THE COMPLEXITY, NECESSITY, AND CHALLENGE OF PROPER CREDENTIALING By Randy Nabors One of the challenges for the Presbyterian Church in America is the process we have for ordaining our ministers. If you want to be a pastor in this denomination there are certain “hoops” one has to jump through. I am in favor of being true to Scripture, and holding our Elders to that standard, both Teaching and Ruling. However, I submit there can be several competing) dynamics that afflict this process and it is important for presbyteries and their “Credentials Committee” to keep these in mind The ACADEMIC DYNAMIC Our pastors, or Teaching Elders, need to be competent theologically. We want them to not only be competent in knowing theology but “orthodox” (as per the PCA standards) in what they believe. It is not enough to know what the denomination confesses and professes but the candidate for both licensure and ordination must actually hold to these beliefs and be ready to defend them …
General
BE EAGER TO REMEMBER THE POOR
REFLECTIONS ON TYPICAL PCA CHURCH AND PASTOR DECISIONS CONCERNING A CONGREGATIONAL MINISTRY OF MERCY. (I am making a distinction here between typical congregations as opposed to those within the New City Network.) 1. Most church planters and pastors see mercy ministry as optional, and not a necessity as a church ministry. 2. Many church planters see mercy as a distraction in the first couple of years of planting a congregation. 3. Many pastors and congregations see mercy ministry as something done by church members through non-profit or volunteer agencies. 4. Some pastors and congregations see mercy ministry as something accomplished only on mission trips in distant places. 5. Some pastors have no idea on how to train Deacons in how to do mercy, so usually opt for biblical or theological training in the office of Deacon and character qualifications. 6. Some churches refuse to show or give “charity” to people who ask for help because… • There is a political spirit in …
FOLLOWING THE DOTS…
FOLLOWING THE DOTS… I don’t know if President Trump is able to follow the dots from hateful to hatred. If he doesn’t want hate in the country he should stop being so hateful. I am afraid demons have been unleashed in our country. These are demons of deception, lying, and delusion. Demons of hatred, violence, and murder have been set free upon us. I don’t say that to deprive our leaders of responsibility; especially since the expressions of demons have come from their mouths. Espousing vindictiveness toward certain individual and groups, endorsing hateful caricatures, setting up groups or nationalities as whipping boys is at best cynical politics, and at worst racism, nativism, and an incitement to violence. President Trump has done this repeatedly by creating targets of opportunity. He has set up as enemies the mainstream press, his own Attorney General, FBI Director, Special Counsel, four Congresswomen of color, Muslims, migrants, immigrants, refugees, football players, …
I BELIEVE THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED
I BELIEVE THE IMMIGRATION PROBLEM CAN BE SOLVED. I optimistically believe that our “immigration problem” is one that could be solved by some clear thinking analysis and creative policy making. The realist in me is convinced it can’t be solved as long as partisan ideologies and demagoguery control not only the debate, but the votes, in our legislature and government. It doesn’t seem to matter if someone has a “good” idea about how to move forward since “good” is solely defined along party and ideological lines. This prevents common sense, wisdom, justice, compassion, and even pragmatic solutions being initiated. I want to introduce some ideas into the immigration discussion not all of which deal or arise from the immigration issue directly. Along the way I hope to reveal some principles that should impact our immigration policies in general, and make some suggestions in particular. IMMIGRATION AND ABORTION I have been thinking of how the subject of immigration …
DON’T WORK FOR THAT CHURCH!
I am both intrigued and disappointed when I hear of pastors who signal that they are not really interested in a biblical emphasis for their congregation, as they reject certain applicants due to their being tainted by some affiliation with a direction that they think is a distraction from their cultural bias. Of course some of these pastors are not aware of their bias, while others are aware of the bias but feel justified in it, either through biblical or cultural ignorance. I am sure some of these pastors would be insulted to think that I am accusing them of biblical ignorance, or of an unbiblical bias, as some of them see themselves as stalwart defenders of the Reformed faith. Here is my proposition; one is not a stalwart defender of the Reformed faith unless he is committed to the principle that our only rule of faith and practice is the Word of God. I would add that he not only be intellectually committed but that it be his actual practice in the decisions he makes in …
FATHER’S DAY
FATHER’S DAY By Randy Nabors I think a lot about being a father, the joy of having children, my failures to fulfill that role well, the importance for my sons to be good dads, and the importance for all children to have in their life a protecting, loving, and nurturing dad. There are many things I learned the hard way, and some things I am still learning by reflection on my experience and as I watch others in that Father-Child relationship. What a wonderful, impactful, mysterious, sometimes painful and heart rending thing it is to be as a dad. Surely it is a reflection of the Eternal Father, Everlasting Father, Almighty Father, Loving Father, and our Heavenly Father who created this generationally repetitive and continuous relationship for the evolving of human history. PROVERBS The book of Proverbs has helped me in many ways, and as it speaks to sons it continues to speak to dads. “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction…” (Proverbs 1.8) “My son, if you accept …
GIVING DUE REGARD
GIVING DUE REGARD By Randy Nabors Recently I was given the opportunity to speak at a major Evangelical organization about diversity, cross-cultural ministry and reconciliation. For this particular occasion I organized my thoughts into these 7 points. REGARD NO ONE ACCORDING TO THE FLESH. We begin with a passage from 2 Corinthians 5, verses 11-20. I especially focus on what Paul says in verse 16, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” This is part of Paul’s revolutionary transformation in regard to his conversion. All of his life he had been trained to regard people according to the flesh. Philippians 3 makes this abundantly clear as to his Jewish and Pharisaical background: “If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the …