As I’ve said before, Big Dog Wannabees have to do something to validate themselves on their way to Big Dogdom. And one of the ways of doing this is by keeping company with some of the right people. I mean, until you completely shift over to Word of Faith from Baptist (quite a leap in anybody’s doctrinal book of leaps and bounds), you have to establish a name for yourself. You have to make sure you can appeal to both sides. And if you can get some weighty orthodox names to associate with you, you’re half way there. John Jenkins did some of this when he invited Charles Stanley to speak at a conference. Even if Stanley is straying a bit from the path, he’s still Charles Stanley. And people being people, they are going to impugn the same qualities they associate with Stanley (right or wrong) onto the Wannabe.
In keeping with that, it appears John (Sliding Toward Word of Faith) Jenkins is taking that general approach. In May, Dr. Joel Gregory, professor at the seminary operating out of Baylor, will be participating in a leadership conference hosted by First Baptist Church of Glenarden. A fairly quick bit of research on the Internet indicates he’s a stand up kind of guy, conservative in his doctrine, and not one to support the excesses and heresies of the Word of Faith crowd.
Why is he tying his name to John Jenkins? I don’t know. But in order to make sure he knows the fact, I have composed a letter to Dr. Gregory. I have posted a copy of the letter as a PDF. Click here to take a look at it.
It will be interesting to see if Dr. Gregory responds at all.
May I ask why are you doing this? Do you think that man cares about what you think? I mean, you are one person in this world. Have you looked into the purpose of the conference? Maybe Jenkins has strayed and now he is trying to get things back to normal. What gives you the right to write this man and yes, embarrass Jenkins. You are lying in your letter if you don’t think that embarrassment is the ultimate goal! I don’t need to give you any lengthly scriputural references because a liar is a liar, and liars will have their place in the lake of fire. Why don’t you just let things be for now! I wish I could right your pastor or church a letter about you, or maybe your employer about how much time you spend on the internet during office hours doing this website. I hope that he comes and it is a blessed event for FBCG. YOU HAVE REALLY GONE TO FAR WITH WRITING PASTORS ABOUT OTHER PASTORS! MAYBE YOU SHOULD START YOUR CHURCH THING AND INVITE HIM IF YOU HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER, WHICH I AM SURE YOU DON’T. YOU BETTER NOT EVER MENTION WHERE YOU WORK, BECAUSE I WILL WRITE A LETTER TO YOUR JOB ABOUT YOU!
Here’s what I’m not understanding. Why would John Jenkins be embarrassed about any of what I have said? He openly preached that Jesus suffered in hell for our sins. He only just recently announced that T. Dexter Jakes is his mentor. He was quite proud of that fact. He openly invited a Oneness preacher to the church, at least twice. He hasn’t done any of this stuff in secret, as though he is embarrassed about it.
Why would you consider it an embarassment to him for me to tell another person what John has enthusiatically done in the opeh? Unless, of course, you are embarassed about what he is doing.
But if you are embarassed about what he is doing, why aren’t you talking to John, telling him to stop? If you are telling him to stop,, and he refuses to stop doing something you believe to be wrong, and thus embarassing, why are you still there?
By the way, even though this is officially the last day in February, you comment is so caustic and over the line that I am nominating your for the March, Duodecimal Luvvy Award. And given the pure vitriol of your comment, you will very likely win. Get that money order or certified check ready. And don’t forget the postage.
Furthermore, I hope he checks out the stupid game “The Luvvy” awards, or whatever it is called and see how silly you really are. How could he even take you seriously after that move! How could you send that man the web address? You messed up right there. He is going to laugh when he sees that mess! Maybe I will send him that information personally in case he doesn’t see it!
Who put a burr under your saddle?
The letter I am submitting to Dr. Joel Gregory:
Dear Dr. Gregory:
Hello, I am a member of First Baptist Church of Glenarden. I know you are scheduled to speak at my church at the Bethel Seminary and First Baptist Church of Glenarden Leadership Conference in May. I have been saved for over 15 years now, and I am a member of First Baptist. I am highly anticipating your presence at the conference and hope that you are not turned away because of one persons attempt to destroy my pastor (Pastor J. Jenkins), and to bring embarrasment to my church. I have great respect for you and my pastor, and I know that being a pastor is not the easiest job in the world, and we have to deal with the few who try to make it hard. I know you received a letter recently from a Mr. Melvin Jones. I have visited his website and I know the personal feelings that he has against my pastor and my church. I know that everbody has an opinion, but this individual has been gone for a number of years now, but can still find dirt on the church and my pastor and slander his name all around his website. Now tell me, how can you even begin to believe a persons intend with those morals. I believe that God has placed me a First Baptist Church of Glendarden, and I know that if it wasn’t for God working through Pastor Jenkins, I would not be alive today. Like the author of that letter, I too am only one person, and I pray that you will read through the website and see for yourself. I hope to see you in May. May God bless you and your family.
A dedicated Christian and member of FBCG
Melvin: Oh, I will perform several spell checks and have a few people look at it for clarification before I send it.
Give me your address. I will send you a stamp for the postage. In fact, I’ll edit it for you if you like.
By the way, what of those things I said are slander (or untrue?)
By the way, I don’t believe Gregory is a pastor. I could be wrong though.
Perhaps JKJ is attempting to realign himself with those who are at least doctrinally sound. This Dr Gregory, I am not that familiar with but based on your commentary he seems to be fairly sound, and Stanley samething. So maybe JKJ has decided to leave the jakes and company alone.
That is certainly a possibility. But if he is trying to realign himself, why would he make T. Dexter Jakes his mentor? Wouldn’t he pick some one of some substance and orthodoxy? The move to T. Dexter seems designed to increase his standings in the WoF world more than actually growing as a Christian. And don’t forget, Jenkins is busy hawking the Jakes tapes from the recent “revival” on his television broadcast.
Well, maybe its an internal war that he is dealing with. As his ministry transforms into something other than orthodoxy, it that last bit of “home training” that is making him reach out to familiar, early influences. Remember, JKJ has always been a big fan of Charles Stanley. Early on, his sermons used to parallel Stanley’s. You could hear something from Stanley on the radio and not long after you could hear similar topic from John.
Personally, I not complaining if he has doctrinally sound folks coming to speak at his church. I think that is great. The key thing to pray for is that maybe during one of these visits someone or something will help John realize that he needs to go back to his roots, the basics.
As for the Jakes thing, in my opinion that is simply a pyriamid scheme. Jakes can careless about JKJ’s doctrinal position. All he is looking for is a cut of the FBCG’s revenue. JKJ is the one being pimped. So, maybe Stanley, Gregory and any others from his early days may be the ones that can speak some sense to him.
Feelin’ optimistic today….:) uh oh, I just realized we may have differing opinions! gasp…could it be true? seriously, As long as Gregory comes and is teaching sound doctrine more power to him, and I will even commend John for inviting him. Maybe he’ll make a habit of it.
I think your comment definitely has merit. It is certainly a possibility. Not a very big possibility, but certainly a possibility.
Oh, and congratulations for clearly demonstrating that a person doesn’t have to be a mind-numbed robot to take part in the site.
Of course, I praying a spirit of obedience on you so we can bind that independent spirit.
What I find amusing is that, when people write in to disagree with Melvin, they call him names and make threats and plainly talk crazy. Not knowing that they are being a hypocrite, for example Melvin beleives these guys are heretics and pimps, so he puts forth effort to warn the church about these wolves.
Now when someone out there does not agree with what Melvin is doing and they feel he is slandering good Christians, and so they write in and attack him, are then they not guilty of the same thing they are angry with Melvin for?
Simply, Melvin beleives these guys are pimps, some of these guys’ followers think melvin is a joke.
In my opinon I side with Melvin simply becasue these heretics are not preaching scripture. I can care less about peoples personal, or emotional attachments to their pastors if the man is a heretic.
Besides Paul makes it clear we are no longer in bondage to our emotions and flesh (Ephesians), but the truth. So speak truth people, seek scripture, if something is presented that you feel is not true as opposed to writing it off, explore and see.
Lets face it we who are professing to be beleivers at one point where faced with something (Gospel) that we felt was not true, yet if in our foolishness we were to have gone on writing it off with no research then we would not be saved and still in our sins. Praise God for his grace and mercy for he did not allow me to continue being a fool!
Thanks for the calming words of encouragement, Curtlove. I’m tired of the bashing of Melvin because others refuse to read their Bible for themselves and STUDY it.
Melvin, I applaud your spiritual temerity. More Christians, especially African American ones, need to confront the heresy in our churches. John Jenkins needs to be exposed because he has created for himself a dangerous platform. First, he has suckered Bethel to have a branch of its seminary at First Baptist. Second, he denies fundamental Baptist doctrine. This definitely says plenty about the General Association of Regular Baptists!
Keep it up, my brother; I’m with you.
You know what? I am dumber than I look. I didn’t even realize that Bethel was a reputable place located outside the state. I was assuming it was something like one of the local “Seminaries” (read here presumptuous Bible Institutes).
Here is a link to the organization.
http://seminary.bethel.edu/
It appears that John has done with the seminary exactly what he appears to be doing with Joel Gregory.
Maybe Damagoh is right and JKJ is desperately crying out for someone to save him from the doctrinal hell he is descending into. But somehow I get the feeling he is using these guys to create a thick veneer of credibility.
Trying to think the best about these guys, I suspect they really don’t have any idea of what goes on at FBCG. But I could be wrong.
I hope I’m wrong.
Let me correct myself. Bethel Seminary and First Baptist Church-Glenarden are affiliated with the Baptist General Conference.
Are associated with ******** *** ******* **** who was put out of a church in **** for sexually molesting young boys??
(MN: I don’t publish things that tend to work toward and promote rumors and smears. Try again. )