We Interrupt This Series

Kevin T. Bauder

NickOfTime

Sometimes ministry gets in the way of work. I’m not complaining though, because that’s exactly the way it should be. If our work is not directed toward and interruptible by ministry to people, then it has become an idol indeed.

Medieval mystic Walter Hilton wrestled with this phenomenon. Somewhere—I believe in his Scale of Perfection—he pondered the desirability of the contemplative life over against that of the active life. In the end, he argued for what he called the “meddled way,” the middle path. He offered the observation that, if we are on our knees in prayer, and a brother or sister interrupts us with a need, we should respond just as if the Lord Jesus had interrupted us Himself.

By the way, I like the medieval mystics. At least, I like some of them. There is a reason that the older Fundamentalists used to read Thomas à Kempis. And if you enjoy Tozer, then you are getting nothing but a modern paraphrase of the medievals.

That’s beside the point, however. The point is that my work is being interrupted by ministry. That is why there is no In Nick of Time on Fundamentalism this week.

Wait. Another digression. We who are vocational ministers need to plan for our work to be interrupted by ministry. We need to build ministry interruptions into our schedules. I work in a Christian institution (Central Baptist Theological Seminary) that is housed by a Christian church (Fourth Baptist Church) of which I am a member. I could literally go for months on end and never have a serious conversation with an unbeliever. In fact, other than the supermarket and the gas station attendants, I would never even talk to an unbeliever.

I have to plan to make contact with non-Christians. For example, I have become a chaplain in the Civil Air Patrol (the auxiliary of the United States Air Force). Chaplaincy is attractive to me, not because I get to wear a uniform or pin ribbons on my chest, but because it puts me in direct contact with unbelievers. It leads to serious conversations, often of a spiritual nature.

Discussion

Has anyone read this?

James Micah
A new (?) book on KJVOism “The Perfect Bible” by Troy Clark, PH.d. By the title I could see where the argument was heading. I noticed my dad reading it, and I wondered if it was typical KJVO fair or a more balanced, reasoned argument.

Anyone know?

Discussion

A great help for a pastor/teacher based on Psalm 23

Jerry W Beaver
My name is Pastor Jerry Beaver from Victory Baptist Church of Pleasant Prairie WI. I wanted to post about my book Walking Through the Valleys of Life. This book is based on the well-known Twenty-third Psalm, and written about the life of the Shepherd and His sheep. Walking Through the Valleys of Life is geared for the Christian struggling in a trial and long valley. There are practical and scriptural insights throughout the book, leading readers to keep looking to the Lord and His perfect will in their dark times.

Discussion

What are today's Romans 14 issues in your local church?

Jim

In the 1st century church of Rome, these were the issues:

one believes he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats only vegetables (14:2)

AND

One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike (14:5)

What are today’s Romans 14 issues in your local church?

Discussion

Free 1843 Swedish Bible

Joe Griffin
I have recently come into possession of an 1843 edition of a Swedish Bible which was published in Stockholm. I am not sure why I was given the Bible, as I do not read or speak the Swedish language. The binding on the Bible is actually very good given the age. The pages have the discoloration that one would expect from such an old edition, but all the pages are quite readable. If anyone would be interested in this, I would be happy to send it to them free of charge so long as they live in the lower 48. If someone wants it shipped internationally, then I will not be able to cover shipping.

Discussion

An Ancient Tool for Distinguishing Churches

Pastor Dan Miller
Augustine of Hippo
Reprinted with permission from Dan Miller’s book Spiritual Reflections. The text appears here verbatim.

As a pastor, I am occasionally asked to explain the difference between two denominations, synods, religious organizations, or the like.

Discussion

The Lord's Supper

Ed Vasicek
Maybe this is more of a confession than anything. Wayne Grudem writes of the Lord’s Supper:
The spiritual nourishment, so necessary for our souls, is both symbolized and experienced in our participation in the Lord’s Supper.”
I suspect many who say such a thing advocate the “Memorial View” of the Lord’s Supper (which I also advocate), but don’t want to come off as cold or unspiritual. I don’t think Grudem is that “cave in to peer pressure” sort of fellow. I think he means what he says.

Discussion

what is the "rest" in Hebrews 4?

Anne Sokol
Been reading Hebrews, and this puzzles me. What is the “rest” being talked about in chapter 4?

“There remains therefore a sabbath rest for the people of God… . Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest.”

Is it:

1) each weekly sabbath?

2) salvation?

3) heaven?

4) eternal life?

5) something else?

How are vss. 12-13 then connected to that topic? about the Word being sharper than a two-edged sword, piercing even …

 ?

thanks :)

Discussion