Greg Atkinson

Personally, I’ve been on a journey over the past 10 years that has led me to fall more in the election or Calvinist camp than in the free-will camp. I still err on the side of it being a mystery and something that we can’t totally figure out – which I’ll talk more about in future blogs, but if I had a gun to my head, I’d go with the Holy Spirit drawing people to Himself and opening their eyes.

I know lately there’s a lot of buzz about the “New Calvinists” and people blogging and talking about the whole subject. For some, it’s turned into a fad or a cool thing to associate with. I thought this blog post by John Piper last week was a great word. His exhortation to say what we believe, not just that we’re a Calvinist is a great word and encouragement to all who fall in this camp. Read his words below:

We are Christians. Radical, full-blooded, Bible-saturated, Christ-exalting, God-centered, mission-advancing, soul-winning, church-loving, holiness-pursing, sovereignty-savoring, grace-besotted, broken-hearted, happy followers of the omnipotent, crucified Christ. At least that’s our imperfect commitment.

In other words, we are Calvinists. But that label is not nearly as useful as telling people what you actually believe! So forget the label, if it helps, and tell them clearly, without evasion or ambiguity, what you believe about salvation.

If they say, “Are you a Calvinist?” say, “You decide. Here is what I believe . . .”

I believe I am so spiritually corrupt and prideful and rebellious that I would never have come to faith in Jesus without God’s merciful, sovereign victory over the last vestiges of my rebellion. (1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 3:1–4; Romans 8:7).

I believe that God chose me to be his child before the foundation of the world, on the basis of nothing in me, foreknown or otherwise. (Ephesians 1:4–6; Acts 13:48;Romans 8:29–30; 11:5–7)

I believe Christ died as a substitute for sinners to provide a bona fide offer of salvation to all people, and that he had an invincible design in his death to obtain his chosen bride, namely, the assembly of all believers, whose names were eternally written in the book of life of the Lamb that was slain. (John 3:16; John 10:15; Ephesians 5:25;Revelation 13:8)

When I was dead in my trespasses, and blind to the beauty of Christ, God made me alive, opened the eyes of my heart, granted me to believe, and united me to Jesus, with all the benefits of forgiveness and justification and eternal life. (Ephesians 2:4–5; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Philippians 2:29; Ephesians 2:8–9; Acts 16:14; Ephesians 1:7;Philippians 3:9)

I am eternally secure not mainly because of anything I did in the past, but decisively because God is faithful to complete the work he began—to sustain my faith, and to keep me from apostasy, and to hold me back from sin that leads to death. (1 Corinthians 1:8–9; 1 Thessalonians 5:23–24; Philippians 1:6; 1 Peter 1:5; Jude 1:25;John 10:28–29; 1 John 5:16)

Call it what you will, this is my life. I believe it because I see it in the Bible. And because I have experienced it. Everlasting praise to the greatness of the glory of the grace of God!

*** So, that’s how Piper put it and I quite enjoyed his words. Where do you fall? Free-will? Election? Mystery? In the middle? How do you see this part of our faith?

Today we celebrate and remember Martin Luther King, Jr. Though we’ve come a long way as a country, I still think we have a ways to go. Days like today make me think of my friend, Scott Williams and his forth-coming book on Church Diversity with a subtitle of “Sunday: The Most Segregated Day of the Week.”

I’ve written about this subject before, but I ask again: When it comes to Sunday and our churches – How diverse are we really? Yesterday, at church, I played keys as I usually do when I’m in town and I looked out and saw a total of two African-American people in both services. Do we live in a “white” town? Far from it!

My business is a member of both the Greene County Chamber of Commerce and the Eatonton-Putnam Chamber of Commerce. These two counties have two very different economic situations. Both counties have luxury neighborhoods with world-class golf courses located on Lake Oconee in gated communities like Reynolds Plantation, Harbor Club, Del Webb, Cuscowilla and Great Waters. If you remember when Pittsburg Steelers QB, Ben Roethlisberger, got in trouble for sexual assault, he was in Georgia because he has a home in a neighborhood 5 minutes from my house.

Our community has one of the nicest hotels in the country: The Ritz-Carlton Lake Oconee where Carey Underwood got married and is also where many special guests, including President Bush go to get away. Not even 5 miles from the Ritz, there are people sleeping on the ground that our church has tried to help.

How drastic is the split in my community? Recently, at a Chamber of Commerce meeting, a guest speaker shared the demographic results of our community. The facts are staggering. Inside the gated communities, the average income is $150,000. Outside the gated communities, the average income is $24,000. These two average incomes live within minutes of each other.

The divide is also very evident in our school system. Our community has 2 or 3 private schools which are really nice and one charter school, which you have to live in the right part of town to get into (or else you’re put on a long waiting list). My kids go to public school at Greensboro Elementary (in Greene County) and are a minority. Each of my kids is 1 of 2 or 3 white kids in their classroom. Read that again. My kids are a part of a tiny, minority in their classrooms, yet I see only 2 black people at a church of 400 people.

Please know, I’m not picking on my current home church. I’ve seen this at each church I’ve served or attended in my lifetime. I’ve always had a heart for diversity and I’m always very aware of how many minorities attend my given church. This is something I look for when I do secret shoppers, too. I’ve never had the joy of being a member of a truly diverse church, though I have visited some in my travels and consulting.

The churches that I’ve seen that are diverse had diverse staff and diversity up on the platform during worship. This does not happen by accident and this is my personal “dream”. To see churches intentionally hire for diversity and fill the stage with color.

What are your thoughts? Do you see the need for a book like Scott is writing? Have we reached the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of or are we still short? Is your church closed today in honor of this holiday??? Read Scott’s blog from last night HERE.

Yesterday, CNN reported that there was snow on the ground in 49 of th 50 states. We’re on Day 3 of Operation Cabin Fever – no school. Snowed-in and enjoying time with my family. What’s the weather like where you are?

My backyard:

My truck:

I was reflecting on the joy of watching someone be baptized and remembered this video that my friend, Jonathan Moon, and I worked on for countless hours when I was on staff at Bent Tree in Dallas. This video footage is all from one day when we baptized 90 people. The music is a live mix of our worship team and worship leader, Scott Dyer, singing “Happy Day.”

If you have a highlight video from a baptism service at your church, please share the link with us in the comment feed. Thanks!

In my last post, I shared a powerful story of a young girl. You may or may not have seen this internet sensation who has a powerful story of being given a second chance. I want to share with you today: Ted Williams.

Ted gives glory to God all throughout this interview and is a living testament that you can come back from addiction and homelessness. Redemption and for that matter: all things are possible with our God.

Ted is now being courted for a major job by the NBA and NFL films. Watch the following video of  Ted being interviewed after being discovered. Unbelievable. To God be the glory.

This video (through the eyes of Google) takes us on a journey back through 2010. Here’s wishing you a great 2011. Happy New Year!

On this week after Christmas, I thought I’d share with you something I came across years ago. This is my favorite mention of Christ’s birth in Scripture. Where is it found? In the oldest book of the Bible: Job.

In Job 39:9, God says, “Will the wild ox consent to serve you? Will he stay by your manger at night?” Can you believe that? I first worked this into a sermon I preached over 10 years ago and loved seeing the looks of the people in the congregation – especially my senior pastor who had a look of “That’s in Job???!!!!” on his face.

Yes, even in the oldest book of the Bible, long before the prophecies of the Old Testament, God knew He was coming to earth in the form of man and gave us a glimpse into his mind and heart by mentioning his humble birth in a manger. He also was tipping His hand to Job that He was in total control of all creation and even animals obey and serve Him. The way He refers to the “wild ox” is as if it was their on guard to protect the Christ Child. Amazing.

Often times we think of Mary and Joseph at the inn being surprised that the inn was full and thinking that the manger was Plan B – like this was a shock and disappointment to God. Far from it! God knew exactly what His coming to Earth would be like and did nothing to change it. He WANTED to be born in a humble and lowly way. What a Savior! What a King!

So, what’s your favorite Christmas passage?

Last night as my pastor was speaking at our Christmas Eve service, I was thinking about the miracle of the incarnation. That God would come to Earth as a baby. God becoming man. Emmanuel – God with us. Miracle of all miracles. I wish you all a Christ-filled Christmas and pray you will know the life-changing reality of the incarnation and the beautiful Christmas story. Merry Christmas!

Tonight the December show on NBC, The Sing-Off, airs once again. Being a musician, I thoroughly enjoy this show. My prediction: I hope Committed wins. I think Street Corner Symphony should come in second. Both are great and should do well in the future. Are you watching the show? Who do you want to win?

You know that I’ve blasted “Pastor” Steven Anderson on here several times in the past. Now he’s in the news for hating homosexuals and wishing they were dead.

I’ve tried to have an open and grace-filled conversation about homosexuality on here many times and even asked a gay friend to do a guest post. In his guest post, he referred to the Church as what a lot of people blame for the suicides of gay teens.

Steven Anderson, his church and his big mouth are not helping this situation at all. It makes me furious. Watch for yourself.

To all homosexuals that see this video and hear his association with Christianity: PLEASE know that we don’t all feel this way and he is a small part of a tiny vocal minority. What are your thoughts on Steven’s defense of his beliefs being based on the Bible? I shutter to think of the people that are attracted to his church and listen to his teaching every week.