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“BY ALL MEANS.”

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cat with hands up

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

“For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 20 And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; 21  To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. 22  To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some..” 1 Corinthians 9:19-22.

 

I find it beyond belief at the number of pastors who attempt to discredit this passage in order to not use  “all means” to reach people. Anyone with an ounce of sense knows Paul would not get drunk to win the drunkard, or sleep with a prostitute, to witness to her. How stupid do we have to sound in order to discredit a text?

 

Paul, who said it was a shame for a man to have long hair, let his hair grow for a year or more. He had taken a vow which involved this decision. (Acts 18:18). Young Timothy, a gentile, submitted to circumcision in order to make his witness acceptable to the Jews. (Acts 16:3). And yet, we have self-righteous pastors who aren’t willing to spend, and be spent to reach everyone with the gospel. Most pastors don’t add new converts because they have no real desire to grow.

 

I know a pastor who has pastored in a major city for over six years, and still has about 40 people in attendance. He has the ability to have hundreds in his church. The excuse is that no one is interested in the gospel. The real truth is that the pastor is not interested enough in the lost to step out of his box. He holds the idea that all promotion to get people to church is wrong.

 

I have heard more than one pastor say, “If you give someone something to get them to church, you must keep giving it to them to keep them coming.” That statement is foolish and inaccurate. I have used every kind of promotion over the years to reach the lost. Many have been saved, and it did not require a continuation of the gift to keep them coming. In fact, after 30 years, some are still coming. That criticism is nothing more than a self-righteous excuse to not use “all means” to reach the lost. I also think it has a ring of, not incurring the wrath of other pastors who hold the same view.

 

Most lost people do not come to church because of what you like about your church. There are multiple reasons why they come, and you should do some skull work to find out what lost couples believe they need. Jack Hyles used the trotline illustration in the matter of soul winning. A trotline is stretched across a stream or river. Hooks are tied to it at about four foot intervals. The more hooks you have in the water, the more opportunities you have to catch fish. Pastor, how many outreach hooks do you have in the water? What are the “means” you could be using to attract young families to attend your church? Paul would use “all means.”

 

 

 

THE IMPOSSIBLE TASK

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humpty dumpty

 

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

When I was young, I enjoyed the thrill of hunting wild game

I’d hunt anything that walked, or crawled, regardless of its name

Deciding to take them alive, I’d train them for a show

I trained a Polar bear to make a snowman out of snow

 

Squirrels walked on the high wires, and monkeys mastered the trapeze

Whales jumped through the hoops, and mice outwitted the maze for cheese

I taught gorillas sign language, and parrots how to talk

My dog could find anything from steak, to a piece of chalk

 

My fame, it continued to grow, I was known far and wide

People thought I tamed everything, even the wind, and tide

But little did they know, of the battle that raged within

I had tamed everything, except what went unseen by men

 

I battled it every day, but submit, it never would

It boasted with pride, and proclaimed its virtuous good

The tongue is a little member that no man can tame

It blasphemes God, and takes Christ name in vain.

 

Like a deceitful fountain, spewing fresh water, then brine

It was praising God before others, and cursing man all the time

I needed help from without, someone my tongue to tame

By grace I found the Man, and Jesus is his name

 

I’ve given my heart to Jesus, to it, the tongues affixed

A work is being done, so the language won’t be mixed

Death to self is the answer, then a new song can be sung.

The only thing that can’t be tamed, is our unruly tongue

THE SUPERIORITY OF PRACTICAL WISDOM

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wisdom

 

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

 

“This wisdom have I seen also under the sun, and it seemed great unto me: 14  There was a little city, and few men within it; and there came a great king against it, and besieged it, and built great bulwarks against it: 15  Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city; yet no man remembered that same poor man. 16  Then said I, Wisdom is better than strength: nevertheless the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heard. 17  The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. 18  Wisdom is better than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” Ecclesiastes 9:13-18.

 

This little story or parable illustrates the superiority of practical wisdom over physical strength. There is much in the story that is left untold. One is left to wonder why the great king came against the city, and what the poor wise man said or did to save it.

 

There was obviously something the king wanted, or he would not plan an attack against it. Also, there was something the wise man did or said that caused the king to change his mind. What this was, we are not told.

 

I am reminded of a story that deals with such wisdom, as told by the Lord Jesus. One line in it says, “Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.” Luke 14:32. I believe this wise man went out and reasoned with the king in such a way, the king changed his plans.

 

To me, one thing is certain, wisdom is better than war, and wisdom is usually demonstrated in quiet diplomacy. The wisdom in this story is an act of practical wisdom, which so many of us lack. There are pastors who think they are not severing God unless they have a war going on all the time. They stir it up, to win an argument, or appear as leaders. I am well aware that we are soldiers, and there is a time for war and a time for peace.  But let wisdom guide you in your choice.

 

My advice to pastors is to avoid every fight you possibly can. Stop purposefully being controversial. Solomon says, “: but one sinner destroyeth much good.” The sinner could be the pastor, and the sin could be the sin of ignorance. You don’t have to be remembered for your wisdom, but you do need wisdom to rescue your church from destruction.

PERPETUITY AND HARLOT CHURCHES #1

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harlot churches

 

By Ken Blue

I am as sure of the perpetuity of the church as I am of the human race. I am here, so there must have been a line of beings from me, back to the first human. I have no way of knowing every link back to my first father, or how many were good or bad men. The Bible is clear that Adam was the first person. From there on, it’s anyone’s guess. I am thankful that God has given me a life to live. I hope I won’t be discounted since I don’t have a chart showing a reliable trail of blood back to Adam.

I also have been associated with Baptist all my life. I was raise in the Baptist south, saved and baptized in a Baptist church, attended two Baptist Colleges, and founded and pastored a Baptist church for over 40 years. Dozens of young men have gone out from that church and started other Baptist churches. (Please remember this paragraph.)

I don’t have many challenges as to my perpetuity back to Adam. But, when it comes to my church, I have taken fire from all sides. There is a little band of Baptist that tell me, if I can’t validate my church perpetuity back to John the Baptist, I have a harlot church, and all the churches we have started are little whores.

Most of the brethren agree that Adam was the father of us all. But, when it comes to the father of the first church, you will not find that unanimity. Some believe it started in Matthew 3. Others see Matthew 16 as the starting point. Still, some claim it was started in the next chapter by Jesus. A majority of Christians think the church was born in Acts 2 at Pentecost. A few see it beginning in Acts 9, with the conversion of Saul. Finally, fewer see its beginning after Acts 28. Regardless of where it started, no one church can prove perpetuity of their local church back to John the Baptist. When it comes to the church, we don’t have the same unity we do with Adam.

Well, the last thing I want is to stand in judgment before the Lord, and be judged for having a harlot church. So, if anyone can prove that the chain from his church back to the original church has never been broken; I am all ears. Now, it will not help me if you believe your church has perpetuity. We need to know how you know the chain was never broken from there to you. If the chain was broken for over one hundred years, were all those who were baptized, or ordained into the ministry valid churches? Or, are these harlot churches? If your church was unknowingly in that line, wouldn’t that break the perpetuity, and invalidate your baptism of all those you have baptized? Can you prove that has never happened in your “so called line of perpetuity?” Of course, you cannot.

“ Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 1 Thessalonians 5:21.

Perpetuity and Harlot Churches Part # 2

WHAT’S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ACTS 1:6?

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puzzel missing

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

“When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:6.

Jesus spent 3 ½ teaching His disciples about the principles of the Kingdom of Heaven, and the things that would transpire before its establishment on earth. He explained secrets to them about the Kingdom of Heaven, which were hidden from other. (Matt.13). During those 3 ½ years, not one sermon was preached by any follower of Christ about His death, burial, and resurrection.
When we follow the references, and the reaction of His followers, it is clear that no one expected His death, and resurrection. His death dashed all their hopes of the Kingdom. However, after repeated appearances, and many infallible proofs, His followers found a new born faith and hope that the Kingdom would be reestablished in Israel. Thus the queston.
That new hope tells us volumes. Their question in Acts 1:6 should be an open revelation to the reader. I ask these pastors for their insight on the passage. Below are their responses.
Pastor Al Hughes: THE QUESTION OF RESTORING THE KINGDOM (Acts 1:6-8).
I. After being tutored by “the King” for 40 days on the subject of the Kingdom, the disciples logically expected that NOW would be the time for the Kingdom to be restored.
A. The Jews LOST the kingdom back in Jeremiah 22:28-30 (approx. 606 BC).
B. The disciples were not wrong to ask this question since Daniel prophesied of this (2:44; 7:18, 27). Jesus was to sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:32). Jesus also told them to expect the Kingdom (Mt. 19:28).
II. “Hold the phone…” (v. 7). Jesus did not deny that the Kingdom would be restored. He simply did not disclose the timing of when the kingdom would be restored.
A. The reason he did not tell them WHEN the kingdom would be restored was because up to Acts 7 it could have come anytime the nation accepted it.
B. Jesus was waiting on how the Jews would respond to the OFFER of the Kingdom. It is only after the Jewish Sanhedrin rejected Stephen’s message that God postpones the Kingdom.
III. In the meantime⎯THE COMMISSION OF THE DISCIPLES. Notice the progression:
A. Jerusalem (Orthodox religious Jews)
B. Judaea (common Jews)
C. Samaria (half-breed Jews)
D. Uttermost part of the earth (Gentiles)
Missionary Mitch Muller: I think the 12 had just cause to expect Jesus to establish His kingdom immediately. There was nothing (in their minds) that should hinder its establishment.
They certainly had scripture to back their beliefs. Psalms 89:35-36 (vs. 29): Jeremiah 23:5,6
In addition to many other statements in scripture (hundreds of references to a literal kingdom) the 12 had just finished 40 days of lessons from the Lord. Luke 24 says that he has opened their “understanding that they might understand the scriptures” . The Lord had expounded to them “the things concerning himself” and this includes His reign from Jerusalem on the throne of David (Matthew 19).
In Luke 1 starting in verse 67 Zacharias begins to prophesy and ties the promises to David as fulfillment in the birth of Christ. Zacharias understood clearly that that involved deliverance, national restoration and a political kingdom. In verse 73 he says the oath which he sware to our father Abraham. He mentions dwelling in their land in peace from their enemies, obviously subdued by the promised King.
This question by the 12 in Acts 1:6 is not a foreign idea to them as Jews and neither was it a question of ignorance on their part. Without the personal teaching of the Lord they were still well versed enough in the scriptures to understand that at a future time the Throne of David would be established. Ezekiel spends several chapters on the subject; Jeremiah speaks much of the Kingdom. Daniel and many Psalms detail the kingdom.
The question is actually a very logical question on their part. They had received their commission, they had heard the Lord speak of future reign from Jerusalem and they had a clear understanding that they would play a role in the kingdom.
To charge the 12 with faulty understanding only reveals the agenda of denying a literal interpretation of prophetic events and is an underhanded attempt at bolstering the false doctrines of A -millennialism and post -millennialism. If the 12 were ignorant and foolish in this question then we are to assume that the Bible speaks nothing to a literal earthly rule of the Messiah. But, and if it is a question of logic and anticipation based upon all the information they had received not only in the last 3 years but the last 40 days, then we have only to conclude that the scriptures do indeed teach a literal, political and earthy rule of Jesus from Jerusalem with the 12 Apostles in authority.
Pastor William Bailey: Acts 1:6 always seemed to be the natural question for any Jew -especially the apostles since He often discoursed on the 2 coming kingdoms -Matthew 24; Luke 17; John 3 – not sure ur thoughts on Christ’s standing in acts 7:56 but dr psr does credit to the passage – hypothetical so not worth being dogmatic but I take his meaning and agree yet as a hypothetical case don’t get wound up over it . Afraid I’m not much help may God bless u – looking for that world where our faith will become sight!
Pastor John Cook: As far as your question on Acts 1:6, I think that the disciples, like most Jews, were expecting the Lord to set up His Kingdom when He came. They seem to think that now that the cross and the resurrection was behind them it was time for Jesus to do what He had come to do. I think that they were hoping that He would set it up even though he had told them that He must leave in order for the Holy Ghost to come.
They seem to have the same problem with the Kingdom that they had with the resurrection until it actually had been proven to them by our Lord’s appearance.
We are very much like them in that the promises that the Lord makes we want Him to do it now not later. They wanted the kingdom to be set up and thought that they Lord would do so now that all was paid for.

Ken Blue:
The Disciples had every reason to expect that the Kingdom of Heaven might, and could now be established on earth. They had preached it for 3 ½ years, and He had spent 40 days in His post resurrection teaching about the Kingdom. The King was now alive! So, what could cause its delay? He did not tell them that it would not be accepted by Israel. He left them with the answer that it was not for them to know. Had He told them the Kingdom would not be accepted, it would have ended and confused their hope and zeal. Thus they continue to offer it. God worked with them, but the Jews were adamant, and would not accept their message. It was at the death of Steven that God began to “cut Israel off.”
Therefore, the question in Acts 1:6 suggest that they knew nothing about the church, which is His body and was keep a “mystery” from before the foundation of the world. They were not confused, deceived, ignorant, nor misinformed. They were doing exactly what the “Great Commission” commanded them to do.