Bro. Jones,

I didn’t and don’t reveal myself because who I am personally is irrelevant. Also I am keeping in line with the guidelines you established on this site which is that this isn�t about attacking anyone personally it is just about discussing the merits of the points given. Believe me if it was personal I would have no problem telling you my name, meeting you or whatever, but I think I can make my point to you and have discourse with you about the apologetic aspects of this discussion without it being about you and me. Because I am sure you are doing all of this for the kingdom.

In relation to what I agree with or disagree with doctrinally I want to clearly establish that I disagree with your interpretation of the gospel preached by Pastor John K Jenkins Sr. Let me address each one of your points specifically.

1. Isaiah 61 gives us a strong blueprint as to what Christ’s expectation is of us IN ADDITION to the other clear mandates including ensuring that the doctrine preached is not false, so I don�t disagree with you there. I just think that you are misguided in your interpretation of Pastor Jenkins�s stance. I will not speak for Pastor he can do that for himself, but I will speak as one who follows him and my validation of his ministry has little to do with him personally. Although I do love him, it has more to do with God’s validation of his ministry to me in my personal relationship with God. God has confirmed the things he has taught me and my family. I have through prayer and study come to the conclusion that the things Pastor Jenkins preaches are SOUND doctrine. I am convinced in my own mind (Romans 14:5). Romans 14 is a good chapter to read in relation to all of this stuff, but I digress. Getting back to Isaiah 61, this scripture gives us as much an indication of what Jesus is about as it is an indication of His messianic proclamation. In other words, the reading of Isaiah 61 by Christ in the temple and then stating that the fulfillment of that scripture in verse 21 was ultimately validated by the fact that He did all that was stated in Isaiah 61. The point of it all was that Jesus and His ministry was as much about that as it was about everything else, but here is where I feel you really miss the point (Matt 23:23). You concentrate so heavily on splitting doctrinal hairs (I know you a going to hop on that phrase) but throughout the New Testament (NT) we are challenged to have the mind of Christ (1 Cor 2:16), so I think that the key should be, “What is the mind of Christ” Isaiah 61 is as good a scripture to gives us an indication of the mind of Christ as any.

Note: The apostle Paul references Isaiah 40:13 in making his point in 1 Corinthians 2:16, so I do not think it is outside the scope of proper biblical interpretation to draw meaning out of Scripture by inference as opposed to ONLY pulling the explicit meaning the author is attempting to convey. Exegetical interpretation is a compliment to life application of the Scripture.

2. I can’t comment on the life you live because that isn�t my place. I don�t consider my pastor a wolf though. I look at where I was the first day I came to First Baptist and where I am now and that is the proof in the pudding. I am not stocking FBCG’s pockets while I starve. I am sowing mightily into a ministry BECAUSE of the fruit in my own life. I think it is the absolutely right thing for a pastor to flourish if his flock flourishes. Should a shepherd not partake in the best fur produced from the sheep he shepherds? Scripture clearly tells us he should (1 Tim 5:17). And when I say the flock is flourishing I don’t just mean just in wealth and health, but more importantly in spirit. My marriage was restored, my children were saved and my life on all levels has prospered because of the GOSPEL taught at FBCG AND lived in front of us by the leadership. I think that ultimately the measurement of whether a minister is a wolf or not isn�t as much the doctrinal flaws you find in their teaching as much as it is the FRUIT that they bear (Matt 7:15, 16) Another note, just for the record I am a Trinitarian and that is the only thing I have been taught while a member of FBCG, just thought I would toss that in. When I say Trinitarian I mean the following. I believe God is represented in the Godhead (Trinity). That God is the Father fully distinct in person from the Son and the Holy Spirit. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. He was fully God and man and is also distinct in person from the Father and the Holy Spirit. I believe that the Holy Spirit is a person masculine in nature and fully distinct in person from the Father and the Son and that they ALL exist together at once but distinct and separate from each other. I believe the Scripture validates this stance with many scriptures, but I point to Matt 3:16, 17. Here God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are all present at the same time.

3. I think doctrine has great importance, but how you address an issue is as important as the issue you are addressing and what does Scripture say about the very thing you are discussing. Gal 6:1, states that if a brother is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual RESTORE such a one in a SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. If what you are doing is God inspired than you should be able to bring about its fruition in a way that isn�t condescending or abrasive, but with a SPIRIT OF GENTLENESS. And after you state the error then it is God who will hold the person accountable for their actions and deal with them accordingly, not any of us (Romans 14 really speaks to this).

4. I stated that I disagree with your stance.
a. I haven�t heard Pastor preach that and the only thing I can do to validate it is state that isn�t my interpretation of his teachings. I believe the Scriptures tell us in Revelation 1:18 that Christ states that He has the “keys of Hades and of Death”, this can be construed by many to say that Satan had possession of those keys prior to Jesus perfect sacrifice on the cross, so when Christ say He has possession of them it is probably inference only that preachers and ministers articulate that Jesus took them from Satan and since Satan is not omnipresent he had to be someplace and hell is a good a place as any I suppose, but this is as much allegory on the part of the preacher or minister as it is false doctrine. I think you are stretching on that part. Note: The Old Testament is FULL of allegory, so I don�t think application of it, is in and of itself a spiritual felony.
b. I don’t believe in guilt by association. I personally believe Pastor is a man of reconciliation and the coming together of different elements of the kingdom, right or wrong. And Pastor makes those determinations as to who comes and who doesn�t. I fully trust him in those matters. I don�t remember seeing us marching during the Million Man march, which he received much flak for. To note, I have YET to hear any of these �oneness� preachers you rail against preach oneness doctrinal messages at FBCG. Pastor ministers more to those same people you discuss than probably anyone else in my humble opinion. Pastor epitomizes Galatians 6.

c. Same as reply above.

5. As I stated before I disagree with your interpretations of Pastor Jenkins teaching so to reply to this would be pointless. Disagreeing with the former makes me automatically disagree with this.

My main reason for getting into this discourse with you is I feel that someone should state the facts as we see them as a sheep of FBCG and discuss them on those points. I�m not into getting all mad at you because you have attacked the Pastor and First Lady (Although I did at first :-), more importantly I think it is important to just state that I am a sheep of FBCG and I disagree with your viewpoints of Pastor�s teaching and you have stated your points I think it is only fair that there be a counterpoint. As Galatians 6 tells us, if a brother be overtaken in fault, you who are spiritual come to him with the spirit of gentleness lest you also be tempted. I think you are in fault in your view of Pastor Jenkins�s ministry and I hope I have come to you in the spirit of gentleness and attempted to address what I believe is misguided attempt to discredit a godly man under the banner of defending the Gospel. God bless!!

Melvin’s comments: If you have read this, I trust I have not changed Troy’s meaning in the public post.

Posted by Melvin Jones on Saturday, February 26th, 2005 at 5:31 pm.