As a good friend of mine recently stated, "We shouldn't be shocked or surprised by anything that is happening within our churches, God said it in His word. Few people take the time to read that part."
The word teaches us to put on "the whole armour of God" It teaches us to view the Word as "alive and active", "sharper than a two edged sword". Somehow, we forget that it is a roadmap to be used and applied daily. Whether this is due to watered down preaching of the Word or because we, as Christians, are not taking the time to read it. Some only read what our Pastors might preach from on Sunday's. Yet we are told to seek it and know it for ourselves. God may want us to know more than just what is spoon fed to us on Sunday. To grow and mature in our walk and therefore our faith. Then we cannot be shaken.
Psalm 119:160 says that "all His words are true, all His laws are right and they will endure forever". This means that we are to listen to and heed His warnings. We should not follow man, but align everything said with scriptures and only then know if it is of God. This includes our Pastors. If they are not living by the Word they preach, if they are doing things contrary to the Word in any way - do not assume they are leading you in the right direction just because they are titled "Pastor". And we certainly should not enable them in their behavior and sin. Seems obvious doesn't it? Prov. 16:17 and 19 "The highway of the upright avoids evil; he who guards his way, guards his life...Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud." We will never benefit from following anyone that is not first following Christ.
There are MANY wonderful, Godly, upstanding Pastors in our churches. Make no mistake in assuming that I am trying to bash or undermine Pastor's or their authority. I am simply saying that somehow in the church we assume that no Pastor should be questioned because that means you question God. This is absolutely false. Any good, God fearing Pastor would agree.
Prov.15:33 says, "The fear of the Lord teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor." If a Pastor is above being questioned, or worse, sets up the church in a way that keeps Him from being held accountable, watch out. If you follow him and submit to doing things though the Holy Spirit convicts you, then you better repent fast and change your course. Because "the eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good". If you stand up for righteousness in the face of evil, in the right way of course, then you are covered and protected by the Lord. (Psalm 91)
Psalm 97:10-11 "Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for He guards the lives of His faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart."
Rest assured, the men at Shiloh and other churches that have followed a man and not God, are going to pay a high price. I wonder if they ever weighed what was being asked of them against scriptures? Do we? I know there are times when I act or react out of selfish nature instead of according to the Word. When this happens, the second it happens, I have moved myself out from under His umbrella of protection. I have opened the door for the enemy. I can repent and step back under His grace, but there may still be consequences. With all of that being said, just in case you missed it, see the post below. Posted by one of our faithful readers, keeping us informed. Thank you.
Article in 3/13/09 Times Union:Jacksonville church was aware of pastor's sexual misconduct, insurer claims Safeco...
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-03-13/story/insurer_claims_church_aware_of_misconduct
18 comments:
Great blog Tiffany.Tiffany the sad thing that I see in most professing Christians is a lack of knowledge concerning the Bible's repeated warnings in the New Testament that "FALSE TEACHERS" will proliferate as we near the second coming of Christ(There's big money in Church if you have a gift of gabble).The main reason I believe is because most preachers will not preach about it and that leaves most Christians at a severe disadvantage;You can't spot them when you don't know what to look for!As I have posted repeatedly Jesus warned in His Sermon on the Mount and in His Olivet Discourse to "beware" of deceptive people infiltrating the Church,yet most people and believers are oblivious too these warnings.Then comes along a Darrell Gilyard and people are astonished that a so-called Man of God could for over 20 + years lead this kind of debauched life.The Apostle Paul in 2Thes.2:3 inspired by the Holy Spirit gives us graphic warning of the inpending rejection of the Gospel and Biblical truth perpetrated by deceptive teachers(2Pet.2:1-3)who will lead those with itching ears(2Tim.4:3-4)away from that truth which is imperative!So people"get ready","get ready","get ready"there are more Darrell's and other fraud's to come;Jesus said that the worse times the world has ever seen and will never see again will precede His secone coming{Matt.24:21-22].You ever wonder why preachers preach nothing but prosperity and don't or won't preach these warnings?It is because it's not conducive to Church growth("Show Me The Money")! "Open your eyes folks"
Keep on telling the truth Brother Rod.We(I)really appreciate your boldness in the the word.I think And know that our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is using you in a mighty way.I think if more preachers taught us the way the bible tells them too,we wouldn't have so many people still being lead astay by these crooked preachers,also many of us in the faith still don't study on our own,so we can know for ourselves what the Lord is saying directly to us.
2nd Timothy-15 says:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
Lets ask God(Jesus)for the wisdom and understanding so our eyes ,ears,mind and spirit can be on guard.
James-15-8 says:
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.
8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Your brother in Christ
Aj Jordan
I goes to show how blinded we are in this world when we have someone of the cloth who breaks the law and it takes man forever to prosecute him. Had this been a school teacher he would have already been tried. The fame of Hank Coxe coupled with DG's denials is sickening.
Continue to pray for all involved including the legal system.
But God...
But God...
But God is near to those who are suffering. May they feel His presence in a mighty way. My prayers continue to be with the teenage girls, their families, and all who were victimized by DG.
I look forward to the day when the spirits of victims of clergy sexual abuse will be able to freely fly, like the bird that has escaped the snare (cf. Ps. 124). That day will come. There is hope.
Sharon Rose
Tiffany: I have just recently heard that there are those who are attempting to strong arm you by using possibly illegally obtained methods in shutting you up. I admire your tenacity and the way in which you have brought these issues to light. I support you 100% as a Southern Baptist and a woman. This kind of thing is evil and should never be in the church, along with those who are attempting to bully you. Shame on them. It boggles my mind that such people exist in the church body.
Tiffany, read your blog for the first time today. Learned of it when I heard a member of the JSO detective squad is attempting to bully you with a subpoena because he "can't handle the truth", posted by another blogger, about corruption in his Jacksonville Mega Church. Seems you have just been caught in a self-serving web cast by a rogue detective. The city of Jacksonville deserves better from it's public servants. I suggest that every citizen of Jacksonville, who is at all interested in the rule of law, contact the Mayor or the Sheriff and demand that Detective Robert A. Hinson be reprimanded and reassigned or that he be fired for unprofessional conduct and abuse of office. I will be a regular reader now. Don't stop blogging. Blessings, dear Sister.
Jim
Jim Pope:
To set the record straight: There is no Robert Hinson recorded on the membership roll at Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church. In fact there is no Hinson family name recorded at all. Either you have the wrong name or this individual's actions are serving his own interests and has nothing to do with our church.
to IamAMember:
Jim Pope is not talking about Shiloh. duh..... Now the record is straight. Got it?
I just re-read what Jim Pope said and he does not mention Shiloh so where did you read that "I AmAMember"?
People are so touchy these days about Gilyard. Why don't they go take care of him as the boys in Starke will at some point?
Toni
I read this evening's story in the T-U. My apologies to you, Brother Pope.
Mea maxima Culpa
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-04-08/story/unmasked_blogger_blames_first_baptist_sheriffs_office#comments
God will not be mocked. This bastion of evil, corrupt, money-changers in authority here in Jacksonville will be recompensed with fire and brimstone, if not chastised on earth by independent federal investigations.
I can not believe MY TAXPAYER resources were used in this manner to OUT bloggers seeking truth, accountability, and justice!
First Baptist Church should be ashamed of itself!
I will not spend one dime on any business who supports this church or watch any station that spews its broadcast, until something is done.
Has the KGB has infiltrated First Baptist Church?
Ms. I am State Attorney, exactly what do you have to say about all of this?
Sheriff, you are second in the explanation line!
Come ask for another budget dollar and see what I tell you!
First Baptist owes an apology and at least a hundred thousand dollars in fines to replevy the misused Taxpayer funds!
I am so sorry this has happened to you. From a former FBC member
Have you ever noticed it's usually a "Baptist" church at the center of controversy or pastoral misconduct?
Why is that?
Do they somehow attract the pretenders and kooks more than the legitimate denominations do?
I will not cast stones at denominations. The issue can not be sideswiped onto some other issues.
From Gilyard to Brunson, accountibility is the issue!
Anon 11:25am.You are absolutely correct.There is zero accountibility in our Churches today.Much of this is due to Biblical ignorance and others to willful ignorance.Many have been duped into believing that if a Pastor or preacher is sinning and out of control,the behavior can't or is not to be confronted.It's the old "Touch not God's annointed" cop out.Well if a man is annointed he will not be abusing the Church and God's people;plain and simple.And due to the rampant Scriptural ignorance of the average "professing" Christian,these Unscrupulous men and woman take full advantage of this glaring weaknesss and exploit the people for everything they can get out of them.When are people going to wake up and hold us Pastor's accountable for our actions?
Pastor Rod comments are right on point.I agree with him 100percent.Keep up the good teaching.Praise God(Jesus)that He keep His rams in the bushes!
Brother Aj.Jordan
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