Would the King do it?

Judah’s king Zedekiah was firmly on the horns of a dilemma. Politically ambitious princes, sons of prominent men of Judah, were applying all kinds of pressure on King Zedekiah to kill the prophet Jeremiah. On the other hand, the king knew that Jeremiah was a spiritual man whose messages were from Jehovah God. The infuriating words of the prophet simply said that the Chaldean ruler who had besieged Jerusalem in 599 B.C. would prevail, and the king and his fellow Jews should surrender peacefully! The princes were full of anger, patriotism and national pride, and would not give up. They were not spiritual and did not realize that God was going to punish Israel with exile for 70 years.

After hearing Jeremiah’s sermon of surrender, the princes urged Zedekiah to kill the preacher! In Jeremiah, chapter 38:4-6, he publicly admitted his powerlessness against the young princes. He told them that Jeremiah was in their hands; they could do as they pleased. So they dropped him into a miry pit. An Ethiopian, Ebed-melech, heard about it and with the king’s permission took 30 men who lifted him up from certain death.

“It was an epic decision. For years Judah’s king had been caught in the middle of a bitter struggle between a brave, faith-filled prophet and cabal of ambitious princes. Now the Babylonian army was closing in. Judah’s princes did not want to surrender. But the prophet Jeremiah defied them. The king had to choose. Should he heed the prophet’s counsel, surrender Jerusalem and save his people? Or should he capitulate to his princes and kill the prophet? Judah’s fate rested on his verdict (Biblical Archaeology, January/February 2012).”

The story from the archaeology article states that a startling discovery was made in the City of David by Dr. Eilat Mazar when one of her colleagues found a small piece of clay lying in the dust. Further investigation revealed the Paleo-Hebrew words “Belonging to Yehucal, son of Shelemiyahu, son of Shovi.” This was the seal of Jehucal! Another dig found “le Gedalyahu ben Pashur”-“belonging to Gedaliah, son of Pashur.” (Jeremiah 38:1)

“Rarely do science and the Bible converge as dramatically as with the Jehucal and Gedaliah bullae. Unearthed near the palace of Judah’s king and scientifically dated to the time of Jeremiah, these artifacts resurrect the life and commission of one of the great prophets of scripture (Ibid).”

The suspense is over; the king did not kill the prophet!

We are pleased that secular scholars found a reason to accept scripture. We do not need seals and artifacts because we gladly follow the Bible and its Almighty author. Nevertheless, we love the Bible’s great suspense stories!

The young people came worshiping and seeking the Lord. In those two services 30 received the Holy Ghost.

Bro. Jeffery Scott from Illinios was our guest speaker.

In 1918, the General Assembly of Apostolic Assemblies (GAAA) and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World merged, unifying Oneness Pentecostals into a large, interracial body. After being ousted from the Assemblies of God in 1916, the “Jesus Only” faction soon organized into the GAAA under the leadership of Daniel C. O. Opperman. The organization was destined to last only a short while. When the United States entered World War I on April 16, 1917, the government refused to recognize combat exemption for ministers of the fledgling church. In addition, GAAA ministers did not qualify for clergy train fare rates. For these two reasons, the organization sought a merger with the older Pentecostal Assemblies of the World (Clanton 29-30).

The PAW had a nebulous beginning in Los Angeles in 1906. Initially, few records were kept, which is not surprising considering the reticence of early Pentecostal believers to organize or to model themselves after the traditional denominations from which they had emerged. The alignment of the PAW with the Oneness camp may be historically attributable to the influence of Bishop G.T. Haywood, pastor of the large Pentecostal work at 11th & Senate in Indianapolis. Haywood along with his entire congregation accepted rebaptism in Jesus’ Name and the doctrine of the mighty God in Christ when Glenn Cook, Pentecostal pioneer and evangelist, came through Indiana in 1915 preaching the Oneness revelation.

While the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World was interracial from its inception, the General Assembly of Apostolic Assemblies was essentially a white organization. The merger of these two groups recreated the racial unity that characterized the Pentecostal revival at Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles. Bro. Frank Bartleman, journalist and chronicler of the Pentecostal movement in Los Angeles, said of Azusa Street: “The color line is washed away in the blood!” The mission, led by Bro. William Joseph Seymour, a black brother, became a bastion of multiracial unity as believers of every race and color gathered in the makeshift mission to experience the democratizing power of the Holy Ghost. When the GAAA joined the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, retaining the latter name, an initial, conscious effort was made to maintain racial integration.

Unfortunately, the merger was plagued by problems from the beginning. The most critical difficulty seems to have been the location of the annual conference. The South was considered too racially sensitive, and meetings had to be held in the North. At a time when Pentecostals were much less affluent, many Southern ministers could not afford to attend conventions in Northern cities. In 1922, leading white ministers in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World organized the Southern Bible Conference. William Booth-Clibborn’s record of the meeting, A Call to Dust and Ashes, describes a glorious visitation of the Holy Ghost and a prevailing unity and anointing, but the exclusive convention offended many of the black PAW brethren (1).

The following year, the General Conference adopted Resolution 4, with devastating results. The resolution read:

Be it further resolved, that because of conditions now existing in many parts of the country through no fault of the brethren, but rather those that oppose the work of the Lord, it is deemed advisable that two white Presbyters sign the credentials for the white brethren (especially in the southland) and two colored Presbyters sign the papers of the colored brethren. (Golder 78)

While the wording of the resolution seems to suggest the necessity of this measure due to external social forces, it seems likely that the real reason for the policy was racial prejudice. Oneness historians sharply disagree on the meaning and context of Resolution No. 4. White writers like S.C. McClain and Arthur Clanton attribute the adoption to the social mores of the South, repeatedly arguing that racial integration was hindering the work of the Lord, especially below the Mason-Dixon line. Bishop Morris E. Golder, PAW historian, logically asks: “How could any person picking up a credential and looking at the signatures tell who wrote them? Would the ink of the black man be different from that of a white man?” (79). The fissure that began with the passage of Resolution No. 4 broadened over the next year; and at the close of the 1924 General Conference, a majority of the white brethren withdrew and formed the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance, electing L.C. Hall as the first chairman (Clanton 46).

While it is difficult to recapture the social context that led our predecessors to divide into essentially white and black organizations, Oneness Pentecostals should work at every level to restore greater interracial fellowship and cooperation. Manmade organizations can never replace the true unity of Apostolic believers and the transcendental power of our common Acts 2:38 salvation. Huge strides in fellowship have been made by both the United Pentecostal Church and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World, and we look forward to the day when Christ’s prayer “that they all may be one” (Jn. 17:21) is fully answered when the saints of every color and creed gather at God’s great throne!

Matthew Shaw is a librarian at Ball State University. He lives in Muncie, Indiana with his wife, Brandi, and his four sons. He attends River of Life Church.

Sources:

Clanton, Arthur. United We Stand: a History of Oneness Organizations. Hazelwood: MO: Pentecostal Publishing House, 1970.

Booth-Clibborn, William. A Call to Dust and Ashes. St. Paul, MN: 1924.

Golder, Morris E. History of the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World. Indianapolis, 1973.

One should always be mindful of being loving, helpful, and respectful to his/her partner. Every day and every waking moment is important. We should never take one another for granted or misuse the time that we are blessed to have with our spouse and family. However, there are a few specific times of the day that seem to hold special importance. Our words and actions during these times have significant ramifications. Indeed, how we handle these times can go a long way to either making or breaking our marriage and family life.

One critical time of the day is in the morning before spouses leave for work. Of course, the timing of “morning” events will vary greatly in cases such as when one or both partners work odd hours or have dissimilar work schedules. While the timing may be different, the same principles apply. The start of your day – whenever that may be – is a critical time in which married couples should pay particular attention. There are definitely some “dos and don’ts” when it comes to communicating at these key times of the day.

Mornings are generally a very busy time and often a stressful time as well. Most couples are rushing around during this time trying to bathe, dress, groom themselves, eat breakfast, collect their things for work, and so forth. On top of this, if a couple has children they must help the kids with all of the same things and drive them or send them off to school. Even if only one spouse works outside the home, it can still be a challenging time of day. When both partners are preparing to leave home for a job the complexity is increased even more.

The morning hours are never a good time to try to engage in meaningful discussion. Neither spouse will likely be able to give their full and undivided attention during these hectic moments. Trying to do so usually just proves to be distracting, frustrating, and even annoying. Save the important conversation topics for an occasion and place when you can give it the time and attention it deserves.

This time of day is especially a terrible time to bring up a problem or a negative issue. This is true for several reasons. You and your spouse will likely not see each other again that day for eight to ten hours or more. You should not want the last thing you talked about to be something downbeat or problematic. That will only serve to set a negative tone for the entire day and make you more stressed than needed. Certainly you should resist the temptation to start an argument or to say or do something that is offensive or hurtful. Such interactions are not what you or your partner wants to think about all day long.

The best thing you can do for yourself, your mate, your marriage, and your family is to make the mornings as joyful and peaceful as possible. While courtesy and respect should always be given and expected in a relationship, it is even more important to exemplify such during potentially tense times such as this. For example, partners will do well to give each other a little space to prepare themselves for the day without distracting one another or getting in each other’s way. If getting children ready are involved then there should be an agreed upon system for assisting them – which may vary widely in each family depending on schedules, timing, other responsibilities, and so forth.

Try to get as much as possible ready and organized the night before. For example, you can select and lay out your clothing for yourself and the kids, gather your items for work and school, pack lunches, and so forth. You can also ensure all items for bathing and grooming (wash cloths, towels, hair brushes, etc.) are available and easily accessible. These steps will reduce stress and arguments in the mornings. There is nothing more frustrating and irritating than trying to find a clean towel or pair of socks in the morning – especially if you are already running late. You may even decide to take it a step further and figure out what you and the family are going to eat for breakfast. Perhaps even set the table for breakfast and so forth the night before.

If your family always seems to be extremely rushed in the mornings then it may be appropriate to set the alarm clocks to wake up a bit sooner. Even fifteen minutes can make a huge difference in reducing the stress and tension related to typical morning routines. It may even be in order to try to get to bed a bit earlier so that you are more rested and less irritable when it is time to awake and prepare for the day.

If you and your mate agree that activities such as making beds, completely cleaning breakfast dishes, and so forth are important then it is even more critical that you plan adequate time to complete these tasks. Some couples prefer to do these things later in the day when they have more time or even assign them to the kids for after-school chores. Sometimes a little flexibility in this area can take some of the stress out of the early hours. Whatever the case, the important thing is that you decide together and are both comfortable with the morning routine.

While the mornings are not a good time for meaningful conversations, it is an excellent time for brief, positive communication. Make it a point to set a positive tone for the day with your words and deeds! Complement one another and otherwise speak words of encouragement and affirmation. Always do your very best to part ways for the day on a high note. Pray together – even if for only a brief moment. Say “I love you” and exchange a quick kiss and embrace. These and other loving gestures will make both you and your mate feel great and cause you to look forward to reuniting later in the day.

Kirk VanOoteghem serves as Executive Pastor of River of Life in Muncie, Indiana.  He has many years of experience as a marriage counselor and educator and is the founder of MarriageMoment.org – an online ministry dedicated to protecting and strengthening marriages.

Several years ago a “critical issues” questionnaire was sent to a large number of church leaders. They were asked to list what they believed to be the most critical issues facing the church today. In overwhelming response, these leaders agreed that the number one critical issue was the need for trained workers and lay leaders to help in the organization and outreach areas of the church. People who could work under pastoral leadership and help the man of God carry the weight of responsibility. This need has not changed. The question asked most by growing churches is, “How can we cultivate good workers and leaders from among our church membership?” Since the pastor cannot effectively do everything himself, a church’s growth will, quite literally, rise or fall upon this one factor.

CHURCH GROWTH PLATEAUS

Research has shown that churches tend to grow in jumps or spurts. Between each jump the church will experience a “plateau.” A plateau has occurred when the church has seen no growth for at least two full years. Where exactly a plateau will occur varies between churches. But generally a church will experience one somewhere around 50, then another between 70-90, and a third around 130-150, then finally 250-300. Another will often appear at 500, then 700, then just short of a thousand. Unfortunately, many churches are in an extended plateau condition. Try as they might, they seem to be sitting on dead center. Revivals, programs, crusades all help for a while, but they always seem to slide back into the same average attendance. And as any pastor can tell you, this stagnant period of non-growth can be very discouraging. What is wrong?

The cause of these growth plateaus varies. The building may be a restrictive factor, financial condition may hinder, or even the pastor having to work a secular job. But the most common reason, the one reason that applies to almost every level of plateau, is this: they lack of workers and leaders to support a larger church body. It is vial for every church to understand that in order to expand the church membership, he must first expand the worker and leadership base.

David Womack, in his book The Pyramid Principle, states, “Before a church may add to its mass of members and adherents, it must first expand its base of organization and ministry involvement.” He goes on to describe church growth as being similar to piling sand on a table. You can pile on only so much sand before the table is covered and a four-sided pyramid of sand develops. When you have no more space, the sand begins to spill off onto the floor. If you want to add more sand to the table, you must first expand the table size. This is the point of the pyramid principle. You must first add to the base of workers and leaders in the church before you can add to the membership size.

ENLISTING LEADERS AND WORKERS

Someone has rightly pointed out that leaders are not born, they are developed. They must first begin as a follower and grow in the work of God. Involvement by the laity is critical for the growth of the church as well as the development of leaders.

The importance of involvement for spiritual growth is recognized by most pastors. Saints are most content when they are productively involved in church ministry. Saints who are involved will normally not have the negative spirit and self-centeredness of those who are only spectators.

How do you get the leaders and workers needed to staff an expanding organization and insure a growing, healthy church? Remember the promise of the Apostle Paul in Philippians 4:19: “But God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus.” Surely the need for quality leadership and faithful workers falls within this promise!

In his book Organize to Evangelize, Larry Lewis defines three ways to enlist needed volunteers.

PRAY FOR WORKERS AND LEADERS

Jesus himself gave the ultimate solution to the problem when He said, “Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He will send forth laborers into His harvest” (Matthew 9:38).

Just as important as praying for souls, or for God to provide the money to meet the building payment, is the need to pray for leaders and workers. This is not a “suggestion” our Lord made. Jesus commands us to pray for leaders and workers. “Ye have not because ye ask not.” “Ask and it shall be given unto you.” “If you ask anything in my name, I shall do it.” “Seek and ye shall find.”

Have you diligently called upon God to send you a Home Bible Study Director? Have you sought earnestly for an Outreach Director and good Visitor Follow-up workers? Do you make this a matter of public prayer? Have you stood before the church and said, “Church, let’s pray that God will provide us with a good New Convert Care Director?” Do you ask for God to reveal a particular person to you? Do you then pray for the Lord to burden that person with that ministry before you ask him or her?

How quick we are to complain and how reluctant sometimes we are to pray!

PREACH FOR WORKERS AND LEADERS

Long ago the Prophet Isaiah heard the Divine call, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” The voice of God has continued through the ages ‘calling out the called’ to labor in the harvest.

Jesus preached for workers. He emphasized the urgency of the hour when He said, “I must work the works of Him that sent me while it’s day: The night cometh when no man can work.” To a group of rugged fishermen He cried, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Surely, every true Christian yearns to respond to God’s voice and say, “Here am I; send me.”

Shouldn’t the present-day prophets of God preach for workers? We give an invitation for souls to come to the altar, for members to rededicate their lives. Shouldn’t we also make a plea for needed leadership? Why not say in the invitation: “Is God calling someone here to be a Sunday School worker? Is God calling someone here to be a Home Bible Study teacher?”

People need to be taught and reminded about the biblical imperative of using their God given talents and abilities for the work of the Lord. They must see themselves as stewards of their gifts and skills. If the fig tree gives no fruit, it will be cursed and cut down.

All instruction should be practical and easy to understand. It should challenge people to find their place in the body and provide the opportunity to do so. Many churches teach a “Finding Your Place in the Body” series on an annual basis. They will often use a ‘service gifts analysis quiz’ to help people to finding their natural, God-given gifts. At the conclusion, they will have an “Outreach Ministry” commitment service and a “Church Ministry” commitment service. An outreach ministry pertains to ministering ‘outward’ to reach the lost – visitor follow-up, home Bible study, bus ministry, door knocking, tract distribution, and so on.. A church ministry pertains to ministering ‘inward’ to help the church – ushers, choir members, maintenance workers, nursery helpers, and so on. Since both type ministries are very different in both context and spirit, the church should consider having these commitment times in two separate services.

If you would like a sample of these two types of commitment forms, you can request a sample “A.C.T.S.” (Apostolic Christian Talent Search) commitment form and an “A.C.T.I.O.N.” (Apostolics Committed To Involvement in Outreach Needs) commitment form from the Apostolic Information Service office. Call (317) 781-7712 to request a copy of each.

PERSONALLY ENLIST WORKERS AND LEADERS

Where the commitment service works best for getting workers for your various ministries, personal enlistment works best for selecting department and ministry leaders.

Remember the parable of the husbandman in Matthew 20? What did he do about the worker problem? Did he murmur, complain, and gripe? No. Rather he “went out” after them. He went out the first hour of the day, and then he went out again the third hour, and again the sixth hour, and again the ninth hour, and even until the eleventh hour.

What did he say to these potential laborers when he found them? Notice his appropriate question, “Why have you been standing here all day doing nothing?” (Matt.20:6-7). What a question for us to consider! Souls all around us are dying; sin is on every hand; and leaders are needed in the church to help lead people in ministry. Why do so many stand idle?

Notice the answer they gave: “Because no man hath hired us.” This is exactly the reason so many churches find themselves short of quality leadership. No one has personally sought to enlist these people. Sometimes churches have problems with saints simply because they are bored from doing nothing. They are not being used in the harvest and their gifts and abilities are lying idle. No one has truly put forth the effort to train and recruit them for leadership and service.

When going through your church membership list you should never ask, “Will this person serve?” That is not for you and me to decide. Let the person decide for themselves. You will not stand in judgment to answer for them. This they alone must do. Our place is only to call to service. Their response to your call might just surprise you.

Rev. T.W. Massengale is the editor of Perspectives Magazine and an Instructor at Indiana Bible College.

“For a period of more than 1,600 years, the Catholic church has assembled at ecumenical councils its patriarchs, cardinals, bishops, abbots of male religious orders, and others nominated by the pope to discuss issues of faith, church doctrine and discipline, often defining heresies within the church. The pope must approve the decisions of the council. The first was the First Council Of Nicaea (or Nicea), convened in 325 after Christianity came under the protection of the Roman emperor Constantine, which produced the original Nicene Creed, still used (with some modifications) as the Christian profession of faith today (Biblical Archaeology Review, March/April 2012).”

The Nicene Council in 325 A. D. was of great interest to Rev. S. G. Norris so he directed his Apostolic Bible Institute students to give it diligent attention. They concluded that the results of that council were incorrect as it stated that “God exists in three eternally, co-equal persons.”

Emperor Constantine attempted to bring consensus in the Christian church by calling a council of bishops. All 1800 were invited (about 1000 in the East and 800 in the West), but only 318 showed up, said Athanasius. The debate was very heated with Nicholas of Myra slapping Arius in the face. (Years later Nicholas was canonized!)

Two thoughts were prominent. Athanasius was champion of “God exists eternally co-equal as Father, Son and Holy Ghost”, while Arius insisted that the scriptures state otherwise. John 14:19 “he who has seen me has seen the Father”, John 14:28 “the Father is greater than I”, Colossians 1:15 “Jesus is the first born of every creature”, and John 10:10 “I and my Father are one.” This position is called, “Oneness,” and “Modalism.” Simply put it says that God reveals himself in different ways: Father in creation, Son in redemption, Holy Spirit indwelling humans. There are neither three Gods nor three persons comprising a Holy Trinity, but only one God manifested in the flesh. (Colossians 2:9) “In him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.” The body is named Jesus and baptism is to be administered using that name.

Arius, Theonas, and Secundus were exiled to Illyna and excommunicated because they refused to accept the Creed. The works of Arius were ordered to be burned and all persons found with his teachings were to be executed.

There were 21 councils, but the one in Nicea did great harm to the church.

Rev. Raymond Parnell is Pastor Emeritus of Christ Memorial Temple in Lafayette, Indiana.

A lot of people today do not believe God’s Word simply because they don’t want to. Why? Because truth to them is inconvenient! Jesus declared, “that light is come into the world, (but) men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:20 emphasis mine) Truth is inconvenient! Many today reject any notion of absolute truth. As a result they are unable to make any moral judgments – for judgment is the ability to say that one thing is right and another thing is wrong. Lots of people today feel that all choices are equally acceptable – all lifestyles are equivalent – all behavior is on a par with all other behavior. To disagree with that is to be intolerant, judgmental, lacking compassion. Such people are asked, “Who gives you the right to judge? What right do you have to impose your morality on the rest of us?” Truth makes the flesh uncomfortable. Truth is inconvenient!

We have come to the point in our culture where it is considered sophisticated and smart to see nothing but gray areas. Scripture offers a warning to any society that has evolved to such a confused state as ours: “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20) How and why did we ever become so blinded to right and wrong? Our fleshly appetites are at the root of the problem. The Apostle Peter informed us that – “that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this they willingly are ignorant of…” (II Peter 3:3-5 emphasis mine) Willful ignorance is an ignorance of convenience. It is a game played by people who know the truth and wish they didn’t and who endeavor to live as if they don’t. They do their best to dismiss any thought of God and His will for their lives and to squelch any twinge of conscience that would try to influence them to make the decisions they really need to make.

The person who desires to please God must deal with his or her fleshly appetites. Peter advised us to, “abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul…” (I Peter 2:11) John counseled us to, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (I John 2:15-17) It was the lust of the eyes that led to Eve’s downfall in the beginning: “the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat…” (Genesis 3:6) By giving in to her fleshly appetites she choked out and forfeited what God’s Word had promised her. And so it still happens today. “And these are they which are sown among thorns; such as hear the word, And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.” (Mark 4:18-19 emphasis mine)

I Peter 5:8 cautions us to “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” It is through our own appetites that he attempts to devour us. “And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:2-4) So it was with Jesus and so it is with us. “But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. ” (James 1:14) Jesus was tempted in all ways like as we are – yet without sin. And with His help we too can overcome the lusts of our flesh!

Paul writes of our lives before conversion saying that “in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.” (Ephesians 2:2-3 emphasis mine) The wise man, Solomon, offers this good advice concerning our attitude towards this “ruler or prince of the power of the air”: “When thou sittest to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee: And put a knife to thy throat, if thou be a man given to appetite. Be not desirous of his dainties: for they are deceitful meat.” (Proverbs 23:1-3) The knife we must use to deal with our appetites is the Sword of the Spirit – the Truth! We must not allow our fleshly appetites – that are too often allied with our adversary – to lead us away from our love of truth. For, although truth may be inconvenient as far as our fleshly appetites are concerned, it is the very thing that has the power to set us free from bondage to those appetites. “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:32)
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” (Galatians 5:16)

The earliest efforts at dress reform were rooted in arguments against the unnaturalness of corsets, hoop skirts, and other uncomfortable, and perhaps unhealthy, trappings of fashionable 19th Century dress. Some physicians agreed that whalebone corsets and even heavy petticoats were physiologically effecting women. However, instead of adopting less extravagant, more sensible dresses, leaders of the movement insisted on wearing Bloomers, two-legged garments worn under a shorter dress named for Amelia Bloomer who first proposed the costume in her periodical, or trousers. Most of these garments consisted of pants worn under a shortened and modified dress.

Interestingly, a number of utopian cults including the Owenites of New Harmony, Indiana, the Oneida Perfectionist Community of New York, and Mormons allowed and encouraged women members to abandon the traditional long dresses for pants.

The social response to these renegade women was overwhelming. Bloomers and similar costumes were the subject of a number of caricatures, cartoons, poems, songs, and pulpit complaint. Husbands, fathers, preachers, and the general male population were up in arms about the innovation and openly condemned their apparent upset of social and familial order and utter disregard for Scripture. One ditty read simply:

Female apparel now
Is gone to pot I vow, sirs,
And ladies will be fined
Who don’t wear coats and trousers;
Blucher boots and hats
And shirts with handsome stitches,–
Oh dear! What shall we do
When women wear the breeches?

–Broadsheet 1851

The verse’s sentiment is clear despite its brevity: things were changing, and onlookers were less than pleased with the results. An August 1851 cartoon in Harper’s Weekly depicts women in the masculinized bloomers. They carry men’s walking sticks, smoke cigarettes and posture themselves as men. Clearly, many members of society recognized the probable degeneration of female character and conduct if the wearing of pants was widely adopted.

Some women were arrested for wearing such garments. Perhaps no one caused a greater stir than Civil War physician, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker. She first began wearing trousers beneath a shortened dress while working as a field surgeon in Tennessee during the War. In 1866, she was arrested in Manhattan, New York for “[ap]pearing in male costume” (Fischer 150-151). After the War, she became increasingly masculine in her dress and finally abandoned any vestige of female attire, wearing men’s suits and a top hat. She left her husband and is historically interpreted as a lesbian in many popular histories of homosexuality in America.

Mrs. Bloomer blasted the sermon of one Rev. Dr. Talmage who appealed to Christian women to refrain from the abomination of “wearing that which pertaineth unto a man.” In her review of the reverend’s message, it is clear that these women were completely willing to deny the authority of not only the man of God but the Word of God itself. She flagrantly wrote:

. . . how can Mr. Talmage set up the claim that men have a right to any particular style, and that if women dare to approach that style they break divine law and commit great sin and wrong? It is a presumption and insult which women everywhere should resent. It matters not to us what Moses had to say to the men and women of his time about what they should wear . . . Common sense teaches us that the dress which is the most convenient, and best adapted to our needs, is the proper dress for both men and women to wear. (Bloomer 77-78)

Showing her outright rebelliousness, Amelia Bloomer concluded: “No sensible woman can sit under such preaching. Would that women had the independence to act out the right in defiance of such sermons, and in disregard of all laws that condemn her to the slavery of a barbarous age” (Bloomer 79).

The Dress Reform movement eventually faded, and that early generation did little to lastingly effect the dress of women; however, a cross-section of readings on both sides of the issue reveals that the most elemental motive behind the movement was an effort to disrupt traditional patriarchy. The desire to wear trousers was most certainly couched in a vitriolic war against male authority in both society and church; and for modern Pentecostals, who are often treated as pariahs because of our insistence on gender-specific dress, the logical meaning of the precedent historical episode is clear: women in pants symbolize usurpation and the confusion of natural order. While the social milieu has certainly changed, the rich cultural assignations of dresses for women and pants for men endure, and the appeal to Mosaic Law as a fundamental principle for distinct male/female dress is as valid today as it was in Ancient Israel or Nineteenth Century America.

Works Cited

Bloomer, D.C. Life and Writings of Amelia Bloomer. New York: Schocken Books, 1975.

Fischer, Gayle V. Pantaloons & Power: a Nineteenth-Century Dress Reform in the United States. Kent, Ohio: Kent State University Press, 2001.

Matthew Shaw is a librarian at Ball State University. He lives in Muncie, Indiana with his wife, Brandi, and his four sons. He attends River of Life Church.

Usually when we consider the topic of contentment, we think of money and materialism. However, the concept extends to many other areas of life, including marriage. While most Bible references on contentment deal with the topic of wealth and possessions (i.e. Mat. 6:24-33, Phil. 4:11-13, 1 Tim. 6:5-11, Heb. 13:5-6), the same principles certainly apply to our attitude about life circumstances in general. Marriage is among the most important areas in which we must reflect this principle.

To be content simply means to be mentally and emotionally satisfied with the way things are. Someone who is content is willing to accept the current circumstances with peace of mind. People who are discontent in their marriage usually make themselves and their spouses miserable. Such people are never satisfied with what they have and are always wanting, expecting or even demanding more. Instead of recognizing the positive aspects of their spouse and marriage they focus on the negatives. Instead of expressing appreciation and encouragement they express criticism and resentment.

One does not need a perfect marriage (which does not exist) in order to be content. But a positive attitude and outlook is required. Begin by counting your blessings and not taking them for granted. While some problems must be addressed in a marriage they are best approached from a position of general contentment rather than that of perpetual displeasure or misery. People respond best to positive reinforcement and encouragement – your spouse is no different.

All things considered, marital contentment is a virtue that is far too rare. It is certainly much easier to indulge in self pity and regret than it is to develop mental and emotional satisfaction in one’s relationship. When considering this topic the common question that arises is “how can I become content in my marriage?”

The Apostle Paul stated that he “learned” to be content (Philippians 4:11). The fact that he had to learn this principle tells us that it is not something that comes instinctively or naturally. If contentment were merely a feeling, it would not be something one needs to learn. It appears, therefore, that contentment is both a choice and a discipline. It involves commitment and determination. You will only be content in your marriage to the extent that you will yourself to do so.

A significant aspect of marital contentment is learning to avoid the seeds of discontent. Here are some tips to consider…

(1) Do not evaluate your marriage by comparing it to others. Scripture tells us that those who compare themselves to others are not wise (2 Corinthians 10:2). Nothing good can come of such comparisons because the perspective is always skewed and unrealistic. Such a mentality will also cause you to squander the opportunities that are present in your relationship.

(2) Shun coveting and envy. These are biblical vices that can destroy a marriage. In other words, you must avoid the all-too-natural inclination to desire the attainments or advantages of others. With respect to marriage, you must avoid the temptation to wish that your spouse was more like someone else or to desire some aspect of your relationship to be like that of your neighbors’.

(3) Adopt a simpler lifestyle. Complicated and stressful lives breed discontent. Sometimes we can get so busy that we do not stop to appreciate and enjoy what is right in front of us. When you are bombarded by external pressures it is not difficult for your unhappiness to carry over to the home. Do yourself a favor and relieve yourself of unnecessary obligations and commitments that weigh you down. You will enjoy your life and family more.

Kirk VanOoteghem serves as Executive Pastor of River of Life in Muncie, Indiana.  He has many years of experience as a marriage counselor and educator and is the founder of MarriageMoment.org – an online ministry dedicated to protecting and strengthening marriages.

The young man sat across the desk from his elderly pastor.  His face was burning with embarrassment – it was certainly not one of his finer moments.  He stared at his hands, then down at his shoes, then out the window – in fact he wanted to look anywhere other than at the sad, gentle face of his pastor.

He loved his pastor.  He had been born into this church.  His parents were solid, active members.  Week after week he had heard this wonderful man of God teach and preach the Word with strength and boldness.  He would do anything for him.  He respected and admired him.  He felt a lump rise in his throat, which he then tried to clear.

The old pastor broke the silence.  “Well, Rick?  What’s it going to be?”

Rick was in trouble.  He and three of his church friends had jimmied the lock in the church kitchen and helped themselves to the stash of candy in the freezer that was set aside for the bus kids.  He hadn’t really thought of it as stealing – at least not until now.

Rick looked up.  “I’m sorry, sir.  I’ll do whatever I need to do in order to make this right.  Please don’t take me out of youth choir.  I’ll use my own money and replace all we took, I promise.”

The old man nodded slowly.  “What you did was wrong.  I think you see that now.  But what I want to talk to you about is even more important.  Rick, you’re almost eighteen.  You will graduate from high school this year.  What do you plan to do with your life?  Now you just seem to be drifting.  I’ve been watching you and I’m concerned that you seem to have no plans or purpose.  Have you thought much about your future?”

Rick took a deep breath.  “Yes, sir, I have been meaning to talk to you about that.  But I’m not sure this is a good time.  Once I graduate, I want to go to Bible College if you will let me.  I know you have to sign for me to go – and I really want to go.  You know how much I love music.  I’m thinking I might want to major in Music and oversee the music program at a church like Brother Rollins does for you.”

“That’s a wonderful goal, son.  But there’s more to being a music director than just head knowledge and skill.  You need to be setting some solid goals for your spiritual life as well – and ministry goals, too.  I hired Brother Rollins to oversee our music ministry but he is much more than that.  He does hospital visitation.  He teaches home Bible studies. He’s involved in our Men’s ministry and as you know, he teaches our Junior High class on Sunday morning.  He’s a gifted musician and singer, but he’s also a Christian and a soul winner.”

The old pastor paused and let that sink in.  The young man was nodding his head slowly.  “So how about you, Rick?  Do you have any goals and plans to improve your walk with God this coming year?  I’m going to have to see more than just a desire to sing and play keyboards if I’m going to sign your Bible college application.  What are your goals and are you making them a part of your daily prayer time with God?”

The young man looked puzzled.  “What do you suggest?  I guess I haven’t given much thought to it.”

“Well, son, as you may remember, I went to Bible College too.  But before I went I was active in many areas of my home church.  I helped out in Sunday school – taught the Junior Boys.  I rode the Sunday school bus every Sunday morning and went on Saturday bus visitation every weekend.  I had taught several home Bible studies and even won a friend from school to the Lord.  Like you, I was in youth choir and I played the bass guitar.  I also had preached several times in youth service.  Church was my life and serving God was my passion.  I knew I wanted to work for God long before I went to Bible College.  After I graduated, I assisted my home pastor for five years.  My wife and I then evangelized for three years.  I pastored two churches before coming here to take Life Tabernacle.  We’ve been here twenty-two years and we have seen the Lord bless this church with revival and growth.”

The old man paused and leaned forward in his seat.  “Do you know why I’m telling you all of this?” He did not wait for the young man to answer.  “I’m telling you this because I have always had clear and definite goals in every phase of my ministry.  From the time I was a young man my Dad would help me set worthwhile goals every New Year.  He would then encourage me throughout the year and commend me when I obtained them.  I learned the value of goal setting and have applied it to every aspect of my ministry.

“Solomon said in Proverbs 29, ‘Without a vision, the people perish.’  The Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3, ‘I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.’  These great leaders knew the importance of reaching for the plans and purposes of God in their life.

“So how about it, Rick?  What are your goals for 2012?  What are you reaching for?  Does your life have clear purpose or are you just looking for the next chance to have fun?  What do you want to do with your life?”

Rick leaned forward in earnest.  “Will you help me, sir?  I’m not sure exactly what I should do, but if you will help me, I want to make this next year my best year ever. I want to…” His voice trailed off in a waver and a tear trickled down his cheek.  He swallowed hard.

The old man smiled.

The Need For Clear Direction

Remember in Alice in Wonderland, when Alice came to the crossroads that led in two different directions? It was here that she met the Cheshire cat and asked him for advice:

“Cheshire-Puss . . . would you tell me please, which way I ought to go from here?”

            “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,” said the Cat.

            “I don’t care where . . .” said Alice.

            “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” said the Cat.

From out of that toothy grin came words of truth. As the old saying says, “There is nothing more discouraging than to not know where you are going, because you never know when you get there.”

How sad for a church to wander without direction or purpose!

Churches and Goal Setting

Someone once said, “He who has nothing for an objective usually accomplishes it.” But the opposite of that is also true: “He who has a single minded determination toward a fixed objective usually obtains it.” So, what is your church reaching for? What are your growth goals for 2012?

Does the church have any business getting involved in the process of goal setting? I would have to answer emphatically ‘yes!’ A goal is simply a picture of something absolute that we wish to obtain in the future. To put goal setting into a more Biblical term – a goal is nothing more than a statement of faith. Faith is “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb. 11:1). Few principles in the business world have a more Biblical foundation than that of goal setting. When Paul said “I press toward the mark. . .” he was writing as an example to us. We, too, need a ‘mark’ – we need a goal.

Goals vs. Objectives

Effective goal setting begins first with objectives. Goals and objectives are two different things.  Objectives define our reason for being, our ultimate hope, the purpose for our existence. From the Bible we discover two key objectives for the church. These are: (1) Win the lost, and (2) Perfect the saints.

These objectives do not qualify as goals because they are not measurable in themselves, but rather, give us a clear direction in which to move. Anything we, as a church, engage in that is outside of these two objectives can become a distraction.

The difference between a goal and an objective lies in the fact that objectives are general and goals are specific. For a goal to be a goal, it must fulfill certain criteria.

1. Your goals should help you reach your objectives. A pastor must examine each activity and ministry of the church with a critical eye. Is it reaching the lost? Is it perfecting the saints? Could our time be spent more productively in some other way?

The church is not a social club. The church is not a public service organization. With the limited resources that we have – time, money, manpower, and facilities – we must be a good steward and utilize them in the most effective manner.

2. You must believe you can obtain this goal. Goals are sometimes set so high that they are unrealistic. Unrealistic goals can cause discouragement. But the reverse of this is also true. Goals set too low fail to inspire. The key is whether you believe you can reach it. The scriptures abound with challenges to reach for the impossible, feel for the intangible, and see the invisible.

Verily I say unto you, if ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed . . . nothing shall be impossible unto you” (Matt. 17:20). “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth” (Mark 9:23). “According to your faith be it unto you” (Matt. 9:29). Don’t set your goals on what you hope you can obtain but on what you absolutely know you can obtain.

3. A goal needs to be measurable. Everyone must be able to tell that the goal has been reached — ie: the mountain has been climbed, the ocean has been crossed, and the giant has been slain.  If we don’t make goals measurable, we rob people of their sense of accomplishment.

4. A goal needs a date for when it will be accomplished. We must know what we want done and by when we want to do it. “Let’s double our Sunday School attendance,” doesn’t mean very much until someone says when (and, of course, how). A goal without a date is not a goal, it is simply a dream.

5. A goal needs to be claimed by someone. Everyone’s business becomes no one’s business. The question is not whether we all believe in the goal, but who believes in it enough to make it happen.

6. A goal needs to be supported by a plan. To fail to plan is to plan to fail. Each step of the plan can actually become a goal within itself. This plan needs to be in writing and each step dated for completion.

7. A goal needs be supported by the necessary resources. We need an understanding of what it is going to cost in money, facilities, time, and other resources. Jesus warned of the danger of starting a tower without first counting the cost (Luke 14:28)

Seven Steps To Reaching Faith Goals

Using the following steps any church or ministry can set some realistic goals for the coming year:

1. After much prayer – set your faith goals. Remember, these are not your goals; they are the Lord’s – what He wishes you to achieve. Not MY will, but THY will. Much prayer should be behind your goals. To paraphrase Earl Nightingale, “Pastors don’t have any trouble achieving goals; they only have trouble setting them.” Put them in writing.

2. Break the faith goal into progression points. First into yearly steps, then into monthly steps. For instance, to grow from 100 to 300 in five years is only three people per month. Break it down. Set your dates. Yard by yard, life is hard – inch by inch, it’s a cinch.

3. Develop a plan of action to reach your faith goal. A plan of action should include both offensive and defensive strategy. First, the offensive – make a step-by-step plan to take you from where you are to where you want to be. Then second, the defensive – list your barriers or problems that might hinder you from reaching your goal. Develop a strategy to overcome each. Follow your plan. If your plans are not working, revise them.

4. Develop the resources and people needful to obtain your faith goal. What and who will be needed to reach that first step or solve that first problem? Share the dream and commit your people. An army poorly equipped is an army doomed to fail.

5. Regularly evaluate your progress toward reaching your faith goal. Church growth consultant Lyle E. Schaller states, “The person who has a systematic approach to the future and a frame of reference for evaluating alternatives has a tremendous advantage over the person who functions without either.” Systematic evaluation is important. We must periodically stop and ask: “How are we doing? How far have we come? What barriers have we encountered?” Problems are bound to arise. Don’t abandon your workers to struggle with these problems alone. Obstacles may stop us temporarily, but only we can stop ourselves permanently. We are made overcomers through Jesus Christ.

6. Testify and talk about your faith goal. From the abundance of the heart, the mouth is going to speak. If this goal is really in your heart, you will talk about it, preach about it, and testify about it. Use group planning and discussion to insure commitment. Get others involved. Celebrate each milestone of success.

7. Fast and pray about your faith goal. All things are possible to them that believe. Commit to pray for your goals every day.

Do It Now!

I often recommend that a pastor take a few days off each year to just pray and dream. Review your goals of last year, evaluate your present position, and determine your future plans and goals. I have come to realize that I cannot always do everything that I want to do. But I must do everything that God wants me to do. Herein lies wisdom, and the establishment of the priorities that guide our lives. Remember: Great churches never sought to be great. They just followed the vision God gave them and did what had to be done.

Rev. T.W. Massengale is the editor of Perspectives Magazine and an Instructor at Indiana Bible College.