You are here: Home / Archives for ARTICLES

ARE MEGA CHURCHES A MENACE

by

What makes a Mega Church?

mega churchBy Ken Blue

“Etymology: Greek, from megas large —1 a : great b : greatly surpassing others of its kind.” Merriam Webster’s Dictionary-

The word, “Mega” has fallen into ill repute with the brethren. It’s the same old line, just give any word a negative connotation, and others will be horrified when they hear it.

Is a mega church evil or worldly because it is larger than others in your “fellowship?” What if God really blessed your church with the salvation of sinners and a growing membership, and you surpassed all other churches of like faith? Should we classify you as “mega” and evil?

At what point does a church become a “mega church”? Most churches in America average 87 people in the morning service. If another church has 25 people on Sunday and your church has 250, are you a “mega church” in the eyes of the other, and should you be suspected of wickedness because your church is growing? What if my church averages 500 each Sunday and yours has 2000, have you departed from the faith to reach that number? In other words, have we become so pathetic, that we now must attack churches that outgrow our own?

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]The real issue is ecclesiastical jealousy.[/pullquote]

The real issue here is not the size of the church; it is nothing more than ecclesiastical jealousy. “But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming.” Acts 13:45. Dr. B. R. Lakin said, “If you want to be hated, know more, do more and have more than the other fellow.” Could this be the real problem the brethren are struggling with?

FORTY LASHES FOR WEARING PANTS

by

SHOULD WOMEN BE PUNISHED FOR WEARING PANTS?

clip_image001By Ken Blue

“Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” Leviticus 19:19.

“Sudanese journalist facing 40 lashes for wearing “indecent” trousers…” Breitbart.com.

I am dumbfounded at the ignorance or dishonesty of pastors within the “Fundamentalist camp” who build a doctrine from the Old Testament and impose it on the church today.

I understand individual churches having policies and procedures for ministries. But, to conger up novel doctrines and then search from Genesis to Revelation to prop them up is downright dishonest.

One example is in the “so called dress standard” for all women. The favorite scripture for this bogus doctrine is “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man…: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God”. Deuteronomy 22:5.

The next order of business is to teach that any garment with legs, pertains to a man, and any garment without legs pertains to women. Notice how the other verses within the passage are conveniently ignored by the brethren. Ask yourself, why?

The first reference to this subject is in Leviticus 19:19, but it too is ignored. The text says, “Ye shall keep my statutes. Thou shalt not let thy cattle gender with a diverse kind: thou shalt not sow thy field with mingled seed: neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.” Leviticus 19:19.

The honest reader can see that the nation of Israel is being addressed. Also, the pastor who applies these to the woman must also preach against farmers crossbreeding cattle, and anyone wearing material mixed with linen and wool.

Will the preacher preach on these? He will not. Until the preacher or teacher discovers how to rightly divide the Word of God, and be honest in its application, he should cease using it in order to put a yoke on the necks of God’s people. Do these brethren agree with Islam that the women in their church who wear pants should be punished with 40 lashes?

WHAT KIND OF AGNOSTIC ARE YOU?

by

There are two different kinds. Which kind are YOU?

agnosticBy Ken Blue

“ag•nos•tic n. 1. One who believes that there can be no proof of the existence of God but does not deny the possibility that God exists.” The American Heritage Dictionary.

You might be surprised to discover that there are two kinds of agnostics. So was I, until I read the following account by Dr. James Edwin Orr.

Dr. Orr was a chaplain in the United States Air force. He gives an account of witnessing to a pilot who claimed he was an agnostic. Dr. Orr asked him which kind he was. The pilot was surprised, and said he was unaware of more than one kind. Dr. Orr responded, “Oh yes, there are two kinds, and I am wondering which you are.” The pilot said, “Tell me what they are, and I will tell you which I am.” Dr. Orr said, “There is the honest agnostic and the dishonest agnostic. Which kind are you?”

[pullquote align=”right” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“There is the honest agnostic and the dishonest agnostic. Which kind are you?”[/pullquote]

The pilot asked Dr. Orr to explain. “Well,” said Dr. Orr “the honest agnostic says, “I don’t know if there is a God or not; but if He exist, I am willing to find out.” The dishonest agnostic says, “I don’t know if there is a God, you don’t know if there is a God, and no one knows if there is a God.” Dr. Orr said, “If you tell me no one knows, I am going to ask you, how do you know that no one knows? There could be a God somewhere you don’t know anything about.”

So, what kind are you? If God does exist would you be willing to know Him? If not, then there is another definition for your problem. It is not agnosticism.

POWER POINT AND FUZZ-BUSTERS

by

POWER POINT CONTROL FREAKS

Power pointBy KenBlue

An old friend commented, “The devil knows nothing of balance, he would have you either a dead Episcopalian or a snake handling Pentecostal.” We see this extreme knee-jerk reaction by those who criticize the use of modern media in church.

There are some who condemn all multimedia in a worship services. This is done while they speed down the interstate at 70 miles per hour; armed with their Fuzz Buster; talking on their cell phone and charging their laptop so they can hook up at the next internet café.

These control freaks want you to travel by horse and buggy while they fly first-class. They would have you believe that all modern media is worldly and must not be used in church. Yet, they are unrestricted in their personal use of those items. Now, which is more questionable, the use of Power Point in your church service or your breaking of the law and the Fuzz-Buster on your dashboard?

DOGS THAT BARK

by

DOGS THAT BARK FOR NO REASON

dogsBy Ken Blue

I once owned a shepherd named Max. He was lazy and would lie around most of the day. However, when the sun went down he revived and began his everlasting barking. A neighbor asked “isn’t there anything you can do to keep him quiet?”

I never figure out what Max was barking at, perhaps it was his shadow or the man in the moon. Maybe his barking gave him courage to get through the night. I finally purchased a shock collar and each time he barked, a slight jolt reminded him that he should not yap just to hear himself.

Max has passed on and I have misplaced his collar somewhere, however there are times I wish I could locate it and put it on those people who feel compelled to bark at everything that moves. Perhaps, like Max, they think they will frighten others away, or, they just like to hear themselves. Since they can’t be silenced, we must keep the caravans moving and just let them continue to yap.