Jeff Scanlan wrote:
> Last Sunday at the door as we were leaving I told our pastor that I really
> appreciated his sermon on Romans 9. He used the opportunity to explain more
> on justification. 
> 
> Telling him that I appreciated the sermon is a far cry from paying him
> according to how the congregation rated his sermon. Paying him that way
> would be inappropriate. 

How does this relate to the discussion about celebrating a man's new 
life via a barbecue?  Thanking your pastor and celebrating new life are 
not similar.

> Nobody likes a party more than me. However I cannot accept any notion of
> having cakes, barbecues, etc. after baptisms. It is too easy to
> misunderstand what is happening, particularly for those who are not even
> Christians and might be watching.

You are unable to accept *any* notion of having cakes, barbecues, etc. 
after baptisms?  You cannot conceive of any time where it might be 
appropriate to celebrate a baptism with a cake or a barbecue?  Do you 
celebrate a loved one's birthday?  What did he/she do but live another 
year (and that by God's grace)?  We celebrate physical life annually, so 
why not celebrate eternal life?  Can we not have a barbecue for the 
glory of God?  Did not Paul instruct us to do everything - including 
barbecues - for the glory of God?

> After all we are unworthy servants. When we do things for the Lord and
> because the Lord has commanded them we are only doing our duty.

"Only doing our duty."  Therein lies our disagreement.  I am most 
unworthy.  When I ponder how God has called me to preach and to teach I 
want to get up and dance...and have a barbecue.  That Holy God would 
deign to use me for His work...wow.  That is cause for celebration.  I 
am sorry it is mere duty to you.  Really, I am.  That we can serve a 
holy God and not be struck down is an amazing privilege.  It is far from 
mere duty.

[snip]
--
john-thomas