Recently, while standing in the middle of a cornfield conversing with a farmer whom has been a committed Christian, Southern Baptist and a deeply spiritual man for nearly 20 years, the subject of general revelation came up.“I just think if that tribe in Africa doesn’t have a chance to hear the Gospel then God will honor anyone of them who looks at creation, puts his faith in the fact that something out there is bigger than Him.Yeah, God will let those people in heaven.”
It is my proposal to prove that the general revelation given by God in nature and conscience is not enough to warrant salvation to individuals.Furthermore, I intend to demonstrate that the proclamation of the Gospel is necessary for salvation.
It has been my experience, on multiple occasions, to discover that many Southern Baptist church members have a very shallow and unorthodox view of the nature of general revelation, its purpose and abilities.It is my hope that this paper can be used to defend the position that the proclamation of the Gospel is necessary in order for people to be converted, no matter their geographical, socio-economical or socio-religious situations.
I have for the last several months been preaching itinerantly across several states. I love meeting new people and sharing the Word of God with different congregations. In my recent travels I have come to some conclusions about itinerant preaching, both pro’s and con’s.
Let’s start with the pro’s first. This type of ministry is good because it supplies a need to congregations who may not have the means to hire multiple staff members. If a church has staff, generally in the absence of a pastor the staff would fill in. A lot of SBC churches simply can’t afford this luxury.
It is also a good thing for congregations to be able to get a different perspective on the word of God. Pastors, just like everyone else, can get in ruts and they have their own hobby horses and soap boxes. This can, sometimes, lead to apathy in hearing on the part of the congregation. Even the best pastor, who is very passionate, communicates very well in his own style and is very dedicated to Godly service can sometimes become dull. It’s good to get a different perspective on the word in a different style. It can stir the congregation and bring a breath of freshness into the church. It’s always encouraging being used of God in this way. Continue Reading »
I just joined the marvelous world of Twitter. If you don’t know what twitter is, it is a social networking tool that allows you to keep up with friends and people you find interesting. I have managed put my personal twitter updates in the sidebar of this website. I love technology!
