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Closeted atheists pastoring Christian churches

ABC’s World News with Diane Sawyer aired a segment last night about two pastors over Southern Baptist churches who have lost their faith.  The segment was reported by Dan Harris and the two pastors remained anonymous with their voices altered and faces in the dark.

The first pastor who was interviewed claimed that he lost his faith in God after reading the Bible.  He said that the Bible had stories which he just found to be unbelievable and the Bible left him with too many questions unanswered.  The fact that he was now an atheist is something he has hidden from his family, his friends, and his congregation.

The second pastor said that he lost his faith after reading books by well-known atheists like Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins.  His original plan for reading the books was to look at their arguments in favor of atheism so he could tear them down.  But reading the books ended up converting him to atheist views.  He too has hidden his atheism from everyone around him.

Both men said they only preach to their congregations the parts of the Bible they agree with.  They also mentioned they are holding on to their positions until the economy improves and they lack the skills to do other types of work since they only attended seminary.

I have to admit I was disgusted with several things in this segment.  Firstly, I would have felt better if a Christian news program had reported the story since the secular media loves taking potshots at Christianity.  I don’t think it was just coincidence that the pastors interviewed were Southern Baptists, the largest Protestant denomination in the U.S.

Secondly, I was disgusted at how selfish these men were.  So selfish that they didn’t want to reveal their identities so they could continue deceiving the people who give their hard earned money to help pay these pastors’ salaries because they believe these pastors are looking out for their best interests.  They are also so selfish that they weren’t actively trying to find a different place to work.  It also seemed that they were full of self-pity as if they were the real victims.

Thirdly, I was disgusted that these men just went with their “feelings” instead of doing more thorough research to try to resolve their doubts.  For instance, the first pastor said he couldn’t see how the story of Noah’s ark could be true.  But if he had done his due diligence, a simple Google search could have led him to websites with rational explanations about how believable a worldwide flood is and how the ark Noah built could withstand the harshest conditions and that its proportions as mentioned in the Bible are the basis for all modern day ocean vessels. 

There are also television programs on the NRB network that address many of the skeptical arguments brought up by atheists and evolutionists about the Bible.  The bulk of this Christian apologetic programming is on from Monday to Wednesday of every week.  But I guess these men were too busy nurturing their feelings, having their own pity parties, and were too lazy to get off their duffs to surf the web,  go to their local Christian bookstore, or hike it to the local public library to do some serious research.

But I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by all of this.  We are warned time and time again about the great falling away in the Bible.  Paul even gathered up the church elders at Ephesus in Acts 20 and wept over the fact that “after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”  When I was in college in the late 80′s to early 90′s, I became friends with a minister who was attending seminary in Chicago who told me with great disappointment that many of his classmates in seminary didn’t believe in Jesus or the Bible and they thought pastoring a church was just like any another vocation.

The admission of these pastors also illustrates why there is so much division in churches and denominations sparked by church leaders and congregants who don’t want to recognize what the Bible calls sin as really being a sin.  All of this serves as a stark reminder that a Christian’s complete faith and trust should be only in the Lord, because sooner or later humans will let you down. 

Those of us who have pastors that go the extra mile and genuinely show God’s love and display the fruits of the Spirit with genuineness should thank God for them and make sure we show them the love and encouragement they deserve.

For the pastors are become brutish, and have not sought the LORD… [Jeremiah 10:21]

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  For men shall be lovers of their own selves … Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. …Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.  [2 Timothy 3:1, 2, 5, 7]

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine. [1 Timothy 5:17]

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on November 10, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in apostasy, atheism, Christianity, church, End times, life, preaching, religion
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on November 10, 2010

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2010/11/10/closeted-atheists-pastoring-christian-churches/

Paul’s powerful preaching

I was reading Acts 24 tonight and it gave a gripping account of how the apostle Paul defended himself before the Roman governor Felix in Caesarea.  I admire Paul’s eloquence and his ability to highlight the weaknesses of the false accusations spoken against him.  Since Paul was bold in talking about his beliefs and pointed out that it was because of his faith that he was brought to trial, it piqued Felix’s curiosity and he asked Paul to return a few days later to explain in more detail about faith in Christ to him and his wife Drusilla, who according to Josephus was the daughter of Herod Agrippa I, the same Herod who killed James, the brother of John, and died not long after James’s martyrdom.

As Paul expounded on the gospel of our Lord Jesus, the scripture says “he reasoned.”  This means he gave a well-thought-out discussion.  In his discussion, Paul spoke of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come.  And his reasoning was done so well that Felix, the powerful Roman governor, trembled with fear at what he heard.  So what could Paul have said that made Felix shake in his shoes?

Obviously Paul gave to Felix the full counsel of God and didn’t hold back.  He preached in accordance with how God taught him to preach.

Paul’s preaching on righteousness

According to what we see in the New Testament, preaching on righteousness encompasses several important topics.  Preaching about righteousness means that one has to explain that God wants us to be in good standing with him.  And when speaking about being in good standing with God, one would have to point out that without Jesus Christ as our Lord, we are spiritually dead in our sins and cannot make ourselves right with God, for we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23].  Making feeble attempts to purge ourselves of sin without God is being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and by going about to establish our own righteousness, we have not submitted ourselves to the righteousness of God [Romans 10:3].

Preaching about righteousness then must also include the fact that God sent his only begotten son Jesus to be the perfect, sinless sacrifice for the sins of mankind.  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him [2 Corinthians 5:21]. He is the only one who has the power to counteract the sin nature we inherited from Adam.  So if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.  For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation [Romans 10:9-11].

Paul’s preaching on temperance

Temperance is self-control, or the ability to master one’s ungodly desires and passions.  Temperance is what God wants all men everywhere to have so this world will be a better place than it is when fallen mankind selfishly does what is right in his own eyes regardless of the negative affects on others.  It results from having faith in Christ and demonstrates to God that a person is serious about living a life that pleases God.  Having temperance is a clear message to God that one considers a relationship with him of the utmost importance.

Paul’s preaching on the judgment to come

Earlier in Acts 24, Paul spoke of the resurrection both of the just and the unjust.  And tied to the resurrection of the dead is the purpose for their resurrection–the judgment to come.  According to the scriptures, it is a time when people will be rewarded by the Lord if they have lived in his righteousness with temperance.  The benefits they will receive will include reigning with Christ over the earth.  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.  This is what the judgment to come holds for all who choose not to follow Christ.

These are the things Paul probably touched on and it convicted Felix so deeply that he trembled.  But unfortunately he didn’t tremble enough to get saved.  And it is doubtful Drusilla his wife did either.  During the time of Titus’s reign, Drusilla and her son Agrippa perished in the eruption of Vesuvius.

Was Paul spot on?

Paul apparently gave Felix and Drusilla what they needed to hear.  It’s perfectly fine to tell people “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” or that “You have a God-sized hole in your heart that only Jesus can fill,”  but sometimes people need to be told something different and we must use God’s wisdom as to when those times may be.

I recently received a comment that I chose not to display from a gay rights activist who claims Paul’s teachings were not in line with Christ’s since Christ never spoke against homosexuality and the person implied that his writings should not be in the New Testament.  This is a common argument from critics of the New Testament.  So were Paul’s teachings spot on or way off?

I covered in a previous post about the historical and scientific accuracy of the New Testament, including Paul’s writings.  Luke, Paul’s biographer, is the writer who introduces us to Paul and commends Paul as a genuine Christian and genuine apostle.  History has proven that Luke wrote the truth about people, places, and events such as Ananias being the high priest, Felix being a Roman governor, Festus being the governor who succeeded Felix, that the Greeks actually had a temple in Athens dedicated to the “Unknown God”, and that the Roman emperor Claudius expelled all Jews from Rome.  Luke has shown himself to be accurate in his history and science in his gospel and the book of Acts, so since he has proven to be trustworthy in earthly things, we can also trust him on the spiritual things.  Therefore, since Luke trusted Paul’s integrity and genuineness as a true Christian, so can we.

Paul also has a second witness in the New Testament.  Peter the apostle, who history has proven was a genuine follower of Christ and genuine writer in the New Testament, said– “And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;  As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” [2 Peter 3:15-16]

Not only did Peter call Paul a “beloved brother”, acknowledging him as a genuine Christian, he verified that Paul’s writings were scripture when he criticized Paul’s critics for twisting what Paul said like they twist “other scriptures.”  He would not have used “other” if he did not consider Paul’s writings scripture since the word is an inclusive word.

Jesus Christ did, in fact, speak against homosexuality when he explained marriage and God’s original and ongoing intentions for it–”But from the beginning of the creation God made them male and female. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and cleave to his wife; And they twain shall be one flesh: so then they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.” [Mark 10:6-9]

God meant for males to join in marriage to females.  That means those with xy chromosomes are intended by God to be married to those with xx chromosomes.  A man should leave his parents to marry a wife, a female.  This is the type of union God has joined together and man should not put it asunder by adultery, unjustifiable divorce, or homosexuality.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on July 3, 2010  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, Paul the Apostle, preaching, religion
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on July 3, 2010

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2010/07/03/pauls-powerful-preaching/

Pulpit manipulations and pulpit marketing

UK, Stockton Baptist Tabernacle, source--freefoto.com

I took some time last Friday night, October 12, 2007, to watch T. D. Jakes being hosted by John Hagee at Cornerstone Church.  While introducing the well-known preacher, Hagee went to great lengths to boast about how Jakes was the author of several books and had recently signed a moviemaking deal with Sony Pictures.  Upon stating these facts, I thought to myself, “is all of this really important?  So what? He got a movie contract.  Big deal!”  Why waste time on earthly stuff that doesn’t matter when all we need to know is whether or not he preaches the gospel and what church he is from?

Then when Jakes took the podium to speak, he opened up with how blessed the people would be if they bought his latest book on sale in the church lobby.  He went on to explain that they really needed to get his life-changing book before leaving the church that night.  I thought to myself “Why does he think he should promote himself or his book when his focus should be on his message?”  A lot of us church folk have libraries full of the latest Christian titles and our lives are still messed up because we read everything except God’s word.  If we get around to reading God’s word, sometimes our hearts are so hardened that we fail to put it into practice.  “…of making many books there is no end;” (Ecclesiastes 12:12)

He finally got around to his sermon, which had a very good message.  Titled “Peter’s last night on the boat,” Jakes’ message basically dealt with how when hard times and setbacks come into our lives in the midst of our ministry, we have a tendency to revert back to habits that are familiar and comfortable to us.  Peter went back to fishing after Christ was crucified.  Instead of going back to what we used to do we should wait for God’s direction and continue moving forward.  Jakes gave some real world examples making his sermon all the more relevant.

At the end came the altar call.  Of course, by this time emotions were high.  The underlying statement for the altar call was “You need to get up to this altar right now so God can change your life!”  Last time I checked, God can work on a person’s heart no matter where their body is.  The Lord is not confined to the altar since he’s omnipresent and omnipotent.  He can change a person right in their seat if they cry out to him.  “And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.” (Isaiah 65:24) 

Not only that, but anyone who is right with God can pray with a person who needs it.  They don’t necessarily need the person standing at the altar to do it.  An usher standing nearby can do it!  As if emotions weren’t high enough, he manipulated them even more after people flooded to the front.  Jakes said something like “If you still haven’t come and God is telling you to come down, you have 60 seconds to get out of your seat and come down this aisle!”  Then he proceeded to count down the seconds as if God’s mercy and grace were going to run out if they didn’t hightail it down the aisle in time.

Such manipulations are completely unnecessary.  The Holy Spirit can do what he needs to do without anyone trying to control another person’s emotions.  I guess I’m somewhat jaded because I’ve fallen prey to these types of routines so many times in the past.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord– 

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by Harry A. Gaylord on October 16, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in Christianity, church, clergy, preaching, religion
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on October 16, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/10/16/pulpit-manipulations-and-pulpit-marketing/

By their fruits ye shall know them

“Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. …A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. …Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”  Matthew 7:15, 18, 20, 21-23

In the world of religion, it is so easy to get caught up in outward appearances.  But as the old cliché goes “looks can be deceiving.”  Jesus gives Christians important instructions to follow when determining who is worth listening to and who we should turn away from, who we should embrace and who we should reject.  False prophets abound in these last days before the return of our Lord and Savior and there’s a sucker born every minute who will fall for them, but we must not be one of them.

Christ lets us know that we should look at the fruit a person bears.  One who is truly of God will display love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance both in public and private because they know serving God is a 24/7 deal.  Nevertheless, it often takes time for the fruit to show what kind it is and it is important for us not to be hasty when trying to discern true Christians from false ones.  First impressions can deceive us.  Just because someone dresses nice, is attractive, or speaks with perfect diction does not mean they are truly of God.  It could be that the individual whose outward presentation falls short of our standards may be the one God is really using.  John the Baptist dressed in his camel’s hair and diet of locusts and wild honey was far from the nicely dressed and well-educated Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day, but he was the one sent by God to declare the arrival of the Messiah.

We should not try to discern based on our emotions either.  It could be that the one who preaches a message that offends us and makes us feel bad is the one God is using to get through to us.  Are we offended because they are speaking the truth and forcing us to examine ourselves in light of God’s word?  Did they preach against a sinful habit we hold on to that we’ve avoided confronting?  Examining ourselves is not always easy because we enjoy telling ourselves that we’re not as bad as this or that person.  But we must judge ourselves by God’s standards and Paul tells us it is not wise to compare ourselves among ourselves (2 Corinthians 10:12).  At the other end of the spectrum is the preacher who is non-confrontational and preaches what we want to hear.  He or she reminds us all the time about how great and special we are.  They may tell us not to be so hard on ourselves and to be confident that we will accomplish great things.  This, of course, caters to our pride and makes us feel good, but it may not necessarily be from God.

Discerning truth by the results we see is not necessarily wise either.  Our desire for quick results and focus on the external effects of a person’s actions may leave us open to deception.  Many may look for proof that one is empowered by the Holy Spirit based on whether or not they cause people to fall out at the altar.  Some may not want to be bothered with a church if it doesn’t have a huge building with hundreds or thousands of members, but quality should trump quantity when it comes to the things of God.  Joel Osteen, for example, may speak in a calm, soft (effeminate) voice and have a huge following, but what he preaches is a watered down version of the gospel.  More often than not, these types of ministries are full of covetousness with the underlying theme being that material gain (and fame) is godliness.

Just because someone calls Jesus Lord does not necessarily make them a Christian.  Intellectual acknowledgement of who Jesus is differs from accepting him through faith by repentance as the Lord of one’s life.  Those who carry out God’s will are the true citizens of the kingdom.  On the day of judgment there will be many who will run down a list of all of the works they did while claiming to be of God, when they really weren’t.  There are those who have prophesied (preached and foretold events) in God’s name, like Balaam and Judas Iscariot, but they were spiritually lost and full of the devil.  There will be all sorts of people who have worked all kinds of miracles in the name of Jesus, but will not have known him personally and they will be rejected for eternity because of it.  This is why we must focus on a person’s fruit, not on their works.  If a person exercises spiritual gifts and good works without the fruit of love, then their actions are worthless (1 Corinthians 13).  As I was told many years ago about those who do works in the name of Jesus, “some were sent and some just went.”  It is up to us, with God’s grace, to figure out which is which.

“Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after.  Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.” 1 Timothy 5:24-25

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on July 15, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in Christianity, church, judgment, preaching, religion

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on July 15, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/07/15/by-their-fruits-ye-shall-know-them/

Please be careful how you handle that sharp object

“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

Since God’s word is so powerful and has such an affect on a person that it can divide the soul and spirit, detecting what the thoughts and intentions of a person may be, how we use it should not be taken lightly.  “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” according to Romans 10:17.  When the word of God is spoken, faith is planted through the word in the spirit of the person who the Father is drawing to him.  Then that faith in Jesus Christ leads to their salvation, resulting in that person receiving the Holy Spirit to dwell in them.  This faith that results from hearing God’s word also makes way for miracles to occur in the presence of the believers (Galatians 3:5).  Seeing that scripture has such an impact, we should ask ourselves–

How should we preach?

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.  For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.  And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.  And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:1-5

So according to Paul, when we share the gospel it is to be shared with simplicity.  Paul was never concerned about using big, flashy words to impress his listeners, nor did he try to promote man’s wisdom when he spoke.  He wanted those who heard to be focused on God, not on himself or any other man.  That’s why when talking to the unsaved, he made sure he covered the very basics–Jesus Christ and his crucifixion.  In this very simple truth is revealed God’s love for mankind, Christ’s determination to please God no matter what the consequences, and just how badly mankind was in need of salvation from sin. 

Paul was also conscious of his human shortcomings when he preached.  He had no confidence in himself and knew that without Christ in him he could do nothing.  There was no need for him to wax philosophical by quoting great men like Plato, Aristotle, or Socrates to attract people to the gospel.  The Holy Spirit in him had the ability to show his hearers how powerful God is so Paul put his flesh aside and allowed the Holy Spirit to work as he saw fit.  Why?  It was of the utmost importance that Christians should not place faith in man.  Their faith is to rest solely in God.

Turn on any gospel station and you can witness how far we have fallen from this simplicity.  So many preachers are caught up in wearing their fancy suits, preaching with sound effects (e.g. having church organs follow their “profound” statements or “whooping” of the black preachers), boasting about their material possessions, or trying to impress people with their vast vocabulary.  T. D. Jakes and Rod Parsley come to my mind right off the bat.

Paul goes on to say

“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect [spiritually mature]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:”  1 Corinthians 2:5-6

When he spoke to those who were saved and mature in the gospel, he spoke with godly wisdom, explaining the mysteries and secrets that God had been keeping since before the world was established.  He got deeper in the word with those who were ready to handle the higher levels of the knowledge of God.

Who should we please by our preaching?

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.  For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.” 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6

Paul knew he was called by God to preach the gospel, so that is who he aimed to please with his messages.  Although he was concerned about the salvation of his listeners, he was not willing to compromise his message to win them over.  He did not want any man to put him on a pedestal and he did not have any ulterior motives of using people to gain any material possessions.  Paul made sure that he wasn’t any burden to those he ministered to.  Today we see plenty of preachers with a cloak of covetousness and who desire the glory of men like Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar (his name seems to reflect the focus of his character), and Rick Warren, just to name a few.

What should we keep in mind when preaching?

“Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not; But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. …

For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5

  1. We have the ministry of the gospel through God’s mercy.
  2. Since we have it by God’s mercy, we should not give it up and quit.  Our type of ministry may change, but we will always have a ministry if we are truly of God.
  3. We should not have evil ulterior motives.
  4. Slyness and trickery should not be our character.
  5. The word of God should not be used to deceive people.
  6. We use scripture to openly show God’s truth.
  7. By sharing the truth, we show men that we are worthy of their confidence even if they don’t accept the truth.
  8. We are not the focus of our preaching–the Lord Jesus Christ is.
  9. We are the servants of our brothers and sisters in Christ for the sake of Christ.

So please be careful how you handle God’s word.  We have enough people in this world making Christians look bad.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord– 

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by Harry A. Gaylord on July 7, 2007  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, God, preaching, religion

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on July 7, 2007

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2007/07/07/please-be-careful-how-you-handle-that-sharp-object/

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