I am of the view that there are very few valid reasons to leave a church organization. Some reasons people try to use include:
1. I’m not being fed there. Not a valid reason because it is not just the pastor’s responsibility to feed me. I am told to study to show myslef approved. I am told to examine the scriptures. If the pastor-teacher fails to do it, then I should do it on my own. And as I develop, I can edify the local body with what I have learned.
2. The people at church are cold and don’t care. Not a valid reason. As a part of the Body of Christ, you are there to minister to the body, not be ministered to. If people are cold and uncaring, set the example, help them to see what a real Christian looks like.
3. The pastor is dull/talks too loud/has little spit balls on the corner of his mouth when he talks/keeps singing his sermons. Not a valid reason to leave. Your repsonsibility is to listen to the contents of the sermon, not the method of delvery. I read once that Jonathan Edwards, one of the most influential preachers of 18th century America, apparently had one of the dullest deliveries possible. But the content was part of what sparked the American Revolution.
4. I don’t like the pastor’s wife. Not a valid reason to leave. If the pastor’s wife has done something to offend you your choices are: a) explain to her what she has done to offend you. b) forgive her even if she doesn’t ask for forgiveness. c) help her to develop in the image of Christ.
5. The pastor drives a big fancy car and I don’t think he should. Not a valid reason to leave. The car may be an indication of a larger problem, but the fact the pastor drives a big boat has nothing to do with you leaving or staying.
There is only one universally acceptable reason to leave: If the leadership of the church deny the essentials of the faith and, after you talk to those leaders, they refuse to turn away from the heresy. And at that point, you are required to leave the preacher and all those who would support him in his error.
If the pastor and the rest of the leadership say that Jesus’ death on the cross was insufficient payment for our sins then they are teaching a heresy. You should leave. If your pastor teaches that Jesus died spiritually and is the first born-again man, he is teaching a heresy. You should leave. If he teaches that we can speak things into existence just like God did, then he is teaching a heresy. You should leave.
Heresy was the straw that broke the camel’s back for me. Though I had difficulty with some of what John said and did, I did not feel obligated to walk away until he moved into the teaching of heresy. Click here to see the sheet I gave to my former students after I taught my last class there. I had talked to John for several months trying to convince him to move away from the “Jesus in hell” teaching. He didn’t. If I was going to be obedient to Scripture (Romans 16:17, 18 and several others) then I had to leave.
And by the way, ask the Gospel Gestapo in the FBCG Bible Institute why they came into the class and TOOK the letter from all of the adults.
It should also be noted that John became very upset with me for giving the students this document. But interestingly, he wasn’t upset because anything was false (I asked him if there were any untrue statements, and with one very slight exception, he said there were none). Apparently, he was tremendously upset because I publicly stated my disagreement with what he was teaching. But again, the Bible says we are supposed to do exactly that. Click here.
This is ignorant. You should be ashamed of what you are doing. You are going to be held accountable to God for this. You better get your life together Jesus is coming back soon!
I am offended by your comments about Pastor Jenkins, and FBCG. One thing that I know is that Pastor is a man of integrity and I believe that you know it also. Could it be that you desire the position that God has placed him in? I have to agree with the other writer, this is ignorant and you will be held accountable. Yes, Jesus’ return is soon.
Anonymous, the first thing you have to recognize is I have addressed only his teachings and the results of some of those teachings. I have not dealt with the person of John Jenkins at all. Interestingly, you are addressing only the person and not the teachings he promotes. What, specifically, did I say that offended you? If it is true, why should you be offended? I’m tempted to think you didn’t read the article at all. I believe your objections are met in the text of the postings.
Sorry Anonymous, what you are saying sounds good but I would take you back to Scripture. And that means you must answer some questions.
1. Did john Jenkins teach that Jesus suffered in hell for our sins? The answer to this question is “yes”. As I have said on several occasions, he tried to defend the teaching to me for three months before I left.
2. Why would he try to fuzz up the plain meaning of scripture? I would question his integrity because I pressed him by asking him to tell me how Jesus could have suffered in hell for three days if he told the thief that the thief would be with Him that day, his very weak response was: It depends on what paradise means. Can you think of any occasion in the bible in which the word paradise means something akin to hell. This demonstrates his willingness to run with his own opinion and not the clear teaching of the Bible. If he knows that he cannot defend the teaching (and he couldn’t), why would he not retract it? This is a lack of integrity.
3. Why would John invite men who deny the Trinity to speak to the congregation? T. Dexter Jakes, Noel Jones, and Charles Ellis are Oneness. These men are Oneness preachers. Dexter isn’t willing to discuss it, but the others are proudly and loudly Oneness. Do you think it is acceptable to invite someone who denies one of the essentials of the faith to speak at the church?
I clicked on the link because I had no idea what you were talking about when mentioning Jesus suffered in hell. Then I thought; I used to hear preachers back home say that Jesus descended into the pits of Hell. I never saw that in scripture and I have looked. I believe that it this has been engrained into the minds of many because of the Apostle’s Creed. It just never registered with me though and I’m the type of person who simply turns off that which doesn’t sound right.
If this what you’re saying is being preached? Also, I listen to Noel Jones from time to time and I have quite a few of his sermons. Where did you hear him preach oneness? I have never heard him say anything other that God is manifested as the Father, as the Son, and as the Holy Ghost. I have seen blogs out there that say what you say, but that is the extent of the stuff that I come up with. I have heard him in person several times while living in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and I never saw a money line. I do believe that other people see what they say they see-but I’m from Missouri–literally…
So there, I am willing to add Noel Jones to the list of subjects that I am willing to discuss “openly”…However, I still feel somewhat unqualified to really comment on a person or ministry that I am only remotely aware of. On the only hand, as I continue to grow at Empowerment Temple; I’ll be more than happy to share!!!