Calvary Baptist Seminary hosted the Advancing the Church Conference a few weeks ago, and the conference audio is now available.
Mark Dever was the keynote speaker, and he interacted with Dave Doran, Kevin Bauder, and other fundamentalist leaders in two panels:
Kevin Bauder shares his perspective on the conference in “Reflections after the Encounter: Considering the Current Situation of Fundamentalism and Evangelicalism; or, Why I Am Still a Fundamentalist (And How I Am Not).”
Why do so few churches have a plurality of elders?
Benjamin L. Merkle suggests three reasons in 40 Questions about Elders and Deacons 
(Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2008), 188–91:
Some of his shrewd observations about fear of change apply to more than changing a church’s polity (pp. 189–90, numbering added):
Fear is a motivating factor in the lives of many people, and fear of change often is what holds back a church from adopting and implementing plural eldership.
[Pastors fear change.]
- Pastors fear that the congregation will reject their ideas.
- They fear that the church will split if they try to change the constitution or bylaws in regard to church government.
- They fear that their efforts will fail and the church will be worse off than before.
- They fear having to do the hard work of educating the congregation about eldership.
- Other pastors fear that they might lose some of their power and authority in the church. Newton agrees: “At the root of much opposition to plural eldership are pastors who fear the loss of their authority in the church.”
Those in the congregation are also fearful.
- They fear that things might not be as comfortable as they are now. [Read more…] about Fear of Change
Last month I presented a three-hour address to my church entitled “Called to Work: How We Should View and Do Work.”
Here’s the outline:
1.1. Work is awful.
1.2. Work is meaningless.
1.3. Work is everything.
1.4. Work is money.
1.5. “Secular” work is inferior to “full-time Christian ministry.”
2.1. Work at Creation [Read more…] about Called to Work
Is this vapid, moralistic therapeutic selfism the best you can do?
Text from the video (numbering added):
That way of life is ultimately unsatisfying.
There is a better way.
C. S. Lewis, “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader,” in The Chronicles of Narnia (repr., San Fransisco: HarperCollins, 2004), 476:
[Context: The narrator makes this observation shortly after Aslan transforms Eustace Scrubb, the selfish-brat-turned-dragon, back to his human form.]
It would be nice, and fairly true, to say that “from that time forth Eustace was a different boy.” To be strictly accurate, he began to be a different boy. He had relapses. There were still many days when he could be very tiresome. But most of those I shall not notice. The cure had begun.
Jenni and I are frequently amazed at how easily our two-year-old daughter, Kara Marie, memorizes things. It’s amazing. So we’re trying to harness some of her brainpower by memorizing the Bible.
Jenni has taught Kara dozens of verses, and we’re using some additional resources to help these verses stick long-term. Texts in song are remembered long, so memorizing Scripture with music is especially helpful (though some of the songs mentioned below may be more “bumpy” than some prefer).
By the way, children are not the only ones who benefit from Scripture put to song. Dads and moms do, too! We frequently find ourselves meditating on verses like “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” or “Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God.’”
Ron Rhodes, The Challenge of the Cults and New Religions: The Essential Guide to Their History, Their Doctrine, and Our Response (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2001), 31–34:
SOCIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CULTS
I noted previously that even though cults should be defined from a theological point of view, we can nevertheless gain valuable insights into certain aspects of the cultic mentality from sociology. . . .
[1] Authoritarian Leadership
Authoritarianism involves the acceptance of an authority figure who exercises excessive control on cult members. As prophet or founder, this leader’s word is considered ultimate and final. . . .
Often this authoritarianism involves legalistic submission to the rules and regulations of the group as established by the cult leader (or, as in the case of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, submission to the Watchtower Society). Cult members are fully expected to submit, even if they do not agree with the requirements. Unquestioning obedience is compulsory.
[2] Exclusivism
Cults often believe that they alone have the truth. The cult views itself as the single means of salvation on earth; to leave the group is to endanger one’s soul. . . .
[3] Isolationism
The more extreme cults sometimes create fortified boundaries, often precipitating tragic endings (we have already mentioned the tragedies in Waco and Jonestown). Some cults require members to renounce and break off associations with parents and siblings. . . .
[4] Opposition to Independent Thinking
Some cultic groups discourage members from thinking independently. The “thinking,” as it were, has already been done for them by the cult leadership; the proper response is merely to submit. . . .
[5] Fear of Being “Disfellowshiped”
It is not uncommon in cults that people are urged to remain faithful to avoid being “disfellowshiped,” or disbarred, from the group. Again, the Jehovah’s Witnesses are a prime example, for a person can be disfellowshiped merely for questioning a Watchtower doctrine. . . .
[6] Threats of Satanic Attack
Finally, some cults use fear and intimidation to keep members in line. Members may be told that something awful will happen to them should they choose to leave the group. Others may be told that Satan will attack them and may even kill them, for they will have committed the unpardonable sin. Such fear tactics are designed to induce submission. Even when people do muster enough courage to leave the group, they may endure psychological consequences and emotional baggage for years to come.
Sadly, some Christian groups share these characteristics to some degree.
Related (update on 3/31/2017): Here’s my attempt to explain how to interpret and apply the Bible:
