This will be an important article. Please hear me out friends. If there is
one place in the world where a Christian ought be able to speak the truth,
it is in a local New Testament church. I'll get to this more in a moment.
But first, what is a church? It is not a physical building. It is not a
denomination. There is no such thing as “the Baptist church” or “the
Presbyterian church.” A church is not a 501c3 state-licensed corporation.
You're not a “church” just because you say you're a church. Only God says
who is, or is not, a church. Many people today understand the church as a
building. This is not a biblical understanding of the church.
The word “church” comes from the Greek word ekklesia, which means, “an assembly” or “called-out ones.” The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of born-again people. Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.” Romans 16:5b, “greet the church that is in their house.” The apostle Paul refers to “the church that is in their house”—not a church building, but a body of believers. You can have a church in your home.
Having said that, I believe it is possible, certainly, to have some degree of a church on the internet. I do believe Dr. Texe Marrs is a pastor to many people with his online Bible Home Church, and so am I, with my influential website ministry. God has blessed me with a voice in cyberspace, which I do not take for granted. It is not about me, but about the truth of the Word of God. I have never claimed to be an internet pastor, but countless web visitors over the years, and still today, call me their “beloved pastor.” That is precious to me. I do claim to be a man of God, though admittedly imperfect. I do not speak for God, but I speak God's Word with authority, because the King James Bible speaks with authority. The man who preaches God's Word without compromise will, speak with authority. That intimidates many pastors, who speak weakly like the scribes and Pharisees.
Granted, believers cannot fellowship at a website, unless there is a forum, but I don't think this is what God intended. I would always favor a physical local church gathering, verses an internet gathering. Yet, in this apostate day and age in which it is becoming very difficult to find a decent church in many places, internet ministries are a welcome part of the body of Christ. Galatians 1:1-2, “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia.” Here we see that in the province of Galatia there were many churches—what we call local churches.
Please don't misunderstand me, I
am 100% in favor and support of local New Testament churches, but many of
our churches today (even independent Baptist churches) have lost their
charter with God and are no longer real churches. If the free grace view of the
Gospel is not taught, there is no church. Calvinism is not the Gospel, and
so if Calvinism is taught, there can be no legitimate church. Calvinism is
often repackaged and called “Lordship Salvation.”
Pastors Don't Have Exclusive Authority to Teach the Word of God
Something that greatly bothers me is the unbiblical notion that only church pastors have the authority to teach the Bible. I've had self-inflated pastors argue with me about this, discouraging me from teaching fellow believers in the church, in personal conversations, discouraging me from teaching things that I had learned in the Bible. Only an arrogant pastor, who is insecure about his position or haughty in his spirit, or a jerk, would claim such exclusive authority to teach God's Word.
I have heard some pastors say the most stupid, shallow and insensitive things to people. One pastor said that because I wasn't a voted in “member” of his church that I shouldn't be talking about doctrinal matters. I was tithing and attending the church regularly, and no one had ever asked me to join, so I didn't. I was okay with that. Folks, if you are a born-again Christian, you are a member of the Church!!! You may not be a member of a local church legally in man's view, but in God's eyes you are certainly a member of the Body of Christ if you are saved. I have never liked the idea of being “voted” into a local church. Many churches operate like secret societies, rather than like a church. In Acts 2:41 3,000 new souls were “added” to the church the day they were saved; there was no voting process. I don't criticize churches that do use a voting method, but I have never felt comfortable with the idea.
And may I say, if that shallow pastor were a genuine man of God, he would have talked with me about joining their local church. Pastors are too proud in most cases to ask someone to join their church. I've never in my entire life asked anyone if I could be “voted” into a church, because I've always felt sincerely in my heart that nobody would want me and wouldn't vote for me. I know that I was validated when God made me, because God doesn't make mistakes. I couldn't care less about being “voted” into a church. You all can play church with yourselves!
I am leery of all the apostate pastors today, who refuse to let anyone speak the truth in their church. It is God's church, not man's. I refuse to be a part of any church where I cannot share my biblical opinions with others on a personal level. What is this, communist China? Albeit, I do not believe it is ethical for someone to cause trouble in a church, or sow discord amongst brethren, but if you think that exposing the Devil's counterfeit Bible versions is sowing discord... YOU'RE A COMPLETE FOOL!
You show me a man who goes around asserting his “authority” as a pastor, and there's a sad little man who lacks people skills. A genuine man of God would be more tactful, recognizing that person's desire to contend for the faith is evidence of their hunger to serve God. A godly pastor will find a way for that person to serve God productively in the church. A decent pastor would have invited me into his office, offered to pray with me, spoke with me as a friend, offered me something to drink, and helped me out, not childishly critique me for telling the truth about the Alexandrian Bible versions. When I told him that my younger sister died of a heart-attack in 2016, he couldn't have cared less. He's never shown any interest in me as a person. What a selfish pastor! I still pray for him, that God will one day make him into a godly man. Most of all, I feel sorry for the people in his congregation, who are being robbed of a true man of God.
One pastor challenged me to show
him from the Bible where anyone other than pastors were permitted to teach
the Scriptures. Good night in the morning! May I remind you that when Jesus
raised up from the dead, and expounded the two disciples on the road to
Emmaus with the Scriptures, He was just a complete stranger to them. Luke
24:27, “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them
in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” They didn't
recognize Jesus in His resurrected body. They didn't say, “Hey, wait a
minute, you're not a pastor!” There is nothing as shallow as a husband whose
best method of leadership in the marriage is to remind his wife that he is
her “authority.” What a loser! And likewise, there is nothing as shallow and
pathetic as a pastor who has to go around reminding people that he is the
“authority.” What a sad little man! Grow a pair you wuss!!!
It is a Shame That Pastors Feel Threatened by Another Believer Who Tells the Truth
Jesus told Peter to “feed MY
sheep” (John 21:16). They are God's flock, not the pastor's. The pastor has
been entrusted with God's sheep, to feed them, which is what I do though my
online ministry. Where do the sheep come from? Why of course, the pastor
wins them to Christ himself, or else another member of the flock leads them
to Christ, and they are “added unto the Lord” (Acts 11:24). Sometimes
sheep will transfer from another church flock, or just come on their own.
But the pastor is not a dictator, he is not to “lord” over the flock as if
it were his flock.
I believe every Christian man should be knowledgeable of the Scriptures. 1st Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Ephesians 4:25, “Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.” Some pastors have the silly notion that only they have the authority to speak truth. Not so. Every born-again believer has the duty to speak truth. Albeit, women are commanded to keep silent in the churches, that is, they are not to teach the men. 1st Corinthians 14:34, “Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law.” Yet, we see that Anna was a prophetess and taught newcomers about Jesus when they came to Jerusalem seeking answers about the Messiah (Luke 2:36-37). So women are permitted, and encouraged, to be soul-winners and teach the Holy Bible. They just cannot usurp authority over men in the church.
Every Christian man who is skilled in the Word of God (i.e., he knows what he is talking about), has a responsibility to contend for the faith. Titus 1:10, “For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre's sake. One of themselves, even a prophet of their own, said, The Cretians are alway liars, evil beasts, slow bellies. This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith.”
A Christian man once asked me what the difference was between the King James Bible and the modern Bibles. Oh boy, he asked the right guy! His Baptist pastor was listening. I would have looked to his pastor to answer the question, but I knew that the pastor didn't know. I had heard that pastor admit in a previous conversation that he doesn't know anything that is wrong with the modern Bible versions, he just knew that they were corrupt. So I answered the man's question, explaining to him several things wrong with the Alexandrian Bibles. To my surprise, the pastor “rebuked” me (that's the word he used) for bringing controversy into the church. I kindly reminded the pastor that he himself has oftentimes mentioned from the pulpit that the Alexandrian Bible versions are corrupt. He replied, “Okay, we know they're corrupt, so why talk about it?” I again kindly, reminded the pastor that the Christian brother next to me had just asked me a direct question. The pastor behaved as a child, and I think he was jealous that I was knowledgeable and speaking with authority. That was pretty clear to me by his words and attitude.
Do pastors really care about the
truth these days? I think not. I sincerely believe that most pastors are
serving mammon (money) and not God. Was it really hurting anyone that I was
helping a dear brother in Christ, see what was wrong with the modern Bible
perversions? Of course not. But that pastor had some spiritual issues, and
needed to get his heart right with God. During our brief unpleasant
conversation, the pastor kept saying foolish things like: “You're not the
pastor” and “You're not an apostle” and “You're not the authority here,”
which made it pretty clear that he was jealous of me. I was just trying to
be helpful and tell the truth. I wasn't trying to show him up or make him
look bad. It is a crying shame that you cannot even tell the truth in
churches today, because pastors have become so egotistical and insecure
about their “authority.” My friend, the only “authority” that any pastor has
is the power of influence from the pulpit, by preaching the authoritative
Word of God.
We've Got a Bunch of Gutless Cowards Pastoring Churches Today
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.”
Too many pastors lord over God's
flock, becoming a tyrant instead of a servant. They are so worried about a
church split (which means lost revenues), that they refuse to preach the
whole truth. They want to keep everything positive. Truthfully, they refuse
to suffer reproach for the name of Christ. They refuse to be put outside the
gate with Jesus. So they make all these convenient little excuses for why
they tolerate others who teach heresy, why they bid Godspeed to wicked
pastors who teach satanic Calvinism, and go along with churches who use and
promote the Devil's Alexandrian Bible versions. Sadly, they are bastards,
that is, illegitimate pastors. They have no business being behind any
pulpit, if they cannot tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Say
what you want about Pastor Steven L. Anderson, but I love that man! He's got
gonads the size of Texas! I admire the guy. Amen!
Something that I have noticed—which is a really big problem in Baptist churches today, and no doubt all others as well—is cowardly pastors who will say a little bit against heresy (like saying they are against the modern Bible versions), but then at the same time they refuse to separate from those wicked servants, who use and promote the Devil's Alexandrian Bible versions. What hypocrites! What cowards! What phonies! You see, that kind of gutless pastor wants to talk the talk, but he doesn't want to walk the walk. He wants to get up and toss a few rocks at the Devil's crowd, while simultaneously bidding them Godspeed. Pastors who use and promote the Alexandrian Bible perversions (such as the New International Version, English Standard Version and the Easy-To-Read Version) are WICKED SERVANTS!!!
And if you phony pastors critique the corrupt Bibles, while calling the wicked servants who use them your “sister church,” you are pulling on the same rope as the Devil. God says, “You're fired”!!! You may stand behind a pulpit and collect an undeserved paycheck each week, but you are a lukewarm disgrace to the cause of Jesus Christ. Grow some gonads man! Do you know what the bottom line really is? I'll tell you. These gutless wonders today, who don't deserve the position of pastor, because they are unfaithful to their calling (if they're even called by God), don't hate falsehoods and heresy as much as I do. That's it in a nutshell. They have a tolerance for evil, I don't. Psalms 119:104, “Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.” Psalms 119:128, “Therefore I esteem all thy precepts concerning all things to be right; and I hate every false way.” You see, some preachers merely say that they hate every false way, but I actually DO hate every false way. It burns me up what the Devil is doing to churches today, and I have little patience with milquetoast pastors who don't feel the same.
One pastor accused me of being “obsessed” with the Bible issue debate. Are you kidding me? OF COURSE I AM! What is wrong with you my friend? God Himself said that he magnifies His Word above His name. Psalms 138:2, “I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.” Did you get that? It is clear why God would do that, because just as a man is only as faithful as his word, so also is God only as faithful as His Word. We read in Philippians 2:9-10, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth.” Yet, Psalms 138:2 teaches that the Holy Bible is more important to God than the name of Jesus. Think about that truth please.
So when a pastor tells me to keep quiet about what is wrong with these modern Bible perversions, I cannot. That is like telling a dog not to bark. I just cannot stay quiet. Satan wants us to shut up, but God wants us to speak up!!! Shame on any disgraceful pastor who rebukes another Christian, for sharing with others the truth about the Devil's Bible versions. If that seems too “controversial” for you, then you need to get your heart right with God, because you do not love the Lord enough to hate evil as you ought. Psalms 97:10, “Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked.” It is not what we say that people pay attention to as much as what we do. Dr. Wendell Evans at Hyles-Anderson College always taught us that, “Our talk talks, and our walk talks, but our walk talks louder than our talk talks!” Dr. Evans was so right!
You know, a lot of churches ought to hang a big sign out front that reads, “NO FREE SPEECH ZONE!” Really, because that's what it is. You're not allowed to share any religious opinions or doctrinal ideas that the pastor doesn't like. That's no better than Nazi Germany or communist North Korea today. If I'm the pastor, what is said outside of the pulpit is none of my business, and I am not going to attempt to restrict what people can say to each other. That is not my place. Now, if I feel that I must protect the flock, then I'll either address it from the pulpit, or voice my opinion in the conversation if I hear it, but I have no business telling someone to stop talking because I don't like it. It is sad, but true, that the fastest way to get kicked out of a church is to tell the truth. Pastors are out of touch with reality these days, living in the Twilight Zone!
This is not communist North Korea! This is not 1936 communist Spain! This is not communist Russia during the early revolution, when critics of the government were sent to slave workcamp. The whole world is not free today in 2018...
