Billy Sunday

Written by Pastor Friar | 03 May 2013

Roughly 100 years ago there was a man traveling throughout the country and holding meetings in wooden structures called tabernacles. At the summit of his career he was arguably the most well known individual in the country, yet relatively few know anything about the man today, not even his name. Billy Sunday was thrust into the national spotlight after several successful evangelistic campaigns, most of which were held in the Midwest.

EARLY YEARS: William Ashley Sunday was born near Ames, Iowa in 1862. His father died while serving in the Civil War. At the age of 10 he was moved into an orphanage. Very athletic, the teen was spotted by a baseball scout. He signed a contract to play professional baseball where he was especially adept at running the bases.

CONVERSION: During his baseball days, Sunday attended a meeting at the Pacific Garden Mission in Chicago, IL. After a bit of a personal struggle, he converted to Christianity. He eventually gave up baseball and began working in churches and YMCAs.

MENTORING AND EARLY CAREER: In 1893, Billy Sunday served with J. Wilbur Chapman, one of the most notable evangelists of his day. When Chapman went back to the pastorate (1896), Sunday began holding meetings of his own. At the peak of his career (1917), Sunday had 26 people on his staff as he traveled all across the United States. In those early days when there was no internet, TV, movie industry or radio, folks looked forward to the community campaigns held by Billy Sunday.

PREACHING: The preaching of Billy Sunday was far different than what is seen today. The evangelist’s speech was coarse. He spoke very rapidly. He made much of dramatic effect, often jumping on platform furniture or running from side to side. His messages were usually topical (as opposed to an expository verse by verse study of Scripture). It is estimated that over 100 million people heard him speak. More than one million people responded to his messages and walked “the sawdust trail.”

POLITICS: Mr. Sunday was very engaged in the political world. He was a strong supporter of Prohibition and one of its leading spokesmen. He was on the forefront of the battle for women’s suffrage, child labor laws and the use of blacks.

HEARTACHES: As with any prominent figure, Sunday was not without his critics. Liberal preachers of the day attacked his “medieval theology … gutter language … and barnyard education.” Some saw inconsistency between his relatively lavish lifestyle while asking donors to make sacrifices for his campaigns. His greatest heartache was seen in his wayward children. Three sons were actively pursuing the things which Sunday was preaching against (drunkenness, adultery, dancing, et al.). His only daughter died from MS in 1932. One son committed suicide in 1933. Billy graduated to Glory on Nov. 6, 1935.

LEGACY: Sunday’s legacy ought to remind us of several things.

1. An evangelist can be used effectively.

2. God can use our unusual backgrounds for His glory.

3. Persistence: “I'm against sin. I'll kick it as long as I've got a foot, and I'll fight it as long as I've got a fist. I'll butt it as long as I've got a head. I'll bite it as long as I've got a tooth. And when I'm old and fistless and footless and toothless, I'll gum it till I go home to Glory and it goes home to perdition!”

4. Preach persuasively using the personality God has given you.

5. Heartaches accompany those in ministry.

Stranded

Written by Pastor Friar | 13 April 2013

As I write this blog today, I am just east of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Interstate 80 has been closed and I am in a parking lot waiting for the highway to open. The road is perilous with ice, snow and the wind. It is no fun being stranded. When stranded, one’s progress is impeded.

Life is a journey. And for the born-again Christian the journey is filled with all sorts of stops and slow-downs. John Bunyan portrayed this beautifully in his book Pilgrim’s Progress.

Theologically, this journey is called progressive sanctification. Sanctification implies that the believer is set apart from sin for God’s use (2 Th. 2:13). There are three aspects to sanctification.

POSITIONAL: Once saved, the Christian is immediately saved from the penalty (or consequences) of sin (1 Cor. 1:2). We are assured of an eternal home in Heaven as our sin has been glorious been paid for by the death of Jesus Christ. When the believer receives Christ as his Savior (John 1:12), his sin has been eternally forgiven and he enjoys a new position as a child of God (Gal. 4:4-7; Eph. 1:3-7).

PROGRESSIVE: Progressive suggests that there are steps to be made along the way. We know by experience that even though one becomes a Christian, he does not become sinlessly perfect. Some days we advance in our spiritual walk and sadly, some days we find ourselves retreating with our practice of daily sin. Progressive sanctification means that the believer is saved from the power of sin. More about this below.

PERMANENT: A day is coming when “we shall be like Him for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:2) When the Lord calls us home, we will have a glorious body that is like His and incapable of sin. (1 Cor. 15:53-54; 2 Cor. 5:1-4). Permanent sanctification reminds us that we will one day be saved from the very presence of sin (1 Th. 5:23)!

All of this brings me to the question of being stranded. Are you stranded in your spiritual journey? What are some signs of being stranded and not progressing toward Christ? Here are some that come to my mind.

How is your time in God’s Word going? Are you finding spiritual sustenance to grow you and carry you on (1 Peter 2:1-3)? Are you daily searching the Scriptures (Acts 17:11; Heb. 4:12)? As you read the Bible, don’t go through a mindless motion of simply attempting to conquer a chapter. Read it carefully and put it into practice. Some good advice for any pastor is to begin the counseling session with these questions. Often the response is a deafening silence because those seeking counsel are not spending quality time in God’s Word.

Do you spend some time in quality prayer (Matt. 6:5-13; Phil. 4:6)? Often our prayers become filled with our wants and desires. We want the Lord to bless our activities, our schedule, our family, our trial, etc. How can we liven up our prayer time? Focus on spending some time in adoration, confession of sin, thanksgiving, intercession for others, and supplication.

Are you fellowshipping with God’s people (Heb. 10:24-25)? Revivalist Vance Havner was fond of saying people entered church for worship at 11:00 sharp and left at 12:00 dull. There are many things we can do to enhance our worship time. Spend time meditating on the lyrics of the songs you sing. Remove temptations (electronic devices). Be engaged in public prayer. Give joyfully during the offering time. Visit with others. Get involved in their lives. When the preacher shares the Word, remember that this is God’s man attempting to share with you God’s message to help you on your journey. Learn from what he shares and do not spend time being critical or looking at the clock.

Are you reaching the lost (John 4:35)? While many of us have Christian friends, we struggle with reaching the lost because we do not have any (or many) unsaved friends. Befriend yourself to others in your neighborhood, at the work place, or in recreation. Use those opportunities to share Christ.

Friend, I trust that you are progressing in your sanctification. Do not become spiritually stagnant. Do not become stranded in your spiritual life.

Why I Am A Regular Baptist

Written by Pastor Friar | 28 February 2013

In January I looked at why I am a Christian. In short, I am a Christian because Christ is the one who has provided the only remedy for sin. All other religions fail because they strive to do good works to appease God. Christianity recognizes that Christ's death on the cross was sufficient to satisfy the righteous demands of a holy God concerning the payment for sin. This is not a universal salvation however, as each individual must recognize what Christ has done and receive Him as Savior. I am a Christian by conversion.

Last month I focused on why I am a Baptist. While I do believe that there are other groups doing a work for God, I believe Baptists have long stood for teachings that are in the New Testament and have been missed by many. It is true that other groups believe in some of the Biblical distinctives of Baptists, but only Baptists have embraced them all. I am a Baptist by conviction.

This month I want to write to you as to why I am a Regular Baptist. Several questions probably arise in your mind. What is a Regular Baptist? How is a Regular Baptist different from other Baptist groups?

A (VERY) BRIEF HISTORY LESSON: Most people are acquainted with the Southern Baptist Convention. Not so many are aware that there was another convention of Baptist churches called the Northern Baptist Convention (NBC). (The organization still exists today under the new name American Baptist Churches of the USA.) At the turn of the 20th century, the NBC had individuals who began to follow the modernist beliefs of that era. As the years went by the traditional fundamentals of the faith were being denied more and more to the point where the NBC was split in its allegiance. It was at this time that various groups separated from the NBC and began their own fellowship. The Regular Baptists began in 1932 with a strict insistence that it would not get caught up in being a convention (whereby property and assets were turned over to the headquarters of the organization) and that churches would agree to a doctrinal statement that would reinforce the fundamentals of the faith before being voted upon in the fellowship.

There are three reasons why I prefer the Regular Baptist fellowship.

A DOCTRINAL MATTER: Regular Baptists have always insisted upon strong, orthodox doctrine. At their annual meetings (both nationally and locally) there is an insistence upon the preaching of the Word of God being the central feature of those meetings. Although there can be some slight differences in minor doctrines and their application, Regular Baptists have held firm in their doctrinal statement which joins them together. For a glimpse of our doctrinal statement, GO HERE.

A PRACTICAL MATTER: Simply put, there is so much more that can be done when churches choose to cooperate together. Smaller churches with limited resources and personnel find that they can have a major impact for the cause of Christ when yoked with churches of like faith. An association of churches gives one a voice in national matters (especially items like chaplaincy). Cooperation with others allows for mutual fellowship and encouragement, especially when the church is facing a difficult time (such as being without a pastor). Aligning oneself in a fellowship also assists families moving into an area that want to join a church that is similar to the church from which they came.

AN ETHICAL MATTER: Sometimes I hear people say they will not join an association of churches because they want their church to be truly independent. While I understand that sentiment, I think they are misunderstanding the thought of independence with the autonomy (self-governing) of the local church. Churches in a fellowship do not surrender their autonomy. As a State Representative of the Minnesota Association of Regular Baptist Churches, I have no say or vote as to what happens in a local Regular Baptist Church in Minnesota. Neither does any other local church have a say in another church's affairs. A local church member has more say or authority than I do because they can vote!

When you think about it, no church is truly independent. We are dependent upon the Lord! We are interdependent upon one another! Read through the New Testament and see how the churches cooperated together.

If you were truly independent, then you would not accept help or cooperate with anyone. You would send your own missionaries (at 100% support), run your own training institution (college/seminary), develop your own benevolent organization to minister to the hurting (mentally handicapped, crisis pregnancy center, etc.), and print your own literature (S.S. material, V.B.S. material, tracts, etc.). You wouldn't cooperate with other churches for conferences (missions or Bible), retreats (men, women, or teens) or pastoral fellowships. You wouldn't help any churches who would have a need if you were truly independent.

My belief in Christianity is an absolute belief and very sure. I am a Christian by conversion. My belief in the Biblical distinctives of Baptists is solid, but admittedly, not as definite as my conversion. I am willing to lay down my life for those beliefs, therefore, I say that I am a Baptist by conviction. But when it comes to which Baptist church I will attend, I admit there is a bit more wiggle room. There are many fine Baptist churches and quite frankly, I would not die for my position as a Regular Baptist. Therefore, I sum it up by saying I am a Regular Baptist by choice.

Where do you find yourself these days? If you are not a Christian, then by all means, receive Him as your Savior (John 1:12) as "today is the day of salvation." (2 Cor. 6:2 ) If you are not a Baptist, then I would strongly encourage you to read through the Scriptures to see what the Bible says about issues such as the authority of the Bible, soul liberty, priesthood of the believer, the autonomy of the local church and separation of church and state. Get involved with and join a Baptist church. And finally, if you are not part of a Regular Baptist fellowship, then I would recommend that you seek out a Regular Baptist church or bring your church into an association of Regular Baptist churches. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information about this.

Why I Am a Baptist

Written by Pastor Friar | 08 February 2013

Last month I wrote a blog entitled, "Why I Am a Christian." This month I want to funnel my description a bit more with some thoughts on why I am a Baptist.

I feel a disclaimer is in order as I begin. Whenever one asserts their denominational conviction, usually people object by stating the author is narrow-minded, bigoted, or full of hatred. Folks assume that those who proclaim Baptist convictions also express the thought that only they are the true believers going to Heaven. No doubt, some are of that persuasion, but not me.

When accused of being a narrow-minded Baptist who believe only Baptists are going to Heaven, I have a response that usually sets people back. My response is that I am more narrow-minded than that, as I don't believe all the Baptists are going to Heaven! (Have you seen what some Baptists believe these days?)

Now please let me explain. There is nothing magical or sacred in the name Baptist. Some "Baptists" have not only denied the Biblical distinctives of Baptists, they have also rejected the very fundamentals of the faith. I firmly believe there are some groups that are preaching a gospel-oriented, Bible-saturated message that is worthy to be emulated. To those who preach a true Christ and are going in a different direction, my purpose as a pastor and as a State Representative for Regular Baptist Churches in Minnesota is not to bash those who do not cross their theological "t"s and dot their distinctive "i"s the way I do. My thought is simply, "May the Lord bless you, but we believe God's Word teaches a different direction." We will continue to rejoice whenever Christ is preached no matter what the denominational label may be (cf. Philippians 1:18).

This issue of proclaiming oneself a Baptist (or not) has once again become a hotbed of controversy as a prominent church in the Midwest has dropped the name Baptist from their long-standing church. Indeed, many churches and ministries now question the validity of the Baptist name. This all begs the question, "What is a Baptist?" A key founder of the Regular Baptist movement, Dr. Robert T. Ketcham, declared it this way in a tract, "Is It a Sin to Be a Baptist?" Dr. Ketcham viewed it not only as a legitimate system of belief, he obviously endorsed the position as the position that most closely aligns itself to the New Testament.

I will not go into the historical detail concerning when Baptists began. I believe it is a relatively recent development of a few hundred years. (No, I do not believe John the Baptist was the first Baptist!) My main concern is what Baptists believe.

The Biblical distinctives of Baptists can be described with the following acrostic. For sake of brevity, I will give limited Scriptural references and a definition for each truth. I would encourage you to contact me for more clarification on any of these doctrines, if you have any questions.

B = Biblical Authority: 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The Bible (and not tradition) is the sole guide for faith and practice.

A = Autonomy of the Local Church: Acts 15:22

The church is self-governing. No outside source, apart from the Godhead, can exert authority over the local church.

P = Priesthood of the Believer: Revelation 1:6

All believers, as priests, have direct access to God through Christ.

T = Two Biblical Ordinances (Believer's baptism by immersion and the memorial view of the Lord's Table): Colossians 2:12; 1 Corinthians 11:23-34

I = Individual Soul Liberty: Romans 14:5b

Each person is accountable to God and no one can believe in Christ on behalf of another.

S = Saved Church Membership: Acts 2:41

Only those who have professed faith in Christ can become members of a local church.

T = Two Biblical Office in the Local Church (Pastor and Deacon): 1 Timothy 3

S = Separation of Church and State: Matthew 22:21

The church is to be distinct and separate from the state.

So much could be written on each of these issues. While some of these distinctives have been held by various groups within Christendom, only Baptists have historically embraced all these doctrines together.

Are Baptists perfect? Far from it! Are all other groups mired in heresy? No doubt some are, but as stated above, I still believe there are others who are not Baptists who are still doing a work for God.

We are living in a day when many fear calling themselves Baptist. Some are taking Baptist out of their name. (I often wonder what our Baptist forefathers would think about that as they had to lay down their life for that precious name!) Should the Baptist label be removed? Allow me to share with you a story.

Many years ago a friend of mine got married. As a good friend, he gave me the keys to his apartment while he and his new wife went on their honeymoon. He gave me those keys so that I could take the wedding presents to his home. Being a bit of a practical joker back then, I brought some of my friends with me. After we carried in all of the gifts, we set our face toward sabotaging the apartment. Among the many things which we did, one thing was to remove all the labels on all the canned goods they had in the house. It didn't matter if it was canned fruit, canned veggies, canned milk, etc. If it had a label, the label was gone! Imagine the chaos as the honeymooners returned and tried to fix themselves a meal. They never knew what they were going to eat.

I believe a label is necessary for matters of integrity. The label tells you about that product. A city bus has a sign (label) on it telling you which way it is going. It is a matter of ethics to let people know where you are going. Likewise, I think we need a label that tells people what we believe and where we are headed.

Some may object that the label is too restrictive and encumbering, especially when witnessing to the lost. This may be true in some areas. But in my experience, I have found that to be a non-issue. And whereas some may object to the denominational label, I have found others (especially those who are new to a community) appreciate knowing what a church believes and where it stands.

So why am I a Baptist? It's not because I was brought up in a Baptist church or saved in a Baptist church or because I was trained in a Baptist school. I am not a Baptist because of convenience. That is to say that I did not become a Baptist because employment opportunities presented themselves to me. Rather, I am a Baptist because I believe Baptists have generally held a correct view of the whole counsel of God. If Baptistic teaching ever wanders from the Scriptural anchor points from which it came, then I would be among the first to seek out a group that fits with the teachings of the early New Testament church.

I am a Baptist by conviction. Are you?

Why I Am A Christian

Written by Pastor Friar | 03 January 2013

Many would answer this statement by stating that they too are Christians because they live in America, or because they were born to Christian parents, or because they were baptized as a baby into a Christian church. Perhaps they claim Christianity as their faith because none of the other religions "ring the bell" with them. Those who choose the above answers reveal that they are not practicing Christians and perhaps are not even Christians at all.

My personal testimony is fairly simple. I grew up in a broken home (we don't use that term much anymore). My folks were divorced when I was very young. My mother dropped me off at an area church for Sunday School until I was around seven years of age. At that time I just told her I didn't want to go any more. I lived a fairly typical childhood and adolescent life.

When I was 15 years old, some teen friends invited me to their church for a softball game. I had a great time with these Christian people. In fact, it was such a great time that I felt I owed God for giving me such a wonderful time. I told the people that I would be in their church on Sunday.

Fast forward three months later. I was going to Sunday School and morning worship fairly regularly. On this October morning, the Sunday School teacher ended his lesson early. As I was getting excited to go out with my friends and throw around the football, the teacher asked me if I would visit with him for a while. We went into the pastor's study.

The Sunday School teacher asked me if I knew I was a sinner. My answer was an obvious yes, especially after reading Romans 3:23. But I was somewhat surprised to learn that sin has consequences. According to the Bible, those consequences included death (Romans 6:23) and the wrath of God (John 3:36). My teacher went on to explain that Christ bore my punishment for me when He went to the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21). That's why the cross is so special. Being fully man and fully God (thereby sinless and holy), Jesus Christ was able to satisfy the righteous demands that God placed upon sinners concerning the payment for their sin (Romans 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:5-6). Those who receive God's gift of Jesus Christ's substitutionary death in their behalf become children of God (John 1:12; Romans 10:9-10).

That was it! There were no good works that I had to do for my salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9). I didn't need to be baptized, go to church, help little old ladies across the street, etc. In fact, I could never be good enough! The issue to be settled was not my goodness, but how am I going to pay for my sin, realizing we all have sinned? I cannot pay for that sin by myself. And that's why Christ came into this world.

It was then that I repented as I humbly bowed and asked the Lord Jesus Christ to save me from sin. I claimed the promise of John 3:16 which states that "whoever believes in Him (Christ) should not perish, but have everlasting life."

My friend, this is why I am a Christian. Oh, there are lots of benefits that come along with being a child of God (peace, contentment, joy, a new family, a new purpose in life, et al.). But the real reason I am a Christian is because only Jesus Christ can adequately satisfy the payment of sin question.

There simply is no other way to salvation. I often feel like Peter. In John 6, the crowds began to leave the Savior (because they were offended at His difficult and challenging statements). He asked the twelve disciples if they too would go away. Peter's response was, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. (And) we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." (John 6:68-69)

Friend, there is no other way. There is no other name in which the payment of sin can be satisfied and the wrath of God appeased (John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Will you receive Him as your Savior just as I did in that pastor's study so many years ago?

Billy Sunday

Stranded

Why I Am A Regular Baptist

Why I Am a Baptist

Why I Am A Christian

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