February 19, 2012 – February 25, 2012
Scripture Passage: “And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbade him, because he followeth not us. But Jesus said, Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. For he that is not against us is on our part. (side)”
Dear Friends,
This coming May will mark the thirty-eighth year of my personal walk with the Lord. Of course, I went to church nine months before I was born. I was raised faithfully going to church and Sunday School even before I was saved at age eleven. All the churches I went to were Missionary Baptist, Free Will Baptist and Evangelical Methodist, but the church I was raised in was Surgoinsville Free Will Baptist. Momma believed we were always in need of revival, so if there was a revival in the area, and we could get a ride, we went. The preachers all sounded the same to me and all seemed to preach the same way. Momma was always interested in hearing people preach the Word and was a stickler for it being preached in a spirit-filled manner. She could tolerate minor doctrinal differences if Jesus was the main focus and He was preached as the means to salvation.
Once I became a Christian, I began to visit churches of many different denominational flavors because of being actively involved in music ministry. We traveled almost every Saturday night to some church in our area for their “Saturday Night Singing.” I began to hear statements and messages that became topics of discussion on our way home each night from church. Every single one of those preachers would say things like, “I prayed and asked the Lord to show me the truth and he said this is what is right.” I would go to another church and the preacher would say the same thing. Every single time they would use scripture from the Bible to back up their point of view. They would say, “My Bible Says,” and then proceed to preach/teach as if they were the absolute authority on what the Bible said. I became very confused because I did not believe everyone could be right. How could God tell everyone they were right in what they were preaching because surely, somebody had to be wrong. I began to read and study faithfully and intently the scripture and seek God’s answers to my questions. I began to realize that I could not take what everyone said as truth, because much of it was just oral tradition passed down from generation to generation. I also began to realize that some topics can never be fully explained because they are part of the mysteries of God.
I then began to read and study the writings of the foremost authorities on the controversial topics that troubled me. I attended seminars and debates of these leaders. They explained what the Hebrew and Greek words meant in the original language. They explained the culture and the people they were speaking to during that time period. They used scripture, word studies, apologetics and even what they called common sense. Once again, they were the authorities and even they could not agree. I have had people who do not agree with me on certain doctrinal issues call me a deceiver and a false prophet. I don’t know how that would affect you, but it has always been devastating to me. All I have ever wanted to do is be true to scripture, faithful to God, loving to my people, and a vessel to proclaim the Gospel message that Jesus saves. I have always understood that I did not win them to Christ – the Holy Spirit has always been the one to do that, I just told the story. I don’t have a problem with the word chosen. When I gave my heart to Jesus that night I realized that I had become a part of the family of God. I was adopted by the Father and that meant he had chosen me. I don’t understand all that means. If it was before the world began, or the night I answered his call, it doesn’t matter to me. The FACT is Jesus chose me. Hallelujah! I also do not have a problem with the word whosoever. I don’t know who all the whosoevers are, so I will keep telling the story and let God do all the sorting out. I don’t have a problem with the scripture that says, “Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of Heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in Heaven.” ( Matthew 7:21) I have NEVER believed you can live anyway you want to and still get to Heaven. The only way is to have your sins cleansed by the blood of Jesus. When that takes place there will be a change in the person’s life. His desire becomes to do the will of the Father. In conjunction with these outward evidences, JESUS said I have eternal life, so I will just take him at His Word. These are issues I have put to bed in my heart, and I am at peace with God concerning them. I refuse to argue them.
These are just a few of many things that have bothered me in my walk with the Lord. They are part of many issues that are constantly arising to tear down the effectiveness of the church. The funny thing is that the Lord NEVER causes them to be argued. Man’s desire to always be right, and his egotistical need to prove his superior intelligence seems to always be robbing us of the peace that comes with child-like faith in our awesome Creator. Please take to heart the words of our Savior and author of our faith, “For he that is not against us, is on our side.”
Love in Christ,
Pastor Johnny
