It’s been a while since I have posted. I wanted to share this since it is so prevalent in today’s world with everything going on.
I was asked to comment on the following article:
AN OPEN LETTER TO MY FELLOW PASTORS AND CHRISTIANS
The following is my response:
So, Here are some responses to this article:
1. 501c3 status: I was looking into this for us but after prayer and counsel with my Pastor, I decided not to pursue this. Churches were and still are considered non-profit without it and so, the hassle of going through the application, and the expense of 850+, did not seem wise to use the ministry money on.
2. If we lose tax-exempt status, so be it, we lose it. We will just have to pay taxes on what we get.
3. If people stop tithing because of the above, that is between them and God. Tithing/giving is an act of Worship and Faith, Malachi 3. We depend on God to provide for our fellowship to do what He has called us to do. If we depend on man, then we lost our focus
4. Marriage ceremonies are defined by the following in our Faith Statement, which, was prepared over 3 years ago:
WE BELIEVE that MARRIAGE is exclusively the legal union of ONE GENETIC MALE and ONE GENETIC FEMALE sanctioned by the state and evidenced by a marriage ceremony. We also believe that legitimate biblical sexual relations are exercised solely within marriage. Hence, sexual activities such as, but not limited to, adultery, fornication, pre-marital sex, incest, polygamy, homosexuality, transgenderism, bisexuality, cross dressing, pedophilia and bestiality are inconsistent with the teachings of the Bible and the Church. Further, lascivious behavior, the creation, viewing and/or distribution of pornography and efforts to alter one’s physical gender or gender related appearance are incompatible with a true biblical witness.
We also just adopted into our bylaws that any and all Services and activities, conducted at our fellowship, fall under biblical practices
5. Will I stop performing ceremonies, not at the moment. I believe there is still a good reason to practice this. We are wanting to show what it means to have a Biblical marriage. Does this mean I will not perform for a “non-Christian” couple? No, I like to use the pre-marital counseling as a way to lead people to the Lord as well as showing them His intention for marriage. If the couple is willing to agree to how we define marriage and is willing to be counseled prior to marriage, which is what I do with any who ask me to perform their ceremony, then we proceed.
6. Now the bigger picture. am I concerned that there may be lawsuits brought against me and the ministry? Yes, but I am not afraid if they are. I am taking the stance that Joshua took:
Joshua 24:15 (NKJV): And if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
As well as the Apostles did:
Acts 5:29 (NKJV): But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: “We ought to obey God rather than men.
7. Are there some who are with us that have fears about this? Probably, but they are willing and learning to walk in Faith and see what He will do.
8. If we lose everything that God has given us because of this stand, we will still worship Him. The stuff is not what makes us have Faith in Him, it’s what He does in our lives. He is the provider of everything and we Trust that He will provide for our needs, even if it’s uncomfortable.
9. I have and will continue to teach the whole Bible. I do not just teach about what The Word says about Homosexuality, I teach on the whole thing, to include alcoholism, gambling, gluttony, unrighteous anger, etc. In other words, I teach The Bible in it’s entirety.
I have been to different meetings speaking out against things that are affecting our society. I will continue to do so. I have had other thoughts but, this is already a lengthy response.
p.s.: I forgot to mention that we love on anyone, no matter where they are in life, but do not support their sin. We show them what God wants in our lives.
Until next time:
Ezekiel 37:1-14 (NKJV): The hand of the Lord came upon me and brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord, and set me down in the midst of the valley; and it was full of bones. 2 Then He caused me to pass by them all around, and behold, there were very many in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. 3 And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”So I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”4 Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord! 5 Thus says the Lord God to these bones: “Surely I will cause breath to enter into you, and you shall live. 6 I will put sinews on you and bring flesh upon you, cover you with skin and put breath in you; and you shall live. Then you shall know that I am the Lord.”’”7 So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and suddenly a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to bone. 8 Indeed, as I looked, the sinews and the flesh came upon them, and the skin covered them over; but there was no breath in them.
9 Also He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.”’” 10 So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
11 Then He said to me, “Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. They indeed say, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope is lost, and we ourselves are cut off!’ 12 Therefore prophesy and say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “Behold, O My people, I will open your graves and cause you to come up from your graves, and bring you into the land of Israel. 13 Then you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, O My people, and brought you up from your graves. 14 I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it,” says the Lord.’”
