Reformed Brothers on the Web

I thought it would be a great idea to remind some and inform others of those Reformed/Calvinistic African-American brothers whose sermons are available on the web. Take a listen to some of these when you get a chance:

Lance Lewis - Christian Liberation Fellowship, Philadelphia, PA
Michael Campbell - Redeemer Church, Jackson, MS
Reddit Andrews - Soaring Oaks Church, Elk Grove CA
Michael Higgins - Redemption Fellowship, Fayetteville, GA
Thabiti Anyabwile - First Baptist of Grand Cayman, Grand Cayman
John Coleman - Into The Word Ministries,
Roger Skepple - Berean Bible Baptist Church, Atlanta, GA
Jesse Gistand - Grace Bible Church, San Leandro, CA
Tony Arnold - Gaithersburg Community Church, Gaithersburg, MD
Eric Waldon - Mt. Hermon Baptist Church, Cleveland, OH
Grady Van Wright - Sovereign Grace Church, Pearland, TX
Yuri Solomon - New Life Baptist Church, Houston, TX
Howard Brown - Christ Central Church, Charlotte, NC
Emory Brown - Refreshing Springs Church, Buffalo, NY
Heshimu Colar - The Gospel Church, San Jose, CA
Michael Leach - All Saints Redeemer Church, Stone Mountain, GA

Are you aware of any others? There are plenty more Reformed/Calvinistic brothers preaching a faithful gospel, but who are not putting their sermons on the web. If that is you, what are you waiting for?

Treasuring God at Cedine

I had the pleasure of spending this past weekend in the mountains of eastern Tennessee at Cedine Bible Camp in Spring City, TN. I was the main speaker for their Spring Men's Retreat. Cedine is a camp that was started in 1947 by a white man and his family for the purpose of bringing the gospel to African-Americans. Today the mission has not changed. Though they are tucked away in the eastern mountains of Tennessee, they maintain their goal of reaching African-Americans with the gospel of Jesus Christ. You can read their fascinating story here.
The theme for this year's Spring Men's Retreat was Treasuring God. Men came from South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia to bathe in the beautiful climate of the Tennessee hills, to take in the glory of God's creation, and to most importantly be challenged by God's word. I for one can say I enjoyed all three aspects of my time there this weekend.

Most of the men came from traditional black baptist churches and had never considered some of the theological challenges I was setting before them. Nevertheless, they were very receptive and even encouraged to hear that God is an all-satisfying, eternally rewarded and rewarding God. I intentionally wanted to challenge their popular understanding of God, even as mine has been and continues to be challenged as I learn more Scripture (oh, I pray I would be more knowledgeable of the Bible).

Here is my opening salvo. I wanted to set up the weekend by letting them know that the God of the Bible is far bigger and better than is usually heard:

Fellas, I am here this weekend to challenge you to get a bigger, better, more biblical picture of God. One of the great handicaps of Christianity today is that in most of our hearts and minds God is too small. In far too many pulpits today God is nothing more than a deified Santa Claus. He is a celestial genie who if you say the right words or somehow rub your Bible the right way God will grant you anything you want.

And while far too many preachers teach this pseudo-Santa Claus understanding of God, and far too many of us have bought into it, the clear biblical picture of God is far greater, far more glorious and far more awe-inspiring that that.

Think about it. What’s the big deal about a God who wants to give you more money? What’s so great about a God who wants to give you a bigger house? Who wants to give you a fancier car? If that is the God you understand, if that is the God you preach, if that is the God you hear preached, then I suggest to you that you’d be better off with a genie in a bottle than a God in heaven.

And yet, this is the God that most of us hear and see preached on television and from most of the more popular pulpits today. This is the God that is sold in most of the bookstores. This is the God most popularly taught. This is the God that people spend millions of dollars each year to know. And in light of this overwhelming popularity of this God, I have a few days this weekend to convince you not to buy that teaching, not to purchase that God, not to spend money on that which does not satisfy.

I have but a couple of days to convince you that the biblical God is much greater, much more glorious, than some heavenly sugar daddy. Brothers, I am here this weekend to tell you and remind you that the God of the Bible is to be treasured, not because He gives us money, but because He gives us meaning.

Meaning, significance, and worth are not measured in your health or wealth. This is a lie that has been pawned off on our churches. This is a lie that has duped and deceived the church for too long, my brothers. Meaning is about treasure. But it is not treasuring treasure, it is about treasuring God.

Treasuring God is seeing God as the most desirable, delightful, all-satisfying pursuit in the universe. And then, selling all that you have and all that you are to buy it.

This is Good!

Yesterday, Tim Challies wrote that this was one of the best things he has ever read from John Piper. Well, like Challies, I have read some really good and impactful stuff from Piper, but I must agree, this may be the best short essay I have read from John: The Morning I Heard the Voice of God. This is Good!

Update: Here is a link to Piper reading the above article.

A Question of True Humility

I have a question.

Recently in our Men's Ministry we read and discussed CJ Mahaney's book "True Humility." It is proving to be challenging eye-opener to areas of pride in my life, subtle areas that for the most part go unnoticed and unchallenged. Today, I read an article by the Christian rapper, Curtis "Voice" Allen entitled "An Emcee's Gentle World." In the article Allen tells how he came to perform at the worship service of Bethlehem Baptist Church last year. It proved to be a most encouraging time for him and his ministry. However, after the news of his performance at Bethlehem spread, so to did the criticism of him, Christian rap, and Bethlehem. Obviously, such criticism hurt Allen, as it would anyone. And yet, in responding to the criticism, Allen tells us that he took the high road and returned good for evil (supposed).

The article is well written. The point of the article is clear and well made. And having spoken with Allen on occasion, I know he has a heart for God and the ministry. So, my question is not a criticism of Allen, only a question of understanding for my own heart and mind. In the article Allen makes the point that he was humble and responded to the criticism with humility. My question is: "Can you say that you were humble and still be humble? Is humility something we see in others and pray that others see in us? Or can we point it out in our own actions for others to take note of? Can we commend our own humility or do we allow others to commend it for us?

I am sure, Allen seeks to be a humble brother. However, I did feel a bit awkward with his telling me how humble he was.

What do you think?

(HT: Challies)

The Faithful Preacher

Today I received my copy of Thabiti's book "The Faithful Preacher: Recapturing the Vision of Three Pioneering African-American Pastors." You may recall back in August I mentioned that I had the pleasure and privilege of reading this book in manuscript form and writing an endorsement for it (then again you probably don't remember that). Anyway, I received the book in the mail, and I must say how encouraged I am in going back over it. Thabiti has done us all a favor and has done so to God's glory. I thank my brother for this labor of love. And may God gladden the hearts of his people through this wonderful read.

If you have not already, please place an order for this book today. You'll be glad you did. On the back of the book you will read a small portion of my endorsement. Here it is in full:

From the first time I met Thabiti, I felt he was a brother of like-mind and passion. When I found out he had written on Lemuel Haynes, Daniel Payne, and Francis Grimke, my feelings were confirmed. In The Faithful Preacher, Thabiti has reminded us that God has, with diversity and glory, given to His church throughout history faithful under-shepherds to feed and guide His sheep. With biblical and historical insight, and intellectual and theological credibility, Thabiti would have us to know, admire, and thank God for the labors and lives of Haynes, Payne, and Grimke. And while some may refer to these men as lesser luminaries in comparison to their more noted white evangelical contemporaries, they are only lesser in the same sense that the minor prophets of the Bible are actually minor. In these three men we have clear demonstrations of what the pastoral ministry should be, regardless of race, color, or nationality. In reading The Faithful Preacher I was reminded of the saying, “It takes one to know one.” Thabiti knows these men to be faithful pastors because he strives to be one himself.”

Do You Know This Guy?

Today I listened to an interview on xmradio where Bob Edwards interviewed renown astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. Dr. Tyson is an intelligent man (to say the least), and yet one can only lament that such brilliance has not lead him to the intelligence of his hero, Isaac Newton and Newton's conviction of intelligent design. Tyson desires to popularize science, and yet not just science, but atheism as well. If you did not think that there is a intellectual elite designing to secularize society, here is the proof. If you are interested, watch this lecture by Tyson, and the panel discussion that follows. Click on session two with Neil DeGrasse Tyson. This is staggering, amazing, and enlightening. How would you answer them? Would you answer them at all?

It was good to be afflicted...

Since last Thursday I have been down with the flu. I happens about this time every year. My mother keeps telling me that I need to get a flu shot, but I keep reminding her that we should reserve the flu shots for those who really need them, you know, the older folks. But I am beginning to realize that maybe I am joining the ranks of the older folks. Besides, with five active children and a ministry that has me visiting and speaking with people who have active children, I have become accustomed to working in and through sickness. Yet, this time, God made sure I was sat down. I have spent the last couple of days in the bed, and though it was hard not getting out to pursue my passions, I was reminded just how loving and lovely God is when He afflicts us. The Psalmist said, "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes" (Ps. 119:71). Uncontrollable sneezing, nasal congestion with headaches, nausea, and sleepless nights are not good things. And yet, they result in the good of me praying, meditating, and trusting in God. It is good that He loves me enough to do to me what I need, that I might know that He loves me. And during this bout with sickness God has particularly reminded me that He especially loved me in given me my wife.

Yesterday I was suppose to be at church preaching from Matt. 5:1-5 on the Beatitudes. As you can guess, I was not able to do it. I had spent all week with the first three beatitudes, had discussed them during our family devotion time, and had read several books on the subjects. I believe I was quite familiar with the beatitudes and quite confident in preaching them. And then I discovered one that I had taken for granted and had to be reminded of it. Perhaps you are not familiar with it (probably because it does not pertain to you), but I hope you will indulge this mostly healed preacher as he takes a little license and shares with you this new beatitude. It says, "Blessed is he who is married to Adriane, for he is beloved by a faithful wife." She has given herself to me during my sickness in ways of which I am not worthy. She has served me and our family and has not once complained or drawn back - ever asking if there is anything more she could do. Amazing Love, how can it be, that God would send such a wife to me. This almost recovered sinner is loved by God through a loving wife. This again is why I say "It was good to be afflicted."

...But it still hurts when I sneeze.

Youth Ministry to the Glory of God

The modern Youth Ministry Movement has lost its way. What started out as a noble idea, has grown into a problem that often feeds itself. Anyone who is actively involved in youth ministry, if they were honest, would have to admit that this is true. Nevertheless, they would also admit that they are at a lost for knowing what to do about it. Therefore, the modern youth ministry goes on. Yet, Voddie Baucham does not think it has to. He has is publishing a series of articles on Youth Ministry that I am convinced we need to read:

Youth Ministry I
Youth Ministry II
Youth Ministry III
Answering Objections on the Youth Ministry Issue
What's a Youth Minister To Do (pt. 1)
What's a Youth Minister To Do (pt. 2)

Happy Presidents Day

For our country today is a holiday. Today we take the time to recognize the invaluable contributions our Commanders-in-Chief have made to our beloved country. In particular we recognize the two greatest presidents we have had (and number three is so far behind that he is not worth mentioning in the same breath), George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. And for my money, Lincoln stands as the pinnacle of our highest political office. Was he perfect? Of course not. Any man who would aspire to and obtain the office of President would surely have his faults exposed, and Lincoln did. Nonetheless, in the realm of imperfect men to sit in the White House, Lincoln ranks at the head of the class. Here are a couple of resources on Abraham Lincoln that I would recommend this Presidents Day.

Lincoln's Greatest Speech. Of all the books I have read and listened to on Abraham Lincoln this is my favorite. It is my favorite because it deals with what I believe is the greatest presidential address ever given, Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address, and it gives insight into the philosophical and religious influences upon Lincoln as he struggled to make sense of the Civil War. I believe you will be richly surprised by this book. Check it out.

Was Lincoln A Christian? I am not one to argue one way or another for the supposed spirituality of dead leaders. Those who do not like Lincoln will make the argument that he was not a Christian. Those who admire him will make the argument that he was. I find that after the arguments are made, Lincoln's accomplishments and his words to us still ring true (much in the save way as Martin L. King, Jr.). Nevertheless, if you are interested, Dr. D. James Kennedy has given a message entitled Was Lincoln A Christian? Part one aired on Friday and part two is airing today on Truths That Transform. If you have never heard Dr. Kennedy give one of his biographical addresses, you should do so. I believe he is excellent in his delivery of these messages.

Damnable Heresy

Desiring God posted an article by John Piper entitled, "Prosperity Preaching: Deceitful and Deadly." In the article Piper asks preachers not to develop a philosophy of ministry that is deceitful and ultimately deadly because it misrepresents the promises of God and the call of Christ. I commend Piper for the brief article, and once again Piper is willing to say some things that equally prominent white (reformed) evangelicals seem reluctant to say. However, being as familiar as I am with the prosperity gospel, and knowing family and friends who are deceived by this heretical teaching, I would suggest that Piper's words do not go far enough. While he is right in pleading with pastors not to teach prosperity, just warning those who read his material is not enough. We must we willing call it more than deceitful and deadly. We must be willing to call it what it is - DAMNABLE HERESY. And those who teach it - HERETICS.

While we debate about NT Wright and the various and nefarious perspectives on Paul, people flock to see Benny Hinn by the thousands. While we argue about the ecclesiastical errors of the Emergent Church and the exegetical fallacies of Open Theism, Creflo Dollar and Eddie Long are building worldwide empires on the backs of people being duped by the desire to be prosperous. We must ask ourselves the question, "what are the more pressing heresies of our day: the New Perspective Teachings or the Health and Wealth Teaching?" Look at any list of the most influential and popular preachers in America and you will find the list littered with Prosperity Preachers. Yet, you will be hard pressed to find on that list an advocate of the New Perspective on Paul. In fact, I would venture to say that most on the list could not even tell you what it is.

I am not saying that these other issues (i.e. New Perspective, Open Theism, Emergent, etc.) are not important. They are. I am saying however, that they garner far too much of the evangelical (reformed) debate and ink in light of their relative insignificance in broader Christianity. Therefore, I believe we need men like Piper to say what he said and more. We need other prominent (reformed) evangelicals to say what Piper has said and more. This is no light matter. And in case you believe I may be overstating the case, check out this horrific video from none other than Dr. Creflo Dollar himself. He is not ashamed to call it as he sees it, why are we?

What say you?


HT: PP

Augustine Key to Reformation

In speaking of the necessary and hopeful reformation within the predominantly black church, our brother Scotty Williams has suggested that Saint Augustine may hold the key.

Samuel Rutherford this Morning

In my continual reading of The Letters of Samuel Rutherford this morning, I came across this wonderfully encouraging passage on temptation. Rutherford writes:

I find it most true, that the greatest temptation out of hell is to live without temptations. If my waters would stand, they would rot. Faith is the better for the free air and the sharp winter-storm in its face. Grace withereth without adversity. The devil is but God's master-fencer, to teach us to handle our weapons.

An Elder's Home

(If the link does not work, click on the "articles" tab. You should be able to find it)

One of the hot issues plaguing the predominantly black church is the issue of the Pastors/Elders and their families. We have not done a good nor faithful job in living out within the church the demands of Scripture upon the Elders and Pastors, particular as it relates to families. Our pulpits are full of men who have been divorced (a time or two or three) and whose children have long seen the hypocrisy of their fathers and have either joined in the charade or have rebelled against him. This is one area that definitely needs reform and Reforming. Here is an excellent article from Nine Marks entitled Unbelief in an Elder's Children - Practice. If we ever begin taking serious the Scriptural mandates for Elders and Pastors in 1Timothy and Titus, we would begin to see reform right before our eyes. But alas, too many of our people would not love to have it so.

What manner of man is this?

I know I am in the middle of a brief series on Reforming the Black Church, but this is just too scary pass up. Did you know he was here? Make sure you check out the video.

Reforming the Black Church: Institution or Individual?

"The Black church in America is an enigma. It's an institution who existence is unlikely and unpredictable. How could African-American men and women embrace the same Christ that their oppressors professed? Despite the worst intentions of many and because of the best intentions of others, the Black church, as an institution, is arguably the most indomitable in American history" (On Being Black and Reformed, p. 46).

Those words grew out of the understanding that the predominantly white church and predominantly black church in America are inextricably tied together. Without the evangelistic efforts (good) and the sinful prejudices (evil) of the White church in American we would not have a "black church." It could be argued that there would be not African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church if the Methodist had not been racist in their practices. There would be no National Baptist Convention (NBC) or even Church of God in Christ (COGIC) is their white sister organizations had been operating in brotherly love and kingdom principled. But alas, they were not and thus we have a segregated church. The pasts of white and black Christians is tied together. And I believe so are their futures. This is why I believe to ask the question of reform in the one is the beg the question of reform in the other.

Now, in his second post on Can the Predominantly African-American Church be Reformed, our brother and friend Thabiti has written some hard and true indictments of the black church. Without a doubt, his assessment will be met with some opposition, and yet his thoughts do not come out of mid air, but are the result of experiencing these errors and examining them in the light of the Scriptures. When I read Thabiti's assessment I find myself agreeing with him, even though something inside me did not want to. Being a son of the black church, I love my heritage, and yet I know all too well the errors that have plagued our churches and Thabiti have hit many them square on. And yet, I remain hopeful, not because I think it is possible to Reform the predominantly African-American church but because I believe Reformation is possible and is happening in Black Christianity.

The Black Church in America is institutionalized, make no mistake about it. What I mean by that is that it has been long established, it has its traditions (good and bad - though mostly bad on the theological side) and has found success in accomplishing many of its goals. It is a self-sufficient entity and therefore, while it may be willing to adjust from within, it is not likely to make any sweeping changes because of theological pressures from without. Thus, to look on it at face value it may appear that reforming the black church in America is not likely. However, I would suggest that reforming the predominantly black church should not be the goal. The goal should be to bring Reformed Christianity to black Christians. If I thought the goal should be the reforming of the institutionalized black church (e.g. the NBC, AME, and COGIC), I would despair at such a monstrous task. But I don't see the task as reforming the institutionalized church, but rather that of reforming Black Christianity. I am convinced that the prospect of reforming Black Christians is not only doable, but has already been done. I am a living witness.

When I state the goal as reforming black Christians more so than reforming the black church, I mean that our goal should be the introduction of reformed theology to individual men and women, boys and girls, more so than the introduction of reformed theology to the established, institutionalized Black church. I believe that if we can, by the grace of God, get Reformed theology in the hearts and minds of black individuals, then we will either begin to see a change in the historical black church, or we will see another "black (reformed and biblical) church" rise up along side her. Whatever the case, the key is the individual not the institution.

Reforming the Black Church...

is it possible? This is the question raised by our brother Thabiti over at Pure Church. It is indeed an important question and one that surely deserves our attention.

I honestly believe that we have the awesome privilege of witnessing and even participating with an awakening of sorts in our day. Reformed theology is once again being faithfully preached and taught in a wider and ever-growing populace. There is energy and excitement around biblical theology once again as more and more churches and individuals are coming to see the dearth of theological reflection that has been so popular in the church and are awakening to the truth and experiential depth that is Reformed Theology. And as Reformed theology has found a wider audience in our day, it should not surprise us that this interest and rise includes the rise of Reformed theology within the predominantly black church.

And yet, as some blacks begin to embrace true biblical and historical theology, the question necessarily arises, "Can the Black church in America be Reformed?" While this is a question dear to my heart, before I address it at any length (in future post), I must first add this caveat to the question. In all honesty, the question is actually a question that should be asked of the rest of the Christian church in American, even as it is asked of the predominantly Black one.

Can the Church in America be Reformed? It is easy to look at some of the debilitating error of the Black church and miss that at some level the Black church in America is a reflection, almost microcosm, of the greater Christian expression in America. The vast majority of white churches in America need the theology of the Reformation as much as the Black church. The vast majority of white churches in America are full of erroneous theology and practices as are the black churches. In fact, it could be argued that the hindrances to bringing reformed theology to predominantly white churches is actually greater that it is in the predominantly black church.

For example, according to George Barna and his associates, black Christians in America are more likely to attend church, read their Bibles, believe the Bible is true, pray and fast, believe in the sovereignty of God over all of life, and trust the word of their preachers more than white Christians (see George Barna and Harry Jackson in High Impact African-American Churches). These statistics would seem to suggest that it would be easier to bring Reformed theology to people in Black churches than it would be to bring it to people in White churches.

Subsequently, to ask the question of the Black church is to beg the question for the White church. Alas, if the Black church in America can not be reformed, what hope is there for the predominantly White church? What hope do we have for Christianity in America? Well, actually a lot. And in fact, it may lie in examining the possibility of Reformed theology within the broader Black Christian context. I will examine this point next.

Prophets in the Land?

For some reason I have come across some rather provocative sermons lately. Here, however, may be the most provocative of them all. I am not familiar with this gentleman; but one thing is for sure, he does not care. He only desires that you hear this message.

(And Louis, you told me that there were no more prophets today. Do you wanna rethink that?)

Solus Christus

I have been doing a little work in with the Five Solas of the Reformation lately. I came across this wonderful quote from Calvin in the Institutes. It sums up Solus Christus (Christ Alone) as only Calvin could:

"We see that our whole salvation and all its parts are comprehended in Christ (Acts 4:12). We should therefore take care not to derive the least portion of it from anywhere else. If we seek salvation, we are taught by the very name of Jesus that it is “of him” (1Cor. 1:30). If we seek any other gifts of the Spirit, they will be found in his anointing. If we seek strength, it lies in his dominion; if purity, in his conception; if gentleness, it appears in his birth. For by his birth he was made like us in all respects (Heb. 2:17), that he might learn to feel our pain (cf. Heb. 5:2). If we seek redemption, it lies in his passion; if acquittal, in his condemnation; if remission of the curse, in his cross (Gal. 3:13); if satisfaction, in his sacrifice; if purification, in his blood; if reconciliation, in his descent into hell; if mortification of the flesh, in his tomb; if newness of life, in his resurrection; if immortality in the same; if inheritance of the Heavenly Kingdom, in his entrance into heaven; of protection, if security, if abundant supply of all blessings, in his Kingdom; if untroubled expectation of judgment, in the power given to him to judge. In short, since rich store of every king of good abounds in him, let us drink our fill from this fountain, and from none other." (Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book 2, Ch. 16, Sec. 19)

More of Voddie's Message

Thanks to a heads up from our friend Chuck, you can read some of the family worship distinctives of Grace Family Baptist Church, where Voddie Baucham serves. Also, some of you have expressed a desire to hear the rest of Voddie's message. You can listen to rest of the message here.

At Home Youth Ministry

Here is a message (powerful and controversial) by Voddie Baucham that was recently brought to my attention. Voddie has a passion and pleasure for the family. In Voddie I hear a man with whose heart I can identify. I have been saying much of what Voddie is saying in this message, but I just never have said it so clearly and convincingly. And so I thank God for Voddie's insights. This message was given to a group of Southern Baptist pastors and he challenged them to rethink youth ministry and the need to develop and support what I like to think of as Home Youth Ministry. The message is called The Home is the Key. Check it out. But be warned, Voddie does not play nice with our churches' popular understanding of ministry to our children.