Jeff Ling » Church

Harold Best : Continuous Worship: Is “Worship” the Only Word for Worship?

Jeffery Ling — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:27:55 +0000

Church Choir Lesson 51: Amateur Staging = Laughs

Jeffery Ling — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 15:17:51 +0000

Social Justice, Guilt and Grace

Jeffery Ling — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 21:40:42 +0000

“Doing justice means not showing partiality, not stealing, not swindling, not taking advantage of the weak because they are too uninformed or unconnected to stop you. We dare say that most Christians in America are not guilty of these sorts of injustices, nor should they be made to feel that they are. We are not interested in people feeling bad just to feel bad, or worse, people thinking there is moral high ground in professing most loudly how bad they feel about themselves. If we are guilty of injustice individually or collectively, let us be rebuked in the strongest terms. By the same token, if we are guilty of hoarding our resources and failing to show generosity, then let us repent, receive forgiveness, and change. But when it comes to doing good in our communities and in the world, let’s not turn every possibility into a responsibility and every opportunity into an ought. If we want to see our brothers and sisters do more for the poor and the afflicted, we’ll go farther and be on safer ground if we use grace as our motivating principle instead of guilt.”

- Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert

Preachers and Sex Sermons: Then and Now

Jeffery Ling — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 22:06:16 +0000

I have always enjoyed J. Sidlow Baxter’s (1903 – 1999) material. I regularly still use his classic “Explore the Book”, a complete Bible survey course that is outstanding. It’s still in print and there’s also a Kindle edition.) His devotional writing style, reverent approach to scripture and keen insights into God’s Word, make him a joy to study. In 1974 he released a book entitled “Rethinking Our Priorities: The Church, It’s Pastor and People.” It covered a wide range of subjects and while much in it was very helpful, it also reflects the values and upbringing associated with a man born in Australia in 1903 and raised in Lancashire, England. Baxter’ like all of was a product of his time. He attended Spurgeon’s Theological College in London and was a pastor in Scotland and England. Even so, some principles and priorities are timeless and deserve to be revisited.

What struck me when I read the following was just how true the statement is that “the more things change, the more things remain the same.” What many perceive as a problem now, Baxter did then.

Preachers and Sex – From “Rethinking Our Priorities” by J. Sidlow Baxter

“Is it not overdue that some of us should inveigh against the new over-proneness to talk sex from pulpit and platform? Let me here utter a protest against those preachers nowadays who seem to think that in order to appear modernly psychological or bravely attractive they must always bring sex into their public speaking. I, for one, am nauseated by it, and I believe that a long suffering majority of others feel the same way. The jolting over frankness with which some ministers and conference speakers talk about marital relationships and sex experience is disgusting.

They tell me that one has to be boldly frank in order to deal with the sex problems of the day. I deny this. Much that goes by the name of frankness is veneered vulgarity. Sometimes the speaker can scarcely disguise his own sickly relish and morbid pleasure in the subject. Far fewer of us are deceived than such speakers think; and when they punctuate their over-intimate comments with jocular sex anecdotes or remarks which evoke a few inane giggles from folk in the congregation who will laugh at anything spicy, we despise them.

Let us get a few things straight. If for some acute reason sex matters simply must be publicly spoken of in some Christian service or conference, it should be done without descriptive detail, with very carefully restrained phrase, and with becoming reticence. That which belongs to private counseling is not for public parade. I have known persons for whom these public expatiations on sex matters have created problems which they never had before. Instead of solving problems the speaker has inflamed them.

In these days, when there are so many books written on sex and marriage, including wise and useful publications by Christian ministers, doctors, and psychologists, what need is there for this pulpit and platform lingering with face-reddening intimacy over the sex quarrels, sex-disappointments, sex-fulfillments, or sex-estrangements, and so on, of married couples and others? To me it is like a conducted tour of drains and sewers, and the preacher seems to love being down there.

One of the most angering things of all is that the sexual matters descriptively dilated upon could be referred to far more effectively with respectful restraint. People know well enough what we mean, and how we are trying to help, without a lot of smutty elaborating…

Today, we live in a sex-mad society. We should avoid anything in our Christian services and fellowships which adds to the general sex emphasis. We should do everything we can to restore a sense sacredness to the subject of marital relationship. Things which were divinely meant to be private and sacred and referred to only with reverent respect are discussed with blatant freeness, until nearly all the decency and dignity of life is being martyred. Such trends do not engender social purity and happiness; they bring uncleanness and misery.

Our churches and Christian meetings should strike a deliberate contrast. Instead of lingering on fleshly, ugly, animalistic aspects of nuptial and sexual relationships, we should keep turning the minds of our people to the higher and purer and holier aspects of love and wedlock and family life. It is in the light of those higher levels of thinking and 0f Scripture teaching that most matrimonial problems find true solution.

Perhaps someone still objects: ‘Oh, but the Church should face up to the sex problems of the day.’My reply is threefold. (I) They should not be ‘faced up to’in the brazen way which is common today. (2) They should never be thus ‘faced up to’ in mixed meetings, with males and females, married and single, parents and children, older and younger, all together. ( 3) Any such public ‘facing up’ should be avoided in favor of private counseling.

Finally, all such public “facing up” in the objectionable way which I have here denounced is utterly unscriptural. Listen again -to Ephesians 5:3. It says, “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints:’ In other words, there are some things which, in Christian gatherings, instead of being “faced up to,” should be faced away from.

It is time we put away this dirty-puddle-stirring from Christian platforms… this irreverent and blushing ‘free speech’ about bodily relationships, on the plea that it’s being helpfully realistic, is a make-believe of sickly minds. It belongs to the garbage dump not the Christian desk. It is time some ministers had something more elevating to talk about.”

(I’ve abbreviated the article. If you’d like to read the rest, click here.)

The Pillar And Ground Of Truth – Octavius Winslow

Jeffery Ling — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 13:21:20 +0000

“That you may know how you ought to behave yourself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” 1 Timothy 3:15

God has been graciously pleased to appoint His church the great conservator of His truth, and His truth the especial medium of sanctification to His church; there is a close and beautiful relation between the two.

The church may be compared to the golden lamp which contains the sacred oil, which, in its turn, feeds the flame of its light and holiness. The church is to guard with a jealous and vigilant eye the purity of the truth, while the truth is to beautify and sanctify the ark which preserves it. Thus there is a close relation, and a reciprocal influence, between the church of Christ and the truth of God.

Every individual believer in Jesus is himself a subject, and therefore a witness, of the truth; he has been quickened, called, renewed, and partially sanctified through the instrumentality of God’s revealed truth: “Of His own will begat He us with the word of truth.” “For the truth’s sake which dwells in us.” “You are my witnesses, says the Lord.”

Here is unfolded one of the most solemn and affecting truths touching the character and individual responsibility of a child of God. He is a subject of truth, he is a repository of the truth, and he is a witness for the truth; yes, he is the only living witness to the truth which God has on earth. The world he lives in is a dark, polluted, God-blaspheming, Christ-denying, truth-despising world. The saints who have been called out of it according to His eternal purpose and love, and by His sovereign, distinguishing, and free grace, are the only lights and the only salt in the midst of this moral darkness and corruption.

Here and there a light glimmers, irradiating the gloomy sphere in which it moves; here and there a spot of verdure appears, relieving the arid and barren desolation by which it is surrounded. These are the saints of the Most High, the witnesses of the Divine character, the omnipotent power, and the holy tendency, of God’s blessed truth.

Let the saints of God, then, solemnly weigh this affecting fact, that though the written word and the accompanying Spirit are God’s witnesses in the world, yet they are the only living exemplification of the power of the truth, and, as such, are earnestly exhorted to be “blameless and harmless, the sons of God without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.” Let them be careful to maintain good works, and so walk in all the holiness of the truth they profess; let them see that by no carelessness of deportment, by no want of integrity, by no worldly conformity, yes, by no inconsistency whatever, they bring a slur upon the holy doctrines they avowedly maintain and love; but let them show that, with the truth in their judgments, they possess grace in the heart, and unspotted holiness in the life.

“How many of you have seen a baptism?” Four hands went up.

Jeffery Ling — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 11:41:55 +0000

Click for a better view.

70 people gathered by a lake on the outskirts of Siem Reap for a baptism service. The NEI church plant in the village had been yielding fruit to the glory of God and now 31 new believers were going to be baptized. After a song of praise, the pastor introduced me to speak. I shared with them of our partnership in the gospel from Philippians 1, encouraging them not to rely heavily on the pastor to share the gospel but to recognize their calling to take the gospel to family and friends.

Afterwards, Johnny Buckner addressed the group to explain the significance of baptism. “How many of you have seen a baptism?” he asked. Four hands went up. Four. This was a completely brand new thing for them. As Johnny explained the idea of being buried and raised with Christ, excitement grew. By the time he was finishing, they were cheering! The group joyfully made their way down to the water where the “bowling Cambodian” was waiting in the water to do the honors. One after another they entered the water and after confessing their faith they went under. It was a bit funny because they weren’t certain when to come up! Seems they were waiting on the pastor and he was waiting on them. Some folks were under for a bit… like with bubbles breaking the surface. After they were baptized, they made their way to the shore where Johnny, Robert Yusi and myself laid hands on each of them to impart a blessing. What an incredible honor to be a part of the celebration.

Click for a better view.

After we finished baptizing and praying for everyone, we began to praise the Lord as we looked up we were surprised to see a perfect rainbow circling the sun. It was just beautiful. Tim Boden reminded us of a passage in Revelation:

And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. - Revelation 4:3 (ESV)

Later I looked in the scripture for another reference and this one said it well:

“Spread out above them was a surface like the sky, glittering like crystal…. Above this surface was something that looked like a throne made of blue lapis lazuli. And on this throne high above was a figure whose appearance resembled a man. From what appeared to be his waist up, he looked like gleaming amber, flickering like a fire. And from his waist down, he looked like a burning flame, shining with splendor. All around him was a glowing halo, like a rainbow shining in the clouds on a rainy day. This is what the glory of the Lord looked like to me. When I saw it, I fell face down on the ground…” - Ezk. 1:22; 26-28 (NLT)

I’m sure many could explain it as a natural phenomenon but we had no doubt that God was giving us a glorious sign of His pleasure.

Afterwards we all had a marvelous lunch by the lake. There was joy. There was peace. You could cut it with a knife.

Some video from the day:

Baptism Preaching from Jeff Ling on Vimeo.

Baptism of Khmer Army Officer from Jeff Ling on Vimeo.

Jesus is Our Sanctuary – Octavius Winslow

Jeffery Ling — Tue, 17 May 2011 15:25:13 +0000

“And suddenly, when they had looked round about, they saw no man any more, save Jesus only with themselves.” Mark 9:8

It is possible, my dear reader, that this page may be read by you at a period of painful and entire separation from all public engagements, ordinances, and privileges. The way which it has pleased God to take thus to set you aside may be painful and humbling.

The inmate of a sick chamber, or curtained within the house of mourning, or removed far remote from the sanctuary of God and the fellowship of the saints, you are, perhaps, led to inquire, “Lord, why this?” He replies, “Come apart, and rest awhile.” Oh the thoughtfulness, the discrimination, the tenderness of Jesus towards His people! He has set you apart from public, for private duties, from communion with others for communion with Himself. Ministers, friends, privileges are withdrawn, and you are- oh enviable state!- alone with Jesus. And now expect the richest and holiest blessing of your life!

Is it sickness? Jesus will make all your bed in your sickness, and your experience shall be, “His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me.” Is it bereavement? Jesus will soothe your sorrow and sweeten your loneliness; for He loves to visit the house of mourning, and to accompany us to the grave, to weep with us there. Is it exile from the house of God, from the ordinances of the Church, from a pastor’s care, from Christian fellowship? Still it is Jesus who speaks, “There will I be unto you as a little sanctuary.”

The very circumstances, new and peculiar as they are, in which you are placed, God can convert into new and peculiar mercies, yes, into the richest means of grace with which your soul was ever fed. The very void you feel, the very need you deplore, may be God’s way of satiating you with His goodness.

Ah! does not God see your grace in your very desire for grace? Does He not mark your sanctification in your very thirsting for holiness? And can He not turn that desire, and convert that thirst, into the very blessing itself? Truly He can, and often does. As one has remarked, God knows how to give the comfort of an ordinance in the desire of an ordinance. And He can now more than supply the absence of others by the presence of Himself.

Oh, who can compute the blessings which now may flow into your soul from this season of exile and of solitude? Solitude! no, it is not solitude. Never were you less alone than now. You are alone with God, and He is infinitely better than health, wealth, friends, ministers, or sanctuary, for He is the substance and the sweetness of all. You have perhaps been laboring and watching for the souls of others; the Lord is now showing His tender care for your soul.

And oh, if while thus alone with Jesus you are led more deeply to search out the plague of your own heart, and the love of His- to gather up the trailing garment- to burnish the rusted armor- to trim the glimmering lamp- and to cultivate a closer fellowship with your Father, how much soever you may mourn the necessity and the cause, you yet will not regret that the Lord has set you apart from others, that you might rest awhile in His blest embrace- alone with Jesus.

An Interview with Jack Hayford

Jeffery Ling — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 01:43:23 +0000

Adrian Warnock sat down with his pastor, Tope Koleoso, to interview Jack Hayford. This is the first of three available videos. Jack talks about longevity in ministry, learning from those in different streams and handing the torch to others.

Jack Hayford Interview Part One from Adrian Warnock on Vimeo.

Interview with Dr. Jack Hayford – Part Two: Growing people not a church

Interview with Dr. Jack Hayford – Part Three: Baptism with the Holy Spirit

God’s strategy to nullify human pride

Jeffery Ling — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 04:20:24 +0000

“God has a strategy to exalt his Son and magnify his grace. That strategy is to choose the foolish, weak, and lowly people of the world as his own.

The world esteems the intellect of professionals, the influence of the powerful, and the nobility of the upper classes. It thinks these things matter. But our boast is in Christ Jesus. He alone is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption. Our standing before God is wholly unrelated to our intellect, social class, or wealth. It is all of his grace.

And so there can be no mistake or confusion, God chooses the lowly, the poor, the unrespectable, and the marginalized to populate his kingdom. He does this to shame and nullify human pride. This is great! Those the world esteems are nothing in the kingdom of God. And those the world despises, God exalts. He lifts them up and gives them places of honor. And unless we adopt their despised and lowly status, we can have no part in God’s topsy-turvy kingdom (Matthew 18:1–5).

God gives the gift of faith disproportionately to the marginalized.”

— Tim Chester and Steve Timmis

Total Church

(Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books, 2008), 84

Always good stuff at the Of First Importance blog!

Anti-gay church’s right to protest at military funerals is upheld – CNN.com

Jeffery Ling — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 20:57:10 +0000

>Westboro Baptist “Church” scored a tragic victory today before the Supreme Court. You can read about it here. That headline should really read “Anti-America Church.” It’s not just about gays for them. It is what they believe to be the complete evil wasteland that is America.

Just for the record…

Dear America,

I am so sorry that these people do what they do. Please know that they do not represent Jesus. The small inbred family persists in using the word “church” as a covering for the worst kind of bigotry. We are outraged at their behavior. The court, abiding by the constitution, allowed them their freedom of speech. This is tragically right and protects all of our rights to speak freely.