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News & Views, February 2003 - Edited By E. L. Bynum
42nd ANNUAL BIBLE MISSIONS CONFERENCE THEME:
Tabernacle Baptist Church - By E. L. Bynum
Immorality in the Ministry - By E. L. Bynum
The Cupid Cult - By Norman H. Wells
There are many things that Satan uses to discredit the cause of Jesus Christ and His Churches. One of the most troubling things is the continued scandals of immorality in the ministry. No denomination is free from this awful sin. The unbelieving world that is controlled by the devil delights in spreading the news and using it against Biblical Christianity. This article is not about the Roman Catholic Church, but a few words about their problems seem to be in order.
We have all been sickened by what is taking place in the Roman Catholic Church. The immoral homosexuals that infest the priesthood have molested young boys placed in their charge. Most of these ingrates are not interested in very young boys, but they wait until they reach a certain stage of maturity, and then they set out to use them for homosexual perversion. It is foolish to call them child molesters, but they should be called the perverts they are.
Many Baptists and Protestants seem to take the attitude that this is only a Catholic problem and that it really does not affect us. This is foolish, because the unsaved world looks upon all Christian (?) religions as pretty much the same. Every time a scandal erupts, we can be sure it does not help true churches in their struggle to win the lost.
Catholic dioceses in some areas are facing bankruptcy in trying to settle all the suits against them by people who have been molested. A classic example is the Boston diocese presided over by Cardinal Law. (He has since yielded to pressure from members of the Catholic Church to resign. The pressure did not come from the Catholic hierarchy.) For years they have transferred guilty priests from church to church. They have never had much concern for the victims, but have been busy trying to cover for the guilty priests. While the vast wealth of the Roman Catholic Church could be used to settle these claims, this will never be done. Each diocese is responsible for their own debts, and with the Pope's approval they can file for bankruptcy. The Roman Catholic hierarchy from the Pope down has never been willing to deal with the problem, and in my opinion they probably never will.
We often hear descriptions of Jesus that would lead you to believe that He was tolerant of almost any sin. This distorted view is often used to cover up sin. Here is what Jesus taught about harming children.
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt. 18:4-6). If this passage of Scripture teaches any thing at all, it teaches that Jesus had ZERO tolerance for anyone who would offend a child. If a sexual act with a child is not an offense against the child, it would be difficult to think of any thing that would be an offense.
The word "offend" means "to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall, metaph. to offend, to entice to sin, to cause a person to begin to distrust and desert one whom he ought to trust and obey." This makes the case very clear against sexual sins committed by anyone against children. Any priest, Protestant minister, or Baptist minister who does such a thing, ". . . it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." (Matt. 18:6). These are not the words of E. L. Bynum, but the words of the compassionate loving Son of God.
Keep in mind that this is not an isolated single passage of Scripture, but it is repeated in Mark 9 and Luke 17. Some might think that Jesus is talking about infants and not older children. If you read what Jesus said, you will find that he is at this time speaking of children who were old enough to believe in Him. "But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea" (Matt. 18:6). We are not saying that molesting or abusing children that are too young to believe in Him would be okay. Doubtless in the sight of God they would be under the same condemnation. The "little ones" of v. 6, refers to both size and age, so I believe it would cover all children.
The Catholic Church has for many years covered up for these perverts who molest youth and little children. What is confessed in the confessional is kept secret from law enforcement authorities. When a priest or minister is made aware of sexual child molesters, they should be reported to the law enforcement authorities, and they should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. At the very minimum they should remain behind bars for many years and should never again be trusted with children of any age.
An FBI agent by the name of Hanssen spied for the Soviet Union for many years. As a devout Roman Catholic he went to mass every day and confession once a week. On numerous occasions he confessed his traitorous actions to Catholic priests. None of them ever turned him in to authorities, because it was forbidden for them to do so. Valuable secrets were sold to the Soviet Union, and Americans were killed as a result of this corrupt practice. Nothing shows the awful corruption of the Catholic Church any more than this.
For many years Protestant and Baptist ministers have been caught in the snares of moral corruption. Yet, pastors and church leaders are sometimes very tolerant of their behavior. If the scandal causes too many problems, they are allowed to resign and go on to another church or ministry. In the new place they eventually continue their immorality and ruin and crush other lives. Marriages are ruined; children are debauched, offended, and yet the offenders are treated with love and compassion. This is not what the Bible teaches.
A case of child-porn indictment hit the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal headlines on December 12, 2002. An employee of Trinity Church, Lubbock, TX was indicted for downloading child porn on one of the church's computers. He was downloading pictures of boys between the ages of 8 and 16 engaged in graphic sexual acts. This 36-year-old man said that he was intrigued with young boys and often had sexual thoughts about them. He was employed at this large Charismatic church as a graphics artist and piano player. He admitted that he had been doing this for several years.
When church officials learned what he was doing, he was fired and reported to federal authorities. We commend them for doing so, but in other religious organizations they are simply fired and allowed to go on to serve in another organization. Church officials issued a statement saying that he had no contact with children during his duties for the church. One of the ministers of Trinity Church wrote, "I want to make it clear that the employee that has been terminated had no contact with children while working at our church. His duties had nothing to do with children and he worked in a location away from children." This statement was disputed by a church member who said her child took an overnight church trip to the San Antonio area for which the porno addict was a church sponsor.
This porno addicted man came to Trinity Church from a well-known Assembly of God church in Lubbock. While at that church he was a leader for Royal Rangers, a religious organization similar to the Boy Scouts. We do not know if he molested any young boys or not, but it is certain that such people of immoral interests gravitate to churches, youth organizations, and the Catholic priesthood. All religious organizations ought to have a zero tolerance for such people.
A 42-year-old pastor and businessman was arrested last November after fellow employees told police that they had seen images of child pornography on his computer. His laptop computer contained images of child porn, and it appeared that he had been sending these pictures out by email. The police found a folder in his desk which contained 65 pages of printed pictures of child pornography. James Andrew Smith is the pastor of the Landmark Baptist Church of Sanger. He lives in Denton and his wife seemed to be completely surprised that he would do such a thing. He has been married for thirteen years and has two children. Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 22, 2002.
In January 2003 it was reported that a minister in the United Methodist Church in a Texas city was caught downloading child pornography on a church computer. We have read of several similar things happening in other places in recent months. This is a monumental tragedy and causes harm to the cause of Christ.
The Tennessean of January 26, 2003 had the headline, "Baptist church embraces lesbian minister." The story reveals that Rev. (?) April Baker who is a lesbian, has been called as associate pastor of Glendale Baptist Church of Green Hills. This is a Southern Baptist Church that may be facing being disfellowshipped from the Southern Baptist Convention. They have been ordaining females to the ministry as well as affirming homosexual marriages (?). She was hired specifically to minister to children and families. This is another case of someone being in the ministry that has no scriptural basis for being there. No woman can qualify for the ministry because she cannot be the husband of one wife. No sexual pervert has any scriptural grounds for being in the ministry. This lesbian is a graduate of Southeastern Baptist Seminary (SBC) in Wake Forest, N.C. She was not an open lesbian at the time, but the school has no right to train women for the ministry. This Southern Baptist Seminary has been a hotbed of liberalism and unbelief for many years. As far as I know, Southern Baptist seminaries are still training women for ministerial duties. The so-called conservatives have a long way to go in cleaning up the liberal junk that is in their schools.
Unfortunately for youth and families, pornography is readily available in our nation today. It is an offense against God and man that the Congress, the Supreme Court, and law enforcement will do little or nothing to stop this vile flow of unspeakable garbage that is submerging our society into the sins of Sodom and Gomorrah. The citizens seem to be unwilling to hold the politicians' feet to the fire until they dare to do something about it.
Many parents are unaware of what their children are looking at on the computer and other sources. We are told that literally thousands of porn sites exist on the world wide web. I would plead with parents not to allow their children to unrestricted use of computers that are connected to the web. Boys who once look upon such things are defiled in their minds, and carry mental images that they will keep to their grave.
Unfortunately, even in some Baptist churches, ministers are found out for committing adultery or fornication. When found out, they nearly always say that they are sorry, and that they have repented and will never do it again. I have never heard of one of them confessing their sin before they are caught. That kind of confessing is usually only words and worth nothing at all.
Not long ago, a young man called me from a distant state with a heartbreaking problem. His wife had been seduced into adultery by a youth minister. When the pastor was informed, he allowed the man to resign and move on. Where is the adulterous youth minister? He has a position in another Baptist church in the same state. No doubt he will commit the same sin in that place. For churches to allow such conduct by church staff is a vile and wicked sin. "For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?" (I Pet. 4:17).
It is a monumental mistake for unqualified men to be placed in the ministry. God is the one who calls and places men in the ministry. That is how Paul got into the ministry. "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry" (1 Tim. 1:12). Many today seem to think that the only qualification for being in the ministry is to have your sins forgiven. My wife has her sins forgiven, but she is not qualified for the ministry. You might ask, "why is that, Bro. Bynum?" It is because no woman is qualified for the ministry, because she cannot be the husband of one wife. Let us look at some of the qualifications that those who would be a preacher, pastor, bishop, elder, or an evangelist. The Lord sets the standard, all we have to do is follow.
"A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach" (I Tim. 3:2). A man that is immoral is not blameless. This means that he could not be a child molester or a homosexual, nor can he be a woman chaser. A divorced and remarried man cannot be a preacher because he is not the husband of one wife. It does not mean one wife at a time, and he is not talking about polygamy. A divorced and remarried man has not been blameless, vigilant nor of good behaviour. His behaviour must be above reproach. The preacher must be given to hospitality, and apt to teach. If he does not have these gifts, then God did not call him into the ministry.
Many have sought for a loop hole on the marriage and divorce issue in the ministry. They tell us that God called them anyway. God does not say one thing in the Bible and then tell a man to disobey it. God does not change his mind. They often point to Matt. 19:9 and the exception clause. Space nor time does not allow us to go into this, but I believe that it is not a loophole to slip a divorced man into the ministry.
"Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous" (I Tim. 3:3). No one who drinks intoxicating beverages, whether it be wine, whisky, beer or brandy can qualify for the ministry. We have known of missionaries that became addicted to wine while serving the Lord's Supper weekly. This is one more reason why we should not use intoxicating wine in the Supper. He must not be a striker or brawler, which means he is not to be pugnacious, contentious, quarrelsome person who is often contentious. He cannot be a person that is out for filthy lucre (money) or covetous of any thing.
"One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)" (I Tim. 3:4-5). The ruling of one's own house should be by love, firmness and teaching, and not by brute force. Children are to be in subjection, which means that they are under the loving control of the father and mother. No children are perfect and they all have to be corrected and disciplined at times, but they cannot be out of control. If a man cannot rule his own house, he will never be able to oversee the house of God, the church. The pastor is a bishop, which mean he has oversight of the church. That does not mean that he is the dictator of the church, but he is the overseer. Good pastors are sometimes called dictators, because someone else want to be the "tator."
"Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil" (I Tim. 3:6). A novice is a neophyte which means he is a new convert or immature. Churches make a terrible mistake in ordaining young men to the ministry who are new in the faith or lacking spiritual maturity. It is the view of this editor that a man should not be ordained to the ministry until he has a ministry as a pastor, assist. pastor or a missionary.
"Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (I Tim. 3:7). This means that the preacher must have a good report of those outside the church. If he is dishonest or lives a hypocritical life outside the church, he cannot have a good report. When this happens he is caught in the snare (trap) of the devil.
The relationship between a pastor and his wife should be an example to all of those within and without the church. "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it" (Eph. 5:25). This applies to all Christian men, but it is ever so needful in a preacher's marriage. If the husband does not practice this, he cannot expect the cooperation from his wife that he expects. Ants will rush to a cup of spilled honey, but they are not interested in a cup of vinegar.
A further word about personal self control might seem to be in order at this place. "That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour" (I Thess. 4:4). This passage is directly related to a need for marriage and sexual purity. There must be self-control or rather God-control of the body. This should be true of all Christians, but it must be true of the preacher.
This is a historic year here at Tabernacle Baptist Church. We would like to issue you an invitation to come and be a part of our 42nd Annual Bible Missions Conference March 17-19. We promise you there will be no boring business sessions or wasting of your time. There will be some of the best preaching that you could hear anywhere from preachers across the nation. You will be blessed by the music which will be scriptural God-honoring music that touches your heart and not your feet. There will be no contemporary music styles or any other unscriptural music. You will experience warm West Texas Christian hospitality and friendliness. You will be furnished two good meals a day. Postal regulations make it impossible for us to list the motels available and their rates. We can furnish that information if you will call the Church at (806) 744-4443, or email us at Reach Us. We have a wide range of motels in Lubbock. There are low-priced motels, medium-priced and high-priced motels. Just let us know what you prefer.
This Church was organized by Ben D. Johnson on March 15, 1933. It was organized as an independent Baptist Church that was not affiliated with any convention, association or organized fellowship. Pastor Johnson had a very successful pastorate for 28-years until he resigned in 1961. Starting a church is not easy at any time, but it was a difficult thing during the heart of the great depression. We thank God for Bro. Johnson for starting a scriptural church and keeping it that way for 28 years, and the people that stayed by the stuff with him.
The TBC is healthy and well after 70-years and still holds to the faith that was once delivered to the saints. None of the charter members are living today, but we have some who have been here for over 50-years. We have all age groups in our church and thank God for them. We have young couples who are keeping the nursery filled with babies, and this speaks well for the future of the church.
In all those 70-years of history, the church has only had two pastors. I doubt if there are many 70-year-old churches, if any at all, that can make that claim. It was 50-years ago that I came to Lubbock to be the assistant pastor, March 1, 1953. I continued with this for 5-years before leaving for one year to organize and pastor an independent baptist church in another state. After that I came back and was assistant pastor for two more years. In 1961 when the pastor resigned, the Church called me as their pastor and I have been here ever since. The good people have been very tolerant I am sure, or I could not have remained here for that long.
Never in 42 years have I ever considered pastoring anywhere else. I have had opportunities to preach in churches that were considering calling me as their pastor. Not one time have I ever accepted even the invitation to preach in view of a call.
I love this great church and I have no complaints. The Lord has used them to provide my livelihood for 49-years, and they take good care of my dear wife and me. Of course there have been some bumps in the road but by and large it has been a smooth journey. We have only had one church split in my 42-years of being pastor, and that was in the first five years. (I know some churches that have had over a dozen splits in that length of time.) Since then, there have been a few who thought maybe that I ought to move on, but when they could not engineer that, rather than getting right, they just moved on. These have really been few in number and usually only one family at a time. I hold no bitterness toward those people, because I have found bitterness hurts the one that is bitter more than anyone else.
Please understand that I am not boasting in any of this. I can only boast in God, who has been so gracious and kind to me and the church for all these years. Truly, I can say with David, "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot. The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places; yea, I have a goodly heritage" (Psa. 16:5-6). I can say with the apostle Paul, ". . . by the grace of God I am what I am . . . " (I Cor. 15:10). With the Psalmist we can say, "For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised . . ." (Psa. 96:4).
I very well know that I may be heading toward the earthly sunset of my ministry, but I have no plans to quit or retire. When I surrendered to the call of God 54-years ago, I knew that it was a lifetime proposition. God has given me a wonderful wife (my dear Betty), and we serve God together with joy. She encourages and helps me in every way that a pastor's wife can do. In spite of my age, I still have hopes of missing the grave and meeting the Lord in the air. I believe the next to the last verse in the bible which says, "He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus" (Rev. 22:20).
Maranatha-Pastor Bynum
Chapter 9, from the book, The Religion Racket.
It is the responsibility of religion to provide instruction that will enable the child to grow into a mature adult equipped to distinguish between right and wrong. Religion offers the training that brings the individual into a right relationship with his fellowman. Religion sets the guidelines and standards that govern the conduct between the man and woman. These moral guidelines bring happiness, maturity, and respect.
Nowhere is the failure of religion more evident than in its lack of influence upon the morality of America. The standards and moral guidelines of religion are scoffed at and ignored by this generation. Religion's failure has resulted in a generation that has failed to grow up morally. Its attitude toward right conduct in sex relations remains childish and immature. They may become adult in years but remain adolescent in morals.
This moral immaturity has resulted in this generation acting as if they were the first to discover the difference between the male and female. They are a little overwhelmed by the whole thing because they haven't really determined how to act in the face of this discovery. Formerly this problem was dealt with in the early teens ... but not any more. It has become a constant difficulty. It may be that this nation is suffering from perpetual pubescence. It is characterized by the same immaturity, uncertainty, and anxieties. Normally it would be expected that this constant obsession with sex would bring about some form of maturity. This has not happened. This generation has prolonged the agony of adolescence indefinitely.
This infantile attitude toward sex has created many problems. Juvenile fantasy has exaggerated sex beyond any resemblance of reality. Since this make believe world is never realized, the individual lives in a constant state of frustration and failure.
The childishness of today's generation concerning sex makes them extremely vulnerable to exploitation. They are bombarded on every hand by appeals to the sex instinct. Business was quick to recognize the opportunity of selling its products by coming up with a "sexy" image. This has resulted in "sexy" automobile tires, "sexy" toothpaste, "sexy" breakfast cereals, deodorants, razors, etc. Just about everything is sold with a "sex image."
These agitated adolescents find their inadequacies create an insatiable desire for exposure to nudity. This is always an indication of a callow concept of sex. It has resulted in practically everything about us being reduced to wanton vulgarity. Nudity has become the main commodity peddled in magazines, movies, nightclubs, television, stage shows, books, etc. Each depth of depravity that is reached only produces a demand for more. Sex perversion is popular; licentiousness is longed for, and obscenity is adored!
To the Romans the god of sensual love was called Cupid. The Greeks knew this god as Eros. In America we do not have an original name for him, but the god of sensual love has more worshippers than any other god. The Roman god of Cupid was originally pictured as a fine specimen of a mature young male. This image degenerated into that of a pudgy adolescent. This probably is more closely related to today's worshippers of a sensual god. Possibly they could be identified as the Cupid Cult. Sex love has been elevated into a cult. Love, sex appeal, and uncontrolled passion have become the prime factor in practically every phase of our complex, modern life.
Lately there have been some attempts to spell out the doctrines of this Cupid Cult. These doctrines come loosely under the heading of what is called "the new morality." It really isn't new. It has been dredged up from the sewers of past ages where it sank under the weight of its own fetid mass. Today's effort is nothing more than an attempt to return to the childish concepts of the primitives. It is not a step forward but a step backward.
This Cupid Cult would have us kick aside all of the "old morality" with its restrictions and emphasis upon right and wrong. Permissiveness is the key word. If both parties agree, wrong becomes right. Sex relations are heralded as an expression of love that is not to be limited to marriage. Marriage is outdated. Sex relations ultimately will become as casual as a handshake!
In this "new morality" the idea of right and wrong is ridiculed. Each individual sets his own standards and is not to be influenced by anything other than his own conscience. Any mature reasoning knows this sounds good but that it doesn't work. It must be remembered that this generation seemingly has no desire to reach maturity...in morals or intellect.
It is very evident that this religion is very successful in America. The adherents are dedicated to the worship of sex love. They do not have church buildings as such but congregate in theaters and drive-in movies to bow before the latest, "sex symbol." Here they receive the inspiration and stimulation to pursue the goal of their religion ... the satisfaction of lust. In the drive-in movies what is portrayed on the screen is quickly practiced in the cars. They watch as their "sex kittens" give graphic illustrations of what is accepted as the ideal life. They are called "sex kittens" probably because they have the face of an angel and the morals of an alley cat. What is displayed upon the silver screen has more influence upon the morals of America than what is preached from the pulpits of all other religions combined.
The "Bible" of this religion is the philosophy that can be gleaned from the current issue of magazines whose main features are pictures of nudes. The philosophy seems to urge men to stay boys all their life and to spend their time in play rather than to assume the responsibility of adults. The novel that can describe sex in the foulest language is always a big influence. The music of the Cupid Cult is given mainly to relating amateurish exploits in sex. The young seem to find this music very stimulating and challenging.
Again it must be said that the success of the Cupid Cult emphasizes the failure of religion. This generation finds it easy to cast aside the "old morality" simply because they never really knew what it was. We spend billions of dollars providing the education that will enable this generation to comprehend and eventually master all the complexities of modern life ... all, that is, except morality. Religion has failed to provide the foundation that enables a child to reach maturity in morals. It is small wonder that the young are taken in by any raving reprobate that happens on the scene. Religion has offered no alternative.
The only moral strength this generation has is what has seeped down from previous generations. Religion today has deserted the field of battle and seemingly run up the white flag of surrender. The ultimate in humiliation is the way some religions are willing to embrace the Cupid Cult and accept its standards for their own.