Faith Bible Blog

October 1, 2015
by Francisco Martinez
Posts: 10

The Marks of Biblical Leadership

I am sure many people have had a good laugh as they’ve watched Donald Trump try and explain his foreign and economic policy. Even more so, if Trump were to win the Republican nomination, people would probably pay good money to see Trump bring on Kanye West as his vice president. On many points, whether on Jimmy Fallon or Jon Stewart, Trump has been mocked for his unorthodox campaign and qualifications – or lack thereof – for presidency.

However, the truth remains. Trump continues to lead the polls.

The frightening thing about that is not that Trump is winning, but that America may choose a leader without character. It is certain, America’s standard for leadership has declined. Unfortunately, the world’s essential marks for leadership have crept into the church of Jesus Christ. Too often, leaders are chosen not by biblical standards, but by their entrepreneurial, oratory skills, or even their great natural leadership abilities. This results in leaders functioning like CEO’s where they treat the church like a business and their members like consumers.

We must be faithful to God’s word and follow the design he has laid out for his church. Therefore, we must look to God’s marks of leadership for the highest office in the church: elders. Here are a few marks of what we should expect in leaders.

Continue Reading →

September 21, 2015
by John Pleasnick
Posts: 303

#WorthReading №7

Here’s some articles from around the internet that are worth your time reading…

The Guilt and the Shame – What is the place of guilt, what is the place of shame, in the life of the Christian?

My Goal in Every Conversation with Mormons – The ultimate goal is to see our LDS friends come to Christ, but the goal of any individual conversation is to put a stone in their shoe.

Should I Date a Godly Girl I Do Not Find Attractive? – listen to John Piper’s wise response to this often unspoken question

“In this World You Will Have Trouble” — Welcome to Rowan County – though we now know what happened, Mohler’s words here remain deadly accurate

And here are some helpful and unhelpful ways Christians often talk about their sin, struggles, and identity as children of God:

September 9, 2015
by Tom Barbour
Posts: 16

From Moral Majority to Moral Minority (Part 3)

What part does the citizen Christian play in his/her government?

As to government and our responsibility to participate, we must be as robust in our contribution to it as we are allowed to be as citizens. “We the People” (the first three words in the constitution) includes Christians as well as it does secularists.

The issue may be finding the balance between the passionate Christian political activist, who is never in want for a political cause to champion or protest, and the fatalist pre-determinist, who claims Christians have no power or right to influence the government. One extreme might have us wage constant battle with the culture, while the other would see complete withdrawal as not only the solution, but possibly even God’s will.

If we reject the Moral Majority model, does that suggest we should live in a fatalistic, do-nothing state? Absolutely not! It is vital for American Christians today to be reminded that in addition to voting and participating as a political candidate, there are fundamental, contractual rights they possess that even the apostle Paul could identify with to a limited degree. Christians, along with the rest of the citizenry, still have certain guarantees (rights) as prescribed in the Constitution. Continue Reading →

September 7, 2015
by Tom Barbour
Posts: 16

From Moral Majority to Moral Minority (Part 2)

How does the Church engage the culture if it doesn’t adopt the Moral Majority model?

The apostle Paul would be the first to declare that rights of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness are relative. Scripture’s reminder to Christians is, in general terms, to hold rights subordinate to responsibilities. While the Bible does not promise religious liberty to any individual or country, much less the United States of America, it does promise persecution.

Paul touches on such responsibilities in his concluding statement in 1 Corinthians 15. He declares that if we really believe, and if we are truly thankful that our resurrection is sure, we should “therefore” demonstrate our assurance and our thankfulness by “standing firm, letting nothing move us” and “always giving ourselves fully to the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).

We must also recognize in whom is our primary personal identity and where our ultimate citizenship lies. Am I an American who happens to be a Christian, or a Christian who, by God’s grace, is fortunate to be an American? Is my ultimate goal to help create a utopian state here on Earth, or to live a holy life while I’m here, so that I may live an eternal life in a new earth with a perfect government under the perfect rule of Jesus Christ? Continue Reading →

September 4, 2015
by Tom Barbour
Posts: 16

From Moral Majority to Moral Minority (Part 1)

In the late 70’s, a political action organization called the Moral Majority was founded by Baptist pastor and Liberty University president, Jerry Falwell. “We’re fighting a holy war,” Falwell proclaimed to a large gathering at his Thomas Road Baptist Church in Lynchburg, Virginia in 1980. “What’s happened to America is that the wicked are bearing rule. We have to lead the nation back to the moral stance that made America great…we need to wield influence on those who govern us.”

By the 1960’s, the sexual revolution had taken hold, soon followed in the seventies by Roe v. Wade and abortion on demand, the women’s liberation movement, and special rights for gays. Falwell and many others in evangelicalism’s leadership concluded it was time to band together and speak out against what they perceived as a degradation of American society fostered by those in political power.

The strategy of the Moral Majority was straightforward– Continue Reading →