I’m Speaking Truth…

I want to end the week with something that will make you think.

I found a video produced by the Heart Cry Missionary Society. They are a missionary ministry of First Baptist Church of Muscle Shoals (Alabama), featuring Paul Washer. Heart Cry actually takes the Gospel into the world by evangelizing across the globe - even in remote jungles.

The video highlights what many in the Christian church need to hear today: salvation and repentance.

Take a look:

Paul is a Southern Baptist, and he points that out quite often. I don’t necessarily advocate his denominational allegiance, but that doesn’t diminish his point.

He rightly points out that most Christians feel “safe” because they prayed the pray of salvation, yet they live lives counter to scripture.

He used Matthew 7:13-29 as a frame of reference, but he focused primarily on verses 13 and 14:

The Narrow and Wide Gates

 13“^(A)Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.

 14“For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

I was guilty of the same misconception - aided by my childhood pastor (in my youth) and my former pulpit pimps (in my adulthood).

The average Christian couldn’t be identified in a police line up because we look and act just like the world we were sent to preach against.

We covet money and things.

We enter into and exit out of casual relationships (including sex).

We divorce just as much as the unsaved do.

We watch the same movies and listen to the same music.

Our kids are just as unruly and hedonistic.

All of that, and yet we proclaim the Name that is above every other name? How can that be?

It can “be” because we bought the “enter through the narrow gate” part of scripture, but we don’t want to embrace the “narrow path” part of the equation.

Once we accept God’s gift of salvation, we must TURN AWAY from the things that He hates. Even if (and most likely, when) we fall into sin again, we MUST REPENT/TURN AWAY AGAIN and run to Him.

Not in some cosmic game of “I’m Sorry”, but as a sign that we are utterly hopeless and lost without Him.

Therein lies the danger of the seeker sensitivity movement: we reach out to the lost - as we should, but we don’t tell them the “fine print” of true salvation and repentance of sin.

We can’t confess the narrow gate and continue to live our lives in the broad way - especially as we evangelize Christ to a fallen world.

The two are diametrically opposed, and the ambiguity causes others to stumble in their pursuit of God.

When Paul was questioned by believers (an interesting note) about his authority to preach the Gospel, he spoke plainly (my emphasis in bold):

1^(A)This is the third time I am coming to you ^(B)EVERY FACT IS TO BE CONFIRMED BY THE TESTIMONY OF TWO OR THREE WITNESSES.

 2I have previously said when present the second time, and though now absent I say in advance to those who have ^(C)sinned in the past and to all the rest as well, that ^(D)if I come again I will not ^(E)spare anyone,

 3since you are ^(F)seeking for proof of the ^(G)Christ who speaks in me, and who is not weak toward you, but ^(H)mighty in you.

 4For indeed He was ^(I)crucified because of weakness, yet He lives ^(J)because of the power of God For we also are ^(K)weak ^[a]in Him, yet ^(L)we will live with Him because of the power of God directed toward you.

 5^(M)Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; ^(N)examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you–unless indeed you ^(O)fail the test?

 6But I trust that you will realize that we ourselves do not fail the test.

 7Now we pray to God that you do no wrong; not that we ourselves may appear approved, but that you may do what is right, even though we may appear unapproved.

 8For we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth.

We too must stop questioning God’s plan of salvation and repentance and whether or not it’s “convenient” to our lifestyle.

We must examine ourselves to see if we’re really in the faith - then we must do everything possible to ensure that we stay on that narrow path.

I’m back.

After spending a refreshing week visiting with family in another state, I’m back at the keyboard with a story that inspired me - and that I wanted to share with you.

I was cruising the Atlanta Journal-Constitution to catch up on the news that I missed from last week, and I came across an interesting article about a small church in Tucker (suburban Atlanta).

No, it’s not a scandal involving fleecing the sheep or running from Congressional investigations, it was actually a heartwarming story about a church that appears to have the right perspective:

Biker preacher at home on Harley or leading church

By ADRIANNE M. MURCHISON
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 04/14/08

Biker dude – not preacher dude – comes to mind when you meet Tom Hamilton.

He is indeed a tattoo-laden, leather-jacket wearing, Harley man.

But motorcycles aren’t the burly pastor’s No. 1 passion.

Jesus is.

And he’s in his element during Tuesday night bible study at Sozo New Covenant Fellowship church in Tucker. The brightly-lit storefront space serves as a sanctuary for nearly 50 worshippers, and rows of oversized loveseats and chairs are their pews.

Standing on a platform, dressed in his usual liturgical attire – jeans and a T-shirt – the preacher dissects the Old and New Testament with church members.

He points out that the book of Luke is written in an orderly way and the book of Mark is not. He picks member’s minds on the role of women during the time of Jesus. And the 51-year-old reminds them that he too is a student of scripture.

“I don’t know about you,” he says. “It’s not that I’m a slow learner. I’m just a fast beginner.”

Hamilton and friend Charlie Crippen co-pastor the unconventional church. Crippen leads Sunday morning services while Hamilton plays the piano and guitar with the band and teaches children’s Sunday School.

The church, however, is Hamilton’s baby.

“I’m living my dream right now,” said Hamilton, a former Marine and graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.

Sozo was birthed from a weekly Bible study that Hamilton and his wife Brenda started at their home in 2001.

The couple has been married for 27 years.

“It started out with a few people Tom and I hung out with recognizing there was something in him we could learn from,” said Brenda, 61. She works as church assistant and treasurer. “It got bigger and we moved into our neighbor’s great room. It got to the point where everyone really felt like we had the underpinnings of a church,” she said.

Hamilton left his job as network engineer and obtained a degree from Beulah Heights Bible College. He’s now working on a master’s degree in divinity at Mercer University. (click here to read the rest).

If you look above, you’ll notice that Pastor Tom left a career in network engineering (a lucrative profession) to enter bible college. It’s interesting to note that he wasn’t “anointed” by a “spiritual father” and dispatched to help fleece the sheep for a pimp. He actually answered a call into ministry from God - and studied to show himself approved.

Here’s another interesting note from the article:

Members volunteer with SafeHouse Outreach and other programs that help the homeless and hungry. Anyone in need is welcome at Sozo, but along with help they get some tough love and questions from pastor Hamilton.

“My first reaction when someone says they need help with rent is ‘bring me your budget,’ ” he stated.

New members must take Crown Financial Ministries 10-week biblically-based course at the church. The course is led by a church member. Couples and individuals pay $55 and $45, respectively, for course materials, Hamilton said.

I’m not a huge fan of Crown Financial - especially because of their emphasis on insisting on tithing, but it’s refreshing to hear about Sozo’s commitment to the community - and accountability. 

Another interesting observation:

The small church has not always met its own budget of nearly $3,000 per month in rent. High school and Naval Academy buddies and other friends have helped pay the bills, Hamilton said.

On a few occasions, car dealership owner Tim Stewart has paid the rent.

You mean to tell me that Pastor Tom isn’t extorting the sheep into giving by promising them a “pressed down, shaken together” blessing…they’re actually meeting their financial obligations instead of making sure the pastor drives a $200K Bentley and wears $3K suits? What heresy !

Finally, this statement really caught my attention:

“I met Pastor Tom at the dealership in Tucker, ” Stewart said. “I instantly loved him because he rode a Harley. He really puts forth his heart and wears it on his sleeve. Very few people will actually lay down corporate America and do what he’s doing.”

Not only will very few people lay down corporate America to preach the Gospel, very few people will lay down corporate Christianity to preach the true Gospel.

I don’t know about their doctrine, but the it appears as though this church is impacting the community by presenting the Gospel.

Unless I find out otherwise, I’ll assume that they’re sincerely sharing the message of Jesus Christ and the Cross to a hungry world.

11Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels ^(A)around the throne and the ^(B)living creatures and the ^(C)elders; and the number of them was ^(D)myriads of myriads, and thousands of thousands,  12saying with a loud voice, “^(E)Worthy is the ^(F)Lamb that was ^(G)slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

 13And ^(H)every created thing which is in heaven and on the earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all things in them, I heard saying, “To Him who ^(I)sits on the throne, and to the ^(J)Lamb, ^(K)be blessing and honor and glory and dominion forever and ever.” (Revelation 5:11-13)

John vividly describes this atmosphere of worship as the angels heralded Our Lord.

As we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, let us weep that he bore our transgressions and iniquities (Isaiah 53:5), but let us also rejoice that He rose from the dead - just as He said He would (Matthew 28:6-8).

No matter how difficult your life may be, if you’re a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (and you’ve accepted Him as your Savior), then remember that His Resurrection should make you uncomfortable with complacency. He conquered death so that you could overcome every dead area in your life! So:

1“^(A)Arise, shine; for your ^(B)light has come,
         And the ^(C)glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
    2“For behold, ^(D)darkness will cover the earth
         And deep darkness the peoples;
         But the LORD will rise upon you
         And His ^(E)glory will appear upon you.
    3“^(F)Nations will come to your light,
         And kings to the brightness of your rising.  (Isaiah 60:1-3)

What a profound statement.

What follows is a video of a young lady named Blair Wingo declaring the true Christ - the Savior Whom God sent to redeem the world back to Himself.

Not the cosmic slot machine that you’re sold every Sunday in your local worship facility.

Not the one that you seek to beg for the same “anointing that rests on your spiritual father” so that you could (some day) drive the same car that he drives.

Not the one who is misrepresented week after week across the country.

No, the true Christ that the Old Testament prophets foretold of, the Christ that John the Baptist announced, the one Whom God Himself said “this is my beloved Son, in Whom I’m well pleased” (Matthew 3:17).

I leave you again with the words of the Apostle Peter (2 Peter 2:1-4 NLT):

“But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way, they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago, and their destruction will not be delayed.”