Rev., Brother, Deacon, Sister, Pastor, Elder, Dr., Prophet, Preacher, etc.

Melissa brought up this title a few weeks ago. It is a post that is hard to "title."

Should we address each other as brother John and sister Melissa. What about the deacons and pastor. As a pastor I wonder what it would be like to have someone call me Right Reverend Dr. Pastor Preacher _________?

Can these titles become a source of pride? Do we like titles because it makes us feel important or superior to someone else?

What do you think?
What does your church practice?

UNCONDITIONAL ELECTION

Mike Ratcliffe does a good job going over the issue of Unconditional Election. It is not an exhaustive work but is anything an exhaustive work. As he starts out...

"The Doctrine of Unconditional Election is not for sissies."

SIN

Steve Fuentes suggested this little question...

From whence did sin come? Is it God or the devil? What are the implications of what you believe about this?

IDEAS

Every week or so, I will write about a topic of your choice. If you have a request, please email me at deadtheologians@gmail.com

WITH JESUS

“Now, I know that someday I am going to come to what some people will say is the end of this life. They will probably put me in a box and roll me right down here in front of the church, and some people will gather around, and a few people will cry. But I have told them not to do that because I don’t want them to cry. I want them to begin the service with the Doxology and end with the Hallelujah chorus, because I am not going to be there, and I am not going to be dead. I will be more alive than I have ever been in my life, and I will be looking down upon you poor people who are still in the land of dying and have not yet joined me in the land of the living. And I will be alive forevermore, in greater health and vitality and joy than ever, ever, I or anyone has known before.”

D. James Kennedy, Ph.D.

BAPTISM

One interesting part of the Christian life is working out how we feel about the ordinances of the church, namely communion and baptism. How this relates to church membership also adds another angle to the mix.

This post got me thinking. The issue at hand is baptism. We know the modes of baptism are different. We also know that the reasons for baptism are different for some. The question I have is ...

Can someone join your church (or should they be able to) if they have not been baptized in the mode that your church recognizes and for the same reasons your church recognizes?

Should that person be allowed to join AND participate in communion?

I welcome your comments as this discussion is normally a good one.

ANOTHER INTERESTING POST

I came across this post after scouring through my comments section.

It deals with the idea of fundraising at churches. I have had a problem with it for years. To drive by a church and see a "yard sale" on the front lawn of the church just kills the idea of what church is about.

The other posts on this site are also very good so give it a look.