Flipping Houses

Over the past several months we have been involved in “flipping” a house. We still have a long way to go. Flipping houses is a very lucrative adventure if you have the vision, money, time and patience to see it through. We watch several shows on TV where houses are purchased and then remodeled for big profit. The difference between us and the ones who do it on the television shows is that they make lots of money! We are not planning on selling our home for profit, but to live in it. The TV flippers take houses that most of us would not even consider buying and fix them up for great profit.

Many people have probably already flipped their normal everyday living quarters into a holiday festive atmosphere. Of course they did this in the stores months ago, I believe!
As an evangelist, working with the elders here at South Side, I consider our leadership as a “flipper” team. No, it is not our job to flip houses, but rather to flip lives. And if need be, to flip the church back to the “one Lord, one faith, one immersion” when she gets off track!

That is what restoration is all about. When a person responds in faith, repentance, confession and immersion, we are part of the process of restoring a broken relationship with our God. Enmity was between the seed of woman (people of God) and the seed of the serpent (people of the world) since the very first sin (Genesis 3:15). Paul said that we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

What a great ministry—flipping a life that is outside of Christ to a life in Christ! Offering someone the free gift of God—the only hope for mankind—Jesus Christ is exciting (Romans 6:23)! What a great joy it is to witness someone who is not living for God turn their life around. Paul described some in the Corinthian church who had done some major flipping in their lives. After listing out several things that would keep people out of the Kingdom (the church), he writes, “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God” (I Corinthians 6:11).
And what a great ministry to assist a church in restoring back to the New Testament pattern!

Sometimes after years of renovations, flipping the church back to the New Testament can be difficult—not impossible, but difficult. For instance, we would love to find the original floor plan for our home. Having been renovated very early on into three apartments has made that a rather challenging task—not impossible, just challenging. I believe the church is easier—we have the New Testament as our source of authority!

As we settle in for Christmas, may we look for lives that need flipped. We may need to look first at ourselves. But after being redeemed, we can share the Prince of Peace with our family and friends so that they too can have their lives flipped!

And if you want some hands on experience flipping a house, come talk with me! I even know about a $2000 house! But more importantly, lets work together flipping lives here at South Side!

Baptism and Salvation?

Ok – here I go again talking about words! Words are so important. The order of words is critical! When we are presenting the Gospel, we must only use ideas and concepts that are Scriptural. Paul wrote to the evangelist Timothy: Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you (I Timothy 4:16).

It used to be that the only place where you would find words like the following were in a “faith only” denominational tract. I copied the following from a denominational church: Baptism doesn’t make you a believer — it shows that you already believe. Baptism does not “save” you, only your faith in Christ does that. Baptism is like a wedding ring — it’s the outward symbol of the commitment you made in your heart.

When I was in college studying Sotieriology (Doctrine of Salvation) this doctrine was the ol’ “outward sign of an inward grace” false teaching. But now it seems these words, or ones like them, appear on the web pages and tracts that we “Bible believing” churches are putting out.
Here is how one Church of Christ/Christian Church words it: Baptism isn’t what makes you a believer or a Christian. It just shows that you already believe! Baptism does not “save” you. You are “saved” by your faith in Jesus . . . In a way it is like a wedding ring. Just as a wedding ring is a visual symbol of the commitment you make to your husband or wife, baptism is a visual symbol of the commitment you make to God.

Sounds very similar to denominational tract, doesn’t it? Quite honestly, it was difficult to read those words from a Church of Christ/Christian Church. It was even harder to type them in light of I Peter 3:21 : Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Now I understand that baptism without belief (or faith) does not save a person – but I also understand, belief (or faith) without baptism does not save either (according to I Peter 3:21 and other Scriptures). Jesus connected belief, baptism and our salvation in one breath in Mark 16:16: He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. Notice the order of words by Jesus. Do you think the order of words is important? Believes . . . has been baptized . . . shall be saved. The two quotes from tracts seem to change the order just a bit . . . believes . . . is saved . . . later baptized – because the tracts make baptism simply a “symbol” of what already took place on the inside – “outward sign of an inward grace”.
Baptism is a symbol of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, but it is so much more than that.

Consider the following Scriptures which connect baptism with salvation:

• Acts 2:38 – Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins
• Acts 22:16 – Get up and be baptized, and wash away your sins
• Romans 6:3 – do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death
• Galatians 3:27 – For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
• Colossians 2:12 – having been buried with Him in baptism
• Also Mark 16:16 & I Peter 3:21 (quoted above in article).
  

If we are a Christian, we are “in Christ”. And if we are a Christian BEFORE we are baptized, into whom are we baptized into, seeing we are already “in Christ”? I am not sure how anyone can disconnect baptism and salvation.

As for me and my house, we will stick with the Scriptures. God has plainly outlined that one must believe, repent, confess and be immersed for the forgiveness of sins. Then we live the faithful life the rest of our lives! If my sins are unforgiven, I am lost. If my sins are forgiven, I am saved! Unforgiven sin is what will keep me out of heaven. Thanks be to God who gave us the plan by which we might be saved! Preach it! Teach it! And when you do – you ensure salvation for yourself and for those who hear you (I Timothy 4:16).

"Nit Picking" or Biblical?

To “nit pick” or not to “nit pick” - that is the question. Actually, maybe a better way to state it is: To “be Biblical” or not to “be Biblical”? Why is it that church members and preachers have started to call those of us who insist on being Biblical “nit picking”? I would expect that from the world. They are not as educated in the Scriptures as we are (or at least as we should be)!

I have heard preachers say “words don’t matter”. If you insist on calling something by a Biblical term, it is just nit picking. If this is the case, lets just throw out the entire Bible—it is made of words! And I would add, not just words, but specific words with specific meanings!

If “words don’t matter”, what difference does it make that every New Testament author used the word for immerse when talking about our baptism? “Words don’t matter”. If words don’t matter, what difference does it make that the New Testament authors chose the Greek word “agape” for God’s love for us? Maybe their intent was one of the other Greek words for love? Or maybe the authors used very specific words, as they were inspired by the Holy Spirit?

Sometimes when I try to use a “Bible word” for a “Bible thing”, I get accused of nit picking. So sometimes I have to wonder if I am simply being too nit picky or not.

If someone comes to me and wants to be sprinkled and I insist on them being immersed, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If someone asks why we don’t serve communion on Saturday night and I insist on partaking on the first day of the week (Sunday), am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If a person comes to me claiming to be a Christian by repeating the “sinner’s prayer” and I insist that they show me in Scripture where that teaching is found, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If a person comes to me and asks where the “altar call” is in our assembly and I insist that there is not altar in the New Testament church, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If a person asks me what denomination is the Church of Christ and I insist that we are anti-denominational, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If a Christian refers to the Lord’s Supper as a “sacrament” and I insist that the Lord’s Supper is a remembrance, not a means of grace, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If a person comes to me and says that they were saved and later immersed and I insist that they be immersed for the forgiveness of sins, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

If a church member calls me “pastor” and I insist that the elders are the pastors of the church and I am an evangelist, am I being too nit picky, or am I being Biblical?

I could go on, but I want to allow myself a couple of lines for closing thoughts. I often wonder where we have failed. Are our new preachers not being taught right or are they simply reading the wrong book? Or maybe we have elders who have given in to the religious world jargon and don’t care anymore? But instead of dwelling where we have gone astray in our language, let me encourage you to grow in your faith and knowledge. My prayer is that our goal would return to the original goal: that is to restore the church back to the New Testament pattern And part of that restoration should be the words we use. But if you do, be ready. You can join the “nit picking” club like me, because people will be quick to call you that, instead of what you really are, and that is Biblical.

Jesus believed even the individual letters of the Bible were important: “For truly I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or stroke shall pass from the Law until all is accomplished” (Matthew 5:18). And some think words are not important?

Words convey our thoughts and meanings. Words are so vital to communicate the correct message. I pray we use the right words to share with the world. Jesus said very plainly, “everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matthew 7:24).