Rev. David Holwick ZE
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
September 24, 1995
2 Kings 23:24-27
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I. Immovable mountains.
A. Institutions live long past their usefulness.
1) U.S. army forts that have been unnecessary since Indian wars.
2) Laws get on books, never get off.
B. Vested interests.
1) Change welfare - 17 cents on dollar go to needy.
a) Rest is for bureaucrats.
b) They will fight every inch.
2) Rural electrification - done years ago, but laws continue.
a) Also outdated tobacco and peanut laws.
3) We resist any change that affects us.
C. Fine-tune or firebomb?
1) Reform can work, sometimes.
a) Sunshine laws - institutions must justify existence.
b) Downsizing popular now with companies.
2) Often things don't change until you start fresh. (revolution)
II. Can institutions really change?
A. Record in Bible is not encouraging. 2 Kings 23:24f
1) Religion of Israel was always corrupt. (idols + Yahweh)
2) Many attempts at revival by kings - continual cycle.
3) Most attempts at reform were undone by sons.
B. Pure non-idolatrous religion required a harsh Exile.
1) Institutions like Temple were destroyed.
2) New fresh ones - synagogues - took their place.
III. Struggle for heart of American Baptist Churches.
A. Freedom and diversity.
1) Soul freedom of believers.
a) No creed to tell us what to believe.
1> Bible is our only guide.
2> But liberal interpretations make Bible say anything.
b) Do we have freedom to believe anything?
2) Independence of churches.
a) No one tells church what they have to do.
b) Free to pick pastor, send money, etc.
c) Some use their independence to get extreme.
1> Do we have any control over them?
2> Current struggles in CA and Ohio over gay churches.
B. History of conflict.
1) Southern Baptists split over slavery in 1850's.
2) GARB split in 1920's over liberalism in seminaries.
a) Tried to gain leadership, failed and broke away.
3) Conservative Baptist split in 1940's over lib. in missions.
a) Started as reform movement, broke away.
C. Current struggle over homosexuality and radical feminism.
1) Liberal theology leads to indifferent morality.
a) Singles conferences where adultery is OK as long as
you consider possible negative consequences.
b) Rev. Jim Pocock joined evangelism conference - leaders
spent night drinking, ignored challenge to lead
someone to Christ within one year.
2) National bureaucracy shuns conservatives.
a) Help sponsor radical conferences.
1> For women, then after furor, for youth too.
b) Certain state leaders blacklist conservative pastors.
c) Conservative associations expel gay churches, only
to have national headquarters rescind decision.
D. Pomona conference.
1) Top pastors of 40 huge churches, and me.
a) Between those in Southern California, $900,000 to missions.
2) Dilemma - take back denomination, reform part, or start over?
a) There is much worthwhile left in American Baptists.
1> Reform will be attempted.
2> Conservatives challenged to get involved.
3> But not much hope for success.
b) Seeds of new structure started: money, director,
conventions.
IV. Ledgewood Baptist.
A. We are a typical institution.
1) Some of our ministries go back to 1874 with little change.
2) Same activities year after year, just juggle dates.
3) If it works, don't change it.
B. Some things need to change.
1) Sunday School has been declining for thirteen years.
2) Church attendance is indifferent.
3) There is a general complacency, while thousands of our
neighbors don't know Christ as their Savior.
C. Don't let church become a dinosaur.
1) They are interesting animals - just ask Josiah.
2) But they're extinct. We could be, too.
V. You also need to change.
A. Change doesn't come easy for us. Jer 13:23
1) Like institutions, we get set in our ways, but God
only accepts changed people. John 3:3
2) We require a complete revolution. 2 Cor 5:17
B. Changed people can change the world.
Christianity emerged because a few devout people were converted
from spiritual mediocrity to a God-centered VISION to claim
some territory for the King of Kings.
Zig Ziglar puts it concisely: "One person with CONVICTION is
worth more than one hundred with only an interest."
As John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, once declared,
"Give me a hundred men who love nothing but God,
and hate nothing but sin,
and I will shake the whole world for Christ."
In World War I a French General was asked, "Which side will win?"
His reply is worth remembering: "The side that advances."
#2247
C. Are you advancing?
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