Isaac The Cat

/ Ronnie W Rogers

Isaac Most of you at Trinity have heard me mention our cat, Isaac.

Usually, I used him in humorous illustrations that highlighted the differences between humans and animals—like the truth that Isaac never did chores, or held down a job, at least we never saw him break a sweat or offer to buy our dinner; although, these were humorous illustrations, they serve to demonstrate the undeniable reality that humans are not only different from animals in degree, but in kind.

Overemphasizing the similarities between people and animals lead some to, practically speaking, equate the two as very near the same, with some even preferring a relationship with an animal over humans; but the similarities between them will never bridge the deep chasm artistically carved by their God given dissimilarities (Genesis 1:26-27). Continue reading →

The Compatibility of Genesis One and Two

/ Ronnie W Rogers

Recently, The Roundtable in Theology at Trinity Baptist Church demonstrated how antagonists compare Genesis chapter one with chapter two and as a result, portray Genesis one as mere poetry, fiction, or myth—anything but historical prose.

At times this contradictory relationship is due to simply misunderstanding the nature of Genesis one and two, but often it is premised on the belief that the Scripture is not totally reliable, or to be taken as normal prose in Genesis one. This is almost always based on the presupposition that evolution is true and Genesis one and two must be interpreted in light of that rather than beginning with Genesis and interpreting evolution in light of the Biblical account.

Ignoring the full breadth of the significance and purpose of chapter two is a glaring omission that leads to the conclusion that Genesis one and two are incompatible. As a result of this conclusion, Christians are drawn into defending the trustworthiness of Genesis one and two based upon an unintended and indefensibly narrow purpose.

The following article is intended to demonstrate that the purpose of the construction of chapter two is not only to elaborate on chapter one, but to connect chapter one to chapter three, and thereby transition the narrative forward in the unfolding account of man. Chapter two, as constructed, is essential to communicating the full understanding of mans beginning in a perfect garden, followed by the fall, the curse, the flood…and the full chronicle of God’s grace and provision of redemption for man as revealed in the following pages of Scripture. Therefore, the omissions and additions of chapter two compared with chapter one are based upon this expanded purpose, and when understood as intended, do not conflict with chapter one. Continue reading →

Bibliography for Intelligent Design, Creation and Evolution

/ Ronnie W Rogers

I have enclosed a preliminary list of books and websites in order to help you understand some of the most salient arguments for ID, Creation Science and the Genesis account. These resources will expose some of the most glaring and problematic inadequacies of the theory of Evolution. Unfortunately, these inadequacies are routinely glossed over or ignored in the college classrooms, and ID and Creation Science are summarily dismissed with a shake of the head or by catagorizing them as merely religious. These books will help to arm you with the facts. Continue reading →

Marriage for Life

/ Ronnie W Rogers

The Bible is very clear about God’s design for marriage being one man and one woman married for life. Unfortunately, divorce is not only rampant in our culture, but it is quite prevalent in our churches. At Trinity, the elders became increasingly burdened over the problem of some Christian marriages failing to thrive and situations where one or both partners refuse to work on their marital problems or remain faithful to their marriage vows and to God’s design for marriage.

“Marriage For Life” is what we developed in order to properly extol marriage in our church and help marriages grow stronger so that they do not find themselves in crises. “Marriage For Life” outlines the steps that the church and couples are taking in order to strengthen even the best of marriages as well as what the steps that will be taken in order to resolve even the severest of marital conflicts.

Our desire is that members of Trinity Baptist Church experience marriage as God intended, and thereby enjoy the blessings of God as well as testify to the world of the power of the gospel in their lives.

microsoft-word-married-for-life-elders-position-practice-5-18-06.pdf

Making Christians Relevant to the Work of The Kingdom

/ Ronnie W Rogers

The ministry of the local church is being undermined by well-intentioned pastors and Christians who fail to understand the essential need for maturing Christians through the teaching of the Scripture or either they are unwilling to stay committed to the somewhat unglamorous task. This lack of commitment to maturing believers, for which shepherds were given to the church can be fueled by such things as: pastors who do not value continually maturing themselves in the word, and therefore do not value it in ministry; equate numerical or other more quantifiable measurements as the true earmark of “faithfulness” rather than trusting Scripture; have succumbed to the same shallow trendiness that characterizes the fashion industry, or a host of less noble, albeit alluring reasons.  Whatever is the reason, for the sake of the honor of Christ and the advancement of the kingdom, pastors must eschew the lure of other goals and purposes and passionately pursue the purpose God called them for.

Continue reading →

The Pastor and his marriage

/ Ronnie W Rogers

The role of a pastor is critical in God’s plan for the local church; consequently, his qualifications are paramount when considering who is qualified to serve as pastor and who is disqualified. While several characteristics are necessary for a man to be eligible to serve as a pastor, none seem to garner as much attention or debate as what the required marital status is for a man to serve as pastor. I believe the qualification “the husband of one wife” (1 Timothy 3:2), means that a man is to be devotedly married to one woman for life. The only exception would be if she died, and then he could remarry and still be qualified. Therefore, it speaks to marital devotion as well as status. The following are the notes, which I base my interpretation on. Continue reading →