The Ecumenical movement seeks to unite the denominations and churches into a common body. It is the belief of this Pastor and the position of the First Baptist Church of South Brevard that this cannot be achieved without compromising fundamental truths that are at the very heart of what we believe.
The very Basis for Christian belief is compromised by this ecumenical crowd. Unity, as they see it, cannot be achieved without doing away with the Bible as the sole authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Eugene Carson Blake, a past top administrative officer of the World Council of Churches, and past president of the National Council of Churches stated in his address entitled "A Proposal Toward the Reunion of Christ's Church."...."The scripture as the sole basis of authority must be dropped if unity is to be possible. So long as the wording 'sola scriptura' is required, no bridge can be made between Catholic and Evangelical.It is now clear in ecumenical conversations that Protestants generally have come to recognize the right place of tradition...." (p.70 "Eugene Carson Blake", Zoth Century Reformation Hour, Collingswood N. J.)
As independent Baptists we belong to neither the catholic(universal) or protestant groups. We believe that the BIBLE IS OUR SOLE AUTHORITY! It is given to us by God and is profitable for doctrine and practice (II Tim 3:16,17). It is the STANDARD (I Peter 4:11). It is to believed, read, known, searched, taught, talked of and received. There is blessedness in hearing and obeying it (Luke 11:28, James 1:25) and we shall have nothing to do with those who seek to make it of minimal effect through their traditions ( Mark 7:9-13). The Ecunemical crowd is wrong because their authority is wrong.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Public Schools?
"To be silent about religion and the contributions of God-centered religious thought to the growth and development of our nation may be, in effect, to make the public schools an anti-religious factor in the community.
Silence creates the impression in the minds of the young that religion is unimportant and has nothing to contribute to the solution of the perennial and ultimate problems of human life. The negative consequences are all the more important when society is asking the public schools to assume more and more responsibility for dealing with the culktural problems of growth and development."
".......The school must never supplant the church and the home in their responsibility of teaching children to "believe". The school can, however, reinforce the church and the home by cultivating in the children an appreciation and understanding of the moral and spiritual foundations which undergird our American Way of Life."
The aforementioned words were written by Mr. Thomas D. Bailey, Superintendent of Public instruction for the State of Florida in 1962. These words compiled the Foreword for the State Teachers Guide titled "Teaching Moral and Spiritual Values in Florida Schools".
It is incredibly sad to see how far our Public Education System has moved away from this once promoted standard. Today prayers are forbidden in the classroom and before events. Valedectorians are being reprimanded for using their faith in their remarks at graduation ceremonies. Schools have been sued over displaying a cross, utilizing scripture in the classroom, having local preachers lead the football team in prayer, etc...
In 1953 The Miami Senior High School students produced a play titled "This is America". They began their play by quoting Genesis 1-3. The narration continued with: "God created man in His own image..." Today Miami-Dade schools proclaim life began with a "big bang". The days of the routine quoting of scripture and God created man narrations in public school plays may be gone, but it should never be gone from the christians routine.
The Public School model is bankrupt and backwards. They have forgotten the History of our great Nation and the God who was such an integral part of that History. May we as Christians "shout it from the housetops" may we never grow complacent and silent.We must strive to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Phil. 2:15)
"Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" Pr. 14:34
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord....." Ps. 33:12
Silence creates the impression in the minds of the young that religion is unimportant and has nothing to contribute to the solution of the perennial and ultimate problems of human life. The negative consequences are all the more important when society is asking the public schools to assume more and more responsibility for dealing with the culktural problems of growth and development."
".......The school must never supplant the church and the home in their responsibility of teaching children to "believe". The school can, however, reinforce the church and the home by cultivating in the children an appreciation and understanding of the moral and spiritual foundations which undergird our American Way of Life."
The aforementioned words were written by Mr. Thomas D. Bailey, Superintendent of Public instruction for the State of Florida in 1962. These words compiled the Foreword for the State Teachers Guide titled "Teaching Moral and Spiritual Values in Florida Schools".
It is incredibly sad to see how far our Public Education System has moved away from this once promoted standard. Today prayers are forbidden in the classroom and before events. Valedectorians are being reprimanded for using their faith in their remarks at graduation ceremonies. Schools have been sued over displaying a cross, utilizing scripture in the classroom, having local preachers lead the football team in prayer, etc...
In 1953 The Miami Senior High School students produced a play titled "This is America". They began their play by quoting Genesis 1-3. The narration continued with: "God created man in His own image..." Today Miami-Dade schools proclaim life began with a "big bang". The days of the routine quoting of scripture and God created man narrations in public school plays may be gone, but it should never be gone from the christians routine.
The Public School model is bankrupt and backwards. They have forgotten the History of our great Nation and the God who was such an integral part of that History. May we as Christians "shout it from the housetops" may we never grow complacent and silent.We must strive to be "blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke,in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world." (Phil. 2:15)
"Righteousness exalteth a nation but sin is a reproach to any people" Pr. 14:34
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord....." Ps. 33:12
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
