| CBF promotes Bible listening during Lent |
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| By Bob Allen | |
| Tuesday, February 16, 2010 | |
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ATLANTA (ABP) -- Members of hundreds of churches affiliated with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will be listening to the Bible during the 40 days of Lent. In January the Atlanta-based CBF launched "You've Got the Time," an audio-Bible-listening program, in partnership with Faith Comes By Hearing, an audio-Bible ministry based in Albuquerque that translates the Scriptures into languages spoken by the half of the world's population that is functionally illiterate. "You've Got the Time" is a program geared to local churches, where members listen to the Bible for 28 minutes a day for 40 days and are asked to donate to Faith Comes By Hearing's international programs. Funds raised from CBF-affiliated churches will be designated toward translation of audio Bibles into six languages used by people groups in places where CBF field personnel work. While CBF leaders are promoting the Bible-listening program throughout 2010, many churches are using it to help members prepare themselves spiritually for the 40-day season of prayer and introspection, known as Lent, leading up to Easter. It begins Feb. 17 with Ash Wednesday. While many Baptists view Lent as a Catholic rite, use of the liturgical calendar in worship has grown in popularity among some Baptists in recent decades. Whenever churches use the program, CBF leaders say they hope it will help re-engage church members who have gotten out of the habit of regular Bible reading and unite congregations and CBF supporters in a common activity. "We will be transformed by listening to God's Word, reflecting on it, discussing it, and sharing it with others," said Daniel Vestal, CBF's executive coordinator. "It will create greater desire to study and share Scripture as we open ourselves to the Spirit by hearing the Word of God." CBF is offering free audio New Testaments in MP3 format on playable disc for adults and a "Kidz Bible" for each child taking part. The adult version features daily readings in dramatic style, complete with sound effects. The children's version has Bible stories. In a video message to pastors, Vestal said Fellowship Baptists regard the Bible central to the life of both the individual and the church. "But if we're honest about it, all too often we spend little or no time with God's Word in our daily lives," he said. "To be the presence of Christ in the world, we must be formed spiritually into Christ-likeness. That missional journey includes spending time with Scriptures." Fellowship leaders hope to enlist 500 of about 1,800 churches that relate to CBF to use the discs sometime during 2010. Bo Prosser, CBFs coordinator of congregational formation, said about 200 churches have already done so. -30- This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it is senior writer for Associated Baptist Press.                 Comments (11)
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written by singer2, February 16, 2010
KT, I'm not sure what you're intent is in addressing CBF churches and Wednesday night, but for many of us, Lent is an intense time of personal and daily prayer---40 days' worth, before celebrating Easter. That not only includes Wed. evening prayer service, but caregiving meetings of smaller groups during the week. I have also been very active in SBC churches, many of which forget that they call Wed. evening a prayer service, or use it for something else. In their defense, their prayer times for the "list" take place at other times. So, what is your point---CBF or SBC, we pray within the church's structured times, and we lead our believers to pray at many other times--or do you have another agenda here?
singer
written by Slick, February 17, 2010
Thank you for your comments. I've always considered the Lenten season and Easter to be the highpoint of the Christian year despite the emphasis we place on Christmas. Unfortunately we have some ignorant people who post on this site who want to do nothing but be critical of other Christians who arn't as far-right radical and fundamental as they are. Frankly, I doubt that anyone who reads the comments really care what they have to say. They really have no point. May this be a most meaningful Lenten season for you.
Why Lent?
written by mcskinny, February 17, 2010
Why do we need and wait for special times/events to focus on God? If we should be doing something or especially 'not' doing something during Lenten Season, shouldn't we be doing/not doing that same thing all year?
Charlie Mac (In Mobile where the foolishness of Mardi Gras thankfully ended last night and people will come to work with dirty foreheads today.) ...
written by singer2, February 17, 2010
McSkinny: Do you have special emphases in your church home? Do you have a series of sermons on Prayer, Love, Stewardship, Missions, when the congregation turns to a unique focus, and comes away with a deeper understanding of one aspect of our faith or our faith-doing? Lent, Advent, Christmas, Easter, etc. are just some ways some of us recognize a pattern or cycle in our lives. It doesn't mean that we ignore something else, i.e., our church has a time in its corporate worship each Sunday for personal prayer and reconciliation, no matter the season. There are lots of ways to focus and be changed. Aren't you thankful for the freedom to do so in many ways?
And Slick, and for all, a rewarding season of Lent, Reconciliation, and knowing God's love for you, and for all! ...
written by John Bunyan, February 17, 2010
The 1689 Baptist Confession says: "But the acceptable way of worshipping the true God, is instituted by himself, and so limited by his own revealed will, that he may not be worshipped according to the imagination and devices of men, nor the suggestions of Satan, under any visible representations, or any other way not prescribed in the Holy Scriptures." Lent is the strange fire (Leviticus 10:1) of scripture. It is not commanded and is thus prohibibited. This is called the regulative principle of worship. Most churches worship by the normative principle inserting things in worship which scripture does not prohibit. Scripture is clear. Worship practices are prescribed by scripture.
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written by Jeremy S, February 17, 2010
The fact that some are complaining about the season of Lent and CBF's initiative for partner churches to listen to the Bible for 40 days is pathetic.
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written by KT2005, February 17, 2010
No agenda singer, just an observation. I too have been around Baptist churches a while and believe programs often fail to be empowered by the Spirit. Another example is countless conferences where all are told to "Go and tell!" Now I am all for going and telling the Gospel. Yet everyone seems to go home and do the same thing. Sure the audience was entertained and perhaps moved to tears by great story tellers, but that which the Holy Spirit blesses brings lasting, eternal fruit. I fear denominational leadership spends more time making programs than embodying the character of Christ. Now this is a broad statement and there are many exceptions, but I don't see revival moving the lost to repentance and faith. I do see lots of programs. Sometimes denominational life feels more like a business than a spiritual undertaking. Here are a couple of scriptures that make me pause.
2 Timothy 3:1 "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!" "having a form of godliness but denying its power" This phrase scares me. 2 Chronicles 7:14 "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land." God moves when people pray. When I see denominational stats going downward I see a lack of God moving. This verse tells me we are not praying as we should. Churches in our land are perishing. . . literally. Large churches grow by great music concerts and funny, entertaining speakers. Is this not how Hollywood gains a crowd. Our young people love fame and imitate their famous heroes, yet the do not know God nor his word. Most males in youth groups can't even read well. (Which tells us they don't read the Bible much!) America's church is truly struggling. We are rich and comfortable yet desperately poor (Rev. 3:17). God's will be victorious, but we are close to losing our nation. I do not want to see America become Rome. Only Christ's church can keep this from happening. . . since 1960 we have stacked failure on top of failure. What is going to truly change things? Answer: God. How we must pray that He moves in our land. ...
written by singer2, February 17, 2010
KT, I think we agree that the issues associated with form and special emphases rather than substance can be a problem any church's worship. For numbers of us in CBF churches (certainly not all), Lent's unique focus on personal prayer and pardon would be a way to deal with the issues you raise. Our Lord prayed for 40 days, alone, in the wilderness....therefore....
John Bunyan, I'm sure you are aware that there were numerous Baptist Confessions in England and America in the 17th and 18th centuries. You have taken one statement from one of those confessions, given us your interpretation, and included the Leviticus passage with your interpretation. Obviously, the Leviticus passage does not directly apply to Lent, because it is an Old Testament reference---Lent, Passiontide, and Easter did not come into regular church practice until after the Christian Church was established and growing. Even so, you have exercised Baptist practice in interpeting one scripture---that is your right according to the Priesthood of the Believer. Others believers will differ. Conscience Questions
written by mcskinny, February 18, 2010
My previous questions were meant to spur consciences. Sure we HAVE to have special emphesis events because we get lax in our daily lives.
Why is that? Rephrase: if I need to eat less or better and exercise more to lose weight why wait and make a New Years resolution? Wouldn't it be just as good for me in November? Yes. But we humans need extra incentives to do what is right in the first place. Again, wouldn't a ash cross on my forehead mean the same thing in July? Charlie Mac ... written by singer2, February 18, 2010
McSkinney---recognizing sin and need for forgiveness can happen anytime, and it does in every Sunday's worship for lots of believers. The 40-days before Easter observance was placed historically, before Easter in order to allow believers to walk the path that Christ walked to the crucifixion and resurrection. He went apart and prayed for 40 days--He entered Jerusalem triumphantly, but on a donkey---He grieved and prayed in the garden---He was taken, tried, and crucified on a cross. 40 days of prayer, introspection, and denying self, followed by the horror of what our Lord endured for us, all points to the complete, total release and victory he granted us in the resurrection. No church is required to do any of this, but it has been observed (and misobserved) for a long time. When we do these things, we join hands with believers over the eons who have been there from the days these observances were established in the early Church. With all of the snipping between believers over the years about what is appropriate and what is not, I find that joining with our forebears in this walk is a redemptive, hopeful time in itself. So, a thoughtful, rewarding time of Lent to you and all, and a glorious celebration of life for the Easter that follows!
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Perhaps I am a bit cynical, but will the CBF leaders actually do what they are advising??? This reminds me of a conversation I had with a pastor's wife. I questioned if anyone in the church actually prayed through the Wednesday night prayer list. She assured me people did. I ask her if she prayed through the list. She answered "Well, no." To which I responded "If the preacher's wife is not praying through the list do you really think anyone else is either?" All this to say leaders must follow their own admonitions. . . if they aren't they can rest assured the flock isn't either!