Man to Man

The Culture of Church:

Part Two- Church Renewal

By Michael DeAngelis

In part one, we examined the need and current condition of the modern church. One caveat to this discussion is that we are speaking of churches in general terms. There certainly are a good number of churches that are healthy and thriving.

But if your church is one that is diagnosed as sick or in critical condition, then this installment of the Culture of Church will provide some guidance for strengthening the church.

First Timothy 3 is the best description of good leadership in the church. There are a few distinct characteristics that we will highlight.

A godly leader should be a leader within his own home. That means his family matters (children, wife, parents, finances, etc.) should be consistently in line with the Bible.

If someone asks for forgiveness, be free in providing it. And if you are the one doing the asking be sure it is heart felt and that you are ready to correct the wrong you did.

All members of the body have been given various gifts that work together to minister to the body. A healthy church will encourage the proper use of gifts. Men should encourage others including their wives and children to exercise their gifts.

To develop gifts, opportunities to participate in ministry must be provided to others. No elitism.

When you are able to work on these areas in the church, you will surely grow in faith and numbers as the Lord places you in His harvest field.

By M. W. Carvalho

If that poor young girl was with child,

would we righteously send her to the caves that night knowing she obviously married to save face?

What would we do?

And when that boy lingered in the temple

asking His thoughtful questions and comments would we sneer; who is it that asks such questions?

What would we do?

Or when the Man fed thousands with scraps

would we some time later yell, "Crucify Him!" because He clashed with our religion?

What would we do?

Could we follow a Man claiming to be God’s Son?

This man who is often found loudly speaking against religious orthodoxy?

How can He be correct if most are wrong?

What would we do?

Then with the return of the Savior newly proclaimed far and wide

would we sleepily ask our wives if the "Wheel of Fortune" is on yet?

What would we do?

Let’s not assume we will choose Christ and His way,

but let’s ready ourselves through prayer, study, love and patience.

No matter what season we find we’re in…

I was in a meeting recently discussing a trip to Rome. Ah, Roma. City of lovers and dreamers and Christian history.

As we discussed the title for this meeting, a Senior Vice President of the company made a comment about calling it Christian Food 3000. He proceeded to comment that Rome is where billions of lions have been served…Christian burgers.

My immediate reaction was to move away from him for fear of being struck with lightening. But what I soon realized was nobody reprimanded him about this insensitive and clearly bias remark.

You see, it has become fashionable to bash Christians even though we have the same protection under the law.

We have become passive. We allow people to make offensive comments without risk of an official complaint.

Furthermore, it is a rare occurrence when the American Civil Liberties Union fights for rights of Christians. More times than not, they are fighting to censor Christians.

So what’s a person to do? How can an employee address this pressing issue with bosses and senior managers?

The first step is to notify the manager(s) that you have been offended by the comments. Being a Christian does not make you a second class citizen.

Second, discuss with management a way to reduce the likelihood that this will happen again. There is no reason you should have to endure that type of insensitivity.

Third, pray that the Lord will give you wisdom, patience, and a guarded tongue so that you can talk to others about this issue without causing more harm.

Finally, be proud and open about your Christian beliefs. An employer cannot prevent you from posting or wearing religious slogans, pictures or symbols. If people around you know that you are committed Christian, it will put them on notice about making such comments in the future.

Christians need to stand firm on their beliefs. Jesus says that if we testify about Him before man, He will testify for us before the Father. That would be an awesome blessing.

Don’t let anyone treat you like ground meat. Stand up for Jesus.

History of our Hymns:

It is Well with My Soul¹

This beloved gospel song was written by a Chicago Presbyterian layman, Horatio G. Spafford, born in North Troy, New York, on October 20, 1828. As a young man Spafford had established a most successful legal practice in Chicago. Despite his financial success, he always maintained a keen interest in Christian activities. He enjoyed a close and active relationship with D. L. Moody and the other evangelical leaders of that era. He was described by George Stebbins, a noted gospel musician, as a "man of unusual intelligence and refinement, deeply spiritual, and a devoted student of the Scriptures."

Some months prior to the Chicago Fire of 1871, Spafford had invested heavily in real estate on the shore of Lake Michigan, and his holdings were wiped out by this disaster. Just before this he had experienced the death of his son. Desiring a rest for his wife and four daughters as well as wishing to join and assist Moody and Sankey in one of their campaigns in Great Britain, Spafford planned a European trip for his family in 1873. In November of that year, due to unexpected last minute business developments, he had to remain in Chicago; but he sent his wife and four daughters on ahead as scheduled on the S.S. Ville du Havre. He expected to follow in a few days. On November 22 the ship was struck by the Lochearn, an English vessel, and sank in twelve minutes. Several days later the survivors were finally landed at Cardiff, Wales, and Mrs. Spafford cabled her husband, "Saved alone."

Shortly afterward Spafford left by ship to join his bereaved wife. It is speculated that on the sea near the area where it was thought his four daughters had drowned, Spafford penned this text with words so significantly describing his own personal grief, "When sorrows like sea billows roll..." It is noteworthy, however, that Spafford does not dwell on the theme of life's sorrows and trials but focuses attention in the third stanza on the redemptive work of Christ and in the fourth verse anticipates His glorious second coming. Humanly speaking, it is amazing that one could experience such personal tragedies and sorrows as did Horatio Spafford and still be able to say with such convincing clarity, "It is well with my soul."

In his late life Spafford experienced a mental disturbance which prompted him to go to Jerusalem under the strange delusion that he was the second Messiah. He died there in 1888 at the age of sixty.

Philip P. Bliss was so impressed with the experience and expression of Spafford's text that he shortly wrote the music for it, first published in one of the Sankey-Bliss Hymnals, Gospel Hymns No. Two, in 1876. Bliss was a prolific writer of gospel songs throughout his brief lifetime. In most cases he wrote both the words and music for his hymns. His songs, like most early gospel hymnody, are strong in emotional appeal with tunes that are easily learned and sung.

1. 101 Hymn Stories by Kenneth Osbeck,

(c) Copyright 1982 by Kregel Publications, Division of Kregel, Inc.

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Editor: Michael A. DeAngelis

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