Tongues, Hermeneutics, and Calling

I'm on the tail end of my break here in Texas. I'll get a good number of hours in due to a few tragedies. My job rehired me in 10 minutes and I worked the same day, thanks to God. The tendency or temptation would be to say "look how good I am, they wanted me back and took me back in no time!" No, the glory and provision goes to God. He wanted me back here for a reason. One thing I was able to do was cover a good amount of spiritual ground with most of the newer deli employees. That itself might have been God's purpose. Since I left I've wanted to witness to the guy who is a former Mormon in practice, but still is one in doctrine. He could be affectionately called a "backslidden Mormon." I also have had the opportunity to do some evangelism in the area and get some reading and study done for classes.

I preached at my old park and a guy from Albertsons I used to work with was there jogging to hear the gospel. Another day at the park, two Mormon missionaries (ages 20 and 21) were there. As I walked by with my Bible one of them came after me on his bike to talk. His immediate response to my Bible was that they believe it AND the Book of Mormon was the Word of God. We all three sat down at a bench and had a civil conversation. I admitted that would probably not read their testament and pray to see if it's true (I already know the God of truth and His written Word). I did say I had some questions however. They told me salvation is by faith in the sacrifice of Christ after all that we can do. I read to them Ephesians 2:8-9. They didn't know how to harmonize works and faith, but just said they work together somehow. We ended on a friendly note and I told them this discussion of faith and works for salvation has eternal ramifications and made it clear that we disagreed on that. They however told me that I had the Holy Spirit just as they did. They said my demeanor showed them I was saved. They said all churches have some of the truth... the Mormons just have the rest of it. Afterward I thought "wow, at least the JW's have the eternal punishment and judgment side of things right!" It almost seems as if even the Mormons are becoming somewhat postmodern!!

The Lord also gave me the courage to preach to the kids at the skate park again. I haven't done that in over a year. It was rather full too. I preached th entire message. Of course, kids were kids though. They cussed a lot and mocked a little. One of them lit up a cigarette. I ended saying that I would lay a small stack of my business cards on the slab of sidewalk I was standing (just outside the fence of the park). They could email any questions they may have and I'd answer them more clearly than I would in person. I also said I would sit on the nearby bench for the following 10 minutes to talk individually if they wanted. I did these things and afterward realized that they convey an important message that motivates me to consider this principle more. By putting the cards out in the open on the OTHER SIDE of the fence... the kids would have to walk out and around to pick up a card in front of all the rest of their friends and skateboarders. Furthermore, if they wanted to talk to me in person, they would have had to walk even further out in the open and in front of everyone. They would have had to risk the humuliation of their peers. Needless to say pride or fear prevented anyone from talk with me, but one kid did take a card. Pray for him. I could hear them talking as I sat there. Some were saying "go ask him _____." Others were saying "are you defending him?!" Please pray for those kids.

I also got to preach in good ole downtown ft. worth. I used the springboard "Where did the soul come from?" and discussed some of the things I was learning in school. I have video of part of the preaching that I'll upload to youtube soon. A woman actually got up on my stool partially drunk to spout her prideful ramblings of why she didn't believe in God. I allowed her to make a fool of herself and just continued preaching. Romans 1 didn't lie when it spoke of humanity. My plan is to go back downtown once or twice before I leave Easter Sunday night.

So I was talking to Travis Friday night and we talked about Tongues and if it was used legitimately today. He told a story that I think I was impressed with. He said he visited a church once where the worship leader "spoke in tongues" and afterward something very interesting and unusual happened. The pastor came up and pointed this out, only to say "here we want to do things biblically" and asked the congregation if anyone had an interpretation. When no one did he turned to the worship leader in love without a hint of anything else and politely asked him to not to do that. Does this suggest the pastor was familiar with it being done biblically? I don't know. I wonder if the pastor was reprimanded for that? I will admit that this is the closest thing I've seen to a biblical representation of the gift of tongues, while it was not done evangelistically as I think Acts suggests. Call me an open Cessationalist... from what I can see... the gift is not normative for today. On the other hand, I would certainly be interested in studying modern churches or observing if the gift was actually practiced biblically.

Last night I was the on the phone with a friend discussing a movie. He thought a major problem in the movie would have been solved if the main character just did one thing. He said he thought the villian was after something and he would stop his attack if he only had that something. I reasoned that the storyline didn't seem to give us that impression or reveal that to us and in fact the clues were somewhat against that theory. I began to put pieces together that made a case that the point of the villian's attack was simply to destroy the main character. This morning it hit me... my friend was interpreting the motive behind the villians' actions and based upon the context of the story and the pieces of the narrative, I interpreted it otherwise. I asked myself this morning... am I observing life the same way I'm observing the Bible? Is all that I'm learning now leaking into my life as I travel through day-to-day events and come across differences of opinion? I tell you... I love Bible college! Thank you Lord for my growth as an expositor and the ready memory of the principles I'm learning!

Finally I wanted to say that I've been praying (if I haven't said already) about if the Lord may want me to be a pastor... but not just that, a missions pastor? I spoke briefly with a professor of mine who was a missions pastor for 9 years. It never occurred to me that one could pastor a flock and in a way be a missionary as well. He said people in other countries have a lot less tools to study the Word than we do here and someone who has had a formal Bible education would have a significant advantage and a significant amount to bring to a people of another country. Immediately my mind dreamed into a future of teaching Hermeneutics and how to study the Bible to people who don't even have a concordance. I could imagine my heart being warmed when they grasp the basic principles of interpretation and Theology and soak up the spiritual milk and meat of the Word. I've always loved to see new believers learn and grow in Christ. Please be with me in prayer as I consider this and seek God's will.

Prayer requests:
-Mormons at the park and Mormon at work
-The seeds sown over break in the hearts of the others at work
-Missions pastor?
-Efficiency and diligence in reading for the remainder of the break