The 20-Year Test

Q: What is the 20-year rule?

A: The 20-year rule is: if my children grow up in my church for the next 20 years, singing the songs that we're singing today, what is going to be their view of God? How well will they know God? How much will they know about Him? What will they think about how they're to respond to Him? Will they think that worship is just singing songs that they like in a meeting? That thought helps me think about worship differently.

-Bob Kauflin [interviewed on the Paul Edwards Radio Show]

[BBC photo]

The Manly Art of Self-Denial

To speak bluntly, the essence of Biblical headship is: Sacrifice. Any man whose leadership is not characterized by sacrifice is a counterfeit. God assigned men authority over home, church, and much of nature for the good of home, church, and much of nature - not men. To the contrary, that authority quite often materializes as responsibility that is accepted to the detriment of one's own comfort, preference, and physical well-being.

There was an era when this was widely understood. The measure of a man was rightly gauged by the level of his self-denial; men were expected to go without for the gain of their families, churches, and communities. Today everywhere around us, false-manhood is built around indulgence and adolescent narcissism.

Good men drive old cars so their wives can keep the safer, more reliable, more comfortable vehicle. True men have better things to spend money on than every other outfit in the mid-spring lineup at Kenneth Cole. Real men record sporting shows and watch them with their leftover time. Fraudulent masculinity motivates some men to accumulate toys that real men will pick up at garage sales for half retail value and enjoy with the sons of their youth. At the end of the week, their bodies ache, and there are often personal needs left unfulfilled.

Because of this, authentic Biblical masculinity is low-key and easy to miss. This series of blogs is a tribute to the real men who've taught me by their lives. If I'm exhorting anyone, it's myself.

Question: What does authentic masculinity look like?

Answer: Jesus Christ. Sacrifice.

Miracle Panacea Found!

Today at the dinner table, Gabe disobeyed me and left to get a toy. I promptly told him that I needed to spank him for it, and as I went to get the paddle, it occurred to him that his stomach ached. Not only this, but he needed to go to the restroom right away. With Becki's blessing, we proceeded with the spanking first ... and to our amazement, when it was all over, his stomach felt fine and he was able to forego the restroom visit to stay and finish dessert. Gabe, as sons of a disobedient Adam, we need the healing rod of love - I look forward to the day when we can trade spank stories with laughter.

Pearls, Swine, and the 13th Clown

If there are 12 clowns in a circus ring, you can jump in there and start quoting Shakespeare, but to the audience, you're just the 13th Clown.

-Douglas Wilson

(Whether it's Evangelism or Worship In Question...)

Rich Simplicity - Worship Part 5

Sunday School has taken the responsibility away from the father, and the father loves it. One of the reasons God is not blessing our churches is because we're in the continuous process of doing 'plan B'... You young men and young women need to realize you're wrong in almost everything you're thinking, and start all over again.


You need to submit to church and submit to leaders, but you've got to realize that you're going to walk in and tell this stuff to pastors and not only are they not going to have an answer, they're not even going to know what the question is. So just keep going. Be respectful, but just keep going.


-Paul Washer

Rich Simplicity - Worship Part 4

In our church, we don't have Sunday School. We just haven't found that in the Text. We have catechism and family worship in homes and we look our men in the eye and say: "I double-dog-dare you to disciple your family. We're not going to do it for you, and that includes your wives."

-Voddie Baucham

The Best Things in Church are Free

The Free Church of Scotland is living up to its name by making available several FREE downloads of congregational singing from the Scottish Psalter. You can find them here. Notice particularly the way that men lead the congregation with their voices and the strength of their praise. It is simply glorious. Guess what the Rossell boys will be learning in family worship this year. [The text is from the old Scottish Metrical Psalter, as well as from a newer Psalter I'm having trouble finding - keep an eye out for updates.]