Let’s start with the Biblical words.  The word wine in the Bible carries both literal and figurative meaning.  In the Old Testament it was basically understood to be fermented grape juice.  It was most likely naturally fermented, but alcoholic non-the-less, as evident by Noah getting drunk from it in Genesis 9.

In the New Testament the most common word translated as wine is the Greek word oinos, which means fermented grape juice.  The fact that this word implies fermentation is accepted even by sources that oppose social drinking.  It is also the word used for Jesus’ first miracle in John 2, again evident by the mention of wedding guests becoming drunk.  There is also the Greek word sikera which is usually translated strong drink.  A Bible dictionary defines sikera as intoxicating liquor, usually made of grain, fruit, and honey.  Both oinos and sikera are used in Luke 1:15 where an angel predicted the birth of John the Baptist and commanded he abstain from all forms of alcoholic drinks.

A lot of misunderstanding and wrong teaching comes from confusion of these Biblical words.  Most who hold the teetotaler position claim these words were not referring to actual wine, the drinks were not fermented, and these words were only used because there was no suitable words to describe the drink that was actually closer to modern day grape juice.  This argument is simply inaccurate.

Why would there be a commonly used beverage with no word to describe it?  And actually, there is a Greek word for unfermented grape juice.  It’s the word truz and is used rarely in the New Testament but is not the word in any of the passages listed above.  So, if there was a word for unfermented grape juice, and the “wine” used in the Bible was not actually wine, then why was the word truz not used?  Common sense tells us this is because the wine and strong drink referred to in the Bible was actually a fermented, alcoholic drink.

That being said, how can passages such as Proverbs 31:4-6 and I Timothy 5:23, which encourage wine to be used for enjoyment and medicine, be so misunderstood?  Claiming the Bible teaches alcoholic abstinence is poor Biblical hermeneutics.

The Bible clearly condemns drunkenness in passages such as Proverbs 23:29-35 and Ephesians 5:18.  Alcoholism is even used a punishment in the books of Jeremiah and Revelations as others are “given over to” this sickness.  But a moderate use of alcohol was considered normal and even encouraged for everyday Christians in Bible times.  In Matthew 11:18-19 Jesus was even accused of being a drunkard.  Because we know Jesus was sinless and the Bible condemns drunkenness, we can believe that Jesus was never actually drunk.  It is unlikely though that Jesus’ enemies would have ever thought to accuse him of being a drunkard, or that anyone would listen to their accusation, had Jesus not at least been known to drink in moderation.

Any passages used to teach a complete avoidance of alcohol (mostly in Proverbs) are in the context of teaching for a drunkard who needs to avoid the temptation to relapse.  Other passages that give warning about alcoholism also teach about partaking of too much food, a portion of the principle left out by most who teach alcohol is sin.

Based of this information, as well as deeper personal study I have done on this issue, I have to conclude that the Bible does not condemn social drinking for those whose conscience allow them to do so.  Like our words and music, alcohol can be abused in a way that makes it wrong, but in and of itself is nothing to be condemned.  For whatever reason though, some denominations within Christianity have drifted from the Biblical position on this issue and use their new, legalistic view as a source of condemnation for others who do not abstain.  For more on this I would encourage you to read this article by Thomas Kidd that tracks the history of alcohol in relation to evangelicals and asks where this disconnect began.  And as always, please feel free to share your thoughts, whether in agreement or opposition to the position I have laid out.

There are a lot of things that make Andy and Matt great preachers.  They are solid Bible teachers, they are great at connecting with their listeners, and they live lives of integrity that back up what they say from the stage.  However, there is something more I have noticed about these men and is the reason I say that when it comes to listening to preaching, they have spoiled me.

In listening to Matt and Andy, I no longer hear what I hear from a lot of other preachers.  They don’t make the same kind of jokes.  They don’t settle for the same kind of illustrations.  I truly consider theirs a finer kind of preaching.  As part of that I do not hear them using:

• Corny jokes
• Shock effect to get attention or stir anger
• Self-deprecating humor just to get a cheap laugh
• Information without application
• References to their wives as demanding or domineering
• Consistent insistence on how hot their wives are (something I wrote about here)

Sadly, these habits are common place for most preachers, even those liked and respected by many.  To me, such things cheapen the sermon and distract from the message.  Then again, I may just be saying that because I’m spoiled.

The short book was very obviously written from the same burden for the poor, un-reached and spiritually dead as Radical.  Actually, Platt refers to his first book so often throughout Radical Together that I’m not sure I would have understood as much of this book had I not read the other first.

Radical Together delivers what it promises though, as Platt writes to reveal how so much of what we do in church-world today is more American than Christian.  He challenges the notion that a church service is meant to be a performance by professionals and argues for an involvement of all people in the mission of the church; reaching the world.

Platt’s messages challenges readers to evaluate the how and why of their ministry while encouraging them to become part of a community for the sake of taking the message of Jesus to those on the other side of the world who have never heard of Him.  In doing church in a way Platt sees as closer to the method of Jesus, we would certainly be radical, together.

But because Platt’s message is so unique and grassroots compared to what modern Christianity looks like today, he is constantly interrupting his own message to “clarify” what he is not saying.  Perhaps he is doing this to protect himself from those who may take his words to an unhealthy extreme, but it hurt the flow of the book and also made his logic seem more cautious than confident.

The back of the book contains thirty pages of small group study text.  These sessions are meant to create conversation around the ideas of the book and help the readers have direction on how to apply what they read.  I appreciate that Platt is not asking people to buy an additional study guide but rather includes this in his book.  I find this appropriate for a book and a message that is all about challenging the reader to movement rather than just giving them more information.

Radical Together, along with Radical, have certainly had a deep impact on me as God is using Platt to point to an entire part of the message of Jesus that has been mostly ignored by many American churches in recent years.  The books have challenged my beliefs and caused me to consider what my responsibility and the responsibility of the church is when it comes to giving of our abundance toward a much more worthy calling.  Caring for those who are in physical and spiritual need is the most worthy cause for which we could spend our money.  Platt challenge to Christians to leave their comfort zone, spend time ministering in a foreign context, give painfully of their resources, and depend on God through intense prayer is causing some major shifts within our Christian culture.  I consider this a very good thing and is why I encourage you to pick up both these books and wrestle with these issues yourself.

You can click these links to purchase Radical and Radical Together.

- Katy and I were asked to lead a small group at our church.  The group we have been part of for about a year has grown to 10 young couples.  We have agreed to split the group and we have been asked to lead the new split-off group.

- I have been promoted as a church volunteer.  Rock Bridge has a Thursday night worship service and I am now the service captain for those services.  I will be responsible for making sure everything pre-service flows, take-down is completed, and all volunteer positions are filled or recruited.

- Katy and I have seen some breakthroughs in our communication.  We have been reading books together and attending counseling and are excited to see some of the pay-offs from the time and work we are putting into the quality of our marriage.  We have also been given the chance to share some of the principles we are learning at our small groups’ upcoming couples retreat.

- We have been offered a new live-in job that would allow us to get into a better living situation for us and at the same time provide extra income toward saving for a down payment on a house in the future.

These things have served as a reminder that God is at work and in control.  He is at work even when it seems like life is on pause.  He is in control and can open the flood gates at any time.  All of our prayers and desires do not have be addressed right away when the One we pray to is capable of bringing about every blessing whenever He so chooses.  And, like the case has been for us, God may choose to provide for and promote you in many areas in a short period of time.

Whether it be through twitter, blogs, or preaching, we are informed regularly of the hotness of the pastors wife.  A few pastors I follow seem unable to use their wife as an illustration or address the issue of marriage without having to give a shout-out to how hot their wife is.

I’m not going to judge their motives as perhaps this is their form of publically expressing love for their wives, though I doubt it’s how these wives would prefer to be referenced.  They are not telling us that their wives are attractive or pretty or do cute little things; they are only informing us that their wife is hot.

At first I thought these references were funny.  Then they got old quick.  Then I continued to hear them so often it became annoying, and now I honestly think these comments are unhealthy.  As a pastor who preaches moral purity and marital faithfulness, should they really be pointing out the physical attractiveness of a woman other than the listeners wife?

Personally, I don’t want you to think my wife is hot.  I want you to think your wife is hot!

I want to see pastors preach, teach, and lead in a way that encourages purity and marital faithfulness.  Pastors should encourage you to work in keeping that spark and intimacy in your marriage, not make light of such by giving the appearance that physical attractiveness is the key factor in marital happiness and at the same time establish that their wife is the most attractive.

I admit this is a pet-peeve and perhaps I am being nitpicky.  Feel free to share your thoughts/experiences on the topic!

These kinds of things use to make me really mad.  For real, I would get upset all day over something I read or heard from someone I don’t know.  It could be unbiblical criticism of a contemporary “heretic” preacher or a bold stance wrongly calling something sin and condemning all who partake.  Reading/hearing that would ruin my day.

My reaction used to be anger.

I would get upset.  I would get mad.  I sometimes would even leave comments on the websites or write letters to “correct” them.  My online comments were rarely allowed by the authors.  This made me even more upset.

Then, I realized how pathetic my reaction was.

Now let me say that I believe condemning something God has not condemned is wrong and I personally believe legalists will be judged for their Pharisee like statements and the heavy religion they have tried to use to control others.  But setting them straight is not my job.

So what’s my reaction to these things now?

I feel sorry for them.  Honestly.  I used to get angry, and I still deal with some of that.  But for the most part I just feel sorry for them.  They usually portray themselves as unhappy, bitter people who think just because they have self-imposed strict religious ways that suck the fun out of their lives that everyone around them should do the same.

Besides, how did these people become legalists?

From sitting under and learning from other legalist!

So though it is sad that they have been brain-washed with an uptight religion that blocks a true view of God, it’s not their fault they were made that way by the false teaching of legalistic influences.

They are simply misguided.  Unfortunately, they are also stubborn (because they can’t handle conflict over their weak logic) so it is hard to show them the truth without becoming frustrated or mad, like I used to get.

So now, I simply feel sorry for those pastors, bloggers, and misguided followers when I hear/read such legalistic, unbiblical banter.  I want to be mad, but they are still a human created and loved by God.  Just as our hearts should go out to those misguided and manipulated into a cult, so our attitude should be toward those who have been lead astray down the path of legalism.

God deliver them!

Pastors, if you need a pump me up Sunday tweet from perry noble to preach you did not study enough this week.

Pastors, please stop telling me every time you are going to get an email for something you said.

If you can fall from it it’s not grace.

Someone asked me today if our church plant is going to be baptist or pentecostal. Are those the only two options?

anyone notice that as sermons went from 30 to 40 minutes church attendance dropped all across America?

I have been reading through the gospels and am amazed at how many times it says, “he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

popular christian quote that is nowhere in Scripture: ‘There’s a God shaped hole in your soul that only He can fill’

Common used “Christian” saying that is not found in the Bible: ‘Love the sinner, hate the sin’

Sayings not found in the Bible: God helps those who help themselves

Interesting how people always think god speaks according to what THEIR personality is.

Every church needs a ‘get crap done’ pastor on staff.

“The church is the most segregated institution in America” -Efrem Smith We need more hip-hop churches!

A prayer of confession god will always answer -philip yancey

“It’s not about delayed-gratification, but God-satisfaction.” -@wmattevans

Unless someone is teaching another way of salvation, they are not a heretic. that word gets used way too loosely

Say what you want about joel osteen…he’s not going around criticizing other pastors, telling them they should do ministry like he does.

Some in traditional church say if u don’t agree with them you’re not saved. Some in contemporary church say if u don’t agree with them you’re stupid.

Self promotion has always brought out my insecurities.  I’m usually embarrassed to talk about the book when someone else brings it up.  But I recently found a reason to plug the book and not be ashamed to do so.

A few months ago my church, Rock Bridge Community Church, began a new missions initiative to aggressively engage in overseas missions.  Through partnerships, finances, and mission trips, our church is trying to fulfill the great commission.  We have done well at serving our local community and are now realizing the bigger picture of God’s will and how we can be a part of it.

As I heard my pastor lay some of the specifics of this plan out, my heart became extremely burdened.  I was specifically burdened for a project the church is doing to send a team of church members to the Ukraine to help start a local church in one week!  God really told me I need to be a part of this project in as many ways as I can.

So not only do I plan to go to the Ukraine and help plant the church, but every penny I am making off the sales of my book are going to fund this mission! If I truly want to reach people for God I cannot be limiting that to one city or one area or even one nation!  So if you have bought my book or choose to do so now, every cent that I receive from that sale will go to help start this new church in the Ukraine where people there can meet and begin to worship Jesus.

Here is the info on all the missions project at Rock Bridge Community Church

You can click here to buy my book from Amazon.com or click here to find it at Barnes & Noble if you want to compare prices.

Also, if you would like an overview of the book, please check out this promotional video my publishers did.

Thank you for joining me as we try to be a small part of what God wants to do all over the world!

First allow me to deal with receiving criticism.  I’m pretty sure this is something almost everyone faces, whether from family, friends, coworkers, whoever.  Most of it is probably undeserved.  Even criticism that may be warranted is still usually given in a poor manor.  If you have not already I would encourage you to read this post of mine titled “Be like LeBron James – and make people mad.”

Like I just said, everyone receives criticism no matter their vocation.  But in church world, where most of my circles are, handling criticism seems to almost be a fad.  No one walks into a Wal-Mart, get disgusted that the Cheese-it’s where not accessible enough, and goes home and blogs about it.  Yet church leaders seem to be fair game when anyone wants to take a shot at them for any reason (legitimate or not).  Whether the style of the music, the content of the sermon, or just the level of accessibility one has to the pastor, there are many reasons others can, and do, criticize church leaders in one form or another.

There are plenty of pastors today who get such flack from in and outside their churches.  I follow many of these pastors either by knowing them or listening to their podcasts.  And though I have learned many helpful things on how to deal with criticism from them, I have to admit that my sympathy for them quickly runs dry.  I’m sorry somebody wrote a bunch of lies about you online.  I’m sorry people show up at your door and think you should answer to them.  I’m sorry people are leaving your church because you are so “dynamic.”  But must you use the pulpit to paint yourself a victim?

In my mind this is just another case of drama king pastors.  For real, why is it important to some pastors that everyone feels sorry for them?  And I’m sorry, but someone who says they disagree with your music being loud when your music is loud……is NOT persecution.

Again, if none of these pastors I follow ever talked about how they handle criticism I don’t know that I would know what to do when I receive it.  But some pastors take it way too far, as do people in every field who receive criticism.  People should not lie.  But just because someone lied about you does not mean the world should stop and everyone jump to hold your hand.

Your critics only have as much power as you give them.  When you receive negative feedback, weigh it, compare it to truth, then either change or dismiss the lie.  That’s it!  Don’t print out every bad email you get and read it on stage so others will feel bad for you.  That’s not how to handle criticism.

At the end of the first verse the songs say:

I hate to break it to you babe,

But I’m not drowning.

There’s no one here to save.

The back drop for these lyrics is a coffee shop where the singer is having a conversation with someone who turns the conversation really negative and begins to give their opinions about everything.  In the song she goes on to excuse herself from the conversation of opinions she never asked for.  But for some reason, the part of the song that includes the lyrics above shifted my thoughts to different pastors that I have either known or known of.

Upon further thinking to understand why my mind went where it did, I actually had to realize that many (not all) of the pastors I know and see actually fit into the category of person Sara Bareilles is singing to.  They are drama kings.

In some cases, I have seen pastors over-sympathize with people in their conversation.  They think their spiritual gift is mourning.  Now I absolutely think pastors should be supportive and there for their members in tough times.  I’m talking more of the every day when pastors, perhaps because they want everyone to like them, over do the “hurt when you hurt” approach rather than being an encourager.  Rather than reminding people that God is in control or pointing out the good, they take on all the negative things of those around them and then this attitude carries over into their personal life.  There is a pastor who nine times out of ten will follow a casual greeting with “well…..” and go on to list all that’s wrong in the lives of the people he serves.

I think sometimes also a temptation for pastors is to see what they do as more important.  After all, it is supposedly a “higher calling” so certainly their problems (which again, are most times not even their own) must be the focus of the conversation.  I have also seen pastors who think this way use the pulpit as pity party.  I have witnessed several pastors who from the pulpit complained about things such as their work load, having to do things on their day off, and not wanting to go to church funded ministry conferences.

Pastors who function this way also usually think it their personal duty to personally minister to and bring deliverance to everyone they know who is having a rough time.  This is not their calling and is also impossible, so no wonder they become run down, discouraged drama kings.

Finally, I see in a lot of pastors, as well as Christians as a whole, a victim mentality.  Anything from bad luck to poor choices is twisted into phony persecution.  Then this created opposition wears on them and before long becomes the focus of their ministry.  Oh, the church isn’t growing because that’s just the world we live in.  It’s hard but I’m making it in our evil, evil world.  No wonder I want to shout “No one’s drowning!”

Many pastors have a way of snuffing the life out of some conversations by expecting everyone to be weighed down and overwhelmed.  Sometimes I just want to say, “no, I’m not depressed, or at least not until meeting you.”

Now realize I’m being tough on my own.  I plan to lead a church and hold the position of pastor in the near future.  But I think we should always be hardest on those we are a part of.  We should want them to come up higher.  So I’m glad I’m spotting this in others now.  Though I certainly want to be available and supportive of people who need a shoulder to cry on, at the same time I’m not called to bear everyone else’s burden.  I’m not called to make things seem worse than they really are.  I’m not called to be a drama king.