Anchor of Truth - Fall 2015

The A n c h o r of INSIDE THIS ISSUE:TRUTH What is the MISSION of the Church? . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Fall 2015 A Responce to SCOTUS . . . . 3 Ministry Profile: Beech Grove Village . . . . . . . 4 Is Evangelism Really for Everybody? . . . . . 6 Simeon Smith: From China to Indianapolis . . . . . 7 The Priority of Global Missions . . . . . . . . . . 8 Editor: Rob Ziegler-1-

What is the MISSION ON THE of the Church? BOOK An Overview SHELFby Steven Smith The theme of this issue is part of our church’sHave you considered this question recently? Luke records very similar words from Jesus in purpose, “to glorify God by engaging theWhat is the mission of the church? The his Gospel. Jesus has just been raised from world with the gospel.” Here is a book thatanswer to this question is essential to each the dead and makes himself known to the also discusses this very important topic andperson wishing to live a life that glorifies God. disciples. Luke says that Jesus “opened their can keep you thinking about it. minds to understand the Scriptures.” TheyPaul warnsTimothy, “no soldiergets entangled were still not understanding what Jesus was Far from the hand-wringing of thosein civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please up to, so Jesus clearly tells them. “Thus it is fearful of the increasing secularizationthe one who enlisted him.” 2 Timothy 1:4 written, that the Christ should suffer and on of the American culture, Russell MooreIf you are a Christian today, you have been the third day rise from the dead, and that issues a call for all evangelicals to engageenlisted by the King of Kings to participate in repentance and forgiveness of sins should the culture around them in both kindnessthe completion of a task. We must make sure be proclaimed in his name to all nations, and conviction, knowing that both ofthat we are not getting entangled in things beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses these, bound to offend and disturb some,that distract us from the ultimate purpose for of these things. And behold, I am sending are the distinctives that have drawnbeing enlisted. This is true of the individual the promise of my Father upon you. But stay people to Christ throughout time. Withand of the church as a whole. The mission in the city until you are clothed with power chapters dedicated to showing many ofof the church “is to go into the world and from on high.” Luke 24:45-49. Repentance of the biggest issues facing Christians in themake disciples by declaring the gospel of forgiveness of sins is to be be proclaimed to American culture in this decade, MooreJesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit…” all nations. The task is so daunting that Jesus hopes to cause his readerto think throughaccording to Kevin DeYoung. tells his followers they are not to begin this both how the Bible speaks to each issue mission until He empowers them with the and how the Christian thus addresses theIn the Gospel of Matthew, the author has Holy Spirit. wider culture with a “Galilean accent.”spent the entire book demonstrating that Rallying the fearful, convicting the hard-Jesus is the King of the Jews. He was the The Book of Acts is a recording of the hearted, and stirring the apathetic, thispromised Messiah that had been spoken of obedience of the disciples to the mission book attempts to show a clear picture offorovertwo thousand years. He records Jesus that they were given by Christ. Acts 1 picks both culture-redefining work of Christbirth, his baptism, his ministry, his miracles, up where Luke 24 left off. Jesus says, “… and the world which so desperatelyneedshis trial, execution and his resurrection. The you will receive power when the Holy Spirit to hear Him.resurrection ultimately demonstrated that has come upon you, and you will be myJesus was who he said he was. The entire witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea andGospel is culminated in the last chapter of Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” TheMatthew. Jesus says, “All authority in heaven rest of Acts records the power of the Spiritand on earth has been given to me.” The working through followers of Jesus to spreaddisciples needed to understand who they the Gospel all over the known world. Menwere working for, who was giving them their and women died for their testimony yet bytask. It was the King of Kings. All of creation, God’s power they continued to speak boldly.both heaven and earth, belong to him and hehas a mission for His servants. “Go therefore In conclusion, the mission of the church isand make disciples of all nations, baptizing not all that the church is supposed to do.them in the name of the Father and of the There are other commandments given in theSon and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them New Testament that we are to obey in ourto obey all that I have commanded you. lives. However, the mission, orthe task of theAnd behold, I am with you always, to the church, is very specific. Take the message ofend of the age.” In Matthew 28:17-20 Jesus the perfect, crucified and resurrected Christcommands his followers to make disciples to every corner of the globe. Jesus says, ‘Iby going to all (ethne) people groups on the have other sheep who are not of this fold,planet, preaching the gospel and baptizing I must bring them in also.” This must bethem, then teaching them all that He has done. If our lives are not specifically aimedcommanded us. We will do this work in his at this target, we are wandering aimlesslyandpower, because Jesus will be with us all the getting nowhere. Please ask yourself this veryway to the end. This message of the King of important question. “Is the mission that JesusKings was to go to the end of the earth. has given, my mission?” -2-

Second, the church’s message hasn’t changed. While we want to lovingly speak truth in the face of lies, we must remember that the mission of the church is not to convince the world that marriage is between one man and one woman. Our mission is to preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Heterosexuality will not save our friends and neighbors. The only thing that saves First and foremost, Jesus Christ is still Third, we should not be surprised Lord. God is still sovereign. History is not when the world suppresses the truth spinning out of control; it is still moving in unrighteousness. Romans 1 says this is what sinners do in their sin. Also, we2toward the end God has designed. No should not be surprised when those who human authorityhas the last sayon matters1of morality. God does.In addition, the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be3destroyed. She will suffer, but she won’tdie. Jesus promises that the gates of hell is the gospel of Christ. suppress the truth hate, mock, and seekwill not prevail against her. When world to oppress those who love and lift up theevents tempt us to forget this, we should truth. Those who first hated Jesus also hatereread the book of Revelation. those who follow Jesus (cf. John 15:18-20).9Ninth, we should pray for those who 9 Things to Remember 4Fourth, we should love our neighbor as govern us at the federal, state, and local ourselves. Whether or not our neighbors levels. We should also pray for one another by Toby Johnson share our convictions and morality, God all the more, so that we might continue commands us to love them. This includes to stand for truth and glorify God in these Friday, June 26, 2015, was an historic day our gay/lesbian neighbors. After all, our days. in the United States. In a 5-4 decision, our enemies are not flesh/blood. They are Supreme Court declared that homosexual rulers, authorities, power, and spiritual8Eighth, we should grieve anytime sin gains men and women have the constitutional right forces of evil. Loving our neighbors is ground in our lives, our churches, or our to marry. It is important for Christians to based on the love of Jesus for us. Our society. We know that the light of Christ think biblically in response to events such as Savior is absolutely holy and therefore shines best in the dark, but we don’t love these, and on Sunday, June 28, I listed 9 truths radically different from us; yet. He loves us. the dark. We look forward to the daywhen to remember at times like these. Therefore, we should love others. We don’t there is no more darkness and the light of compromise biblical truth, but we should Christ is all that we’ll see. treat gospel opponents with kindness and grace. Seventh, we must respond as a Fifth, we must respectfully refuse to congregation, and we have. On July 19, we submit to the Supreme Court’s decision. affirmed a congregational position paper No legislature or state has ever defined on marriage and sexuality, clarifying our marriage. The Creator of marriage defines church’s position on this crucial matter. it in His Word. So, when biblical morality differs from the morality put forward in the7 6 5We also revised our wedding policy and law of the land, we say with the apostles, facilities usage policy, so that all activitieson our property must be in accordance Sixth, we must live out the Bible we “We must obey God rather than men” (Acts proclaim. In times like these, it is critical that Christians are trulyliving as Christians. Marriage is not just heterosexual marriage. It is a covenant relationship where two sinners seek to repent, walk by faith, andwith our congregation’s beliefs.. please the Lord in all things. It is also a 5:29). covenant relationship that God intends to last for life. So, if we care about marriage as we saywe do, we must live in ourmarriages as God instructs. -3-

Ministry Beech Grove Village by Rob ZieglerPROFILE:It’s a ministry that is both crucial to our “In the day-to-day, nitty-gritty of it all we me and toldChristian calling and so broadly defined probably had more losses than wins at the me she and herthat it can be hard to recognize at times, beginning of it all,” Kathleen recalls. “We grandma (who shebut GRBC’s work at Beech Grove Village moved in and put out a prayer box in the lives with) struggle toapartment complex is a very good example office. I got to know some of my neighbors get along. So we just did someof the church’s response to the Gospel call for through that. I would go over and say ‘Hey you basic discipleship and counseling aboutintentional living in our community. filled out a thing saying your sister had cancer, what the Bible says. I’ll ask if she’s thought ofBy “intentional” we mean ordering the events can I come in and pray for you about that?’ ways to bless her grandmother and how canand activities of your life, even where you live That’s how I got to know a lot more people, I help her to do that.”and work, in a purposeful way so as to be an compared to any events or anything. Even One key demographic to note regarding theambassador for Jesus Christ. welcome visits, sometimes I hit it out of the complex: 75 percent of the 304 units havePastors Toby, Steve and Chad were interested park and sometimes I never saw the person no adult men living (permanently) in them,in the church being more involved in this again. I found out quickly that everyone likes but at least 60 percent do have women andkind of work and were contacted by an prayer. It seems like any religion, any belief, children.”organization that focuses on improving social people like prayer. If you offer a prayer for Seeing the need for men to be more closelyconditions in such facilities. someone, even if they are an atheist, people involved with the effort, Kathleen challengedAfter looking for an ideal and willing church know it’s a gesture of kindness. “ some friends during the church’s missionmember to take the big step of moving trip to Guatemala. At first they declined theinto the complex first, they found Kathleen Some of the relationships have matured over idea but in October of 2014, group of youngTennant, who made the move at the end of time as people realize Kathleen is there for men from GRBC took on the challenge from2013. the long haul. Trust improves over time as Kathleen and also Pastor Chad to make aHere’s where the ministry can be difficult residents realize she is truly investing her difference, moving in to the complex. Theyto describe for people accustomed to a full- life at the complex, rather than just fulfilling were Joe Matkins, Kiel Pugh, Noah Colberttime, vocational ministry model. some ministry program obligation. and Jeremy Cutshall. Jeremy has since movedKathleen didn’t quit her day job with The out and has been replaced by Kiel’s brotherSaturday Evening Post. She didn’t leave GRBC While there is a ladies bible study every week, Zac.and start attending somewhere else. She most of what goes on in the way of ministry So now this group of 20-something mendidn’t start a big “program” per se. Instead is just from being there and living among the are also striving to make a difference in theshe just began living as a New Testament residents. community. Additionally, a bible study taughtChristian in the midst of the hundreds of byWillie Jones has been drawing six to 10 menpeople at Beech Grove Village. “Alot of it is just because I’m in the community,” once a week, which makes it almost as well- she said. “I see them out during the day and attended as the ladies study led by Kathleen. for the girls and ladies who have said they believe, I’ll ask what they are reading and how it applies to their lives. One girl came to -4-

Photo by Aubrey HelmsThe men are coming around a bit more slowly, Pastor specifically pray, and tobut that is often the nature of relationship- Chad was pointed as he talked think about how they shouldbuilding. about the future of the outreach at Beech and can begin to develop such“One of the guys comes over about every other Grove Village, mentioned people believing relationships with their own neighbors. Myday to talk for a while,” Kiel said. “Building on Christ, discipleship of people directly prayer for our church in relationship to BGV isrelationships takes a lot of time.” involved in the ministry, multiplication of that every member would adopt the mindsetThe bible study attendees range in age from those involved in the ministry and a greater that God has so placed us in our contexts for15 to at least 60. A lot of the study has to do church-wide spiritual investment in and the very purpose of bringing the gospel towith re-education for people who have had compassion toward the community, as well those communities, that we would take oursome sort of religious exposure. But others as to church members’ own communities. commission from Christ seriously to be Hisare truly starting from ground zero when it “I realize that the whole church cannot be ambassadors for His glory. “comes to the Gospel. Relationship struggles, hands-on in the work at BGV all of the time, The whole BGV teamalong with financial and health struggles, are nor would that be a good idea. However,commonplace. we are always looking for new ways toChad and Kathleen have been encouraging involve individuals in this ministry to reachother people from the church to get a different set of residents that we have notinvolved in helping build community. yet engaged. For example, we’ve had someHaving some couples move in would be a ladies from the church lead cooking and craftbig help, she noted. The future of the effort classes,” he said.could begin to look more and more like “As we ask the whole church to be involveda church plant, as the residents might be in ministries like the block party and VBS, Imore comfortable with that than going to do want them to come away with a greatera more established and culturally distinct awareness of what is taking place, get tochurch, even if it is just down the road. know a few individuals for whom they can -5-

Is Gray Road Baptist Church exists to glorify growing as a disciple. That means I learnEvangelism God. One of the ways we seek to glorify God what God says, and I do it. I’m a doer of the Really for is by engaging the world with the gospel. Word and not just a hearer. Check.Everybody? What does this look like? Well, we engage through our missions giving. We engage However, there’s one more piece to this by Toby Johnson on mission trips. We engage through puzzle. Jesus leaves no wiggle room on what community events like VBS and the Fall must be learned and what must be obeyed. “Every week, Festival. He says every disciple must be taught “to every one of us should observe all that I have commanded you...” have engaging the world We engage as the gospel goes out from (Mt. 28:20). No command of Jesus should with the gospel on our our pulpit on Sunday mornings. We even be left out. All of them must be obeyed.minds. That’s not a typo. engage as we sing songs of the gospel as a So, disciples aren’t given the choice as toEvery week, every one of congregation. In our singing, we “declare whether they can commit adultery or not. us should have engaging [God’s] glory among the nations, his Forgive others or not. Love one another orthe world with the gospel marvelous works among the peoples!” (Ps. not. Commit murder or not. We must obey. 96:3). on our minds. Now, ask yourself this question: where is It’s a pretty bold claim, However, there’s more to engaging the the closest command, so I can start obeying world with the gospel. More than all these it? It’s in this same paragraph. It’s actually isn’t it?” wonderful, needed activities. Notice, all back at the beginning of this sentence. Jesus these are corporate activities, but sharing the says, “Go therefore and make disciples...” Or gospel is not meant to be only corporate. a more literal translation: “As you are going, It’s meant to be personal...very personal. therefore, make disciples...” Every week, every one of us should have Wrap your mind around this. Jesus tells His engaging the world with the gospel on disciples to make disciples. Then, those our minds. That’s not a typo. Every week, disciples are to teach the new disciples to every one of us should have engaging the obey everything Jesus commanded. One of world with the gospel on our minds. It’s those commands – the last command, the a pretty bold claim, isn’t it? But is it true? “Great” command – was this: make disciples. Is it really true that every single Christian In other words, the disciples were to make should feel the weight of responsibility in disciples who would make disciples. This reaching the world? Or is this just some sort command from Jesus, like all the others, is of pastoral hyperbole? handed down from one generation to the next, and today, it’s been handed to us. To To answer that question, we should go to each of us. our Source – the Bible. There, we’ll find our answer, and we’ll find it in a familiar So, are you a disciple of Jesus? Have you place. The Great Commission. It’s a pretty believed the gospel? Have you professed familiar passage from Matthew 28. After your faith in baptism? Are you seeking to His resurrection, and as He is ascending grow in knowing and obeying all that Jesus to heaven, Jesus says this to His eleven commands in the Bible? Then, don’t leave remaining disciples: “Go therefore and make this one out. Make disciples. disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and As you go, make disciples. As you go to of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe work. To school. To the waiting room at all that I have commanded you...” (Mt. 28:19- the dentist. To the salon. To the ball field 20). to watch your child play sports. To the homeschool co-op. To the gym to work These men were given a message. It was out. Wherever it is we go, pray that God a message of repentance and forgiveness would use you to make disciples. Have (Lk. 24:47), and they were to preach it open eyes to see opportunities, an open in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the heart to want opportunities, and an open ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Through the mouth to seize the opportunities God gives preaching of this gospel, disciples would you in the course of your everyday life. The be made (Acts 14:21). These new disciples opportunities are there. would confess their faith in the waters of baptism (Mt. 28:19; Acts 2:41), and they So, the answer to your question about would need to be taught (Mt. 28:20). pastoral hyperbole is no. No, it’s not an exaggeration. Every disciple should engage Sounds good so far, right? We’re all on the the world with the gospel. It should never same page. This makes sense. If I believe the leave our radar because disciple-making is gospel, I profess my faith through baptism. an integral part of the disciple’s life. Then, I spend the rest of my life learning and -6-

Simeon Smith: From China to Indianapolis by Rob Ziegler His name is Simeon Smith. If you attend On their own, on the run when their lives have Andrea became more burdened to adopt aGray Road you probably have heard about only begun child with medical needs Simeon needed life-him. These could be our daughters and our sons saving heart surgery when he was 10-months And just like a drum I can hear their hearts old. He may face further surgery when he is Simeon is the son of Steve and Andrea beating older, but received a good report recentlyfromSmith and the brother of Zeke and Malachi. I know my God won’t let them be defeated doctors at Riley.The two-year old moved in July of this year Every child has a dream to belong and befrom China to his new home. A number of loved “Over these 4 years, God really softened ourpeople from GRBC helped contribute to pay hearts toward orphans even more,” Andreathe costs associated with Simeon’s adoption, Boys become kings, girls will be queens shared. “When we started, our hearts were notbut the more details you learn about the story, Wrapped in Your majesty ready for a medical special needs child. Butthe more it is clear that the only hero of the When we love, when we love the least of these we began to see more and more the need oftale is the one true God of the universe – the Then they will be brave and free ‘non-healthy’ children.”Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ. Shout your name in victory When we love when we love the least of these If you haven’t seen the video on Andrea’s That fact became even clearer for Andrea When we love the least of these.” Facebook page of the first moments she andnot long after bringing Simeon home. She was Steve were together with their son in China,listening to music in her bedroom, playing The Smiths began their adoption process it is worth whatever technological revolutionwith her son, and a song came on that she had on July 11, 2011, before Simeon was born. They you need to undergo in order to get there.become fond of during the adoption process. recognized the biblical imperative of adoption,The lyrics to “Kings and Queens” by Audio as well as having seen it modeled by the staff Andrea reports that the sense of familiarityAdrenaline go like this: and congregation at Gray Road. Steve’s heart between Simeon and his new family grew was touched when he met a special needs more quicklythan she had been told to expect. “Little hands, shoeless feet, lonely eyes looking child in South Africa a few years ago. back at me CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE Will we leave behind the innocent too brief During that four-year period, Steve and -7-

“I’ve heard some people say that at first it forgotten On a recent Wednesday evening Simeonfelt like babysitting strangers for a while, but Waiting for doors of our hearts and our homes seemed quite at home in the church, playingwe didn’t have that emotion,” she said. “I was to open with Zeke and Malachi in the Fellowship Hall.shocked with how well we did with him whenhe got home. The same with our sons. Zeke If not us, who will be like Jesus The model of this integration into a familyfor instance has never been a really nurturing To the least of these provides us a clearpicture of God’s adoption ofkid with other kids, but he has been so tender If not us tell me who will be like Jesus each believer as His child. This has been madeand kind, wanting to hold him and that kind Like Jesus more real for Steve and Andrea.of thing. I see that as God’s provision. To the least of these” “The Holy Spirit has just reminded me of “Within 48 hours it really felt like a whole “I guess having him there while listening God’s grace toward me, (His) unconditionalfamily.” to the song, sitting on my bed, struck a chord love. (Simeon) didn’t choose to come into our with me, that God has actually done this,” she family at all, but is experiencing something Simeon now gets excited when his dad said. “It is completed, He is victorious and has we’ve chosen to do for him (through Thecomes home from work, wanting to go to him. transformed this kid’s life.” Lord’s enabling),” she said. “There were a fewHe is also excited in the morning, eager to be hard nights when he was crying and I waslifted from his crib and to begin the day with Andrea also mentions God’s grace to her trying to figure out how to put him to sleep.his mother and brothers. through her husband’s helpfulness in those The Lord has reminded me to not be selfish, opening days back home, and through the that I wasn’t giving of myself for him the way All of which hit home that day as she sat rest of the GRBC family. He’s given himself for me.playing with her son, listening to the song. She adds that while adoption books would “God has most definitely ‘poured out his “Break our hearts once again have frowned upon how quickly she and Steve love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.’ A Help us to remember when started bringing him to services and other mother’s love for a crying baby has its limits. We were only children hoping for a friend activities, she just couldn’t wait to get back But God’s love is perfect and supernatural.” Won’t you look around to be a part of the body, including corporate These are the lives that the world has worship and youth group. The Priority of Our Missions Emphasis took place in September. While deadlinesGLOBAL MISSIONS for this issue were before the conference took place, as part of this issue’s focus on being a missional people, we wanted to give a quick overview on GRBC’s focus on global missions, both our call and our emphasis, as expressed by church leadership. This is not a comprehensive policy statement but hopefully an accurate reflection of the emphasis GRBC will be featuring as it moves forward. WHY DO MISSIONS? presence. We believe there is a priority at this Overview of GRBCGreatest time of taking the Gospel to where it hasn’t Missions Priorities:Priority• All nations (“ethnos” or people groups) been presented – as commanded byourLord rebelled against God (Isaiah 66:18-24, Acts 1:8). This is the pattern Type of Ministries (What)Greatest established by Paul of getting churches Church Planting (esp.Priority• In the Abrahamic Covenant and elsewhere, established, and then moving on as others entrepreneurial) & Closed God promises Abraham that all the families do the work of building churches up and Country Evangelism of the earth will be blessed through establishing additional bodies among those Other Evangelism & Abraham’s seed (Gen. 12:3, 18:18, 26:4) people (1 Cor. 3:6-10, 1 Tim. 1:3-7, Titus 3:12) Training Pastors Support Ministries & Other• Christ is the answer (Isaiah 2:1-4, John 1:6- • T here are an estimated 16,350 people groups 13, Luke 2:29-32, Acts 10 & 11) according to The Joshua Project. Defining Type of Servants (Who) such group is based on languages, ethnicities, Members of GRBC HOWTO DO MISSIONS cultures, geographies and other factors. Family of GRBC members, Whatever the precise number, there are A former members and• A s the Church is what we see God using LOT (Genesis 12, Exodus 6:14-15, Joshua 7). members of local partners. to reach people in the New Testament, No affiliation with GRBC so our missions effort should all be tied • N early a third of the world’s 6,000 plus into the establishment and strengthening languages have no Scripture translation. is defined as having an indigenous, of local church bodies and leadership. In More than half do not have the full Bible evangelical church established among that the last 50 years an incredibly wide range translated. people group). of “ministries” have emerged under the guise of missions, but the proclaiming of • Continue the work begun in Acts 2 – the May God guide and bless our efforts the Gospel and the establishment of local restoration of one people group (God’s to serve Him through our partnering with churches must be the focus, as indicated people) from the many groups. GRBC those seeking to faithfullyfulfill Christ’s great in Scripture supports 17 missionary families, only a few commission. of which are involved in reaching unreached• “To the uttermost part ofthe earth…” –There people groups, and some others involved has been some tendency in the missions in discipling and training leaders of other community to concentrate on places that somewhat reached groups (“reached” already have a lot of evangelical church -8-