Over the next few weeks I’ll be writing several blogs about the biblical idea of marriage, and how to make our marriages better based upon the teachings and principles found in the Bible. No matter what the Supreme Court might decide based upon the arguments heard this week in regards to gay marriage, the Scriptures are clear as to what constitutes a marriage in the eyes of God. This institution has been and will always be a covenant relationship between one man and one woman for life. The Old Testament paints marriage as a spiritual picture of God’s relationship with Israel, just as the New Testament provides a similar portrayal of the relationship Christ has with His church.

On June 18 of this year my wife and I will celebrate our 30th anniversary, and through our years together we have experienced many things both good and bad. During our most trying times God has always provided for our needs, but particularly He has provided us with comfort and guidance when all seemed to be lost. Because of His presence we have a stronger relationship with each other, and we believe it is the acknowledgment and practice of His Word that continues to bind us together. The things of which I will write over the next few weeks will be based upon what I’ve learned in my own marriage, education, and the 20 plus years of pastoral care counseling I’ve done with hundreds of couples.

First, as Christians we are to view marriage as a sacred gift from God. As we comb the Scriptures it’s easy to see how the idea of marriage belongs to God alone, and it is to be highly valued and protected by those who hold to the Bible as true. A high priority is placed upon marriage because of what it represents and the foundation it provides for a stable society.

We should also be reminded that we were created for fellowship as designed by God in order to ultimately glorify Him. Some mistakenly teach that our spouse is a gift which is to complete us, yet the truth is our spouse is to complement us in our work and service together for God. The “helpmate” spoken of in Genesis 2:18 is one who provides strength where the other is weak and vice versa.

As a husband, if I truly believe that my wife is God’s gift to me then I should see her as something precious and of great value which I would want to protect. As a wife, if I believe my husband is God’s gift to me then I too would place great value upon him and would seek to be a support in order to help meet his needs. God’s idea of marriage is to be balanced and mutually fulfilling, and if we approach it as such then our relationships with each other will be much more rewarding.

Secondly, many relationships in our culture today began on the wrong footing because they are based upon a physical attraction. These marriages and relationships are primarily expressed through physical intimacy and are rarely strong enough to last. Typically one or both suffer with low self-esteem which ultimately leads to a relationship with fewer outside friends because the physical contact becomes all-consuming. True intimacy suffers because these couples really never learn how to communicate with each other, and their relationship is normally over within a three to five year period of time.

Third, the ideal foundation for a marriage is built upon a friendship based upon common goals and attitudes which are primarily rooted in a belief in Jesus Christ. If Christ is at the center of each individual’s life within a relationship, then He also becomes the connecting ligament that holds the relationship together. While our spouses complement us it is Christ Who completes us.

If we hold Christ in common with our spouse then this one shared focus provides us a consistent foundation to build upon. It is a proven fact that those who hold similar religious views and levels of commitment are more likely to stay together. In reality your spouse should be your best friend upon this earth. This is the person who you are intimate with physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This is also the person who is your closest confidant next to Christ, and who lifts you in prayer when all others willingly forsake you.

I leave you with this thought which I've shared with many others; “If you desire a better wife then be a better husband, and if you desire a better husband then be a better wife.” Continue to develop your friendship. Spend time together in the daily routines of life. Attend church together, pray together, develop new interest together, but most of all walk together in Christ praying for one another and being a strength where the other is weak.

In Christ,
Rod

It’s interesting what has taken place recently in regards to the gay marriage issue. Senator Rob Portman, a Republican from Ohio, recently revealed that he is now a supporter of gay marriage. Senator Portman’s son has just come forth and revealed he is a practicing homosexual. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has also just stated as of yesterday that her views on gay marriage have “evolved.” This is the same wording that President Obama used last summer in describing his change of heart and why he now supports gay marriage.

The idea that our beliefs “evolve” based upon a changing society is not so hard to fathom. For the lack of a better term I suppose we do “evolve” positionally based upon our obtaining of new knowledge about various subjects. If we were talking about football and defensive schemes run by NFL teams I would tell you that my thinking has “evolved.” I now believe a 3 – 4 defensive alignment is better than the 4 – 3 configuration because of its aggressive nature and flexibility to create problems for NFL offenses. If we’re talking about politics I can tell you my thinking has “evolved” and that is why I am now a conservative independent.

First let me say I am not a proponent of evolution. I personally believe the whole idea of scientific evolution to be false and primarily promoted by those in academia out of fear and hatred toward God. Second, the idea of evolving means that we are somehow progressing from a lesser state to a higher state of thinking, being, or position. Just because I state that my political beliefs or ideas about defenses in the NFL have evolved doesn’t necessarily mean that I have actually “evolved,” the most likely answer is I’ve simply changed my mind based upon personal preferences.

Some have the idea that everything evolves including our understanding of hallowed writings. I believe it was Dr. D. James Kennedy who once spoke of the dangers of evolution and the affects it has upon certain texts such as the Bible. If one believes in the theory of evolution then it is not so far-fetched to also believe that our interpretation of sacred writings will evolve as man evolves. This is an argument that has been used by secular progressives in regards to the Constitution of the United States. These individuals argue that the Constitution is an open document and therefore is open to change as society changes. If we are to follow this argument to its completion it is no longer important then to question what the framers of the Constitution actually meant; their thoughts and ideas are no longer applicable to our present society.

When this philosophical belief is applied to the Scriptures, it in essence, changes everything we know about God and His Word. Instead of interpreting a passage in its literal sense based upon a historical and grammatical method one could simply say, “This particular passage has taken on a new meaning because of cultural and societal changes.” Those with neo-orthodox leanings would argue that the “Bible contains truth” not that the “Bible is true.” Herein is where we arrive at two problems for those who follow this type of logic.

One, homosexuality and gay marriage is not a political issue nor is it a new cultural phenomenon. Homosexuality and the issue of gay marriage is a moral issue rooted in the sinful nature of man, and played out in the depravity of man’s behavioral choices. Those who would rail against the writings of Moses in the book of Exodus and the Apostle Paul in Romans with their modern interpretations simply prove my point. Their arguments concerning the “lack of hospitality” and what would be "natural" versus "unnatural" just to name two are not only weak but ludicrous.

Two, if one believes the Bible to be true then the Bible is an extension of God being that it is His testimony to mankind. The Scriptures teach us that God is immutable, meaning He does not change; therefore if God is unchangeable then His Word is also unchangeable. Note the passages below.

The Word of God not only speaks against the practice of homosexuality and all forms of sexual perversion, but clearly reveals that God does not evolve nor do His teachings. So our political leaders, Hollywood stars, leaders in academia, and society as a whole may believe their positions on homosexuality are evolving yet the Scriptures would suggest something else. At best the majority of Americans may simply be changing their minds, but most likely we are de-evolving as a society morally and scripturally. If we in America continue to follow this road of moral degradation it can only end in one way which is with the destruction of our country. I pray you do not believe the myth that we are “too big to fail.”

Note this statement from Dr. D. James Kennedy in his book, “What’s Wrong with Same-Sex Marriage?”

Let us pray again for our country and her leaders. Pray for Christian teachers in public and private schools and that they will have a profound influence upon young minds. Pray for Christian businessmen and women in hopes that they will invest in pro-family businesses and organizations. Pray for our Christian political leaders that they will stand for traditional families in spite of mounting opposition. And pray for our clergy an evangelist that they will have the backbone to boldly proclaim the truth of God’s Word no matter the cost.

May God strengthen you in your daily walk,
Rod

[1] D. James Kennedy, What's Wrong with Same-Sex Marriage, (Wheaton, Illinois Crossway, 2005), 48 – 49

It’s not uncommon when I speak on Sunday mornings and evenings that at least one parishioner when leaving shakes my hand and shares how much they enjoyed or appreciated, “Today’s lesson,” in reference to the message just preached. Other pastors have shared with me over the last 25 years similar stories how one or two of their congregants are always complementary each Sunday. I, like many of my pastor friends, am always thankful for their kind words and humbled by the fact that God chose me to be the conduit for His message. With these encouraging words I attempt to convey to these individuals that if anything good comes from Rod West it is not me but God who lives in and through me. I chose many years ago Philippians 1:6 as my life verse which states: “being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

What often amazes me with the statement, “Today’s lesson,” is how many church members view expositional preaching as some sort of advanced Sunday school class. Members in various churches where I’ve served through the years have told me they didn’t consider my style of delivery as preaching, which just happens to be expositional in nature. Frequently I follow their statement with two or three questions.

Normally my first question is, “What do you consider preaching?” The answers are usually long and disjointed which often ends with, “I don’t really know how to explain it pastor.” My follow-up question is typically, “Well who do you consider to be the two greatest preachers in the Bible?” As expected these answers vary but rarely do I hear the names of Christ Jesus and the Apostle Paul. My third question, “What do you consider to be the style or manner in which Christ Jesus and the Apostle Paul spoke?” By no means is this a scientific poll but greater than 90% of the time I would say their answer is “teaching.”

The word exposition means to “expound or explain.” So expositional preaching simply means to explain the Scriptures from a historical and grammatical context in order to bring understanding to the listener. In a sense expositional preaching is teaching. The main goal of this type of preaching is to state accurately what a particular passage of Scripture says, to a particular group of people, at a particular time in history. Once this goal is achieved, and only then, can we begin to draw out the principles and applications that are meaningful for Christians in this day and age. Some of you may have heard expositional preaching described as, “book by book, verse by verse, line by line, and word by word.” This is a simple explanation that often satisfies but in no way conveys the depth of work and study associated with this style of preaching.  

This type of preaching is easily seen in Paul’s letters, particularly in the Book of Romans as he writes as a polemicist. And even though many would suggest Christ Jesus was more of a storyteller I would beg to differ; He would often follow His parables with the expounding of Old Testament passages and explanations given to His disciples in private. Second Timothy is a Pastoral Epistle in which the Apostle Paul encourages Timothy, his protégé, to follow this mode of instruction. Note the following verse: 2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”

So what’s my point? My point is that without this type of preaching from the pulpits of our Churches in America we are destined to die. Our young people are walking away from the Church by droves every year because they have not been taught the doctrines which are foundational to our faith.

It appears many pastors and Church leaders are afraid to tackle the tough questions that these young people have in regards to science and ethics and I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because many of our pastors and Church leaders have become lazy in their studies, or possibly they are intimidated by scientist and other secular leaders with advanced degrees. I’m constantly reading trying to stay abreast of not what only is afoot culturally, but also new scientific findings in order to answer the questions that I know my listeners will eventually ask. I can only speak for myself but I’m sure many other pastors feel as I do, and I don’t care how many advanced degrees a person has because I am confident The Word of God is able to stand on its own.

I realize pastors are often pulled in many directions because of the multiple responsibilities and duties we shoulder, but our first priority as a minister of the Gospel should be our devotion to prayer and study in order to edify the body of Christ. Clearly the Apostles of the early Church set the standard for pastors today from a priority standpoint: Acts 6:4 (ESV) “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”

I want to encourage you to do three things. One, take a few minutes each day to pray for your pastor/pastors and that he/they will preach and teach the Word of God with boldness and without regret. Two, encourage your pastor/s and teachers to go beyond the status quo and dig deep into the Scriptures in order to edify the body of Christ. And three watch Ken Ham’s video below which is only three minutes long and relates too much of what I’ve written about this week.

Blessings in the Name of Christ,
Rod

In 2009 I was pastoring a new church start which was just a few years old when we found ourselves in a terrible “pickle” as the old saying goes. We were meeting in a leased building when the owner gave us an option to buy the facilities or move. Many of our church members were quite distressed with this proposition; they had spent a great deal of time, energy and money in renovations and becoming a positive witness in the community. Some were also concerned with the proposed price tag of the property. The reality was that we were already paying more than 10 thousand dollars a month in lease and utilities. To go beyond that amount with a mortgage payment would be not only a strain but poor stewardship.  

Things can only get better, right? Wrong!

Right away we began looking for a new facility that could meet our needs and the vision God had given us only to find one closed door after another. Wilmington can be a very expensive place to live and operate any ministry or business. I should also say that some local officials aren’t very helpful especially when it involves churches or Christian ministries. To make matters worse, a local pastor and his leadership wanted to sell their church building in order to move to a new location.  His congregation was about twice as large and needed more space. After talking several times he encouraged us to give our notice to vacate our present building and prepare to buy their church facilities. Everything seemed to be working out for both congregations until this pastor and his elders changed their minds. It was too late for us, and we were without a building altogether. We now had thirty days to find a new building from which to operate, or we would be homeless so to speak.

God is rarely early but He is always on time!

So what did we do? First we rented a warehouse in order to store many of our materials and to have an office to work from during the week. Second we changed our worship times because of an unexpected opportunity. Another local pastor offered us the uses of his facilities on Sunday afternoons and Wednesday evenings which turned out to be a blessing for both churches. To be frank with you, this was no easy feat. Even though the majority of our congregation is very loving they are like most others who are fond of Church traditions. I was asking them to do something that was out of the norm, and they never let me down. As a pastor I can truthfully say I couldn’t have asked for a better group of people to shepherd. I was proud of them for exercising their faith and not giving up where others had by seeking “greener pastures”.       

Here is where the story really gets good!

I knew God had something greater for us as a congregation, and I just needed to be ready when He revealed His will. After several days of deep prayer and witnessing a need in our community, as well as in our congregation, I knew what we were to do from a ministry standpoint. One of our members was an evangelist named Chris Rollings. Reverend Chris operates an evangelistic ministry called Calvary Praise Ministry and is a frequent speaker in jails and prisons throughout South Carolina.  Chris’ style of preaching is probably identified best as “in your face” preaching and for good reason.  He personally knows what it takes to win a convict to Christ. His personal story is worth hearing time and time again.

I incorporated Chris’ help for a new ministry because I thought he was the perfect fit. With our services moved to Sunday afternoons we now had a great opportunity to reach out to the un-churched community. Chris and I headed out one Sunday morning to investigate the plausibility of a new ministry at Greenfield Park in downtown Wilmington. This was the area where a large number of homeless people lived or spent the majority of their time. We began talking to these folks trying to get a feel for who they were and why many had chosen to live this lifestyle. That’s right many of these individuals CHOOSE to be homeless. Some are ex-convicts, drug addicts, prostitutes, runaways, mentally ill, and saddest of all veterans with no place to call home.

The next week we began holding Sunday morning services in the park. Our mission was to feed these individuals both physically and spiritually. We began building relationships with these folks hoping they would trust us enough to one day help them move beyond their present circumstances. They would have to have the desire to do so because that was the one thing we couldn’t provide.

Each week members of our church would put together bags of food and other personal care items for the homeless as we worshiped together in the park. Slowly and steadily folks would come out of the woods to worship with us, and afterwards members would sit and talk with these individuals that others often shunned. The Wilmington police loved having us in the park and were a great help until city officials became involved and wanted to move the homeless out of the area. We understood their concerns about families not feeling comfortable, but it didn’t change the fact these people were still going to gather somewhere. The homeless were still going to be hungry and in need of spiritual care.

At last count the city of Wilmington has more than 2,000 people considered to be homeless, and while a large number choose this lifestyle others do not. To make a long story short Chris has become the pastor to many of these people through what is now known as the Wilmington Homeless Ministry. Chris, Steve Lambros, a deacon at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church, and Glenda Dodge, a lay member also from MGBC, continue to run this ministry each week out of the VFW on Carolina Beach Road in Wilmington. They average 50 people in their Sunday morning service each week, still reaching a group of undesirables that need to know Christ as Savior.

Space just doesn’t permit me to tell you all the stories behind these folks. I can tell you that we have lost several by murder and exposure to the elements. I can tell you that there is a young woman trapped in prostitution and is constantly under the threat of harm if she tries to leave, and this ministry provides her with a sense of hope. I can tell you many have come to know Christ and have made profound changes in their lives. I can also tell you there is still much work to do and others continue to struggle with addictions, daily threats, and extreme poverty. And with all that said Chris Rollings is still the best one to reach them.   

I thank God for Chris and his team of two. If you’re thankful for these ministers of grace let me ask you to do something for them.

1. Pray for them and the people they serve.
2. If you live in Wilmington consider helping them on Sunday morning. Set one Sunday aside and join them for worship. Sit with these folks and just talk to them, offer prayers, and maybe open the Word and take them step by step through the Scriptures and show them how to be saved.
3.  Send Chris and his team a word of encouragement. If you’d like to send them an email free feel to send it to me on my contact page, and I will forward it to them.
4. You can help them financially. You can send a check to: 

Calvary Praise Ministry
476 Vallie Lane
Wilmington, NC 28412

Or,

Myrtle Grove Baptist Church
(Wilmington Homeless Ministry)
5524 Myrtle Grove Road
Wilmington, NC 28409

Blessings,
Rod

On Friday I had surgery for a deviated septum; just another consequence from getting older and playing college football a few years back. (Thanks to the surgery I’m also going to be out of commission for the next week so I thought I might write a little extra while I’m laid up at home.) As I arrived at SurgCare of Wilmington Teresa and I went through the standard process of signing in, filling out all the remaining paperwork, and of course writing another check for a service yet to be rendered.

As I sat at the desk of a very nice woman who was finalizing everything for my procedure I read the many personal postings on her cubicle wall. Now mind you I wasn't being “nosy,” (just a little humor), but most of us place pictures and other items in our work space because they’re meaningful to us and often inspiring. This particular woman had two things that caught my eye. One was a short statement on a post-it note that read, “Before you lay your head down to sleep make sure you thank the Lord for waking you up today.” The second was a full page prayer which called on the name of Jesus no less than five times.

I debated with myself if I was going to make a joke when we wrote the check about paying through the nose or drawing her into a conversation about the prayers on her wall. To say the least it wasn't much of a debate, I went with the prayers. I should also say here that I do have a little mischievous streak that sometimes shows up and is hard to read for those that don’t know me very well.

When I signed the last form and handed her pen back I looked straight into her eyes and asked, “Do you really believe in this Jesus guy?”

This dear woman looked at me with fear and utter shock. Her mouth fell open and not one sound proceeded forth for what seemed like five minutes. Fortunately for her Teresa was standing behind me who, within a few seconds, slapped me on the back and emphatically said, “ROD!” I laughed and shared with her that I was a minister and follower of Christ Jesus. Her shoulders dropped and she sat back in her seat with a deep sense of relief. She then shared with us that no one had ever said anything to her about these prayers. Once she did have a young person sitting at her desk holding a book about atheism which caused her some discomfort. I thanked her for having her faith on display by sharing these prayers and then Teresa and I promptly returned to our seats in the waiting area.

Later in the evening after returning home I thought about this woman’s reaction to my question. Was her response more fear than shock or vice versa? Was she afraid she would have to defend her beliefs before an unbeliever who might ask questions she couldn't answers or cause her to doubt the very faith she put on display? Was she shocked because in her mind she couldn't begin to conceive anyone not believing in Christ Jesus especially here in the south where there is a church around every bend? I personally believe she falls with the latter simply because of her words, “I never …”

What would you say?

I’m concerned deeply for those like this dear lady at SurgCare. They actually believe the world is basically good and are shocked when others challenge the veracity of Christ and His Word. In reality the world is evil and as Christians we should never be shocked of man’s contempt for Christ.

I believe those who are fearfully hesitant far outnumber the goodhearted shocked individuals. I can’t tell you the number of Christians who have shared with me their horror of being put on the spot by non-Christians. “What if they ask me a question I can’t answer Pastor Rod?” I remember having similar concerns in the mid-eighties and my mentor was a great help. After sharing my apprehensions Dr. Wheeler reminded me that no one has all the answers, but it’s the wise person who is resourceful and knows where to look in order to obtain those answers.

We need to learn how to use the tools at hand including pastors, teachers, and the elders of our churches. But the greatest thing we need to learn how to use is the Word of God and the only way this can be accomplished is to spend time studying every day. Scripture reading, meditation, memorization and prayer are habits developed by those who are dedicated to finding answers in order to make an eternal difference. 

I want to encourage you to do several things:

1. Develop good study habits by making reading the Word a daily priority. 
2. Designate a time for prayer everyday.
3. Devote yourself to memorizing Scripture.
4. Seek to spend some personal time with your pastors & teachers in order to ask questions and help you grow.

Blessings,
Rod