This comment was made under the posting “Runnin with the Big Dogs.” Just thought I’d put it here so you could see it. I approved the comment back there so I probably won’t leave this up very long. Other than breaking it out into more manageable paragraphs, I didn’t change anything. And I don’t know this fellow at all; never talked to him before.
Wow! I came across this site by accident, and found some things very interesting. There are a couple things I need to say and I’m going to bounce. Excuse the spelling errors and the grammatical mistakes.
First and foremost I love FBCG. I have learned a lot and have built some pretty good relationships with some of my brothers and sisters in Christ. So, I’m not here to defend FBCG or Pastor Jenkins. I’m also not here to defend the owner of this BLOG because there are some things that I think are on point and there are other things here that I think is bias. I’m here as a concerned Christian. I’ve been a member of FBCG for a little more than 4 years, my wife has been here a little longer.
In the beginning, I felt like I was right at home. Took some classes, join a couple of ministries (which I’m still active in), pay my tithes and went to bible study every week. As someone who was growing in Christ, I continue to read the bible but I soon start to come across sites like this. I began to realize that there is a growing problem in the Christian Church and Glenarden is not excluded from this.
To be truthful, I don’t care to know about the dark sub-culture that exists at FBCG, but I do care if what I’m being taught lines up with scripture and I do care if the people who are the examples, the ones who are in leadership are leading their lives within the parameters of God’s will and His word. As a believer I think this is essential in a persons walk to see other believers, especially those in leadership, living their lives in this manner and not faking it. I get a boost from this along with praying daily and staying in that word.
Now, I do have some personal issues with FBCG, but it has not ran me and the wife away yet. I’m still tripping off the torture me and my wife had to endure just to have our wedding there. If we had the chance to do it all over again we would have had at my mom’s church. I still cannot believe they charged 2 members, who are active members, who pay tithes and offering on the regular, a fee to use the microphone system in the church. That crap was not cheap either. I’m still a little salty about that, but that is not why I’m posting. Sorry for the tangent.
Anyway, I read in several sections on this weblog that FBCG sometimes does not practice what they preach. Sorry to admit this but that accusation holds some weight. If we are a bible believing church then we need to uphold the principals that we have read and have been taught from the pulpit. I think one of the things I had to raise a red flag to are some of the guest who have come to FBCG.
Some have been great and preached the word like it suppose to preached, straight from the word of God while others preached what they thought the congregation wanted to hear and in some cases it was not biblical.
Here is one example, for the past 3 years I have endured sitting there at the New years revival and hearing a word from Bishop T.D. Jakes. I had to be there because my ministry was working the event those nights. I’m not sure why he was there in the first place because some of the things that he’s preached are just not biblical. I witness that with my own eyes when I was on travel in Dallas and visited the Potter’s House one Sunday morning.
Some of the people he has aligned himself with in the “Word of Faith” movement (i.e. those you see on TBN) is quite disturbing to me. So I had to ask the question again, why is he here? I have a lot of respect for Pastor Jenkins, but I just don’t understand why he has aligned himself with Jakes, who himself (Jakes) has established a relationship with a circle of people who do not teach essential Christian doctrine.
I admit he said some good things, but I still can’t shake the fact that the other so-called pastors he hang around with are notorious for preaching and supporting an un-biblical doctrine. I’m having a real hard time with this. It’s the whole “Birds of the feather, flock together”, saying that has me twisted.
I just want FBCG to live up to the motto that we hold in such high regard, “Developing Dynamic Disciples Through Discipleship, Discipline and Duplication”. I pray things will get better, but I fear that once the new church is built there is going to be a huge influx of a lot things which has the potential to open up a bigger can of worms. The new place is a Pandora’s Box waiting to happen. The wife and I talked about it and we fear that there is going to be a day we may have to leave FBCG. Through this place God has turned my life around and I would love to see others have that same experience, but I don’t want us to go down a road in which the gospel is being twisted. I have always thought that FBCG was not the typical mega church, but I fear that if things continue then it may become like one. I think about a lesson that Pastor taught in Bible study a couple of times (once this year) about the Compromising Church (Revelation 2:12-17), has FBCG become like this church? I don’t know, but I do see some warning signs. Then I think about a sermon preached a couple of months ago from Jude. Man, though it’s one the smallest book in the bible, that one chapter is so powerful. As a member of the body of Christ we absolutely cannot compromise on God’s instructions nor can we allow others to teach false doctrines. Especially in our pulpit. This goes for the members, deacons, ministerial staff and the pastor himself.
I do not condone what has been said on this blog, but I do challenge all those involved, the owner of this BLOG, members (including myself), deacons, and ministerial staff to be more vigilant, uncompromising and hold on to God’s word. In these ending days, that is all we going to have and we must be equipped properly and be ready to engage in spiritual war.
Later.
The gentleman made a legitimate comment when he said, “If we are a bible believing church then we need to uphold the principals that we have read and have been taught from the pulpit.” In order to “uphold” principals, we must keep them by acting in a way that supports what was taught.
But there is a problem with today’s churches (especially the large ones). Their doctrine is tainted with some errors and inaccurate scripture interpretations. It’s a mixture of truth and untruth. The vast majority really are not speaking by way of the Holy Spirit. That includes the popular ones–”big dogs”.
“Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.” NKJV –1 Timothy 4:16–
“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.” NIV –1 Timothy 4:16–
“Keep a close watch on yourself and on your teaching. Stay true to what is right, and God will save you and those who hear you.” NLT –1 Timothy 4:16–
Here Paul is warning Timothy to be very careful about what he teaches and preaches. If he teaches the truth and correct doctrine, he can SAVE himself and the listeners. So if a preacher is NOT living right and teaching correct doctrine, both he and his listeners could be lost.
Perhaps you should ask yourself: Can I be “saved” by the doctrine that’s presently being taught at FBCG? Are their teachings and practices really in line with God’s word?
Of course, there’s only one problem with the last part of what the post said. He says we should be ready for the warfare. He apparently is totally oblivious to the fact that we are in the midst of the warfare.
So what say the rest of you? I’ll leave it up for three or four more comments - assuming they are interesting.
Melvin
Bravo. I know that a lot of what the gentleman and you Melvin and Cindy are saying to be on point as they say. Yes, I am waiting and watching and Melvin and I not against your website, while many don’t like it, because they see it as a negative, I am watching and it certainly have a lot of “in common” statements being made.
And now, ladies and gentlement, this post is now closed for comments.
Melvin
You cannot close this post! I commend the guy who wrote this message because it reads honestly. I did chuckle at his concerns about moving to the new building and the comment about preparing for the warfare, because those of us that can go back a lil’ further had the same concerns when FBGC moved from the smaller church on brightseat rd. to the ole’ hechingers building.
I remember the move in celebration as we watched the “big names” make their way through the church, all the local dudes, jakes, Tim story, etc. I can remember saying this is it we are going down the drain. Then Jenkins sermons begin to get more ambiguous and repitious. You could predict the service and the next Christian fad that would try to be introduced to the church, like freewill offering (above the tithe is what counts), laughing in the spirit, tongues, laying money on the alter during service, etc.
This gentleman sounds a lot like I did some 10 years ago! I just hope he stays honest with himself when his suspicions become apparent to him and his family.