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Chris Jaramillo grew up in the dusty dry country of New Mexico. His parents were Catholic, and devout enough to believe their kids needed to go to church regularly. But, they lived two miles from the nearest Catholic church. So, every other Sunday morning their Mamamcita would get them all clean and in their best Sunday clothes, and she would send them off to Mass at the church. The parents stayed home. This was New Mexico, and the walk was dusty and hot. As they arrived at the church, the priest would be standing on the front steps waiting for them, and the first thing he said was, "Where were you last Sunday?" |
Actually, that Catholic priest did Chris a real favor, for Chris came to associate the Catholic priest with nagging and mindless religion. When Chris was well into life, working for the railroad, and raising his own family, he finally decided he had had enough of the Roman Catholic system, and he slipped in the back door of our local church in Yermo, California one Sunday evening. Chris confessed his faith openly, and much of his zeal for Christ was based on his conclusions as he escaped from nanny Rome. Before he came to us he had already stopped praying to Mary, and he had written "Jesus saves souls forever" on his water tank.
So, you parents, and especially you pastors, you better read the following with care and self-examination. I intend to do some serious damage to some folks who are driving their friends and family right into hell by nothing but nag nag nag. It works, and Satan loves it.
THE PROBLEM
Standards-- They are man made and blamed on God
In the Bible believing Baptist movement there are many pastors' conferences. These are meant to be times for preachers to charge their batteries in the Lord and have some good old boy preacher times. That is sometimes how it works, but other things happen at these conferences.
I have never seen one, but there are, from time to time, idiots in the Baptist fellowship who decide to have a conference totally given over to "STANDARDS." Sermon after sermon is preached on everything from hem lines and pants on women, to music choices, to the glory of having non stop babies by keeping your wife perpetually barefoot and pregnant.
I am reminded of the old revival preacher among the Hutterites, as offshoot of the Mennonites and Amish, who came to a Hutterite church to preach "evangelistic" services, and he said, "I am not leaving here until all the woman have their wool stockings back on." Thus, being right with God was all about wool stockings.
You see, there are preachers out yonder in America and the rest of the world, and there are parents, who are nagging and tormenting their kids, or the local church, in the name of God and the Bible. They bash their victims to comply with some set of standards, rules, or regulations. The foundation of this process is works salvation. Are you paying attention preacher? You are teaching works salvation.
Oh, I am sure you would claim you make sure your victims are born again first, but then you are the jack asses who tell me how frustrating it is be stand up and preach on Sunday and wonder how many of "my people" are really born again. You might not have to be so uncertain of their salvation if you stopped doing the work of the Holy Spirit to make the saint complete in Christ. You simply do not believe the Holy Spirit can do that without your list of standards and your nag, nag, nag program.
Do you believe Paul knew what he was talking about and that the Holy Spirit inspired these words:
Colossians 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
You will tell me that is all about salvation. Salvation need not be added to, and once a sinner is born again, he is saved and complete, whatever that means in your twisted theology. But, if we move on down a few verses we learn why Paul had to write that and what was going on in Colosi:
Colossians 2:16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.
18 Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,
19 And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.Well, that is another story, right preacher? And, you fathers who drive your kids to live up to a long list of rules that you claim you got straight from the King James Bible, what do you think Paul would think of your religion if he visited your home today?
"Touch not," roars the preacher.
That could be your lips never touching coffee or a cigarette, or it could be pants never touching your wife's and daughter's legs. The Hebrew Roots heretics add touch not pork etc. Every group in fallen Christendom has replaced Christian maturity with "touch nots." Even the Liberal Whiskeypalians nag about touching SUVs that make smog."Taste not" cries the alleged evangelist.
That is often not tasting booze, and in some advanced nanny kindergarten churches the preacher even nags the people about tasting fat and carbohydrates too much. Again, all of Christendom has "taste nots," such as the Seventh Day Adventists and pork chops."Handle not" roars the righteous parson.
And, the litany goes from men handling women to handling Krispy Kremes. The motive seems good, but the source of the law is not the Word of God, it is the Baptist Convention, the Christian College, or the high and mightily preacher himself. Then, the preacher comes up in the local newspaper being charged with handling a teen aged girl in the Christian school.The problem here is that the Word of God is sometimes, though not always, used by twisting various texts to say things which are not even remotely implied in the Bible. Then, the fire breathing preacher, evangelist, or Daddy fills in the spaces left due to missing exegesis and lack of logic. The end result is not rational, and you can usually gauge the amount of fantasy in the alleged teaching by the volume of the preacher. The final product in no way relates back to the overall truth "once delivered unto the saints" by God the Holy Spirit. It simply must be accepted by the victims as truth because the guru in residence said so. And, violators will be excommunicated.
If all else fails, the Nanny Guru will roar, "If you are not going to stop ____________ing, why should I believe you are really born again?" The implied threat of being disowned is powerful. It is also damned to hell, and you are demon possessed if you use that doctrine of devils to enslave the Lord's sheep to your warped religion.
Johnny the Baptist told me about a Baptist conference speaker who preached at a pastor's conference in the Bible belt. The man told Johnny that he stayed in a hotel where many of the pastors attending also stayed. The man got to know the hotel owner, and he witnessed to him and showed kindness to him throughout the week. As he was checking out, the preacher asked the hotel owner if he would consider the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The hotel owner thanked the preacher for caring, but he told him he really did not need the sort of Christianity he was talking about. The preacher asked why. The owner took the preacher to his computer and opened up a list of all those in that week who ordered porn videos to their rooms. On the list were many of the preachers that were attending the pastors' conference.
The preacher was broken hearted, and quietly walked away.
The theme of the preachers' conference: BAPTIST STANDARDS
THE SOLUTION
1. Stop preaching and nagging..... TEACH
It is the Gospel that is to be preached.
1 Corinthians 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
Preaching is the Bible term for declaring the Gospel, and the best place to preach is in the market place between Sundays. Pastors who do all their preaching in the gathering of the saints on Sunday are not feeding sheep. They are simply rebels who refuse to preach to sinners where the most sinners can be found.
The saints are edified by teaching.
Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
The synagogue was where devout Jews congregated, and teaching was what they experienced. Jesus did not break with this method-- he used it. He preached around the country side to those who might not be found in the synagogue. But, Christ loved to teach in his day, and he wants his pastors today to teach at the church house.
And, if you are going to teach, you must study so that you help the saints understand the Word of God.
2 Timothy 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
So, when a preacher, or a parent, is too lazy to study to show himself approved of God, he falls back on preaching revivals and works religion for believers. Standards are the main topic, and the Gospel of salvation is used as an excuse.
I have heard your alibi. "You can never preach the Gospel too much." True, preacher, but stop using that truth to excuse your lazy rebellious attitude toward study. Teaching is work, preaching is all too often regurgitation. A few cool parables are thrown in each time to make the preaching sound fresh. The only thing the saints get is that the latest hunting or fishing story was cool. Otherwise, they are dumb as snot as to the deeper things of Christ and the Word of God.
You will now claim that I am offending the Gospel, right?
Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
3 And this will we do, if God permit.Some of you simply refuse to move on from preaching to teaching as you are told above. YOU are the problem. The saints in your fellowship are still eating pabulum when they should be eating steak. Twenty year old babies are wailing, "preach it brother," instead of feeding on the real meat of the Word.
So, you have to resort to preaching standards frequently lest the dumb sheep, whom you refused to feed, wander off into some sin of the flesh or some rebellious behavior.
Jeremiah 12:10 Many pastors have destroyed my vineyard, they have trodden my portion under foot, they have made my pleasant portion a desolate wilderness.
Finally, preacher, and Daddy, do your preaching six days between Sundays, and do your teaching at the church house where the saints are assembled. Stop trying to do all your evangelism on a fifty square foot piece of carpet in front of you high and mighty pulpit.
Colossians 1:24 Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:
25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;It is time for a word study, something standards preachers hate and mock at, claiming they do not care about the Greek, they only need the King James Bible. I will show you an example why some lazy preachers never crack open a Greek study help:
"Fulfill" in verse 25 above
plhrow pleroo play-ro'-o from Strong's #4134; to make replete, i.e. (literally) to cram (a net), level up (a hollow), or (figuratively) to furnish (or imbue, diffuse, influence), satisfy, execute (an office), finish (a period or task), verify (or coincide with a prediction), etc.:--accomplish, X after, (be) complete, end, expire, fill (up), fulfil, (be, make) full (come), fully preach, perfect, supply.
Preacher, do you "cram" the whole counsel of God into the saints, or are you a standards huckster? Do you "satisfy," "finish," or "fill up" the saints longing to learn the truth. You will tell me, "They are not able to take it in. My people are a bit backward in learning." What damnation that is to YOU, not them. The reason they cannot take in the deep things now is because you are a rebel against real hard work called STUDY. And remember, Jesus intentionally picked several fishermen to be his disciples. These men were just as slow to learn as anyone sitting in front of you on Sunday morning. But, what do we read about those fishermen later?
Acts 4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.
It is time for you to "fully preach" something YOU dug up from the Word of God. Stop being a big ditto for the Bob Jones Rule Book, or the Crown College student conduct guide.
1 Corinthians 4:1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God.
2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.And, that means faithful to feed sheep, not nag them into compliance with your preconceived idea of what a victorious saint is.
Here is the test of your standards blather and bluster:
If a saint violates one of your standards, do they feel they have slighted Jesus, do they feel out of fellowship with you, or worse, do they start doubting their salvation?When a saint sins, it is ONLY if you taught them real spiritual truth from the Word of God that they will go looking for Jesus. If they cannot be right again without a trip down the aisle to your altar call, you blew it bad, sir. What you have is a Roman Catholic Baptist confessional, not a church. Buy yourself an acre in hell from Satan..... you will really get rich.
When the cowboys where driving cattle to market long ago in the southwest of the USA, they would not hurry. They let the cattle graze along without pushing them. As long as they were grazing and drifting north, they let them find the grass they wanted. Ah, there is the key, the cowboys did ride alongside the herd to guide them to better grass, but the cattle fed for themselves, and a good trail boss would get a herd to Kansas City fatter than when they left Texas.
If you cannot make the application, preacher, you need to go sell insurance. You are too dumb to herd God's sheep.
2. Start trusting the Holy Spirit to do
what he already WANTS to do1 Corinthians 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.Oh, but maybe the Holy Spirit does not understand the fine points about how Christian women should dress. The Holy Spirit needs the preacher to nag those ladies, and furthermore, that preacher is a sinner, and he can tell those ladies are not dressed right when they cause his own eyes to wander here and there.
So, you lust for some of the ladies in your church, right preacher? Are you so sure that is because they dressed wrong, or is it because you are not as moved by your aging wife as you were long ago? So, you like to peruse the younger options? Stop blaming those woman, let the Holy Ghost deal with them, and get your own lusts under control. The best way to find the women in your assembly are getting more modest is to fall in love with your wife again.
Well, someone just clicked out of here. What a hoot.
Also, verse 10 above can be abused. Some preachers and parents believe that the Holy Spirit teaches doctrine, the deep things, while we the nagging preachers, teach Baptist standards. (Please insert your denominational name in the place of Baptist.)
Who did Jesus say would convince the saints of sin?
John 16:7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
Are you doing the work of the Holy Spirit regarding sin, and righteousness, and judgment? If so, you are standing square "in the middle of the road" making an unholy stink of yourself.
Thus >>>
They're singing a new song down at Dead Skunk First Baptist.
Look, I know I am being rough on some of you folks, but I would just like to see you get out of the way of the Holy Spirit, and teach. Jesus made special arrangements for you to be a really useful teacher:
John 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
TEACH!!
3. Have just a little more faith in the sheep
whom you claim to love2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
New people may actually decide to behave like new people if you would shut your flapping trap and watch. Teach, pray for them, and stop these knock down killer altar calls.
Colossians 1:25 Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:Do you really believe God can change, perfect, and use the saints to whom you minister? If so, start expecting to see change and growth in them, and cheer them on instead of nagging them. If you see no change or maturity in the sheep, go look in the mirror. Do they have a hireling for a shepherd, a man who has nothing in himself, so he can feed them just exactly what he has-- nothing?
I was preaching in our church in Michigan on priorities in the Christian life. I gathered some statistics together on how people spent their money in the USA. One statistic was comparing how much was spent on dog food compared to how much was spent on missions worldwide. I made no applications to the listeners or myself. I was simply trying to show how warped society was.
Well, unbeknown to me, a young married fellow was personally hearing from the Holy Spirit as I taught. I ended the message with no altar call and no pointed "take action" challenge. But, the young married man went home and shot his dog. Someone in the fellowship told me about it, and they said he was convicted about all the money they spent on the dog that could be going to missions. I was taken aback at first. I would have never suggested our people go home and shoot their dogs. But, guess what, they Holy Spirit would tell them that. And, the Holy Spirit had all the room he needed to get results because I was out of the way.
That ain't all, honey. Another couple who were up to their nostrils in debt went home, parked the second car they were making payments on at the curb, and Monday morning told the bank to come and repossess it. Again, I would have told them to go see if they could refinance, but I was not involved. The Holy Spirit wanted them to unload weights that were encumbering them. The new piano no one played went next. The victory they felt was priceless to watch, and it was all theirs because the teaching was applied by the Holy Spirit, not me.
You preachers will never see the amazing things the Holy Spirit will do with your preaching until your preaching becomes teaching. I have many stories like the ones above, and they all were about actions people took which, in some cases, actually had nothing to do with what I was teaching. There is something miraculous about the very presence of God that exists during a Bible teaching session that will amaze you. And, you will finally learn for the first time that God called you to teach and enjoy it. All you have to do is study, teach, and get out of the way.
Finally, if you love the Lord's sheep as much as you claim to, spend time with them one by one, the men that is, for you preachers. Daddy, you need to spend time alone with each of your kids. You need to see your Christian brother as a man fighting the same battles you do. If you really know anything about the warfare, and if you have had any victory along the way, you need to show the brother how to follow after Christ and win.
Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.
3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.
4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
5 For every man shall bear his own burden.If you do this, preacher and Daddy, with tears and much prayer, you will be a faithful steward of the Church of Jesus Christ.
Now, go do the right thing.
OUR ARTICLE ON HOW TO BE A GOOD FRIEND
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Are you in a church where you are driven to keep man made standards instead of do your own digging in the Word of God? You may even be cautioned not to make up your own personal standards between you and the Lord. If so, you and your kids will either become mindless slaves of a man other than Jesus, or you will one day walk away and toss the Christian faith in the trash can.
You need to become your own fanatic just between you and the Lord. Put another way, you need to come to your standards between you and your Lord, and then you need to become a fanatic about it. That is, no man will ever be able to move you away from what the Spirit of God taught you. And, you will keep your fanatical standards when you are all alone and no one is watching.
And, Daddy, you need to teach your kids so that, as they mature, they learn to become their own fanatic between them and the Lord just like Daddy did. One day you and that fire breathing pastor will not be there to tell them what is holy and what is profane, and they will wander off into sin and get burned. Why? Answer: Because Daddy refused to be their teacher.
Romans 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.If you have a pastor who is ruling your standards in life and Christian zeal, you need to find another pastor. Before you abandon the man, print this article, ask God if it is the right thing to do, and if God tells you to, lovingly hand this article to your pastor and ask him to respond later.
You may win the brother, but that is as rare as hen's teeth.
He will very likely turn on you with a vengeance. He may at once toss you out of the assembly, or he may start using you as a sermon illustration. At that point, FLEE. There is absolutely no reason for you to hang around.
Do not give up. Start looking for Bible believers who have made all their standards between themselves and the Lord. But, if they are evangelists for their own standards, keep looking.
Also, a warning to Christian parents: If you are putting your kids under a nanny standards guru, you are going to have kids who spend a lot of time finding ways to break the rules. If you want kids who want to be like Jesus, then teach them Bible truth every day, and get them away from the guru at once. Also, when you do leave, tell your kids exactly why you did. It should be no secret, and they will grow stronger as they watch Daddy do the right thing.
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