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The Newsletter
November 2001

In a recent article, Jim Elliff summarizes the current problems Southern Baptist leadership now face. (www.founders.org). He declares that Southern Baptists are mostly in trouble, no matter the advances made in a commitment to the Bible.

Elliff points out the following statistics:

Southern Baptists now number 15.9 million members.
Only 5.2 million or 32.8% attend on Sunday morning.
2/3 attend on Sunday morning and have no other involvement with the church such as Sunday evening services, etc.
The figures above indicate that 90% of Southern Baptist church members appear to be little different from the "cultural Christians" who populate mainline denominations.

How does he approach the problem? By inferring the missing Christians are in reality not Christians. Most of the people on our rolls give little evidence they love the brethren - a clear sign of being unregenerate (I John 3:14). They have "prayed the prayer" and "walked the aisle," been told they are Christians, but they are not new creatures in Christ. They possess obvious signs of an unregenerate heart.

He explains the teaching of Jesus concerning the good soil vs. the rocky ground. The rocky ground believer only appears to be saved. This is only temporary faith, which is not saving faith, and is rampant among Southern Baptists. He finds the answer in an old expression that says, "If a man's faith does not persevere, then what he possesses is something less than saving faith." He suggests millions of such "unrepenting believers" have been taken into the church whose hearts have not been changed. This leaves Southern Baptists basically unregenerate. Even if you double, triple or quadruple the numbers of true believers there remains an enormous problem.

To simply label many as carnal Christians does little to solve the problem. He does not feel that poor follow-up is always to blame. The problem is so complex, the writer does not try to find an easy fix but does offer five guidelines to address the problem:

Preach and teach on the subject.
Address the issue of persistent sin among the members.
Be more careful on the front-end of church membership.
Stop giving immediate verbal assurance to people who have hopefully been converted.
Restore sound doctrine.

Page Patterson adds to the discussion by saying, " Regrettably I have to believe that anytime you stand up and face a [Baptist] congregation these days in the average church, you're looking at 30-40% that have never been born again and are not genuinely saved." (Interview with Page Patterson, ibid)

The declining state of Southern Baptists is also typical of evangelicals in general. I am in agreement the church needs to do a better job of evangelizing. However, my impression is the church has not done as bad a job as some suppose. In modern America today, almost every household has not only one or more televisions, but also cable to bring in any type of program available. How many millions actually had a better view of Tiger Woods winning the Masters than those who were fortunate to attend? You want sports, weather, news, and movies…. anything is there. And do not too hastily dismiss the number of quality programs on 24 hours a day that do an excellent job of presenting the simple plan of salvation, offering the greatest life this world affords. Anyone with even the remotest interest in religious truth has instant access.

Neal Punt adds to the discussion by stating:

The difficult questions are not ,"Who will be saved?" and "Why are they saved?" The unresolvable question is, "Why are any lost?" The Bible provides no answer to this last question other than the willful persistent unbelief and sin of those who will be finally lost. (What's Good About The Good News? p. 60)

Jesus said the judgment is that light came into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. Paul, three times in Romans, stated without question "…men are without excuse." Since the creation of the world three things are clearly seen by all:

His invisible attributes
His eternal power
His devine nature

This should never mean the church could ever quit caring and evangelizing. However, the church is being beaten up today as if all the problems in and outside the church rests squarely on their shoulders. The church will except its shortcomings and continue to correct many things it does. However, to place all or most of the blame is to forget the responsibility of man.

In a previous newsletter the following was stated and it bears repeating.

In just one generation, Judeo-Christian America has become an incubator of revived paganism. Behind the dazzling diversity of pro-choice culture-abortion rights, the homosexual agenda, radical feminism, the new spirituality, goddess worship and witchcraft-lies a coherent pagan spiritually bent on absolute control, intolerant of any truth but its own. (Spirit Wars by Peter Jones, back jacket).

Men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. That is the basic problem. Many will follow the broad road and few the narrow. That continues to be the pattern. Even in the church.

ESCATOLOGY
Charles Dyer correctly points out that no where in Scripture does it say that oil would play a significant factor in end time events. He does feel there are some indirect teachings that enlighten the student of scripture. He warns all to be careful in bringing indirect scriptures into play. Ed Hindson gives us an outline that should govern all study. He says there are terms that must be understood. These are

Facts: Statements that certainly will come to pass such as the teachings on the Second Coming of Christ.
Assumptions: He gives the example that we can assume Ezekiel 38-39 is a direct reference to Russia.
Speculations: Simply guesses based on assumptions. Not all have a Biblical base. Example: The number 666 is a literal number that will appear on things in the last days. (Final Signs, p.36-37.

Dyer takes the position the prophecies concerning Babylon have not had a literal fulfilling. She has never been overthrown the way the Bible predicts. Thus, if you hold to a literal interpretation of the prophetic scriptures, Babylon will continue to become more of a power in the end time events. Scholars are divided on the issue. Most believe the prophecies were fulfilled in the past so would dismiss Dyers' assumptions.

Briefly stated, Dyer believes the bible teaches that Babylon will arise in the last days. He points out some end time activities that might point to oil being a leading factor. He sees Revelation Chapter 18 as literal rebuilt Babylon. Revelation describes this city as one of enormous wealth. Everyone mourns the fall of this key city because of its strategic position in the world but has fallen in one hour. This is not present day Babylon, but Dyer sees Irag making a quick comeback from the Gulf War. If Iraq were to gain control of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia they would control 50% of the worlds oil. This would mean instant wealth resulting in the power described in the Bible. Dyer speculates this could only happen if they gained control of the oil.

America's demand for oil is increasing and could reach 25 million barrels each day. More than 2/3 lies underground in the world's most unstable areas. Saddam quickly moved into Kuwait and gained 20% of the reserves. He planned to go on to Saudi Arabia. This would have given him control of 45% of the world's oil reserves. Never doubt he would have accomplished the feat. One thing stopped him. Very few have heard of it, but it is called the Carter Doctrine. It clearly sends a warning to the rest of the world. It says:

Any attempt by any outside force to gain control of the Persian Gulf will be regarded as an assault on the vital interests of the United States of America and such an assault will be repelled by anything necessary, including military force.

Notice it says vital interest of the United States. We get less than 27% of our oil from that region. We get 8% from Venezuela, 8% from Canada, 8% from Saudi Arabia, 6% from Mexico, 4% from Nigeria, 3% from Iraq, 2% from Angola, and 34% from numerous other nations. However, Japan gets 7% and Europe gets 40% from that region. That is our vital interest. Why else would we take such a bold stand? (New American, 1-18-99)

Simply stated, Saddam or anyone else could disrupt the world economy. They could gain control to the extent nations dependent on the oil would be held hostage. Europe, Japan and to a certain extent the United States would suffer the most.

Dyer thinks just such a scene may be found in the 17th , and 18th chapters of Revelation. A ruler living in Babylon controls the Beast Empire of the Anti-Christ. He literally controls the most powerful military machine in the world. How? A woman sits atop the beast with control. How can this be? Dyer thinks he has the answer. This woman is Babylon. This modern day city has now been rebuilt and exerts control for a while. Soon the Anti Christ has had enough. His military forces moves quickly. Dyer even calls it "Operation Desert Storm II." Babylon's control will probably come from the ability to control the production and price of oil. Here Dyer is speculating. However, the scenario he describes is feasible. From the oil profits Babylon becomes one of the economic centers of the world as she reaps billions in profits and rebuilds the city as has never been seen, literally touching the rest of the world that does business with her. Even though he has military problems elsewhere, the Antichrist finally has had enough. Babylon is destroyed. Her power is economic and monetary. However, the Antichrist power is military and industrial. He needs oil. He is tired of being jacked around so he moves and takes out the nuisance. Nothing in the world can now stand up to this military power. Dyer says, "Once Babylon is destroyed, all roads lead to Armageddon.

Is he correct? Who knows? Not many leading prophetic scholars give his scenario much of a chance of happening. However, Bible students watching the Geo-Political happenings in our world today, will not dismiss the possibility Dyer might be right.

THEOLOGY
Paul said do not be drunk with wine but be filled with the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 5: 18. The entire Christian community is to be filled. It is to be ongoing. Paul is saying, " Let the Spirit be continually filling you." The Christian is to live "under the intoxicating influence" of the Spirit. This allows the Christian to be stimulated in such a way that makes a person live in a manner worthy of the name Christian. In Colossians 3 similar words encourage the Christian to allow the word of Christ to dwell in you richly. Paul is saying in both instances we are to be filled by the Spirit and to be indwelt by His word. The spirit is never to be separated from his word. (Reymonds, Systematic Theology, pp. 765, 766)

The Christian is baptized with the Holy Spirit. This happens at the moment of conversion. His Spirit baptizes us into one body. The Holy Spirit then seals us. One's faith in Christ, justifies, sanctifies and adopts us into His family, This is the guarantee of our final glorious inheritance. (Ibid-p. 763)

Jesus breathed the Holy Spirit on His disciples after the resurrection. (John 20:21.He later told them they would receive power after the Holy Spirit had come on them and they would be witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. (Acts 1:8).

The disciples waited in the upper room until they were endued with this power. As a result, 3,000 were converted. They were continually filled and refilled. (Acts 2:4 and Acts 4:31). His body, the church, literally went forth and turned the world upside down.

The greatest need in the church today is this same continual refilling with the Holy Spirit. Without it, the church is running empty. Years later from his Roman imprisonment, Paul commanded them to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Later he told Timothy to rekindle the gift he was given.

The church today needs this teaching. Millions have believed in Christ, are members of His Church, but have no earthly ideal on this clear New Testament teaching. Many fear they would become overzealous, fanatical believers

The New Testament teaches us the following concerning the Christian life. The Holy Spirit

Convicts us of sin and the need to be converted.
Regeneration: God imparts to the believer eternal life.
Salvation is not a process. He immediately accepts us.
A new nature is given. A new life is begun. Not another beginning but a new beginning unlike the first beginning.
The Spirit is given. One is truly indwelt by the Holy Spirit and a member of the Body of Christ.
Christians will loose much of the filling of the Spirit. They will never lose the indwelling.
Obedience is a requirement and a condition to being filled with the Holy Spirit.
When one is filled with the Holy Spirit they are controlled by the Spirit.
Filling will be an ongoing experience in the Christian life. One needs to be continually filled with the Spirit.
Filling is voluntary and produces Christlikeness.
The fruits of the Spirit will be evident when one is filled. There will be a joyful attitude of praise and worship.
Walking in the true Sprit, and continual filling of the Spirit, will never become Pharasical leading to a judgmental and critical spirit of others. (Ryie Study Bible, pp.1941-2.)

How can one have the fullness of the Spirit if it is missing from the Christian life? Dr. Bill Bright gave one of the best ways years ago. This is so practical D. James Kennedy outlines it in his book, saying it met with great success at his church. (Why I Believe. P 148-9). He gave the following as a way to self examine oneself leading to a spirit filled life:

Take a good size piece of paper. 81/2 x11?
Make a list of all specific sins in your life.
Start with the sins of disposition: impatience, bitterness, jealousy, envy, grudges held, slights unforgiving, animosity, anger, lust, lasciviousness, unclean thoughts, greed, cupidity, avarice, ands so forth. He encourages the list to be specific; name names where needed.
Do not forget the sins omission: prayerlessness, cold-heartedness to God, faithlessness to his Word, service unrendered, witness not given, etc.
Pray that the Holy Spirit will search you and try you to see if there is anything wicked in you that has not been confessed and forsaken.
When the Spirit reveals something not on the list write, in down.
Again seek his wisdom and ask if there is still anything else. Do this, as many times as needed to make sure there is nothing not on the list that needs to be there.
Write in large letters across the page, "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanness us from all sin"
At that point ask the Father to fill you with the Spirit (Luke 11:13).
Finally, take the paper and burn it.

The above may sound simple but it covers the basics.