Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Why Imposters Love the Church, An Article by Russell Moore


Great article by Russell Moore: Why Impostors Love the Church
Recently, I read a book that kept me awake a couple of nights. It was about “Clark Rockefeller,” and the scare quotes are important. The man was neither “Clark” nor “Rockefeller.” He was a German immigrant who crafted an identity as an heir of one of America’s wealthiest dynasties. He married, fathered a child, and was involved in fraud, theft, and maybe even murder. And no one ever knew, until the very end.
What made me squirm was the fact that the fake Rockefeller’s inroad to all his deception was churches and relationships, particularly with women. He would make the connections he needed in local congregations, and he would charm the women there.
At the same time, he would parasitically imitate the men, watching and mirroring back to them their convictions and opinions, even the inflections of their voices. But behind all of that, there was nothing real but a predatory appetite.
The New Testament warns us, of course, about spiritual impostors. Sometimes, these “wolves” are there to introduce subtly false doctrine. But just as often, it seems, these spiritual carnivores hold to true doctrine, at least on the surface. But they use this doctrine and service for predatory ends. The sons of Eli, for instance, use their priestly calling to co-opt the fat of the offering and to lay with the women at the altar (1 Sam. 2). Virtually every New Testament letter warns us about the same phenomenon (e.g., 2 Pet. 2; Jude).
But why, when there is so much opportunity for debauchery out there in the world around us, do such people choose the church? 
First of all, I think it's because deception can look a lot like discipleship. A disciple is like a son learning from his father, Jesus tells us. The student resembles his teacher. That’s good and right. But the satanic powers turn all good things for evil. A spiritual impostor can mimic such discipleship when he’s, in fact, just “casing the joint,” watching the mores, learning the phrases, mimicking the convictions. It can seem like the passing down of the faith when, in reality, it’s an almost vampiric taking on of another identity, all for the sake of some appetite or other.
Second, I think it’s because these impostors are looking for something they can’t find in bars and strip clubs. Many of them “feed” off innocence itself. The Apostle Paul, therefore, warns of those who “creep into households, taking captive weak women burdened down with sins.” (2 Tim. 3:6) The impostors are able to gain power over the weak not only by deceiving them but also by morally compromising them.
Often these victims are drawn, for reasons good and bad, to spiritual authority. The impostor mimics this authority, sometimes with a precision almost to the point of identity theft. But he uses it to defile, sapping away what seems to them to be innocence as a vampire would lap up blood.
Finally, the church often draws such impostors because of a perversion of the Christian doctrine of grace. The Christian gospel offers a complete forgiveness of sin, and not only that, a fresh start as a new creation. But both Jesus and the Apostles warn us that this can easily be perverted into a kind of anti-Christ license. Faith is not real without repentance, and faith is not like that of the demons, simply assenting to truth claims. Faith works itself out in love. Faith follows after the lordship of King Jesus. Faith takes up a cross.
But a notion of “grace” apart from lordship can provide excellent cover for spiritual impostors. That’s why virtually every sex predator I’ve heard of compares himself, or is compared by one of those on whom he’s preying, as a latter-day King David. This is often the case even while this person continues to run rampant in his sin against the Body of Christ. Those who seek to hold accountable, or even just to warn the flock, are then presented as “unmerciful” or “graceless” or unwilling to help along the “struggling.”
This often leads to a church that then loses its ability to be the presence of Christ. The church, desiring to be seen to be merciful, loses any aspect of the merciful ministry of Christ because we don’t do what he called us to do: to tend the flock of God. Or we are so burned over by the presence of predators among us that we lose the ability to trust anyone. Yes, there is Demas, and yes, there is Alexander the Coppersmith. But there’s Timothy and Titus, too.
Moreover, the presence of impostors can cause us to lose confidence in the church itself. But how can that be when Jesus warns us from the very beginning that we must be watchful of this. The Apostolic Word gives us confidence that spiritual predators, like Pharaoh’s magicians, “will not get very far.” (2 Tim. 3:9)
There’s nothing more enraging than the sound of a lamb bleating in a wolf’s mouth. But the Shepherd is coming.
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Monday, May 7, 2012

FBCHS Men's breakfast May 19th with Buddy Hulsey


Guys I wanted to let you know that we are postponing our previously scheduled men's retreat until the fall. The response I received was that our men needed more time to rally their friends in order to bring as many as possible to this outreach event.  Although we moved the date back, we are providing a fresh function to kick off the men's ministry here at FBCHS. Be sure and mark your calendars for May 19th at 8 AM. We will be hosting a men's breakfast and will have a powerful speaker who will be challenging us to live such a life as to leave a godly legacy.  Buddy Hulsey is a man who has greatly influenced my life and continues to impact people's lives on a weekly basis.  Buddy has been a great friend and mentor and will be sharing truths that will greatly bless all those who attend.  What an incredible opportunity to bring your friends and neighbors to a place where they will hear a clear challenge of hope and purpose for their lives. 

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Catch-up Sunday, May 20th FBC Holly Springs

ENCOURAGEMENT comes from a message to wait on the Lord found in Acts 1:4-8. The wait is always worth it! The power of the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8 resulted in bold witnesses. In verse 11 of Acts 1 the men of Galilee are asked, “Why do you stand looking into the sky?” The time of
waiting is over; there is work to be done. He is ahead of us, looking for us to be faithful.

II Chronicles 16:9 says, “The eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His”. In other words, we need to Catch Up! He is waiting.

The phrase, Catch-Up, can be very positive. It means there is something great ahead and I don’t want to miss it! In the context of our church, a Catch-Up Sunday is an opportunity to catch up on our plans for ministry, our vision and our special needs.

Will you pray for His leadership with regard to your individual sacrificial gifts toward the Catch-Up Sunday offering? SACRIFICE means a decision to forego something, however worthwhile, in order to participate generously in support of these Catch-Up Sunday goals.

In a church’s life, as well as an individual’s, we have goals and dreams. FBC Holly Springs has ongoing ministry goals and dreams. We can simply exist from week to week or we can “press on” toward our ministry plans. We have before us opportunities to not only continue our ministry plans that are already in place, but to move forward. Catch-Up Sunday will help us achieve our goals of catching up on our budget giving as well as helping us get ahead with summer projects such as Vacation Bible School, community outreach events such as water giveaways, youth camp, the Yucatan mission project, the formation of our SHARE community food pantry, etc.  In just one example, it was such a blessing to see the fruit of last year’s VBS as little Layla was baptized two weeks ago during our worship service. To God be the glory!

The finance committee and I believe that a goal of $10,000.00 above and beyond our regular weekly budget need of $3,724.08, would be a faith goal for Catch-UP Sunday.  Notice I said a “faith goal”.  Hebrews 11:6 says 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” If we are to trust God with our eternity, we must also be willing to trust him with our finances both individually and corporately.  With that in mind, please begin to ask God to meet this financial need in a supernatural way as well as asking Him exactly how He would have you to be involved in the process. 

My prayer is that each family will make a genuine sacrifice with the same spirit as the Macedonian Christians – “not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice”. The result will be a new unity and a fresh dedication of the embership of First Baptist Holly Springs toward the Lord’s work.


Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Men's Retreat May 18th & 19th

We are considering a Men's retreat to simply regroup and challenge the men of our church to become fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.  My prayer is that every person in our church rise to the challenge of passionately pursuing God.  I sincerely believe this will begin with our men leading the way in their families and homes.  We are looking to go to a hotel type retreat center in Toccoa, GA (about two hours from Holly Springs) for a Friday night through Saturday at noon gathering.  We will be bringing in a powerful guest speaker who will be sure to instruct, encourage, and challenge us to pursue God and lead our families.  The tentative dates are May 18th and 19th.  The place we would be staying would provide supper on Friday night as well as breakfast and lunch on Saturday.  The cost would be approximately $75.00 per person and would include hotel accommodations for one night, three meals, snacks, and a notebook. I would love to get some feedback from our guys as to whether or not this would be something they would be interested in participating in.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Yucatan 2012 Summer Mission Project

FBC Holly Springs is currently putting together a mission project for July 8th through the 14th (leaving on Sunday and returning Saturday). The project will take place in the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. The focus of the mission trip will be construction, VBS, prayer walking, street evangelism, etc. God is moving mightily in this area and we hope to be the hands and feet of Jesus to these people as well as a support group to the missionaries who currently serve in that area. The cost of the trip including airfare, housing, transportation on the ground, and translators is estimated at around $1100.00 per person. We will be having our second information meeting on April 15th immediately following the worship service. FYI, a visa is not needed for this project but an up to date passport will be required to enter the county. If you have any questions whatsoever please feel free to email me at pastor.phil@fbchollysprings.com or call the church office.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Why Stay in a Dysfunctional Church?

I recently read an article by Joe McKeever entitled Five Reasons People Stay in a Dysfunctional Church. Although the entire article was very well written it was the fifth reason that really spoke to me. This is what Joe McKeever shares as the fifth reason to stay:

God called me here, and I'll stay until He says otherwise.
He/she is committed to God's will.
This is the only solidly Christian position, for my money. After all, it's the Lord's church, not mine. The program of ministry is His, not ours. The people belong to Him. And regardless of whose name is on the deed, who functions as trustees, or who can vote to sell the property, it's the Lord's church.
The only question for members of the Lord's church---I mean the only question--is "Lord, what will you have me to do?" It was the question Saul of Tarsus asked Jesus outside Damascus the day he was unseated from his high horse. And it's the right question for all of us today, pastors and people alike.
When we come into a meeting to discuss church finances and budgets, the only question is Jesus, what do you want done with your money?
When we come into a time of worship where we seek to quieten our spirits and still our bodies and find God, the only issue is Lord, what shall we do?
And when churches try to self-destruct and to linger there any longer threatens to give one a nervous breakdown, the only prayer is Lord, tell me what to do, please.
There is no more liberating thought for church leaders than this: This is the Lord's church and not mine. He died for it; I didn't. He has plans for it, and I don't. So Lord, tell us what to do with your church, and we'll do our best to obey.
Once in a while, the answer will come back that we are to leave this church and go elsewhere. That's not all bad.
A pastor told me today that some of the disgruntled members of his congregation are leaving. They led an uprising against his ministry and lost that fight, and now they are walking away. Ideally, we could wish they would have reigned in their rebellion and submitted to their godly leader--this is not an abstraction; I know these folks--but they chose not to do so.
So it was good for them to leave. The smaller congregation they leave behind will struggle for a while filling the vacancies in leadership and compensating for the loss in contributions, but the new peace and unity of purpose will be worth the effort.
I suppose we should go back and revise the opening statement. Maybe there are three groups of members: those who leave churches easily and often, those who plant themselves in concrete and will not be moved, and the reluctant ones who by their leaving bless two churches, the one they leave and the one they join.

God help us to listen and obey the voice of God!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Yucatan Mexico Mission Trip

Details are beginning to come together for our mission project to the Yucatan Peninsula this summer. The tentative dates are set for July 9th - 14th. We will be having a information meeting on Sunday, March 18th immediately following the morning worship service. If you have any interest whatsoever in this trip or feel the Lord leading in any way please join us as we discuss the many avenues of ministry that will be available on this project. At this point, the need is for general carpentry, prayer walking, vacation Bible school, etc. This is going to be an incredible opportunity to step outside of your comfort zone and experience life change. I promise, if the Lord leads you to take part, He will radically change your life as a result of ministry on foreign soil. Stay tuned for further details and feel free to email me with any pre-meeting questions.

Go God!

Pastor Phil