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PASTOR, DON’T STEP IN IT!

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trap

 

 

 

 

By Ken Blue

Several years ago, while I was pastoring, a man came into my office to complain about one of our Sunday school teachers. He mentioned the teacher’s name, and said, “Some people are complaining about this teacher, and say if you don’t do something about it, they are going to leave the church.” My first emotion was the feeling of my blood beginning to boil. I had seen this kind of setup by the devil before.

However, don’t be too alarmed when someone says, “some people are saying…” It is usually, only him and his wife. I stood up and said, “If you think I am going to this lady with the complaints of others, you are crazy. Let them bring her to me with their accusations, and then I will listen. Otherwise, they can all leave.” They did not come, nor did they leave, and the problem resolved itself. In fact, it was later found out that he and his wife were two of the most destructive people in the church.

Now, let’s assume that I went to the teacher, and faced her with the rumor. Regardless of the truth, she would have been offended, and left the church. Suppose the accusation was not true. She would have been offended with the question, and would have left. What people, who bring you gossip want, is to get your finger prints on their murder weapon. So, don’t step in their trap. Let the accusers bring the accused to you.

Never take sides with the accuser, against the accused. He will go directly to the accused, and let them know what you said. Now, you have a greater problem. No matter how tempted you are to give your openion, don’t do it! Pastor, your mouth could be your biggest problem. I have learned that by personal experience.

Always insist that the accusers bring the accused and their complaint at the same time. Otherwise, forget it. But, beware of the person who brings the accusation to you. Usually, it is his wife who is jealous, or upset at the other person. In fact, say to the accuser, “Obviously, you are concerned for this person, let’s pray for the teacher.” Then ask him to lead in prayer. Case closed.

THE KEY IS LEADERSHIP

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(Be sure and listen to the great gospel songs)



HAS IT COME TO THIS?


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SOUL WINNING IN THE CONTEMPORARY CHURCH


soul winning


By Ken Blue


I never thought I would see the day when churches that emphasize soul winning would be castigated as the downfall of America. Yep, you heard me right. There are those who say the reason for the corruption in America is that pastors and evangelist have focused on soul winning instead of politics.


Someone has a screw loose in their head if they think there is anything more important than getting people saved and keeping them out of hell. Those who teach this are only excusing their own lack of soul winning and their unconcern for the lost. Jesus said He came to seek and save the lost. Also, as My Father hath sent me, even so send I you. In the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son, we are told three times that there is more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who gets saved than 99 people who are already saved.


These deceived souls don’t believe a pastor can do more than one thing at a time. The pastor is to do the work of an evangelist/missionary by getting people saved and starting new churches. The pastor is also to feed the flock the Word of God so they can grow thereby. Any pastor who lays down the ministry of soul winning is disobedient to God and will watch his self-righteous church die.


It is strange we don’t hear any criticism of Dr. Jack Hyles or Dr. Rice who put soul winning at the top of the list. Pastors are commanded to preach the Word, not the ideology of other evangelist or pastors. Don’t go to seed on any subject, but if you must, make it soul winning. God will be pleased with you, and a sinner will thank you. Your soul winning church is not the cause of the downfall of America or anyone else.


 


 


IS A THOUSAND YEARS ONE DAY?


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WHAT IS A THOUSAND YEARS?




Ken Blue


Someone has correctly said, “The hours crawl by as the years fly.” All of us have noticed this feeling of inconsistently in relation to time. It is easy to get discouraged when it appears that what we are waiting for is never going to come. An incurable disease or situations that seem to never change can cause one to give up in despair.


Peter is writing for those who will be in the Tribulation after the church is raptured. The one thing these believers will need more than anything else is patience and encouragement. In fact, the key word to those churches is the word “overcome.”


Peter’s statement that “one day is as a thousand years…” is not to be interpreted that God means one day is a thousand years, (That would mean that the seven days of creation took seven thousand years.) or that we should conclude God meant a day, when He says a thousand years. The only point in the text is that God is faithful and time is irrelevant concerning His promises.

God will postpone the Tribulation judgment as long as He can. The reason is stated in the text; He is not willing that any should perish. However, the earth will be destroyed because there is no other option. Those in the Tribulation are told to be faithful unto death.


The Lord has His own time schedule and Christians should not concern themselves with it. He is faithful. He fulfilled His Word in the past, will He do in the future, in His time.


A day is not a thousand years, nor is a thousand years a day. You can trust God. Time is not a factor. Patients and faithfulness is the message.


IS HAROLD CAMPING, A FALSE PROPHET?


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WHO IS THIS HAROLD CAMPING?


CampingBy Ken Blue


When one is familiar with the literal and dispensational teaching of the Bible; listening to Harold Camping sounds like a combination of Charlie Sheen and Jared L. Loughner. I have never read any person who is as confused and deceptive when it comes to handling the Word of God.


In my book, Standards and The Standard, I devoted several pages exposing the false teaching of Camping. He proclaimed that the Lord would return in 1994. Since he missed it, that makes him a false prophet, and God has something to say about that: “When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.” Deuteronomy 18:22. 


Camping now teaches that the rapture will happen May 21, 2011. According to Camping’s prediction, the Rapture will happen exactly 7,000 years from the date that God first warned people about the flood. He said the flood happened in 4990 B.C., on what would have been May 21 in the modern calendar.


Camping pulls the date of the flood out of his make-believe hat. Bullinger has the date of the creation B.C. 4004. Ruckman’s Bible says the creation was B.C. 4004. The Chronological Bible has a date of B. C. 3976. The New Analytical Bible B. C. 4004. Scofield has the date of B. C. 4004. Camping said the flood happened in 4990 B.C. that would be almost 1000 years before the creation if other scholars are correct. The simple truth is, Camping doesn’t know what he is talking about.


[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Camping pulls the date of the flood out of his make-believe hat.[/perfectpullquote]


Camping makes the following statement which shows what he does not believe: “They (religious leaders) may be told that the end will not come until Antichrist rises as a political leader who will make them take the mark of the beast.” Many are told that God will rapture His people before a 7 year Great Tribulation after which Christ will set up a 1000 year reign from an earthly throne in Jerusalem. Others are told that Christ will come to rapture believers the same day he destroys the world. While just about every church has a different idea as to what the Bible teaches concerning the end, they all seem to agree on one thing; no man can know the day or the hour of Christ’s return because the scriptures say that He is coming as a thief in the night. But are they correct? Can We Know?” Camping goes on to say, “God will destroy this world on October 21, 2011… His Word showing us that these dates are 100% accurate and beyond dispute.” The Bible does not give these details, most Bible believers would dispute them.


Harold Camping teaches that EVERY church in the world is an apostate! He teaches that the church age ended in 1994 and that the Holy Spirit is NO LONGER working in the church!


Camping has taken the teaching of a Baptist preacher by the name of William Miller who thought he had the time of Christ’s return as 1843. His followers sold their homes and businesses and went about the country preaching the imminent return of Christ.  They were the followers of William Miller, a farmer and self-taught bible scholar from New York. Miller believed the cleansing of the temple in Daniel 8 was not of a real temple but rather referred to the purification of the earth by fire at the Second Coming of Christ. Miller’s date was between March 21, 1843, and March 21, 1844.  He began to teach this throughout the Northeast and gained a wide following.  Despite the great excitement, March 21, 1844, came and went without the return of Christ.  Miller was devastated, and a new date was set for October 22, 1844. These teachings fathered both, the teachings of Camping, the Seventh Day Adventist and the Jehovah’s Witnesses religions.


Here is the sum and purpose of Camping’s teaching: He wants Christians to believe that God is through with local churches and that all of them are apostate. Secondly, he wants you to follow him only, listen to his radio program, and purchase his literature. Oh, by the way, you could start sending your offerings to his ministry. I know this has not crossed the mind of the false prophet, but if you did it, I am sure he would appreciate it.


Now, I hope the rapture happens before March 21, and it may. But I would be willing to bet anyone a $1,000.00 Camping is wrong! You see, I can’t lose. If it doesn’t happen, I win. If it happens, I won’t be here to pay up. If you are unsaved, you lose.