One day a couple of hundred years ago in a wasteland called the South, some people riding through looked at the land and decided that though the insects were plenteous and the red clay dirt wasn't good for much, they would stay and founded a little settlement.
The settlement grew and one day a preacher came riding through and decided that although the people were plenteous and the ground may not be much good, but the Gospel just may take root anyway.
A couple of years passed and a small frame meeting house was built. It was then that the dynasty started. It was subtle at first. In general people who go to meeting on Sunday morning are not particularly interested in actually taking part. They just want to rest assured that they have met their obligatory worship time and paid their tithes. There are a few in whom the Gospel has taken root and their whole reason for living is only to serve HIM and spread HIS Gospel. The resourceful few who see the congregation growing, the contributions increasing and the activities abounding are the ones to watch out for. Eventually it will be the money that fuels their fire and not the Fire of THE HOLY SPIRIT.
It wasn't long before the pattern began. The current preacher was unable to increase the congregation, thereby increasing the contribution and a tradition was begun. It took about 2 years to develop.
Thereafter, about every 2 years, the preacher was gone and the hunt for a new one had begun. It was the same each time. They wanted a GODLY man who believed the BIBLE and believed the same way that they did. The only difficulty was that the two beliefs could not be reconciled. A Preacher who believed in THE BIBLE as the inerrant WORD OF GOD could not compromise and believe as they did. There would be no room for elves, bunnies, witches, goblins and tooth fairies. Nor would there be room for alcohol, fornication, adultery, murder, lies and gossip particularly within the leadership, Sunday School teachers, Elders and Deacons.
THE BIBLE talks about the blind leading the blind and in this story, the blind had been leading for well over 200 years.
Fast forward to the last century when a Preacher left because he objected to a Youth Minister being brought in that no one knew anything about. Besides, his wife was a paragon of virtue and had the misfortune to wear the same outfits frequently. Then there was the Marketing Executive turned Preacher who had the good sense to fill the coffers to over-flowing. His run was longer than all of them. As long as the auctions, bake sales, chicken plates and hamburger sales kept the finances solid, all was well. It didn't matter that he wasn't quite preaching the Gospel. What he preached wasn't bad, it just wasn't the whole truth of Scripture. They ran him off.
Then there was the Preacher who thought that Scripture was above all and that Santa Claus had no place in the Christian church. He also objected to Deacons drowning in sin within the leadership; women who through the subversion of tears and manipulation sought to preach and lead in situations a man should be taking leadership roles. He objected to the railing mob that cursed him and threatened his life and terrorized his children. If they could have tarred and feathered him (and gotten away with it) they would have gladly done so. And thus the sham continues.
The lies have persisted to the point that a permanent Preacher is no longer necessary. The feel-good messages of an interim Preacher is all that is needed.
Is this your church? Do you have church discipline? Do you raise up Men of GOD from within your congregation or do you leave that to the distant Seminary? Do you know THE GOD OF THE BIBLE?
Do you even care what THE BIBLE says about anything, much less sin?
Shalom! Pray for the PEACE of Jerusalem!
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