Passing the Torch—My Timothy • Training New Leadership • The Emerging Church B R I N G I N G T H E T R U T H H O M E FrontLineJuly/August 2005 • $3.95 JULY/AUGUST 2005Contents FRONTLINE MAGAZINE VOLUME 15 • NUMBER 3 6 Passing the Torch— 13 The Purpose My Timothy Driven Life and Ben Strohbehn Departments Rick Warren The unique closing of his let- John Mincy ter caused me to reflect that 4 Mail Bag four years of laboring togeth- While many are likely er had obviously resulted in converted through 5 On the Front Line Warren’s ministry, it is a “passing the torch” experi- Faithful Men also likely that just as ence. John C. Vaughn many are confused by it. 8 Training New 20 On the Home Front Leadership Wit & Wisdom Paul W. Downey 25 David Atkinson Many among us are fac- ing the reality of a personal 26 Ladies’ Circle ministry winding to a close. The Back Burner It is important to realize that Barbara Harper the ministry is not so much a marathon as a relay, connect- 29 The Evangelist’s ing generation to generation. Corner The Three Dimensions of 11 The Emerging Discipline—Part 1 Church Jerry Sivnksty Sam Harbin Though commonly known as 18 Plant Now! 30 At a Glance Prayer Primer the “generation which defies A 21st Century Layton Talbert description,” this youthful Challenge generation, descendants of Dave Barba 33 Newsworthy the baby boomers, the first Our 21st century chal- thoroughly postmodern lenge is to start new 35 Global Focus generation, has taken to churches in the USA. Help Wanted calling itself the “Emerging We need to reseed Pearson Johnson Church.” America with Bible- preaching churches. 37 Chaplain News 16 On the Ministry of Bob Ellis John Piper Michael Riley 39 Behind the Lines Precisely because Piper has To Take Up the Torch been so influential, those in Gordon A. Dickson positions of spiritual lead- ership will do well to be familiar with the basics of his theology along with the strengths and weaknesses of his ministry. Visit us on the Web at www.fbfi.org Mail Bag FrontLine We want to hear from you! Editor Executive Board Let us know what you like or don’t like Dr. John C. Vaughn Dr. Rick Arrowood President about FrontLine. Address your comments to Dr. James Baker Managing Editor, FrontLine Managing Editor Rev. Earl Barnett 500 West Lee Road, Taylors, SC 29687. Dr. Gordon A. Dickson Capt. Wayne A. Bley, You may also fax your comments to USNR (864) 322-0838 or send them by e-mail to [email protected]. Publication Editor Rev. Richard J. Cross You may request that your letter not be published or that your Mr. Steve Skaggs Dr. Johnny Daniels name be withheld, but anonymous letters will not be accepted. Dr. Mike Harding Secretary Dr. Gary Hirth Mrs. Carol Logan Dr. Sam Horn was taken aback for the officers of the Contributing Dr. David Innes Dr. David Jaspers when reading Dr. Sam Fundamental Baptist Editors I Dr. Tom Knauf Horn’s review of Dr. Fellowship to set aside Dr. Mark Minnick Dr. Layton Talbert Dr. Thomas Nieman Mark Sidwell’s edited time at an annual meet- Dr. John C. Mincy copy of d’Aubigné’s ing to provide a friendly Design Dr. Mark Minnick For God and His People: debate concerning our Mr. Mike Moreau Rev. Jeff Musgrave Harvest Media Dr. Bennie Moran Ulrich Zwingli and the Baptist origins so that Dr. Fred Moritz st Executive Officers Swiss Reformation in the 21 -century Baptists Dr. Matt Olson March/April issue of might seriously consider Dr. Chuck Phelps Dr. David Pennington the FrontLine magazine. our wonderful heritage. Vice President Dr. Chuck Phelps Rev. Bradley Smith Fundamental Baptist David L. Cummins Dr. Kevin Schaal Secretary Rev. Wilbur Schoneweis forefathers, who, in Alabama Dr. Dave Jaspers Rev. Bradley Smith 1920 established the Treasurer Dr. Wayne Van Gelderen Jr. FBF, would surely have always look forward Dr. Gordon A. Dickson Dr. Michael Yarborough thought it incongruous I to receiving FrontLine Research Secretary Dr. George Youstra that such an enemy of magazine. The articles our forebears would be challenge my think- Advisory Board Emeritus Board so honored in a future ing and cause me to Dr. Charles Britt Dr. Gary Jones publication of their soci- think and rethink my Dr. David Burggraff Dr. Gerald Carlson Dr. Bob Jones III ety. There is no question personal convictions Dr. Stephen Jones Dr. Ed Caughill Dr. Walter Kirk Mr. Mike Moreau that it would be invalu- regarding many of the Dr. Matthew Recker Dr. Walter Coles Dr. Michael Sproul Dr. Marion Fast Dr. Ed Nelson able to Fundamental controversial issues fac- Rev. Ronald Smith Jr. Dr. Collins Glenn Dr. Les Ollila Baptists to examine the ing Christianity today. Rev. Jeremy Sweatt Dr. Brian Green Dr. Randy Shaylor lives of Baptist heroes I find it especially valu- Dr. Bill Hall Dr. John Stevens Dr. Bruce Hamilton Dr. Bob Taylor such as Issac Backus, able because its writers John Leland, Francis are diligent to defend Mission Statement: The Fundamental Baptist Fellowship Wayland, Shubal Fundamentalism only as International exists to provide a rallying point for Fundamental Stearns, and Daniel it measures up to what Baptists seeking personal revival and the opportunity to work Marshall, but to honor the Bible proclaims. with committed Bible-believers in glorifying God through the an enemy of religious Although I agree with uncompromising fulfillment of the Great Commission. freedom is at variance much of what Charles As the journal of the FBFI, FrontLine Magazine provides a forum for with Baptist character. R. Phelps puts forth in God’s people to reverently express a conservative Christian perspec- I repeat, in face of his article “The Christian tive on pertinent issues. In an effort to keep readers informed, quotes the persecutions suf- and Alcohol,” I find his and references to many different individuals and organizations will appear. This does not imply the endorsement of the magazine or its fered by Anabaptists at argument that “The Bible board. Unsolicited manuscripts and artwork accepted for review. his hand, I find it dif- says that . priests are Advertising: For information contact Harvest Media at (847) ficult to understand how not to drink” difficult to 352-4345 or FAX (847) 352-0317. All advertising in FrontLine is for a Baptist publication defend based upon the the sole purpose of sharing valuable resource materials with our could ever honor Ulrich Scripture that he cites readers. Although we carefully screen the materials, we are not giv- Zwingli’s memory. I (Lev 10:8, 9). He cites ing a blanket endorsement of any products or advertisers. fear that many who only part of the state- today profess to be ment, for God actually FrontLine Magazine “Fundamental Baptists” says to Aaron “Do not 500 West Lee Road • Taylors, SC 29687 are in essence merely drink wine nor strong (800) 376-6856 • (864) 292-3010 • FAX (864) 322-0838 “evangelical immersion- drink, thou, nor thy sons E-Mail: [email protected] • www.fbfi.org ists.” It might be well Continued on page 46 COPYRIGHT 2005 FrontLine Magazine. No materials may be reproduced in any manner without prior written permission of the publishers. ISSN 1526-8284 4 FrontLine • July/August 2005 On the Front Line A NOTE FROM THE PRESIDENT Faithful Men n what may very well have will pass the torch far from the finish prayed that this faithful man would been an introduction to Paul’s line. It would be a sad spectacle to see “find mercy of the Lord in that day.” philosophy of ministry, he a runner refusing to hand it off, while Knowing that a day of reckoning was wrote to Timothy, “Thou there- he presses on in near exhaustion until imminent, he taught Timothy to stay fore, my son, be strong in the he, and the torch, fall out of the race. plugged in. grace that is in Christ Jesus. Clearly, any successful ministry must Empowering grace is not for per- And the things that thou hast include a successor. sonal indulgence. The relay is not Iheard of me among many witnesses, Think of the poignant simplicity about the runner, it is about the torch. the same commit thou to faithful of Paul’s exhortation. He has just Power drives principles: “the things men, who shall be able to teach oth- reminded Timothy of the ministry that thou hast heard of me among ers also.” There is much more in and influence of others: that of Christ, many witnesses.” The ministry is that second chapter of 2 Timothy, of himself, and both unfaithful and faith- about a message about a Man. There is course, and all the Pastoral Epistles ful helpers. In that context, he says, no success apart from taking that mes- are essentially a philosophy of min- “Thou therefore, my son. .” As we sage from the faithful men who have istry. But these two verses are at the hear the words of Ron Hamilton’s gone before us, holding it high while heart of the matter. song echoing in our it is in our hands, then passing it on to Spiritual lead- minds and remem- the faithful men who will run after us. ers must first be It would be a sad ber that “faithful A missionary can spend a lifetime on empowered by men have gone the foreign field, building a compound the “grace that is spectacle to see a before us,” we have with no one there to use it for God’s in Christ Jesus,” runner refusing to no choice but to com- glory when he is gone.