I received this email in response to my Radio Invitation Post from what I consider to be a very astute responder.(by the way I will place the interview on the blog as soon as I am able) This was the comment:
"Pastor Burnett, is it just my imagination, or has something really serious happened to the church during this election? I have never seen so many mean spirited Saints as now. They use very awful names to refer to other Saints who are not voting for Obama. I actually heard one of our deacons say "in church" that he "can't stand that Palin" - even though she names the name of God just like he does. It is as if the Saints have been "gassed" or something. They refuse to hear ANYTHING negative about Mr Obama, but speak so awful about the others. I've even heard Pastors laughing about how Palin "claims to be some kind of Christian - Did y'all see that picture of her hanging in front of that house? ha ha ha! " Can you please give some perspective on this? I am so burdened by what I'm seeing. I can't help but believe that our leaders are going to pay a big price for some of the things they've done, condoned and said this year. Please address this if you can. Otherwise, I'll try to listen to your radio interview." ~ Corrie Richards Nov. 1st 5:26 PM
To Corrie and others that are feeling, witnessing and experiencing the same or similar things,
Your observations are exactly on point. The Spirit of the spiritual man/woman travails due to what is happening in the land. We are in the middle of a TOTAL paradigm shift of values and cultural change. This is similar to the D-Day invasion of WWII only in this case Christianity and it's principles are being overrun. Make no doubt that the CHURCH will prevail as Jesus promised but there is a sifting among leadership, followers and believers in the land.
John 16: 20-22 ~ 20-Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. 21-A woman when she is in travail (Tikto-metaph. to bear, bring forth) hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. 22-And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.
The leaders "so called" who have allowed and ushered in the deception of the ages and have also perpetrated lies in secret upon the people will cause our nation to pay the price for their sin, false leadership and indiscretion.
Isa. 9:16-17 ~ "16-For the leaders of this people cause them to err; and they that are led of them are destroyed. 17-Therefore the Lord shall have no joy in their young men, neither shall have mercy on their fatherless and widows: for every one is an hypocrite and an evildoer, and every mouth speaketh folly. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still."
This has little to do with Barack Obama or John McCain for that matter. It has everything to do with leadership that has allowed the enemy to seduced the minds of the people with their assistance both actively by saying things such as you've witnessed and passively by creating an aura of silence. This has happened to many in the pulpit and to many in the the secular world by the masses. Additionally, so far as the church is concerned exclusively, this has everything to do with the apostasy and heretical teaching that has taken place within the realms and confines of what has traditionally been called "Holy". Our decisions are now being made based on personality, history, relationship, and association. Promises of grandeur, and being or becoming a part of history is often cited as the reasons to promote and stand by ideologies that we know, from minimal biblical reading, are absolutely contrary to the nature and will of God and totally destructive to the community at large and more specifically the black community in particular. The biblical basis for relationship is non-existent in most quarters and has been replaced by what one wishes or chooses to see and be engaged with, rather than by what is TRUTH without compromise.
In my upcoming book, Ministering Effectively, I actually deal with this very subject. As found and explained within scripture and referenced in the book of Revelation, it's called adherence to the "Doctrine Of Baalim" (Rev. 2:4). I wrote this:
"What has arisen is a doctrine of Baalim that is being taught by secular mega-stars and mega-church guru’s. This doctrine places saint and sinner on the same platform and receives from each fountain as it pertains to what "self" needs. This doctrine uses the bible as a means to an end with no consideration for adhering to the standards of it’s message. The doctrine of Baalim, blesses what God has cursed, reaps where it has not sown, and seizes control of spirits and minds by means of smooth talking, personalities that are larger than life promising great associations and fame. One thing is for sure, to follow the doctrine of Baalim ends in hopelessness, despair and utter destruction." ~ Pastor H. Burnett, "Ministering Effectively" 2008 Dunamis Publishing Pg. 22 [manuscript copy]
Similar to the tribe of Dan, (1 Kings 12: 25-33) today's church has erected it's own brand of Golden Calfs to replace the God of the Bible, and has offered sacrifice upon the alter of flesh, pride, arrogance and self-centeredness. The WORD of Truth within the church has become secondary to self-perceptions and social affirmations of the populace. Motivational speaking has replaced the gospel proclamation of truth and righteousness and declarations of "friendship" has become the gauge whereby ministry is judged among men.
So Corrie, you're not seeing things and you're not having some type of mental delusion. You are seeing plainly what many are refusing to see, because they are yet connected to this world, and similar to the "Matrix" would rather live apart from true spiritual reality.
What is interesting here is just like we travail over what is happening, the righteous are coming out with a new determination, a new dedication, and a new fruitfulness that will shape the future of their lives and the life of the community in which we exist. This is true decision time as the truth is being revealed. (read Psalms 91)
The questions are: will we continue to support and be a part of ministries that have allowed themselves to be overtaken and overrun by the enemy? Is it good enough for us to remain a part of apostate ideals and value systems as they have revealed themselves in many of our top leaders? These ideals and commentaries have arisen to reveal and illuminate the righteous as to who is actually a follower of Christ. Because there is a birth at the same time there is pain, those of us who see what is happening and understand what we are witnessing will run on to be the next generation of vessels fit for the master's use.
2 Tim. 2:19-21 ~ "19-Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. 20-But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. 21-If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work."
Yes this is a revealing time and Tuesday Nov. 4th will reveal even more than we see now. More so, the next few years will be further reaching and revealing as we experience an agenda that will be crafted by apostates and sealed with secularism.
Luke 22:31-32 ~ "31-And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32-But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren."
Blessed!
Sorry for an earlier version--I forgot to use spell-check-(LOL)