The Pastor's Blog

Mark 16:15

"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature."

Romans 10:14

"How shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Ezekiel 2:5

"And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear, (for they are a rebellious house), yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them."

Frequently asked questions are listed questions and answers found nowadays on most web-sites that are supposedly oft asked questions regarding a particular product or service. In the business of the Lord's service, there are often questions asked, and rightly so, of those interested in or at least curious about a particular ministry. There is seemingly no particular ministry so questioned as that of street preaching, and, in particular, regarding preaching at Gay Pride events.

Some questions come from honest individuals who are curiously captivated by what they perceive as a somewhat peculiar activity. They are people of God who simply are looking for Scriptural answers as to the motivation behind such efforts, which I will say now, should already be clear, in most cases. Other questions however are designed to cast doubt upon, disparage, or even demean not only the preaching but the preachers involved in making an effort to stand for truth and right and reaching a lost world with the gospel. Others still, are from the individuals attending these events who have a false perception of our motivation in preaching to them.

Whatever the motive behind the questions, there are nevertheless frequently asked questions regarding publically preaching at Gay Pride events, and I will, in this article, make a concerted effort to answer those questions.

FAQ's

1. What is the motivation behind street preaching at a Gay Pride rally?

A= The simplest answer is that the Scriptures are our primary motivation. In addition to the Scriptures listed above, there are an abundance of Scriptures that command God's people to go into ALL THE WORLD and PREACH the gospel to EVERY creature. I once heard it said in a missions meeting I was attending that "Where there is a creature, there ought to be a preacher." I heartily agreed and said "Amen" along with a chorus of others. For the most part, the motivation in publically preaching at any event, gay or otherwise, is simply the fact that there are a large number of people attending a particular event. We try to preach where the people are... it is as simple as that.

Beyond that however, there is the fact that the sick sin of sodomy needs to be publically rebuked by God's men and God's church. If the sodomites are bold enough to publically celebrate, promote, and flaunt their perversion, should not God's people be bold enough to stand against it? Throughout the Scriptures, God's prophets and preachers boldly and publically rebuked the sins of the nations and peoples involved in them. The admonition to Isaiah still stands, "Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins," Isaiah 58:1.

How often has Edmund Burke's quote been repeated, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." According to Ephesians 5:11, God's people are not only to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness," we are also to "rather reprove them." Those who do nothing and say nothing about sin and evil aid in its promotion! The question that needs to be asked is, "Do good men do nothing about sin and evil?" How can they continue to qualify as good men while allowing evil to prevail unopposed? And, if they are not good men, is it true that they are God's men?

2. What about the fact that you are exposing yourself to all kinds of evil and perversion at Gay Pride events? How do you justify this?

A= In many cases this question is asked with the implication that preachers that preach at such events are perverts themselves. This question and its implication is very similar to the account in Luke 7 when the Lord Jesus was approached by woman with an alabaster box of ointment while in the house of a Pharisee. In verse 38 of that chapter the woman began to wash Jesus feet with her tears and wipe them with the hairs of her head. In verse 39, the Scripture says, "Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner." The implication was that if Jesus was really a prophet, He would've known that this woman was a sinner and would have had nothing to do with her. The last time I checked the New Testament, I believe that it was very apparent that the Lord Jesus "came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance," Luke 5:32.

What should we do? Should we tell sinners that unless they act right, talk right, and dress right, we will not talk to them or preach the gospel to them. What about the return of Moses to the Israelite camp from meeting with God on Mt Sinai? Exodus 31:25-26 says, "And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) (26) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD's side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him." I say quite frankly, Moses saw that the people were naked. Moses wasn't peering at them as some pervert, he was God's man with a message of repentance to the people. Those that were willing to heed the message did. Those that refused continued in their sin.

What about missionaries that go to countries and peoples who have no dress standards, who know nothing but nakedness or near nakedness? Are those men perverts for going to such a place under the call of God? God forbid! They are men of God with God's message of repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to a people living in the darkness and deceitfulness of sin.

Granted, there can be a bad apple in any bunch, but to use such an excuse as a reason to forbear going and preaching to such people is ludicrous! The sodomite crowd is perverted; they are abusers of themselves with mankind. Their affections are termed as vile in Romans 1. They are everything the Bible says that they are, and we go to preach what the Bible says they are to them!

3. Once sodomites become as open and bold about their sin as they are at these events, they are probably reprobate. Aren't you just wasting your time in going and preaching to them?

A= There are a couple of issues to address in regards to this question. First of all, the Scriptures are clear that it is possible for someone involved in the sin of sodomy (homosexuality) to be saved. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 says, "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, or idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind... (10) ... shall inherit the kingdom of God. (11) And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." Evidently, there were some individuals at Corinth who had been saved OUT OF the sodomite lifestyle, which is really a death style.

While I have no doubt that many of the sodomites at these events are probably reprobate, there are also those there who are not reprobate, and there are also those there who are not sodomites at all. Some are sympathizers; some are just there because it's a festival. That is the crowd we are there to REACH. The reprobate crowd, on the other hand, we are there to REBUKE! There is a difference!

Secondly, how can obeying God's command to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature be a waste of time? Let me ask you preachers a question: Is playing golf a waste of time? Is hunting a waste of time? Is being engrossed in your favorite hobby or surfing the internet a waste of time? Or, is all that redeeming the time? I am not fussing at you about your hobbies as long as they are not sinful, but how can one say that preaching the gospel to any group of people is a waste of time? I thought you could never take the gospel to the wrong place or the wrong person, or was I wrong about that?

4. Don't you preachers that go to these events just go to cause trouble, to get in the news, and to get into it with the police? Aren't you just media whores and troublemakers?

A= My first thought in response to this question (or series of questions- with the same underlying attitude) is the response of Eliab to David when his younger brother heard the blasphemy of the giant Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17:25, the Scripture says, "And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle." I assert here that Eliab was the one with the pride issue. His was wounded because he was consumed with fear, and he was now being shown up, so to speak, by his kid brother. Therefore, instead of rightly judging himself, he falsely accused his brother!

I love David's response however! Verse 26 says, "And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" David was falsely accused and maligned, not for doing wrong, but for doing that which was right... that which his brethren were afraid to do! Hey, if you can't find a Biblical reason to not go, personally attack those that will obediently go. If you can make them look bad, it'll make you look better... right?!?!

Let me say that none of the preachers and people that I am associated with have any ambition to fight against the police or to go to jail. We have never gone to any event hoping to get arrested. Anyone that has such and ambition is mentally warped, at least. Having said that, we also understand the God given role of civil authority as outlined in Romans 13. They are the minister of God for good and against evil. In discussing Romans 13, most folks want to emphasize our responsibility to the civil authorities. If you will read Romans 13 again, you will find that the authorities have a certain responsibility to God. That is, they are to defend the good and punish the evil. When they fail to fulfill their responsibilities and begin to unlawfully hinder our lawful obedience to God, we then have the responsibility to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29) and let the consequences be what they may!

In most cases, police officers are aids in our ministry rather than hindrances. In most cases, those that are hindrances are ignorant to the laws concerning public speaking and discourse. I would advise anyone involved in a public preaching ministry to know the laws regarding this right. Evidently Paul was aware of the Roman law in relation to his mishandling by those in authority, Acts 16:37 & 22:25.

As far as the media is concerned, our only goal is to use that free medium, if made available, to get the message out regarding sin and salvation and our purpose in preaching. We are not interested in being on the news for being on the news sake. I can think of better ways to become famous.

5. How many converts have you had from street preaching at these events? Are you really accomplishing anything?

A= The implication here is that unless your efforts are producing large numbers of converts (the magic number anyone?) then your effort is not of the Lord. Today’s success oriented crowd is in the business of gauging whether a ministry is of God or not based on how many people respond to the message and methodology of the ministry. Noah was a preacher of righteousness who preached for 120 years, and the only people that were saved under his ministry were his wife, his sons, and their wives, eight (8) people according to the Scriptures. That is 1 person for every 15 years worth of preaching. That is not very good numbers by today’s standards! (I am not sure who set the standards, by the way!)

Now I am certainly not preaching against results. The question, however, is, was what Noah did of God or not? If your idea of doing things the right way is based on results you can physically see, then you would have to say that Noah was a failure. He wasn't according to Hebrews 11! He is listed there as a man of faith. In Matthew 7:13, Jesus said that many were on the broad way that leads to destruction. He said few there be that find the straight and narrow path that leads to life, verse 14. Everyone will not be saved (as a matter of fact the majority won’t be) no matter what message or methodology is used in trying to reach them! Jesus didn’t win everyone He came across in His earthly ministry, and after He left the world (after 3 ½ years of ministry) there were only 120 believers on the day of Pentecost. Don't forget, He preached to thousands! God honours obedience, and obedience cannot be improved upon, no matter the results!

Here is a point to ponder: How are the results in relation to the message and methodology you preach and practice within the walls of your own church? Are you really accomplishing anything? Maybe you are wasting your time.

My guess is that sinners in your church services respond much the way those on the street do to Bible preaching... some mock, some say we will hear thee again of this matter, and some believe, (Acts 17:32, 34).

God has been good, so good... I have been blessed!

What is new evangelicalism and why should we care?

Psalm 127:4, "As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth."

I had a wonderful time preaching last night from this familiar passage on the subject of A Mighty Man. I have heard a good bit said of the arrows in his hand, but not much of the man himself.

In Psalm 127:4, there is a comparison made between arrows in the hands of this mighty man and children of the youth. A mighty man, by definition, is a champion, a warrior. He knows something of arrows. He is expert with them in battle. Just as a mighty man is expert with arrows and has a deadly aim, so we as parents are to be expert in handling and aiming our children to hit the desired mark.

The Lord touched my heart about three truths concerning the mighty man. He is a man that is competent, He is a man that is consumed, and He is a man of character.

The mighty man was not always competent when it came to arrows, but he took it upon himself to learn to handle one and handle it well. Parents may not initially be expert in handling children, but if they are blessed with children, they must give themselves to familiarizing themselves with them and with all that is involved in raising their children to maturity.

There is a God-given way to raise children to a place of maturity. There is a God-given way to prepare them for life. Ephesians 6:4 is clear on this point. The phrase "bring them up" literally means to train, to raise up to maturity. As parents, we must realize that our job is not finished just because our children are obedient. Their obedience is essential to their future development, but it is not an end in and of itself. We must prepare them for life. We must take them from a place of total dependence upon us to one of independence from us with the ability to function in this world and therein glorify God.

I believe that many young people from Christian families are suffering in life simply because their parents have not considered the end from the beginning. Homeschooling is great, but what is the ultimate goal? Are we striving or just struggling? We have parents that lack competency. They are not fit or suitable for handling children, and, sadly, many are not interested in ever learning how to be qualified for the task.

That leads me to the next thought dealing with being consumed. The mighty man is expert with arrows because he is consumed with them. He has one primary interest... arrows. A person does not become expert at anything unless he becomes consumed with it. Unfortunately many parents have too many irons in the fire to be too concerned about hitting the mark with their children. Say what you will, where the arrow hits depends upon the skill of the mighty man.

This thought of being consumed leads me to ask several questions to parents. What are your goals for your children? What are your goals for them spiritually, educationally, occupationally, maritally? You say, "My children are too young to worry about ALL of that." My response is that time is quickly running out. It is not too early to think along these lines. I am afraid that too many parents cop-out on these types of questions and leave everything to the Lord, so they say, while forsaking their God-given responsibility to personally prepare their children for life.

What are your childrens goals for themselves? Have you ever asked them? They are people too, by the way. It is good to find out what they are thinking. What do they want to be when they grow up?

Here's another good question: How do you plan to meet these goals? What is required for them to go to college, to learn a trade, to be involved in a certain profession? As parents, it is our responsibility to ensure that our children have the opportunity to fulfill their future goals in the will of God for their lives.

Proverbs 13:4 says, "The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat." You can have the loftiest of goals for your children, but unless you are willing to do what is necessary to help them get there, they are dreams and nothing more. We need more than just desire to enable our children to hit the mark. We must have diligence.

Is college a goal for your children? What are you doing to prepare them now for the days ahead? You say, "I can't teach them to prepare for that level?" My question is, why not? It may be that we ourselves are the best example and reason for why our children need a quality education! What about your daughter or daughters? They may be teaching your grandchildren one day. They may be preparing your grandson for college. Don't shortchange her now just because she is a female. I am convinced that our shortsightedness in this area has just about destroyed us as well as our future generations. Somebody has got to break the cycle. Why can't it be you? Maybe it can't because you are not willing to be consumed with arrows!

Finally, the mighty man is a man of character. A man skilled in the use of arrows could be a dangerous, destructive, and deadly man. The mighty man, however, does not use his skill for evil but rather for good. Psalm 127:5 says, Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

Many independent Baptist parents are proud of the fact that their quiver is full. Praise the Lord for it!The question is, however, do you know how to use them? A man may have multiple arrows, but if he is unskillful in their use, if he cannot hit the mark with them, they are useless for good or for God. God deliver us from having children for having childrens sake. Producing children is not difficult. Knowing how to skillfully guide them and use them is, however, a totally different story.

I close with this thought. There is a world of difference between an arrow in the hands of a mighty man and an arrow in the hands of one who has never even held an arrow, let alone tried to shoot one. The one is a deadly weapon set for the destruction of the enemy. The other is just an arrow. It has the potential to be dead-on and to be deadly... but not without guidance! The problem is not with the arrow; the problem lies with the archer.

2 Timothy 4:13
"The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments."

Every Christian should be an avid reader of good books. Evidently the apostle Paul was such a man, especially as it related to the parchments, which is no doubt a reference to the holy Scriptures.

While the Scriptures should certainly be the chief book in the mind and heart of every child of God (no book is worthy to be compared to it!!!), it should by no means be the only book that a Christian should read.

I am a lover of good books. I don't always agree with everything that I read in these books that I call good, but I do love the mental stimulation that comes from the reading of them. In this word books I include not only devotional books but commentaries and treatise on specific Bible subjects.

Personally, I enjoy reading after such men as F.B. Meyer, John Phillips, John G. Butler, and even Warren Wiersbe, among others. Do I agree with all or everything that they say? No! But there is much that I glean from them. In addition, the things we disagree on are many times the very areas where I am most helped. Their opposition or controversy with Biblical truth many times aids me in either finding it or becoming more settled in it. I enjoy the challenge! God help the man who wilts from such a challenge.

Sadly, this generation is more interested in amusement than musing. Musing involves a state of meditation (not eastern or transcendental). It is to be absorbed in one's thoughts, to consider thoughtfully. Amusement on the other hand involves no thought, or at least no meaningful thought. This abhorance of musing has robbed this generation from being able to say as the psalmist did, "My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue," Psalm 39:3. No holy heartburn in this generation, and therefore a lack of meaningful, spiritual speech.

Why is it that we must go to some old book, some ancient writer, to find a quotation that fascintates the mind and grips the heart of the reader? I'll tell you why. Most of the reading that is done in this day by the average, so-called Christian, rarely involves the parchments, let alone some commentary or treatise on Biblical truth! The average Christian (I use the term loosely here) puts his mind to earthly things, Phillipians 3:19. There is no musing on the Scriptures, and consequently no stirring of the heart toward heaven, and therefore no speaking of spiritual things borne of sound and spiritual thought. Alas, this art seems to be, for the most part, greatly lost!

Great Biblical truths are brushed over by the average Chrisitan, so-called. Scriptural and spiritual thoughts are seemingly no more than an annoyance to the average church-goer. That which we should meditate on, that which should stir our hearts and cause us to search our souls and sometimes bring us to our knees, is passed over without a second thought by the average preacher, let alone by the average pew-warmer! God deliver us from being average!!!

Nothing is so needed among God's people as heartfelt repentance and a humble return to God's Holy Word and to spiritual musing upon it. Doctrine does affect doing! What one believes does affect his behavior, and a precept does determine practice. This generation of people who name the name of Christ has strayed from Christ (if they even know Him) simply because it has loosed itself from the mooring block of the Word of God and has turned to cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water!

There are several activities which I believe each of us need to ardently participate in if indeed we have been disobedient to them...

1. Seek ye out of the book of the LORD, and read, Isaiah 34:16.

2. Meditate upon that which we have read!

Psalm 1:1-2
1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

3. Become a DOER of the Word.

James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.