Tuesday, May 31, 2011

An article from the Herald and Review about TBC Missions

Dentist, Tabernacle Baptist Church members serve those in need of surgery, shelter

By JIM VOREL - H&R Staff Writer Posted: Friday, May 27, 2011 8:00 pm

DECATUR - When dentist and former soldier Dr. Kelly Clark last visited Juarez, Mexico, in 2010 as part of Tabernacle Baptist Church's mission trip program, he decided to offer a little free dental work, unsure of what kind of response he would have. Two days later, Clark and his aching back had served more than 70 patients, who came to have painful, infected teeth pulled after hearing of the American missionary performing dentistry at no charge. Now, Clark and the Tabernacle Baptist group are going back again, and he's bringing his dental tools with him.

"My back will feel better, I'm just happy to help," said Clark, a father of two and owner of Decatur Dental Care. "There is a great need in some of these impoverished towns for assistance of all kind, especially in housing, which is the real reason for the trip."

This will actually be Clark's third time making the trip with Tabernacle Baptist, which has spent five days each year in a small town outside the city of Juarez, each time constructing small, simple homes for needy families. Although the size of these completed dwellings are only "what people here would think of as a garage," in Clark's words, the important thing is to offer any shelter to those who have none.

"We go into areas where a home consists of just some wooden pallets on the ground," he said. "In one place, we met a family of six that was living out of their van. With the building we create, we're able to put a roof over their heads and give them electricity."

The dentistry Clark also offers was simply a natural addition; a way to spend his evenings in Juarez helping people after construction work has halted for the night. The sophistication of his setup in the small town is extremely simple: a tiny room with a single folding chair for the patient, a table to hold dental instruments, and a head-mounted light for Clark to see by. But still, the residents are thankful for any dental attention.

"We numb up three people at a time to pull teeth, so we can do as many as possible in one night," Clark said. "All we're able to offer is extractions of teeth, but most of the time when the tooth goes, the infection goes with it. These people are thankful because some of them are living every day in pain."

This isn't Clark's first time performing dental work far from home. He also did the same duties in Iraq, during his service in the military from 2000-03. The army paid for his final two years of dental school, in exchange for Clark's service in the field, performing basic dental work for soldiers on the front lines, operating out of a small tent.

"I was assigned to a field unit far from base, using portable dental equipment," he said. "I had access to things like X-ray, pretty much everything I needed, except air conditioning."

That tent, however, looks like a fully stocked dental office compared to the scarcity of equipment and services available in the outskirts of Juarez. In his time there, Clark said he's never seen another practicing dentist, and that he believes most tooth problems are never addressed due to a lack of professionals or lack of funds. Couple that with the plethora of challenges facing those without a structure to call home in the area, and you have a community in desperate need of help.

"Anyone who feels the need to help should make this trip," Clark said. "You don't need to have any construction experience at all to help build a home for these people. You just need to be there and be ready to help and listen to instructions."

The number of members attending Tabernacle Baptist's trip to Juarez has slowly increased, from 11 in Clark's first year, to 14 the second, and 17 this year. The dentist has even brought along his two children, ages 8 and 10, in an experience he believes has helped open their eyes and broaden their worldview to the struggles experienced by the less fortunate around the globe.

"They were humbled by it, I think," he said. "They didn't speak the language at all, but by the end of our time there, they had befriended all the other children and we're hanging out, playing soccer. I think it's been a really valuable experience for all of us."

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Substitutionary Baptism? Paul's teaching on the "baptism of the dead."



In our Sunday evening class we’ve been studying the views of Mormonism. One of the practices of Mormonism is baptism for the sake of the dead, were Mormons are baptized in the place of non-Mormon’s who have died with the belief that in the afterlife the “newly” baptized person (i.e. the deceased non-Mormon) will be able to enter into a higher level of Mormon heaven.

Quotes from Mormon leaders concerning the “baptism of the dead”

"The greatest responsibility in this world that God has laid upon us is to seek after our dead...Those saints who neglect it in behalf of their deceased relatives, do it at peril of their own salvation" (Joseph Smith, in Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p.356, 196).

"These are the principles in relation to the dead and the living...their salvation is necessary and essential to our salvation...they without us cannot be made perfect---neither can we without our dead be made perfect...there is a welding link of some kind or other between the fathers and the children...it is baptism for the dead. For we without them cannot be made perfect" (Doctrine and Covenants 128:15,18).

Biblical Basis?

Mormons also believe that this is what Paul is teaching in 1 Corinthians 15:29 where Paul writes, “Otherwise, what do people mean by being baptized on behalf of the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why are people baptized on their behalf? Is this what Paul is speaking of? Can one represent another in baptism? [It should be pointed out here that Mormons also believe water baptism saves so therefore being baptized, an act of salvation, for someone else can be the means of another’s salvation.]

What is Paul actually teaching in 1 Corinthians 15?

To conclude the Mormon teaching of “baptism of the dead” from 1 Corinthians 15:29 is to complete ignore context and faithful exegesis. Let’s take a look at Paul’s teaching in the larger context of this passage.

1. Paul, in the first 19 verses of chapter 15, has focused specifically on the resurrection of Christ as a historical fact. There were some within the Corinthian church who had started doubting this reality, therefore Paul deals with the proofs of the resurrection. In addition, Paul gives the theological implications if Jesus is not resurrected, namely we are still dead in our sins (15:12-19)

2. Next, in verses 20-23, Paul speaks of the order of the resurrection [Christ first, then those who are united with Him will be resurrected when He returns]. From there, Paul deals with the reign of Christ and the final destruction of death.

3. From this Paul questions, “what will those do who are not baptized for the dead? If the dead are not raised at all, why then are they baptized for them?”

Historical Context

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Corinth was surrounded by a variety of pagan religions. One group in particular was located in a city named Eleusis, just north of Corinth. This group practiced baptism in the sea as a guarantee for a good afterlife and anticipation of a future resurrection (see Homer in “Hymn to Demeter” pg 478-79).

The Corinthian church had demonstrated on multiple occasions to have been influenced by the beliefs around them, thus Paul’s writing to “set the straight.” An example of this can be found in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 where Paul quotes the false teachers (“Food is for the stomach and the stomach for food”) but goes on to teach the Corinthians that the “body is for the Lord and the Lord is for the body (6:13). {There are more examples of this kind of referencing in 1 Corinthians as well and in Acts 17 where Paul quotes their own philosophers as a means of leading them to Christ.]

Meaning of 1 Corinthians 15:29

So going back to 1 Corinthians 15:29, what does Paul mean then by the “baptism of the dead?” Paul, knowing of the practice and teaching of this pagan religion, uses them as an example. Since Paul’s primary point has been “if there is no resurrection, we are dead in our sin and our preaching is in vain (12-13)”, he uses the example of these pagans (those who were trying to be baptized for the dead) as an example to show than even the pagans see the importance of the resurrection otherwise they would not practice “baptism for the dead.”

One of the key phrases in the text is “otherwise what do people”. Therefore, Paul is NOT encouraging the practice and the Corinthians are NOT practicing such a ritual. Rather, Paul is trying to show believers the importance of the resurrection by showing them that if the pagans around them place such a great importance on the resurrection, how much more those who put their faith in the resurrected Christ.

Now some will respond that the above is not correct because the word “they” is not in the Greek text, namely “they are baptized on their behalf” rather than “you (the Corinthians) are baptized on their behalf.” However, the Greek word “baptizontia” is a present, passive, indicative, in the 3rd person, plural, meaning that “they” (3rd plural, the pagans not the Corinthians) are “being baptized” (present passive).

Therefore, Paul is simply using an example practiced by the pagans to illustrate how important even the pagans view the resurrection. How much more should we who have find our identity in the true resurrection…Jesus of Nazareth, the ONLY ONE who was baptized (the cross) on behalf of others!!!

Pastor Wes

Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Christian response to the death of Osama Bin Laden


One of the questions Christians are forced to deal with is, "How should a Christian respond to the death of Bin Laden?" Some will argue that we should rejoice because justice has been served, while others will defend that the death of someone (regardless of how evil) should be grieved. So how should Christians respond to this event?


I personlly think a Christian should have mixed emotions.

On one hand, a Christian should grieve the death of Bin Laden. They should grieve the death of anyone created in the image of God, they should grieve because hell is real and those without Christ will face the eternal judgment of God, and they should grieve because it remins us of the sinfulness of mankind is a present reality. I understand why many will be quick to "rejoice" in this event (and will argue below the way in which one should), but we check our emotions in light of the gospel. Death is tragic, sin has consequences, hell is real, and Jesus is the only hope! Therefore, death, regardless of who, is to be grieved.

On the other hand, I believe a Christian can and should rejoice in the justice of Bin Laden's death. Notice the difference! There is a difference in rejoicing in the death of someone (small lens) and rejoicing in what the death represents (larger lens). Bin Laden was an evil man, who was responsible for the death of hundreds thus requiring his own life as a just consequence (Genesis 9:6). In addition, God has ordained government in the yielding of the sword to carry out such justice (Romans 13). In this, we can rejoice. Therefore, when asked the question, "Should a Christian rejoice in the death of Bin Laden or grieve over it?" My answer is "yes." Biblically we must do both.

Below are a few links that provide more perspective on this issue. I think you will find them helpful in thinking through this issue.

http://www.albertmohler.com/2011/05/02/the-trial-that-still-must-come-the-death-of-osama-bin-ladin-and-the-limits-of-human-justice/

http://www.desiringgod.org/blog/posts/is-god-glad-osama-bin-ladens-dead

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=91717

Pastor Wes