Seaford Baptist Church Blog

Resources for my May 6 talk, “Are We As Bad As They Say We Are?”

PDF of the presentation slides (4.9 MB)

Links below are to my Thinking Christian blog unless otherwise indicated

Concerning Dan Savage

• What “Not Bullying” Looks Like?
• Further on Dan Savage and SSM “Tolerance“
• Uncommon Descent: For the Record: a Comment on Dan Savage’s Latest Talk
• First Things: The Doorknob Chronicles of Dan Savage
• Why Did They Invite Dan Savage To Speak?

Are We as Anti-Homosexual As They Say We Are?

• To Treat One Another As Humans — Homosexual advocates’ aggression against Christians
• To Treat One Another As Humans 2A — Christian love toward homosexuals
• To Treat One Another As Humans 2B — Offering hope realistically
• Can a Homosexual Be a Christian? Can a Christian Be Homosexual?
• Christians and Gay-Rights Advocates: Hatred or Humanity?
• Same-Sex “Marriage,” Reason, and Religion
• Hate the Sin, Love the Sinner: Two Sides To the Story

Are We as Pro-Slavery As They Say We Are?

• David Marshall: Slavery: The Early Years
• Paul Copan: Does the Old Testament Endorse Slavery? An Overview
• Paul Copan: Does the Old Testament Endorse Slavery? Difficult Texts
• Paul Copan: Why Is the New Testament Silent of Slavery—Or Is It?
• Robert Spencer: Slavery, Christianity, and Islam

Are We As Sexist As They Say We Are?

David Marshall, How Jesus Has Liberated Women:

• Part 1: Intro
• Part 2: My Story
• Part 3: Modern Overview
• Part 4: The Story
• Part 5: The Gospels
• Part 6: “Lamest Rebuttal” Awards

Are We As Anti-Science As They Say We Are?

• Series: Science Doesn’t Need Methodological Naturalism (To Assume There Is No God)
• The Genesis of Science
• How Anti-Religious “Defenders” of Science Undermine Science
• BreakPoint: God and Science Do Mix

Are We As Political and Theocratic As They Say We Are?

• First Things: The Difference Between Theocracy and Religiously-Informed Action
• Facts, Values, and “Your Personal Beliefs

Last Sunday morning Pastor Dennis mentioned an upcoming outreach to atheists in Washington, D.C. I appreciate the church’s support in helping to fund the supplies we’ll need there, and the interest some of you have expressed in coming with us.

I thought you might like to know more of the story.

On March 24, Richard Dawkins and a host of other New Atheists will hold a “Reason Rally” in Washington D.C. The so-called “New Atheists” are known for having prominent voices—Dawkins’s The God Delusion was a NY Times bestseller for almost a full year—and for their anger towards all things religious. They are pointedly opposed to God. And they say that it’s because reason is on their side.

I had known about this for a few months, but it was on the morning of Christmas Eve while I was praying about it that God gave me an idea for a response. To respond in some way seemed necessary. This “Reason Rally” bothered me on many levels, one of which was that the New Atheists really have no business claiming “reason” as their brand. There may be some atheists who are skilled and reasonable when it comes to rational discussion, but the New Atheists aren’t. They’re claiming to be the reasonable ones, and they’re misleading many people on that, but in fact they’re quite vulnerable on that point: they don’t do it very well.

That morning God gave me the idea of inviting other authors whom I know into a collaboration on an ebook to be titled Reason, Really. The thesis of the book is that atheism (especially the New Atheism) isn’t so reasonable after all, while Christianity is both reasonable and good. We’re well on our way toward publication now. This has the clear mark of the hand of God on it. From the first glimmer of an idea to the projected date of publication is just 77 days: and by God’s grace, it’s happening. The quality is high, and the potential for ministry is strong.

Along with that, friends of mine at another organization called Ratio Christi are taking the lead in bringing Christians to the rally in a spirit of truth and grace. They’re planning to distribute thousands of 32-page “mini-book” condensed summaries of Reason, Really, along with gifts of kindness such as free bottled water. I’m helping to coordinate those plans as well. We have no intention of mounting anything like a counter-rally, but simply to have conversations with anyone who wants to talk, and to hand out water and booklets. Our purpose there will be to demonstrate our message through actions, to share Christ as God enables, and to generate some media notice so as to do what I call “damage control” concerning the atheists’ likely media exposure.

There’s more information for you at http://www.truereason.org.

That’s the short version of the story. It’s been exciting to see the response among those who have been a part of it. We have seen lots of interest from some major Christian media persons, including some strong commitments from some to help promote the book. The key thing, though, will be the Lions’ Den experience of walking into “the largest gathering of the secular movement in world history” and expecting God to work there.

When you read this, my time of pastoral ministry at Seaford will have ended. I can barely remember the time before I served at Seaford. I was 27 years old when I began. I will turn 50 in a few days. Over that time much has changed in the worship ministry at Seaford. When I was hired, Pastor David Smith asked me to transition our worship into a more contemporary style. We did that very slowly. When I came back in 1996 after three years of serving at Bay Rivers Community Church in Denbigh, we sped up the pace considerably. That December we used a live band for the first time and never looked back. Over the years, the worship ministry has grown significantly beyond my wildest dreams at the beginning of my ministry here.

Seaford now faces its biggest transition in the worship ministry in 16 years. As you might imagine, Dennis and I have spoken often about this circumstance. Over the last two years his message to me has been consistent, “Gene, I really want you to stay, but if you are leaving, you have to help us make the transition.”

For many years, I’ve been meeting weekly with a volunteer worship planning team. Essentially every week, these folks come and eat lunch with me at their expense for the purpose of planning worship, encouragement and functioning as the worship ministry staff. Any church would be thrilled to have a group of leaders like this: Ed Bell, Scott Beasley, Terry Roberts, Kerry Gough, Laurie Elder, Mark Robinson, and Lei Collins. Others participate occasionally either in person or by email. It’s tempting to think that they could just pick up the ministry and go. However, in spite of their high functioning, each would tell you that the group needs a leader. Each has a clear role within the group, but no one person can step up and do the various parts of my job relative to worship ministry. I’ve been doing this work for so long, there are too many details that I cover that come second nature to me. I have long believed thatSeafordneeds a person largely devoted to the worship ministry. Over the years, I’ve taken on and developed many other responsibilities. I would estimate that only 25% of my actual work time gets devoted to worship ministry tasks. I believe that a person who could give something more like 75% to the worship ministry could realize much untapped potential within this ministry.

In terms of worship staff leadership, there are three time based needs. The furthest out would be a permanent worship pastor. That’s obviously months away and requires Personnel Committee action and a church vote. The intermediate need would be for an interim worship ministry leader. Hiring an interim requires only Personnel Committee action. However, there is an immediate need in these first Sundays in January. That need does not require either committee action or church vote. Dennis has asked me specifically to help with this need and I have prayerfully developed a plan.

Israel Kim is a 4^th year worship ministry student at Liberty University. He is available to assist beginning on Sunday Jan. 8.Israel and his wife Chloe have a sweet spirit and Israel is a gifted worship leader, singer, guitarist, and pianist. However, he cannot help on Wednesday evenings due to a direct conflict at school. The band has capable leadership in Scott Beasley and has long rehearsed without my direct involvement. However, the worship choir needs a leader. Linda Reviea and Kerry Gough have led from time to time, they are great substitutes, but don’t have the time required to lead weekly. Katie Howard (Michael Howard’s wife) will lead choir through January only. Katie has a degree in music from Belmont University and is more than qualified to play this role in spiritual maturity, personality, and giftedness.

What happens beyond January will involve the Personnel Committee, the worship planning team, and the pastoral staff in decision making to provide for leadership of Seaford’s worship. I have tremendous hopes for the worship ministry of this church. It is not easy to step away from such a group of people who love God, love to glorify God through the work, and who love the work itself. I ask you to pray for them through this transition time. Furthermore, I ask that you would put feet to your prayers. Each of these ministries needs passionate committed servants. Though we have strong people in every area, we have always needed more. Right now, this is especially true in computer operator for projection and the worship choir. And, even though they sounded amazing in our recent Christmas production, we’ve always, always needed more singers in the worship choir. If you would like to be contacted about getting more involved or have a question about the worship ministry, please send an email to worship@sbc-va.org or call the church office.

In Christ,

Gene