Why Have Standards For Church Workers? (Part 5)

HIGH STANDARDS ARE NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN THE CHURCH'S GOOD REPUTATION.

The workers and teachers represent the congregation in the eyes of the church members and the community. The church as a whole will be judged by the lives of its workers. If the community observes Sunday School teachers and youth workers from the church dressed immodestly or involved in ungodly activities, it will assume that the church accepts this. And in one sense they are correct. Even though many times the community will see nothing wrong with these low standards, seeing that more than likely, their standards may be even lower; the church's reputation is stained. If the world doesn't recognize this, other sound Baptist churches will. Oh yes, the Lord recognizes it too. If a pastor does not maintain definite and high standards for all of the church workers, he is sending the message that these matters are not important. Hence, the community hears that message loud and clear, and the testimony of that church is hurt. Of course, these things are often done without the pastor's knowledge and against his will. Members need to respect the pastor's position on standards and follow his leadership, because "they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you." (Hebrews 13:17b)

Why Have Standards For Church Workers? (Part 4)

HIGH STANDARDS ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT THOSE WHO HAVE HIGH STANDARDS.

It is a tremendous frustration for a family to have high standards if workers in their church do not have the same kind of high standards. Likewise, if the church maintains high standards for its workers, it is a tremendous encouragement to the families who are striving to maintain good standards. It reinforces their position. Parental standards are undermined when churches allow workers with unbiblical standards to minister. The parents' job is made more difficult. This creates tremendous confusion and great potential for problems. The young people are tempted to fault their parents with being unreasonable legalists. The youth workers cannot back up the parents because they live contrary to godly standards. This makes them uncomfortable, so they are tempted to speak against those parents and label them as "legalistic," "self-righteous," "holier than thou," etc. The parents who have the higher standards can be seen as the "trouble makers" no matter how perfect their hearts are toward the Lord.

If the standards for the church are set low, it produces carnel Christians. The standards should be set at the higher, Biblical level for the purpose of discipling and bringing those with low standards up to a higher level.

Why Have Standards For Church Workers? (Part 3)

HIGH STANDARDS PROVIDE TEACHING OPPORTUNITIES.

New Christians are excited about their new found relationship with the Lord and with a Bible-believing Baptist church. Godly Sunday School teachers can take them aside and kindly explain some of the basics about godly standards. They may be a little embarrassed, but they will also be thankful that someone took the time to instruct them about right and wrong. They will learn to live by those Biblical standards that will challenge them and also provide a teaching opportunity to instruct them in holiness.

Selah... Do What?

The word “Selah” is used over 70 times in Psalms and three times in the Book of Habakkuk. From what I've studied, it seems that it is a musical interlude or transition. The Hebrew word for Selah is celah { seh’-law}; Strong's #5542. It means “to lift up.” The expression seems to mark a climax in the music in which the singers and musicians are to “lift up” their praise to God.

When I visited Peru several years ago, on a mission trip, one of the things I was amazed with was the singing in the churches we visited. When those people sang, they really sang out. They didn't yell, they "sang out." Oh how we need to lift up our voices of praise to the Lord. I don't think that means we need to "yell" when we sing. I've been in services where the people who were singing were literally yelling the words; as if God were hard of hearing. I've been singing for over 30 years. In all those years I've never seen the need to yell so the Lord can hear me. Some may think it is more spiritual; maybe they think it makes them look more spiritual. I'm not trying to be "overly" critical, but if the Lord has given someone the ability to sing, they need to be good stewards of that ability.

A few years ago my son had nodules on his vocal chords. We went to a specialist that taught him how to and how not to use his voice. Most people may not realize it, but you can actually abuse your vocal chords by talking too soft. Of course you can also damage your vocal chords by yelling. Isn't God's design of our bodies amazing!?

I guess what I'm getting at is that we need to lift up our voices to the Lord in a way that honors and glorifies Him. My thinking is instead of yelling to the Lord (or whispering for that matter), we should lift up our voices unto the Lord and PRAISE HIS NAME!!
"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" Ephesians 5:19

Why Have Standards For Church Workers? (Part 2)

HIGH STANDARDS CHALLENGE CHRISTIANS TO HIGHER LIVING.

One person explained their personal experience this way: "As a new Christian I was happy to find a church which held forth high standards. It was an encouragement to me. I still smoked, had long hair, cussed a little, listened to rock music, went to indecent movies, etc., but I knew instinctively that the church is supposed to practice and preach holiness. I did not look for a church where the people lived like I did as a brand new Christian; I looked for a church where the people were striving to walk in Bible holiness. I was challenged to begin cleaning up my life because the workers in the church held forth a high standard before me. If that had not been the case, I could have been comfortable in my immature worldliness and it is possible that I would not have changed. The pastor challenged me from the pulpit and the workers challenged me with their lives. I also learned that the Bible School I wanted to attend did not allow worldly things, and I was challenged by this to raise my personal standards. I have never regretted this."

Today, though, churches are allowing the bogus and carnal cry of "legalism" to intimidate them into dropping their standards. As a result, new Christians are not challenged to live holier lives, to separate from the world. They can be comfortable with worldliness because that is what they see in some of the workers.

Why Have Standards For Church Workers? (Part 1)

HIGH STANDARDS RAISE AND MAINTAIN THE OVERALL STANDARDS OF A CHURCH.
God requires high standards for pastors and others involved in ministry because they are examples for the congregation and they represent the church in the eyes of people in the community (Titus 2:3,4; 1 Peter 5:3). If Sunday School teachers or Youth Ministry workers do not have high moral standards in their personal lives and homes, it brings down the standards of the entire congregation. The students who sit under the influence of these teachers are impressed more with their teacher's lives than with their words. The teacher might say it is important to be holy for the Lord, but this will sound hollow if that teacher is involved in carnal and worldly things and if they do not exemplify the things which are preached from the pulpit. Young people are already powerfully enticed by the world. If their teachers are worldly, they will be doubly encouraged to go in that direction and they will be even more worldly than their teachers. If the teachers watch PG-13 movies; the kids will watch R-rated ones. If the teachers wear skirts one inch above the knee, the kids will wear skirts two or three or four inches above the knee. A church absolutely must set forth and enforce the highest moral standards for its workers in order to raise and maintain the standards of the entire church.

Humanism Defined

Humanism Defined

Humanism's godless teachings are as follows:

1. Evolution: Man gradually emerged by chance from lower forms of life over millions of years.

2. Self Authority (Individual Autonomy): Man is his own authority and is not accountable to any higher power. This "self sufficiency" generates self-interest, self-gratification, self-indulgence, and self-righteousness.

3. Situation Ethics: There are no absolute rules by which to live. Thus, man is the final authority for his actions, based on existing circumstances.

4. Distorted Realism: All should be exposed to diverse "realistic" viewpoints, including emphasis on profanity, immorality, and perversions as acceptable modes of "self-expression." In practice this includes children of any age.

5. Sexual Permissiveness: All forms of sexual expression are acceptable. Public sex education is considered necessary provided it is taught without Christian morals.

6. Anti-Biblical Bias: Man creates God out of his own experiences.

7. Anti-Free Enterprise: Government ownership or control of the economy would replace private ownership of property and the free market economy. This economic "collectivism" is known as "Big Brother Government," "Cradle-to-Grave" welfare, or outright socialism.

8. One-World Government: "Global citizenship" would replace national self-determination.

9. Death Education: There is no hope of existence beyond the grave–no heaven or hell. Euthanasia and suicide are endorsed.

All nine of these points are in direct opposition to what the Word of God teaches. God's people must be aware of these beliefs and how they contradict Scripture. The world wants our children, and they will appeal to the sinful nature to draw well meaning people away from God. It is so important that God's people be activily involved in a true New Testament Baptist church that teaches God's Word as it is to people as they are, and to train Christians how to combat the Humanism that so pervades our society.

THE TRUTH ABOUT DEPRESSION

I. The depressed person must recognize their responsibility for depression.

A. From time to time all of us get down. (2Cor. 4:8)
1. But this is not depression.
2. Depression is ceasing to function in our daily chores and interests (giving up on responsibilities).
B. When we get down we do not need to be out.
C. Depression is when one is both down and out.

II. Depression results from handling a down period sinfully.

A. We get down (blue, discouraged, etc.) for both sinful causes (guilt), and non-sinful causes (sickness, financial problems, etc.)
B. But when we give in to down feelings...
1. We let chores and interests slide;
2. We then “feel” even less like doing them and brood instead,
3. Thus increasing our guilt from failure to achieve,
4. And this makes us “feel” less like doing things, and we spiral downward into a depression.

III. Depressed people may spiral up out of depression.

A. By confession.
B. By doing chores and assuming responsibilities;
C. And by similarly dealing with any other matter of guilt/sin.

IV. People can stay out of depression.

A. By following God’s commands when down, rather than following their “feelings”;
B. By carefully scheduling and following the schedule no matter how they “feel”;
C. By avoiding pity parties and refusing to engage in brooding;
D. By repenting of any sin immediately;
E. By immediately straightening out any relationship to God or man that goes wrong;
F. And by changing all erroneous vocabulary (by which they convince themselves that “things are hopeless” or “I can’t take it any more,” etc.).

Guide for Overcoming Anxiety

You can be peaceful.—Philippians 4:6-9

1. Study the following verses and then write down everything they indicate about anxiety or worry. (Remember that the words "care" and "careful" are often synonyms for worry.)
Luke 10:38-42; Proverbs 28:1; Ezekiel 4:16, 17; Luke 8:14; Luke 21:34; Proverbs 15:15; Psalm 38:6; Genesis 45:3; I Samuel 28:20-23; II Thessalonians 1:7; Psalm 77:4, 8, 9.

2. If you did not do this when you studied the previously mentioned verses, go back over them and write down the effects of anxiety on the person who worries (e.g., the anxious person often becomes critical, a complainer, jealous, or envious, depressed, fearful, timid, insecure, etc.).

3. Study Philippians 4:6-9 and note God’s threefold program for overcoming worry.

a. Verse 6—To overcome worry God says I must PRAY PROPERLY. Note at least four or five facts about the kind of prayer that overcomes worry.

b. Verse 8—I must THINK PROPERLY. Note the kind of things you must think about if you are to become a peaceful person. Make a specific list of what some of these things are for you. Consider Romans 12:2; I Peter 3:14, 15; and Matthew 6:25-32. Plan specific things you can do to make sure you think properly. How can you change your negative, pessimistic thinking to Biblical thinking?

c. Verse 9—I must LIVE PROPERLY. Consider Proverbs 28:1 and Proverbs 1:33 and notice how anxiety is often connected with wrong living. Notice also the effect of fulfilling your God-given responsibilities. For example, some people are worried about losing their jobs because they are not fulfilling Colossians 3:22-24 or Ephesians 6:5-8. Some people are worried about finances because they are not good stewards of their finances. Look over your life and note where you are not fulfilling your God-given responsibilities. Then plan to make changes and focus on doing what God wants you to do today.

4. Think back over the past two weeks and reflect on those times when you were tempted to be anxious. Write down what you were doing at the time, what was happening, where you were, what you were thinking about, whom you were with, what was the time of day, what you did, what you would have done according to Philippians 4:6-9.

5. If you want to overcome anxiety and become a peaceful person, discipline yourself to put God’s threefold program (Phil. 4:6-9) for overcoming worry into practice, regardless of how you feel. If you are a Christian and do this consistently, you can and will overcome anxiety and become a peaceful person.

6. Write Philippians 4:6-9 out on a card and memorize it. Reflect on it and implement it regularly.

Welcome To PBI

Welcome to PBI (Practical, Biblical Insight)! I came up with this idea years ago and placed some practical, Biblical insights on my church web site. I thought I would implement this into a blog. Some of the content is based on principles that I was taught by my pastor(s), other content is gleaned from various sources, not necessarily original with me. I hope the posts are encouraging and helpful to those who read them.