Daniel Tomberlin

Grace for Sexual Sin

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on May 13, 2012 No comments

I’ve learned some things about sin: (1) all have sinned; (2) we are often happy to talk about someone else’s sin; (3) those sins that directly affect us tend to get overlooked, or excused; and (4) eventually we stop talking about sin because we are uncomfortable with our sinfulness, and we don’t want to be accused of being judgmental toward others. This is especially true when it comes to sexual sin. However, the truth remains that sin is the condition of humanity – all of us. And, there is a remedy for sin.

In my previous post, I wrote that the church should be a place of grace for all those who have fallen into sexual sin. First, we need to come to terms with a biblical definition of grace. For many, grace means the acceptance and forgiveness of sinners. That’s a good start, but it doesn’t explain the fullness of grace. Yes, God’s grace extends acceptance and forgiveness to fallen humans; but grace, through Christ and Holy Spirit, also heals the sinfulness of penitent humans. Yes, Christ (and the church) receives sinners, but in receiving there is a salvific transformation. So, what does this have to do with the restoration of those who have fallen into sexual sin?

The President, Homosexuality, and the Log in our Eye

“For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:2-5 NASB).

OK, so the President supports homosexual marriage (no surprise here). All over the Internet I’ve read posts, blogs, articles, Facebook conversations, etc. of Christians tripping over themselves trying to be fair, sensitive, discerning, and tolerant. When the citizens of North Carolina voted overwhelmingly to reject homosexual marriage, some Christians suggested that because of an increasingly pluralistic society it is inappropriate to “coerce” through legislation a morality that is derived from our faith tradition. To that I would reply that the purpose of all legislation is to encourage or “coerce” civic morality, and civic morality should reflect the highest good.

A PUBLIC FAITH: A Review

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on May 8, 2012 1 comment

Miroslav Volf, A Public Faith: How Followers of Christ Should Serve the Common Good (Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2011). 175 pp.

The first election in which I voted was in 1980. The nation was suffering from what President Carter called a “malaise.” Many of the political class were suggesting that the nation’s troubles were so many and so deep that the office of the President was no longer useful. The Moral Majority was exercising its political muscle and its leaders were calling for “moral leadership.” Ronald Reagan was larger than life. He embraced the religious right and the religious right embraced him. I voted for Reagan in 1980, and again in 1984. I don’t regret it.

However, I do regret being caught in the web of the Moral Majority. Not that I reject their concerns and issues; but I fell into the temptation to believe that the spiritual renewal of a nation can be effected through the ballot box. Of course, elections can have tremendous consequences and certain political policies can spark economic growth. But the soul of a nation cannot be renewed through politics. I have come to believe that both major political parties – Democrat and Republican – are corrupt. And that there are good public servants in both parties, even though their voices are often muted by their party’s leadership.

Avoiding Toxic Leadership: Integrity and Accountability

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on May 2, 2012 1 comment

One of the signs of toxic leadership is when the leader believes that his/her integrity is beyond scrutiny. In the church we see this all too often. In fact, the church is often a breeding ground for toxic leaders. I’m not just talking about false prophets, charlatans, and those guilty scandalous immorality. Sometimes the toxic leaders in our midst have a high moral standard, hold to doctrinal orthodoxy, and are sincere in their desire to faithfully serve Christ. The church is a fertile breeding ground for this type of toxic leadership because we tend to idolize leaders we respect and our respected leaders become too accustomed to our accolades. Also, we certainly don’t want to get the reputation of being a trouble-maker.

Granite and Grass

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on April 28, 2012 No comments

Easter is more than one Sunday; it’s a season in the Christian liturgical year. Jesus walked on the Earth, teaching His disciples for 40 days after the resurrection. The seven Sunday’s of Easter offer us a time to reflect upon the meaning of the resurrection, the future ministry of the Church, and the eschatological consummation of redemption.

During the past week, I have been reflecting on the significance of the resurrection. My father’s birthday was this past week. He would have been 77 years old. But he died at the age of 70. This week I visited the graves of two friends. One was a great pastor; and the other was a great teacher. Pastor Joe Q. Smith was my friend for two decades. Professor Thomas Wilson was my teacher in the early 1980s. Both have gone to be with the Lord.

Sacraments: An Ongoing Altar Call

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on April 21, 2012 No comments

The celebration of the sacraments is an ongoing altar call. For most Pentecostal churches, the altar call is the central event of the worship service. Sinners are encouraged to come forward to the altar to “pray through” to salvation. Believers are encouraged to come to the altar to pray for sanctification, or to “pray through” to the baptism in the Holy Spirit. During the altar service, those who are sick, or otherwise in need, are encouraged to come to the altar. There the church elders will anoint with oil, lay their hands upon the sick, and pray for healing. The celebration of the sacraments in Pentecostal worship should be understood as an opportunity to invite the saints of God once again to the altar to encounter the Holy Spirit in the celebration of water baptism, the Lord’s Supper, foot-washing, and the laying on of hands. Each sacrament directly corresponds to the redemptive work of the Holy Trinity. In this regard, the sacraments are an ongoing altar call in which the believer encounters God through the Holy Spirit.

Jesus’ Warning Signs of a Church in Decline

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on April 16, 2012 1 comment

Several years ago I visited a Bulgarian Orthodox Church in Varna, Bulgaria as they were conducting a worship service. The building dated back to the 12th century and it was beautiful. The candles were glowing, and the incense was burning. The deacon was reading the gospel in an old Slavic language. The liturgy was awesome. I turned to my Bulgarian host and asked, “What does this mean?” He replied, “I don’t know, I don’t understand any of this.” Suddenly, I realized that I was in a living museum. It was as if I was a time traveler, taken back to the 12th century. It was indeed beautiful and inspiring to me as a church historian. But there was one significant thing missing. The church was empty of worshipers. The deacons and priest were performing the liturgy to a small audience of tourists. This church was not reaching 21st century Bulgarians. Unintentionally, it was preserving the ancient Orthodox faith as a living museum, but it was not a living church. Sadly, many churches are nothing more than living museums. The forward mission of the church has given way to the maintenance of the past.

He is Risen!

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on April 8, 2012 No comments

There are no words more significant in any human language than the words spoken by the angel on that first Easter morning. On Good Friday, it seemed that death had claimed one more victim. For fear of their own lives, those closest to Jesus went into hiding. It was just a matter of time before the Roman soldiers would come to arrest them, and possibly each of them would be nailed to a cross of their own. It seemed that with the death of Jesus on the cross, all the hopes of his followers were banished forever.

Footwashing: The Fellowship of the Towel

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on April 5, 2012 No comments

Footwashing has been observed by the Church for centuries. Some early church fathers understood footwashing as a sacrament and associated it with water baptism. Others used the word “mystery” when speaking of footwashing, and presented it as a sacred rite independent of communion and baptism. Churches representing all Christian traditions, from Roman Catholic to Pentecostal, observe this sacred act. Footwashing has often been adopted by various renewal movements as a protest against abuses of ecclesiastical hierarchy. Because early Pentecostals understood themselves to be a renewal of the “church of the Bible” the practice of footwashing was embraced. Every member was encouraged to observe this sacred act on the basis of fidelity to the Bible and the unity of the Church. Some have questioned the validity of footwashing. However, there are many biblical reasons why we should observe footwashing regularly.

A View from the Cross

Posted by Daniel Tomberlin on March 31, 2012 2 comments

As the Romans soldiers hoisted the cross, with Jesus nailed to it, the Son of Man was being lifted up and he was drawing all humanity to himself (John 12:32). The crucifixion was designed to be a slow and painful method of execution, and it was common for those condemned to die on the cross to live for several days. We know that Jesus, and his condemned companions, were on the cross only a few hours. But for those hours, Jesus was conscious and even spoke. He spoke to his mother and her companions. He spoke to one of the condemned thieves. On the cross he prayed. Many condemned persons have recited desperate prayers as death approached. But Jesus’ prayer was different. Jesus, “God with us,” prayed a prayer of intercession: “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

An Ecumenical Pentecostal Pastor