One of my favorite parts of serving as a pastor of a local church is the opportunity to hear people’s questions about the Bible or doctrine.  I certainly don’t have all the answers to all the questions, but I love to think about the questions and search out the answers.  A lot of our questions have to do with what the Bible allows and prohibits.  For instance, just the other day I was having a conversation with a church member about tattoos.  What does the Bible say about tattoos, and is there not a specific verse forbidding them?  That is a fun discussion to me.

          The issue of tattoos falls into the same broad category as other issues relating to Christian freedom.  In other words, often our questions reflect our desire to know what we can do and what can we not do as Christians.  Is kissing allowed before marriage?  Is dancing permitted?  Should we watch this movie or read that book?  You see, the list goes on and on.  And quite honestly, sometimes the Bible allows for differences of opinion on some of these issues.  So the question remains, what is the solution to this ethical and behavioral dilemma.  I think the Bible is abundantly clear on that issue.

          Read 1 Corinthians 10: 31-33 “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.  Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, that they may be saved.”  I think these verses provide us the answers we are seeking.  We should never reduce Christianity to a list of rules and regulations, dos and don’ts.  It is about a relationship with the savior Jesus Christ.  He has radically and finally set us free from the bondage of sin and death.  Therefore our desire is not to do the minimum in obedience to him, but to have a life that totally glorifies him and makes his name great.

          So back to our illustration, should Christians get tattoos.  Well each person considering this option must ask the simple question or whether or not this action will make God’s name great or not.  Will it glorify God or not?  Will it help the lost love and embrace the gospel or not?  So whether we are talking about tattoos, dancing, movies, or whatever; the glory of God is the supreme factor in the life of the follower of Christ.  This does not mean that these questions and issues are not important to talk about and discuss.  I just mean to remind us that as children of God, we have a different worldview.  Everything must be considered in light of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the glory of God.

In Christ, 

Blain Craig

One of the greatest Christian hymns of all time is A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.  This Sunday as part of our Reformation Day focus we will sing this great hymn of the faith.  Of course, Martin Luther the Protestant Reformer wrote the hymn, but that is not the reason we sing the hymn.   Our goal this Sunday and every Sunday is not to celebrate history, and it is certainly not to celebrate man.  Our goal is the worship of God and a deeper understanding of him.  Consider the important message of this hymn.  The third verse says in part, “And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us.”

            These words of Martin Luther should serve to remind us that we do live in a world filled with devils set on our demise.  We should never deceive ourselves into thinking we don’t have an enemy in this world.  I wonder how often we ignore the spiritual battle of this life, to the great delight of our enemy.

            I am afraid that Christians often commit two different errors when it comes to the subject of spiritual warfare. First, they often overemphasize the activity of the enemy.  In other words, they obsess about Satan to the neglect of focusing on Christ.  Secondly, and even more often, they underestimate the power of the enemy.  The very same hymn says of Satan, “His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate, On earth is not his equal.”  Those are sobering words to Christians who would reduce Satan to a harmless nobody.  Jesus told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat” Luke 22:31.  That implies he could!  There are none on earth his equal in power.  But, Oh Believer, we serve one who is the creator of heaven and earth.  His Kingdom is beyond compare in power and strength.  Jesus went on to tell Peter in Luke 22 that He had prayed for him.  The same is true for you and me.  We have a mighty advocate.  Luther concludes the third verse with these encouraging words,

We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

Oak Crest Baptist Church, our God is indeed a Mighty Fortress! Praise Him today for His triumphal victory over darkness, sin and death!

 

 

In Christ,

Blain Craig

I want to take a moment and publicly thank God for our deacons.  We are so blessed beyond measure to have a group of men who are truly servants of the church of Jesus Christ.  It has been my distinct pleasure to serve with them over these past years.  They are an extension of the pastoral ministry of Oak Crest Baptist Church.  Several years ago, the deacons of Oak Crest implemented a new model of deacon ministry.  Many of you have become a part of Oak Crest in the intervening four years.  I would like to take a moment to share with you how our model of ministry works and announce couple of changes.

          What does this model of ministry look like?  There are several things we might say about the deacons at Oak Crest, but very simply they are ministry servants.  One, in some cases more than one,deacon is assigned to each Sunday School class.  The benefit of our model of ministry is that your Sunday School class works hand in hand with your class’s deacon to make sure all the needs of the class are being met.  If you know of a sickness or a surgery or any other need in the life of someone in your Sunday School class, please contact your class deacon so that he might contact the person in need.  Another goal of the class ministry deacon is to encourage Sunday School attendance and church involvement. 

          This fall we ordained three new deacons.  Some of you may have seen these new deacons in your Sunday School class this past Sunday.  I hope you will take time to not only find out who your class’s deacon is, but personally get to know him.  Additionally, we are once again in need of more deacons.  In the month of October, we are receiving nominations for new deacons.  Please fill out the nomination form and drop it in the ballot box in the office.  So that you might avoid nominating existing deacons or elders, allow me to list the currently serving deacons and elders.  Our elders are myself, Nathan Clardy, Jim Tennery, Rick Johnson, and Ken Crews.  Our deacons are:  Shannon Whisenhunt, Mike Holt, Robert Stokes, Mike Adams, Danny Hyndman, Ronnie Henson, Sig Brandenburg, Bob Osborne, Justin Shaw, Jonathan Pendrich, and Art Coker.  Please submit your nomination forms to the church office on or by Sunday October 26, 2014.

 

In Christ,

Blain Craig

          I have been discussing the differences in various Bible translations.  It really comes down to personal preference and the purpose of the Bible.  By purpose, I mean we use Bibles for different reasons at different times.  Sometimes I am reading the Bible devotionally, sometimes I am studying, and sometimes we are reading the Bible together in corporate worship.  I might use different translations depending on the situation.  At Oak Crest, the version of Scripture I have chosen to preach and teach from is the English Standard Version. 

          The English Standard Version is a fairly recent translation of the Bible.  It has only been in existence for a little over a decade, but it is in a translation stream dating back to before the King James Version.  William Tyndale translated the New Testament in 1526, then came the King James in 1611, then the English Revised in 1885, then the American Standard in 1901, then the Revised Standard in 1952 and 1971.  The English Standard Version is in that stream of translations.

          According to the ESV itself, “the ESV is an ‘essentially literal’ translation that seeks as far as possible to capture the precise wording of the original text and the personal style of each Bible writer.  As such, its emphasis is on ‘word-for-word’ correspondence, at the same time taking into account differences of grammar, syntax, and idiom between current literary English and the original languages.”  Of course that is a very precise way of saying that the ESV wants to be as close to the original languages as possible while being readable.  I have found the ESV to be second only to the New American Standard Bible in terms of its literal translation, while at the same time remaining at an 8th grade reading level.  Ease of reading along with reliability result in the English Standard Version being my Bible translation of choice.

          Once again, this is all a matter of your preference and purpose.  If you are looking for a Bible to give a new Christian or a Bible to just read devotionally in your quiet times, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the New Living Translation or even the Contemporary English Version.  On the other hand, if you are looking for serious study for academic purposes I would recommend the New American Standard Bible, or The NET Bible (New English Translation), or even an Interlinear which places the Greek and English side by side.  Almost all modern translations are reliable and trustworthy, true to Scripture.

In Christ,

Blain Craig