![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Sep. 6th, 2005
(no subject)
Sep. 6th, 2005 10:12 pmSomething ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
goth4god wrote that I agree with wholeheartedly.
Been thinking more about what kind of minister I'm going to be. I've noticed some trends among those of us who call ourselves underground or grace preachers that are disturbing to me, so I'm tweaking myself even further.
1. The only time I will refer to the Old Testament is to show something that God overrode with the New Testament. Most of us are Gentiles. The Old Testament does not apply to us, and frankly, all that doom and gloom and the "thou shalt nots" just plain bore me. People are scared enough. They do not need to think that God is going to strike them dead for asking a question. You would think that Grace preachers and the Underground would stay the hell away from the Old Testament, especially in light of Acts 15 in which the Holy Spirit tells Gentiles that they do NOT have to obey it. I don't know about you, but if I don't have to obey then I'm not! It isn't rebellion if you are not required to obey.
2. No Old Testament prophecy. NONE. If it doesn't comfort, exhort (fire you up in a positive manner) or encourage people, then it won't be tolerated in our ministry. The first person who says "Thus sayeth the Lord" shall also feel "Nathan kicketh him in the ass and threweth him into the street." If it happens again ... well, I do have a Claymore. God judges through the Cross, not through natural disasters. If does judge using natural disasters, then he has nullified what Jesus did and he's a liar and I won't serve him any more. We all would stand a better chance with Satan than a mercurial god like that. I think we know better, don't we? Oh, and no End Times. Just not my bag.
3. All scripture, including what Paul said, will be looked at through the words of Jesus. He is the filter. If that means we yank every book out of the Bible except the four Gospels, then so be it. Man put this book together, and a man can take it apart. (Don't worry, I won't go that far, but I'm willing to).
4. Power not used is power wasted. Why do we fear power? God gives it to us. Let's use it! As long as it isn't used to manipulate other people. And by power, I mean healing, miracles, and love itself -- love is a power. In a nation that is now powerless, the eunuch of the world, that has lost its way and is in a deep depression (cheap credit is the only reason any of us can buy anything), we need to see power, especially the power of God to make people's lives better. Let's change the NATO (No Action Talk Only) reputation of the Church into DNW (Deeds, Not Words). If I have the power to do something for someone, I will. Why do we cower in fear of being too Wicca-like? They may be on to something.
5. None of Jesus' friends were Christians, so why should all of my friends be Christians? You now what I mean! He had four river pirates (John, James, Peter and Andrew), a philosopher (Philip), a beatnik poet (Nathaneal), a terrorist (Simon the Zealot), a crooked accountant (Judas), an IRS agent (Matthew), a pessimist (Thomas), a prostitute (Mary Magdalen). But no good citizens. No upright people. So, why should all my friends be good upright people?
6. Sin avoidance is a good thing, but I'm not going to live in fear of being immoral. I like sexual innuendoes and wisecracks and unless God tells me to stop, I'm going to keep on. I may even say one from the pulpit, like "The only thing wrong with Jerry Falwell is he needs a blow job." Come on guys, what's worse -- sleeping with your girlfriend or standing on the corner of Bourbon Street and yelling "God did this to you for your sins?" Sex isn't the great allmighty sin we like to make it to be. Gossip is worse! Gossip hurts people! Far more pastors' wives engage in gossip than sex ...
goth4god wrote that I agree with wholeheartedly.Been thinking more about what kind of minister I'm going to be. I've noticed some trends among those of us who call ourselves underground or grace preachers that are disturbing to me, so I'm tweaking myself even further.
1. The only time I will refer to the Old Testament is to show something that God overrode with the New Testament. Most of us are Gentiles. The Old Testament does not apply to us, and frankly, all that doom and gloom and the "thou shalt nots" just plain bore me. People are scared enough. They do not need to think that God is going to strike them dead for asking a question. You would think that Grace preachers and the Underground would stay the hell away from the Old Testament, especially in light of Acts 15 in which the Holy Spirit tells Gentiles that they do NOT have to obey it. I don't know about you, but if I don't have to obey then I'm not! It isn't rebellion if you are not required to obey.
2. No Old Testament prophecy. NONE. If it doesn't comfort, exhort (fire you up in a positive manner) or encourage people, then it won't be tolerated in our ministry. The first person who says "Thus sayeth the Lord" shall also feel "Nathan kicketh him in the ass and threweth him into the street." If it happens again ... well, I do have a Claymore. God judges through the Cross, not through natural disasters. If does judge using natural disasters, then he has nullified what Jesus did and he's a liar and I won't serve him any more. We all would stand a better chance with Satan than a mercurial god like that. I think we know better, don't we? Oh, and no End Times. Just not my bag.
3. All scripture, including what Paul said, will be looked at through the words of Jesus. He is the filter. If that means we yank every book out of the Bible except the four Gospels, then so be it. Man put this book together, and a man can take it apart. (Don't worry, I won't go that far, but I'm willing to).
4. Power not used is power wasted. Why do we fear power? God gives it to us. Let's use it! As long as it isn't used to manipulate other people. And by power, I mean healing, miracles, and love itself -- love is a power. In a nation that is now powerless, the eunuch of the world, that has lost its way and is in a deep depression (cheap credit is the only reason any of us can buy anything), we need to see power, especially the power of God to make people's lives better. Let's change the NATO (No Action Talk Only) reputation of the Church into DNW (Deeds, Not Words). If I have the power to do something for someone, I will. Why do we cower in fear of being too Wicca-like? They may be on to something.
5. None of Jesus' friends were Christians, so why should all of my friends be Christians? You now what I mean! He had four river pirates (John, James, Peter and Andrew), a philosopher (Philip), a beatnik poet (Nathaneal), a terrorist (Simon the Zealot), a crooked accountant (Judas), an IRS agent (Matthew), a pessimist (Thomas), a prostitute (Mary Magdalen). But no good citizens. No upright people. So, why should all my friends be good upright people?
6. Sin avoidance is a good thing, but I'm not going to live in fear of being immoral. I like sexual innuendoes and wisecracks and unless God tells me to stop, I'm going to keep on. I may even say one from the pulpit, like "The only thing wrong with Jerry Falwell is he needs a blow job." Come on guys, what's worse -- sleeping with your girlfriend or standing on the corner of Bourbon Street and yelling "God did this to you for your sins?" Sex isn't the great allmighty sin we like to make it to be. Gossip is worse! Gossip hurts people! Far more pastors' wives engage in gossip than sex ...
(no subject)
Sep. 6th, 2005 10:12 pmSomething goth4god wrote that I agree with wholeheartedly.
Been thinking more about what kind of minister I'm going to be. I've noticed some trends among those of us who call ourselves underground or grace preachers that are disturbing to me, so I'm tweaking myself even further.
1. The only time I will refer to the Old Testament is to show something that God overrode with the New Testament. Most of us are Gentiles. The Old Testament does not apply to us, and frankly, all that doom and gloom and the "thou shalt nots" just plain bore me. People are scared enough. They do not need to think that God is going to strike them dead for asking a question. You would think that Grace preachers and the Underground would stay the hell away from the Old Testament, especially in light of Acts 15 in which the Holy Spirit tells Gentiles that they do NOT have to obey it. I don't know about you, but if I don't have to obey then I'm not! It isn't rebellion if you are not required to obey.
2. No Old Testament prophecy. NONE. If it doesn't comfort, exhort (fire you up in a positive manner) or encourage people, then it won't be tolerated in our ministry. The first person who says "Thus sayeth the Lord" shall also feel "Nathan kicketh him in the ass and threweth him into the street." If it happens again ... well, I do have a Claymore. God judges through the Cross, not through natural disasters. If does judge using natural disasters, then he has nullified what Jesus did and he's a liar and I won't serve him any more. We all would stand a better chance with Satan than a mercurial god like that. I think we know better, don't we? Oh, and no End Times. Just not my bag.
3. All scripture, including what Paul said, will be looked at through the words of Jesus. He is the filter. If that means we yank every book out of the Bible except the four Gospels, then so be it. Man put this book together, and a man can take it apart. (Don't worry, I won't go that far, but I'm willing to).
4. Power not used is power wasted. Why do we fear power? God gives it to us. Let's use it! As long as it isn't used to manipulate other people. And by power, I mean healing, miracles, and love itself -- love is a power. In a nation that is now powerless, the eunuch of the world, that has lost its way and is in a deep depression (cheap credit is the only reason any of us can buy anything), we need to see power, especially the power of God to make people's lives better. Let's change the NATO (No Action Talk Only) reputation of the Church into DNW (Deeds, Not Words). If I have the power to do something for someone, I will. Why do we cower in fear of being too Wicca-like? They may be on to something.
5. None of Jesus' friends were Christians, so why should all of my friends be Christians? You now what I mean! He had four river pirates (John, James, Peter and Andrew), a philosopher (Philip), a beatnik poet (Nathaneal), a terrorist (Simon the Zealot), a crooked accountant (Judas), an IRS agent (Matthew), a pessimist (Thomas), a prostitute (Mary Magdalen). But no good citizens. No upright people. So, why should all my friends be good upright people?
6. Sin avoidance is a good thing, but I'm not going to live in fear of being immoral. I like sexual innuendoes and wisecracks and unless God tells me to stop, I'm going to keep on. I may even say one from the pulpit, like "The only thing wrong with Jerry Falwell is he needs a blow job." Come on guys, what's worse -- sleeping with your girlfriend or standing on the corner of Bourbon Street and yelling "God did this to you for your sins?" Sex isn't the great allmighty sin we like to make it to be. Gossip is worse! Gossip hurts people! Far more pastors' wives engage in gossip than sex ...
goth4god wrote that I agree with wholeheartedly.Been thinking more about what kind of minister I'm going to be. I've noticed some trends among those of us who call ourselves underground or grace preachers that are disturbing to me, so I'm tweaking myself even further.
1. The only time I will refer to the Old Testament is to show something that God overrode with the New Testament. Most of us are Gentiles. The Old Testament does not apply to us, and frankly, all that doom and gloom and the "thou shalt nots" just plain bore me. People are scared enough. They do not need to think that God is going to strike them dead for asking a question. You would think that Grace preachers and the Underground would stay the hell away from the Old Testament, especially in light of Acts 15 in which the Holy Spirit tells Gentiles that they do NOT have to obey it. I don't know about you, but if I don't have to obey then I'm not! It isn't rebellion if you are not required to obey.
2. No Old Testament prophecy. NONE. If it doesn't comfort, exhort (fire you up in a positive manner) or encourage people, then it won't be tolerated in our ministry. The first person who says "Thus sayeth the Lord" shall also feel "Nathan kicketh him in the ass and threweth him into the street." If it happens again ... well, I do have a Claymore. God judges through the Cross, not through natural disasters. If does judge using natural disasters, then he has nullified what Jesus did and he's a liar and I won't serve him any more. We all would stand a better chance with Satan than a mercurial god like that. I think we know better, don't we? Oh, and no End Times. Just not my bag.
3. All scripture, including what Paul said, will be looked at through the words of Jesus. He is the filter. If that means we yank every book out of the Bible except the four Gospels, then so be it. Man put this book together, and a man can take it apart. (Don't worry, I won't go that far, but I'm willing to).
4. Power not used is power wasted. Why do we fear power? God gives it to us. Let's use it! As long as it isn't used to manipulate other people. And by power, I mean healing, miracles, and love itself -- love is a power. In a nation that is now powerless, the eunuch of the world, that has lost its way and is in a deep depression (cheap credit is the only reason any of us can buy anything), we need to see power, especially the power of God to make people's lives better. Let's change the NATO (No Action Talk Only) reputation of the Church into DNW (Deeds, Not Words). If I have the power to do something for someone, I will. Why do we cower in fear of being too Wicca-like? They may be on to something.
5. None of Jesus' friends were Christians, so why should all of my friends be Christians? You now what I mean! He had four river pirates (John, James, Peter and Andrew), a philosopher (Philip), a beatnik poet (Nathaneal), a terrorist (Simon the Zealot), a crooked accountant (Judas), an IRS agent (Matthew), a pessimist (Thomas), a prostitute (Mary Magdalen). But no good citizens. No upright people. So, why should all my friends be good upright people?
6. Sin avoidance is a good thing, but I'm not going to live in fear of being immoral. I like sexual innuendoes and wisecracks and unless God tells me to stop, I'm going to keep on. I may even say one from the pulpit, like "The only thing wrong with Jerry Falwell is he needs a blow job." Come on guys, what's worse -- sleeping with your girlfriend or standing on the corner of Bourbon Street and yelling "God did this to you for your sins?" Sex isn't the great allmighty sin we like to make it to be. Gossip is worse! Gossip hurts people! Far more pastors' wives engage in gossip than sex ...