Disposable People

I have been thinking about this topic for sometime now, and lately the relevance of the idea has become paramount in my own life, so I feel like I should say something.

All of us like to think we matter. Whether it is on our jobs, at church, or at least in our own families, we want to know we count. However, there is a perception that seems to evade many of us, that some people are, well, to put it in the easiest terms, not needed.

It seems society places such a huge stigma on certain people and if you do not fit the image that they expect of you, you simply are not needed; not even wanted sometimes. I know many of us at one time or other have felt like we were not wanted, but truth is we like to hide behind our fears and our insecurities and not even think we are the ones they are talking about.

Magazines, movies, television, and now even apostolics have placed us all in boxes based on our appearances, money, or other criteria. We look at people based on preconcieved ideas of who they must be based on our perceptions of what we have heard, or our own prejudices of certain features of life, and all of us are guilty of this in some fashion or other.
We like to think and rationalize our behavior by using other criteria to categorize people, but in the back of our mind we know what we really think. Let's be real here. "That person is too fat, too ugly, wears their hair funny, or doesn't wear the latest fashion, so they cannot possibly be as good me."

I laughed the other day when my son came home wearing clothes my mother would have thrown away when I was growing up because they looked like they came from the bottom of the rag bag. We wouldn't have been caught dead in clothes like that because we may have been considered poor, and we couldn't have that. My son, on the other hand was wearing clothes that were brand new. He bought them at the store that way, and paid entirely too much for them! But that is the style that is accepted now, and he wanted to fit in. I can relate to that, all of us want to fit in, but what about those people who do not fit the stereotypical criteria, do we exclude them just because they may not look, or act, like us?

Yes, we do. All of us are guilty of this on some level. Maybe we do not want to sit by the fat man on the bus because there is a chance he may smell, or near the mother with the baby on the airplane, because we want to have a good trip, and that doesn't include a crying baby next to us. Some of us would cross the street, rather than come close to someone of a different ethnic background, and most of us wouldn't even think of venturing in certain parts of town, because, well, that is where the bad, "insert ethnic group here", poor, druggies, drunks, live. We base our feelings based solely on who we think people are. Sometimes, we are afraid of people just because they look or act different.

This is never going to change. Society is always going to place stereotypes on certain people. The sad thing though, this same attitude has become pervasive in the church, and yes, even in the apostolic, pentecostal movement. If people do not fit our mold, we assign them a type, and we don't fellowship, associate, or God forbid, allow them to participate in our services. This is a travesty, and I am certain God is not proud of us.

We have become the Levite, willing to pray for the sick, hurt, abused, outsider, but we will not cross the street to see if we can help somehow. It is killing our churches, and it will change us all.

The scripture says, "I looked for one to stand in the gap, and didn't find one." That is the generation we live in. We are blessed, no doubt, and we think we have the best preachers, singers, teachers, that money can buy. Yes, I said that money can buy, because some churches base who is good enough to be even a praise singer, based on how much money they put in the offering or how much tithe they pay. Yes, it is a fact. It shouldn't be, but it is.

Countless churches build edifaces to themselves on the notion that they are building for revival. They take man-made objects and elevate the style of the building, and yes, even the style of worship on what they percieve is what is wanted in this 'contemporary society.' They call themselves apostolic, because Pentecostals have become more mainstream and even trinity, and they cannot possibly be associated with that. How arrogant we have become, in our standards and attitudes about others.

There are many churches created solely from people who have been hurt, and yet we claim God can heal, deliver, etc and that He is bringing revival while people who have gone to church for decades are headed out the door in marital problems, financial issues, or simply because they have realized no one really cares about them. I know I sound angry. I am!

The prophets of old were angry when they saw the people of God breaking the very rules of God simply because it wasn't the way they wanted to live. We have joined society in pushing aside people and our excuse is they must not have had a great relationship with Christ. Really? Just this past week someone told me the reason for a situation in a family was because they were in rebellion against the pastor. I asked how they knew that, and the lady talking to me, said "Honey, everyone knows they were out of line, just ask anyone in our church." Appalling.

Jesus came to heal, save, and deliver, but we have taken his message and used it to puff ourselves up; create cliques; and decide who is worthy of the blood. I am ashamed for everytime, I have thought of approaching someone to just be nice, and walked away because, they were fat, or weren't dressed right. How can we win the lost, or even be Godly ourselves if we categorize people?

We cannot.

Do you realize that had Jesus been born in our generation, he wouldn't have been allowed in our pulpits?

He was concieved in an unmarried woman, and so automatically some would have looked down on her. He came and made himself of none effect; in other words he chose to be born in a family that did not have wealth. His earthly parents made do with what they had, or worked hard. Even in the bible he wasn't considered a 'man of God.' They called him the carpenter's son. He did not many miracles amongst his own because of their unbelief in his power. Appalling I know, but in reality, we wouldn't have treated him any better.

There are always discussions about whether Jesus had a beard or long hair. He walked everywhere, or caught a ride, because he didn't own his own transportation. He didn't even own property, and slept wherever he could find rest.

Homeless!

He is the one we serve, and yet we won't show up to donate food most of the time to foodbanks, let alone give a homeless man a sandwich. I could go on and on, but I think you can get my point.

Jesus said 'inasmuch as you have done it unto others you have done it unto me.'

This doesn't just apply to feeding the hungry, but it also applies to those who are hurting, or perhaps have an unused ministry.

Why, preachers, pastors, do we not use the tools, talents, abilities God has given us? I know of ministers who have been pastors for years, and are now cast aside like yesterday's leftovers, while we bring in people without anointing to be the ministers. I was told by a friend of a pastor who uses his backslidden sons for his worship leaders when he knows the night before they were playing in a dance band at a local bar? WHAT?

It has been a long time, since I heard some elderly sister wail in the corner for lost souls. It has been a long time, since the value of people was not based on what they wore, or how they looked, but it was based on how they worshipped.
Gone are the days when we labored in the altar for one soul who might need Christ. Now, it seems as soon as the message is over, we are already at the local fast-food place in our minds, and the altars are empty.

I know all churches are not like this, but there are so many that are, that I wonder when Christ does come will he find us watching, or checking out a menu at McDonalds?

Where is our burden? We preach about soul winning, revival, and loving our neighbor, while we wipe our hands with antibacterial handcream after shaking hands, if we even do? Have we know faith, no compassion left?

I don't know about you, but I don't want to be lost! Jesus said to go after the halt, the lame, the poor, the wretched, that his house may be full. I don't know when it became how much you can put in the offering made a difference in the eyes of Jesus. He said the least shall be the greatest, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted, and yet those with their heads bowed, sometimes in shame because they do not have the best, or cannot put much in the offering are looked at as less than good enough people. Disposable people.

Does anyone call them up when they miss a few services? Does anyone remember their name?

When he comes, there are going to be many who say, 'didn't we do this, or that in thy name?' He is going to shake his head sadly and say, 'I don't know you.' It really isn't what big thing we do for Christ, although that is what we say. It isn't the amount of money we put in the offering. It isn't whether or not we look the part. It isn't even if we can preach good.

It is whether we have done what we could to lift our brother who is hurting. It is whether or not we have called the lonely, or taken them out for a hamburger. It is the ones, that stoop low, and wash their brother's dirty feet, and give a blanket to the widow woman that are going to be sitting there next to Jesus on that day; the ones who have done to the least of these, have done it unto me.

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Is This It?

Many nights lately I have woken up in the middle of a fitful sleep with a burden and a lot of questions.


We see changes in the weather that are unprecedented with destruction and grief. Just this morning there was a huge earthquaking shaking Japan; last week a torndao slammed a direct hit on a boy scout camp in Iowa, to say nothing of the rampant water, rain and destruction as homes are swept away in the seemingly unending storms. I cannot recall in my short life when there has been so many wild storms that appear out of nowhere and leave many homeless, tired, and broken in their wake.


In the past few weeks, the courts have approve of gay marriage, shut down the trials of some of those responsible for the devestation on 9/11, and one judge was removed from a case because it was found the evidence in the case he was administering was on his own personal website and it dealt with child pornography. Crazy people shooting up schools, a bottling plant was the last place two women spent time yesterday and last week two little girls out for a walk were gunned down by an unknown assailant.


We have a well known celebrity who has decided she is 'her own personal god' and she has a force life around her drawing the masses into her delusions. She is backing the first african american president our country has seen whose theme has become change is coming, and he has so many skeletons in his closet it seems a new one falls out every day. There is a lack of concern and respect for each other that is unseen in our lives.


My soul is stirred and broken over the mess we have gotten ourselves into, and it appears there is no hope for America, our world, or even our very souls. Someone mentioned the other day that there is a suicide every 15 seconds somewhere; souls going to a devil's hell without the answers they needed.


At times, I wonder where are the preachers, prophets, and those who have been given the keys to winning the battles of life. I stop and look in the mirror because how can I cast stones when I sit idly by as the crushing blows of sin takes its toll and another soul is destined for hell.


Gone are the days when men and women would labor in the altar for souls long after the last amen and people were walking out the doors of our sanctuaries. We talk about soul winning, we raise funds for missions, but in the end we sit on the pew through a few songs, jot down a note or two, maybe clap or even raise our hands and shout with the preacher and walk out into the world dying around us oblivious to the loss and pain others are feeling.


Our songs have become about the beat and the repeated phrases written by many who have yet to know God, and we wonder in our own minds if the 'truth' we have preached for so many years is really that important because the church down the block is filled to capacity and they are building a cathedral to dishonesty and delusions rather than stop people in their tracks with what the Bible really says.


We have become a social place to gather together on Sunday Morning and feel passified in our self righteousness and portions of praise all the while saints, youth, and children on the pews who really need to get the message are going to hell on the pews. Our ministers don't preach the heart-wrenching soul shaking messages that they used to. They preach a sermon they found online or in a book and feel like they have done their duty. It is about grace and mercy and how God can forgive, and he does, but is that enough to make us ready for heaven? I miss the cross and the shame and reproach my master bore for my own personal sins.


I know the messages have to burn with inside us; they do in me, but they don't seem to make it from our hearts to our mouths and we wait on someone else to be stirred with desire for the lost so we don't feel guilty about our dwindling attendance. It isn't really our fault people have little love for the message anymore is it?


Do we even remember? The power packed sermons where saints and sinners alike ran from their pews to the altar shaking under the anointed word of God; the lady in the corner wailing in intercession; those slain in the spirit strewn across the floor of the church, lost in his spirit. And when we left and went home we were tired from the burdens we left at the altar but our spirits were refreshed from the power we felt, and we went to bed knowing we had been with almighty God.



Man, I miss those days. I know many say they have great services, and some I am sure do feel the power of God like they used to. However, there are many churches where if Jesus was to walk into the service he would wonder why we spend so much time on fundraising and decor, and why we are dressed to impress everyone we meet, but our eyes have not seen tears of empathy and worship of the one who really we should worry about impressing.


I know several ministers who have just quit. They don't preach, they don't always even show up to church, and some have backslid forgetting the very messages they used to scream from the pulpit. Can God be happy about what we have become? Should we? We get so caught up in personality and the appearances of holiness, but our hearts our empty and we just stumble through life unaware that the spirit has left.


We do need change. He is coming, and He is coming soon.


The Bible says in the last days men's lives will quake for fear. Our mental hospitals are full of depressed Christians popping pills because the power of God is not enough anymore.


The Bible says there will be signs in the heavens and in the earth. How much more disaster, famine, earth shaking situations can we go through?


The Bible talks about wars and rumors of wars. Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, .... need I say more?


Men have become lovers of self more than lovers of God. We worship things more than the creator. We invest our time, our energy, our money in the next big program, when He is crying out, "Why am I not enough?"


Yes, He is coming. It doesn't matter if our church has one person, or 5 million. He is coming again. The mission is not about how many we have, although we need to take everyone we can. Our duty is to just really do the best we can to reach the lost. One soul won is better than 10,000 you haven't spoken to, one soul going down in his name shakes the very heavens.


He is coming back soon. Are we ready? Or are we going to keep wandering through life and someday find out we never made it either? He that winneth souls is wise. Look to the skys and ask yourself "Is this it, and what do I have to show for it?"


Lord Jesus forgive us and help us to bless you with our compassion and passion.

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H-E-L-L is not just a swear word!

Recently, I was shocked, and even dismayed, when I found out many supposed Apostolics no longer preach on hell. They have grown afraid of offending the saints, when "the Love of God, is all people need to hear to be saved."

Although I do not disagree that God's love is immense and powerful, we are raising a generation that no longer understand there are bad implications if you do not serve God. It isn't just about the good.

I remember growing up on a church pew, and there were times I was afraid to go to sleep at night because I didn't want to go to hell. I remember hearing messages that were so intense that my the hair on the back of my neck actually stood up. We save we have evolved, and have taken the stance that God is love, but in fact we are neglecting part of the message. If we are to be true witnesses, we have to teach, and preach, the bad as well as the good. If we don't, we are raising a generation of easily swayed christians, who if they fall, think there is no consequence to the lack of repentance.

Now, understand, I know that hell is prepared for the devil and his angels, and that the fiery pit, according to some scholars is a different place. I know also that David in Psalms wrote that even if he descended into the pits of Sheol (hell) that God would be with him there. However, what he meant was in the deepest, hardest, fiery trial, God is there. If we die without God, I am sorry, but we are going to see the beauty of heaven. It isn't scripture.

The reason this subject came to mind recently, is I overheard someone mention hell at a local church, and a little Sunday School girl covered her mouth, and whispered, "He swore in church?"

Does anyone preach fire and brimstone anymore? I know of one preacher who said he could count the times in his ministry where he had preached on hell, and it was less than the fingers on his two hands. He had been a minister for more than 30 years by the way. Really? In thirty years, hell was only the message less than 10 times?

How do we profess to our children about serving God, and leave out the consequences for not serving him?

In life, we face consequences for bad behavior. If you steal, there is a punishment. If you murder, you will pay the price. If you lie in a court, it is called perjury, and there is a cost.

Yet, somehow we have led others to believe that serving God is wonderful, and if they don't follow his laws, and precepts, well they won't go to heaven, but the consequences don't seem to matter.

HOW CAN WE PROFESS TO PREACH TRUTH, IF WE LEAVE PART OF IT OUT?

Now, for those of you who choose to preach predestination, I am sorry you are misguided. There would be no point in your ministry if predestiny was right.

For those of you who only preach about the love of Christ, let me say love can be wonderful, but at times love is not enough. There has to be a form of discipline. Don't believe it? Look at all the school violence, guns, and kids being killed, simply because someone didn't get their way. They never learned that the bible teaches the principles of discipline, and if you do not, the effect will be long reaching, and most always detrimental.

For those who only preach the blood of Christ, and his death on Calvary, was his suffering for nought? We have to accept his love, blood, and the power of his resurrection or we are lost without him.

Lost has a real meaning.

LOST: Defined:

Unable to find one's way: a lost child.
No longer in the possession, care, or control of someone or something: a lost pen.
No longer in existence; vanished or spent: lost youth.
No longer known or practiced: a lost art.
Beyond reach, communication, or influence: The expedition was lost to the world for two months.
Not used to one's benefit or advantage: a lost opportunity.
Having not been or unlikely to be won; unsuccessful: a lost battle; a lost cause.
Beyond recovery or redemption; fallen or destroyed: a lost soul.
Bewildered or confused: I'm lost, can I start over?

I highlighted the one definintion because it best illustrates what I am talking about.

The rich man called up out of hell, and wanted Lazurus to just dip his finger in water and quench his thirst but it was too late, he was beyond recovery.

Now, how can we let our children think that hell is just a swear word? How can we expect them to be moral upstanding citizens, if we do not define the limits with consequences?

The same is true with the ministry. We have to quit being preachers with itching ears, preaching what the people want to hear, and do as 'thus saith the Lord.' If we don't we are lying to them, to ourselves, and more than likely, God will not be pleased with us.

Not everything about serving God is going to be easy, or all sugar-coated. If you are looking for a sugar-coating on your Christianity, you are Lost. Even Jesus said he came to 'offend.'

Preaching truth means all truth, and it is time someone took it upon themselves to preach it. Otherwise, how can we say we are saving them from hell, if H-E-L-L is just another swear word?

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FEAR NOT!

"The Lord is my light, and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalms 27:1


"Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strenthen thee: yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

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A bump in the night. The sound of a crying baby. The crash of breaking glass. A sudden barking dog awakens you in the night. Three in the morning and the phone rings. All of these are things which might cause us to fear.

Many times a simple change in the things around us can cause us distress because we become afraid. Many times throughout the Bible, the people became afraid. It is easy to become afraid of uncertainty, but there are 365 scriptures in the Bible that say, “FEAR NOT!”

The devil would have us to be afraid of the darkness, but we have got to come to the place where we understand that there is no fear when you have the Light dwelling within; we should not be afraid. I realize the world we live in is paralyzed with fear. War, famine, depression, anxiety, storms; these are the normal factors in our lives. It is easy to begin to worry, and once we start, it is hard to stop. However, in the 23rd Psalm, David wrote, “I will fear no evil, thy rod and they staff, they comfort me.”

Often, in the midst of our greatest trials, we can find strength to overcome our fears if we can just learn to depend on God.

In 1 Kings, chapter 17, we read of the widow who had just a little oil, just a handful of meal. And she decided she would make one more small cake for her child and herself. She decided they would eat the little cake, and then sit down in a corner to die. They had no way to support themselves in the famine that rocked the land, and therefore this was their final hope. We can see similar situations in the African nations even today. People are literally starving to death for want of a bite of food, and willing to just accept that lifestyle of do what they can, and die.

Along came the prophet, and he asked the widow woman to feed him instead. The audacity of that man. How dare he! However, because of her willingness to trust the man of God, and to feed him first, she was able to see the sustaining power of God. We can trust in God to see us through the hard times if we learn first to follow the leading of the shepherd.

In Isaiah 43:1 we read, “Fear not; for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by name; thou art mine.” We are his workmanship; we belong to him, and we don’t need to fear.

I remember hearing a story a long time ago about a little boy and his boat. He had seen a toy boat in the window and oh how he wished he could have one to play with. But he had no money, and the little boat in the window was more money than he could even dream of having. So the little boy found a piece of wood, and he carved and sanded it until it looked a little bit like the boat in the window. He took some red paint he found, and with loving hands he slowly coated the little boat. He then got one of his father’s old handkerchiefs and put a sail on his little boat. Finally, it was just what he had wanted. He had a boat of his own.

One day while playing with his boat in the little creek that ran beside his house, ominous storm clouds rolled in. The wind begins to blow fiercely, and the little red boat sailed majestically down the creek and into the river. The little boy chased after his boat, but the current was too swift, and the river took his boat from him. Sadly and with much disappointment, the little boy had to go home. It was too dark to see, and his little red boat was gone!

After a couple of weeks, the little boy was back in front of the store window, wishing for his boat when he noticed off to one side, there behind a couple dolls was His Boat! He ran inside the store and told the man behind the counter that his boat was in the window.

The man looked at the little boy and asked him, “How much money do you have to buy the boat?” The little boy tried to make him understand that he had carved and painted the little boat with his own hands, but to no avail. Although he had made the little red boat, the only way to get it back, was to pay the price.

Right away, he started collecting bottles, running errands for other people, doing any odd job a little boy could do, just to earn enough money to buy the little boat. After about a month he had collected enough money to buy the little boat. He hurriedly went down to the store and told the man behind the counter, he wanted the little red boat in the window. This time when he was questioned about the money, he was able to place it in the man’s hands. Walking out of the store with the boat in his hands cradled ever so gently, if you listened closely you could hear the little boy say lovingly, “First, I wanted one of my own; then I made you, and now I have bought you. You belong to me!”

Thou art mine! To know that Jesus created us, loved us, paid his precious blood to redeem us; what an awesome thought. He will come thru in the storms of our life to bring us peace.

In Matthew 14, we read that Jesus had fed the multitude with just a little boy’s lunch, and thereafter had went to the mountain to pray. He had sent his disciples ahead to the other side of the sea, but in the midst of their trip, the winds became contrary, and the ship was tossed about on the waves. In all the tumult that was crashing around, here came Jesus walking on the water, and the disciples became afraid. Not of the storm, and the waves crashing about, but of Jesus coming toward them on the water. And they cried out in fear. “But straightway Jesus spake unto them saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.”

Sometimes, the way Jesus chooses to meet our needs may cause us to fear. However, we have to realize he knows what he is doing. Trust him! Maybe circumstances will kick up a few storms, but hold on, Jesus will come along on the top of our trial, and give us the victory.

If we were able to look in on the devil, and could see who he really is, chances are we would no longer be afraid when things seem to be going wrong. The Bible says, “Be strong, be vigilant, for the Lord our God is mighty!”

So how do we defeat fear? Being a witness is the easiest way to overcome the enemy. It is true; sometimes telling others about Christ can be scary. In Matthew 10:27, 28, we read, “What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light; and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”

In the book of Revelation we read of those who overcame the deceiver by the blood of the Lamb, and by their testimony. We can become overcomers by simply not allowing fear to reign in us. Teddy Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” Fear is like a cancer; it spreads quickly when fed; it quickly builds upon itself; and before long has taken over our whole being if left unchecked.

Can you overcome the fears of life? Sure you can; thru the love of Christ! Just like the little boy and his boat, Christ’s love for us is a strong force that we can cling to. The apostle Paul put it best when he wrote in Romans 8:35, 37-39. “Who shall separate u from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

No, I am not afraid of the darkness, for I know I’ve got the Light! FEAR NOT!

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