No Response

Yesterday, Friday, June 24, 2011 the Sate of New York passed a law for same-sex marriage becoming the largest state in the union making same-sex marriage legal. While viewing the New York Times website I saw no evidence or rebuttal from any affiliation of the Roman Catholic Church. Then I went to the Southern Baptist Convention website. There again I found absolutely no response or rebuttal on the recent event. The Catholic Church and the Southern Baptist Convention represent the two largest Christian organizations on the planet. Yet, they remain silent on the matter.

Homosexuality is deemed a political hot potato. Same in our pulpits as more and more preachers are threatened with being accused of promoting “Hate Crimes.” It seems our First Amendment rights from the Constitution of the United States continues to take a back seat to organized political machines.

Years ago when I lived in California I worked in an office where several of the employees were Gay. Even the boss was a lesbian. Not once was any sexual slur or any inappropriate action was ever taken against me or anyone else in the office. In fact those who were Gay were some of the hardest working employees there. I cannot say the same for any Christians. Based on that experience, the Gay community has my respect. Which I must say does not sit well with my Christian beliefs.

Homosexuality is a sin. That does not give us the right to persecute individuals for we ourselves as Christians have been persecuted and still are throughout world-wide. Today in our century.

What a political hot potato this is! If we as Christians do nothing then thousands of brothers and sisters will be going straight to Hell for their sin. If we make a stand we are looked upon as no better than the Romans who mercilessly slaughtered millions of Christians.

It is the sin and not the sinner we should be against. Hard to separate the two. As Christians we should be the first ones to step up and freely admit that we are sinners. Making us no different. Yet, Christianity does not stop there. After giving ourselves to Christ we must follow and obey. This means giving up our sinful life and/or lifestyle. This is the problem all of us Christians face each day. Do we obey God or not? This question stands in front of each Christian every second of our life once saved by grace through Jesus Christ.

So what do we do? We cannot condone it. We cannot ignore it. We cannot persecute and condemn them.

A homosexual couple is not welcome in a church. Yet, one of the first things we offer is to come to church. The very place, ground zero, of persecution in their eyes. What alternative can we offer? Their eternal salvation for one, but that is hard to see shaded by us Christians standing in the way of the will of God.

As Christians we do not speak with one voice. With nearly 80% of the population of the United States claiming to be Christian we cannot even vote Christians into positions of political power. In the book of John, chapter 17 is the longest prayer ever recorded of Jesus. A prayer of unity. As Christians we are no closer to that unity as we were 2,000 years ago when Christ first made that prayer. How sad a thought.

If we had boldly given our lives to Christ then we would fully admit that we are no longer calling the shots in our lives. That we are no longer truly in control of our lives. Jesus, not me is in control of my life. This goes against worldly thinking. It we truly have given our lives over to Christ we would support our pastors, preachers and evangelists around the world to freely preach and proclaim God's Word. No matter who it might offend. The very souls of our brothers and sisters as well as our own are at stake here. We fail to realize it. Too busy with our day-to-day activities. Working at a job. Paying bills and living for the weekend.

Solution:

We need to publicly proclaim God's Word no matter what the consequences. If the law threatens our pastors, preachers and evangelists then we must go with them. Insisting that we be jailed too. We need to learn to witness as Jesus did. See Luke 18 beginning with verse 18. Convincing others that we are all guilty in God's eyes. That we have sinned against God. Heart convicted as we kneel at the cross and not a promise of prosperity as many of the modern gospel preach. God centered preaching and not a man centered message. Not offering an alternative lifestyle. The offering of an eternal salvation through Christ and Christ only. 


Teach, Preach and Reach. 

Earthquakes and Tornadoes:

My wife and I lived in the San Francisco Bay Area during the earthquake of 1989. In California you get used to quakes. They happen weekly. So often you begin to live with it and stop remembering how dangerous they can be. Hey, the boat is leaking! That's OK, not enough to be concerned. The pump will take care of it. That was like the attitude back there in October of 1989. Then the big one hit. Everything changed. News coverage was based in San Francisco. Not because that was the epicenter, but because all roads and bridges out of San Francisco were blocked. The World Series was being played. All eyes were on the Bay Area. So they reported from there. It was devastating. Buildings collapsed, no power and chaos galore. The Bay Area was not the epicenter. It took days until reports from the outlying areas showed the real damage along the fault lines of the earthquake. Nearly 8 days passed until help and organization came into play. The San Francisco Bay Area has over 6 million people. The Quake of 89 should have killed more. Where was God? Right along with us, side-by-side.

April of 2011 here in Alabama. The weather radio in the house went off. Advising us of an incoming storm. I had signed up for weather alerts through my cell phone months before. Every time it began to rain my phone alert would sound off. Not this time. We do not have TV. Radio reception is poor where we live. We checked the internet and saw the predictions of bad weather coming. The bulk of the storm was to hit us by 7 PM. At 7:05 PM it did. Wind and rain beat on the house. Yet this time the cell service went out. The local city sirens went off. They had done that before, but this time was different. The power flickered a bit. Overall it was not bad. Cell phone service returned and we started to receive calls from California asking if we were alright? Then they told us of the tornadoes touching down throughout the state of Alabama.

We went online and found a live feed broadcasting from Birmingham. The devastation was unbelievable. Unlike an earthquake that hits everywhere all at once with no warning. Here was this funnel over a mile wide slowly ripping through the state. Leaving death and destruction in its wake. Multiple tornadoes touched down all over the state. Surrounding our county but not within it. Why were we spared?

Days later thousands remain homeless. Thousands more without power, water or just basic necessities. Like the quake in California. It will take a week or more for help and organization to come. Again the question comes up. Where is God in all this? Still right beside us. In an earlier article I explained there is nothing natural about natural disasters. See: (Weeds in the garden tells us everything)

If there is anything we can learn from these disasters is that we are not prepared. I am gong to die. You are going to die. We are going to die. Could be today. Could be tomorrow. Could be a hundred years from now. The fact is we are going to die. That is the truth. We do not want to hear the truth. We ignore it at times. Deny it most of the time. Thank ourselves lucky when it misses us. The truth is that we are not ready for it. Not physically or spiritually.

I was once told this following story. Back not so long ago in a farming community. Very few had running water or indoor plumbing. It was even rare if one house had the luxury of a radio. If one did. Others relied on them for news and weather warnings. One day such a warning came over the radio. The father told his son to run over to the neighbor's home down the way and tell them a tornado is coming our way. The boy took off. Along the way he saw a bird in a tree. He stopped as some boys do. Then threw a rock at the bird. Missing it. So he decided to wait. The bird came back. He threw another rock striking the bird. The boy went over and picked up the bird. Blood dripping onto his hands. Suddenly in the distance a roar and an explosion echoed through the valley. The little boy could see the home of his neighbors being ripped to pieces. The family there scattered to the wind like rag dolls. The boy quickly ran home. His father had seen, from a distance, the devastation of his neighbor's home. He saw his boy running home. Quickly taking him into his arms. Asking, “Oh son what took you so long? We were so worried about you.” The boy explained that he never made it to the neighbor's home. Then the father saw the blood on the boy's hands. He knelt to his son and ask if the boy was injured. The boy said, “No, father it's the bird's blood.” The father said to the boy, “No, son it is the blood of our neighbors for failing to warn them.”

We as Christians are commanded to warn others of the judgment that is coming. How many who have recently died now face a second death?

Then death and the grave were thrown into the lake of fire. This lake of fire is the second death.
Rev 20:14 (NLT)

Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. Whoever is victorious will not be harmed by the second death.
Rev 2:11 (NLT)

And then he told them, "Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned."
 Mark 16:15-16 (NLT)

God's Word is tough I know. These are hard words to take right now. They are the truth. There are so many here in our state hurting. Their lives not just turned upside down, but all the way back to zero. Thousands here in Alabama will have to start life all over again because everything they once had is just plain gone. Scattered debris over hundreds of miles. They are alive. Why were they spared?

If there is a clear sign for the need for healing and revival now is the time. Prayer and the simple need to serve others is now before us. Pray that it is not the devil who gathers the harvest.

Teach, Preach and Reach!

Weeds in the Garden Tells Us Everything:

This evening I was sitting outside of church before evening service reading my Bible. (The Evidence Bible, compiled by Ray Comfort) Studying the question on “Why does God allow suffering in the world?” Pastor Comfort suggest studying the soil for a moment. I was outside so I did. As he had stated, “There you will find weeds.” Weeds seem to grow everywhere. Even though you pull them out by the roots they still grow back again. No one plants them. No one cares for them making sure they receive enough water. They just appear. They grow up in the cracks of sidewalks and the streets we drive on. As Brother Ray puts it, “They are a curse.” Why?

And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it. It will grow thorns and thistles for you, though you will eat of its grains. By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.” Gen 3:17-19 (NLT)

Did you see it? Look at the words “the ground is cursed because of you.” We over look it. I never gave it that much thought. Yet, it is the key to the problems of the world.

Pastor Comfort goes on in the lesson noting that we are constantly subject to hurricanes, earth quakes, tsunamis, tornadoes and other what we call natural disasters. According to scripture there is nothing natural about them. Sin entered the world and we and all the earth was cursed. Am I reading it wrong? I do not think so. It makes sense.

Weeds are a curse. Disasters are a curse. Diseases are a curse. Again Brother Ray points out sin and suffering cannot be separated. The Bible tells us that God cursed the Earth because of Adam's transgression. What is Sin?

….for sin is the transgression of the law 1 John 3:4 (KJV)

Therefore we should be reaching out to God instead of pointing the finger at Him accusing Him of wrong doing. Scripture tells us who the real accuser is in Job 1:6, 2:1 and in Zec 3:1 in the New Living Translation of the Bible. Check it out for yourself.

Next time you see a weed in your garden, in your lawn or growing out of the crack of a sidewalk it is a reminder of what is wrong in the world. Sin and suffering cannot be separated.

Attractional Events

This week on page 3 in the March 10, 2011 issue of the Alabama Baptist newspaper was an article entitled: “God's Plan for Sharing 2012 preparation under way, to focus on attractional events.”

Jerry Pipes, president of Jerry Pipes Productions states,”The way to reach across the state (Alabama) is through attractional events.” Not once in the entire article does it mention reaching out to the lost. Not once. So who is Mr. Pipes telling us to reach? Are we planning some media blitz to make God a mainstream fade? Mr. Pipes also states from a study that 92% of the most effective churches hold attractional evangelistic harvest events. What constitutes “most effective?” Number of members within a congregation? Number of baptisms? Number of newsletters and cards mailed out? Here in America we think bigger is better. If that is so then why did Jesus pick twelve apostles and not 1,200 or 12,000? Jesus, who's he?

There is one disturbing quote that really makes me wonder what is going on here within the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. Jerry Pipes and Director Sammy Gilbreath state, “...want to see what God can do in the state with GPS.” Does anyone care to think that God might be waiting to see what we will do with the Great Commission, Mark 16:15? Are we not commanded too?

Jerry Pipes does make one outstanding quote within the article. “Ninety-five percent (95%) of Southern Baptist churches won't lead one person to Christ.” There is the problem. The one problem and only problem we should be focusing on in my opinion.

Witnessing! We do not preach it. We do not teach it and we certainly do not lead in it. That includes me. I too am guilty and it burdens my heart. Why is Islam growing? Because they are out promoting it. Why is Mormonism growing? Because they are going door-to-door witnessing for it. Here we are, Christians, expecting “that if we build it they will come.” Let's plan a concert. Let's build a new slippery slide for Jesus. Something cool so others will be attracted to come on by. Why include the name “Baptist” in our church name? Entertainment Center would be much more marketable.

Mr. Pipes is quoted, “ … the plan is for churches and associations to partner in media buys in their particular markets in March and April of 2012.” I guess I missed that part in Mark 16:15. Does it say thou shall go out to your particular market?

The article ends with Director Gilbreath saying, “Let's saturate this state with the gospel.” I am all for it. I disagree with their methods. In my opinion, we as Christians need to get out of the four walls of the church and seek and save the lost. Not bright lights and waiting for those to come inside. The fact is if they did just “come on in” they might not like what they find inside. 

Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Mark 16:15 (NLT)

Scars of a Chef

I just finished reading Chef Rick Tramonto's new book entitled: Scars of a Chef. If you think the cover shows attitude, wait till you start reading. I like it. Immediately his style of writing was like sitting down with him at the kitchen table looking over scrapbooks and old photos. Then asking, “How did this all happen.”

It is a wonderful adventure if you like roller coaster rides. The author does not hold back. He is not Mr. Nice Guy. Growing up with literary nothing but determination and attitude. The shear odds of him making anything of himself were all stacked against him. I found myself nearly shouting, “Go Ricky, you can do it!”

Chef Tramonto gives us a look inside the world of fine dinning only a few ever see. At age 22 I worked as a bartender for large French owned restaurant in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was chaos behind those swinging doors. Multiply that a 1,000 times and we just scratch the surface of Rick's life.

What inspired me the most was how he had to start all over time and time again. Nature of the business? Perhaps. In the book you are right there with him. Taking the hits and struggling to get back up. Whether you are a Christian or not you need to read this book. I found myself after reading it going back to the pictures in the middle to get to know the faces that went with the names.

Here in the South some might say Rick takes the long way around the barn to tell a story. True, but well worth it. You really get a chance to live his life through his words and his story.

Where is God in all this? That is one of the best parts. I am not going to spoil it for you. Rick faces his demons just like the rest of us. With what he had to go through I am surprised God put up with him for so long. Just goes to show you God's grace, mercy and love.

If you want to shock someone then give them this book. Do not be surprised later to hear back from them thanking you for it. The best part about it is the story of Chef Rick Tramonto is not finished. Looking forward to his followup book.

Putting Pastors in a Box:

I have been accused on many occasions of placing pastors on a pedestal. Your right I have great respect for them. Let me put it this way. If you wake up tomorrow morning and find all the pastors are gone and find yourself still here on earth. I would not want to be you. The day pastors are gone is the day we find ourselves knowing we missed the boat.

Begin to check our history. Let's look at the 18th, 19th and recent 20th centuries. We find pastors and preachers outspoken and in the fight for human rights, our welfare our very right to live free. The moral watchdog of the country came from the pulpit and not from TV, the news desk or Washington D.C. Certainly not from some day time talk show host or even Hollywood. The moral standard came from the church. Did not Jonah preach repentance and the city did. Giving a time of reprieve for the city. This too has been repeated by the likes of Dwight Lyman Moody, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, George Whitefield, Charles Haddon Spurgeon and Billy Graham.

Yet today do our pastors and preachers have the opportunity to fight for God as they once did? I say NO. We put them and their families under a microscope each day. When they slip up or make a mistake they quickly come up against fierce opposition. If anyone should be under this type of scrutiny it should be the leaders of our country. Yet another drunk congressman found with a prostitute barely makes headlines anymore. It is unfair to our pastors and preachers to be held to such a high standard when we ourselves could never live up to it.

Example. Could a preacher or pastor be allowed to write a Blog such as this one without offending someone in their congregation and not have their job or livelihood threatened? The answer is no. There is the problem. We do not allow the very ones chosen by God to stand in the gap. The world falling apart around them and we will not allow them to kick us where we need to be kicked to get moving for God? They are allowed to preach to us. They are allowed to teach us. They are allowed to live as an example for us to follow, but few of us ever do.

I know of some pastors who will not even go to a movie theater because they risk being looked at in the wrong way because someone might not approved of the film they are going to watch. Some will not go to popular restaurants because their beverage may be mistaken as the wrong drink of choice. If we demand such perfection of our pastors and preachers should they not expect the same from us? They do, but would never demand it because they love us.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever!
1 Cor 13:4-8 (NLT)

I am thankful for my pastor. He loves me even though I have consistently let him down time and time again. God forgive me and bless my Pastor. -Amen

The Corporate Church:

It is a little obvious to my readers that I am not a supporter of the modern corporate church model. I am not alone. Authors Thomas White and John M Teats of the book “Franchising McChurch.” Tony and Felicity Dale of the book “the Rabbit and the Elephant, Why small is the new big for today's church.” First we need to clarify what is the modern corporate church model. Just a few short decades ago in fact the corporate buffet of the 90's was a time when corporate America was at its peak. Mega corporations buying out other mega corporations became the primary news feature each night. With that also came to view the birth of the mega-church. The bigger is better attitude for a new generation of Christians. These churches existed long before the media took notice. The push for more came with the media wave of influence. Suddenly the non-profit corporation of the new face of Christianity was looking much like corporate America. That is exactly what happen. We quickly went from seeking redemption to seeking ratings. From worship to entertainment. Growing even bigger today.

So D. C. what is wrong with that? More are coming to Christ right? With numbers in the thousands you would think so. It is agreeable that a mega-church begins with a congregation of 2,000 or more. Many support congregations of 5,000 to 50,000. On the surface that is something to celebrate. With that comes the sucking sound of small local community churches forced to close their doors for lack of funds to keep the lights on. We see a similar effect on the down town districts of towns and cities when Wal-mart opens its doors. The local mom and pop stores which have been family owned and operated for generations fall like dominoes. Call it an ending of an era. Might want to call it the ending of our neighborhoods as we once knew them.

So what is your problem D.C.? This is a world of progress. The church needs to grow just like the world right? There is the problem. The church conforming to the world when the world needs to conform to the church. Is bigger better? Did not the church grow in the Book of Acts with the same numbers of converts that we are talking about within the mega-church? Yes, I would have to agree, but that is where the similarities begin to separate. How so?

A business owner, an accountant, or even a CEO would look at today's modern church and see little difference between the American Corporate Business model and today's corporate church model. To conform to IRS regulations the hierarchy is the same. Committee members are formed from people within the congregation who's only real experience is with dealing with corporate America. Therefore the result is a church run like an American corporation. Expecting profit and loss. Wait a minute! We are Christians. We are not producing some type of widget or product. We are in a battle that is in fact life or death. How can that be put down on a balance sheet? Does the church have expenses? Absolutely, the bigger the church the more the costs are to operate. Not much head scratching on that. So what is our goal? What is our purpose?

That is where we have taken a wrong turn some where. I agree with Pastor Ray Comfort. (Way of the Master, Living Waters Ministries) Today's modern gospel has become about life enhancement and not about repentance.

Let's talk turkey. Let's get down to brass tax here. Should we dismantle our mega-churches and return to small community churches? No. Let me put it this way. Noah built the boat, but it was God who gave it to him. By doing so saving all of us. We built these mega-churches, but it is God who gave them to us. Is our purpose to save the world? It should be. Seek and save the lost. Sounds simple and with these mega resources we should be more capable of doing just that for God. Are we?

One of the problems with mega-churches is the disconnect problem. Being so big one can easily hide if not be lost in the crowd. Crying out for help among the roar of others. One can easily be left behind. That is the difference between the church in the Book of Acts and today's modern corporate church model. The focus was on the needs of the people and not of one's self. This is extremely hard for us now since we live in a materialism based culture and society. We have become backwards and upside down.

Let us talk about solution then. OK, let's say a mega-church of 2,000 sets a goal of each member witnessing to others for at least 3 new converts each. By the end of the year the church would have a congregation of 6,000. Do it again for the following year and you would have 18,000 members. Sounds great on paper. Witnessing and revival are not the mainstream we are seeing. Keyword here: “Witnessing.” Being a witness for Christ. Simple, straight forward and obeying the Great Commission.

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matt 28:19-20 (NLT)

Therefore our focus should be on witnessing for Christ. We need to teach it. We need to practice it. We need lead in doing it.

The goal should not be “Bigger is Better.” The goal should be to witness better and for His Kingdom to become bigger here on earth.

Team up, Set-up and get into the fight. <><