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News & Views, March 2003 - Edited By E. L. Bynum
The Government and the Churches - By E. L. Bynum
Email We Love - By E. L. Bynum
God's Mighty Hand - By Bill Mosley
Do It Yourself Religion - By Norman H. Wells
Ever since George W. Bush was elected President, we have heard a lot about his faith-based initiative. I would like to deal with that in this article.
Please understand that this is not an attack upon the President. As far as I am concerned, he is the best President we have had in a long time. Compared with what we have had for the previous eight years he looks better all the time. Bill Clinton was a disgrace to our nation and the office of President. I support our present President and pray for him, but that does not mean that I agree with everything he does.
I readily agree that the government has a long history of failure in their charity work. We can only imagine how much money has been wasted on useless support for people who do not need it or deserve it. It is a terrible thing for the government to pay single young girls to get pregnant and have babies so that they can get their own apartment and welfare checks. Some of them keep on having babies out of wedlock, because the more children they have, the more money and aid they will get. I could enumerate how for years the government has handed out money to people which actually destroys initiative. This has affected whole groups of people in our society. I do not object to deserving people being helped, but they should have to work for it if they are able-bodied to do so.
This does not mean that when the government gives aid to the churches that they will do the job any better. Many churches are in the charity business and that is their business, but I do not want the government to give my tax money to churches for charity. Here are some of the reasons why I think it would be wrong.
1. This means the government when giving money to churches, will eventually usurp some control over churches. Our present President may not have any intention of doing this, but he will not always be President. There will arise leaders who will exert some kind of control that will be detrimental.
2. Every cult church and organization will be lined up to get this money. They will use this to promote their false religion.
3. There will be dishonest preachers and church leaders who will steal funds or grossly misuse them. There is a lot of financial dishonesty in churches today, and when the money begins to flow it will increase.
4. People like Jesse Jackson, whether they are black or white, will be lined up at the government trough to receive what is given. Some of these people are so crooked that when they die they won't need to be buried in the regular manner, but they can just screw them into the ground.
5. Some decent churches will be tempted to compromise so that they can shake the Washington money tree. This will ultimately corrupt them so they will no longer be effective.
6. Liberal churches will be advanced and helped by this.
7. Churches should not be in the business of charity in the first place. True churches have a commission from our Lord, and it is not to go into all the world and feed, clothe and house the needy. "And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20). This was given to the church, and there is not one word in it that would justify churches going into the charity business. Our business is to preach the gospel, baptize those who believe and teach them God's word.
Early New Testament churches sometimes aided other churches financially, and their own people who were in need. They never went into the charity business. Their works of charity were governed by God's word.
I am for Christian schools for the children. As a whole, they are doing a lot better in educating children than does the public schools. However, I am against the government aiding these schools for most of the above reasons.
Ecumenicalism has become a curse to the religion of the Bible. There are so many who are urging the churches of all denominations to get together. I am sorry to say that the President seems to have joined their ranks. This might well be expected since he is a member of the United Methodist Church which is ecumenical to the core. He also relies for advice upon certain evangelicals who are ecumenical. In February 2003, the President spoke to the National Religious Broadcasters who are very much into ecumenicalism. A report was published by Baptist Press of that speech. We assume that it is an accurate account, and we quote part of it below.
By Erin Curry Feb. 10, 2003 Nashville, Tenn. (BP)President George W. Bush told those gathered at the 2003 National Religious Broadcasters Convention they can play an important role in the mentoring and healing of those who hurt in America by bringing churches together.
"Christian media outlets like yours reach 141 million people every year. That's a huge audience, and it's a responsibility that I know you take seriously," Bush said Feb. 10 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. "This nation has got a lot of wealthy and caring congregations, and we've got a lot of churches in low-income areas that need help, too. Your voices reach them all. You can communicate with them, rich and poor alike, suburban church and urban church alike. And you can help bring them together to serve those who hurt, so we can achieve a more just and generous society."
"It's been said that 11 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America. We all have a responsibility to break down the barriers that divide us. In Scripture, God commands us to reach out to those who are different, to reconcile with each other, to lay down our lives in service to others. And he promises that the fruits of faith and fellowship, service and reconciliation will far surpass the struggles we go through to achieve them."
Bush reminded the audience that suburban churches are often just a short drive away from brothers and sisters who are facing great need while doing God's work. There's an opportunity to end artificial divisions and join together in fellowship and service, he said.
"There's also an obligation. The poor and suffering are the responsibility of the whole church, even when they're not members of any church," he said to rousing applause.
The president went on to note an example on the outskirts of Nashville in Franklin, Tenn., where an associate pastor of Christ Community Church and the pastor of First Missionary Baptist Church began a fellowship that now includes nearly 60 pastors and church members of different races and denominations. Their churches work together to support a medical clinic for poor children, a legal office that gives free advice and a faith-based school where children from different backgrounds study together.
At first, the pastor of the First Missionary Baptist Church, Denny Denson, was a little wary about how these very different churches would work together, Bush said.
"And here's what he says: `There's some wall still there, but their down low enough that we can just step over them,'" Bush relayed. "And then he said this: `We are committed to each other to the end. And the Nashville area is better off for it.'"
In all these partnerships, Bush said, "lives are lifted up to display unity and reconciliation faith renewed by its works."
I am utterly appalled by some of the statements made by the President. They sound like they came directly from Promise Keepers and a myriad of ecumenical thinkers.
He talks about "bringing churches together." Speaking of suburban and urban churches he said, "you can help bring them together to serve those who hurt, so we can achieve a more just and generous society." This is the kind of thing that really thrills the liberals and the ecumenicalists.
He is quoted as saying, "It's been said that 11 a.m. on Sunday is the most segregated hour in America. We all have a responsibility to break down the barriers that divide us. In Scripture, God commands us to reach out to those who are different, to reconcile with each other . . . " He further states, "There's an opportunity to end artificial divisions and join together in fellowship and service."
"There's also an obligation. The poor and suffering are the responsibility of the whole church, even when they're not members of any church, he said to rousing applause."
This is unscriptural and deplorable, because the church has no obligation to take care of the poor and suffering when they're not members of the church, as we have already stated. What Paul said about even the taking in of Christian widows for support by the church is very relevant. (I Tim. 5:3- 16). A careful reading of this passage makes it very clear that there were restrictions on which widows could be helped by the church. Certain widows did not qualify for aid from the church, while others did. If this was true of widows, how much more, it would apply to others who are not widows.
The churches at Thessalonica and Corinth were encouraged by Paul to take up offerings for the poor saints at Jerusalem, but he says nothing about the poor people who were not Christians in Jerusalem. This offering is prominently taught in II Cor. 8 and 9. We know that it was for the saints, because it tells us so in the book of Romans. "But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints. For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem." (Romans 15:25-26)
I am sure that there will be some who disagree with me, and that is your right, but I believe a lot of sound churches are wasting funds and resources that could be used in the Lord's work. Faithful Christians may be helped, but even in this we have to be very careful.
Many will think that I am a cold-hearted person with no love or compassion for those that are in need. On some occasions I have fed poor people, and bought gas for their cars out of my own pocket. Some of them claimed to be Christians, and some of them knew nothing about salvation. Of course we could take money out of the Mission Fund or some other fund and help most of them that come along. But the church treasury contains the LORD'S money, and we had better be careful how we use it.
The thing that the unsaved poor need is the saving grace of God. A good dose of salvation would really help many of them to get out of their poverty. They need the gospel of the grace of God.
To all the brethren who disagree, I would say that you must do this as you know what the Lord wants you to do. Each one of us will have to answer to God in these as well as all other matters. I have no intention of telling any pastor or church what they should do.
He has a tremendous responsibility and he needs the prayers of God's people. We live in a world where many of the nations are hostile to America. His decisions are monumental, because they affect our whole nation. Terrorists and rogue nations would like to destroy us and that is all the more reason why we should pray for our leaders. Yes, we are to pray for those with whom we disagree. "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour." (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
I thank God that we have a President who is not ashamed to quote the Bible and who gives testimony of salvation through Jesus Christ. He is severely criticized by the ungodly for doing so. Of course I do not know his heart, and neither do you. That is between him and God as it should be. Pray for him when you agree with what he says and does, and pray for him when you disagree.
Isaiah 59:1,2 "Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear." In the context in which this statement is found, it is evident that Israel had forsaken God's prescribed method of fulfilling His divine purpose. After the crossing of the Red Sea, the people complained to Moses concerning their diminishing food supply. God promised and provided them meat in abundance. When Moses tried to reason the method whereby this might be accomplished, "...the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not." Num. 11:23
The result is always the same when God's people begin to debate with Him about His established methods. As surely as other methods are reasoned more successful than God's command, a conglomeration of confusion and chaos follows. Then comes the same condition as did in Israel. Isa. 59:14,15 "...judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the LORD saw it, and it displeased him that there was no judgment." Divine law had been replaced with human designs. And so it is today if any depart from man's inventive designs he "maketh himself a prey."
There is no justification in reasoning that frail humanity knows better than the eternal unchanging God. Although man conceives he must do something to aid God in everything from salvation to service, man always fails. God needs no help, nor is His hand shortened today that He cannot....
It is God's will that men be saved. So strong is this will of God that He gave His Son for the salvation of lost humanity. 1 John 4:10 "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." What love toward His creation that we might be called by the same title as His only begotten Son, Jesus! 1 John 3:1 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." While we were yet sinners, God sent forth His son to redeem those who were condemned by the law. Gal. 4:4,5; Rom. 5:8. The giving of His Holy Spirit to dwell within the saved is accomplished by the mighty hand of God. This incites in believers a deep desire to call the Judge of all the earth, Abba, Father. Gal. 4:6. The Father of all the earth is then our personal Heavenly Father. All this and more without any help from feeble folks to whom the Lord said, "...for without me ye can do nothing." John 15:5c.
It is not God's will that any perish in hell. 2 Pet 3:9 "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." Jesus made it clear that perishing in hell was eternal destruction. Matt. 5:29,30. This is not simply a separation from God, as some suggest, but everlasting punishment for impenitent sinners in the lake of fire. Rev. 20:15. The Lord instructs His church to go and teach lost men concerning their soul's need. When they are convicted of sin and turn in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus, they are to be baptized and taught again as redeemed men. Matt. 28:19,20.
It is a normal desire for the saved to long for the salvation of others. Paul's heart burned with desire for his own nation. Rom. 10:1. Although frail human reasoning may think some are impossible to reach, God's hand is not shortened because of our rationalization of circumstances. God alone is able to do exceeding abundantly above all we are able to ask or think. This is that the Lord may receive all the glory. Eph. 3:20,21.
Just as God's hand is not shortened that He cannot save, neither is it shortened that He cannot....
After a night in prayer to the Father, Jesus called unto Him the disciple and of these "he chose twelve, whom he also named apostles;..." Luke 6:12,13. Paul makes it clear that this is the first group in the Lord's church. 1 Cor. 12:28. It is His church, and He selected those who were to be the first members. The Lord continues to carry out His promise to these when He says in Matt. 16:18, "...upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." "Build" has the idea of a continual process until it is finished. It was the Lord that added daily to His church those that were being saved. Acts 2:47. Our Lord continued to select those to be "fitly framed together" that they may grow into an holy temple in the Lord. Eph. 2:21. To this day adding to His church continues to be His undertaking by His methods.
Keep in mind it is the Lord's church and not a select few who want to govern it. He organized it and continues to add to and maintain it's function. Organizations within or without the Lord's church are nothing more or less than the energized ambition of man to be in charge. Nothing is more disgusting than to hear, no doubt honest men, speak of their man- made organizations as "our work." And it is indeed "their" work! This is to distinguish "their work" from the work of "others." They are right in this, it is their work and not an institution of the Lord's choosing.
There is positively no necessity for man-made organizations to make decisions about who should serve or who does not qualify. The Lord is in charge of this, and it should be marvelous in our eyes. Even our Lord spent all night in prayer before HE selected the twelve apostles. It was the Holy Spirit that instructed the Lord's church at Antioch to separate Barnabas and Saul for the work "whereunto I have called them." Acts 13:2. Mission boards and organized associational meetings were not consulted, because they did not exist. It is the Lord's church the Holy Spirit of God instructed to carry on His work. The Spirit of truth was promised to the first church to guide them "into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak; and he will show you things to come." John 16:13. Since the Holy Spirit spoke to the church only the instruction given by the Father, how can any church justify having a board or even an organizational secretary to make decisions? God is still able to select and direct in all operations of the Lord's church.
Neither is God's hand shortened that He cannot....
Not every one who feels a need should be fulfilled in certain areas is called personally to that field. Some have mistaken enthusiasm to be a call to serve. Men may not always make proper discernment, but God has neither lost nor learned any proficiencies. Neither has God changed, nor can He deny Himself. Mal. 3:6; 2 Tim. 2:13.
Even God-called and church-sent missionaries continue to need the direction that comes only from God. While Paul was busy exhorting established churches, he desired to preach at other points in Asia. Yet he was "forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia," so he turned to Bithynia, but the "Spirit suffered them not" to proceed. Acts 16:6,7. The feeling of "what shall we do?" is answered for him in verse nine. A vision of a man of Macedonia came with this request: "Come over into Macedonia, and help us." There was no doubt in Paul's mind concerning the help desired. He did not mistake this as a call to set up a hospital or bring relief to the poor. Paul left immediately "assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them." Acts 16:10. He never waited for the next associational meeting to get the approval of "our work."
Even in the Old Testament we have the intent of God prevailing over the designs of men. Joseph's brother desired a different end for Joseph when they sold him to the Ishmaelites. They were sure they would never see him again. It was to their advantage that their plan for his death did not materialize. Joseph understood fully only when the design of God was fulfilled. Only then could he say, "...ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive." Gen. 50:20
Neither is God's hand shortened that He cannot...
In the OT case of Joseph above, "...the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison." Gen. 39:21 So it was with Paul when it looked as though he and all with him would perish in the stormy sea. Paul could encourage others confidently saying, "...there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve, Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar: and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee." Acts 27:23,24.
It does not take an organizational board or secretary to supply the need of missionaries. Nor are such organizations needed to carry on any of the Lord's approved work. This is the business of the Lord's church directed by the Holy Spirit. Many God-called and church- sent missionaries have witnessed in their own situation how God has supplied. Even as it was for Paul's need. Phil. 4:16 "For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity." The church at Philippi remembered God's mediation in their behalf through Paul's vision of the Macedonian. The church at Philippi did not send that which met Paul's necessity through a convention, association, or clearing house. Nothing was taken out to pay a courier of any type. It was the local church's business and they needed only to be directed by the Holy Spirit.
There should be no doubt that even as God supplied all the need of this church, He can also "...supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:19. He owns the cattle on a thousand hills and every beast of the field. Certainly He can fulfill the need of the Lord's church to carry on the work He commands to be done. Philippi and other churches in Macedonia were willing to give, even in their poverty, to be involved in and encourage the work in other fields. 2 Cor. 8. The secret to this kind of commitment was first to give "...their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God." v. 5. There is never a willingness to give monetarily until the man surrenders himself. A God-called church-sent missionary had brought them the good news of salvation through Christ Jesus, and it incited a willingness in their heart. "Poverty" was not a crutch that the churches of Macedonia adjusted to prop them up. They gave "their own selves" and God supplied their need and an offering to help others.
God's hand is not shortened that He cannot...
What greater realization of God's ability to secure than to accept the fact that He knows all things. It is not simply a knowledge of our existence. It is a personal knowledge of His children in particular. Since He has known the end from the beginning, God knows the worth of His prime creation. Job 28:24 "For he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;..." Only our Creator can look so intently at such undeserving creatures with holy regard. Only by His grace alone can God look with pleasure, favor and care on the unworthy. Luke was inspired to write these words for our encouragement: Luke 12:6,7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God? But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows." The value God has placed upon the saints and the Lord's church assures us that God's hand is not shortened that He cannot secure. Our guarantee of this is seen in His working in behalf of others in the inspired writings.
It is for our benefit that Paul experienced both closed and open doors in his missionary endeavors. Also that the Lord stood by Paul in the stormy sea quelling his fear of descending into the deep. As we see the work of God and His Son progressing against all opposing odds, let us say with Paul, "Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer; for I believe God..." While all the conventions, associations, and fellowships say, "It can be done better our way," let us be of good cheer and simply believe God. Rom 8:31,32 "What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" Listen closely, the Lord has not changed in the instruction he gave Moses. "...the LORD said unto Moses, Is the LORD'S hand waxed short? thou shalt see now whether my word shall come to pass unto thee or not." (Num. 11:23) We shall see whether His word will come to pass that He spoke to His church in Matt. 28:20. "...and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." It is and it will. Be encouraged!
(We receive a lot of email and letters. Below you will find just a few of those that have blessed our heart. E. L. Bynum)
I just wanted to tell you that your article, Is it Right: to Judge, To Expose Error, & To Call Names? is excellent. I have known about it for years and linked to it, but wanted to express my thanks for all you do. Dee
Bro. Bynum, I'm just a soldier seeking God's will for my life. I realize you have come under fire a lot as well. Lately, the Lord has impressed upon me to show in a loving way the futileness of the NIV and the corruptness of new versions. I have gathered research from your site, and publication, along with www.chick.com and others. I reckon, I will just copy the dozens of pages countering the false or watered down new bibles and mail or hand deliver to pastors in dozens of churches in my area. It will not be a popular choice to counter those who have been misled yet I'm accountable and just want to serve our Lord as effectively as I can. I make mistakes, yet he is faithful, I want to be more faithful and do his will. Have a great week and keep up the good work. 2 Tim 2:15.
Yours in Christ our Lord, Ray
PS. also, I've been praying about joining the army for a 2 year hitch, and I know the ups and downs associated with the military. Yet in our day, I have sympathies for those who serve. When I was younger, I got ready to join up, yet my dad disapproved, so out of respect, I declined. Yet, I believe I could be useful and a light in the army for our Lord. Please keep me in your prayers as I seek God's blessing if he wants me to join the USA army. Thank you for your ministry, you've been a blessing to me, a young evangelist and others serving in my little state of TN, the volunteer state. God bless as you serve.
Dear Bro. Bynum, I wanted to thank you for having the courage to publish the letter and your response to David Stokes. It is very alarming to see how quickly the Old fashioned Fundamentalism values that I was raised on and was trained to follow are leaving us under the guise of "Changing our methods without changing our message."
I am 47 years old. I graduated from Arlington Baptist College in Arlington, Texas. As you know A.B.C. is the old Bible Baptist Seminary founded by Dr. J. Frank Norris in Fort Worth, Texas. In actuality the first fundamental college in America from which Springfield came forth. I can relate to your frustration of the meeting at David Stokes Church when to my surprise I saw in the "Fundamentalist" (long time newsletter of A.B.C.) the schedule for their Fall semi-annual fellowship meeting in Jacksonville, Florida. Among their list of speakers for the meeting was DR. JERRY VINES, PASTOR OF THE SOUTHERN BAPTIST FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH OF JACKSONVILLE. What a shock to see in the "FUNDAMENTALIST" the need to go outside the ranks to have Dr. Vines. I once again am convinced that we are watching the demise of the very groups that have been the backbone of soul winning and Church building in America. I find myself feeling very alone in trying to stay by the principles of old fashioned fundamentalism. I am also amazed at how many guys who came up through our ranks have been misguided by guys like Rick Warren and Bill Hybels into swallowing the lies of building a Church on new methods without changing our message when in actuality as you read in Stokes letter that by using different versions of the Bible he HAS CHANGED HIS MESSAGE by using Bibles that dismiss entire sections of our sacred Bible. In their quest to have their worldly crowds they have COMPROMISED the very principles that our heritage was built upon. I call on them as well to drop their titles as Baptist and call themselves what they really are- COMPROMISERS of the saddest type.
God help us few who are left to stand up for right. I would call as you have on all old fashioned preachers to avoid these guys like the plague. I believe in even attending these meetings they are placing their stamp of approval on these worldly methods to confuse and distort the principles of fundamentalism.
I will continue to stand if alone on my old fashioned heritage and my beloved K.J.V. BIBLE if I have to host my own fellowship meeting and preach to myself. Thanks for letting me vent. In Christ, Dr. Lynn Sayne, Pastor, Suncoast Baptist Church, Tampa, Florida
I would just like to thank Brother Bynum for the lessons on salvation and Christian growth. My name is Tim Vaughan and I really needed some good Sunday school material which I have found on your web site. Our church is a small struggling independent Baptist church without a pastor. Please pray for me as I try to stand in the gap until we find another pastor.
Tim Vaughn
Greetings, I am a Pentecostal minister and read your article on did Jesus have long hair. I agree with you 100%. I just wanted to let you know I really enjoyed the thought. Have a blessed day. Tim
Pastor Bynum, My name is Damon Griebel II. I am a college student at Verity [Education]. It is run by Bill Gothard. I am writing you to say I really enjoyed reading what you wrote about William Tyndale. I was doing research on him to give a speech to the college about him. I am very encouraged by what he did. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to do that. It helped me very much.
God Bless, Damon Griebel II
Brother Bynum, I am a bearded Sovereign Grace, Southern Baptist Pastor, with short hair who is enjoying your website. Thank you for all of your hard work!
Blessings, Aaron Turner
I appreciate your consistent stand on the word of God. Just looked over the notes on Pastoral Epistles and appreciate and agree with qualifications for the ministry. This one is under attack by our "brethren." God bless and thank you for a good web site.
Pastor Jerry Asberry
Dear Dr. Bynum, Just want to thank you for your website. Especially do I appreciate all the items defending our Authorized KJV Bible! The article by Dr. Logsdon is most powerful. I'm referring many people to that page of your site. May God use it.
Thanks again. Wylie W. Fulton, North Carolina
I accidentally stumbled upon the article about Christian women's dress. I have been battling with this for a while now being told so many different things that pants is ok because in Deut. 22:5 that wasn't for the way we dress today, etc. Thanks, Judie Carnley
Bro Bynum, I am hoping to lead a Bible study for young high school and college age ladies and want to discourage such immodest dress. I'm looking for scripture to use that refers to our raiment, covering, clothing, etc. in heaven. I will be trying to point these young girls and ladies to a more modest lifestyle with a heavy emphasis on modesty and purity. Any information that you can give me will be appreciated.
Thank You, Cheryl
Hi Pastor Bynum, Just a note to tell you I really enjoy your site. I am a member of Liberty Baptist Church in Ada, Ohio, Pastor is Lonnie Taylor. I have downloaded and am trying to study your material, it is a pleasure to see this type writings. There is an abundance of trash on the web. Thank you for your efforts on this sight and may God bless it and you real good. I was stationed at James- Connley AFB in Waco 1964-1966. Attended Technical training in Wichita Falls 1953 and Recruiter school at Lackland AFB in 1970. And I ended up retiring in Ohio ??? Philip D. Patton, Minister to Nursing Homes
Hi, I am just writing with a question. I read the article you have on your website about womens attire. You believe that women should wear only dresses or skirts and not pants. I also agree with you. But what does a woman do when her husband thinks that it doesn't matter what you wear and thinks that wearing dresses is crazy. I wore dresses for a long time, at least until my husband asked me for a divorce because of them. I actually gave all of them away and now I feel so far away from God. I feel that He was actually the one who put it into my heart to wear them in the first place. What do I do, go against my husband and wear them anyway? I would actually have to go out and buy some as I don't have anymore left.I am so confused. Sincerely, Isabel Evans
I want to thank you for your article concerning the JVI ministries. I have watched their show for years and found a lot of their material interesting. I was baptized a catholic, went to a catholic school, and my mother's sister was a nun. I also traced my family genealogy back several centuries and discovered that they were catholic and fled from Wales to Ireland to avoid converting. For the past 20 years, I have studied the bible almost every day, and for the last few years I've also read about the popes & the history of the catholic church. In my mind, this church is the most evil institution that has ever existed. How can JVI, claim to have memorized all of these scriptures and not identify the church as the whore of Babylon. Each new episode now, he keeps plugging the catholic church & the pope. Today, he even spoke of the "Assumption" of Mary, and used this to support the rapture? There is no doubt that he and his wife are themselves "whores," that are either being threatened or blackmailed by the church, or they want to appeal to Catholics for the dollar. With the recent scandal concerning pedophile priests, it's a wonder the catholic church still has followers. Thank you so much for exposing the truth. So many ministries are afraid to confront the Catholic church. May God Almighty and the grace of our Lord Jesus stay with you and bless your ministry, Sincerely, Tim Kelliher
Dear Dr. Bynum, Thank you for the help on divorce and remarriage. Your web site was very useful. Thanks again for your work and for having such a wide knowledge of so many issues.
May the Lord bless you and yours. Unity Baptist Church (Independent), Brown M. Sims, Zionville, N.C.
Chapter 10, from the book, The Religion Racket Nearly everyone has heard the story of the minister on the golf course who sliced his drive off the first tee toward the rough. The ball hit a tree, ricocheted to the ground, hit a rock, and bounded back into the air. On its flight upward the ball hit a bird in flight just at the right angle and bounced onto the green, rolling to a stop one inch from the hole. A gentle wind blew it into the cup. A hole in one! The minister raised his eyes to heaven and complained, "Father! Please! I'd rather do it myself."
This is not only amusing but also illustrates a truth. In matters of religion most people seem to prefer doing it themselves. We have developed a kind of "do it yourself" religion. The prophets spoke of every man doing that which was right in his own eyes, and this is a description of today. Each individual seems to have his own particular idea of religion he is building from a do it yourself kit. We never seem to be content with what God has said or done ... we'd rather do it ourselves.
Nothing is more apparent than the uncomplicated simplicity of worship as it was practiced in New Testament times. Obviously, this was to be the pattern, but it has never satisfied man; he'd rather do it himself. Most of the elaborate, ornate, complicated rituals and procedures of today's worship came from man's do it yourself kit. One would be hard pressed to try and associate the pompous, formal, ritualistic ceremonies of today's religion with an example given by the Lord. We'd just rather do it ourselves in our own way. We want to be religious, but we don't want the Lord to tell us how.
Much of today's religion is founded upon do it yourself creeds and doctrines. Jesus put it this way, "In vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."
Religion has developed its own methods for getting things done. Everyone seems to have his own schemes, systems, and methods for being religiously successful. "How to do it" books on just about any subject are available. A casual look at the books on religion reveals a great number with titles such as the following:
How to Boost Your Church Attendance
How to Work for Christ
How to Win Others to Christ
How to Be a Soul winner
How to Succeed in the Christian Life
1000 Plans and Ideas For Sunday School Workers
65 Ways to Give An Evangelistic Invitation
Ideas For a Successful Church Program
Successful Church Publicity
These books all present what are supposed to be tried and proven plans for being religiously successful. They might be called "Get Religious Quick" schemes. They are the do it yourselfer's dream. These schemes all come packaged complete with elaborate details as to how to make them work. If the plan is followed results are guaranteed!
There are those alert enough to keep an eye on the advertising, business and entertainment world. Anything that works in these fields can usually be religionized and made to work in the churches. Too much of religion is concerned with carrying out success schemes and promotions. We have taken the majesty, glory, and magnificence of religion and reduced it to a cheap, do it yourself plan.
Yes, do it yourself religion is popular. Everyone prays, "Thy will be done." But really, we'd rather do it ourself. Everyone can know what the Bible says but we'd still rather do it our own way. The preacher brings good sermons but we are not about to receive his instructions. We'd rather do it ourself.
Another very apparent quality that early worship services possessed was a lack of organizational machinery. Not so [of] today's do it yourself religion. Look at the mass of complex organizational machinery we have found necessary to run our do-it-yourself religion. An overabundance of organization bogs down the whole structure. The average denomination has to operate in a complicated hierarchy that is awesome to behold.
The program of the church is normally carried on through a maze of committees, boards, departments, etc. Very little ever really gets done because it is almost impossible for any project to work its way through all the organizational channels. This reaches the extent that nearly all the members of some churches are officers in the church machinery. Too many Chiefs and not enough Indians!
The church is nearly always a member of a local denominational organization, which in turn is part of still a larger one. This proceeds until it reaches the worldwide activities. The organizations in these various branches of the denomination continually grow larger ... usually by duplication of labor. Ordinarily, the denomination belongs to one of the super world organizations that bind the denominations together. One of these super organizations employs more than 200 ministers in desk jobs at their headquarters! The average pastor could probably give himself full time to keeping up with all the organizational machinery of which his position makes him a part. Too many times he finds this is what has happened.
The complex machinery of today's religion has also produced a need for spiritual specialists. There was a time when being a minister meant preaching and attending to the spiritual needs of a congregation. Today the cry is for specialization. The day of the general practitioner will probably soon be over. Today it is common for larger churches to have several different kinds of clergy on their ordained staffs. One minister can be in charge of sermons; another specializes in home visitations, while another heads up the ministry of teaching. There are educational directors, music directors, and pastoral counselors who also operate clinics. In some cases there are even women preachers, but these find it difficult to meet the requirement of being the husband of one wife.
Missionaries have to be experts in irrigation, social work, nutrition, contour plowing, construction, languages, etc. Missionaries have found that a lot of their work has been taken over by the Peace Corps. Some have found this gave them a little time to do such non- essential things as teaching the Bible.
Most of the activity in religion today is nothing more than keeping the machinery running. A lot of this organizational machinery is kept running long after its purpose has been forgotten. The resultant mess that man has made of religion reveals the utter failure of this complicated mass of organizational machinery. The simple solution seems to be to admit the failure, scrap the machinery, and turn the Lord's business back over to the Lord!
Today's do-it-yourself religion has even developed a language all its own. It is composed of words and phrases that never mean what they say. These words and phrases have to be translated, or at least, interpreted. Most church goers understand this language and the meanings have fairly well been standardized. Here are some typical phrases and their interpretations:
"And in conclusion..." Interpretation: "I am going to preach another 20 minutes."
"This is a really fine crowd for such a rainy morning." Interpretation: "The attendance is way down."
"Now I never argue about religion." Interpretation: "I'm going to set you straight about religion."
"Now I don't want to pass judgment." Interpretation: "Here is my judgment."
"Now I don't want to talk about them..." Interpretation: "Wait until you hear what I heard about them."
"I don't believe in offering envelopes because the Scriptures say, `Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth.'" Interpretation: "I'm ashamed to let anyone know how little I give."
"Now I don't want my children to get special attention." Interpretation: "My kids are better than the others."
"One thing about it, he really sings from the heart." Interpretation: "He can't sing."
"I believe in allowing my children to express themselves fully. I don't believe we should lay down too many restrictions. Young people must have their fun." Interpretation: "My children are running out of control. I can't do a thing with them."
"Its not the amount of the gift, it is the spirit that counts." Interpretation: "I'm ashamed to give you this little gift."
"Now I know what I say doesn't amount to much." Interpretation: "You had better listen to me."
"It doesn't matter if you win or lose, its how you play the game that counts." Interpretation: "We lost."
"After all, confession is good for the soul." Interpretation: "I got caught."
"Sure, I take a little drink now and then." Interpretation: "I'm a drunk."
"Let's adjourn the meeting and think about it for a week." Interpretation: "Let's go home and see what our wives say.
"I won't make promises I might not keep but I'll try to be in church Sunday." Interpretation: "I won't be in church Sunday."
"All that preacher is after is money." Interpretation: "I'm not giving."
"I don't believe the pastor should be so personal in his preaching." Interpretation: "I'm guilty."
"I don't care what people say about me." Interpretation: "It kills me when I think people are talking about me."
"The preacher shouldn't have favorites." Interpretation: "The preacher is not paying enough attention to me."
"I don't think she would be happy in our church." Interpretation: "Don't invite her."