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THE PASTOR SHOULD EXPECT TROUBLE; NOT CREATE IT

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INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT TROUBLE FOR THE PASTOR

pastorBy Ken Blue

“And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season.” Luke 4:13.

“He that passeth by, and meddleth with strife belonging not to him, is like one that taketh a dog by the ears.” Proverbs 26:17.

A pastor must be, both alert and restrained. He can’t afford to be naive, or meddlesome. If you are doing anything for God, the devil has you in the crosshairs. You don’t have to go looking for trouble, it will find you. Wherever there is light, you have invaded his kingdom. Expect trouble from him, just don’t create it.

If you are a pastor who is actively getting people saved, getting them to join your church, disciplining them, and sending them off to the mission field, expect his attack. The shocker about his attack is you never know where it will come from. In most cases, it will come from another pastor or members of your church.

Most attacks will be about your policies and procedures. Some will attack how you use money and what your methods of ministry are. Others will find fault with your preaching and standards. There will be those who have a pencil in hand every time you speak. They are ready to make a note of words you say, with which they disagree.

Then, your standards will be under constant attack. This will mostly involve music and dress. There will always be that few who are sure they know God’s will for your church standards. In fact, all they want is for you to implement their own preferences. Then, if anyone finds fault with these, you will get the blame.

Be slow how you respond to all attacks. Once you start chasing brush fires, you have stopped ministering. You don’t have to respond to every criticism. The more you become a man or woman pleaser, the more you will become a frustrated pastor. Pray for wisdom, seek counsel and deal with each problem as wisely and possible.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Jesus could not escape Satan’s attacks, neither can you.[/perfectpullquote]

The devil moves other pastors to be jealous of any success you have. As long as you have less, do less, and know less than them, they will praise you. But once you begin to make a dent in Satan’s kingdom, he will see that you come under attacked. Ignore it if you can, and understand its source and motivation. Jesus could not escape Satan’s attacks, neither can you.

Next, don’t create trouble for yourself. Many pastors think they are failing God if they have not made some church members mad at them. Thus they ensure that they do or say something to fulfill their prophecy. Don’t be stupid. Never pick a dog up by its ears, and let sleeping dogs alone.

Ask God to put a watch on your mouth so you don’t make brainless comments from the pulpit. Spurgeon said, “Pulpits are coward’s castles.” Satan will exploit every stupid comment you make. “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.” Proverbs 15:1. “Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones”. Proverbs 16:24. ”A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Proverbs 25:11.

You cannot pastor a group of people without receiving some criticism or faultfinding. The devil will see that it comes. But, make sure you are being criticized for soul winning, disciplining believers, enrolling believers in service and sending out missionaries.

Remember, envy and frustrated ambition is the source of most of it. Don’t panic. Do as Jesus did; go to God in prayer, seek counsel and stay the course. So, don’t be surprised when trouble comes; just don’t go around creating it and then pretending you are a martyr.

METHODS AND MORALS

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By Ken Blue

I get weary of pounding the same nail over and over! Because of the idiots in the ministry who teach if you use a method from someone they disagree with, you are without Bible standards or morals; I feel compelled to repeat myself. They comfort and reassure themselves by attacking others; and they actually believe God has given them the ministry of finding fault with any who will not follow them. Dr. Charles Keen said, “The devil knows nothing of balance. He will have you to be a dead Episcopalian or a snake handling Pentecostal.”

The two most dangerous people in the world today are the liberals and the radical fundamentalist. The liberals ordain Sodomites to the ministry; the radical fundamentalists hate them and want them to go to hell. (A good godly attitude). The liberal does not believe any Bible is the Word of God; the radical fundamentalists teach that no one is a Bible believe without a King James Bible. The liberal embraces everyone, whereas, the radical fundamentalist believes no one is spiritual or moral except himself. The liberals destroy America with their denial of the Word and their inclusiveness. The radical fundamentalist destroys America with their exclusiveness and mishandling of the Word of God. The liberals are opposed to owning guns; the radical fundamentalists build an arsenal of weapons to attack government buildings. The liberal is for abortion, the radical fundamentalist wants to blow up abortion clinics. The devil uses both of them to accomplish his purpose. The end result will be the same. Both radical groups are terrorists; they simply have different strategies and methods.

Some fundamentalists think every sermon should be an attack on sodomites, democrats, Obama, Catholics, and everyone else outside their “camp.” They act as though soul winning, discipleship, and missions are secondary to their nonproductive ministry. A pastor should be opposed to every one of these things named, but these should not become the centerpiece of his ministry.

Apparently these men hold a philosophy (there, I said it) that the church building is only open to the sanctified. I have known this crowd for 50 years, and they are not as saintly as they would have you believe. I know fundamentalist who are sodomites, pedophiles, steal church funds, ran off with someone’s wife, committed adultery, use drugs, get drunk, watch pornography, smoke cigarettes, and use profanity.

In addition to the above, we add the following list to their sins. “These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.” Proverbs 6:16-19. We will not publish their names in order to protect the guilty.

So, when a critic attacks a man’s morals, because he doesn’t like him or his methods, he is simply creating a smoke screen to protect himself and his friends. You can be sure they have skeletons in their closet they hope you never see.

It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish: if you want a few self-righteous manikins, just attack all others. If you want to win souls, disciple believers and send out missionaries; do whatever you can to reach and win the lost.

I must clarify the above statement because of the little people. “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.
Pastor, let the Cocker Spaniels bark, and you keep the caravan moving!

“TRUTH IT SHALL MAKE YOU FREE”

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Truth
Open Door Baptist Church Easter Drama 2010

Note: The following report is from Pastor Jason Murphy. Pastor Murphy and the church membership proved once again that with prayer, hard work, and vision you can get visitors to church and many can be won to Christ. I challenge pastors to ignore those who preach that sinners cannot be saved, and that you are selfish in your attempts to reach them. Some of you should contact Pastor Murphy for some ideas and help on how to attract and reach the lost for Christ. Pastor Murphy said:

Truth
We had a great presentation of “Truth” written and directed by Brother Pat Halliday. Our cast and crew are all Open Door Baptist church members, who did an outstanding job memorizing lines and putting everything they have into such a great job, well done!

Our first service was Saturday night at 7pm and we had 281 in attendance, which is one of our largest Saturday night services. On Sunday we had 537 in attendance (over 100 came back from Saturday) so really we had just over 700 with the 2 services. We had over 140 visitors in the 2 services; most of which were invited by the people of Open Door! We had 10 people indicate that they accepted Christ as their Savior, and 15 that renewed their commitment to Christ!

One man came to me personally to hand me his response card and said: “This is the first time he heard the gospel so clear and Lord used that presentation to bring his guard down.” He said to me, “I prayed with you at the invitation and I know I am saved now.” It was an Amazing day, we serve A Risen Savior!

John 4:34-37 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.

INDEPENDENTLY FREE

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PASTORING INDEPENDENTLY

By Ken Blue

I was born on the Bible belt in northern Arkansas. Our little town could not afford a church or pastor, so we had Sunday school and revival meetings in the one room school house. I managed to get through those early years without getting saved. Our little church belonged to the Southern Baptist Convention.

At age 17 I accepted Christ in a Baptist Church in Wenatchee, Washington. The church belonged to a fellowship called the General Association of Regular Baptist Churches. I spent several years with them and was told that the Southern Baptist had gone liberal. I was instructed to avoid them.

After Bible College, I enjoyed sweet fellowship with many in the Bible Baptist Fellowship. However, some believed our church was not in the bride and made group fellowship impossible, and so I moved on.

[perfectpullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]There is not a group of churches that will allow you to be independent and retain fellowship with you![/perfectpullquote]

I then searched for those who were truly independent. But I found to my dismay, that such hopes were impossible. I discovered that there is not a group of churches that will allow you to be independently free and retain fellowship with you. The leaders will smear you and their followers will fear you and you will be independently alone.

Although there are many good men in all the above groups; my advice to young pastors is to stay home. Stay out of groups, conventions, and fellowships. Invite into your pulpit those who will help your church. Don’t have men in just because they are “your crowd.” Preach where you are invited, but don’t become ensnared or enamored. There is a subtle addiction that develops here. You will be wined and dined, courted and promoted, so you will do the same for them. If being your own man, pastoring your own church and choosing your own friends forces you out of their nest, so be it. Freedom and independence are great!

THE COMEDY WITHIN FUNDAMENTALISM

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Ken Blue

“For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.” 2 Corinthians 10:12

One of the ways a church gauges its conservative posture is by holding to traditions of the past and ensuring that fellow pastors are not upset with them. Some are confused about traditions and allude to them as the “ancient landmarks” established by the Lord. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus accused the religious leaders in His day of, “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Mark 7:13. Their second problem was their desire for praise and approval. Therefore, they must conform to those with the perceived power and authority.

For those of you who fear the brethren and think you have not “moved the ancient landmarks” we submit the following. The men listed below would have nothing to do with the fundamentalism of today.

Spurgeon said, “… What a degradation to supplant the intelligent … by the theatrical prettiness of a quartet, bellows, and pipes. We might as well pray by machinery as praise by …strings and pipes… We do not need them. That would hinder rather than help our praise…” (Charles Spurgeon, Commentary on Psalm 42.)

Wesley said, “I have no objection to instruments of music in our worship, provided they are neither seen nor heard.” (Adam Clarke’s Commentary, Vol. 4, p. 685)

Luther said, “The organ in the worship is the insignia of Baal… The Roman Catholics borrowed it from the Jews.” (Martin Luther, Mcclintock & Strong’s Encyclopedia Volume VI, page 762)

Adam Clarke said, “… Music as a science I esteem and admire, but instrumental music in the house of God I abominate and abhor.”

I am not opposed to new music or musical instruments in church. What I am opposed to is that group who think they hold no traditions; that they live by the “ancient landmarks,” and that they and their little crowd are the only spiritual bastion remaining.