Poor Copies

Many are wondering how can we reach people in these post modern times.   The masses seem to be completely disinterested and put off by churches.  They seem too far away for us to reach them.  Many are attempting unbelievable things in the name of Christ and His church to try and have a relevant appeal.  I believe that in this attempt to be relevant that they have and continue to merely COPY a myriad of things from building styles, clothing, deportment, music and more.   And sadly, these are all poor copies. 

As an example of our poor copies many began to copy the cathedral builders.  The great world and state religions which built their buildings on the most prominent location.  Their architectural shrines were indeed awesome, but none of that could save a single soul.  From the humble beginnings of the upper rooms and houses we bought into the crazed idea that a building was the only way to have a church.  This has continued until no one even remembers what the church really is and that whether in the open air, in a home, a storefront, a rented office, it is just as much a church as if it were surrounded by the four walls underand impressive ceilings of a cathedral.  Millions are spent on these copies that have little impact in order to reach souls around the world.

Some began to copy the Pentecostals with their wild fire. They saw that with their music and their star quality guests that greater crowds would come.  We felt as long as we could hold to our biblical doctrine it would not be a problem to copy their methods.  But we should have been better students of history to know that it doesn’t take long for our methodology to effect our theology. 

Some began to copy the Liberals with their political correctness.  They began to neutralize their message.  They were afraid they might offend if they were not always positive.  They didn’t want to turn anyone off by preaching agains sin, evil and perversion.  Taking a new PC stance they soon lost their power.

Some kept their eyes on the world and seeing the effectiveness of Hollywood, Nashville and New York’s ability to make a splash, draw a crowd and influence people they began to copy their ways.  They threw out the hymns and hymnals.  They took off their ties and put on blue jeans and sneakers.  They visited the tatoo parlors.  They spiced up their pulpit language.  They put on a show.  They entertained.  All the lights, all the smoke, all the glitz.  The problem is now no one  can really tell where the world’s show ends and the church’s show begins. 

So we have copied and copied until no one remembers what the original looked like.  Can we wonder why so many are confused and disenfranchised?  Is it any wonder people don’t trust the church?  Is it any wonder that our message has become diluted, that we are powerless and we are loosing more with each passing generation?  We must get back to the ORIGINAL!  Stop copying!  Get it straight from the book!  God gave us the plan to reach people and it will work in every generation and in every culture.  Do we believe the Bible?  Then we must put away all the modern textbooks from all the church growth and marketing gurus and preach and teach the Gospel publicly and from house to house.  We must take the risk and suffer persecution if necessary.  Take criticism!  We must be a bit old fashioned.  Dust off the old Bible.  Use it!  The Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation.  The Holy Spirit still convicts of sin, righteousness and judgment!   The preaching the cross will always be foolishness to those who are perishing but it is still the power of God to the saved!  I believe if we spent even a fraction of the time giving the Gospel publicly and privately as we do copying everything that comes down the pike we could see a difference.  Let’s take a new look at  the original plan that God gave.  It will work!  It is backed by His promise!

Rebuked

No one ever likes to be rebuked!  And today people seem to be even more sensitive and resistive to being rebuked than ever before.  That sensitivity begins when we are very young and as we get older it seems our resentment to rebuke grows with us.  But “rebuke” is an important part of the development of our lives both morally, socially and spiritually. 

For preachers God’s Word says we are to preach the word, reprove and REBUKE.   Some of today’s “preachers” argue that they do not want to offend anyone by rebuking them about their sin.  “Your Best Life Now” seems to be only reachable by plastic smiles and pleasant platitudes.  But sometimes to have the best life God intends for us we need to be rebuked.  I trust God’s word on this and I trust the examples of Jesus Christ.  He taught and led his disciples to be men who turned the world upside down and preached the Gospel to every creature under the sun.  For these men to develop into the calibre of men who could do the work of the Great Commission they at times needed to be rebuked.  And we do too! 

When Peter got his eyes off the plan of God and tried to insert his own will into things he was strongly rebuked by the Lord.  When Peter or any of us cannot discern God’s plan and try to push our own way, a rebuke is needed.  We must  pay attention to God’s plan. 

On another occasion when the disciples wanted to call fire down from heaven Jesus rebuked them.  Perhaps all of us at times have felt like we wanted to do the same.  But when we forget about the grace that is needed to work in a sinful, wicked world we need to be rebuked. 

I know if we are not careful we can major on the negatives.  All of us prefer not to be rebuked.  But when needed I hope I will be sensitive to be rebuked through God’s Word, by the Holy Spirit and through the faithful preaching by a man of God who is still preaching the word, reproving, rebuking and exhorting with all longsuffering and doctrine.

Lessons In Leaven

In Matthew 16:1-13 we read of the Pharisees and Saducees coming to Jesus to tempt him.  He calls them hypocrites!  He knew their thoughts and intentions and that they only hoped to discredit him - it wasn’t happening. 

But all of that grew into a great teaching lesson.  In the midst of this the disciples had a startling discovery.  They had forgotten bread.  Have you ever done something like this?  Forgotten something important?  Something necessary?  But the worst part and I think the truly notable point was – not that they had forgotten the bread – their food, but that they had forgotten earlier, vital and life changing lessons that they had been taught.  These lessons (the feeding of the multitudes) should have been at the forefront of their thinking and it should have been something that had changed them forever! 

But alas, the disciples both them then and us today, seem to have difficulty discerning what are the most important things.  Case in point:  Remember in John 4 when the disciples had entered the Samaritan village to buy food.  When they returned they found Jesus had been busy dealing with the woman by the well.  He had served up living water that gave life changing and eternal blessing.  But the disciples couldn’t get past their own issues.  They wanted him to eat.  He stated that he had meat to eat that they knew nothing about.  Ok!  They asked “who gave him something to eat?”  They didn’t get it. 

Do you see how we sometimes can’t seem to get off the earth track?  His ways truly are higher than our ways.  Thank goodness he is patient with his disciples, but he does rebuke us.  He calls us down for our faithlessness, forgetfulness and foolishness.  He wants us to grow!  He wants us to learn! 

This discourse was about learning.  We need to learn.  If we don’t learn we will fall for bad doctrine (teaching).  So what are some of the lessons we can learn with these disciples in Matthew 16:

• Don’t forget the great things the Lord has already done for you in your life.
• Don’t get sidetracked from the main, and eternal issues in life.
• The spiritual matters are more important (eternal) than the fleshly needs (temporal).
• The Lord often uses simple examples to teach us vital spiritual lessons.   
• Don’t miss good things from the Lord by jumping to wrong conclusions.   

There was a lesson in the leaven.  Let’s learn and grow!

Looking At Poverty

As we rode from the airport in Port au Prince toward the orphanage in the ravine area of Girardo and then onto Gressier for our Pastor’s family camp I could not shut out the poverty all around me. I struggled with my thoughts. What a poor nation! Poorest in our hemisphere. A sadness closes over me as I think of the great needs here. I want to help. Where can one even begin.

We stop by “My Father’s House” orphanage in Girardo. Most of the 89 children crowd around us and look up to us with their sad, sallow eyes. They are living in inadequate, close conditions. They get only enough food to stay alive, but hardly thrive. We are able to deliver underclothing for all the children, a gift from Word of Life Baptist Church in PA brought by Rick and Mary Kay Paquette. We also deliver and place on the wrists some Gospel bracelets made by the children of Cornerstone Independent Baptist Church in Enola, PA in their VBS. We explain the story of the Gospel that it represents. This church also gave $2000 to help with the home. We and they are so thankful for every gift. It all helps.

Then I look at the budget. We need $2637.00 for school uniforms so the kids can start school next month. We need money for 89 pairs of shoes. We need $2198.00 for the school and kindergarten tuition for the children. We need $2004.00 for books and school supplies. The total is close to $10,000.00. Oh yes, we can’t forget that we also need enough money each month to feed the children and pay for the 13 workers and staff.

We love on the children for awhile. We give out some rare treats. They are having fun, Frances and Mary have especially enjoyed holding the youngest children on their laps, but it is time for us to leave for now. We continue on our trip to Gressier. Bad roads, filth, broken down hovels. We pass a couple of homes where the people have gathered a few sticks to roast themselves an ear of corn. That is their supper. We finally arrive at the camp. By Haitian standards it is wonderful. At least those who join with us this week know they have better prospects of finding something to eat here at the camp. They may sleep on the floor, but that is no different from their home. They will have little or no electricity, normal for them. They are still poor. When I leave they will go home. They will try to eat. They will try to survive.

Looking at poverty.   What can I say to these poor people? How can I help? Will I be able to say anything that will make any difference in their lives? Will I leave them better or worse for my visit? I want you to put yourself in my place and think of what you would say or do. I will leave you to consider your response until my next post.

Job, Jude and Jesus

During this past week I preached from the book of Job, the book of Jude and did all I could to exalt Jesus!  It was fun!  I love preaching!  I am just finishing up a great week in New England preaching in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  A week ago on Monday I flew in from Guatemala, stopped one night at home and then flew to Providence, RI.  Pastor Mike Sokoll and his wife Patti were my super hosts as I enjoyed helping them celebrate the 20th anniversary of Providence Baptist Church.  Frances, Victoria and I moved to Rhode Island to plant this church in 1989.  Ransom came along the next year.  Our years in Providence were wonderful!  With the good help of Mike and Patti (who were with us from the beginning) we not only planted PBC in the inner city but we led a church planting movement in the northeast.  Over our seven plus years in Providence we worked through our Baptist Evangelism ministry to plant many other churches throughout New England, the northeast and even as far away as Arizona and Utah.  Had it not been for the faithfulness of the Sokolls we could not have carried this work on.  I like to think that I taught Brother Mike a few things while we worked together.  He was always my faithful right hand.  Now, even after 20 years he and his wife are still there.  The work is still going, growing and being used of God to win souls.  Several were saved during this anniversary meeting under the big tent on the church property. 

During my time in New England I was also invited to preach for New Hope Baptist in Pascoag, RI and Hillside Baptist in Spencer, MA.  Both of these churches are pastored by good friends of mine.  The pastor of NHBC is Pastor George Warren.  Recently he helped us with a seminary module in Haiti.  This pastor and his church are a real blessing.  Hillside’s pastor is Ralph DiChiara.  They are nearing 20 years in Spencer.  I had the opportunity to help him when he was first starting Hillside.  We recalled going door to door to find some of the first contacts for the church.  They now have an absolutely awesome building and I believe God will bless them as they continue to serve him.  What a joy it is to serve the Lord.

Just Back From Guatemala

Actually I have been back since Monday, but things have been moving so fast that I have not had time to post anything.  I had a great time in Guatemala visiting with our young pastors, preaching in the churches and doing some leadership training.  God is good!

Tzisbaj

I was picked up at the airport by Pastor Salomon and Duglas.  Duglas had just returned to Guatemala after being in our church in Jupiter for the past 8 years.  He had sent a Ford Explorer down so he provided our transportation.  We left the airport and drove about 6 hours north to La Democracia.  It was late so we spent the night there.  The next morning we drove on to Tzisbaj.  It was great to see Edmundo again.  He had been alone since February working to forge out a work in this very hard area.  He has been meeting each week with a handful of people.  I know it had been a discouraging time but he has remained faithful to God.  We visited all day and that night over 30 first time visitors came into the service.  I preached from Acts 17 about the “unknown God”. 

The next day we again visited all day and were blessed with another great crowd.  I believe there is great hope for a wonderful work for the Lord in this place.  Brother Edmundo is a dedicated servant of the Lord. 

Xejeyup and Panacanal Dos

On Thursday we drove to Mazatenango and found a hotel.  The next morning we got up early and returned to the airport to pick up Chris and Andy from Thomas Terrace Baptist.  We traveled through Antigua and back to Mazate.  Early the next morning we traveled up to Xejeyup to begin an 8 AM leadership training.  We were just a few, but we carried on endeavoring to help prepare whoever was present.  God blessed. 

On Saturday we drove on up to Panacanal Dos and held a service in the church there.  This is the rainy season in Guatemala and we were not disappointed.  It was pouring.  Thankfully some braved the downpour and I preached on Colossians chapter 3.  On Sunday we were back in Xejeyup for 4 more hours of leadership training and their regular Sunday afternoon church service.  It poured again.  Chris said he had never seen it rain so hard.  Again some braved the elements and Chris preached on “blind Bartimaus”.  Later after we left a woman named Manuela trusted Christ. 

Please pray for the work in Guatemala and our two faithful men.  Salomon and Edmundo were both trained in our work in Florida – sent out by our church and planting churches. 

Mission Trips To Guatemala

P. S.  Plan to join us for future mission trips to Guatemala.  We have some coming up.  E-mail me at rmaggard@juno.com  Plan to join us also to help us build our first building there January 2, 2010. 

www.baptistevangelism.org

 

A Great Reversal

In 1910 there was a great missionary conference held in Edinburgh to emphasize the need to reach the world with the Gospel.  More than 1200 delegates, mostly from Western churches met there together to strategize and mobilize to reach out globally.  Today, 100 years later, there seems to be a great reversal in world missions. 

Years ago while I was preaching in the British Isles I had the opportunity to visit Wesley’s Chapel and home, Spurgeon’s, Metropolitan Tabernacle, and many other famous sites.  While there I wrote an essay called “Great Britain, Museum of Christianity”.  The basis of the essay was that while many great men and movements had come from Great Britain in the past, in these present days most of what you find in Great Britain are the museums, statues and relics of these men and movements.  Not much is happening on the positive side biblically speaking.  The new president of the Baptist Union in Great Britain recently said, “the church has almost been taken captive.”  This is true – but not only in Great Britain – here in the United States it is true as well.  Anything Christian is seen as offensive and could soon be designated as a “hate crime.”  Along with the global economic crisis, there is truly a recession in orthodox Christianity that will fearlessly stand and boldly proclaim God’s Word while doing everything possible to evangelize. 

What are we to do?  We must acknowledge where we have fallen, repent and do the first works.  Instead of this ”if you can’t beat them, join them” philosophy that is dominating most of our ministries, missions and movements, we must get back to the straight forward, hard preaching of the Word of God.  The luke warm, compromising, let’s all get along together plan has not worked.  The facts are in!  Several nations have already resigned to the fact that they will be over run by Islamic majority soon.  It is code blue time for France and Spain.  England is on spiritual life support!  America is crashing!  The unreached are waiting!

Time is running out!  The heart for missions is beating erratically.  Time to apply a spiritual defibrillator.  The heart of many of our churches needs to be shocked back to life.  Some have very weak pulse.  Some are barely breathing.  Some are unconscious.  Most need a jolt to shock their hearts back into right rhythm with the Word of God for the work of God.  Apply both defibrillator paddles now!  The Word and Prayer!  Through these the power of the Holy Spirit can bring the surge of life needed to rescue us from this sad emergency.  “Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. “

Seminary Growing

 Last week we had another module for our Seminary in Haiti.  Pastor Bob Cote and I taught primarily on Soteriology with a minor in Old Testament personalities and pastoral theology in the mix.  We had a great time with the men and we are seeing and hearing how this is a blessing in the work in Haiti. 

The weekend before the module started I traveled to visit with several churches.  It was a blessing to see the dedication of men who are willing to work under the hardships that they must face in the poorest country in the western hemisphere.  Then each night after the classes we traveled to other churches to preach and try to be a blessing where ever possible. 

Each day new men try to come into the class after hearing about our seminary.  We were trying to limit it to 25.  Last time we opened it for 5 more.  But more keep coming and I felt so bad about turning them away.  The place we meet is already crowded so we decided that we will have to divide the classes morning and evening and it looks as if we will double the number of students to between 50-60.  It is a big project but we are trying our best to honor the Lord in this opportunity.  Pray for us.

Preaching in Worcester, MA

This past Saturday I flew up to be in the Mission Emphasis at Adams Square Baptist Church in Worcester, MA.  We had a great time from the moment he picked me up at the airport until he dropped me off to return.  Pastor Cote and his wife are great hosts as are the gracious people of his church. 

On Sunday morning I preached on having the right desire in our hearts using the text in Romans 10:1. 

• When our heart’s desire is right we will know the purpose God has for our lives.  (Rom 10:1-4) 
• When our heart’s desire is right we will want to present our lives and serve our Lord.   (Romans 1:11;12:1; 2 Cor 10:16)
• When our heart’s desire is right we will be willing to pay the cost involved in serving.  (Rom 10:13-15)
• When our heart’s desire is right we will have the power needed to reach others for Christ.  (Acts 1:8; 2 Cor 8:3)
• When our heart’s desire is right we can live in the promise God gives to us in serving.  (Rom 10:11, 12, 15)

On Sunday night after showing some short videos of our ministry in south Florida, Cuba, Guatemala, and Haiti ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PIRk4zcxwmc ) I preached from John 7:37-38 to challenge the believers to examine their lives to see if they were allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives to make them a “flowing river” or if they were only stagnant pools.  

Pastor Cote will be joining me again in Haiti on April 27th for another Seminary module for our 30 students there.  His church is excited about their participation and that of their pastor in the work of the Lord in training and preparing men for the Gospel ministry.

Great Blessings In Haiti!

We were trying to limit the number of students in our Seminaire Baptiste Evangelique  d’Haiti to 25.  But when several new students showed up with a deep desire to be trained, I could not turn them away.  Now we have 30 students!  These men are very faithful and diligent.  Some come by bicycle from as far as 10 km each morning.  Many are walking and others rely on the public transportation.  All are eager students!  By the way, this brings our total to over 50 men that we are training in our ministry.

Pastor George Warren from New Hope Baptist in Pascoag, RI was our guest teacher all this week.  He did a great job and was well liked and appreciated by all.  He said he plans to return again later this year to help with teaching another seminary module. 

Nearly every evening after teaching all day we traveled to preach in churches.  We saw the Lord really moving with people forward for prayer and some testimonies of salvation.  The pastors seemed very encouraged and we pray that we can see great blessings as we move ahead.  Three of our men just recently started new churches within the last couple of weeks.  They need prayer!