Comments on: Ethical Guidelines for Church Planters http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/ equipping the Church for the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches Sat, 03 Dec 2011 23:03:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Drichile Michael http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Drichile Michael Thu, 25 Mar 2010 12:26:19 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-172 Compliments in Jess's name. This encourages me as an African to press on with the gospel work, reaching Southern Sudan, Northern Uganda and North Eastern Dr. Congo.With Jacob Lee, Aluma Abraham,myself Michael and Patrick. We will press on where there is dry financial and Spiritual ground. Michael Drichile Moyo Uganda Compliments in Jess’s name. This encourages me as an African to press on with the gospel work, reaching Southern Sudan, Northern Uganda and North Eastern Dr. Congo.With Jacob Lee, Aluma Abraham,myself Michael and Patrick. We will press on where there is dry financial and Spiritual ground.

Michael Drichile
Moyo Uganda

]]> By: J.D. http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-129 J.D. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:23:58 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-129 I greatly appreciate you comment, Luke. Thank you. The first guideline acknowledges that God calls people to hard soil areas. For someone to be called there but to go to a receptive area is sin. Such a calling is just as legitimate and important as a calling to a highly receptive area. Yes, Jesus and Paul (and Stephen) went to hard places, but they "shook off the dust" and then went to the more receptive. The only way we can know if someone is receptive to the gospel is to share it, and look at the churches that are growing by conversion growth. The work of the Spirit is always a miracle--you are correct. I greatly appreciate you comment, Luke. Thank you. The first guideline acknowledges that God calls people to hard soil areas. For someone to be called there but to go to a receptive area is sin. Such a calling is just as legitimate and important as a calling to a highly receptive area. Yes, Jesus and Paul (and Stephen) went to hard places, but they “shook off the dust” and then went to the more receptive. The only way we can know if someone is receptive to the gospel is to share it, and look at the churches that are growing by conversion growth. The work of the Spirit is always a miracle–you are correct.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-127 J.D. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:13:31 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-127 Jay, I appreciate your comments. Thank you. I'll see what I can do in answering them. If you need more info, feel free to email me jpayne@sbts.edu and we can set up a time to talk. Regarding receptivity, I'm wanting to know who are the people, population segments, groups, that are either asking the Philippian Jailer question (or getting close to it) as opposed to those who are nashing their teeth, tearing their robes and putting their fingers in their ears when they hear the gospel. While we are to rejoice over the one sinner who repents, we must recognize that there are 4 billion needing to repent and 2 billion who have never heard of Jesus. A wise steward uses his Lord's resources (time, money, engergy, life, people) to be the most strategic for making disciples of all nations. We neglect no one; but we must be wise stewards. The hard soil areas must have missionaries! There must be people who will invest their lives among hard soil areas. However, to say that everyone must be in the hard soil areas, while others are asking the Philippian Jailer question, is wrong. Jay, I appreciate your comments. Thank you. I’ll see what I can do in answering them. If you need more info, feel free to email me jpayne@sbts.edu and we can set up a time to talk.
Regarding receptivity, I’m wanting to know who are the people, population segments, groups, that are either asking the Philippian Jailer question (or getting close to it) as opposed to those who are nashing their teeth, tearing their robes and putting their fingers in their ears when they hear the gospel. While we are to rejoice over the one sinner who repents, we must recognize that there are 4 billion needing to repent and 2 billion who have never heard of Jesus. A wise steward uses his Lord’s resources (time, money, engergy, life, people) to be the most strategic for making disciples of all nations. We neglect no one; but we must be wise stewards. The hard soil areas must have missionaries! There must be people who will invest their lives among hard soil areas. However, to say that everyone must be in the hard soil areas, while others are asking the Philippian Jailer question, is wrong.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-126 J.D. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:06:43 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-126 Thank you, William. Thank you, William.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-124 J.D. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:42:58 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-124 Wow, thank you Ashley for sharing something as personal as this. May it be a very important word to all who read of your story. My prayers are with you. May the Lord work through this tragic situation for your good and His glory. I am so thankful that He will never leave us nor turn His back on us, takes our burdens, and loves us without measure. Wow, thank you Ashley for sharing something as personal as this. May it be a very important word to all who read of your story. My prayers are with you. May the Lord work through this tragic situation for your good and His glory. I am so thankful that He will never leave us nor turn His back on us, takes our burdens, and loves us without measure.

]]> By: J.D. http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-123 J.D. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 13:21:20 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-123 You are welcome, Chris. Thank you for the comment. BTW, I'm not a "James". :) You are welcome, Chris. Thank you for the comment.

BTW, I’m not a “James”. :)

]]> By: Luke http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-119 Luke Wed, 10 Mar 2010 19:17:44 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-119 One thing I would probably omit is the clause on the first guideline. I think it invalidates a lot of ministry in a lot of places, including most of those which are unreached and also extremely hard. Not only that but much of the ministry of Jesus and Paul also would be 'unethical' under that definition (acts 17 and all Jesus ministry among people that put him to death before believing his words. What does it say about people like Stephen, who have been martyred in challenging contexts. I think this is extremely problematic and could end with easy excuses to stay away from 'hard' places. Who decides who is receptive to the gospel? Is it not always a miracle? Dead is dead, is it not? One thing I would probably omit is the clause on the first guideline. I think it invalidates a lot of ministry in a lot of places, including most of those which are unreached and also extremely hard. Not only that but much of the ministry of Jesus and Paul also would be ‘unethical’ under that definition (acts 17 and all Jesus ministry among people that put him to death before believing his words. What does it say about people like Stephen, who have been martyred in challenging contexts. I think this is extremely problematic and could end with easy excuses to stay away from ‘hard’ places. Who decides who is receptive to the gospel? Is it not always a miracle? Dead is dead, is it not?

]]> By: William Lynch http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-117 William Lynch Wed, 10 Mar 2010 11:14:37 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-117 Some real helpful stuff...thanks...especially the strategic Kingdom emphasis and de-emphasis on funding being a metric for staying in the fight. I would only disagree with the transfer theory, mny thoughts are to bring the real Gospel to an area that has been deprived. Sincere Christians need not transfer, but there are alot of "duped" people that need to hear the truth. Walk them through the transition, with much love for the local "Church" community, but come they must. Some real helpful stuff…thanks…especially the strategic Kingdom emphasis and de-emphasis on funding being a metric for staying in the fight. I would only disagree with the transfer theory, mny thoughts are to bring the real Gospel to an area that has been deprived. Sincere Christians need not transfer, but there are alot of “duped” people that need to hear the truth. Walk them through the transition, with much love for the local “Church” community, but come they must.

]]> By: Ashley http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-116 Ashley Wed, 10 Mar 2010 06:54:39 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-116 As a recently divorced pastor's wife, I can attest to the urgent need for guidelines such as these for church planters to follow. I firmly believe had my husband has expectations to meet and an active authority to be held accountable by, our marriage would still be intact reflecting Christ's love for the church. God is sovereign and is the ultimate reconciler! But I still pray that in some way God will be glorified through our mess. Thank you for following the Spirit's call to write this article. With resources like this and personal testimonies like ours, it will cause a rise for reformation in this area. As a recently divorced pastor’s wife, I can attest to the urgent need for guidelines such as these for church planters to follow. I firmly believe had my husband has expectations to meet and an active authority to be held accountable by, our marriage would still be intact reflecting Christ’s love for the church. God is sovereign and is the ultimate reconciler! But I still pray that in some way God will be glorified through our mess. Thank you for following the Spirit’s call to write this article. With resources like this and personal testimonies like ours, it will cause a rise for reformation in this area.

]]> By: Chris http://www.jdpayne.org/2010/02/01/ethical-guidelines-for-church-planters/comment-page-1/#comment-113 Chris Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:01:17 +0000 http://www.jdpayne.org/?p=175#comment-113 Hi James, I'm currently a minister in Dallas preparing to plant a church in the Portland, OR area. I found your guidelines to be a breath of fresh air in this time where the Lord is working and shaping my heart and vision for Portland. I am printing these out and sharing them with my team. Thanks for sharing the wisdom God has given you. Hi James, I’m currently a minister in Dallas preparing to plant a church in the Portland, OR area. I found your guidelines to be a breath of fresh air in this time where the Lord is working and shaping my heart and vision for Portland. I am printing these out and sharing them with my team. Thanks for sharing the wisdom God has given you.

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