:  I am a huge Tim Archer fan.  He is a good preacher and a great writer.  Knows Scripture.  Good thinker.  Serves as an elder.  Directs the International Ministry for Herald of Truth.

Go make disciples.  I really get the baptizing them.  I am good at sharing Jesus and helping people commit to buy in.  But making a disciple does not stop there.  We have to teach them to obey what Jesus commanded.  

I am not good at this part of discipling.  

And I am really good at helping the Christian who cannot get past their sin. 

But a lot of believers also struggle with the realization that they have just not stayed as focused on their Chrisitan journey as they should be.  I have not been as good at helping them.

And now I have a resource to use.

Starting or Restarting, this book is designed for one on one mentoring.  Or to use in small groups.  Very practical.  Use it with new Christians or with those who are trying to restart their walk.

So here is what I am doing with this book.

I am buying several.  I want to share it with those I baptize.  I want to get a group of people at my church who are willing to connect with new Christians and help them start their walk in a healthy way.

I am going to use it with those who want to get back on track.  

Maybe elders ought to keep a few of these around.  Or maybe buy a supply for your church to use.

So order one or more from www.heraldoftruth.org.  Look under the Marketplace section or leave a message.  Or go on Amazon and order several.  

I am.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

Jake Hines grew up hearing his father preach.  But his Dad died when Jake was still fairly young and life happened and somehow, Jake never got around to making the decision to follow Jesus.  Nothing really unique in that story.  It happens.  Jake grew up, married Tammy and they got on with their life.

But those early lessons from his Dad kept nagging at Jake.  He and Tammy would talk about the need to commit to Jesus.  But just didn’t really know where to start.

So Jake called his Aunt Sharon.  Life has been hard for Sharon.  In just the past few years she has buried her husband and both her sisters.  Barely makes ends meet.  But her church family helps and Sharon loves Jesus.  So she talked to Jake and Tammy about following Jesus. 

Aunt Sharon suggested they talk to her friend Steve.  That is how I learned this story.  We visited by phone several times about following Jesus.  About being baptized.  Jake and Tammy wondered about coming to Abilene to be baptized.  I suggested they find a church near where they lived and talk to them. 

Jake researched his area and connected with a small church in Henrietta, Texas.  They were thrilled to meet Jake and Tammy and to help them with their commitment to be Jesus followers.  And one Sunday in March, Jake and Tammy showed up at the Henrietta church of Christ.  That church called off Bible class so the whole congregation could watch their baptism.

Seeds sown. 

A father’s teaching the gospel.  An Aunt who encouraged them.  A preacher who could give some practical advice.  And a little church committed to helping people follow Jesus.

Sometimes it takes a little while for seeds to grow.  Sometimes it takes some watering.  But God gives the increase.

Keep sowing and watering seeds.  And one day you too may see a Jake and Tammy become new disciples.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

God is love.

God loves you.

Loving God is the greatest commandment.

Loving your neighbor as yourself is the next.

So what does "love" mean.

I hear things like this...

"God loves me so He wants me to be happy and I can only be happy if..."

"God loves everyone so He would never send anyone to hell - so maybe there isn't even an hell."

"Loving others means helping them be the best version of themselves (as they see it)."

So here is the problem.

We want to define love.  And by extension, we want to have a god like we think he should be.

It doesn't work that way.

God is the standard of love.

He will never be unloving.  Anything God tells us to do is love.  Anything God tells us not to do is love.

God's love means He absolutely wants the best for us.  

The sacrifice of His Son on the cross is an act of love.

So if anything God desires seems unloving, it is our misconception.  Not God's.

God is so far beyond us that we cannot really understand His love.  Much less define it.

There has never been one thing God has ever done or said that was not love.

I may not understand it.  I may not like it.  It may not make sense to me.

But He is God.  Not us.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 2 comments

 I get asked quite a bit about what I think about Ash Wednesday and Lent.  And I have to admit that I have conflicting feelings.

Ash Wednesday.  I think there is something significant about remembereing the whole "dust to dust."  Thinking about life and death.  Sin.  Jesus.  But I keep remembering what Jesus said about paying in secret and fasting in a way that nobody knows.  Ash doesn't quite fit there.

But Scripture says nothing about Ash Wednesday.  Absolutely correct.  So of course there is not command to do Ash Wednesday.  Of course, you could argue that Ash Wednesday is found in the same section of Scripture that talks about what to do and not do on Wednesday nights.  You know, I Pickandchoose, Chapter whatever, verse noneofyourbusiness.

Lent.  Giving up something.  Spiritual fasting.  Great concept.  Of course, when you have a special season for it, then you have a hard time with the whole do it in secret thing.  And Lent/fasting is not just about what you give up.  It is giving up in order to use that time or energy in focusing on spiritual matters.  So the hard question is what do you do with the time/energy you save by giving something up.  

But Lent is not in the Bible.  Correct.  So no one has to practice Lent.  But most Christians I know have a hard time with fasting in general.  Call it whatever you want. 

I never heard fasting taught in church till I got to college.  And even then it was few and far between.  Never really knew anyone who fasted.  But again, maybe no one else is supposed to know when you fast.

So I like many of the principles of Ash Wednesday and Lent.

I personally do not practice either one of them in any formal sense or according to a calendar.  

In some ways, the Lord's Supper every week is a reflection of life and death.  Sin.  Jesus.  At least it is for me.

How about fasting?

You will never know.

# posted by Steve @ 5:12 AM 0 comments

 I often write memorials on my blog to honor various people of faith.  But sometimes I write living memorials.

Today I want to give honor to David and Vicki Ryal.

They found each other in a second marriage.  They were heartbreak survivors from their first marriages.  One by death, the other by divorce.

David preaches for the Morro Bay church of Christ out in California.  Has for several years.  But that is a small church that fannot afford a full-time preacher.  So for years, David worked full-time and preached -- well, not exactly on the side -- more like two full-time jobs.  

David has had some serious health issues.  Two transplant survivor.  And they are old enough to retire.  

Except they don't believe Christians retire from Kingdom work.

They have a real heart for reaching lost people with the good news of Jesus.

I got to know them when they were the co-ordinators for a Hope for Life campaign with the Herald of Truth.  Spoke out there many times.

David invited every church in Morro Bay to be involved in the campaign to reach people.  Explained our core convictions and invited them to participate with us.  And several did.  

Unity.  Evangelism.  Blueprint for what I think is right way forward in our culture. 

Took his passion on the road.  Up to Atascadero.  Over to South Lake Tahoe.  Inspiring other churches to get involved in reaching their world with the good news of Jesus.

You may never have heard of David and Vicki Ryal.  But when the do the roll call in heaven of great ministry couples from our time, they just may be at the front of the list.

And they would never think they should be.

God give us more like them.

God, thank you for David and Vicki Ryal.  Thank you for protecting their health and for providing for their needs.  Thank you for their desire for unity and their love for the lost.  Give them more years and use them up in your service.  

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 This is the characteritic of elders that seems to not recieve as much attention in most churches.  

Elders have to know Scripture.  Most elderships have assigned responsibility for teaching and preaching to full-time ministers.  Interestingly, the strongest Scripture for paying preachers and teachers is when elders are doing it in addition to being elders. Paid elders.  Not a paid elder to do admin work, but paid to be a shepherd.  And especially if he teaches and preaches.

One of the descriptions of an elder is that he is a teacher.  Not able to teach.  Or willing to teach.  But a active teacher.  

In Titus it is even explained why elders need to know truth from Scripture.  

They use Scripture to encourage others in sound belief.  Elders have to use Scripture to encourage their flock.  Without Scripture, it is just opinions.  But there is appropriate weight given to encouragement that comes from the Bible.

And elders have to know truth so they can refute those who oppose it. 

Elders.

There will always be people who oppose what God says.  They think He didn't go far enough and so they must add to what God did not say.

Or, people who think God went too far and must take away some of what was said.

Elders must be the ones who keep their community of faith on track with the truth.

And yes, I think elders are responsible for what is taught in their churches.  Not just the preacher. 

so God gave us His Word.  And He expects His shepherds to keep His people faithful to that truth.

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments

 When talking about the kind of men to lead as elders, there is quite a bit of emphasis on character.  I often hear these used as a sort of checklist.  You know, combine everything mentioned in I Timothy and Titus and make a master checklist of the qualifications of elders.  But I want to think thru the idea that elders have to be men of character.  More of a picture of the kind of man that should lead God's people.

It is obvious the kind of problems that come when an elder does not have character.  Elders that are shady in business.  Or elders that lose their temper with the flock.  That drink too much.  That are one way with church people and a differnt way out in the community.  

But it seems to me that Scripture gives the primary reason that elders are to be men of character.  Elders are showing the flock how to live as beleivers.  Peter makes that point in I Peter 5.  Elders are the example.  What does a healthy marriage look like?  See you elder couples.  How do treat people?  See how elders behave.  Elders follow Jesus so that when their flock studies their life, they can imitate it.  Check out Hebrews 13.

And character gives credibility.  So much of what makes a good elder is reflected in how the Bible describes elders.  Strong family.  Good character.  Those give leaders credibility. 

And it allows us to say "follow me."

Not because elders are perfect, because not one of them are.  But because they have had enough experience in following Jesus to say with confidence -- "follow me and I will lead you to Jesus and to heaven."

Which, after all, is the ultimate job of an elder.  Get your people home. 

# posted by Steve @ 5:00 AM 0 comments