FOR ALL THE "FIRE-BREATHERS" WHAT SPIRIT ARE YOU OF?

BROUGHT DOWN AND EXPOSED HUH?

In my article, "What God Through TRUE Repentance Can Do" I noted the following:

"Prior to 1988 Pastor/Evangelist Jimmy Lee Swaggart, known by millions simply as "Brother Swaggart" was preaching all over the country and traveling overseas conducting what we now call mega conferences. He was pastoring over 7,000 members at his church, Family Worship Center in Baton Rouge, LA. (then a part of the Assemblies Of God), bursting at the seams with a thriving Christian bible college, and receiving donations, from an estimated 8 million weekly American TV audience, (over 500 million viewers world wide) Donations were estimated to be in excess of $150,000,000 annually (that's over $500,000 per day). He was achieving all of this while preaching against sin in all forms from the White House to skid row."

What I did not mention in the article was that when Evangelist Jimmy Swaggart stated that Jim Bakker was a "cancer" in the Body Of Christ that needed to be "cut out", it wasn't long before Swaggart himself was caught with prostitutes not just once, but twice. This exposure led to a scene of repentance on a national TV broadcast that was so heavily broadcast that stations interrupted their regularly scheduled programs to televise Swaggart's repentance live.

Though Bakker went to jail for atrocities centering around financial mismanagement, he lived to repent and wrote a book called "I Was Wrong" and explained the sinful details of his own life. Currently, Bakker is thriving with a completely different ministry and approach, and still repairing the damage of his sins. 

Swaggart, having repented, is still moving on strong as well. His TV and radio networks are expanding and he has a new message singularly focused on redemption through the cross which is a good thing. He certainly preaches against sin and sinful activities and behaviors, but there is no vitriol in his messages.   

The point is, that Swaggart at one time was a "fire-breather" full of vitriol, calling down damnation upon all those which he had a disagreement with and those whom he saw as not fit to serve in the Kingdom Of Christ, had no or very little compassion in his willingness to call names and demand righteousness. He took it upon himself to be the gatekeeper of the church, and implored a standard based on his thoughts and not the thoughts of the word of God. 

"Fire-Breathers" Existed In Jesus Day  

When Jesus was not received by the Samaritans because of their prejudice and apparent disdain against them who worshiped in Jerusalem, James and John, the disciples of Jesus, became so righteously indignant that they asked Jesus to allow them to "command fire to come down from heaven" to destroy those who did not want Jesus. Luke records this incident as follows:

Luke 9:51-56 ~ 51-And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52-And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53-And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54-And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55-But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of.  56-For the Son of man is not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.

The problem was clear, even though James and John loved Jesus without a doubt, their method was about destroying first and seeking to save second. In other words, the thought was about killing, destroying and uprooting, with no sort of redemptive intent. In fact what they thought was the right spirit, because in their minds they felt that they were fighting for a good cause, was actually the wrong one! No matter the cause, their intent was WRONG and Jesus did not pretend that it was right under any circumstance.  

Telling The Truth & Desiring Evil. There Is A Difference

Now, I want those who read this blog to know that there is a difference between telling the truth and desiring evil to befall upon someone. There is a difference between searching for information, looking for dirt, wanting to expose someone when something is found and telling the truth seeking for those to change from a life of sin, evil and wrong acts and or actions. Although some get it confused, the latter has everything to do with warning the Body Of Christ and creating opportunities to call people to repentance and improve systems such as church systems and functions, while the former only seeks to bring people down and make them like other sinners in the world.   

We should WARN people of false doctrine. 

We should CALL OUT those that embrace sin and seek to subvert the gospel.

We should THROW DOWN the doctrines that seduce believers into cult like activities 

We should FIGHT for TRUTH and solid moral and sound biblical values.

We should CRY LOUD and SHOW the people their transgressions

However, those of us who are saved, must also be careful to know that we are dealing with souls and situations in which we must be responsible with and for what is presented. 

The Doctrine Of The Carterites

The doctrine of the Carterites deals in what is "commonly reported". The problem is that what is "commonly reported" does NOT necessarily have any basis in truth. Common reports normally don't have a solid basis unless the report is founded in truth that is readily stood up for by those making the claim. 

A second part of this "doctrine" is the especially vitriolic nature by which adherents to this sort of approach claim to "benefit" the Body Of Christ. It is through a lens of hatred, disdain and desire for attention that this sort of doctrine and its chief promoters thrive. What is especially sad is that this sort of doctrine is filled with gossip, error, mis-directions and what are claimed to be take-downs of leaders, especially preachers, based on half- truths, whole lies and innuendos.

What is even worse, is that many of the people calling for "right" and "righteousness" among those they target are wrong themselves and need serious attention. 

In this generation there are homosexuals calling men to "accountability". Men, who have been party to what they readily admit is wrong, who denigrate others and character bash as if they had no part in supporting the wrong that they claim existed and even helped to create if they are to be believed...We have men and women, who embraced more than their fair share of immorality, formerly engaging multiple lovers, and other immoral acts over time, but are now now breathing fire, hatred and condemnation upon everyone else, when they are still trying to figure out if they can be saved from day to day. Then there are others who cuss, smoke and drink, claiming that God placed them on a "wall" to see the truth blaming everyone else for the ills and faults of the church...

WHAT???

Now, let me get this right...Like Jesus said, you've had 5 husbands and the one you have isn't yours? I mean all kinds of beams, logs, trees, and forests, even jungles in your eye, but yet you can see clearly to remove a "mote"?  While I readily admit that some of the situations that see are more than "motes", the fact is that some just got out of the bed of immorality, still smell like their last lover, claiming and blaming all of their problems on others, have no thought about repenting, but yet see evil in others and call the objects of their disdain every ungodly and immoral name under heaven...

The message to those who hold this Carterite doctrine (as Earl Carter has consistently done this and promoted such acts as a right approach) is that One need not denigrate another to tell the truth! Preaching against sin IS telling the truth. That is enough!

Some believe that the method which Earl Carter has used in smearing Bishop Charles E. Blake is the method whereby the church and leaders are to be corrected and they have created and built a whole theology and theological system around it, at least until they are caught in the snare of the method themselves. This "doctrine" hinges, not so much on truth, but on exposure, innuendo, and character denigration. If there was no character to denigrate, what would or could they say or do?  

I'd like to point out that people in error and sin can be some nice people. I believe that even false prophets can be "nice" and preachers of false doctrine can be "sweet people" as well. People can be wrong without having a character flaw or some evil conniving scheme to subvert the masses. 

To tell the truth there is no need to out of hand denigrate the character of the individual, or try to point to a character flaw in effort to get a point across. evil character speaks for itself!

Now, we readily admit that some are slick. The modus operandi of some snakes and wolves among the sheep should be discussed at length because they cover themselves up and mix in well. Their actions, deeds and words need to be examined in light of the truth of the word of God. I have done that on this blog and will continue to do so as those committed to deceiving the masses come forth with their slick tricks and wonders...

However, as I have watched people like Earl Carter, as wonderful of a preacher that I believe he could be, as he seduces individuals to believe that he is fighting a "righteous fight" by focusing on one man, I have seen those that follow him take on his same characteristics of inconsistency, hatred and disdain. It is a "chosen few and not you" motif that has taken what could have been a good cause and tainted it to a nasty, ugly, and nearly laughable level of silliness that anyone with any sense of decorum is ashamed of. 

To The Point

Certainly, I hold Bishop Charles E Blake, the Presiding Bishop of the Church Of God In Christ and the General Board of Bishops in account for many various actions and moves of the church since he and they have been our leaders. Elder D. L. Foster and myself have both fought hard for reform in the Church Of God In Christ in many areas dealing with sexual abuse and clergy sexual misconduct and victims advocacy, which still needs much work within our church.  

Prior to our call for reforms on various levels in the church, (when Carter was still collecting money from some of the same people he now condemns), WE we placing our reputations on the line and doing the work of Christ by calling sin sin and doing the best we could to restore all men to Christ. 

We called the unrighteous, unrighteous and called them to repent of their sins. After some years, though some of the unrighteous still yet exists as it continues to do everywhere on this earth, we SAW and SEE some of the results of our efforts and continue to see our labor pay off in many forms today. While there remains significant work that this church must do in order to be the church that pleases God in these areas and more, we did not and will not denigrate the character of individuals to get the point across...

Yes, WE breathed FIRE...but WE DID NOT BECOME DRAGONS! We call names with information that we can thoroughly support.

COGIC Election Year

This year, we will host elections in the church for positions and leadership once again. We will see all kinds of stories leveled at nearly everyone like always...there will be folk claiming that Bishops have had babies, killed folk, run drugs and do all kinds of evil right under the nose of the Saints. We will hear from all the "fire-breathing dragons" that are out there that all leaders are part of a syndicate and that some have sent others to kill, steal, and harm...

While those of us, that know the truth, know that we have much to do within this church and that there is much preaching and teaching that need to be done, to expose and root out hypocrisy and lies, we are not willing to kill the character of men and women until such time as doing so is warranted and even in that, we seek not to engage in topics that do not help lead and guide others to paths of truth, distinguishing the difference between clean and unclean. 

For all you fire-breathers, remember, there is no need to become a dragon in the cause of righteousness. Before you allow your emotions and frustrations to take control, remember the words of Jesus and ask yourself are you in and of the right spirit in your cause? Yes, it may be tough...the pimps and tricks will expose themselves. However, make sure that you have something to bring them to if they change...that's the OBJECT of the effort!

Blessed!