Saturday, December 20, 2014

All Americans Must Decry Inciting of Police Killings

I set down in my office to do my normal Saturday evening sermon go over and prayer time. Suddenly alerts began popping up on my phone. Two police officers shot and killed execution style in New York. The disgust boiled over immediately. Words left me. My heart sunk for these officers families and for us as a nation.

What I am writing tonight has been on my heart for some time. I have withheld for concern that I might be misunderstood. But tonight it was clear, it is time many of us who know better speak up and stand up loud and clear.

The Al Sharpton's of this world are out to destroy lives while building their own bank accounts and narcissistic egos. They do not care about race. They do not care about innocent lives who have to pay the price for their gain. They are disgusting human beings. And it is time we let them know there day has come and gone.

The current climate in America is more than dangerous. Our President capitulates to a ruthless dictator.  Our Attorney General (chief law enforcement officer) plays the race card over and over. We have Elected officials in all levels of Government challenging law enforcement as if they are all to blame for the actions of thugs and criminals.

The Christian world does not escape blame. Lately the rhetoric flows from many evangelical circles that somehow this is all our fault. The inequalities of people are more than unfortunate. But the Gospel of Jesus Christ doe not in any shape or form dictate that we Christians should or can correct this. It does speak loud and clear for every Christian to live as Christ. We should live right with all men regardless of race or ethnicity. Coddling criminals and thinking we can somehow apologize for the actions of others is useless.  We can live right. And that is where our focus needs to be. We need to love all. And yet we must strongly condemn lawlessness regardless of race.

Every church I have Pastored has been multiracial including my ministry now. Our people are actually sharing a building with two other churches, both multiracial, while we relocate. We have had zero issues. Why, we live right and love all people.  It is not complicated. It does not require a summit or initiative.

The inciting of the race issue in this country is one of the greatest manipulations America has ever seen. And more than tragic is the price our law enforcement officers are paying. The ones who wake up everyday and go out and deal with the ugliest of ugly are being sacrificed for someones social engineering experiment. That is beyond disgusting. I have had enough. Have you?

We do not have to stand by and allow this garbage. I call on every American citizen to do something NOW! Stand with your law enforcement community. Respect them. Stand up to the discord sowers. Call them what they are. They are cowards seeking monetary gain. They do not care for the blacks, yellows, browns, or whites. They care only for themselves. Just like the bully on the playground, it only takes a few and they will turn, run, and hide!

Will you stand! Enough is enough!  Pray for all law enforcement officials. Thank them! Get behind them! Stand with them!

It is time for action - NOW!

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Houston Mayor Pastors and Christians!

While serving as a Youth Pastor in the 1990's I remember a fellow Youth Pastor used a drama during a weekend lock-in that got more attention than he first thought it would. During the evening Worship Service for this event he had armed people storm the worship service and take him out in handcuffs. Why? He was showing the teenagers and adults what could easily happen in America if we Christians did not wake up to the trends that were developing. This Youth Pastor was labeled a radical nut and public opinion from his own church and others followed those lines. In fact, I was instructed by our Pastor to NEVER try something like that with our people.

Today, such a skit is ill advised due to the shootings that have taken place in churches. But the message of this Youth Pastor was indeed spot on. Adults in the early 90's did not see coming what now has arrived. The following article describes the first in America shakedown and intimidation of preachers.

What should we do?

1. Every Pastor needs to stand with these men.  We cannot coward from this moment. Nor should these men fight this fight alone.

2. Every Christian in America needs to join in this fight. Your spiritual lives are being threatened.

3.  We need to fight and stand in a Christian manner. This is not a time to go off on tangents. Passion is needed. But controlled passion will show the real nature and character of Christ in this battle. We need people to see Christians stand in a Christian manner thus showing them the message of salvation found in Jesus.

4.  We need not politicize this moment. Certainly the Mayor of Houston is doing just that. But should we join in his methods the real message of the issue at hand will be lost.

5.  Pastors everywhere need to educate their people on what is taking place. This education must be delivered with a passion for heaven sent revival among ourselves. We have trusted in the "American" system and history for far too long. Apathy is present in American Christianity and we need to once again beg people to cry out to God for revival.

6.  Pastors must continue to preach showing no fear. But our preaching must be Biblical, including love for all and desiring all to be saved. Hate speech and emotional rants are not found in the Bible nor should they come from us Pastors.

7.  We must fervently pray! And then fervently pray more!

America has changed and is changing. We may lose more freedoms than we ever dreamed. We may be able to prevent the loss of many freedoms. But more important than that, are the lives entrusted to each of us Pastors to teach, preach, and disciple with the Truths of God's Word.   And it is here that we are being called to faithfulness. Children and adults in other parts of the world are standing for Christ to the point of death!

What will we do?


Thursday, June 19, 2014

When votes mean nothing - trouble coming to Christians in America!

Today, the Presbyterian Church USA voted to change their doctrinal wording on marriage and open the door to allow their clergy to marry homosexual couples.  You can read the story from Detroit here.

No doubt some people will say that this is the first of many to follow this path. You can count on other changes being made by mainline denominations. The press will declare that we Christians are finally waking up.  Mark my words, the above comments will come even stronger than I have written.  And I say "ok, no problem!"

Some of you may ask me how in the world I could say that?

It is simple!

Votes by man nor words by people and the press mean anything. Only the Word of God matters! And the Bible is crystal clear that marriage is between one man and one women! Human nature affirms this reality regardless of what people may say.

God has no need of we humans to get enlightened on culture and grow in our interpretation of His Word. The Bible is the same yesterday, today, and forever! It does not and will not change!

I do not hate homosexuals. I do not want them to be miserable in life! I am not homophobic. I simply believe the Bible. I do not place homosexuals as second class citizens. I just read and know that God said in Matt 19:5-6

"4 And He answered and said to them, "Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning 'made them male and female,'
5    "and said, 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh'?
6    "So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let not man separate."
(NKJ)


And then speaking of the natural, the Bible tells us clearly:

Rom 1:20-32
20    For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
21    because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
22    Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23    and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man-- and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.
24    Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves,
25    who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26    For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature.
27    Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.
28    And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29    being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30    backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31    undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32    who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
(NKJ)
I dare not mess with what God has clearly spoken! And regardless of trends or votes by large groups of people, I and I alone answer to God for following His Word or not. Jesus will not say to God that "poor ol Tim had to deny the Bible because a group of people voted to change what it says - thus let him off for his disobedience."

Every Pastor and every church better settle this now. Either you will follow God or you will be in direct disobedience to Him.

No one knows what the consequences will be for standing with the Word of God in the area of marriage. Frankly, I do not care!

This I know - I will stand with God and His Word and no one will be able to force me to do otherwise. And if I go to jail for it? I will be in great company with the Apostle Paul and others.

Votes by people mean nothing in changing or altering the Word of God!

And it is here that I will loving and courageously stand!  

How about you?