"Keep Your Colors" - Old sermon....new post

“ Keep your Colors”

1Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

Psalms 1:1-3 “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

I have to admit, autumn is one of my favorite times of the year. Football season starts, the MLB playoffs, and of course homemade apple pie (HINT HINT). It is one of the most beautiful times of the year here in the Adirondacks. The fall foliage is already showing!
I plan on taking my wife up to see all the beautiful colors and might even get a smooch out of it! People come from all over just to see the leaves turn colors.

However, we quickly resent these beautiful leaves when we have to rake them up, bag them, burn them, over and over and over again! OH, I hated raking leaves!

Why do leaves change colors? Why do leaves fall from trees?

They change colors because in a sense they stop eating/photosynthesis*. The trees stop the flow of food. We all enjoy the beautiful show of colors as leaves change each autumn. Did you ever wonder how and why this happens. To answer that question, we first have to understand what leaves are and what they do.
Leaves are nature's food factories. Plants take water from the ground through their roots. They take a gas called carbon dioxide from the air. Plants use sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into glucose. Glucose is a kind of sugar. Plants use glucose as food for energy and as a building block for growing. The way plants turn water and carbon dioxide into sugar is called photosynthesis. That means "putting together with light." A chemical called chlorophyll helps make photosynthesis happen. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color. As summer ends and autumn comes, the days get shorter and shorter. This is how the trees "know" to begin getting ready for winter. During winter, there is not enough light or water for photosynthesis. The trees will rest, and live off the food they stored during the summer. They begin to shut down their food-making factories. The green chlorophyll disappears from the leaves. As the bright green fades away, we begin to see yellow and orange colors. Small amounts of these colors have been in the leaves all along. We just can't see them in the summer, because the green chlorophyll covers them up.

The bright reds and purples we see in leaves are made mostly in the fall. In some trees, like maples, glucose is trapped in the leaves after photosynthesis stops. Sunlight and the cool nights of autumn turn this glucose into a red color. The brown color of trees like oaks is made from wastes left in the leaves. It is the combination of all these things that make the beautiful colors we enjoy in the fall.

Christians are like leaves. We change our colors also. We have sin laying dormant (well, it should be) in our lives. When water and light are not around us we stop growing also. The Word Of God works as the water, and the light are fellow believers. The bible says that we are the light of the world. ( Matthew 5:16)
If we fail to grow, it is because we have one of three problems:

1. sap is being stopped- the HOLY Spirit is being hindered. John 15:1- 8

2. We are not allowing ourselves around believers - Hebrews 10:24-26

3. We are not in the Word. We are not seeking what God wants

Sure, the foliage of the dying leaves is beautiful. But as Christians, we do not need to be dying. We need not be any other tree but an evergreen tree. An evergreen tree is dependable. They are the most populated trees around. Why? Because they spread the seeds.

We need to be dependable all year long. We need to keep our colors.
How do evergreens stay green year-round? In fact, they do lose their leaves. But they are able to grow new leaves before shedding the old ones! Some evergreens keep the same leaves through the winter and into the summer. Some trees are able to keep the same leaves for several years before they drop off!

Unlike the leaves that die off without sharing life, the evergreen makes sure that there is life growing behind it.

We need to do these things to ensure the livelihood of not only our families and freedom but of this church.

Here are some ways to continue the growth of our church:

1. Spread the seeds – Matthew 28:18-20
2. Share the success - Deuteronomy 6:7- 9

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.

Joshua 4:5-7 “And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.”

Teach the next generation. Not just kids but those new in the faith. They are babies. Help them grow. (matt 28:18-20)

3. Stabilize your steps. They are coming behind you. They need to see your steps faithful and upright.

You may have started off wrong. You may have messed up in your life. Finish strong. Hold your head high and walk!

Walk A Little Plainer, Daddy
Said A Little Boy One Day
I'm Following In Your Footsteps,
And I Want To Know The Way
Sometimes Your Steps Are Very Plain
And Sometimes Hard To See.
So Walk A Little Plainer, Daddy,
For You Are Leading Me.
I Know That Once You Walked
This Way, Many Years Ago,
And What You Did Along The Way
I'd Really Like To Know.
For Sometimes I Am Tempted
And Don't Know What To Do
So Walk A Little Plainer, Daddy,
For I Must Follow You
Sometime When I Am All Grown Up
You Are Like I Want To Be
Then I Will Know A Little Boy,
Who Will Want To Follow Me.
And I Would Want To Lead Him Right,
And Help Him To Be True.
So Walk A Little Plainer, Daddy
For We Must Follow You
Written by Forrest Flowers
(copied)


One of my favorite songs is the song “ find us faithful”.

This is my prayer, that those who come behind me find my steps faithful.
I pray that like Paul ended his life, they may be able to say, 2Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

Great Reasons To Obey The Great Commission

Great Reasons to Obey The Great Commission
Matthew 28:18-20


I . The Great Conservation
A. Lu 12:48 But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.


B. Ro 1:14 – 16 “I am debtor both to the Greeks, and to the Barbarians; both to the wise, and to the unwise.
So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”


C. Luke 7:47 “Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.”


D. Ephesians 2:4-10 “ But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
E. Because Christ gave himself for us, we should give ourselves for to him. The Great Commission is just a small way of doing so.


II. The Great Commandment

A. Mark 12:31-32
B. II Cor 5:14-21
C. I John 4:20
D. If we love God like we should, We will tell others like we would




III. The Great Conviction

A. Two young Moravians heard of an island in the west indies where an athiest British owners had 2000-3000 slaves, and the owner had said, “No preacher, no clergyman will ever step foot on this Island. If he’s shipwrecked we’ll keep him in a separate house until he has to leave, but he’s never going to talk to any of us about God. I’m through with all that non-sense.”
3000 slaves from the jungles of Africa brought to an island in the Atlantic and there to live and die without hearing of Christ. Two young Moravians heard about it. They sold themselves to the British planter and used the money to buy passage to the island, for he paid no more than he would pay for any slave and wouldn’t transport them. And as the ship left the pier at the river Hamburg, the Moravians had come to see the two young lads off. Never to return again for this wasn’t a 4 year term. They’d sold themselves into lifelong slavery, simply that as slaves, they could be as Christians were these others were. The families were there weeping for they knew they’d never see them again. And as the gap widened and the hawsers were being curled up on the pier, and the young boys saw the widening gap. One lad, his arm linked through the arm of his fellow raised his hand and shouted across the gap the last words that were ever heard from them… They were these:MAY THE LAMB THAT WAS SLAIN, RECEIVE THE REWARD OF HIS SUFFERING. This became the call of Moravian missions, and this is the only reason for being, that the lamb that was slain, may recieve the reward of His suffering. – Copied


B. Revelation 5
C. I Timothy 1:15
D. Luke 19:10



IV. The Grand Consolation
A. Partnered with the Holy Spirit – Acts 11:12
B. Powered by The Spirit – Acts 1:8
C. Persuaded with the Scriptures – Isaiah 55:11


V. The Great Consent
A. Matt 28:18-20
B. Acts 1:8


VI. The Great Confusion
A. The G.C. is not limited to “Soul winning”
B. The G.C. is not limited to Baptism
C. The G.C. isn’t limited to Discipleship
D. The G.C. is a command. It isn’t optional
E. The G.C. is a meter of your Christian life and walk with God – I Cor 9:16-17, 2 Cor 4:3-4,
Col 1:28, Col 3:16, Titus 2:12, Col 2:6, Heb 6:1

The Shameful Shepherd (Part 5)

Pastors who pervert their people.




The Believers at Galatia had a serious problem going on. They were being misled. They were being taught that they had to add the law of Moses to salvation and sanctification. Paul asked the church of Galatia "WHO HATH BEWITCHED YOU?". WHO has given you bad doctrine? Who was it? Paul wasn't asking hypothetically. He wanted to know. The church was being led back into Judaism instead of the new and living way. Paul spent much of his writings addressing false doctrines. I and II Corinthians, he had to address the false teachings concerning the Resurrection and the Ordinances of the Lord's supper. Not to mention the misapplication of Biblical Separation and Holiness before God. They had believers going to court to settle lawsuits and grievances against each other. Paul was astonished at the ignorance of the people in Corinth. They were do divided that they didn't even know how to conduct a simple service. "IS CHRIST DIVIDED?" There was a man living in complete incest with his Father's wife. They were eating meats offered to idols. They were ignorantly following seditions and heresies. In I and II Thessalonians, people were being taught that the rapture had already happened. That Christ had already come and that they were already living in the tribulation. Paul sent Titus to set things in order. Young Timothy was sent to delegate leaders to teach and admonish the people of God with the truth of God. False Doctrine is not a new problem facing the church. For centuries people have been PERVERTING the people of God with man made doctrines, heresies, and doctrines of man and not of God.

Independent Fundamental Baptists are not exempt. We stand firm on the Inspiration and Preservation of the Bible, but to a point where we idolize it. We stand firm on the Blood atonement, and then fall into the mysticism which the Pentecostals present.
We are INDEPENDENT BAPTISTS but forget that we are part of the Body of Christ. We exalt numbers and offerings instead of making Christ the end to our means. Instead, Christ is made the means to our end. Pastors all over the globe have fallen into the conquest of Man's praise instead of the Glory of God. Pastors have turned and are perverting their people with doctrines and traditions which add wood, hay, and stubble to their eternal reward. We can measure the length of our skirts but we lack the meek and quiet spirit coupled with fear. We adorn ourselves in fine apparel but inwardly we are full of dead mans bones. We masquerade ourselves as being fashionable and upright in our conduct but inwardly ICHABOD is written across the entrance of our heart. We build bigger buildings and boast of new ministries and great attendances, offerings, and results; but God is not within a million miles of us because we have perverted his people. We have taught damnable heresies. We have turned the sheep against the shepherd. We, like Absalom have turned the people's heart from the king.

Isaiah 10:1-2 "Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed; To turn aside the needy from judgment, and to take away the right from the poor of my people, that widows may be their prey, and that they may rob the fatherless!"

Ezekiel 13:1-3 "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel that prophesy, and say thou unto them that prophesy out of their own hearts, Hear ye the word of the LORD;Thus saith the Lord GOD; Woe unto the foolish prophets, that follow their own spirit, and have seen nothing!"

II Peter 2

It is a sad thought that there are Pastors out there who ignorantly teach their people wrong applications to Biblical Truths. Those who promote a works based goal of sanctification induce a perverted view not only of true holiness but also of God himself. Their entire view of scripture is no longer about a Holy Creator whose purpose in his creation was for His pleasure, but is now that God's whole desire is to make us happy. It produces the mindset that God owes us whatever we desire. He is the whimsical "genie in the bottle." We "rub his lamp" through prayer and "POOF!" He appears and does whatever we ask. There is a sickening doctrine out there called "Prosperity Gospel." They teach that a believer should never be sick and should always be prosperous. If you get sick, either you aren't saved or you don't have enough faith to "cast it out" of your body. It teaches that all you need to do is rebuke it in Jesus' name and to claim the blood of Christ to heal you, because "by his stripes you are healed" (I Peter 2:24). They teach that if a Christian should never be needing because "my God shall supply all your needs." Therefore, if you ever have a need that is not met, you are unsaved, not right with God, or just lacking faith. I used to think this nonsense was just limited to the Pentecostal Movement. Sadly, it is not. Shamefully, The Independent Baptists have also began to proclaim it as truth. "Hey Folks, if you tithe, God will take care of your needs. He says it in his word, Be faithful in your tithes and offerings and God will take care of your needs." Here is the kicker, I believe in tithing. I still tithe. I don't say this to boast. However, just because I tithe my percent and use the rest of the money foolishly, that my obedience is going to cover for my foolishness. It just doesn't work that way. The whole concept falls into the category of prosperity Gospel. We obey to obey, not to ensure God's blessings. Again, God is not the Genie who exists to fulfill our every desire.

Another fallacy is that Soulwinning is the main thing. I have heard someone say that we "win" someone to the Lord, baptize them, and then teach them to go soulwinning and that is the Great Commission. WHAT?! Yeah, that definitely perverts the people. Nice job preacher. way to pervert people to believe that that is all of the great commission. Just teach them how to go soulwinning and all is ok. Phew. If ONLY it was that easy. Perverting the people into a false sense of accomplishing something that is not complete is just like Ephraim being a cake not turned. Nobody likes a runny pancake. Nobody likes a bunch of haughty people thinking they have accomplished something when they haven't. Sanctification is through Christ and Christ alone. He is our righteousness. He is our sanctification. Those climbing up some other way will suffer shame when our works are tried with fire.

Watch out for Pastors who pervert when it comes to the Bible. There are two extremes that I see common in our Independent Baptist Church circles. The premise that the KJV is NOT inspired and that only the originals have been Inspired. The problem is, if the ORIGINALS are the only thing inspired than what does common man have today? Does anyone HAVE a copy of the originals? Oh, right. They were destroyed. So, then we must be talking about the languages. The languages are dead as well. So then, what we can conclude is that the Bible that I hold in my hand every day and preach out of every week is no more inspired than is the Readers Digest. If i can argue away the truth, I can thereby operate on the opinion and thoughts of my wicked heart. I recently talked with an Independent Baptist who told me he does not go by what Scripture says but by what he feels that the Spirit is teaching him. I asked him by what means the Holy Spirit teaches and leads? He informed me that the Spirit went by what He (the person) truly desired. Brother, we have come along way from truth in our circles an it started when we began heeding the question originally asked by satan "Yea hath God said?" The Word of God is Inspired. It was not a secondary Inspiration. Jesus created the world and through him it consists. Through him it continues. He keeps all that is alive and sustains it. By reason, if God inspired his word, he will also preserve his word and sustains it in that state. We have the Word of God available to us today, and it is NOT only in the originals.

The other extreme is that God gave a special Inspiration to the KJV that is not existent on ANY OTHER Bible or manuscripts. "Double Inspiration." Someone attributed this to Dr. Peter Ruckman, but he reports that he only used it in jest. However, the doctrine still exists today. Ignorantly, people idolize the Bible. They believe that the KJV is JESUS. They take John 1:1 and take it to mean that the Word (Jesus) became flesh, and since he became flesh, he is now found back in His "original state" and is the KJV. Whaaaaaat?! The Bible is our SOURCE for faith and practice. Without the Bible we will have minimal spiritual growth. Romans 10:17 says "Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." Through the Word of God we find truths about God and about the Christian Life. However, the KJV is NOT any more inspired than were the originals. Someone told me that the KJV is the only inspired manuscript because it is complete where as the manuscripts that were preserved were not. "When Paul said "all scripture is given by Inspiration of God" he was prophesying about the KJV." Teachings like this makes me very upset. Pastors ACTUALLY teach these things and they pervert their people.

There are MANY other areas that shameful shepherds pervert the flock of God. Maybe later I will address them. Here are some tell-tale signs of a Pastor who perverts his people:

1. Extra-Biblical Revelation - II Peter 1:18-21

2. Deny the Lord Jesus Christ - I John 4:1, II Peter 2:1

3. Make Merchandise Of The Gospel - II Peter 2:3, Philippians 3:19

4. Arrogance/ Obstinate/Rebellion of the Fundamental Truth II Peter 2, II Tim 4

5. Departure from the Fear of The Lord- II Peter 2, Ezekiel 8

6. Perversion of Lasciviousness and Legalism - II Peter 2, Gal 5

7. Their Popularity indicates End Time Apostasy - II Tim 4, II Peter 2

8 Use of Fear Tactics to control those who listen to them - II Peter 2, Hebrews (the WHOLE Context of the book)

9. Departure From Morality And Things Holy - II Peter 2

10. Unwilling To Serve Without Compensation - Philippians 3:19, II Tim 4, II Peter 2

11. Refusal and Unable to be Corrected - II Peter 2, Romans 1, II Tim 3, I Tim 1:19-20, II Tim 4

12. Must Have the Praise of Man - II Peter 2, II Tim 4



Now, there are pastors that may do these things ignorantly. They may not intend to harm the flock of God. Pray for them. Seek out elders of the church to help approach him out of Love and respect. Never should a pastor be "bombarded" by accusations. They should go to the Pastor and entreat him as a father. They should realize it is NEVER a joyous occasion to rebuke another brother in Christ much less the under-shepherd. There should be self-examination of themselves to discern if it is out of duty that they stand up against the leader. It should NEVER be out of rebellion or selfish desire. It should always be done soberly.

The Shameful Shepherd (Part 4)

Pastors who Provoke

Matthew 9:36 "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

Their shepherds left them alone to wander in the wilderness. They were no more use to them. They had pried, they had preyed, they had pawned them, they had provoked them to idleness and sinfulness. They have been forced into being provoked. By definition, we can already assume 'provoke' is not the world's greatest condition to be in.

Webster's dictionary cites Provoke as:
PROVO'KE, v.t. L.provoco, to call forth; pro and voco, to call.

1. To call into action; to arouse; to excite; as, to provoke anger or wrath by offensive words or by injury; to provoke war.

2. To make angry; to offend; to incense; to enrage.

Ye fathers,provoke not your children to wrath. Eph.6.

Often provoked by the insolence of some of the bishops--

3. To excite; to cause; as, to provoke perspiration; to provoke a smile.

4. To excite; to stimulate; to increase.

The taste of pleasure provokes the appetite, and every successive indulgence of vice which is to form a habit, is easier than the last.

5. To challenge.

He now provokes the sea-gods from the shore.

6. To move; to incite; to stir up; to induce by motives. Rom.10.

Let us consider one another to provoke to love and to good works. Heb.10.

7. To incite; to rouse; as, to provoke one to anger. Deut.32.



The Pastor incites anger and wrath among the people by prying in, preying on, and pawning them instead of being the example and shepherd they should be. This shameful shepherd often uses his pulpit as a chopping block. They have a place for public grievance. They get to stand up and abuse the authority that is given to them by way of their office and force the bondage of legalism on the congregation. If anyone stands against them, even when it is done according to scripture, and has biblical precedent, the pastor can twist scripture and manipulate those whom he has preyed upon to act on his behalf and they get to throw such a one out of the fellowship of the church. Yes, there are times where the accuser is dead wrong and has done everything amiss, and the pastor is well within his place to address a situation before the church. However, the point of that member being provoked was initiated and nurtured long before the public outbreak. Yes, there are those who seek only to Censure, control, and consume the Pastor. I am not referring to them. I am referring to the pastor who purposefully nudges the person who is at ought with him to anger. They knowingly "press the button" of the person who is against them, hoping to set them off. They knock the brick off their shoulder in order to justify using the pulpit and "authority" to "kick them out of the church." The pastor shouldn't EVER be in a shouting match with anyone. I have been in a church service where the pastor was so out of control, he literally ended up in the hospital. I have witnessed such behavior by both the "pastor" and the congregant. Two adults who were to be leaders of the church, and yet they behaved in such a fashion that they caused shame to the cause of Christ, and upon their reputation.

Pastors who provoke others through deliberate decisions to "flex" their "authority" on things that do not need to be made at that given time. Any idiot can go through a house and throw things around and change the decor. It doesn't take a contractor to gut a house and alter walls. Changes that need to be made should not be immediate unless they are obviously against scripture and what is the absolute necessity of the church. For instance, when I first became pastor at this current church, I saw it an absolute necessity to assume the responsibility of the Teenage Sunday School class. The Incumbent teacher was not doing anything wrong, but was a single adult teaching both guys and girls. I deemed it necessary to have my wife and I take the class and keep the teacher as an assistant. I did not do this to infuriate anyone. I did not do it to "flex my muscles." I did it because I thought it best to make the change to teach the teens how to behave in church. They had a habit of being loud, disruptive, and a hindrance during the services. This caused problems. I did everything I could to appease those who were provoked. Sadly, it only made matters worse. Some people are bent to anger and use any excuse in the book to "go off." Some people are seriously provoked by the Pastor who knowingly pushes the envelope to the point of explosion so that they can "one up" the person in the "conquest" of the congregation. Looking back at how I handled an 8 month situation, I now realize some other options I may have considered. I sought advice from many on how to handle it, and they didn't see it either. I know that I was faultless in my dealings with certain provoked members. With other provoked members I gave up too soon and "pawned" them off. I will stand before God and give an account of doing so at the Judgment Seat.

The Bible teaches that fathers are not to provoke their children unto wrath. This is not saying we shouldn't make kids mad. What it means, is that we should not make decisions to influence them to a life of Wrath;to destruction but rather to submit to the Holy Spirit's control in their life. In that same chapter, Masters are also directed to not use their authority as employers on their servants/employees. Do not willfully do things to irritate them and thereby causing them to offend or to sin. It is an understood application to Pastors not to provoke "their" people to wrath, however many pastors ignore this so that they can throw out "touch not God's anointed."

The Shameful Shepherd (Part 3)

"Pastors who Pawn"


"Pastors who PAWN"

The Great Commission is as clear as "In the Beginning GOD". This is one of my pet peeves. Seriously, it is. The Lord said to GO:

1. Teach all nations (Preach, witness, evangelize)

2. Baptize them

3. TEACH THEM

Ok...so we have great big conferences, clinics, college courses, MINISTRIES to go out and only pay attention to 33.3% of the Lord's command. We leave them to their own demise. Sure they nodded their heads to 3-5 spiritual laws. Sure they listened to our memorized speeches. They repeated a prayer. We slap them on their back and call em brother, and we never follow up on them again. We did our part HAYMEN!! We kept them out of hell, HAYYYYMEN?! We get to go back and tell the people at church someone got saved! We get to be SOMEBODY until the next time! WE ARE AHEAD IN THE CONTEST! We have to rush to the next door because we are in a MARATHON and we were taught NOT TO STAY AT ONE DOOR TOO LONG. Forget that someone may actually have immediate needs. BLESS GOD! You are not out there to MINISTER TO ANYONE. You are out there to meet a quota. That person we chalk up as a "soul saved" on our "gun belt" or listed in our "got saved" pages in the back of our New Testament, Only said it to get us off their porch and get us out of their hair. They didn't understand what we were presenting, and GOD FORBID that we actually listen to what they have to say and not stand there like some mindless robots. Our PERSONALITY is just as important as our words. You cannot separate who and what we are from the equation. God chose Saul and his personality to stand before kings. Does God save us and then have us all turn into "Stepford Wives?" The Spirit of the prophets are subject to the prophets. That is what the Bible says. Yeah...Like I am going to listen to some zombie tell me about how great it is to be saved. I don't pay attention to those kiosk stands in the mall because the salesmen have this glassed look in their eye. "Buy our product" as they shove it in my face. NO THANK YOU MEANS NO THANK YOU. Or, have you ever gone into one of those health food stores? The ORGANIC health food stores? Talk about black helicopters and "secret ingredients" that the government puts into our food, YIKES! I had a grade school teacher whose goal in the year was to have my parents give me an enema. I am NOT KIDDING. I am all for healthy living. I am all for health food. But, enough is enough! Zombie Teachers insisting on getting an enema and talking about how "cleansing it is". No doubt that is what the person on the OTHER side of the door must feel like.


So, lets just say the person we witness to does actually get saved. Then, because people take TIME to grow, we visit them three maybe 4 times afterward and because we see ZERO fruit or evidences of Conversion, we abandon them. Seriously, everyone knows that by the 4th visit the man should have a 3pc pinstriped suit, a short haircut, tapered in the back, well versed in the KJV, no worldly music, Binaca on the tongue and ready to go soulwinning. After all, There is never a time in our life that we have needed patience, understanding, and lots of TIME to grasp things in our spiritual walk. No sirree Bob. We are CHRISTIANS IN A CAN! Open us up and POOF! Instant perfection!!

I remember a quote in a book from "Cults class" at Landmark Baptist college. Bro. Jay Lewis was the professor, but he had the Executive V.P. Dr. Phil Stringer lecture the beginning three classes. He was reading J.K. Van Baalen's "The Chaos of the Cults" when he emphasized "Cults are the UNPAID BILL OF THE CHURCH." this means that because of our negligence in fulfilling the Great Commission, the converts AND OR contacts that we leave behind wind up joining a cult. Whether it be the Jehovah's Witnesses or the Latter Day Saints they turn to "religion" because we neglected them. Sure, some even fall prey to the Seventh Day Adventists, or Church of Christ, or Pentecostals. Some even do wind up going to a Biblically sound church. However, that does not offset the responsibility of the "soul winner" who neglected the newborn baby to fend for themselves. We get angered (or we used to) when we hear about a baby being dropped down a trash incinerator, or get left at the door of a hospital. We are screaming for vengeance when a Baby is murdered at the hands of "physicians" who willingly carry out the execution upon the whims of a confused mother. WHERE IS THE OUTCRY of the Church when we fail to reach out and MENTOR a young convert? Where is the compassion toward the newborn baby who has yet to be presented proudly before the FAMILY of GOD? Adherence to The Great Commission is greatly lacking.

Why is it the Pastor's fault? I believe it was C.H. Spurgeon who said "Every Church reflects the Personality of her Pastor." If the pastor of the church is self absorbed, lazy and uneducated; the people are unfed, unmotivated, and ignorant towards the need to reach out and MENTOR SOMEONE. The Pastor is more than just someone who stands up and preaches 2-3 times a week and teaches 1-2 times a week. The responsibilities of the Pastor is to OVERSEE the ministry of that said church. Far too often the people of the church are not grounded in the Faith but are taught "Faithfulness to the House of GOD". Again, I point you to my previous writing on "Refusing to be taught to teach". People have this idea that church attendance is not important. It is not required to be faithful to the House of God. Is it possible to grow in the Lord without church? Yes. Especially if your Bible Teachers and Preachers are ignorant and unlearned (novices) in the things of God. [However, anytime and every time one can, they should be faithful to the house of God when Services are being conducted (unless you are in a church which outright preaches heresy and refuses to receive correction).]

Instead of teaching the convert and actually investing into their life, we leave them to fend for themselves. I am not trying to boast here, but I know that I had witnessed to a family for almost 4 1/2 years before I saw any "results". I was able to sit down and show one of the members the plan of salvation. I took as much time as she needed. I answered her questions and showed her respect. I was not out to "get a notch in my belt". I was not in it to 'sell a vacuum.' I was in it for the Glory of God. She finally yielded to the Holy Spirit after years of sowing, watering, fertilizing, and finally she was ready for the harvest. Praise God for the work of the Holy Spirit in Salvation. It has been almost two months since she surrendered to the drawing of the Holy Spirit. I have gone over steadily to conduct Bible study with her and to help her in her new life. She hasn't been to church as of yet. So, naturally, she isn't saved...right? PLEASE! Patience is required. Many would have already given up. Some would have never started. What I am basically saying is, that in the matter of The Great Commission, we are tarnished by pastors who PAWN off their people.

Another example of Pastors who Pawn off their people is when a "hard topic" comes up. I HAD a preacher friend who insisted that he come to "my" church and tell "my" people how to take care of their pastor and missionaries who come in. I told him that if it needed to be preached on, that I was responsible to handle it. I don't need a hired gun. He assured me that this is how other churches do it. assured him that I was not going to operate that way. If they need to hear it, God will have me address it. However, I have yet to even mention is to the people because if I have to talk about how they need to pay me more, I am no longer a servant but an employee. The whole thought that a pastor would hire someone to come in and do his dirty work is utterly inconceivable. I was sent here and brought here to fix anything that needed to be fixed. I don't call a "preacher" to fix problems that are in the flock that God has entrusted me with. A dear preacher friend of mine took the liberty to address the people about caring for me one service and I interrupted him in the middle of his sermon and told him to get out of the chicken coop. He was not intending to do anything other than to remind the people of the responsibility to take care of me. I apologized after the sermon to my friend and he understood my reasoning. The next night he apologized to the church for overstepping his bounds.

Our movement is full of pastors who Pawn off the responsibility of hitting hard topics to the visiting evangelist who blows in, blows up, and blows out. If I have to have someone come in and preach about submitting to the preacher (never should have to be addressed)then I am basically having someone come into "my house" and spank my kids. That is MY responsibility. That is MY burden. That is MY obligation.

Our movement is full of pastors who pawn off their "young preachers" who are called to the ministry off on colleges. We send them away to get trained how to do everything they should be learning from their own pastor. Yes, I am all for College education. However, what happens is, they go off to college to learn doctrine from a college when they should be taught doctrine by their own pastor. Instead, the pastor gladly pawns off his obligation, joy, rather to someone else. Paul taught Timothy. Timothy was commanded...instructed to teach faithful men so that THEY could teach others also. We have Pastors who pawn off "their" flock onto others because they won't diligently study and give their people the sincere meat of the Word so that they may grow thereby. They toss books out at them and force them to find their own meadows to graze in. The sheep begin to find pasture in weeds and in dangerous places among the rocks and cliffs. They begin to get beguiled by the wiles of the wolves and coyotes. They fall pray to seducing doctrine and traditions of men because of IDLE,LAZY shepherds. The Pastor looks out and sees the sheep following other shepherds and they scream for vengance not realizing that he IS getting vengance - AGAINST HIM!

Zechariah 11:17 "Woe to the idol shepherd that leaveth the flock! the sword shall be upon his arm, and upon his right eye: his arm shall be clean dried up, and his right eye shall be utterly darkened."

Matthew 9:36 "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."

The Shameful Shepherd (Part 2)

"Pastors who Prey"

Sadly, there is a long list of violations and violators when it comes to Pastors who prey. I could bring out accusations which are speculative which are circulating around our Independent Fundamental Baptist churches. There are people out there who glory in the sinfulness of those within our denomination. People rejoice when they find out that a KJV toting, soul conscious, authoritative preacher falls. It is sickening to think that they would celebrate and not rather mourn. Whether it is the son of a large prominent Church in the Midwest who repeatedly sinned against God with other women, or whether it is a Pastor of a southern church who lived such a double life for almost 40 years, or whether it is a Pastor who abused his adopted daughter for a decade. These are open. What about those who have been abused by a Pastor who preys up on them. I resent the fact that pastors prey on the flock of God instead of PRAYING over them.

They make merchandise of God's people. He plays on the people's emotions for financial gain. He decoys genuine care for mental control. He establishes ridiculous rules and regulation to hinder the people from true worship and service of God. One Pastor stated "I don't use my people to build my work; I use my work to build my people." In theory, that is an admirable goal. However, it is not HIS work, and they are not HIS people. The Bible says that "Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it:" (Psalms 127:1a)In application, forcing people to live up to his expectation and not to their potential is the worst kind of abuse imaginable that a pastor can do. Preying on them sexually is just plain out wicked. However, the deeper abuse goes far beyond rape, molestation and adultery. It goes beyond physical abuse. There are pastors who prey on their loyalty to God and alter it to faithfulness to him and to his agenda. Paul told the Corinthian Church to follow him as he followed Christ- AS HE FOLLOWED CHRIST. If Paul ever stopped following Christ, the Corinthians were to drop him like a bad habit. Sadly, many preachers simply say "follow me in place of Christ". No, not in words but in deed. They replace Christ with themselves. They hold themselves up as deity and play on the emotions of the people to follow them. I remember growing up in a church where we learned a song about the preacher. We were going to sing his praises. GOD ALONE deserves our praise. No, I don't believe we should not appreciate or even be loyal to a pastor who FOLLOWS CHRIST as long as he deflects the admiration and steers it towards Christ.

Ezekiel 34:1-3 "And the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy, and say unto them, Thus saith the Lord GOD unto the shepherds; Woe be to the shepherds of Israel that do feed themselves! should not the shepherds feed the flocks? Ye eat the fat, and ye clothe you with the wool, ye kill them that are fed: but ye feed not the flock"

The Shameful Shepherd (Part 1)

The Shameful Shepherd
I have been thinking about this topic for some time now. I have prayed about it, thought about it and investigated my own heart and life to see if I am in error. I have put it off "till a more convenient season." Now the time has come to publish it. It is with a sober and serious heart that I attempt to portray my thoughts, warnings, and detest of the shameful shepherds who use their office and influence to ensnare the people of God whom they are appointed and called to defend, protect, and care for.

Some have the understanding that the Pastor is untouchable. He cannot be corrected. He cannot be "touched". Nowhere in scripture does the Lord say that the pastor is beyond the accountability of the people. I have often heard the phrase "touch not God's anointed" used in reference to the Pastor. I have heard the overtaxed phrase "Man of GOD" used out of context and stretched beyond application. The pastor is not in the place of God. He is not excluded from being held in check by the elders of the church. If the Pastor does something unethical, unscriptural, UnChristlike, or even illegal he should be corrected and dealt with scripturally. If he has done something of a criminal nature, he should be turned over to the police without any further questioning. There should not be any question to it. Turn him over to the law. Let the police investigate. Let the police prosecute. The church should assist and comply with the investigation. The church should immediately begin to look to minister to those who were violated or affected by the wrongdoings of the Pastor.

The unethical dealings of the pastor should also be dealt with. The Pastor should also be accountable for his actions regarding his ethical behavior in the church, home, and community. If he is unethical openly in the church, one can only imagine what his reputation is to those without.

Far too often we perceive that the Pastor is super human. I heard a preacher once say that a popular Pastor of a large Baptist Church in a northern Midwest state had died and became the fourth person in the Trinity. Sadly, many cannot differentiate this pathetic joke from their actual "reverence" of the person who is called "Pastor". He shouldn't be worshiped, neither should he be disrespected. The Pastor should carry some bit of "awe", revered even. He is a man whose life should represent the resilience of the power of God. No, he is not super human. He is not the hired hand. He is a representative of the Lord Jesus Christ. He is an under- shepherd.

On the flip side, he IS a minister. That is what he is called to do. Somehow we have reversed rolls. The pastor places himself above being a servant and establishes himself as a lord. No longer does he seek to minister unto his congregation, now the congregation ministers to him.

I see several faults in our "Independent Fundamental Baptist" circles. I will limit myself to discussing five of these faults.


Pastors who PRY -

For whatever reason, some pastors think it is their responsibility to pry into other people's life. They Police the lives and homes of people who go to their church. I have met pastors who hand out questionnaires for their members to fill out regularly. By this they over step their boundaries of leadership from MINISTERING to Meddling. They fail to realize the importance of SOUL Liberty. The position of the Pastor is not to be ignored...nor is it to be idolized. Far too often people try to pattern themselves after the Pastor. They do this because the pastor likes to pry into people's life. When the need arises, and people approach the pastor for help or counsel, they are not asking the pastor to intrude. They are asking to intervene. I have learned that people rarely want opinions or even principles. They want the magic wand to make everything all better. The TRUE pastor will give them Principles without prying into areas of their life that doesn't need tampering.

I have heard it said by a youth pastor, "let me go into your kids room and let me throw out anything that is bad." WHY would it be the pastor's responsibility? I have heard of a church where the Pastor inspects the cars on a monthly basis to make sure it is up to his "standard". I have seen where husbands are called in to the pastor's office and told to make sure his family is in dress code before coming to church. Pastors who pry into the lives of their "congregants" give pastors a bad name.

A certain mission board asks their missionary candidates personal questions about their intimacy including which positions are done in the Marriage Bed. The Bible says those things are not to be spoken of. They are private. Besides that, the Marriage bed is undefiled. things like this are done by "pastors who pry". Instead of conforming people to THEIR image, why not urge them to be conformed to CHRIST? Things done out of drudgery are not done unto GOD but as unto man.