Just an update on my emergency prayer request of my brother-in-law. My sister facebooked her friends to let us know how things are going. After being in the hospital in Boston all week they released him and sent him home. However he is still being very closely monitored. Please continue to pray for them. Until the doctors have determined everything we cannot (and should not) assume that he is out of the woods.
Lord Bless,
Steven Swaim
Monday, September 7, 2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Emergency Prayer Request
I am posting this as an emergency prayer request. I am asking all of you who read these postings to pray for my brother-in-law, Ron Cunningham. He is a pastor of a small Baptist church in Maine where my sister is one of the Deans at a college. Last Thursday night he felt something was wrong and drove himself to the hospital where they diagnosed that he was having a stroke. He didn't stay the night but went back home were later at the church he began to have another one. A friend was called and he was rushed to the hospital again, from where my sister was called. Ron stayed a couple of days in the hospital where they were not able to identify anything. Today they identified that he has a blood clot in the brain. He is due to go into the hospital in Boston tomorrow, where they will prepare to do surgery. At this moment it is unsure as to when the surgery will take place. Please pray for the following: First and foremost that the will of God will be done; Second, that God will lead the hands, eyes, and minds of the doctors, surgeons, and health care officials; Third, that his body will respond to the treatment which is administered in a positive way; Fourth, for a quick and complete recovery; Fifth, pray for my sister and their two sons, both boys are taking this very hard; Sixth, their finances during this time; and finally, for the church which he pastors, that they will rally around the family and support their pastor during this time of need.
I will update what is going on at this website.
God Bless All Of You,
Steven Swaim
I will update what is going on at this website.
God Bless All Of You,
Steven Swaim
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Socialized Medicine? Good, Bad, or Indifferent?
Introduction
I know that a lot of people are getting tired of talking about Nationalized Health Care, but that in part is the plan from the political left. The fewer people care the more will get through the Congress without a fight. Back in the 1980’s while preaching in a small church in East Texas I went to lunch with a deacon and his wife. The woman told me a story which to this day makes me think and rethink all that our government does. She told me how that her dad had worked for years for a large company and retired in 1960. Part of the retirement package was a very nice health coverage plan which he had paid into for years. Her father died suddenly and left her mother widowed. However she was able to receive the benefits from her husband’s (this woman’s father) pension and retirement plan, which of course included the health coverage. Her mom was a stay at home wife which was pretty typical back in those days. So she went out found a small part time job which basically helped ends meet and helped her secure Social Security. She retired in 1964. Boy what a carrier. When she retired all of the benefits continued to come in and with the house paid off she was thought to be looking at living a fairly comfortable life that is until 1965. In 1965 Medicare was passed and everyone over 65 was forced to join, which is still the law (http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=2045 ). At that time if you had any health insurance you were forced to give it up which caused thousands to suffer. This woman was no different. Because of the passing and implementation of this law her health coverage changed dramatically and so did her health. She passed away as a result of complications in 1967 while waiting for a doctor to confirm that a specialist could see her.
That was then, now it is much different. Thanks to Ronald Reagan and other conservatives many of these issues were changed. One of the things which they changed was the idea that private insurance company policies could be bought to move along side Medicare and help strengthen the medical care of our nation’s seniors. My own father benefited from this when in 2002 he suffered a heart attack. If this had been an unreformed Medicare system I may not be talking about how I love my dad, but be saying how I loved my dad.
As a side note a funny thing happened to a former pastor and friend who forgot to apply for Medicare when he turned 65 and did it when he turned 67. He now has to pay 10 dollars a month for the rest of his life as a penalty charge for forgetting. He’s nearing 85.
The key to the Medicare situation is that it is forced on those 65 and older. While initially it appeared to be a good idea and thanks to some of the reforms on it since the 1980’s it has turned out to be very helpful, in the long run it has drained us of more than the our future financially, but it has drained us of our moral obligations as well. I in no way oppose the government helping those needing help or even offering Medicare to those who need it, but to force some into it is a different story.
Today we are focusing in on the issue of a National Health Care policy. I personally believe that while any laws which will come out of Congress and signed by the President will not initially say you have to take this, it will over time. Socialism works like that. In a speech in 1961 while speaking at the Operation Coffee Cup Campaign against Socialized Medicine, Ronald Reagan stated that back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket said that Americans would never vote for Socialism but under the title of Liberalism they would almost always vote on anything (www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs&feature=related ). It is the issue of being forced to participate which is contrary to human freedom what our nation was founded on.
What In The World Is Going On?
I believe that in the 1920’s there was a cultural and philosophical shift which took place. Our nation became more concerned with the here and now rather than the future. Before hand people would think about what they could leave behind as far as a legacy for their children. But in the 1920s and especially with the Depression of the 1930s this thought began to change. It became more of a dream of selfism than a dream of the future. Suddenly seniors expected their children to take care of them rather than building toward the future and leaving something for the next generation. While the expectation was not wrong, and the Bible calls for us to take care of our elders, it does not declare it by mandate. It is a choice and one which should be done. However this shift is what lead to the Social Security System and later to Medicare/Medicaid, which we are all forced to pay into and which is about to go bankrupt. I refer you to my six part series on The Cult of Selfism and Postmodernism in the month of May, 2008.
Why The Need?
This would seem to be the question. If we listen to those who want national healthcare the story always follows that there are 46 million Americans without health insurance (http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/2009-07-26-obama-health-plan-small-business_N.htm ) and that 6 million a year are loosing their insurance everyday (www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml ). However what they fail to tell us is that in August of 2008 while things had been going down hill before the October crashes, the uninsured rate was falling. But don’t get too excited with the news because the stats will tell us that it is primarily because families took advantage of federal subsidized insurance for children (http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/08/26/number-of-uninsured-americans-drops.html ). That still does not prove anything either way. Of those 46 million, 15 million are an estimated to be illegal immigrants who should not be here to begin with. This means that the real issue regarding healthcare is an immigration policy matter, not healthcare issue (http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/07/20/daily34.html ). Of the remaining 31 million there are 44% or 13,640,000 of those who are uninsured by choice. This means 1 in 4 (3,410,000) of those are eligible for Medicare but don’t take it. The remaining 10,230,000 are under 35 years of age and make in excess of $58,000 dollars a year but feel that they don’t need it (http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/uninsured-by-choice/ -This blog links to the study by the Urban Institute.). That leaves 17,360,000 who are not insured for various reasons, most of which is a group whose employers are too small and cannot afford low cost health insurance. So let’s say that the number stands between 15 million and 17 million, it’s still a large number. But comparatively it is less than 1% of the population.
What’s The Threat?
The problem with what is being instigated, yes I used that word, is that it is not about medicine. It is not about money, which is the reason nobody seems to care about the cost. It is not about insurance, because our government has already shown signs of not caring about real coverage. It’s about power. Power to tell you and me what to do and how we should live allowing no freedom in our decision making. I have a friend who I love to talk to from the former communist nation of Romania. He tells stories about how the communist/socialists constantly controlled how people lived and what they were to believe. ObamaCare as it has been affectionately named reeks with the smell of Nazi Germany in 1933. They didn’t just jump to killing and executing Jews. No it took awhile. They started with the mentally handicapped and moved to the mentally disturbed. From there they moved to the terminally ill and then to the elderly. Abortion was free on demand and often preformed for those of other races with governmental assistance. In 1937 and the invasion of Poland the Nazi’s began to quietly and secretly kill the Jewish population. In fact it was carried out so secretly that for a sometime the Jewish population themselves did not know it was happening until pictures started showing up.
Socialized healthcare will start out quiet. First, you’ll be told that you can’t go to the doctor for a cold. Then you’ll be told that only emergencies can be covered. Afterward you’ll only be covered in worse case situation and at that point it won’t matter. It will lead to them not giving you the best care in the worse moments. They will allow you to slowly die away. While that may seem crazy go online and see how many stories you can pull up of these situations going on in Canada and Great Britain. There are so many of them out on the web from solid sources that I don’t even have to sight them.
Are There Any Answers?
So since we are talking about less than 1% of the population should we just simply walk away? I don’t think so. My Biblical worldview says otherwise. However I don’t think that Socialize Medical care is the idea either. For one thing place yourself in the situation with those who aren’t insured and cannot help but be the victims of their circumstances. So, what should be doing?
There are several things which can be done. First, weed out those who can be covered verses those who cannot get coverage. Second, fix the illegal immigration issue. As long as that goes on over 15 million people will continue to suck the life out of our social system. Third, go to those who are eligible for Medicare and make sure they understand they are eligible. Find out if there is abuse or fraud going on which may not be allowing them to get the coverage. Fourth, have employers who can provide insurance to workers do training to discuss the dangers the voluntary uninsured face. Fifth, open up the laws regarding co-op programs so that small businesses which do similar kinds of business operations can come together in associations and bid on insurance policies that larger companies are allowed to do. Sixth, that may leave in the neighborhood about 10 million people who are not or cannot be insured. Based on the situation, some kind of governmental assistant plan may need to be developed which will cover these people for a limited time. The limited time would be based on the idea that they would seek out work and find insurance under an employer. Last, families need to return to the duty of lovingly caring for aging parents, handicapped members, and critically ill persons. If the families alone were involved in the medical/insurance situation then, if any assistance were needed, it would be held to minimum. Nothing means more to those in medical situations than the loving, caring hearts and hands of family.
The key to this all is that no matter what, no one should ever be denied health care especially in emergency and life/death illnesses. As a part of the Hippocratic Oath physicians should help patients no matter what. Health care, when available, is a human’s rights issue. As Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” (NASB) The point is that it should never be a forced issue on doctors, patients or insurance companies. There is always the point of conscience.
I know that a lot of people are getting tired of talking about Nationalized Health Care, but that in part is the plan from the political left. The fewer people care the more will get through the Congress without a fight. Back in the 1980’s while preaching in a small church in East Texas I went to lunch with a deacon and his wife. The woman told me a story which to this day makes me think and rethink all that our government does. She told me how that her dad had worked for years for a large company and retired in 1960. Part of the retirement package was a very nice health coverage plan which he had paid into for years. Her father died suddenly and left her mother widowed. However she was able to receive the benefits from her husband’s (this woman’s father) pension and retirement plan, which of course included the health coverage. Her mom was a stay at home wife which was pretty typical back in those days. So she went out found a small part time job which basically helped ends meet and helped her secure Social Security. She retired in 1964. Boy what a carrier. When she retired all of the benefits continued to come in and with the house paid off she was thought to be looking at living a fairly comfortable life that is until 1965. In 1965 Medicare was passed and everyone over 65 was forced to join, which is still the law (http://www.accuracy.org/newsrelease.php?articleId=2045 ). At that time if you had any health insurance you were forced to give it up which caused thousands to suffer. This woman was no different. Because of the passing and implementation of this law her health coverage changed dramatically and so did her health. She passed away as a result of complications in 1967 while waiting for a doctor to confirm that a specialist could see her.
That was then, now it is much different. Thanks to Ronald Reagan and other conservatives many of these issues were changed. One of the things which they changed was the idea that private insurance company policies could be bought to move along side Medicare and help strengthen the medical care of our nation’s seniors. My own father benefited from this when in 2002 he suffered a heart attack. If this had been an unreformed Medicare system I may not be talking about how I love my dad, but be saying how I loved my dad.
As a side note a funny thing happened to a former pastor and friend who forgot to apply for Medicare when he turned 65 and did it when he turned 67. He now has to pay 10 dollars a month for the rest of his life as a penalty charge for forgetting. He’s nearing 85.
The key to the Medicare situation is that it is forced on those 65 and older. While initially it appeared to be a good idea and thanks to some of the reforms on it since the 1980’s it has turned out to be very helpful, in the long run it has drained us of more than the our future financially, but it has drained us of our moral obligations as well. I in no way oppose the government helping those needing help or even offering Medicare to those who need it, but to force some into it is a different story.
Today we are focusing in on the issue of a National Health Care policy. I personally believe that while any laws which will come out of Congress and signed by the President will not initially say you have to take this, it will over time. Socialism works like that. In a speech in 1961 while speaking at the Operation Coffee Cup Campaign against Socialized Medicine, Ronald Reagan stated that back in 1927 an American socialist, Norman Thomas, six times candidate for president on the Socialist Party ticket said that Americans would never vote for Socialism but under the title of Liberalism they would almost always vote on anything (www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRdLpem-AAs&feature=related ). It is the issue of being forced to participate which is contrary to human freedom what our nation was founded on.
What In The World Is Going On?
I believe that in the 1920’s there was a cultural and philosophical shift which took place. Our nation became more concerned with the here and now rather than the future. Before hand people would think about what they could leave behind as far as a legacy for their children. But in the 1920s and especially with the Depression of the 1930s this thought began to change. It became more of a dream of selfism than a dream of the future. Suddenly seniors expected their children to take care of them rather than building toward the future and leaving something for the next generation. While the expectation was not wrong, and the Bible calls for us to take care of our elders, it does not declare it by mandate. It is a choice and one which should be done. However this shift is what lead to the Social Security System and later to Medicare/Medicaid, which we are all forced to pay into and which is about to go bankrupt. I refer you to my six part series on The Cult of Selfism and Postmodernism in the month of May, 2008.
Why The Need?
This would seem to be the question. If we listen to those who want national healthcare the story always follows that there are 46 million Americans without health insurance (http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/strauss/2009-07-26-obama-health-plan-small-business_N.htm ) and that 6 million a year are loosing their insurance everyday (www.nchc.org/facts/coverage.shtml ). However what they fail to tell us is that in August of 2008 while things had been going down hill before the October crashes, the uninsured rate was falling. But don’t get too excited with the news because the stats will tell us that it is primarily because families took advantage of federal subsidized insurance for children (http://health.usnews.com/articles/health/healthday/2008/08/26/number-of-uninsured-americans-drops.html ). That still does not prove anything either way. Of those 46 million, 15 million are an estimated to be illegal immigrants who should not be here to begin with. This means that the real issue regarding healthcare is an immigration policy matter, not healthcare issue (http://phoenix.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/07/20/daily34.html ). Of the remaining 31 million there are 44% or 13,640,000 of those who are uninsured by choice. This means 1 in 4 (3,410,000) of those are eligible for Medicare but don’t take it. The remaining 10,230,000 are under 35 years of age and make in excess of $58,000 dollars a year but feel that they don’t need it (http://www.john-goodman-blog.com/uninsured-by-choice/ -This blog links to the study by the Urban Institute.). That leaves 17,360,000 who are not insured for various reasons, most of which is a group whose employers are too small and cannot afford low cost health insurance. So let’s say that the number stands between 15 million and 17 million, it’s still a large number. But comparatively it is less than 1% of the population.
What’s The Threat?
The problem with what is being instigated, yes I used that word, is that it is not about medicine. It is not about money, which is the reason nobody seems to care about the cost. It is not about insurance, because our government has already shown signs of not caring about real coverage. It’s about power. Power to tell you and me what to do and how we should live allowing no freedom in our decision making. I have a friend who I love to talk to from the former communist nation of Romania. He tells stories about how the communist/socialists constantly controlled how people lived and what they were to believe. ObamaCare as it has been affectionately named reeks with the smell of Nazi Germany in 1933. They didn’t just jump to killing and executing Jews. No it took awhile. They started with the mentally handicapped and moved to the mentally disturbed. From there they moved to the terminally ill and then to the elderly. Abortion was free on demand and often preformed for those of other races with governmental assistance. In 1937 and the invasion of Poland the Nazi’s began to quietly and secretly kill the Jewish population. In fact it was carried out so secretly that for a sometime the Jewish population themselves did not know it was happening until pictures started showing up.
Socialized healthcare will start out quiet. First, you’ll be told that you can’t go to the doctor for a cold. Then you’ll be told that only emergencies can be covered. Afterward you’ll only be covered in worse case situation and at that point it won’t matter. It will lead to them not giving you the best care in the worse moments. They will allow you to slowly die away. While that may seem crazy go online and see how many stories you can pull up of these situations going on in Canada and Great Britain. There are so many of them out on the web from solid sources that I don’t even have to sight them.
Are There Any Answers?
So since we are talking about less than 1% of the population should we just simply walk away? I don’t think so. My Biblical worldview says otherwise. However I don’t think that Socialize Medical care is the idea either. For one thing place yourself in the situation with those who aren’t insured and cannot help but be the victims of their circumstances. So, what should be doing?
There are several things which can be done. First, weed out those who can be covered verses those who cannot get coverage. Second, fix the illegal immigration issue. As long as that goes on over 15 million people will continue to suck the life out of our social system. Third, go to those who are eligible for Medicare and make sure they understand they are eligible. Find out if there is abuse or fraud going on which may not be allowing them to get the coverage. Fourth, have employers who can provide insurance to workers do training to discuss the dangers the voluntary uninsured face. Fifth, open up the laws regarding co-op programs so that small businesses which do similar kinds of business operations can come together in associations and bid on insurance policies that larger companies are allowed to do. Sixth, that may leave in the neighborhood about 10 million people who are not or cannot be insured. Based on the situation, some kind of governmental assistant plan may need to be developed which will cover these people for a limited time. The limited time would be based on the idea that they would seek out work and find insurance under an employer. Last, families need to return to the duty of lovingly caring for aging parents, handicapped members, and critically ill persons. If the families alone were involved in the medical/insurance situation then, if any assistance were needed, it would be held to minimum. Nothing means more to those in medical situations than the loving, caring hearts and hands of family.
The key to this all is that no matter what, no one should ever be denied health care especially in emergency and life/death illnesses. As a part of the Hippocratic Oath physicians should help patients no matter what. Health care, when available, is a human’s rights issue. As Jesus said in Luke 12:48, “…From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.” (NASB) The point is that it should never be a forced issue on doctors, patients or insurance companies. There is always the point of conscience.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
ONline-Lazy or In-touch
Mary and I have Facebook pages. As a result we have been in touch with people who we have not heard from in quiet a few years. In my case it has even helped me keep up with my sister and now my mother is onboard. Personally I think she’s onboard to keep the fusing and fighting down between my sister and I (LOL). So over all it's been a great experience.
Having said that I have also noticed that some people are on it all day long. Some of those cases maybe because of vacations or maybe unemployment or even health issues, but either way it has something to do with a person’s preference at the moment. However I believe there is more to this than what meets the eyes.
Allow me to state up front that I believe what I am about to say has possibly been said about every part of technology ever invented regarding communication. I promise toward end you will want to read how all of this unfolds. So while I am being serious I want to have a little fun with it as well.
Being online or being connected is popular however it has some specific issues which come with it.
First, I think that it has the possibilities of enhancing communications between people. But I have also seen it do the exact opposite. In some situations people have ignore their families, friends and even employers for the sake of “being connected.” We bark and yell about children being neglected as a result of drugs, alcohol and being sexually promiscuous (is that a term anymore?), but never ask about the addiction of “being connected.” I enjoy seeing what my friends are up to and knowing how their lives are going, but there is a danger. One of those dangers law enforcement is telling us about is with giving too much information out about were we are at the moment. There has been a small rise in crime on people’s homes who have broadcast were they are at the moment. This is the reason I will generally wait and tell were I went while not telling where I am going.
Second, it becomes an excuse not to make a phone call or write a letter or send a card. Mary and I are continuing to make it a practice to do this since so many people rather e-mail or congratulate online. While there is nothing wrong with doing this the problem is that the personable contact is lost. I was contacted by a very good friend who I had not heard from in years through Facebook. We exchanged e-mail addresses then phone numbers. I called him one time while he was busy. He said he would call back. (Do you hear those crickets?) Just before he hung up he states, “If I don’t call you back we can contact each other on Facebook.” Humph! I don’t want to see an e-mail that took twenty seconds, I want to talk about life and hear a voice.
Third, it stretches the community. What I mean by this is that the community which once was strengthened by interpersonal ties is now thinned out by small, quick typos in a swift moment. It really does give the appeal of connecting with the person, but in reality I believe, that most of the time, it is just a quick fix to help our conscience stay in the clear. While some studies show that the internet can be positive in regards to socialization (www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m6836/is_4_49/ai_n25120984/) I personally think that it is not a well grounded socialization where children hear the pain or joy from an actual voice.
While all of this has been an ongoing argument in the past, I think it has more to do with how it is used than if it is being used. Allow me to give a case in point, you are reading this on the internet. Case closed! Right!? Not really. Just like anything else we need to be careful about how much of something we eat, read or do. Eating is good for me. However in 2006 I discovered that eating the wrong things can lead to high cholesterol. Reading helps me learn and grow, but life without experience and exercise can lead to laziness and disconnect. Exercise is good for me, but too much for too long can lead to exhaustion and even death. The same is true of the internet and things like Facebook. If we limit our intake to a healthy level then we are fine. These personal pages can help us to stay in contact and find out how people are doing. But if we cross that barrier then we find ourselves disconnected from reality and putting more important things on hold which call for our attention.
NOW for the fun! Let’s say we lived 10,000 years ago. We talk and communicate in very vocal understandable sounds (I know I just ripped the evolutionist into a tizzy [big deal]). Everything’s find until Junior starts drawing pictures on the wall. All day long he does this, telling about the great adventures we have been having during the day hunting or the dangers of a storm or something like that. Now the family counsel committee gets together to talk about how all the children are doing this. They discuss the impact on culture, the socialization aspect and the possible harm it will bring morally through pornographic images. But noting can be done to stop this and time passes.
Finally, about a thousand years pass and people start caring around large stones and drawing more detailed pictures on them. They do basically the same thing as the wall drawings but they have depth to them and may even be in color. A study is done on the harmful effects of chiseling into hard rock and that carrying around large stones have on a person. Soon there are some issues discovered, but nobody is able to do anything about it and time passes.
Another three thousand years pass and people stop drawing and start using symbols to convey words. Stories which were drawn out and then told over the years by a people who can change the story is becoming a thing of the past. No, now they are written in explicit details. A citizens action committee is put together to discuss the implication of this writing. Time moves on, and nothing can be done about it.
Four thousand more years pass and three of things are discovered: the quill pen, ink and papyri. No longer do people carry heavy stones around or have to kill an animal for its skin to write on. Now this is getting personal. The National Business Men Society for Skinning Animals (NBMSSA) forms as a protest to this newest wave of communication. In its effort to debunk this newest trend they keep prices high on the products and allow few people the opportunity to learn to write. Basically, nothing is done to stop it and time passes by.
Now paper is plentiful, ink is cheap and the feather of any roaster will work. People are learning to read and write left and right. Schools are being formed and education is moving forward. Then comes Benjamin Franklin and the US Postal Service. Now people really scream. People won’t come to visit anymore. They won’t want to talk anymore. Socialization will come to a bear minimum. The world will end. The same was possibly said with the invention of the telegraph, telephone, radio and television.
While my timeline is off a great deal I think you can see, these arguments have always existed. So as you enjoy your Facebook account, chatting with you friends and making you comments, pick up a pen and paper and send a letter. Or better yet pick up the phone or e-mail them and schedule a lunch or dinner and visit. Nothing is wrong with the technology as long as a personal touch is given with it along the way.
Let me know what you think,
Steven Swaim
Having said that I have also noticed that some people are on it all day long. Some of those cases maybe because of vacations or maybe unemployment or even health issues, but either way it has something to do with a person’s preference at the moment. However I believe there is more to this than what meets the eyes.
Allow me to state up front that I believe what I am about to say has possibly been said about every part of technology ever invented regarding communication. I promise toward end you will want to read how all of this unfolds. So while I am being serious I want to have a little fun with it as well.
Being online or being connected is popular however it has some specific issues which come with it.
First, I think that it has the possibilities of enhancing communications between people. But I have also seen it do the exact opposite. In some situations people have ignore their families, friends and even employers for the sake of “being connected.” We bark and yell about children being neglected as a result of drugs, alcohol and being sexually promiscuous (is that a term anymore?), but never ask about the addiction of “being connected.” I enjoy seeing what my friends are up to and knowing how their lives are going, but there is a danger. One of those dangers law enforcement is telling us about is with giving too much information out about were we are at the moment. There has been a small rise in crime on people’s homes who have broadcast were they are at the moment. This is the reason I will generally wait and tell were I went while not telling where I am going.
Second, it becomes an excuse not to make a phone call or write a letter or send a card. Mary and I are continuing to make it a practice to do this since so many people rather e-mail or congratulate online. While there is nothing wrong with doing this the problem is that the personable contact is lost. I was contacted by a very good friend who I had not heard from in years through Facebook. We exchanged e-mail addresses then phone numbers. I called him one time while he was busy. He said he would call back. (Do you hear those crickets?) Just before he hung up he states, “If I don’t call you back we can contact each other on Facebook.” Humph! I don’t want to see an e-mail that took twenty seconds, I want to talk about life and hear a voice.
Third, it stretches the community. What I mean by this is that the community which once was strengthened by interpersonal ties is now thinned out by small, quick typos in a swift moment. It really does give the appeal of connecting with the person, but in reality I believe, that most of the time, it is just a quick fix to help our conscience stay in the clear. While some studies show that the internet can be positive in regards to socialization (www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m6836/is_4_49/ai_n25120984/) I personally think that it is not a well grounded socialization where children hear the pain or joy from an actual voice.
While all of this has been an ongoing argument in the past, I think it has more to do with how it is used than if it is being used. Allow me to give a case in point, you are reading this on the internet. Case closed! Right!? Not really. Just like anything else we need to be careful about how much of something we eat, read or do. Eating is good for me. However in 2006 I discovered that eating the wrong things can lead to high cholesterol. Reading helps me learn and grow, but life without experience and exercise can lead to laziness and disconnect. Exercise is good for me, but too much for too long can lead to exhaustion and even death. The same is true of the internet and things like Facebook. If we limit our intake to a healthy level then we are fine. These personal pages can help us to stay in contact and find out how people are doing. But if we cross that barrier then we find ourselves disconnected from reality and putting more important things on hold which call for our attention.
NOW for the fun! Let’s say we lived 10,000 years ago. We talk and communicate in very vocal understandable sounds (I know I just ripped the evolutionist into a tizzy [big deal]). Everything’s find until Junior starts drawing pictures on the wall. All day long he does this, telling about the great adventures we have been having during the day hunting or the dangers of a storm or something like that. Now the family counsel committee gets together to talk about how all the children are doing this. They discuss the impact on culture, the socialization aspect and the possible harm it will bring morally through pornographic images. But noting can be done to stop this and time passes.
Finally, about a thousand years pass and people start caring around large stones and drawing more detailed pictures on them. They do basically the same thing as the wall drawings but they have depth to them and may even be in color. A study is done on the harmful effects of chiseling into hard rock and that carrying around large stones have on a person. Soon there are some issues discovered, but nobody is able to do anything about it and time passes.
Another three thousand years pass and people stop drawing and start using symbols to convey words. Stories which were drawn out and then told over the years by a people who can change the story is becoming a thing of the past. No, now they are written in explicit details. A citizens action committee is put together to discuss the implication of this writing. Time moves on, and nothing can be done about it.
Four thousand more years pass and three of things are discovered: the quill pen, ink and papyri. No longer do people carry heavy stones around or have to kill an animal for its skin to write on. Now this is getting personal. The National Business Men Society for Skinning Animals (NBMSSA) forms as a protest to this newest wave of communication. In its effort to debunk this newest trend they keep prices high on the products and allow few people the opportunity to learn to write. Basically, nothing is done to stop it and time passes by.
Now paper is plentiful, ink is cheap and the feather of any roaster will work. People are learning to read and write left and right. Schools are being formed and education is moving forward. Then comes Benjamin Franklin and the US Postal Service. Now people really scream. People won’t come to visit anymore. They won’t want to talk anymore. Socialization will come to a bear minimum. The world will end. The same was possibly said with the invention of the telegraph, telephone, radio and television.
While my timeline is off a great deal I think you can see, these arguments have always existed. So as you enjoy your Facebook account, chatting with you friends and making you comments, pick up a pen and paper and send a letter. Or better yet pick up the phone or e-mail them and schedule a lunch or dinner and visit. Nothing is wrong with the technology as long as a personal touch is given with it along the way.
Let me know what you think,
Steven Swaim
Sunday, July 12, 2009
THE GOOD HAND OF GOD IN OVERSEEING HIS WORK-Part I
(EZRA 3:8-13)
Devotion #11
8Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem in the second month, Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel and Jeshua the son of Jozadak and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all who came from the captivity to Jerusalem, began the work and appointed the Levites from twenty years and older to oversee the work of the house of the LORD. 9Then Jeshua with his sons and brothers stood united with Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah and the sons of Henadad with their sons and brothers the Levites, to oversee the workmen in the temple of God.
(Ezra 3:8-9)
As a supervisor over part of a department it is not always easy to keep up with who is doing what, but regardless it is my job. I have always viewed my job as an extension of the ministry which God has given to me; therefore I now see my supervisor role as an extension of my calling regarding pastoral work. Since God owns the whole world and all that is in it, then any assignment or task given to me is something which requires my utmost attention for His glory.
As we have been going through the book of Ezra we have seen great bravery from the outset. A willingness to answer God’s call through a pagan king to rebuild the temple (chapter 1), brave men gathering together and traveling to Jerusalem (chapters 1:5-2:70), and finally we have seen them begin to re-establish worship to Yahweh from the temple sight (3:1-7). At this point we will look at 3:8-9 and see the good hand of God in overseeing His work as they beginning the process of rebuilding the Temple. Remember that the theme in both Ezra and Nehemiah is, “The Good Hand Of God.” While the rebuilding of the temple is important in Ezra and the rebuilding of the wall is important in Nehemiah these are not the real goals. The real goal is the redemption of the community.
One of the things to look at is that there are three significant details to understand the timing of this event. First, it is being done at a very important junction in history. 1st Kings 6:1 notes, “Now it came about in the four hundred and eightieth year after the sons of Israel came out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon's reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv which is the second month, that he began to build the house of the LORD.” According to the Jewish calendar the month of Ziv is the second month. It had also been almost four hundred years between the building of the first Temple and the rebuilding of this Temple here in Ezra. So four hundred years passed between the Exodus (the building of the Tabernacle) and the building for the first Temple. And four hundred years had passed between the building of the first Temple to this moment when the Jewish people would begin to rebuild the Temple. This shows that their history and the scriptures play a significant role.
Second, this is patterned very similar to the way Solomon organized things to work while building the Temple. 1st Chronicles 23:4-24 discusses this in detail. Particularly in verse 24, “These were the sons of Levi according to their fathers' households, {even} the heads of the fathers' {households} of those of them who were counted, in the number of names by their census, doing the work for the service of the house of the LORD, from twenty years old and upward.” As can be quickly illustrated here it was very important to this community of refugees that they do things precisely or according to the scriptures. Allow me to remind you also that I believe 1st and 2nd Chronicles along with Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther was a compilation work brought together for the defense of the Jewish people before the high courts of Persia. Therefore it was imperative for them to show continuity between the scriptures and their history.
The third thing which needs to be noted was the seasonal aspect. Ziv is the beginning of the dry season. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 states, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven-- 2A time to give birth and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to uproot what is planted. 3A time to kill and a time to heal; A time to tear down and a time to build up. 4A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance. 5A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace and a time to shun embracing. 6A time to search and a time to give up as lost; A time to keep and a time to throw away. 7A time to tear apart and a time to sew together; A time to be silent and a time to speak. 8A time to love and a time to hate; A time for war and a time for peace.” Notice Ecclesiastes 3:3, “…a time to build up.” The Jewish people felt it was time to build and since God through Cyrus has brought them back for that reason it would not take much imagination to sense their purpose for being there.
It is also important to note two things regarding the overseers. They were to direct the work and supervise the workers. In order to direct the work they would tell them what should be done, who should do it and how it should be done. Remember this is the Temple they are rebuilding so things had to be done a specific way for a specific reason. When they supervised the workers they were making sure things were being done according to the instructions which had been given to them. They were in total cooperation with one another in this matter. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:1-16, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, 2with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, 3being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling; 5one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all. 7But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. 8Therefore it says, "WHEN HE ASCENDED ON HIGH, HE LED CAPTIVE A HOST OF CAPTIVES, AND HE GAVE GIFTS TO MEN." 9(Now this expression, "He ascended," what does it mean except that He also had descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10He who descended is Himself also He who ascended far above all the heavens, so that He might fill all things.) 11And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. 14As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, 16from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together by what every joint supplies, according to the proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.” What the men in Zerubbabel’s time understood dealing with the rebuilding of the Temple Paul visualizes as a way of life. It was going to take cooperation. Sometimes we may not agree with each other on specifics (i.e. when Jesus is coming back; did the church begin in Matthew 16 or Acts 2; how is communion served and when; or how church administration should be set up) but as long as basic Bible doctrine which is important to the Gospel and the salvation of men’s souls is agree too, then we can move forward in unity. Some hills are worth fighting for, some are worth dying on, while others have no use but to throw rocks from and run away. Here in Ezra the people were going to have to work together to get this done.
So what can be learned from all of this? First we need to understand things from both a Biblical and historical view. Regardless of what some may say, the two do not always see eye to eye. The Bible is our most important guide. It is the very words of God to us. It is inerrant and sufficient to guide us through life on both a personal and global scale. It gives us insight as to who God is, how He works and often why He may choose to do things. With a proper understanding to God’s word you can never go wrong. However there are times when things are not so clear in the Bible and for that we may turn to history. This helps us see where others made mistakes or even overcame issues. Second, we need to understand that God has placed authorities over us even in church work. The pastor and staff is placed there to oversee the work of God and to help keep things at an accountable level. Without the pastors and staff, people would be allowed to do anything and confusion would soon set in. As can be seen from the Ephesians 4 passage above, God is a God of order and does not want things to work in a chaotic way. Last, we must learn to work together. While pastors and staff maybe there to direct the work, they are not there to dictate what kind of work is to be done. Those of us who know Jesus as Savior all have the Holy Spirit who is the one who is to lead us in what part of the mission we are to be involved in. The staff is there to make sure that things are done Biblically, morally, and ethically. This also means we are to learn to work together. What you are passionate about may not be what God lays on my heart. I have seen people struggle with this through the years and after many years of heart searching and attempting different things, one day God brings something along which clicks with that person. Now those people are serving the Lord in a way that He desires. This also brings back the whole “There is an appointed time for everything” scenario from Ecclesiastes 3:1. The important thing is that we should be about our Fathers business sharing the Gospel with everyone we come in contact with.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
DO YOU BELONG TO ENTERTAINMENT CENTRAL?
I don’t want anybody to get me wrong with this blog but I do want people to think and think very clearly about what we do and to what we belong. I came to Christ in April of 1981. It was a great time in my life as I met the Maker of my soul and Ruler of the universe. The guy who led me to Christ belonged to a small Baptist church in the Pleasant Grove section of Dallas. At that time Pleasant Grove was just getting into the stages of being very rough and violent. The church property was well taken care of by the members and the staff worked hard to tend to the needs of the membership. This church belonged to the Baptist Missionary Association of Texas (BMAT). It was a conservative church which preached the undeniable gospel and attempted to disciple those who were lead to Christ. I was there for nine years and it was hard to see churches across town (North Dallas, Rockwall, Rowlett, Seagoville, ect.) grow into giant churches with thousands and thousands of members, great music, and cutting edge technology. I often envied them, as did many who worked in similar situations. If we had 200 on a given Sunday morning we thought we were in Heaven. I moved my membership from that small church to another small BMAT church in Mesquite only a few blocks from where I lived in 1989. It was a difficult move, but one I felt needed to be made. I was there from 1989 to 1993 and returned in 1994 and stayed until 2000. I continued to feel the need to grow big so that we could do more. The pastor of this church showed the same wisdom and restraint of my first pastor, encouraging me to look at the traps many larger churches fall into. I also noted that small churches can fall into traps as well.
I went through a divorce in 2000 and after about a year of staying in that small BMAT church in Mesquite I decided I needed to branch out. Just down the road was a larger Southern Baptist Church named Sunnyvale First Baptist. I was there from 2002 until 2006. I met my wife there and we were married there. However, about six months after we were married I let Mary know that I felt something was wrong regarding the staff. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was not right. Even being good friends with Wayne Wible, the Membership Pastor (now the Pastor of Ferguson Road Baptist), didn’t let on that things were not well among the staff. Regardless I could tell things weren’t right. In 2006 after Wayne Wible became the Pastor of Ferguson Road Baptist he called us to come help. My original title was Singles Minister, which became Young Adult Pastor, then Minister of Adult Education and finally morphed into the Minister of Education. The last title has held. Now I’m back to a small, urban church which struggles to survive every day.
During this time I have gone from being a member of a small urban church, to a small, but thriving suburban church, to a large church, back to a small urban church. So what is my beef and why did I tell this story? Because through the years I have watched young, enthusiastic people flock to larger, seemingly fit churches, while passing by smaller and often unattended churches. Inside, something says things are not right. So through the years (way back in 1989) I began to look at and study large churches. What you are going to read is my thoughts about the mega church empire which I call “Entertainment Central”.
First, allow me to say there is nothing wrong with large churches. Second, there is often nothing wrong with people who attend large churches. Third, there is often nothing wrong with what large churches do and how they do it. But, my problem stems from the idea that only large churches can be effective and that excitement in a service has to be generated rather than allowing it to be a true work of the Holy Spirit.
This last Sunday while Mary and I were in Houston we attended one of the five campuses of Second Baptist Church. This has been pretty much the normal for Mary and I when we visit her parents. However, about three years ago I noticed a shift, one which really turned me off. Rather than having the campus Pastor preach they started showing satellite feed from the Main campus of the Senior Pastor preaching, Dr. Ed Young. Now I have always enjoyed Dr. Young and had the chance to briefly meet him while working an evangelism conference in Kansas City back in the 1980’s. The first time this happened I thought maybe it was a special occasion. The second time it happened I thought maybe it had something to do with the series he was preaching through. But the third time I realized (as I had feared) this was the norm. Then I heard that Lake Point Church in Rockwall had taken Baptist out of their name (but not their doctrine) and started doing the same thing with their satellite campuses. And so did Fellowship Church in Grapevine and then I heard of others. This began to disturb me. I know what the claim will be, “Pastoral authority. It is up to the pastor to make sure that the proper message gets out to the congregation.” In the 1980’s I took evangelism under Dr. R. Alan Streett at the Criswell College and he had a saying I would like to quote from, “Hang it on your beak.” The pastoral authority argument is a fraud. It has nothing to do with what is going on.
So what happened last Sunday? Well Mary and I arrived about ten minutes before service began. We found a seat and noticed in the bulletin that Dr. Ed Young was going to be there at that campus speaking. The rostrum was set up in the middle of the stage; there was a live orchestra (no piped in music) and a worship team. I was really hoping that they were changing their philosophy, but was quickly disappointed as he announced that we were going to watch a video about the youth retreat. It gave some cool testimonies from some of the youth, it showed Dr. Young speaking to their youth and the positive way they responded to this 70 something year old. But it went on for forty-five minutes, then Dr. Young got up to speak for another twenty. He gave a very cool invitation and we watched as about a hundred people walk the isle as he himself greeted them. However, I still felt disconnected. Even though he expounded the scriptures on the video, he didn’t in life. I went away with a bitter/sweet taste in my mouth.
Here is what I have recognized about mega churches. First, they depend on technology. Don’t get me wrong, every church in America does, even if they say they don’t. If you meet in a building, then the building itself is the technology you are depending on. However, large, mega, and emergent churches often seem to go to the extreme. They would rather “e-mail” the sermon to the next campus via satellite than have someone live make a connection with the people. Technology which is used wisely can be effective; technology which is used excessively is dishonest. It’s all about building hype rather than building the Kingdom of God. By the way this does not let smaller struggling churches off the hook. We often have a tendency to rely on the piano and song book while wallowing in our own self pity. Second, they throw money at it. Funny, isn’t that what we accuse the liberals of doing, yet we do it and call it ministry. Humm, do you see a problem with this picture? Always needing to have bigger and better, but often forgetting that the small things are what counts eternally. It’s about drawing the crowd in, with the excuse of sharing the gospel. If reality were to be known it’s more about pri…wait I’m shutting my mouth, I’m just not going there. Again, small churches should not use the argument of lack of funds to keep from taking care of what God has given them. Third, it’s about the party. There is nothing wrong about having fun, nor having fun in church, but when it is about “the show” and not the scriptures, I think that we have drawn a line in the sand which is not good. There is nothing wrong with illustrations, Scripture is full of personal illustrations; the potter in Jeremiah, the farmer in Matthew, the widow in Luke, but those were illustrations at the moment. There was nothing outside of the righteous, sovereign hand of God which did it. Last, it all seems so planned down to the detail. The music and the way it moves, the message and the way it’s timed, the invitation and the way it’s couched. Again, don’t get me wrong, the services should be planned. Just look at the Old Testament and how God told the people their services were to be presented. Also, we should expect the very best from those who lead in worship and the preaching of the Word. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” In other words our very best should be done in all that we do for His sake and His glory. However, too many times we use this as an excuse. One of the best ways for any of us in ministry (large/mega church or small church) to know if we are in true reliance upon God is to let the technology fail. How we respond to the situation, both publically and personally, will show who is really receiving the glory.
My real beef with many of the large/mega churches is simply with the whole satellite church thing. I know that this has been a slow on growing thing but it really disturbs me and I often feel that it may even be unbiblical. How? Note the fact that I struggle with it and do not out and out call it wrong, but let’s look at the issue. First, why spend the money, technology and effort for satellite hook ups and extra staff to duplicate something else, somewhere else? Why not develop a mission church instead? Why not duplicate the effect through outreach and mission work locally? If people are joining because of the name of the church then they are joining for the wrong reasons. Spin the satellite campuses off into missions and allow new fresh ministries to develop while reaching the community around it. Second, satellite campuses cause the church to become regional rather than local. In some ways I’ve already hit on this, but the more localized a church is the more in tune it can become with the needs around it and with the needs around the world. Third, this whole streaming the message in thing really urks me to no end. If I want to watch television I’ll stay at home. If you televise the service into another building then people loose connection with the message. Why not use a preaching staff and if you are going to keep your satellite campuses, make a monthly visit to each campus and preach what God has laid on your heart. Now I know the argument for this, and it doesn’t work. The argument is that people make connection through Sunday Morning Bible Study Groups. This argument is a joke! I can start a weekly Bible Study at home and then have people meet in my home on Sunday morning and watch TV and still have as legitimate a worship service as most mega/multi campus churches have. My point is; one, human responsibility is lost in this; two, human contact with the message is lost with this; third, it is easily manipulated through the technology; and fourth, name and prestige becomes more important than Jesus.
I believe all churches play a part in Kingdom building. Regardless if we are a small/struggling church or a large/mega church, we are still called to depend on God. Just as I feel that established thinking in smaller churches needs to be challenged, I also believe that large/mega/emergent churches need to have their philosophy challenged as well. God calls us to pray and think things through. We should do our very best for His glory alone and leave the results up to Him, not up to our manipulations and technology.
Your comments are welcomed!
God Bless You,
Steven Swaim
(All passages are quoted from the New American Standard Bible)
I went through a divorce in 2000 and after about a year of staying in that small BMAT church in Mesquite I decided I needed to branch out. Just down the road was a larger Southern Baptist Church named Sunnyvale First Baptist. I was there from 2002 until 2006. I met my wife there and we were married there. However, about six months after we were married I let Mary know that I felt something was wrong regarding the staff. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but something was not right. Even being good friends with Wayne Wible, the Membership Pastor (now the Pastor of Ferguson Road Baptist), didn’t let on that things were not well among the staff. Regardless I could tell things weren’t right. In 2006 after Wayne Wible became the Pastor of Ferguson Road Baptist he called us to come help. My original title was Singles Minister, which became Young Adult Pastor, then Minister of Adult Education and finally morphed into the Minister of Education. The last title has held. Now I’m back to a small, urban church which struggles to survive every day.
During this time I have gone from being a member of a small urban church, to a small, but thriving suburban church, to a large church, back to a small urban church. So what is my beef and why did I tell this story? Because through the years I have watched young, enthusiastic people flock to larger, seemingly fit churches, while passing by smaller and often unattended churches. Inside, something says things are not right. So through the years (way back in 1989) I began to look at and study large churches. What you are going to read is my thoughts about the mega church empire which I call “Entertainment Central”.
First, allow me to say there is nothing wrong with large churches. Second, there is often nothing wrong with people who attend large churches. Third, there is often nothing wrong with what large churches do and how they do it. But, my problem stems from the idea that only large churches can be effective and that excitement in a service has to be generated rather than allowing it to be a true work of the Holy Spirit.
This last Sunday while Mary and I were in Houston we attended one of the five campuses of Second Baptist Church. This has been pretty much the normal for Mary and I when we visit her parents. However, about three years ago I noticed a shift, one which really turned me off. Rather than having the campus Pastor preach they started showing satellite feed from the Main campus of the Senior Pastor preaching, Dr. Ed Young. Now I have always enjoyed Dr. Young and had the chance to briefly meet him while working an evangelism conference in Kansas City back in the 1980’s. The first time this happened I thought maybe it was a special occasion. The second time it happened I thought maybe it had something to do with the series he was preaching through. But the third time I realized (as I had feared) this was the norm. Then I heard that Lake Point Church in Rockwall had taken Baptist out of their name (but not their doctrine) and started doing the same thing with their satellite campuses. And so did Fellowship Church in Grapevine and then I heard of others. This began to disturb me. I know what the claim will be, “Pastoral authority. It is up to the pastor to make sure that the proper message gets out to the congregation.” In the 1980’s I took evangelism under Dr. R. Alan Streett at the Criswell College and he had a saying I would like to quote from, “Hang it on your beak.” The pastoral authority argument is a fraud. It has nothing to do with what is going on.
So what happened last Sunday? Well Mary and I arrived about ten minutes before service began. We found a seat and noticed in the bulletin that Dr. Ed Young was going to be there at that campus speaking. The rostrum was set up in the middle of the stage; there was a live orchestra (no piped in music) and a worship team. I was really hoping that they were changing their philosophy, but was quickly disappointed as he announced that we were going to watch a video about the youth retreat. It gave some cool testimonies from some of the youth, it showed Dr. Young speaking to their youth and the positive way they responded to this 70 something year old. But it went on for forty-five minutes, then Dr. Young got up to speak for another twenty. He gave a very cool invitation and we watched as about a hundred people walk the isle as he himself greeted them. However, I still felt disconnected. Even though he expounded the scriptures on the video, he didn’t in life. I went away with a bitter/sweet taste in my mouth.
Here is what I have recognized about mega churches. First, they depend on technology. Don’t get me wrong, every church in America does, even if they say they don’t. If you meet in a building, then the building itself is the technology you are depending on. However, large, mega, and emergent churches often seem to go to the extreme. They would rather “e-mail” the sermon to the next campus via satellite than have someone live make a connection with the people. Technology which is used wisely can be effective; technology which is used excessively is dishonest. It’s all about building hype rather than building the Kingdom of God. By the way this does not let smaller struggling churches off the hook. We often have a tendency to rely on the piano and song book while wallowing in our own self pity. Second, they throw money at it. Funny, isn’t that what we accuse the liberals of doing, yet we do it and call it ministry. Humm, do you see a problem with this picture? Always needing to have bigger and better, but often forgetting that the small things are what counts eternally. It’s about drawing the crowd in, with the excuse of sharing the gospel. If reality were to be known it’s more about pri…wait I’m shutting my mouth, I’m just not going there. Again, small churches should not use the argument of lack of funds to keep from taking care of what God has given them. Third, it’s about the party. There is nothing wrong about having fun, nor having fun in church, but when it is about “the show” and not the scriptures, I think that we have drawn a line in the sand which is not good. There is nothing wrong with illustrations, Scripture is full of personal illustrations; the potter in Jeremiah, the farmer in Matthew, the widow in Luke, but those were illustrations at the moment. There was nothing outside of the righteous, sovereign hand of God which did it. Last, it all seems so planned down to the detail. The music and the way it moves, the message and the way it’s timed, the invitation and the way it’s couched. Again, don’t get me wrong, the services should be planned. Just look at the Old Testament and how God told the people their services were to be presented. Also, we should expect the very best from those who lead in worship and the preaching of the Word. Paul wrote in Colossians 3:16-17, “Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.” In other words our very best should be done in all that we do for His sake and His glory. However, too many times we use this as an excuse. One of the best ways for any of us in ministry (large/mega church or small church) to know if we are in true reliance upon God is to let the technology fail. How we respond to the situation, both publically and personally, will show who is really receiving the glory.
My real beef with many of the large/mega churches is simply with the whole satellite church thing. I know that this has been a slow on growing thing but it really disturbs me and I often feel that it may even be unbiblical. How? Note the fact that I struggle with it and do not out and out call it wrong, but let’s look at the issue. First, why spend the money, technology and effort for satellite hook ups and extra staff to duplicate something else, somewhere else? Why not develop a mission church instead? Why not duplicate the effect through outreach and mission work locally? If people are joining because of the name of the church then they are joining for the wrong reasons. Spin the satellite campuses off into missions and allow new fresh ministries to develop while reaching the community around it. Second, satellite campuses cause the church to become regional rather than local. In some ways I’ve already hit on this, but the more localized a church is the more in tune it can become with the needs around it and with the needs around the world. Third, this whole streaming the message in thing really urks me to no end. If I want to watch television I’ll stay at home. If you televise the service into another building then people loose connection with the message. Why not use a preaching staff and if you are going to keep your satellite campuses, make a monthly visit to each campus and preach what God has laid on your heart. Now I know the argument for this, and it doesn’t work. The argument is that people make connection through Sunday Morning Bible Study Groups. This argument is a joke! I can start a weekly Bible Study at home and then have people meet in my home on Sunday morning and watch TV and still have as legitimate a worship service as most mega/multi campus churches have. My point is; one, human responsibility is lost in this; two, human contact with the message is lost with this; third, it is easily manipulated through the technology; and fourth, name and prestige becomes more important than Jesus.
I believe all churches play a part in Kingdom building. Regardless if we are a small/struggling church or a large/mega church, we are still called to depend on God. Just as I feel that established thinking in smaller churches needs to be challenged, I also believe that large/mega/emergent churches need to have their philosophy challenged as well. God calls us to pray and think things through. We should do our very best for His glory alone and leave the results up to Him, not up to our manipulations and technology.
Your comments are welcomed!
God Bless You,
Steven Swaim
(All passages are quoted from the New American Standard Bible)
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Death Is Not Dying
I would like for you to get ready to take the ride of your life. When you click the link to the side (deathisnotdying.com) you will need two things: 1) About an hour and 2) A box of tissues. This will change your life regarding life and suffering. The lady you will meet is a Christian and is dying of cancer. I want to thank my professor, Todd von Helms, at Dallas Baptist University who shared this with us this morning in our study of the Book of James. This class has been awesome and part of the reason is because my professor has so diligently shared resources like this. I do not know how long this will be up. From my understanding she had only a few weeks to live and is still alive right now.
Also, some have e-mailed me regarding my thoughts about the North Korean issue going on right now. Sometime next week I will comment since I have not had time to study the situation and since it is still an on-growing issue. I do have some thoughts but since I'm in class this week I cannot get to it yet, which is probably good in the mean time.
I hope you enjoy and learn from this video feed. Believe me, this young lady really gets it, to bad so many of us do not.
You will need to hit the link to the side at www.deathisnotdying.com.
Lord Bless,
Steven Swaim
Also, some have e-mailed me regarding my thoughts about the North Korean issue going on right now. Sometime next week I will comment since I have not had time to study the situation and since it is still an on-growing issue. I do have some thoughts but since I'm in class this week I cannot get to it yet, which is probably good in the mean time.
I hope you enjoy and learn from this video feed. Believe me, this young lady really gets it, to bad so many of us do not.
You will need to hit the link to the side at www.deathisnotdying.com.
Lord Bless,
Steven Swaim
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