I Don’t Need No Education, I’m Called!

Redneck DoctorHoover, Alabama – He’s never been to med school. In fact the man who calls himself “Dr. Eddie Miller” has never even been to college. He graduated from high school in 1987 with a 2.3 GPA and immediately began pursuing his “calling” to the medical profession.

“I felt the call to become a doctor since I was a boy,” said Miller. “I was about 7 and caught me a frog and cut him open with my pocket knife. I knew right then and there that I wanted to be a doctor when I growed up.”

Miller went on to recount how he spent his days after that watching TV shows about “doctor stuff.” He also took every chance he could to catch small live animals and dissect them, so that he could further pursue his “calling.” Finally, at the tender age of only 13 he performed his first surgery.

“They found out my uncle Billy had a tumor in his neck. He was going to go to one of them big fancy hospitals where the doctors think they all smart and stuff, but I told him I would do the surgery for free. We knocked him out with a ball-pin hammer and I used my trusty exacto knife. Uncle Billy didn’t quite make it that day, but he was too far gone anyway.”

Now at the age of 41, Miller operates a small clinic in Hoover where he says he’s qualified to perform any medical procedure even though he’s never been to med school.

“I don’t need no medical board or a bunch of other smarty pants doctors telling me what to do and think. I read my medical journals every day. I’ve even memorized entire chapters. I can do any surgery or procedure. Brain surgery, spinal surgery, amputations, you name it. I don’t need no education. This is a calling.”

We tried to reach some of Dr. Miller’s patients both current and past for comment, but none could be located.

Thanks to TomInTheBox

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The Gospel According to the Bible

I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.  For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,  and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.  As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. [2 Timothy 4:1-5, ESV]

What does it mean to “do the work of an evangelist”? Evangelist derives from the Greek verb ευαγγελίζω. Both ευαγγελίζω and its cognate noun ευαγγελίον derive from a compound of ευ- (good) and άγγελoς (messenger). It is often translated as “good news” and in the New Testament it is applied exclusively to the unique message of the life and works of Jesus.

The nature of the gospel, no matter what age or language we are speaking in, is the life and works of Jesus [1 Corinthians 15:1-11]. It is not about world views or comparative religion. It is not a catechism or bullet point list of things we must give our consent to. It is not even about the conversion of unbelievers. It is the presentation of Jesus Christ to those who need to meet him – period.

In Galatians, the Apostle Paul makes it plain that the true gospel is distinguished from other (έτερος or “different”) gospels because the true gospel is ουκ κατά άνθρωπον – not after/by man. The gospel is not defined by men but by He who Is the Gospel – Jesus Christ. So, in Biblical evangelism we must first recognize that the gospel is not some system devised by man – whether that system is Jewish legalism or the Golden Keys of Soul-winning or the Finney-esque altar call – but the person of Jesus Christ.

Thanks to Erik at re:Fundamentals

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Smokey the Pelagian Bear

Smokey the Pelagian Bear

Smokey the Pelagian Bear

- Thurman “Thermos” Pritchard

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God Bless The USA/Church?

Are You Kidding Me?

Are You Kidding Me?

I’m reflecting upon an issue that I imagine is not distinctly an American problem, but a troubling one none the less.  The matter at hand is the role that our cultural and national identities play in the character of our local church. Having recently attended a gospel conference, I heard a speaker say that “the Church is multi ethnic but NOT multi cultural…we have one culture, and that is Christ”. Someone might immediately point out that it is impossible not to observe cultural distinctives in our local bodies. Some would argue that our language is a cultural norm.  What about the wearing of suits?  That conversation is all well and good but I’m thinking about another practice all together.  That being the military parade that takes place in most Sunday morning services on this Memorial Day weekend.

I’m not going to waste your time attempting to prove to you that I’m a loyal American that loves his country.  What I would like for you to consider is why every Memorial Day and July 4th weekend a fair number of our churches feel compelled to abandon the worship of our Sovereign and King in order that we might pay homage to our country’s military forces.  This brings me to the place of my reflection.  There are a couple questions I’m considering and wondering if you do as well.  Namely,

  • Is it right for a local body of believers to ‘honor’ someone or something other than God?
  • What criteria do we use to determine whether that someone or something is worthy of receiving honor from us corporately. As opposed to me thanking a soldier individually.  Remember that the Church is a distinct and unique enterprise, most notably because of it’s creator and owner.
  • What form does that recognition or honor take?  A plaque?  A 30 minute slideshow?  Or maybe 20 minutes of patriotic songs that we normally ascribe to Jesus Christ?
  • Where/when do we bestow this honor?  Do we use the singular time that we as a body of believers have set aside to assemble together for this purpose?

You might ask, “what’s the big deal Bo?”  Here’s the big deal.  So much of my life is so distracted with the cares and concerns of this world that I have become very protective over certain things of my life.  Things are distinctly separate from this world. Gathering corporately on the Lord’s Day to commemorate His resurrection is, for me, the epitome of that separation.  And to drag my favorite national holiday into that assembly is not only out of place, it’s vile.

If I’m missing the boat on this one, please correct me.

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are You to take the book and to break its seals; for You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from EVERY tribe and tongue and people and nation.

Rev 5:9 NASB

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The Prodigal

This animation is built on 1 John 3:1, and a song by Sovereign Grace Music entitled Prodigal (http://www.sovereigngracemusic.org/). Which, in turn, is based on Christ’s parable of the prodigal son.

As humans we, by our nature, run from and hate God and anything that would bind us to Him – Yet in His great love He sent Jesus Christ to bear all our punishment and to bring us into the love filled, all satisfying arms of our Father God.

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