Questions and Answers (Summer 2021)
The following represents a select number of actual questions recently sent in to the ministry (lightly edited for brevity, clarity, and anonymity).
If you have a question you’d like to ask, feel free to send it in here: https://www.expositoryparenting.org/contact
Question: I live in a smaller Mormon community is SE Arizona. There are a variety of non-Mormon churches (mostly charismatic in nature with Arminian seeker friendly approaches), but none are Bible practicing churches. There are four Baptist churches and one of them even attempts expository preaching. There has been enough inappropriate behavior from the deacons and pastor in that church so that I feel best to not take my family there. All the Baptist churches endorse “easy believism“ salvation being “your choice” and I’m fearful of raising our three boys, all under the age of 5, around that nonsense. If I were to honestly evaluate my church options, I would rather not expose my family to this septic tank quality church-ianity and attempt a home church during the more impressionable years. Is doing church in my home by ourselves the right thing to do for now?
Answer: Thanks for reaching out. Your circumstance is obviously pretty common (unfortunately!). Just to give a quick historical-theological basis, the Reformed position is that three elements are necessary for defining a true church: 1) the preaching of the Word, 2) the administration of the sacraments/ordinances, and 3) church discipline. So those are what you want to look for in a church. More specifically, I would say you need to find a church that teaches verse by verse, practices the Lord's Supper as well as credobaptism, and adheres to four-step discipline as outlined in Matthew 18. I would also say that these three elements assume a fourth characteristic: a plurality of qualified men as elders (since they would be the ones facilitating/administering the other three components on behalf of the church).
Based on that description, I would say that a vast majority of home churches do not meet the biblical/historical principles to be considered a true church. That is not at all to say that a home church could never qualify, of course, just that many who are disgruntled with all local churches in their area end up staying home with their families—which is nothing more than trading one unbiblical church for another. So, if there were a way that a home church could be properly established (which is a considerable undertaking), it could be a viable option. In the meantime, or as an alternative, I would do everything in your power to get your family in whatever meets the components of a biblical church as best as possible. Even if the theology is less than desirable, or the preaching is just “kind of” expository, if it meets those three qualifications in any meaningful way, that is better than you just staying home as a family. In fact, there is much that can be learned by way of contrast by explaining to your kids what is happening at the church that may not be as biblical as it should.
Of course, that doesn't justify attending an outright false or blasphemous church (Mormon, Roman Catholic, Bethel, etc). If those were literally the only options, I would obviously stay home instead of participate in satanic worship. With that said though, I would also have to ask how far you’re willing to travel in order to get your family into a good church. Just as a baseline, if I were in your shoes I would be willing to travel a couple hours if I absolutely have to. Even if that would mean you can’t serve or participate as much as you’d like, it would surely be a blessing worth the time and travel to find a place where the Lord and His Word are honored.
Hope that helps, my friend. Keep your head up, I know it's rough out there. There is truly a famine in the land!
Question: Do you have any tips on a good Bible reading plan to do with children? Mine are 8 and 12. Also any tips for Scripture memorization for them? I’m really struggling with this and it seems like it should be so simple.
Answer: Well in terms of a Bible reading plan, this ministry is dedicated to helping parents teach verse by verse through the entire Bible. So it’s a bit more than just reading through the Bible, though it obviously includes that, but is really about teaching them the text. So you’ll notice the website (expositoryparenting.org) has Old Testament Teaching Outlines and New Testament Study Guides, with more being added almost monthly. In terms of what order I’d suggest teaching through the Bible, check out this past Q&A: https://www.expositoryparenting.org/blog/2020/8/29
For Scripture memorization, I would recommend a program like AWANA that is dedicated to just that. Beyond that though, I would also work on catechism memory, which will give them not just a random memory verse, but the kind of theology that will help them better understand Scripture. There is a catechism on the website (expositoryparenting.org/catechism) and a chapter in the book is devoted to explaining how to catechize your kids.
Question: Hi. Is John MacArthur a good preacher to follow? Someone I know takes his every word to heart so I was just wondering, is he an expository preacher?
Answer: Yes. He is not only an expository preacher, but the best public one of this generation.
Question: I’m a baby Christian and have had a rocky road with my faith being in churches that are charismatic and Pentecostal. I’m a single mom and I have started homeschooling my 8 year old and I am having to work through a lot of trauma from my childhood, including loneliness and my transformation becoming a godly women and mother. I am finding life a struggle and have now found a church that preaches expository teaching but when I ask for counsel, support, etc., I’m told they cannot give me this. They refer me to social services for parenting courses and foster care. I do not have family support and they are all very ungodly people I try to avoid. My homeschooling friends are either non believers or charismatic/Pentecostal Christians and it is just distressing and lonely to be a single parent home schooling let alone feeling completely alone in my walk with God. I know we must be self sufficient to some extent but not completely alone. I keep questioning am I asking too much? Am I meant to do this alone? I fear my children’s futures.
Answer: Thanks for reaching out, and glad to hear that the ministry is helpful for you! I'm very curious as to why a church that is solid enough to provide expository preaching is not willing to provide biblical counseling. Is it that the elders are too busy, or don't feel that they have a competent counseling program? Without knowing any of the details of your specific situation, in general I can't imagine why a church would not be willing to provide counseling to a single mother. Are there other solid churches in your area that could provide this? I would look to network with other believers and churches in the area that can help. And you are right, there is no reason to go to a secular counselor. They will not provide the biblical wisdom that you're looking for.
Question: Did baptism replace circumcision as the Covenant sign? Should we give it to our babies?
Answer: Though both baptism and circumcision are intended to be covenant signs, baptism did not directly replace circumcision in the New Covenant in the sense that it operates the same way. On the contrary, one of the distinguishing factors between the Old and New Covenants is that everyone in the New Covenant is a true believer with a new heart—that's one of the primary reasons the New Covenant is better. Baptism is the outward sign of this inward reality: being in the New Covenant by virtue of union with Christ through faith alone. Obviously infants can neither provide nor profess any indication of having a new heart, and are thus not valid recipients of baptism. You can read more about the New Covenant here: https://www.expositoryparenting.org/blog/2020/7/25
Beyond that, nowhere does Scripture describe infants being baptized, and in fact, the very word “baptize” from the Greek baptizo means to “immerse.” So pouring or sprinkling an infant is not actually baptism; it’s just pouring or sprinkling an infant with water. All the accounts in Scripture of baptism accompany a credible profession of faith (“credobaptism”), and thus must be our pattern today.
One of the grave errors of Covenant theology is that it tries to replace or reshape Old Covenant practices into New Covenant practices. So, for example, people will often speak of the Sabbath now being Sunday (the Lord’s Day), even though this again has zero support in Scripture, but is actually contradicted in various places (cf. Ezek. 46:1, Col. 2:16, Rev. 1:10, et. al.). Or, people will call giving in church a “tithe” even though tithing was far more than just putting some money into an offering plate, as it was a sacerdotal tax in the theocratic nation of Israel, and actually accounted for over 30% of one’s overall income. Don’t be deceived: the Church isn’t Israel, pastors aren’t priests, and church buildings aren’t the “house of God.” Those are just a few other examples to consider. Hope this helps!