Off-the-Wall Christmas Music: Muppets: “Marley and Marley”

Posted on December 19, 2009 by Jay F Guin
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Amazing Grace: The ICOC and Baptism, Part 2

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Jay F Guin

You see, the baptism verses are there, and they are true, and we understand them largely correctly — so don’t waste your time citing Acts 2:38 etc. to me. I know them and agree with them. But all those faith-only verses are there, too. We usually deal with them by reading the baptism verses second and saying the baptism verses explain them (away), while the Baptists are reading the faith-only verses and saying they explain (away) our baptism verses. Both arguments are illegitimate.

Now, consider this. Nearly every Christian denomination baptizes. The Catholics, Orthodox, Lutherans, Anglicans, Methodists, and most Pentecostal denominations baptize for remission of sins. However, the Calvinist churches and churches with a Calvinist heritage — the Baptists especially — insist that baptism is a mere ordinance, that is, just a command. But the Baptists are starting to return to a somewhat sacramental view of baptism. And there have always been Baptists that baptize for remission of sins.

And some groups baptize only believers by immersion, such as some branches of the Church of God and the Baptists. We are not as alone or different as we sometimes like to think.

The key differences with most (not all) other denominations is that we reject infant baptism and we insist on immersion rather than sprinkling or pouring. And I think we’re right. Continue reading →

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Off-the-Wall Christmas Songs: Jethro Tull

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Once in Royal David’s City stood a lowly cattle shed,
where a mother laid her baby.
You’d do well to remember the things He later said.
When you’re stuffing yourselves at the Christmas parties,
you’ll laugh when I tell you to take a running jump.
You’re missing the point I’m sure does not need making;
that Christmas spirit is not what you drink.

So how can you laugh when your own mother’s hungry
and how can you smile when the reasons for smiling are wrong?
And if I messed up your thoughtless pleasures,
remember, if you wish, this is just a Christmas song.

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Amazing Grace: The ICOC and Baptism, Part 1

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I’ve now had two readers independently ask me about a recent posting over at Disciples Today regarding baptism. This website serves the International Churches of Christ, formerly known as the Boston Movement (and the Crossroads Movement, before that) within the Churches of Christ.

Not too long ago, most churches within the ICOC formally rejected their extreme legalism, repenting, and seeking a stronger relationship with the “mainstream” Churches of Christ. Since then, the ICOC churches have gone in different directions, some becoming indistinguishable from a non-ICOC Church of Christ and others reverting back to the very behaviors that led to their repentance. And there are former ICOC Churches all in between.

The posting on baptism appears to be an attempt to find a position on baptism that’s less narrow than the ICOC’s traditional position, without rejecting the necessity of baptism. Continue reading →

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Off-the-Wall Christmas Music: Mickey Mouse and Friends: “Jingle Bells”

Posted on December 18, 2009 by Jay F Guin
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Sexual Ethics: How Do You Honor an Abusive Father?

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I get emails —

Dear Brother,

I know a man who has a sexual addiction for which he has never received therapy. He seems unconvinced that he has a “problem,” despite a history of using pornography, exposing himself publicly, using prostitutes, and molesting children (to include his own daughter).

His daughter has forgiven him, and she wants to honor God by honoring her father. But wouldn’t that necessitate some sort of relationship? How could there be a relationship without honesty and trust?  And what about the likelihood of future abuse of daughter and grandchildren if unrepentent offender enters their lives once again?

How can the daughter honor the father?  Can this be done without having any contact? And does forgiveness necessitate a restored relationship in the case of such a potentially dangerous person?

I’m sure the readers will have much to add. Continue reading →

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Bob Dylan: “Must be Santa” … Polka Style. Really. Not Kidding.

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Jay F Guin

This is surprisingly not awful at all. (I’m a big Dylan fan, but he obviously was in the egg nog on this one.)

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Off-the-Wall Christmas Music: The ABBA Girls Sing Swedish Carols

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Jay F Guin

Have I told you that I can’t stand ABBA? But my wife loves it. There’s no explaining it. She’s made me sit through the broadway play with ABBA music twice. (I managed to escape the movie, thank goodness.)

But once you get past ABBA and get to the original work by the ladies, it’s actually pretty good.

So this for all you ABBA fans out there — a very Swedish Christmas.

(And, yes, although ABBA is pop music at its pop-est, this definitely qualifies for the off-the-wall Christmas music series.)

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Replanting a Church: Leadership

Posted on December 17, 2009 by Jay F Guin

We are working through an article by Scott Thomas on replanting an existing church, that is, renewing a church so that it grows and matures as a church plant does.

2. Church Leadership
a. Identify the top three or four lay leaders of the church.
i. What will each of their roles be in leading change?
ii. What resource or encouragement do they need to more effectively help guide the ship?
iii. Do they fully understand the vision for replanting a missional church?
iv. How could they lead organized groups of men as you work through this process of change? See the Disciples’ model below and try to identify at least the six key positions of leadership:
Top Leader 1 Leader Leader Leader
Top Leader 2 Sub-leader Sub-Leader Sub-Leader
Top Leader 3 Sub-leader Sub-Leader Sub-Leader

Remember that we’re talking about replanting an existing church. In Churches of Christ, this means the elders have to be firmly on board with such an effort. There’s no going around the elders. Continue reading →

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Twisted Sister: “I’ll be Home for Christmas”

Posted on December 16, 2009 by Jay F Guin

I’m not a heavy metal fan, but I thought the readers just might be due for a break from the ordinary seasonal fare. I mean, how many times can you hear Karen Carpenter or Perry Como … over and over and over?

And haven’t you always wondered what these songs would sound like with a bass and drumkit?

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