Out side the box #2

Good afternoon Brethren. Let me start by saying this, so far some comments have been deleted, this was not done by me. but by the one who posted then. now that, that has been said let us get along to out side the box #2 when we ended a couple of days ago we were talking about music in Church. Music is often one of the most devisive things. not because some is more holy than other but because of personal likes and dislikes. It is sort of like food there are some things I will get upset about if you try to make me eat it: Music varies so much from place to place. In Africa they use drums with everything. India is different, Mexico is different, The U.S.A is different from State to State and Community to Community. so why should it be such a big thing? I will say this it should be Worshipful. Music should communicate a spiritual message to its hearers. By the way just a side question we will discuss more. Should the person leading the music just walk in the building grab a song book pick two or three songs just before services? or should He or She put in several hours in getting ready? What do you think? Marlin Freeman.

Out side the box #1

Good after noon, well Christmas is past and I hope each of you had a very happy Christmas. Now for what we have been waiting for, outside the box. some may think that Bro. Freeman is about to go wild. but that is not the case unless you consider the word of God wild. We as Missionary Baptist have over the years put ourselfs in a box of traditions, where every one must do the same thing the same way every time or they are considered to be "unscripturial" by some. Let me say this that every thing we do should be Because we love God and love people.Matt.22:37-40. that is what the whole Bible is based on. Sooooo. Here we go out of the box. One of the more controversal issues is music and insturments. The Bible has many insturments. But NO Piano so how come we think it is a must. I am an old man as you can see by my profile and I remember when Churches in north east Ark. had great debates over getting a piano in the Church Building. up to that point they had used Pump organs. that was an organ that was played by air that was pumped through a bellous usually by a young Boy while the insturment was played by an older person. Soooo let us not get so holy that we cannot use what ever insturment that can be played for Gods glory. What do you think? let me know.

What is inside the box number three

As we discuss working "outside the box and inside the BOOK" there are some things that have been done for years and years, just because its always been done that way, when there is no scripture to back it up. Today lets take a peak at what I call "Churchy language" Have you ever noticed how people use the old english language in Church? They often try to replicate the KJV. language. We live in a generation where many people have no idea what we are saying, Remember we are not trying to reach Church people, but unsaved people. We must talk in terms they can understand. The english language is changeing and every few years we find ourselfs out of touch and not communicateing. Many insist on useing the KJ. only that is ok, if that is what you want to do. But if you are going to be understood you must do a lot of translateing into modern english. It is a fact that people you are likely to reach to do not know the "Churchy Terms" And if you are to reach them it is a must thay you speak their language. if we send a missionary to another country the first thing they must do is to learn to communicate. Sooooo. let us put "Churchy language" in the box. What do you think? Marlin Freeman.

What is inside the box? Number two

As a younger preacher I often heard older pastors asking each other "what did you preach aganst sunday"? I got the idea that you had to be aganst something all the time. I now Know that if you preach and teach about the spiritual needs in peoples life you will have enough preaching material to last a lifetime. so we might want to put agginerism in the box. along with trying to take care of business that is not ours. talking about what we actually know nothing about could also be put in the box. doing things a certian way just because its always been done that way, could be placed in the box, one thing we may want to keep in mind and think on, is how much these afore mentioned things have hindered the cause of christ? Please think on these things and let me know what you think? Marlin Freeman.

Inside the box

When We begin to talk about outside the box we must first detirimine what is inside the box. I find that inside the box, there is a lot of old memories of how Church use to be done and with these memories comes the desire to re visit or move back to those times. memories are great but you cannot re live the past. If we try todo so we loose the generations this side of there. There are also traditions, that have little to do with what the Bible teaches, with that in mind we look at the box it is full of memories and traditions I think it might be best just to put a lid on the box and sit it aside not discard it,but build around it in a way that will be memories and traditions for a new generation. Does that make any sence. Let me know! Marlin Freeman.

newby

Good afternoon, I am Marlin Freeman, this is my first blog. I am computer illerate so I have had quiet a time getting this thing set up. I sure hope it works. I plan to use this blog to gloryify God. one of my main themes will be {to think outside the box while staying inside the BOOK}