Pastor Jim Standridge: Speaking the Truth in Love?

Please watch the video below of Pastor Jim Standridge of Immanuel Baptist Church of Skiatook and his sermon on May 19, 2013. Then read below for my comments on this video.

Okay, so I had mixed emotions on this video. I thought "WOW! How could a pastor do this?? This isn't right to do to his congregation!". Then again I also thought, "Paul did the very same thing. He came in to a church and set people straight." Paul was also not interested in creating the prostitute of the church. 

I still could not judge this pastor by this clip, so I went to the church website and watched the full sermon at http://www.ibcskiatook.com/media/sermons/video/585-may-19th-2013-morning-service which I recommend you to do so as well. What I found was very double-minded.

The Pastor was preaching against the Pharisees and how they loved to control the law and loved to condemn people when they should have been submissive unto God, but then he began doing the same thing in my eyes. He was condemning specific people in his congregation for their behavior. I know the Bible says in John 8, which was near where he was preaching, that "You will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free," but the Bible also says to "Speak the truth in love". I feel that this pastor thought he was doing that because he kept telling his people that he loved them, however to me he wasn't. 

True biblical love does not condemn. Romans 8:1 tells us that "There is therefore now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus," so what gave him the right to PUBLICLY announce the faults of others. Instead of doing this in public, he should have went to them privately just as Matthew 18 teaches us, and shared with them alone their fault. 

So I ask my readers the question, "Do you believe that Pastor Jim Standridge was right in what he did to his congregation on May 19, 2013? Do you think that Pastor Jim Standridge was 'speaking the truth in love'?" Please comment below. 

I'm Addicted!

These pictures show a very serious problem that I have.

A terrible addiction that I deal with daily.

A condition that plagues my very being each time I enter a Christian bookstore....

....I'm addicted to Bibles!

I've never understood why I'm so addicted to owning different Bibles, but I am.

I feel like I have every study Bible in every different kind of format and version, but I can't help it. I love soaking in different resources.

Study notes are a wonderful companion to Bible reading. They allow me to understand a difficult passage when studying.

While I don't agree with all of his teachings, probably my favorite study Bible to use is the "MacArthur Study Bible". I think I have like three of those just in different versions! MacArthur has helped me through many tough passages in Scripture as well as helped me to affirm my convictions in Scripture.

I must mention something else I'm addicted to, which may effect my purchases of Bibles more than I think.....I'm addicted to the smell of Bibles. Go ahead, pick up a Bible right now and give it a good whiff....isn't that not the greatest smell on planet Earth! Right up there with bacon frying in the mornings, it HAS to be the greatest smell!

Surely I'm not alone in these addictions! Hey, the way I see it is at least it's a Bible addiction and nothing more!!

What about you?

New Decision Based on New Information

My great friend +Roy Montero has always said, "I never change my mind. I just make a new decision based on new information." That my friends is what I'm doing today. I have decided to make a new decision based on new information shown to me.

My previous blog post, "My Opinion on Gay Marriage" sparked a lot of interesting discussion. Most people agreed with what I had to say except one of the points I wrote about. It was the point, "YES, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO JUDGE". People said the following,

"I'm not sure how you are getting that it's okay to judge, because it's not. I have absolutely nothing against gays. If they want to be gay, then leave them alone. All Christians do anymore is force religion down people's throats and it makes us hate religion in general. That's about all this town is filled with though, hypocritical 'Christians'"

"What's funny is by the dictionary's terms, we all just made judgment about this post. We all judge, so if we want to stop judging, we really need to work on taking away any human activities."

The next three comments sparked my new decision.

"I agree with all of your points except one. We do not have the right to judge. The Word of God does the judging. As far as judging gays, it is really irrelevant for they were judged long before this old world even came into existence by a merciful and loving God. This is His foreknowledge at work. I kinda agree with Paul's statement that he is the chiefest of sinners, so am I. Gays are humans just like you and me deserving of God's mercy and forgiveness!"

"I would like to kindly disagree with one of your points: 'I have a right to judge.' No,you don't. It is true that the Bible says not to judge. We as Christians are not allowed to condemn sinners for being sinners - that's God's job. What we ARE allowed to do is inform them of their sin and urge them to repent. The exception to this is when dealing with Christians who still continue to sin. 1 Timothy 5:20 (referring to members of the Church) 'As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.'"

"I believe that we are confusing judging people with warning people in this situation. We Christians are only warning people of what God says about this sin. We are not judging them. They say it is judging because they know deep down that it is wrong. Eventually God turns them over to a reprobate mind, where they can't see right and wrong. This may sound harsh, but this is what God did in Romans. Not man, but God. God is loving, but he is also just. We are warning them not judging them.

So...........based on new information, I would now like to make a new decision and new point for my opinion on gay marriage.

YES, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO WARN

Many people when dealing with marriage equality, especially if they are gay, like to say "Who are you to judge? You have no right to judge. The Bible says do not judge. Don't judge. Don't judge. Don't judge." You know what? You're right, I have no right to judge you. You may say "Praise to (whomever you may worship)!!!! He's finally seeing our side. He knows he can't judge. We win and have free reign to live how we want to." WRONG!! Just because I have no right to judge you, I still understand from God's Word that your sin is wrong. My job is to share with you the truth that I know. My job is to WARN you!

What I know is that you are living in sin as a gay person, and that if you do not repent and accept Christ, you will go to Hell. But God, in His all powerful knowledge understood that these things would occur, so he sent His only Son Jesus Christ to live to die upon a cross for even your worst sin, be it homosexuality or whatever! It is up to you if you choose to accept that, but I can not do God's job of condemning you as a person. I can only warn you of what God's job is, because judgment IS coming, and it will be from GOD! 

The only time I have a right to judge at all is when it refers to people in the family of God. Paul said this in 1 Corinthians 5:11-13:

11 But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge? 13 God judges those outside. “Purge the evil person from among you.”

I cannot judge those outside of the family of God, we just went over that, but I can judge those inside of the church which is the true context of Matthew 7. If I see one of my brothers and sisters in Christ living in sin, I have every right to judge them and tell them they are not living the way they should. I quoted scripture, so don't fight with me, fight with God!

I have been so thrilled to write these posts lately. I was so thrilled by all the conversation sparked, and was please they every conversation remained mature and civil. Please let me know your thoughts now. Was this new decision fair? Yes? No? Why? Please comment below.

 

My Opinion on Gay Rights

This is going to be a bold and touchy blog post, and it will probably offend, but I don't mind. I need to speak out what I've been feeling inside over the past few days. So with great prayer and thought I begin this blog post. Reader's discretion advised.

Wow! The media has been in shock over the historical decision congress made over marriage equality and for just reason. It's a big deal. A very big deal! This is a big step in marriage equality for all gays. However, I'm a Christian and I must look at this with a Biblical outlook and say that all this is just wrong! Here are my thoughts:

• I do believe homosexuality is a sin.
• Gays should not be allowed the holy GOD-ORDAINED union of marriage.
• I do NOT hate gays. (I work with some)
• Gays are no different than me, (we're all sinners), their sexual preference is just different than mine.
• YES, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO JUDGE.
• Jesus loves you!

Now before you click away from this page and count me among all the rest of the "bigots", let me go over those bullets in more detail.

I do believe homosexuality is a sin.

I have heard many times, even from gays themselves, that it is not a choice. They didn't choose their sexual preference. At that, I would have to disagree. The Bible tells us that every sin we commit is a choice. (James 1:13-15) The Devil didn't make us do it, our parents didn't make us do it, our friends didn't make us do it, we choose to sin because our nature is the flesh. The flesh can ONLY commit sin! There is no hope for human flesh. At some point in a gay person's life they made the choice to look upon the same sex. Whether they believe that or not, they did. I told you this would be tough, but this is the truth. 

Gays should not be allowed the holy GOD-ORDAINED union of marriage.

Marriage equality is bogus! In fact, marriage (as a holy union), is almost completely bogus period these days. Marriage means nothing anymore. Just like everything else in this world, we have taken God out of His own creation. Believe it or not folks, humans did NOT create marriage, GOD did! And when he created it, he did with one male and one female, for the purpose of procreation. Homosexual couples can not procreate making marriage therefore pointless in the eyes of God! Yes you may love each other, but you can not be bound by the means of marriage when it totally defiles the way God meant marriage to be! Stop trying to recreate God's creations!

I do NOT hate gays (I work with some)

Here's where I become different than most people. Most people when they disagree with all this marriage equality stuff, often hate the gays themselves, and that is completely wrong! I love a gay person just as much as I love a straight person. My job as a Christian, is to still show the love of Christ and shine the light of Christ to these people. I get so disappointed in Christians who because they disagree with the sin, they hate the sinner too. That's not right!

Gays are no different than me, (we're all sinners), their sexual preference is just different than mine.

Hope comes in to the picture here!! Christians we need to realize something. WE ARE ALL SINNERS!! Let me say that again. WE ARE ALL SINNERS!! What makes us any different from gay people? When we lust in front a computer screen with our hands down our pants, what makes us any better in the eyes of God than a gay person?? When we steal even if it is something small, what makes us any better in the eyes of God than a gay person?? When we come home drunk on Saturdays, then go to church on Sundays, what makes us any better in the eyes of God than a gay person?? Absolutely nothing. When you think about it, we're no better at all. So stop condemning them when you have sins in your own life you need to deal with first, that hurt God just as much!

YES, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO JUDGE

I saved this one for next to last because it burns me up the most! I always hear this, "Stop judging, the Bible says don't judge. Who are you to judge? Don't Judge. Don't Judge. Don't Judge." You know what? YES I AM GOING TO JUDGE! That is because I have EVERY right by the authority of GOD'S WORD to judge. I'm sorry if I care about the souls of gays and want to see them go to Heaven. I'm sorry if I don't want to see any person gay or straight burn in Hell for all eternity. A lot of you who say the Bible says do not judge need to keep reading Matthew 7. It's all about how you judge. If I judge you with sin in my life then yes, I have no right to judge. But if I confess my own sin, then try to bring out yours to better you and lead you to Christ then YES, I HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO JUDGE. (John 7:24)

Jesus loves you!

Lastly, and most importantly, if we're all the same no matter what the sin, then we need to get the point across that JESUS LOVES YOU!! No matter if you're gay or straight. Jesus still died for your sins. He still died because he loves you, and Christians we need to remember that! We need to do less condemning and more leading to Jesus Christ!

I hope I haven't done too much offending, but this needed to be said. I needed to speak out! Please please comment below. I know I will probably get hate mail and praise mail both, but that's what I'm looking for. I'm looking for honest person to person discussion. I love you. Jesus loves you. Never forget it!

Did I Disappear?

No. I'm still around. Just been in some deep thought and very VERY busy.

First off, I'm now engaged! +Harley Croft (Her Google+ last name is already mine :P) and I will be married this year on July the 27th. Fast you say, I know right!! However, I'm very excited and cannot wait to begin the next journey of my life! I've never been happier, and if I may be sappy cause I know she's reading this, she's really been supportive and is the light of my life! I love you Harley!

Secondly, I am a youth pastor at our church, Calvary Baptist Church, and I'm so pleased at what God is doing there. Over just a period of a month, we've grown from about 8 to about 16!! God is really about to do some crazy things with those kids, as well as their leader! I've been struggling though to make the time for those kids that I wish I could make. They need leadership, they need teaching, they need guidance, and I love them SO much, and desire to do just those things. My prayer has been for more time.

Thirdly, and semi-frustrating, I am the founder of an online ministry, +Born Again Ministry, and am frustrated at myself honestly for not putting more time an effort into building it and allowing God to move in that area. I know God is not done with me in the area of online ministry, and hopefully if it is His Will, he will bring the right people to build a presence for him online.

Lastly, and most frustrating, is my job as an assistant manager. We're minus one manager so we're attempting to run a store on two managers, and frankly, I'm wore out! It also doesn't help that the weight of work is not shared evenly amongst staff members. That's where I'll end that one.

Honestly, even though life seems so crazy at the moment, I wouldn't trade none of it for anything else, because I've realized this...God is AMAZING and is in control no matter what! He's blessed me tremendously, and I couldn't thank him enough. Isn't that the attitude we're supposed to have?

How have you guys been? Don't be afraid to chat it up with me in the comments below.

Let Go of Worry!

A dear friend of mine who I met on Google+, +Ben Brady, shared a passage of scripture with me that I've been trying to live out for a while now.

Matthew 6:25-34 - ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

This passage of scripture reminds us of something so wonderful!!! We are LOVED by the creator of the UNIVERSE!! God himself loves and cares for us insomuch that we will always have the things that we need! Notice I did not say the things we want, but rather the things we NEED!

The problem is, we're "worry warts". Have you ever heard that saying before? Usually it's used to describe a great-grandmother who worries about every little thing and every little blemish on your body, or a great-aunt worried about the weather every waking second of life. We call those people worry warts. However, we're quick to worry about finances around bill time. "Oh, how will we ever pay all the bills this month," is a phrase used most frenquently. Let's ponder over this passage for a bit especially over verse 33.

³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

What if instead of worrying we just lived out this verse? What if instead of spending our time wondering if the bills were going to get paid, we spent time about God's business? Wonder what our lives would be like? The passage says itself that not one second of life can be added if we are constantly worrying, so what if we just let it all go? I believe we would see God move DRASTICALLY in our lives!

I pray that my readers begin to understand one thing. JESUS LOVES YOU!! If he loved us enough to DIE for us, don't you think he can take care of our little problems in life?

Would you consider yourself a "worry wart"? Are there things that you just need to let go of and trust God?

Please leave your answers and feedback in the comment section below.

4 Things Sin is Good At...

Did you know sin could be good at something? Oh yeah, you definitely read the post title right! There are four things that I've studied that sin can be good at. Take a moment to ponder what those things could be. I mean how could something God sees as hideous in His sight be even considered to be good? Could I have exaggerated a bit by the title? Who knows? Let's just continue reading and find out.

1) Sin is Good at Creating More Sin. (2 Sam. 11:6-27)

I want to take you on a little journey of just a short period of time in the life of King David. David had it all. He was a man after God's own heart, he was a mighty warrior, and well he was a king (what more could you need). During a period of battle when David should have actually been out fighting with his army (SIN!), we find David at home walking around on his balcony. David finds a BEAUTIFUL woman, named Bathsheba, bathing on the roof, lusts after her (SIN!), and ultimately has sex with her making her pregnant. (SIN!) This was a married woman (SIN!), but not just any married woman, she was married to Urriah the Hittite one of David's top men. Are you seeing a pattern yet? There's a lot of sinning going on right?

Well the story doesn't end there. David, after trying everything he can do to get Uriah home to sleep with his wife, ends up having Urriah killed by placing him at the most heated point of the battle! (SIN!) So now there's blood on David's hands. It was through the command sent back with Urriah, that killed Urriah! Ugh, so much sin!

It's the same in our lives though, we commit one sin and if we do not repent immediately, find ourselves in a trap of more and more and more sin! Sin is good at creating more and more sin!

2) Sin is Good at Blocking Reason and Creating Hypocrisy (2 Sam. 12:1-6)

Now Urriah is dead, and God is VERY displeased with David. Do you think at this point that David had repented to God over his sins? Eh, not so fast, there's more to the story.

Nathan comes to David and tells him this parable about sheep and cattle, similar to the situation of David stealing Bathsheba, and David goes crazy! He claimed that the rich man should die for doing this to the poor man, and that no pity should be shown to him! Nathan then reminded David that he did the exact same thing.

You see sin finds a way of blocking our reason and turning us in to hypocrites! We forget about our sin, and try to make others look bad, even if they are doing the same things as we are! Sin is good at making us clueless and hypocritical!

3) Sin is Good at Blocking a Pure Relationship with God (Psa. 66:18)

If unrepented sin can create more and more sin, and sin causes us to be hypocrites, then do you think we could have a right relationship with God? Absolutely not! There's no way! We can not come to God like everything is okay when we have sinned against Him. I believe that is our problem at times. We forget to be fearful of our God who says, "Be holy for I am holy", and instead we become comfortable with our sin! Instead we need to run to God for forgiveness of our sin so that we don't begin this awful cycle!

4) Sin is Good at Creating Consequences (2 Sam. 12:9-12)

Back to David's story, God told David that the sword would never depart from his house. Out of David's own household would trouble come. His son that came forth from Bathsheba also died, along with many other incidents.

Here's what we forget about. When we sin, we think, "It's okay. Nobody seen it. Nobody knows." God knows! He knows and if you are truly His child, do not think that you will go unpunished. Sin has its consequences! Every unrepented sin that is against the will and commands of God will not go without you facing some sort of punishment. God is not one to play around with. Do not abuse his Grace and Forgiveness!

Sin has its way of really ruining our Christian walk with Christ. My prayer is that all of my readers would guard their hearts! Do not let Satan tempt you to do what you clearly know is wrong! Jesus loves you and died for you so that you could have freedom over Sin's bondage. Don't be enslaved anymore. Don't put yourself in this scary and awful pattern! Nothing truly good EVER comes from sin!

Please leave your comments below. What do you think about this post? Agree, disagree? Please let me know.