Oasis on Facebook

What is ‘Oasis’?

Oasis is a ‘church‘ in Goose Creek, SC.  We meet in a home (what some would call a house church, organic church, emerging church or simple church).  We are reformed in our theology as outlined below.

Wikipedia describes an “Oasis” as:  an oasis (plural: oases) is an isolated area of vegetation in a desert, typically surrounding a spring or similar water source.

Oasis as a body of believers is:  Oasis (Outward, Authentic, Serving, Incarnational, Simple) which essentially means;

“Equipping others to be more faithful disciples through serving them in discipleship-evangelism, exhortation and restoration, to a full relationship with God, in all of life.”

Which later changed to: ‘Oasis…where relationships are mess worth making…’

Our Vision is: We seek to build gospel-centered communities to reach people for Christ Jesus and invest in messy relationships.

General Theology:

* It is a given presupposition that we subscribe to the Acts 29 Network, NANC and the Gospel Coalition (Preamble, Confessional Statement, Vision )doctrinal statements.  How we develop leaders and foundations on our leadership can be found here:  Developing Elders, Deacons, & Members, Elders and Leadership in the New Testament, and Leadership within a Local Church.

1) Who have been your primary theological teachers, or influences?  In other words (apart from the Bible), what authors, theologians (either living or dead), movements, denominations, or schools of thought have most influenced your theology?  John Calvin, Louis Berkhof, Robert Reymond, James Montegomery Boice, Wayne Grudem, D.A. Carson, John MacArthur, C.J. Mahaney, Jerry Bridges, NANC, CCEF, The Westminister Standards, PCA, OPC.

2) Outside of the Bible, what is the most theologically-intensive book you have read cover-to-cover?   Louis Berkhof – Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem – Systematic Theology and Bible Doctrine, Robert L. Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, Theology of Christian Counseling – Jay Adams.

3) What is the gospel? (i.e. theologically speaking, not how you would explain the gospel message to a non-Christian) That we are facing God’s wrath (election), that we can do nothing to appease Him (grace), that it requires a blood sacrifice (atonement) and a mediator, that through confession/beleif (agreeing with God that I have fallen short of His standard) and repentance (His gift) I am able to turn from my sins, that I am no longer who I was (in bondage to sin, free in Christ) and able to comprehend that Jesus is SAVIOR and LORD and that I have been redeemed and restored in my relationship and able to walk a life of faith, repentance and new obedience because of what Christ has done.

4) Please give your view of the scriptures. I affirm that the Bible is the only inspired, inerrant, authoritative and sufficient Word of God consisting of the sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments.  Scripture asserts its sufficiency, in that it claims exclusivity for its teaching and applicability (Isa. 55:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:3–4 NASB).

5) Briefly describe your philosophy of ministry and evangelism? I am convinced that the subjects of evangelism is everyone, both believer and non-believer, that the substance of evangelism is the Gospel, and that the method of our evangelism is declaration and demonstration.  Further, I am convinced that the context of our evangelism is personal and corporate.  I believe that any ministry and evangelism should contain the following elements:  Outward – because I have been shown great mercy, I do not hold onto that secret, I “get to” share it with others (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).  Authenticity, not contrived or forced relationships are going to reveal Christ to anyone, but through participating together in the life and truth made possible by the Holy Spirit, through our union with Christ, sharing in common on the deepest possible level of human relationship which is essentially walking out ALL the “one-another’s” found in scripture (Acts 2:42; 1 Cor. 15:10; Phi. 2:1; Phlm. 1:6).  I like the quote, “a pattern of effective behavior that flows out of core identity, character and calling, enabling you to fulfill your role with excellence by meeting the needs of the present situation to the glory of Christ and for the good of others.”  Serving – acknowledging that Christian service is God-centered (Col. 3:23-24), others-focused (Gal. 5:13), characterized by humility (Phil. 2:3-4), empowered by the Spirit of God (1 Peter 4:10-11).  Incarnational – not just basing a ministry model on the Jesus who lived, but on the Jesus who lives.  “Christians living out the gospel in their cultural context like Jesus who tabernacled among us.” – Darrin Patrick (Mar 3:1-6; Rev 2:1-3:22).  Simple – the daily Christian life is based upon faith in Christ, repentance unto Christ and new obedience in Christ and we tend to complicate it into rules and regulations, guilt and shame management based upon appeasement.

6) What is our role in saving the lost, and what is God’s role?  See #3 above which is quite clear on this, however for further clarity, our role is to declare and demonstrate the Word and God is in charge of the results (Luke 8:5-15; 1 Cor. 3:4-23).

7) In your own words, how do you understand the doctrine of predestination and what view do you personally hold on this doctrine? (e.g. God’s sovereignty vs. man’s responsibility, free will, who are the elect, etc.)  I am reformed in my perspective of predestination and this is my personal view that predestination of which for me, means that salvation and reprobation are entirely God’s decision, made in eternity before the world and its inhabitants existed, regarding the final destiny of individual sinners that God has chosen some persons for the gift of salvation…and some for hell.  All of which is an affirmation of God’s gracious favor bestowed upon the undeserving.  I believe scripture confirms God’s sovereignty AND man’s responsibility, one cannot read for instance 1 Cor. 10:12-14 asking the question WHO IS RESPONSIBLE and not see that tension.  I wholeheartedly believe that because of the fall, man is incapable of any spiritual good and without God’s intervention are destined for hell.  That any attempt of good deeds are worthless and filthy rags. I like how the WCF puts it:  “Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has completely lost all ability to choose any spiritual good that accompanies salvation. Therefore, an unregenerate man, because he is opposed to that good and is dead in sin, is unable by his own strength to convert himself or to prepare himself to be converted.”  Scriptures that confirm this view are clearly in Proverbs 16:4; John 13:18; Romans 8:30; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-13.

8.  How has Adam’s sin affected our nature and our ability to choose in regard to good and evil?  See #7 above.  Because Adam’s sin is imputed to us, it also necessitates the need for Christ’s righteousness to be imputed to us.  I like how the WCF puts this, “When God converts a sinner and brings him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage to sin, and by his grace alone he enables him freely to will and to do what is spiritually good. Yet, because of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly nor only will what is good, but also wills what is evil. The will of man is made perfectly and unchangeably free to do good alone, only in the state of glory.”

9) Briefly describe your view of local church government, including the offices, who can/should hold them, and who has final authority for decision making? I wholeheartedly subscribe to finding our job descriptions in the bible, i.e., Jesus is Senior Pastor, elders and deacons.  I do not see “directors” of this or that ministry, and I want people to find their job descriptions in the Bible, specifically the Epistles.  I do not see a division between teaching elders or ruling elders but one class.  I also see that scripture is open to women holding the position of deacon (Romans 16:1) but not to the office of elder.  I also believe that a session (a body of elders) is also biblical, used of God to shepherd the people for decisions, teaching, stewardship and that Jesus/Bible is the final authority for decision making.

10) What is your eschatological position? I hold to Historic Premillennialism, the view that Christ will return to the earth after a period of great tribulation and then establish a millennial kingdom. At this time believers who have died will be raised from the dead and believers who are alive will receive glorified resurrection bodies, and both will reign with Christ on earth for a thousand years (Rev. 20:1–10).  I have visited this issue a few times, and still land on HP.  One of the best resources to assist me with this issue and I refer to others is:  “The Meaning of the Millennium” by Clouse.

11) In regard to the values that will shape every aspect of the life of your church. Please list 6 core convictions concerning which you (as lead planter) will never give in, nor even bend on, as you plant your church.

1. Sola Scriptura – Scripture is the final authority for all matter of faith and life (Isa. 55:11; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:3–4).
2. Evangelism, discipleship and counseling is one ministry and not optional (Matthew 28:19-20; Romans 15:14; II Corinthians 1:4; Galatians 6:1-5; I Thessalonians 3:2; II Timothy 4:2; Hebrews 10:23-25).
3. Biblical peacemaking is a skill that is consistently, surgically, immediately, accountably, redemptively, restoratively, and humbly worked on in all of life (Matt. 5:23-24; 6:12; 7:12; 25:14-21; John 13:34-35; Eph. 4:1-3, 32; Phil. 2:3-4; Rom. 12:18; 1 Peter 2:19; 4:19.).
4. Christians are called to live differently and missionally. (1 Kings 18:21; Rom. 1:18-32; 2 Tim 3:2-7; 2 Pet 1:19-21).
5. Sanctification is all of life – priorities (John 4:34; 17:4; 19:30; Eph. 5:15-21; Gal. 4:4-7; Daniel 9:26-27; Psalm 90).
6. Authenticity is not optional (Matt. 23:13-33; John 3:30, 8:31; 1 Cor. 9:19; 1 Joh 1:5-10; Rom. 2:28-29, 9:6-7)

Pastoral Theology:

1) How would you respond to a couple at your church that just miscarried 9 weeks into pregnancy?  What scriptures would you take them to? Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Rm 12:15).  One of the best resources I have given folks with this very type of challenge have been to send them to http://www.grieftoglory.com/ after I have shared that God is sovereign even in our difficult times (Psalm 18:30; Psalm 69:29-30), that the unborn child is safe in the Father’s arms (Psalm 139:13-16; Isa. 49:1 – MacArthur’s book on this is good too), that God empathsizes with our grief (2 Cor 1:3-4; Isa 25:8; Psalm 18:1-6, 40:1, 139:1-18 ) and that others in the Bible understand the depths of this grief (Job 3:11-13, 16).

2) You are counseling a couple, who claim to be Christian, that are fornicating and believe they are “married in their hearts”.  They would like to become members of your church.  Describe how would you handle this couple, including how you would address the issue of being “married in their hearts”?  First, if everyone needs to be perfect before becoming a ‘member’, then I do not want to be a part of that ‘church’.  Unscriptural.

‘Session with the couple starts with me saying, “Membership classes are next week at _______, hope to see you there.  I then ask if I can pray for them regarding their living situation, when finished I say, “Then if that is true (married in your hearts), then you want to be in God’s will by being obedient right?”  Usually the couple says, “Yes.” Let’s open our Bible’s to:  1 Cor. 6:9-12 (female please read) and then I have the man read, Heb. 13:4.  Then I mention to them that Connie and I were in the very same place and a pastor said the very thing to us that I am about to say to them, “In your hearts, God also has convicted you of your sin of fornication otherwise we would not be having this conversation.  Because of your ignorance and God’s love for you I am convinced that we are providentially having this conversation so that you can be restored in your relationship with God regarding this union, IF it is God’s will.  Here are some steps I highly recommend that you should take and the church will assist you with, 1) You must confess and repent of your sin to God and to one another.  If this is God’s gift to you (each other), He did not intend that you defile it.  3)One of you has to move out or stay with someone else until your married.  4) You will complete marriage counseling BEFORE I marry you.”  So what is your schedule like so that we can start pre-marital counseling, it will be 13 weeks?  (I have actually had guys get ‘sticker shock’ and back pedal greatly – which shows the prospective wife his heart) and the I ask how can I and the elders serve you in your next step?

3) You are praying with folks up front (building ’church’) after a Sunday Service and get a young man that would like you to pray for him in regards to an addiction to pornography.  What would you do and how would you on the spot counsel this man?  I would pray with him.  I would thank the Father that this man was able to hear His voice and to pursue help.  After praying, I would tell the man that I would like to meet with him, that God had answered his prayer and between now and our appointment I had an assignment for him.  I would share that pornography is a non-discriminating attacker (men & women both) and that 1 Cor. 10:12-14 provided some hope in regards to ‘addictions.’  I would tell him that if he truly desired victory, then it would take 4 things to get free, stay free and disciple others to be free.  Radical Amputation, Radical Appropriation, Radical Accountability, and Radical Adoration.  I would then give him a copy of Jay Adam’s booklet called, “Christ and Your Problems” and a reading reflective review sheet for homework until we could meet again.  I would also tell him that IF he really wanted to get RADICAL, he could go to the Setting Captives Free (www.settingcaptivesfree.com) website and sign up for the pornography course and copy me in on his lessons.  I would thank him for sharing the ‘fine china’ of his life and minister to someone else.

4) A group of people are talking and invite you to answer a question they have been trying to figure out.  The question they are trying to answer is what role does prayer have in the Christian life if you preach the sovereignty of God?  What would be your answer for them?  My answer for this is that if Jesus thought it was important enough to pray (to select disciples, to talk with the Father about Jerusalem, and in the garden), that prayer is either an ignorance issue (don’t have enough information) or a stupidity issue (have the information and refuse).  I also mention that an axiom that has always struck me about prayer (Reading MUCH E.M.Bounds) is that so many people expect so much out of a relationship with someone that they don’t spend any time with.  I would tell them to do a search in their Bibles on the keyword “prayer” (NASB has some 104 references to it in the OT/NT), get their hands on some E.M. Bounds.  I would tell them to read Bill Hybel’s book, “Too Busy NOT to Pray” might also be another good resource.   I would end the discussion by saying that there is probably many more resources, and works to be written on the topic, and with how much I know I get to work on this area, these items might be a good place to start.

5) After church one day you are approached by a crying woman that truly has a broken heart from being convicted of her sin.  She simply asks you to tell her the gospel so that she may believe like others in your church.  How would you explain the gospel to her?

A = Admit

1. First, God demands that we admit without reservation that we are sinners and that we should therefore be separated from His presence forever. We are in rebellion against Him, either consciously or unconsciously, and we deserve not grace but judgment. (Isa 53:4-6; Rm 1:18-32, 3:10-19, 23, 5:6-11; Gal 3:19-29; 1 Jo 1:10)

B = Believe

2. The second point to becoming a Christian is to believe that God loves you in spite of your sin and that He has acted in Jesus Christ to remove that sin and to begin to make you perfect once more by conforming you to Christ’s image. “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rm 5:8). “For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (Jn 1:9-13, 3:16, 6:47; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Rm 10:9-10; Rev 3:20).

C = Commit

3. Finally, there must be an act by which you actually commit yourself to Christ. Or, to put it another way, you must open the gate of your heart and receive Him. This does not mean that you are responsible for your own salvation. If you do open the door, it is only because Christ is there beforehand moving you to do it. Still, from your own point of view, the act itself is absolutely indispensable. (Matt 7:21-29; Lk 6:46-49, 14:25-35; Jn 6:44, 64-65; Rm 8:26-39; 1 Jn 1:5-10).

Lately too, I have also been having the folks read Luke 8:5-18; 15:1-32 and asking them what kind of soil are they and which brother are they in the parables?  These two final questions have led to some great EGGs (Evidences of God’s Grace) in how they are answered and what God is doing in their hearts!!!  I have been also been known to use Romans 1:18-32 and anything by the Way of the Master as a tool to start a spiritual conversation!