FBC Alamo Forum for Accountability and Integrity

God Instructs Church To MOVE Instead Of Win Souls

2011-12-07T12:57:00.000-08:00

From the church web site:

"Almost 10 years ago we started asking ourselves the question, 'God what do you want us to do here at First Baptist Alamo?'”

"The decision to relocate the church was the biggest challenge by far."

Evidently the answer to the question was God wanted the church to assume a multi-million dollar debt. Evidently God did not want to save the dozens of people who live within walking distance of First Baptist Church.

Evidently the "decision to relocate" was easier than the "decision to win souls." Softball for Jesus seems to have a higher priority than saving lost people from going to Hell.

Did the staff of FBC Alamo already win every soul in town to the Lord? Is that why God allegedly led them "to relocate the church" outside the city limits? How many lost people live within walking distance of the church now?

As a Sunday School teacher, how many people have you personally brought to the Lord in the past six months? As a church staff member, how many homes did you visit within walking distance of the church building you just left? Did you disciple them into First Baptist? Did you ever visit them at all?

Is softball really more important than introducing lost people to Jesus?

"Stolen Domain Name & Web Site Redirect"

2011-12-05T23:06:00.000-08:00

It's pretty low when an alleged "man of God" tells half truths and lies. But why should we be surprised?

There are more than one set of commandments in the scriptures. But the command not to bear false witness appears in all of them. It is sad when leaders feel it necessary to lie and mislead others because they refuse to win souls as Jesus himself commanded. If it were important, I would do more about it.

Here are some issues:

1) Misleading accusations such as "Stolen domain name..." are simply lies. There is no other way to describe it. It is a lie.

2) There was no "unanimous decision to relocate several years ago." There was no actual congregational vote as one would expect when asking a multi-year commitment of several million dollars. There was the bully vote, a broad query of asking everyone to stand to support something, always followed by mass movement. It's called the heard instinct, one a few move, the rest follow along. A unanimous vote was impossible to know since there was no accurate vote ever taken. Amazing that plenty of church members were certainly vocal against the move. Yet it is still being presented as a "unanimous decision" which was far from the truth.

NOTE: Unfortunately it is typical in situations where leadership is pushing an agenda to omit a formal vote and instead, simply get the folks stirred up emotionally, to gear excitement towards the planned agenda as opposed to honestly asking for a decision. Emotions often win over logic. Entire sessions are designed to get railroad in the response needed, not to seek the truth. For example, the plan will be presented over a period of weeks or months. Then when the deadline comes, instead of having a legitimate vote, there will be a "cheer-leading" session followed by the question. Instead of "If you are for this decision please stand, all opposed remain seated" or something like that, the question is usually stated similar to "If you want God to continue to lead us on to greater things, then STAND UP!" or something like that. Rarely is there the chance given for the opposition to do the same.

3) My father was never for the move in any way but it was presented as though he "was in favor" of it. Not at all. But my father knew it was going to happen, like several church members did. There are organizations whose business model and services are designed to systematically present the leader's or his committee's personal agenda as God's will and to convince the congregation of that. My father was a good man and provided products and services to the church during the planning like he always did. If they had a need, he helped out. But that was in no way an endorsement of this unnecessary move, providing activity rather than actually winning souls. There were long-time members against the move. Some have passed on, some are still there and some have moved on, as one staff member told me to do if I didn't like it. Oh the love of Jesus...how it is forgotten when we want to get out agenda pushed through.

THE TRUTH?? When asked about the church move, my father's verbal response was that they better fill all those empty pews before worrying about moving to a new location. Like many, my father was aware that the pastor at FBC Alamo is on a career track. Ten years is about their limit there. Most are ready to move to greener pastures...unless they get their way.

This forum is for Accountability and Integrity regarding First Baptist, Alamo. It is clear that this blog should be taken more seriously now even than when it began.

FINALLY:

I resent being called a thief publicly, slandered and accused of something that was neither necessary to do nor of my nature.

I resent having lies told about my dead father who in four weeks leading to his death received only two church visits that I know of.

But I am not surprised anymore when men use "God" to push their personal agenda. I've noticed it for 40 years in ministry. The ministry is a great career for many who have no other employable skills. Just stop lying about others and slandering people in the name of Jesus. At least TRY to have a little integrity.

Church Signs of the Times

2011-08-22T11:34:00.000-07:00

Southern Baptists have the fewest baptisms since the 1950s and are losing members. It's time to build a new building to celebrate our total refusal to win souls to Christ.

First Baptist averages ONE HUNDRED FEWER MEMBERS on Sunday morning than they averaged thirty years ago.

So we need a new church sign descriptive of what is happening. Since the newspaper is so excited to print publicity shots for the abandonment of the historic building on the most strategic corner in the county, let's see how the church sign will look for the first few Sundays of the grand abandonment of the city of Alamo. Let those lost people fend for themselves. We have a new building, new seats, new P.A. system, new band, new parking lots, new softball fields and plenty of space to grow to 200 on Sunday.

Amazingly First Baptist Church used to have well over 300 people every Sunday with less room and few complaints. But if you are not going to reach people for the Lord and win new souls to Christ, at least you can have new carpet and new seats and a new lighting system. Busy-work always gives the illusion that God if moving, when it's really nothing more than a few tractors moving dirt and a few guys playing softball for Jesus.

So it looks like the lost people in Alamo who do not attend church anywhere will never be asked to attend First Baptist Church. At this point, has anyone even tried to lead a single person to the Lord who lives within walking distance of the church building? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

While there are far more Southern Baptist churches now than in the 1950s and 1960s, observers say baptisms have essentially plateaued since 1950. In 2010 there was one baptism for every 48 members of a Southern Baptist church. Sixty years ago the ratio was 1:19. In other words, it takes FORTY-EIGHT members of First Baptist Alamo to win ONE person to Christ. It takes 48 people to win one soul from hell?? Does NOBODY ever witness anymore? Do no church member or staff member EVER try to lead anyone to eternal life in Jesus? Who are you kidding? And you think you need a new building? In order for First Baptist to thrive as the living body of Christ, we need a lot less consumers and more co-laborers, people who are sharing the love of Christ with their neighbors, people who lead other people to Christ. Whatever you are doing now is killing the church. There are actually more new churches and fewer members overall.

So instead of winning lost people to Christ, good ole First Baptist will finally become the newest country-club on the highway. When you can't win souls to Christ, when you REFUSE to win souls to Christ, you just build a new building. Churches everywhere are doing it. Let the local folks just go to hell. We have a new club house and a huge debt to pay-off down at the bank.

Newsflash: 279 in Sunday School at Alamo First Baptist

2010-05-17T08:26:00.000-07:00

Isn't this great news. First Baptist Alamo has 279 in Sunday School...in May, 1975.

Same buildings, plenty of room for classes.

Smaller parking lot, plenty of parking space.

May 2010, 179 in Sunday School.

Thirty-five years later, same buildings, one-hundred fewer people. "We need more space!"

Let's go into debt (un-scriptural) and build softball fields for Jesus for 100 fewer people.

Let's leave the crossroads of the county, Hwy 88 and Hwy 54, and move to the country. Lets forget about our un-churched Alamo neighbors and rip out members from other churches.

We practice that long-time Baptist pattern that it is easier to give money than to personally become involved in the lives of others. We demonstrate that it is easier to give money than to personally win people to the Lord one-on-one.

It is easier to build a building than to win souls.

Let our historic church property deteriorate so we can sell it to some other sucker...er...to some other church and let them take care of the problems that we purposely neglected in the name of Jesus. Glory to God!

Softball for Jesus beats soul-winning any day.

Going into debt $$$ beats personal evangelism any day!

"Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus" Col.3:17

"Whatever debt you go into, go into debt in the name of the Lord Jesus."

"Whatever classroom ceiling you allow to deteriorate, allow it to deteriorate in the name of the Lord Jesus."

$228 per Family Each Month

2010-04-29T19:58:00.000-07:00

Ten thousand dollars each month.

With the average of 175 people in church every week, each person in church would be required to donate $57.15 per month just to service that debt. Every baby in the nursery would have to give $57.15 a month. Every seventh grader and fifth grader would need to give $57.15 a month to service that debt.

A family of four would need to give $228+ each month just to service the debt. Then you still have to give regular donations to keep the doors open. And last I heard, the stained glass windows are not even going to be moved. Those are the windows paid for by the founding families of the church, the families and individuals whose names are on the windows.

Here is the irony of the situation:

1) People who have NO MONEY voted FOR the new building!

2) Young people who have NO MONEY voted FOR a $10,000/month debt!.

(They have NO MONEY!)

3) People who have NEVER REACHED EVEN ONE SOUL FOR CHRIST voted FOR the building.

Let, me ask you a question. Will a modernist "auditorium" that feels and looks more like a sports arena than a place of worship reach lost people in Alamo? Will softball fields and video screens help reach those people in Alamo who now live close to the church but do not attend? What has happened to a traditional sense of place (in terms of church buildings) in the Southern Baptist Convention that has characterized the South? Why has building replaced soul winning? Why has "new and improved" replaced preservation and conservation of our heritage? This constant treadmill of building new buildings with all the fund raising and dislocation that goes with it is hardly conducive of a settled sense of continuity that develops a spiritual community. This entire enterprise has been a fiasco.

Yes, I understand that church buildings are only tools. But when the current "tools" sit half empty on any given Sunday morning, what makes you think that moving the building out of town will reach more lost people in town, as was once stated as the purpose, to reach lost people? If the church buildings are only tools, why aren't you using the tools you have now? Like I said in an earlier post, if you aren't reaching lost people now, you certainly will not reach lost people when you move. Sure, you will draw some families from other churches (People are always drawn to new paint), but that is not evangelism!!

There is much to be gained to see and feel the presence of one’s parents and their parents in the same place in which one is baptized, sings in the choir, stands before the altar in marriage, sits in the pew for weekly services. There is much to be lost as one sits in a building with no links to the past. That is especially true of modern buildings that were designed to be austere, arid, depersonalized, detached, and ahistorical.

Even though I am not currently a member of FBC Alamo, that does not mean that we cannot see things going on that should be addressed. Ideas and observations have power. The discussion of ideas produces a sifting process in which the truth can emerge. That is why forums such as this are incredibly valuable. I would hope others can read these posts and discuss what is happening at FBC Alamo.

1) Membership is stagnant.
2) Virtually no lost people are actually being reached for Christ.
3) Moving the church will put the congregation in a terrible debt.
4) Ministry that is non-existent today will be non-existent after the move.
5) Every person attending church will need to pay $57.15 per month just to pay down the debt.

With truths such as that, who has time to reach lost people?

Time For A Decision

2010-04-05T17:48:00.000-07:00

What is happening in your life? What is happening in the life of those who live across the street from the church? What is happening in the life of those who live within two blocks of the church building? Do you know who lives within a block of First Baptist Church? Are those local citizens in your Sunday School Class on Sunday morning? If not, where are they at that time? Why aren't they at FBC?

Who visits the sick folks in town during the week? Who gives comfort to a family when someone is dying in the hospital? My Dad was a member of First Baptist Church for around sixty years. However, when my Dad was dying, there was not a church member or church leader in sight, nor had there been for several days!

Do you think THAT is ministry? Do you call that representing Jesus?

Is softball still more important to you than actually knocking on doors and inviting lost people to church? Do you ask for real ministry from the leadership or are you satisfied with the status quo?

What about plans for the future? The "new club-house" building program was put on hold because God forgot to tell the congregation and the church leaders about His planned mini-recession for the economy. So what's gonna happen in Alamo now? First Baptist has been a nice, little neighborhood club for many years, a little religious club with weekly activities and a stagnant membership. How long will it remain a club, for members only, making very little, if any, impact on Alamo or Crockett County?

When will First Baptist actually reach out to the individuals in the local community, one on one?

When will First Baptist move from an idle, fruitless "we all together should..." style of ministry programs to a powerful, effectual "I, personally, will..." style of individual ministry? To have an impact on the community, it must happen. To have a positive, active spiritual influence on Alamo, members of First Baptist must each convert from the passive "we" idea to the active "I" idea of actually talking to individuals, one on one, and reaching them personally.

When you personally reach individuals, then the community receives the results.

First Baptist can remain just another, basically ineffective church, just another one of several in the community, as it has been for so many years. Or the individual church members can demand active ministry, positive, people-reaching ministry, life-changing ministry to individuals in Alamo.

Will First Baptist remain just another religious club, coasting along, serving up the status quo week after week? Or will each individual church member become genuinely involved in reaching an individual in Alamo, personally impacting the life of a citizen of Alamo, acting out the great commission of Jesus...one on one?

FLASH! Economy Affects Spiritual Radar - Folks Unable To Discern God's Actual Will

2009-04-03T15:37:00.000-07:00

ECONOMY AFFECTS GOD SPEAKING TO CHURCHES

Yes, it seems to be true. God has been speaking to Christians, telling them to go into debt (never mind the Bible) and build new buildings. It is happening all over the country. One church had drawings prominently displayed on the wall. They also had a scale model of the new Christian retirement center God already told them to build.

The economy got bad and suddenly God changed his mind. So they moved the church five miles away instead, abandoning the drawings, abandoning the property and abandoning the people who live there. WHAT??? What happened to God speaking? Did God change his mind? Is God so fickle that he doesn't know what he wants?

God told another church to go into ELEVEN MILLION DOLLARS of debt to build a new building. Today, three years after the building was finished, they still owe several million bucks on that fiasco and the new pastor is trying to convince the deacons that they need a NEW sanctuary to reach new people.

Isn't it amazing (and convenient) that "God's will" usually follows the economy. It's a miracle and it saved our reputation as representatives of Christ. And so, with no evangelism to speak of, resulting in stagnant church membership, and no professional people in the church (with big bucks), and in a depressed economy, isn't it convenient that God has personally "put a hold" on the new building.

I wonder to whom God spoke first about waiting? Did God tell one of the deacons or the pastor first? Or did God tell one of the little old ladies that perhaps we should wait awhile?

Often we hear that God speaks through circumstances. When we say that, what we really mean is, we will "go with the flow" but we use spiritual sounding platitudes to rationalize our decision and make it sound like we are actually HEARING FROM GOD. Again, how convenient.

People say, "We missed God's timing" or something just as evasive, and phony. How can you claim to hear God speak so clearly about going into millions of dollars of debt, then claim to "miss God's timing" when the plans fall apart?

Someone is lying. Either "you" or God. Or perhaps God just can't make up his mind.

I need to visit and talk again to those folks who told me they had prayed about building a new church building and it WAS, without a doubt, God's will. I want to ask them what God told them about the multi-year delay in his plan from the time he originally told them personally it was "God's will" to move from a historic and prime location out to the edge of town, away from the very people to whom the congregation is allegedly trying to minister.

How convenient this recession really is. Perhaps now the church folk can actually DO the work of the church, the work of actually making disciples and teaching them to make more disciples...to reproduce. Then maybe one day, in the future, there might actually be a need for more room.

Or maybe the status quo will be maintained and the new FBC Clubhouse out in the country will have to wait awhile. If only we REALLY knew God's will! If only...

Accountability and Integrity

2008-11-08T08:05:00.000-08:00

ACCOUNTABILITY:
responsibility, answerability, blameworthiness, liability

INTEGRITY:
honor, uprightness, candor, forthrightness, goodness, honestness, honorableness, incorruptibility, incorruption, principle, righteousness, sincerity, straightforwardness, virtue

--------------------------------------------------------------------

I know of a church that used to have over 2000 people in Sunday School. Culture changed, the neighborhood changed, the church split, etc. A few years ago, they had a pastor who did not get along with many in the congregation, so many more left that church and went to other churches.

Three years ago, the church hired a new pastor. He is a nice guy, good preacher, but he does not actively practice spiritual reproduction. So the church is drifting, slowly dieing. A handful of members have worshipped together for over thirty years. But the "young people" have drifted away, and I can't blame them. You see, this church is in a large city and people have more options than they do in Alamo. A handful of "long-time" churchmen have their hands on the controls. The pastor preaches well and doesn't rock the boat. So they keep plugging along and member keep drifting away.

Even now, trouble is brewing. They are having to dip into the savings to keep the church programs going. Some say the church is dieing. But others will keep hanging on and hanging on, doing the same thing, yet expecting different results. Status quo wins and the people don't.

First Baptist Church of Alamo used to have no competition. But today, folks will drive to Jackson or to CrossRoads or to other churches in the area. They don't "need" FBCA. And they are flocking elsewhere.

When church leaders railroad their personal agenda (in the name of Christ) on a congregation, unless true accountability is asked, a man with a strong personality can get away with murder...murdering a congregation.

My father died a few months ago. My family has been members of First Baptist Church of Alamo since the late 1940s. I still call FBCA my church home. Yet in the ten long weeks of his illness, I only recall one visit by a staff member of the church. I was only there half the time so perhaps there were more visits. But considering what "ministry" is supposed to be, I think long-time church members have been on the losing end of ministry at FBCA over the past few years.

The church was packed, wall-to-wall, at his funeral. But why aren't those folks in church there every Sunday? Where do they go? I personally know many of them do not regularly attend church anywhere. So why does FBCA not have "wall-to-wall" attendance every Sunday?

Integrity and Accountability may be part of the problem. How would you feel if your dieing parent only received one or two visits from his church leaders in two months? What would that tell you about the integrity of the church leaders? Is anyone accountable for this non-ministerial behavior. Have other church members noticed this? Yes they have. They have told me about it several years ago, long before my Father became ill.

Is it any wonder that long-time church members have been disrespected and alienated by a handful of leaders at FBCA? Is it any wonder that church leadership allows a historic building to collapse "in the name of Jesus?" Is it any wonder that a building program is promoted while church growth is non-existent?

Where is the accountability among the businessmen of First Baptist Alamo? Where is the integrity among the staff. Is FBCA going to slip even more into the "non-effective" category where it now sits on the edge?

Is anyone honorable at FBCA? Is anyone worried about true, Biblical ministry? Or is the idea of new pews and softball-for-Jesus now the priority, masquerading as ministry?

Has any of the church leadership visited the former, long-time deacons, the men of God who led that church for a generation? Or have you just let them go, ignoring them, hoping they will die soon, like my Dad, so you will not be required to show genuine compassion?

Is anyone aware of the lost people who are NOT being reached by First Baptist staff and members? Five years from now, will FBCA still run 175 or so in Sunday School and still claim God is telling them to go into debt for a new FBCA Country-Club outside the city limits?

Who still claims it is "God's Will" to build that new church while others in the city are allowed to go to hell!!! Does anyone still claim "God's Will?"

When my Dad, a long-time ACTIVE member of FBCA, was very ill, softball-for-Jesus meant nothing to him. Is anyone at FBCA accountable for anything?

Anyone?

Letting The Building Fall Apart In Jesus's Name

2008-08-28T20:59:00.000-07:00

Why Don't You Repair The Building? It looks terrible.

There is a Biblical principle that I discovered many Christians either do not know, or just ignore. It simply states:

And whatever you do, whether by speech or action, do everything in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:17

Let's say there are some maintenance issues with the building. Normally, you would REPAIR the building. Most Christians would want to do the right thing. After all, whatever you do OR DON'T DO is supposed to be in the name of Jesus.

If you want to convince the congregation that the the building is falling apart, you just IGNORE issues until they become impossible to repair. After, the ends justifies the means...right?

TWENTY YEARS AGO...a solution was given to the church. At least two members, including a professional builder, told you to put a slant on the roof and that would take care of the leaks!

It is SO SIMPLE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT in the name of Jesus!

Instead, you just let the roof leak, refuse to correct it with a slanted roof as church members said would work twenty years ago, allow the leaky roof to discolor the walls in the auditorium so you can then look at the congregation and say, "See, the building is falling apart like I told you."

Yes, the ends justifies the means. It is Baptist tradition. I was at the Southern Baptist Convention when some of that rationalization was happening over 20 years ago in order to elect the right people. I sat at restaurant table over 26 years ago when the architects of the SBC "take over" were plotting their moves. Although they used highly unethical tactics to begin electing conservative presidents, to them, the ends justified the means.

And that lack of integrity has seeped down to the local level, where church leaders simply LIE to the congregation to get a building program going. And worse, they say "GOD TOLD ME THIS IS OUR VISION" or some other trite falsehood.

So it is with First Baptist allowing the building to rot in the name of Jesus when there is such a simple solution, a solution they have ignored for twenty years.

Why don't you repair the building in the name of Jesus?

Because if you FIX THE BUILDING, then you can't justify buying that land on the Bells highway.

Lying in the name of Jesus. Allowing the building to fall apart in the name of Jesus. Deceiving the congregation in the name of Jesus. Is there any wonder that people stay away on Sunday morning? Is there any wonder that membership has stagnated for the most part?

What is it about lying to the congregation in the name of Jesus that attracts one to First Baptist Church? What is it about allowing the building to fall apart in the name of Jesus that gives your message integrity?

REPAIR THE ROOF! It looks terrible. Is THAT what you want?

Did Ya Hear About The New Preacher?

2008-05-31T22:16:00.000-07:00

Did ya hear about the new preacher?

A new preacher came to town. The first Sunday, he preached a wonderful sermon. It was exciting, it was Biblical, it was emotional, it was with conviction. The congregation loved it.

The second Sunday, the preacher preached the same sermon. It was still exciting and motivating and preached with as much conviction as the first Sunday. The folks just kind of overlooked it as a repeat, since the preacher was new at this church. Perhaps he forgot.

The third Sunday was met with more anticipation. However, the new preacher preached EXACTLY the SAME sermon as the first Sunday. Members of the congregation were beginning to get worried. Three Sundays in a row with the same sermon.

The fourth Sunday, the new preacher preached the SAME sermon AGAIN, the same as the first Sunday. So the deacons decided to meet with the preacher to see if there was a miscommunication or problem. Why was the preacher continuing to preach ONE and only ONE sermon Sunday after Sunday?

-------------

You will notice I have not posted much in the past couple of months. That's because, the message here has been "preached" so to speak, from the beginning. When you (or someone) actually DOES the Great Commission, then we can move on. When people begin to GO and begin to MAKE DISCIPLES, then we can move on.

I can talk about the pastor, I can talk about the staff members, we can even talk about the 15,000 people who live in Crockett County and what they are NOT doing for the Lord. But the message has been laid out for you. If YOU do not DO the message, then everything else is irrelevant!

Ya see, when the deacons confronted the new pastor about preaching the same sermon four weeks in a row, the young preacher looked at them and said, "When you begin winning people to the Lord as was preached in that sermon, then we can worry about new sermons. When you begin DOING about which that sermon speaks, then we can move on ahead...together.

Currently, there is virtually no evangelism at FBCA. There is lots of activity, lots of busywork, lots of religious-sounding noise being made, but virtually NO EVANGELISM at all, even on Sunday morning. Currently, church members are being systematically ignored from the "in crowd" and excluded from the loop. Currently, nobody is confronting the issue of long-term debt or why a building is necessary. When you do those things spoken of in the past few months in these posts, then we can worry about new issues.

Too Critical or Expecting Accountability?

2008-03-24T22:37:00.000-07:00

Some folks have accused me of being too critical. I apologize for giving that appearance. So let me ask you a question. If someone asks you to be accountable, to be honest, to do the job right the first time, why is that being critical?

Our intentions are not to be critical, but to expect Christian Morality and Integrity when dealing with thousands of dollars given by the congregation.

I quote the church web page which says:

"It is the responsibility of each believer to endeavor to live in fellowship with
each member of the congregation."

If only that were true. If only that were true for the staff as well as each believer. When the staff purposely ignores church members, that is not a good sign. And it is happening.

Again, I quote from the church web page:

"It is further the responsibility of each member to bring all gossiping and
backbiting to an end."

Gossiping and backbiting? Yes, that should not be happening in a congregation. Healthy discourse and challenging of hidden agendas by church leadership? Sir, that is not gossip. That is not backbiting. That is exposure. And some things should be exposed to the congregation. When facts and other things are hidden from church members who seek information, that is not gossip, nor is it backbiting. It is shining a light.

I know basically our church leaders are probably good folks, overall. But honesty has taken a back-seat to personal agendas over the past six years or so. Long-time church members have been insulted pushed aside while others attempt to "have their day" and override common sense. Things have grown to a slow crawl.

It is amazing how, at this point, it seems "God" must have changed his mind, or at least postponed his plans. It is amazing how we as Christians can spin a financial crunch into spiritual words by putting a "God Overlay" on top of common financial (or otherwise) setbacks and making it look like we know what God is allegedly doing with the situation we screwed up. So we spin it a few times, then talk the deacons into buying our spiel, then we present it and try to sell it to the congregation.

Me, too critical? Is it too critical to expect honesty? Is it too critical to expect serious accountability and integrity? Is it being too critical to expect Christians to actually be like Jesus instead of just talking about him?
------------------------------------------------

Centrally Located For Residents of Alamo! Why Not?

2008-03-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

If you are a member of First Baptist Alamo, why aren't you reaching lost people now?

Several years ago the Southern Baptist Convention got this idea for Baptist churches to become "regional churches" serving a region, as opposed to local or neighborhood churches. Pastors who wanted to move up the corporate ladder and pastors who envisioned evangelical starhood hooked on to that little publicity stunt as a way to reach their carnal dreams.

Some pastors move up the ladder with graduate degrees and books. Some do it with building programs.

One of the members of First Baptist Alamo accurately pegged the idea of a regional church as what it really is...a "Walmart church" for the way they evangelize. A Walmart Church simply steals members from other churches and rarely does any actual evangelism.

Several studies in church growth have already demonstrated this error in the church growth movement by discovering that church growth was more church member movement than evangelism. The vast majority of those flooding the mega-churches or regional churches were NOT new converts, but had actually just moved from the church down the road. First Baptist Alamo recently held a cattle-car evangelixtic rally and followed it up with a cattle-car baptism Sunday, just sign-up and be baptized or re-baptized as is popular with some folks feeling guilty about not living right or something. The web site even promoted people leaving their home church to come join this regional church. That is Walmart Evangelism.

The whole "building program" is driven by this "regional church" idea and nothing more. The web site proclaimed it as a way "to reach lost people" yet nobody realized at the time that nobody was reaching lost people where they were sitting now. So that error was removed from the web site.

So WHAT does the web site say to give away the REAL MOTIVE for moving the church, the "regional church" motive for moving? That is easy to spot. On the "location" page:

"We are centrally located for residents of Crockett, Gibson, Haywood and Madison Counties. "

1) Why would anyone who lives in Humboldt want to drive to church at Alamo?
2) Why would anyone in Brownsville want to drive to Alamo to go to church?
3) Why doesn't the pastor and staff of FBCA reach lost people IN ALAMO first?
4) Why doesn't the web page say something like "We are centrally located for residents of Alamo and Crockett County" and promote the church that way?

Why? Because the pastor is not interested in reaching the people of Alamo. He hasn't done it so far. Because the pastor wants to build a regional church at a more "regional" location.

Why? Because the staff and members of FBCAlamo are not interested in actually reaching lost people in Alamo. Alamo...where the church is located.

Why? Because even with pastors and church staff and, unfortunately with church members, bragging rights come with big Sunday Morning Numbers. Bragging rights come with offers from other churches offering more money to "come to our church and do what you did there." So, when you don't live the "great commission" lifestyle, when you don't reach lost people (for whatever reason,) then you must justify your salary by "APPEARING" to do spiritual things. Thus, the idea to build a new church "to reach lost people."

If you are a member of First Baptist Alamo, why aren't you reaching lost people now? If you are a member of First Baptist Alamo, why are you trying to justify a move to the country under a false motive of "reaching lost people" when you are not doing that already?

Inquiring minds want to know why you are not reaching lost people now?!?

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Sweet People Who Believe Their Own Publicity

2008-03-04T10:50:00.000-08:00

First Baptist Church of Alamo has some really sweet church members. FBCA has some folks who really do want to do the right thing. I have known many of those sweet people for several decades and through the ministries of several pastors and several church building programs.
I read recently about a singer who was very popular in the 1970s. He was featured on some website. At the end of his interview, he gave a quote that I thought was something we should all remember:

"Don't Believe Your Own Publicity"

Another quote by Demosthenes from an earlier post on this blog was similar:

"A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally believes to be true."

Every time someone talks about the new building, I expect to hear their concern about and desires of "reaching lost people" since that's how the church website promoted the new church building. I was surprised and disappointed when, instead of talking about evangelism, I hear church members say things like like:

"...this building is 80 years old"
"...this building is falling apart"
"...we need more room"
"...we need more parking"

To this day, I have NEVER heard even ONE person tell me:

"We need the new building to reach lost people."

Never! Not even one time! Not from the pastor. Not from any person on the church staff. Not from even a single church member. Not one time.

Several years ago, someone (and I know who) began a publicity campaign (their own publicity) claiming the building is old, claiming the building is falling apart, claiming we need more parking and claiming the ONLY solution is to move away and build a new building. The publicity campaign seems to have convinced many non-critical thinking members, who believed the stories and half truths instead of looking more objective as to the motive behind the campaign.

Thomas Paine once said:

"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry."

So why have so many sweet church members stopped investigating other solutions? Why have so many sweet church members decided to believe that publicity campaign instead of the truth? Why have so many sweet church members decided to go along with the "herd mentality" instead of walking the streets, knocking on doors and actually reaching lost people?

I agree 100% with Susan B. Anthony who said:

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."

Unfortunately, the person with the strongest desires is often the one who can convince the most people to follow his ideas. It is often the person with the most passion who can convince the most people that HIS DESIRES are actually "GOD'S WILL" apart from truth that proves otherwise. That person convinces the people to follow his ideas not based upon the truth of the situation, not based upon facts, but based upon their own passion on an issue.

Facts be ignored and truth be tossed away or split in half.

You can can see how it works in a presidential race. You can see how it works in a church building program. Passion wins over truth almost every time. That's why there is MORE PROMOTION of the building fund than of reaching lost people. That's why there is more talk from the pulpit about raising money for the building than talk from the pulpit about personally reaching lost people for Christ.

The banners in front of the church tell how much money we have raised, don't they. The banners in front of the church DO NOT TELL HOW MANY LOST PEOPLE HAVE BEEN REACHED, do they? Do you believe the publicity? Do you believe two to four million dollars are needed "to reach lost people?"

Do you believe it will take two million dollars "to reach lost people?" Can you say FBCA will NOT "reach lost people" without spending $2,000,000 to $4,000,000?? Do you believe that? Do you REALLY believe that?

First Baptist Alamo Club - Simplistic Dreams and Non-Believers

2008-02-29T07:45:00.000-08:00

Several things are clear:

It would be nice to have a new church building in the country.
We don't really believe in Hell.
We don't really believe anyone is going to Hell.

Let's take the first one, "It would be nice to have a new church." Yes, younger folk tend to think history only began on their date of birth. Anything before the day they were born is not history, it is ANCIENT HISTORY. That's why the allow the "old" building to fall apart, then say "See, the building is falling apart." The BIBLE makes it clear that everything we do should be done in the name of Jesus who loved us and gave himself for us. So why don't you fix the church building and stop using it as an excuse to justify your own personal motive for LUSTING after a new building?

FIX THE CHURCH BUILDING! FIX GOD'S BUILDING AND STOP LYING TO THE CONGREGATION!

Let's take point two and point three, since point two justifies the third.

THE PEOPLE AT FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH DON'T REALLY BELIEVE IN HELL. Because they don't believe in Hell, they don't really believe anyone is going to Hell.

THE PASTOR AND THE CHURCH STAFF EVIDENTLY DO NOT BELIEVE IN HELL.

How do I know that? Tell me, how many people have the church staff members personally won to the Lord in the past month? How many people has any single church staff member won to the Lord in the past six months?

It is an "IF/THEN" statement or conclusion. "If" one thing, "Then" another. If you are standing in the rain, then you will get wet. If you put you hand in the fire, then you will get burned.

If/Then. It is really very simple.

IF the pastor and staff of FBCAlamo believed people were going to Hell, THEN they would be knocking on doors, trying to stop people from going to Hell.

IF the pastor and staff of FBCAlamo believed people were going to Hell, THEN they would be reaching people and they would be repairing the building for the people and would have no time or need to try and justify a new building.

IF FBCAlamo were a church where love indeed did shine, THEN the pastor would not alienate church members as he has. IF FBCAlamo were a church where love did indeed shine as proclaimed on the web page, THEN the church staff would not feel so threatened when they read this blog.

Based upon the NON-ACTIONS of the pastor and staff to reach lost people directly, based upon the substituting of cattle-car pseudo-evangelism and cattle-car baptism-days, I think it is safe to say that the pastor and staff of FBCAlamo do not really believe in Hell and do not really believe that people are going to Hell. As a result of their lack of passion about the dangers of Hell, the people at FBCAlamo do not believe in Hell or that people are going to hell.

The result of years of this kind of charade is a "club" (church) of people who have simplistic dreams of a new club-house out on the highway. That beautiful new club-house will be filled with a group of club-members who don't believe all those people left behind are headed for Hell.

If you disagree, please say so. If you disagree, then go out and win someone to the Lord. Anyone can honk.

-------------------------------------------------

Sixty-Four Residences Within Walking Distance

2008-02-20T07:20:00.000-08:00

Let's take a count !

Several people have told me there were not that many people who live within walking distance of the church. So I asked them "How many people are necessary before you try to reach them one-on-one?"

They had no answer. They got mad at me for asking. Now I am the enemy. I could not force them to "reach lost people" like the web site said they would do. But they weren't doing it now. And it looks to me like they weren't going to do it.

So where do you stand on this? Are you reaching lost people now? Or are you just TALKING ABOUT reaching lost people? Here's an excercise for you:

Go stand in front of the church facing north.
Look to the west down Church Street
Walk to the west and count the houses on the right side of the street and the front doors on the left side of the street where the apartments are.
Contunue walking west to North Branch Street
Turn South (left) on Branch Street.
Continue counting the front doors on both sides of the street
Turn East (left) on Main Street and continue counting.
Include all the "front doors" of all the apartments.
Turn North (left) on Locust Street and continue to the church.

Now answer these questions:

How many residences (front doors) did you count?
How many of those front doors have you ever personally visited?
Who do you know who lives behind even one of those front doors?
Do you CARE who lives behind those front door?
Do those people know the Lord?
Why do those people not walk to FBCAlamo every Sunday morning?

MY CHALLENGE TO YOU IS:

Are you just gonna bitch and moan or are you gonna take action?
Are you going to let those people go to Hell or are you going to take action?
Are you going to wait for a non-motivated church staff or are you going to take action?

Since it is clear the church staff doesn't care, what are you going to do about it? Jesus said "Go and make disciples." How long are you going to wait?

Are you going to do it or are you going to complain?

---------------------------------------------------

Nothing is so easy to fake as the inner vision.

2008-02-17T21:22:00.000-08:00

We prayed about it and God told us to move to the country!

Sure, God told some people that they would suddenly become evangelical, but not until they move to the country, away from the people. Until then, it's status quo except for Cattle-Car Sunday.

"The great enemy of the truth is very often not the lie -- deliberate,
contrived and dishonest -- but the myth -- persistent, persuasive and
unrealistic."
-- John F Kennedy

Yep, just bend the truth a bit and it becomes a myth as opposed to a lie. If the roof leaks, don't fix it but tell the folks it is because the building is old. Then just let the roof fall in so you can publicly announce, "See, the roof is falling down and we need to move."

A man is his own easiest dupe, for what he wishes to be true he generally
believes to be true.
-- Demosthenes

We wish to be evangelical. We even tell folks we are. But we really don't reach lost people. We claim to be evangelical. But we are not evangelical enough to reach lost people who live within walking distance of the church. So we tell folks we need to MOVE AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE in order "to reach lost people." How illogical is that?? We aren't reaching lost people now, but if we repeat that myth over and over, perhaps the folks will stop thinking how illogical that is and just accept it as truth.

We WISH we had a new building. So we tell folks we need it "to reach lost people." We don't reach lost people now, but we tell folks we do. Then we repeat it over and over.

In matters of religion it is very easy to deceive a man, and very hard to
undeceive him.
-- Pierre Bayle

Repeat it long enough and often enough and enough folks will soon believe it. Now, many have said "we need to move," "we need a new building," etc. Some have said "we have prayed about it" and "it is God's will." Yet nobody has given a legitimate reason why. When I give arguments, they just keep repeating the myth, over and over, trying to convince me...or trying to convince themselves that the myth is true.

It is "God's will"..."to reach lost people"

Nothing is so easy to fake as the inner vision.
-- Robertson Davies

"Inner Vision." I suppose that is the biggest myth. God somehow miraculously spoke to some members of FBCAlamo but God forgot to speak to ALL the people of FBCAlamo. Some think GOD told them to move away from the people and they would instantly become evangelical. Some others know the truth.

The Holy Spirit is telling some to move and telling some to stay.

Did God somehow speak to you? Did God tell you to move to the country? Did God tell you to reach lost people? Did God tell you to WAIT until you move to the country until you begin to REACH LOST PEOPLE or did God tell you to reach lost people now? Which was it that God told you?

Like I said in the very first post, if you aren't reaching lost people now, what makes you think you are going to reach lost people later?

Guess what?

If you aren't reaching lost people now, you won't reach them later. Not a prediction of doom. Just the truth.
------------------------------------------------------

Microsoft and FBC Alamo - Not Much Difference ?

2008-02-12T10:36:00.000-08:00

The bully computer giant Microsoft is attempting to takeover Yahoo in a hostile David/Goliath tale. According to the Associated Press,

Microsoft also emphasized it's prepared to "pursue all necessary steps" to
get the deal done, raising the prospect that it could take the bid directly to
Yahoo shareholders with a so-called "exchange offer" or escalate the acrimony
even further by trying to oust Yahoo's 10-member board later this year.

Does that sound familiar to you? Microsoft has an agenda and is prepared to "pursue all necessary steps" to build a new church...er...to takeover Yahoo.

"Pursue all necessary steps"

The only difference is, Microsoft never claimed it is "God's will" to takeover Yahoo. In that way, Microsoft is far more honest than many Christians when a takeover is imminent. If Yahoo won't sell, you oust the 10-member board. Nevermind that half the stock-holders don't want to sell. Ignore them. Wear them down. Shout them down. Work behind the scenes and replace the 10-member board. It's a business decision. The bully is gonna win,

If the people won't support your move to the country, you get new deacons. If church members think it is a bad move, then you shout them down or ignore them or rebuke them publicly from the pulpit. Or as as one church staff member said, "get on board or get off. Those are the two options you have." It's a business decision. The bully is gonna win.

Shout 'em down, that's what Jesus would do. Might makes right or might makes "the will of God."

"God's will" has nothing to do with it. It is simply a business deal. That's why Microsoft is more honest than some of the Christians that we all know and love. Imagine that, Microsoft more homest than Christians!

Imagine that!
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Cattle-Call Baptism Day...A Passive Effort

2008-02-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

The big day is coming up. Well, at least it's an effort, albeit misguided. Amazing how people equate Physical Action with Spiritual Movement. They are NOT the same thing!

When you can't win souls, you build a building. (Illusion)

When you don't lead people to the Lord, you do Cattle-Call Baptisms. (Illusion)

When you refuse to go one-on-one to reach lost people, you have a Cattle-Call Evangelism Sunday and snatch members from other churches. (Illusion)

None of the above are bad per se, but cattle-call baptisms do not replace The Great Commission. How long will the people of FBCAlamo forsake the simplicity of The Great Commission? Remember the "Instant Evangelism" post? Perhaps you should re-read it and tell us what has changed in one year. How many "lost people" have been "reached" in one year? Is that tiny number with going into debt $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 for a new Baptist Country Club? What about The Great Commission? What about ACTUALLY reaching lost people NOW?

Are the people of FBCAlamo working The Great Commission? Are the staff members of FBCAlamo working The Great Commision?

Is there any wonder why people are satisfied with the passive actions of a Cattle-Call Baptism Sunday!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Softball for Jesus or Soul Winner? Which Will It Be?

2008-02-02T17:47:00.000-08:00

"A dissenter is every human being at those moments of his life when he resigns momentarily from the herd and thinks for himself."
-- Archibald MacLeish, poet and librarian (1892-1982)

Do you think for yourself? Do you question things? I question things. I try to look at things in a different way. I don't buy everything I am told. So I have been called a dissenter by those who think I am trying to stir up trouble. Are you also a dissenter?

"It is error only, and not truth, that shrinks from inquiry."
-- Thomas Paine, philosopher and writer (1737-1809)

To paraphrase, "Error shrinks from inquiry, truth never does."

So what is the truth? Is FBCAlamo interested in "reaching lost people" or in building a new country-club for worhip? Ask yourself what is the truth. Then ask the pastor why you are not individually reaching lost people. Ask the church staff why they are not individually reaching lost people. Ask your Sunday School leaders why they are not individually reaching lost people.

"Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
- Aldous Huxley, novelist (1894-1963)

The facts are, the building is not falling down, it is being systematically ignored and allowed to deteriorate.

Facts are that the truth is being hidden or twisted in the name of Christ.

Facts are that nobody is doing personal evangelism.

Facts are that mass baptisms and "church member swapping" is being substituted for the Great Commission.

Facts are that some folks at FBC would rather have a new building on the highway than reach lost people.

Facts are that softball and pretty chairs are more important than reaching lost people one-on-one.

Don't ignore the facts.

"I distrust those people who know so well what God wants them to do because I notice it always coincides with their own desires."
-Susan B Anthony, reformer and suffragist (1820-1906)

God wants us to move and let the building and the people around it go to Hell. God said to do it. It is God's vision. It is God's will. Nevermind what Jesus said about going and making disciples, it is God's will to abandon our prime location in the geographical center of the county. It is God's will for us to abandon the people who live within walking distance of the church. It is God's will for us to say we are going to sell this building to another church while claiming we must move out because of bees and asbestos and parking. Yes, we know what God wants us to do. God wants new pews and audio/video. But especially, God wants softball for Jesus.

We prayed about it. Yes, God told us that's what he wants.

We even said so in the Crockett Times newspaper.

"True religion is the life we lead, not the creed we profess."
-- Louis Nizer, lawyer (1902-1994)

To paraphrase, "True Christianity is the life you lead, not the creed you profess."

Talk is cheap. Truth is heavy. Why run from truth? Why not confront error? Why stay silent against error? Why not confront those who say one thing yet obviously practice something else?

"The high minded man must care more for the truth than for what people think."
-- Aristotle, philosopher (384-322 BCE)

So, are you looking for truth? Or are you going to be satisfied with the status quo at FBCAlamo? Are you going to embrace the truth about the situation or are you going to whine "They voted for it" which is itself only a half-truth?

Truth or error?

Dissenter or status quo?

Facts or myths?

Soul Winner or Softball for Jesus?

Are you going to speak up or let error become pseudo-reality?

???

Lost People and Hell

2008-01-24T22:14:00.000-08:00

Do you believe the Bible?

Do you believe in Hell?

Do you believe in the Lake of Fire?

Do you think lost people burn for eternity in Hell?
Look at these houses in this photo to the right. Do you think the people who live in these houses will go to Hell without Christ? If you look closely, you will notice they live across the street from the church.

If you stand at the West side of the church, just under the pastor's office, you can look closely through the trees and see dozens of apartments and homes within walking distance of the church. And each home is filled with human beings created in the image of God.

Do those people go to church at First Baptist Church? Do those people go to church anywhere?

Now let's look just a little bit deeper!

Stand in the West parking lot under the window of the Pastor's office and look just a little more to the left, to the South, you will see EVEN MORE HOMES where people live, daddys and mothers and little children.

Does anyone in that church know anything about those people? Does the pastor know if they are going to Heaven or Hell?

Does anyone even care?

"TO REACH LOST PEOPLE"

has been the theme proclaimed on the church web page. Well, what are you doing to reach THESE lost people? What are YOU personally doing to reach these lost people?

Some folks are all excited about building a new building. In fact, most of the sermons talk more about the new building than about reaching lost people.

Does anyone really care? Does anyone really care about lost people? Or is it just another talking point for raising money? Are those folks who are so excited about moving away from these people willing to practice what the preach?

What about you? Do you care about the people who live within walking distance of the church? Or do you just want to get out of town so we can play softball?

Is the phrase "To Reach Lost People" meaningless at First Baptist?

Is the phrase "To Reach Lost People" just a sales pitch?

What do YOU believe about Hell? Do you think it matters?

WalMart Evangelism and Deceptive Figures

2008-01-23T07:51:00.000-08:00

So nine new folks joined during the recent pseudo-evangelism effort called "Committment Day." Please answer the following questions:

How many transferred membership from another church?

How many had already been attending there for several years?

How many lost people were actually reached for the Lord by the pastor, a staff person or member of FBC?

Give me the numbers. Let's see how many folks were actually led to the Lord as opposed to the people simply moving their membership from Bells or from another local church. (WALMART EVANGELISM)

What do the figures say? Can you answer that one? Is it enough to finance the new showcase on the highway?

NOW, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTION:

How many new folks joined January 20th? How many folks came to the Lord and became a member of the fellowship on January 20th?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Thinking And Investigating Are Absolutely Out Of The Question

2008-01-20T06:19:00.000-08:00

Consider the following quote. It is from a letter entitled
"The Comfort and Security of Knowing That You Are Right"
This post was a response to an article about Rev. Mike Huckaby whom I have known for well over 25 years. Here is the original letter:
http://letters.salon.com/opinion/conason/2008/01/18/huckabee/view/?show=ec

And here is the quote:

"Thus the sweet and calming appeal of faith based religion? It is a truly
astounding experience to be in a room with about 100 people and realize that
thinking and investigating are absolutely out of thequestion.
Questioning or challenging authority is unacceptable."

It is amazing how we believe anything we are fed. It is amazing how gullible most Christians are time and time again. It is amazing how quickly we accept the words of the leaders who present the plan as though they have a hotline to Heaven. It is amazing how we act as though we are unable to think for ourselves or investigate the truth ourselves.

It is even worse when those who accept the message deride their own Christian brothers and sisters who disagree, who have a different opinion. It is interesting how we attack the persons who have considered the facts and come to a different, yet completely viable conclusion.

It is bad when a church member is confronted with facts, and instead of responding with empathy regarding the issues, quickly attacks the messenger with words such as:

"QUIT STIRRING UP TROUBLE"

(His emphasis, not mine)

"trying to sway the opinion of others is simply wrong"

(...when he himself is unaware of his own being manipulated and his own manipulation of the facts)

"get on board or get off. Those are the two options you have."

As I said before, what an ARROGANT attitude from an alleged "spiritual" leader.

You can read the above quotes at:

http://fbcalamoforum.blogspot.com/2007_02_01_archive.html

When I mentioned the seemingly non-evangelical nature of First Baptist Church, I was originally reminded of the October 2006 "revival" in which:

"45 people were saved and several families joined our church. That tells me that
GOD IS WORKING IN OUR CHURCH!"

Notice that the average Sunday attendance did not increase by 45 people, or even five people. What happened to those "45 people" who were saved? Where are those "several families" who joined First Baptist Church? Show us the numbers!

Recently, there was one other evangelical push resulting in 9 to 12 additions and thefts from other church rolls. Where are they now?

Eighteen months ago FBC Alamo ran around 170 in Sunday School weekly. Since then, according to a church staff member and recent reports, around 55 people "and several families joined our church."

Where are they now? Check the average Sunday School attendance next week and compare it to eighteen months ago, before those "45 people" were saved, before those "several families joined our church" and before the 9 to 12 were added last week. Check the average Sunday School attendance for the month of February and find those "several families." Where are the parents? Where are their kids?

"It is a truly astounding experience to be in a room with about 100 people and realize that thinking and investigating are absolutely out of thequestion.
Questioning or challenging authority is unacceptable."

Some of you have attacked me. Few of you have investigated what I have posted here. Check the numbers for yourself! Look at the results.

True Biblical evangelism is a lifestyle. True Biblical evangelism is NOT a Spring or Fall revival. True Biblical evangelism is not an emotionally charged tent meeting. Biblical evangelism is a DAILY necessity if there is going to be TRUE spiritual reproduction, not simply an emotionally-driven cheerleading session.

Check the numbers and get back with me. Better yet, check the numbers and ask the folks in charge "Where are those people?"

Attacking the Messenger, Ignoring the Message

2008-01-19T22:20:00.000-08:00

Constructive Criticism or mindless attacks?

You have heard the phrase, "Attacking the messenger, ignoring the message?"

What often happens when someone offers an opinion or reveals an ignored truth? Usually two things:
1) The messenger is attacked, put-down, criticized or slandered.
2) The message is ignored, belittled, minimized or downplayed.

And so it is with this blog. I have been called a liar. Yet to this point, not a single person has shown me any lies in what I wrote. I have been called contentious, mean, angry, spreading rumors and called a troublemaker. It is interesting that the persons who said those things NEVER actually responded to ANY of the points made in this blog, they only attacked me personally instead.

Don't attack me. Respond to the points made in each post. Don't attack the messenger, respond to the message, deal with the issues. If you don't like what the post says, then click the "respond" link at the end of each post and do just that. Respond! The issues will never be resolved if you do not respond.

Show where any single point in this blog is incorrect. Show where I am wrong. I have asked that repeatedly yet nobody has bothered respond. I know for a fact that you are talking behind my back. (Gossip) Rather than break the commandment against gossip, just respond to the issues.

I haven't spoken to everyone in the church regarding this issue. But I have spoken to many "paid-up" church members over the past five years or so about this. Here is an interesting bit of information for you.

Of the people supporting the move, NOT A SINGLE PERSON mentioned reaching lost people !!!
NOBODY!
Zero!
Zilch!
Nada!

When I say "not a single person, " that includes the church staff! In fact, the church staff only mentioned the age of the building, not reaching lost people.

A few others mentioned the condition of the 80 year old building, speaking in unison with the church staff, always in the most negative terms and with the most defeated attitude, as if there is NO HOPE for this historic building. It is very telling that all who mentioned the age of the building or the physical problems with the building used EXACTLY THE SAME PHRASES as though they had been taught those phrases or as though they had heard them over and over and over again, including the church staff member who responded! They repeated these phrases without thinking what they were actually saying. They ALL repeated the same exact phrases! It was like listening to the rhetoric repeated mindlessly by the supporters of one political party or another.

Of the people NOT SUPPORTING this move, almost every person said these same points:

1) There is NO reason to move or build a new building
2) There is virtually NO NET GAIN in our church, certainly not enough to support a new building. (folks going out the back as fast as others coming in the front)
3) We sit in a half empty building every Sunday as it is.
4) There is NOTHING wrong with our buildings that cannot be repaired if they would just do it right the first time.
5) [The Church Leaders] are ignoring basic maintainance, then falsly blaiming the poor condition of the building on age.

I don't care what you say about me, especially if you do not deal with the points that have been written here in this blog. Just deal with the issues presented in this blog.

Drop the rhetoric.
Drop the platitudes.
Stop attacking me, the messenger.
Answer the message, deal with the issues.

DEAL WITH THE ISSUES!

The Charade...Reaching People For Jesus...Not Reality.

2008-01-11T22:17:00.000-08:00

Let's end this little charade.

I'm tired of repeating myself. The idea that" ...the membership believes that this represents both the will of God and our best opportunity to reach lost people" is a fantasy. It's a dream.

Folks, HERE is REALITY...

The reality is...that idea is not a dream, it is a LIE.

If the pastor of First Baptist Church of Alamo wanted "to reach lost people," he would have done so within the last five years. Stagnant church growth reveals the truth. Empty seats reveal the truth. Yelling and screaming and berating believers does not take the place of personal evangelism.

Instead of having a "Commitment Day" on January 13, why don't you have "Commitment Day" EVERY SUNDAY?

Instead of stealing members "of a sister church," why don't you WIN LOST PEOPLE TO CHRIST as you claimed was the goal for a four million dollar building program?

If the minister of music/youth wanted "to reach lost people," he would have done it already. Instead of a "worship leading choir" why don't we have a SOUL WINNING CHOIR?!?

If the church staff and the Sunday School Teachers wanted "to reach lost people," they would do it apart from a new building.

If the deacons wanted "to reach lost people," they would get out of those silly deacons meetings and go win some lost souls to Jesus. But the pastor, church staff and deacons are far more comfortable in their ivory tower directing church traffic than they are walking on the streets to those 64 homes within one block of the church building.

The REALITY is...none of these people actually want "to reach lost people." The REALITY is...they all enjoy talking about it and posting it on the church web site. They do not enjoy actually DOING it.

Prove me wrong if I am.

Deacons meetings are more important than reaching lost people.
Planting the flowers on the church lawn is more important than reaching lost people.
Ripping up sidewalks is more important than reaching lost people.
Blueprints are more important than reaching lost people.
Sound systems are more important than reaching lost people.
Commitment Day once a year is more important than commitment day every week.
Joking about softball is more important than reaching lost people.
An emotionally driven "worship leading choir" is more important than a soul-winning choir.

HERE'S A SUGGESTION:

GO to the left side of this page.
Then LOOK at "Archived Posts"
Then CLICK on "February" for last year, 2007

There you can read the first posts of this blog that shine light on some important issues. Soon after the first post was up, one of the staff members responded. A few hours later, he removed his post. I suppose removing his post was more important than reaching lost people.

So are you guys gonna continue to PLAY CHURCH or are you going to actually DO WHAT YOU SAY is the reason for moving the church building? Are you going to babysit Christians and maintain the status quo, or are you going to reach lost people as the web site claims?

Are you going to REACH LOST PEOPLE or will you continue to PLAY CHURCH as you have for the past 5+ years? Will First Baptist Church remain its position as a Christian Country Club or will you actually START REACHING PEOPLE for the Lord?

First Baptist Church pays its two primary staff members well. They make a comfortable living by maintaining the status quo. I wonder how much their income would increase if they would actually "reach lost people" as the web site said was the purpose for the new building? I wonder how much their income would increase if they would reach enough people for Christ that the average church attendance would increase by 80 or 100 people per week? That kind of increase would be a glorious thing.

The book of Revelation says there is a special place in the Lake Of Fire for liars. Only time will tell. Stop lying to the congregation. Stop lying to each other. Reach lost people now and you will not worry about any new buildings.

Stop lying and start practicing what you preach.

Finally, read Matthew 23:23-28 then read Colossians 3:1-17.

Practice what you preach.

-----------------------------

Softball For Jesus

2008-01-11T07:56:00.000-08:00

OK, the land is paid for. Now what purpose has that served in the whole scheme of things?

How many people have been led to the Lord from this "vision" to date?
How many new Christians are at First Baptist because the church bought new land?
How many people have been led to the Lord as a direct result of buying new land?
How many people have been led to the Lord because of the softball field?

The Church Staff asks for money EVERY SUNDAY! There are ugly, tall, color-filled charts in the auditorium marking how much money has been collected. The congregation deserves to know what are the results of giving these THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS while asking for millions!

Will the pastor step up to the plate and tell exactly what has happened so far? Will the Sunday School Leaders tell how their classes have grown from the results of this "will of God" in leading people to the Lord?

Where are the people this alleged "vision" was supposed to reach?

WHERE ARE THEY?

Where are the numbers?

Where are those new Christians?

Inquiring minds want to know.

WKB

The Vision or The Will of God?

2007-12-21T22:22:00.000-08:00

What's the difference?

The "will of God" language has finally been removed from the FBC Alamo web page and replaced by the somewhat vague "vision" language. So what's the difference?

Is it the will of God or is it a "vision?"

Is a "vision" the will of God? Is a "vision" the will of God ONLY if it comes true?

I have known many churches where the vision was ultimately revealed to be the agenda of the pastor or of a wealthy financial contributor or some other local businessman or strong-willed church member. Often, that kind of "vision" was presented as "the will of God" and usually did more harm than good. At First Baptist Alamo, that "vision" was embraced only by part of the congregation at the most, but was presented on the web site as the will of God endorsed by the entire congregation. It never was! The lack of action demonstrates it. There has been almost five years since that "vision," that "will of God" was announced, and that vision is going nowhere. During that time, church members have been alienated, ridiculed while few have actually been led to the Lord.

And finally realizing that truth, the web master has adjusted the wording of the web page to omit any implication that lost people will be reached for Christ because the church builds a new country-club south of town, away from the people, away from the most strategic location in Crockett County, away from the crossroads of the county.

Recently, I stood in front of the church and took photos looking west on Church Street. Then I stood in the parking lot and took more photos of the many residences within short walking distance of the church building. As I looked at the many homes there, I thought about the people who go on about their day to day activities, going to work, going to school, having dinner at night, living from day to day. Then I wondered if those people go to church? I wonder how many times the staff has visited those people? I wonder how many times FBC church members have visited those people to prove that love really does shine at FBC?

What about HELL??

Why move out to the county and let lost people go to Hell when they live in the shadows of the church building? You do believe in Hell, don't you? Why let people die and go to Hell when they live within a five-minute walk from the churh parking lot? If you do, then why aren't you visiting those homes so close to the Church? If you believe in Hell, why aren't you compelling those folks to come to First Baptist next Wednesday or next Sunday?

Do you believe in Hell? Do you believe in this alleged "vision" of which the web page speaks? Folks, the vision is NOW. The people are there. The fields are white for the harvest. It's time for you to practice what you claim, practice what you proclaim, practice what you preach! Go into the fields and gather.

Get out from behind that desk. Get out from behind that TV set and put your so-called "vision" into practice. Show that the "vision" is more than shallow words. Practice what you preach.

Hungering And Thirsting After Righteousness or Our Agenda?

2007-10-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Jesus said, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness..."

Righteousness.

Think about righteousness. What is that? What does it mean? In a deeper sense, what does "righteousness" imply? In a practical sense, how does hungering and seeking after righteousness affect your life?

A lexicon gives the Greek as "dikaiosynē." Taken is a broad way, we can, and usually do, wrap our version of evangelicalism around it, claiming it has something to do with salvation. However Christians usually read the Bible through their own brand of denominational glasses, if you know what I mean. In a narrower sense, the word deals with justice or the virtue which gives each his due.

It comes from the root "dikaios," "righteous, observing divine laws" or in a narrow sense emphasises the idea of "rendering to each his due and that in a judicial sense, passing just judgment on others, whether expressed in words or shown by the manner of dealing with them."

In other words, Jesus said blessed is the man who hungers and thirsts after that which is RIGHT, that which is correct, that which is true regarding others, that which is honest, that which can be held up in a court of law, even in a court of divine law, even Heaven's court!

To Jesus, the essence of the kingdom of God was to hunger and thirst after that which is ultimately "right" or correct. Ironically, that "essence" can be found in people of many faiths and in people of no faith. And the opposite can be found in people, in leaders of our own faith.

So how do we react to the evil we find in our own faith? How should we react when we see UN-righteousness among our own camp? What do we do about things that are not right?

We confront it.

We confront it with righteousness that can be held up in a court of law, in Heaven's court. We don't gossip. We don't "backbite." We don't attack the messenger. We confront the error. We confront the evil with truth.

We do not confront it with with emotions, with cliches, with false hopes. We confront it honestly and with truth.

I ask you, is it "righteous" to look at an empty building and claim that "God's will" says move away from it, when the people are all around the neighborhood, waiting to come in?

Is that righteousness?

Is it righteous to tell others we want "to reach lost people" later, when we are obviously NOT REACHING LOST PEOPLE NOW???

Honestly, tell me...is THAT righteousness? Seriously, is it?

Are you willing to honestly look at the situation and cast aside error? Are you willing to embrace the righteousness spoken of by Jesus? Are you willing to admit that which is wrong and confront the error once and for all?

Or will you continue to embrace a lie, knowing it is a lie, refusing to face the truth that stands right in front of your face?

Romans 1 speaks of those who are filled with UN-righteousness, with error. Romans 1:32 says "that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them."

Do you have more pleasure in talking about the new building than pleasure in talking to lost people? Do you have more pleasure in talking about moving the church than in inviting lost people to come to church with you next Sunday?

So I ask again, will you continue to embrace a lie, unrighteousness or will you confront it and embrace the truth?

Which will it be for you?

A) The Lie

B) Righteousness...the truth

What is your answer?

Here's The Botton Line...

2007-10-05T16:34:00.000-07:00

Five years ago someone planted the idea to the congregation about building a new church out in the country. Many in the congregation didn't buy it. Many saw it as a foolish dream, since the building now sits half empty on any given Sunday. Few options were seriously considered for maintaining the congregation at its present strategic location at the crossroads of the county. Move, move move like all the other churches are doing.

Then, it was published AS TRUTH that this plan was two things:
1) This is "the will of God" to move the church to the sticks and get it away from the very people for whom the church was supposed to minister.
2) This is "our best opportunity to reach lost people."

Yet HERE is the bottom line...

As a church, you have spent FIVE YEARS NOT reaching lost people where you sit today.

F-I-V-E Y-E-A-R-S of stagnation.

FIVE YEARS of big talk.

FIVE YEARS of un-practiced plans "to reach lost people."

FIVE YEARS with sinners all around the church, never steping inside the building.

FIVE YEARS of virtually NO ACTION TO REACH LOST PEOPLE!

In five years you can build five office buildings, one building per year.

In less than four years, the United States entered, fought and won World War Two.

In five years, you could have added 50 more people to the church rolls, at ten people per year, less than one per month.

So to the staff and members of FBC Alamo, I ask you...when are you going to stop TALKING about "God's will" and begin DOING God's will???

FIVE YEARS is a long time to talk about something without doing it. Are you actually going "to reach lost people" or are you going to keep talking about it???

Talk or action? Reach lost people or just talk about reaching lost people?

???

-------------------

Building A Church On Sand

2007-10-05T16:01:00.000-07:00

Jesus said some interesting statements in Matthew 7. Among other things, he said:

--- Take heed of the false prophets, who come unto you in sheep's clothing, and inwardly are ravening wolves.

--- Therefore, every one who doth hear of me these words, and doth do them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his church upon the rock...

--- Every one who is hearing of me these words, and is not doing them, shall be likened to a foolish man who built his church upon the sand...

When you begin with a false premise, you will end with false and disappointing results.

Consider the man who built his church on a solid, honest foundation of souls. The rain came and the floods came and the wind blew and beat upon that door. But that church stood the test because it was built on honesty, on integrity, on truth.

Consider the man who built his church based on false promises and false hopes. The rain came and the roof began to leak. The floods came and ruined the carpet. The wind blew and beat upon the door. And that church, because it was build on false hope and false promises, fell so hard that the sound was heard all over the county.

Jesus actually said it was "foolish men" who built that church. Jesus called them fools.

They weren't winning souls, they weren't discipling others. They just wanted a new building to brag about. They wanted new carpet, new pews. They didn't want new souls. They didn't want new disciples. So the church was built by fools and built on a weak, almost non-existent spiritual foundation. As a result, when troubles came along, the church crashed and left a hand-full of good folks holding a multimillion dollar debt.

Be a doer, not just a talker.

Win the souls first,

Take care of the property you have now.

Worry later about the overflow crowd when you have it.

Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Above all, do not build a church on false hopes and lies.

Don't be a fool!

---------------------------

Let's Talk...Let's Discuss This !

2007-10-04T20:48:00.000-07:00

Prove me wrong!

When this blog first came on-line, one person responded to one post, then quickly retracted his words...after I had copied the entire post. When I responded to that post, he never wrote again.

Some other people have contacted me off-line and are reading these blog entries. But some folks, even Christian leaders, just get mad at me. I know you are mad at me. I can tell when I talk to you. I can tell by your actions, by what you have said and by what you have done. It's the old "attack the messenger and ignore the message" idea.

Christians and politicians have a bad habit of doing that sort of thing. When someone presents an opposite viewpoint, they attack their opponent rather than deal with the issues on the table. That's why you get mad at me rather than discussing the issues. You don't want your error challenged.

In this blog, I have stated my positions simply and precisely.

I have stated what the Bible clearly says is "God's will."

I have stated why I think the building program is a cover-up for NOT doing "God's will."

I have given examples of opportunities to actually DO "God's will" according to the scriptures.

I have shown if you don't "do God's will" now, you probably will NOT "do God's will" when you move away from the city. In fact, in light of the lack of discipleship evident at the church today, the idea of "reaching lost people" after moving is a false dream and a lie.

But here is your chance to prove me wrong. Convince me that I don't know what I am talking about. Convince me that I am wrong. So far, I have heard nothing but hype and cliches and platitudes from people who do not win souls. That is not a very good argument for your position.

It is A JOKE to say you have "prayed about it" and that you "know it is God's will" when you haven't prayed about all those lost people around you who are bound for hell.

So convince me that I am wrong. Show me the numbers. Show me how lost people will be reached after the big move to the country, when they are not being reached today.

Show me the plan to reach lost people after the move.

John 13:35 says that "all men will know that [we] are [his] disciples, if ye have love for each other."

I am not mad at you. But I do know that somebody is lying and somebody is kidding themselves. Prove me wrong. When you see me, challenge me on these issues. When you see me at church, show me the plan to reach the lost people whom you are not reaching now.

Show me I am wrong. Prove that you are right. Prove to me "God's will" is in this move.

And while you are waiting, take some time to "work out your own salvation" by fixing the roof on the flat part of the building that is only 45 years old. Those kids in the nursery don't need water on the floor when they are playing.

Now...convince me! Don't get mad like a politician. Talk to me like a Christian. Prove that I am wrong. Prove that you are right. Prove to me that it IS "God's will" to move. Prove it! I am listening.

----------------------------------

What's Going On In Your Church ???

2007-10-04T19:27:00.000-07:00

Well, let's see. Wait a minute, I'll think of something that's going on in our church.

Oh yeah, we are going to build a new building. We don't plan on winning souls to the Lord as we are now demonstrating. But we're going to build a new building and move away from the sinners. Then we will "reach lost people." Yeah, that is God's will, build a new church so we can, uh, so we can reach lost people.

"Each One Reach One" used to be the motto of a large Southern Baptist church. I always wondered how many "ones" actually DID reach out to another person. I always wondered how many "ones" actually brought another person into that church congregation.

It's clear to see by the stagnant numbers in the bulletin that "each one" is NOT "reaching one" by a long shot. In fact, the stagnant numbers seem to say that nobody is "reaching one" in the whole congregation. It is clear that not much has changed in the last few years. Not many "lost people" have been reached since the church leadership presented their "agenda," calling it "God's will," to the congregation, followed by tons of unscriptural hype, puffed up figures and a phony "farce vote" as one long-time FBC member called it.

The membership numbers have stagnated for the most part over the past 5 or 6 years because virtually no "lost people" are being reached. Sure, there is a new class every now and then. But who are you winning to the Lord? Who are you discipling?

What about those 64 people who live directly to the west of the church? Where do they go to church each Sunday? Or do they even go to church each Sunday? Do you even know where they go to church or do you just NOT CARE??

Do you even know what their name is?

When Jerry Falwell was a young preacher, he stood outside of Lynchburg, Virginia and prayed that God would give him Lynchburg. Then he knocked on every door in the city, telling folks about Jesus and inviting them to church. He was one of the first pastors in the country to begin a ministry to alcoholics and to unwed mothers. Does First Baptist Alamo have a similar ministry outreach?

When was the last time that First Baptist even averaged one new Christian per month??

Folks, you better wake up before it is too late. You are ignoring the will of God (winning souls and discipling them) and you have replaced "the will of God" with an agenda, to move the center of the ministry AWAY from the very people for whom God placed the building on that strategic corner.

And why are some of you clearly angry at me?

Don't get mad at me because YOU are not winning souls and discipling them. Don't get angry because I called your bluff. Some of you are mad at me because of what YOU ARE NOT DOING!
Practice what you preach.

You say it is God's will to move the church "to reach lost people." That is evidently a lie or you are fooling yourself. If you really wanted "to reach lost people," then you would be reaching them now instead of planning to move AWAY from the lost people.

You have three paid staff members listed on the web page. If those three staff members each won only one person to the Lord every three months, you would see an increase of twelve new members, baptized and discipled in one year. Now, if each of those twelve people reached and discipled just ONE NEW PERSON in a year and if each of the three paid staff members reached and discipled one new person each quarter, that would be twenty-four new members in the second year. Twenty-four from the second year added to the original twelve from the first year is THIRTY-SIX NEW CHRISTIANS in two years.

That would put the average attendance well over 200 people each Sunday.

Folks, it's a numbers game. Do the math. Sure, I understand it is the Holy Spirit who draws men to God. But "how can they hear without a preacher??" How can they hear of YOU do not GO and tell them? How can they come to the Lord if people sit on their blessed assurance and "hope" they will come visit the church?

How many deacons do you have at any given time? How many of those deacons brought even one new Christian and discipled them last year?

What about the 64 people who live within two blocks from the church building? If you want to reach those 64 people who live within two blocks of the church, then you better get out there and humble yourself and knock on their front doors.

When you move out in the country, how many people are going to live within two blocks of the church building?

Stop kidding yourself about building a new country-club and calling it "the will of God." Stop kidding yourself that moving to the highway is going to be "our best opportunity to reach lost people." Don't kid yourself. You know that is not true. If being in the center of town, in the center of where lost people are is not motive enough for you "to reach lost people," then you will never reach lost people out in the country.

Don't kid yourself.

You better start reaching those lost people now. Or when you put the congregation into an unscriptural debt of several million dollars, the church will be in grave trouble.

God's will or a country club? Reaching lost people or just talking about it?

Which is it?

Revelation 21:8 says liars have a special place in the lake of fire! " ... all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death."

So don't keep lying to yourself about "God's will." You know God's will now. You know what it is. Now go out and do it!

------------------------

"Religion Is A Fringe Activity..."

2007-07-13T20:25:00.000-07:00

For twelve years or more, I have been reading a Baptist "newsgroup" on Usenet, the original internet. Today, one of the resident atheists made a comment that, unfortunately, rings true and hits too close to home. She was responding to a post by the resident Baptist schizophrenic. Her simple statement was as follows:

Religion is a fringe activity even for the believer andit's just as well. Look
at Bush and Blair, the former was told by God to go to war, the latter will only
answere toGod!

I thought this quote was priceless. For most people, their "Christianity" really is a fringe activity. They go to the motions of church on Sunday, maybe go back on Sunday night or Wednesday night. They read their Bible just enough to get by on Sunday. They never witness to their neighbor. They never seriously invite anyone to church, then follow up with a card or letter or phone call or even another personal visit. Their "Christianity" is a fringe activity.

A fringe activity.

That explains how a preacher can lie to and mislead a congregation and feel no guilt. This explains how church staff members can shun and put-down others while feeling indifferent about it. This explains how Christians can defraud each other and feel no pain. This explains how Christian parents can set bad examples for their kids, then blame the kids when something goes wrong in their life. That idea also explains how a congregation can never witness, yet claim they know God told them to build a new building and, against scripture, go into debt to the tune of millions of dollars.

"A fringe activity."

No truer words were spoken.

The Vision...Sixty Four Residences? Not In This Life!

2007-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

The Vision, the Will of God...reaching lost people WHERE?

The FBCA web site proclaims that moving out of town and leaving the most strategic location in the entire county

"represents both the will of God and our best opportunity to reach lost people."

However, many members disagree. Many church members think moving out of town, moving AWAY from the most strategic location in the county is the antithesis of the will of God.

If you stand at the church, to the southeast of the church is downtown for a couple of blocks, followed by homes. To the northwest of the church is a few homes and farmland. If you stand at the church, to the east and northeast is another church and many, many homes. If you stand at the church, to the west and southwest is another church and many, many homes.

I went to the church. Then I drove west on Church Street only two blocks and counted the number of residences located within two blocks of the church in only one direction. There are approximately SIXTY-FOUR RESIDENCES within TWO BLOCKS of the church in only one direction.

SIXTY-FOUR RESIDENCES !!!

How many people do you think live in those SIXTY-FOUR RESIDENCES within TWO BLOCKS of the church in ONLY ONE DIRECTION ???

How many?

Let's say two people live in each of those sixty-four residences. Sixty-four front doors time two people each equal one-hundred twenty-eight people.

128 People live within two blocks of the church building.

That is allot of poeple. Last Sunday, how many people were at church? Were 160 people at church last Sunday? How about 170 people. Either way, 128 people within two blocks of the church is roughly two thirds of the regular attendees. If you reached those 128 people living within two blocks of the church and if they were "added to the church" in one year, that would be 300 people every Sunday, coming to worship and sing and pray and praise.

THREE HUNDRED PEOPLE on Sunday morning!

But rather than reach those 128 lost people who live within TWO BLOCKS of the church, somehow "God" has miraculously told "someone" that "His will" is to move that congregation AWAY from those sixty-four residences and go out in the country and let those 128 people rot in Hell, without even trying to reach them!

Jesus actually said his will was for you to be his witnesses first at home, within two blocks of the church, then out in the county, then in the surrounding counties, then further away.

Yes, we have softball for Jesus while the people who live within two blocks of the church are going to Hell.

And you are saying THAT is the will of God?

Seriously?

First Baptist Country Club - LUST OF THE EYES

2007-06-17T20:41:00.000-07:00

The FIRST BAPTIST COUNTRY CLUB

Ok, I got it!

First Baptist Church loves the world, according to the Bible.

"The love of the father is not in" First Baptist Church, according to the Bible.

First Baptist Church wants a Country Club, away from the people of the town, out in the country.

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man
love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vain glory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."
1John 2:15-16

THIS is why I say that:

Last week, First Christian Church celebrated their last Sunday in the historic building that is in the heart of Alamo. They have officially deserted there strategic downtown location and moved into the new church building, miles away from most of the members and far away from "lost" people.

Where is their new church building?

The new First Christian Church building is outside of the town, outside of the city limits, out in the country.

So what is the point of deserting the city and moving to the country? If you want to reach the citizens of Alamo, there is no reason to move. You can't reach the citizens of the town when you are out in the country.

If you want the church family to isolate themselves even more, then you build a building even further away from the people in town. You segregate yourself from the very people whom you claim you want to minister to.

If you want a new country club, then you should move to the country. All of the "church family" can drive outside of the city and enjoy the crisp, country air at their new country club.

THAT is the reason First Baptist Church wants to move OUT OF THE CITY and OUT TO the country. They want a new country club, isolated from those nasty citizens of the city of Alamo. They want to be out there where the air is fresh, out there in the country, where they will feel even less guilt than they do now about reaching the lost people in Alamo. First Baptist wants to remove themselves from the very people of whom they claim in their ministry.

First Baptist members want a country club, not a church.

First Baptist wants to have fun in the country, NOT reach people in town.

And the pastor will soon move on. Suddenly, "God" will "call him" to a new church where he will boast, "look what I built in Alamo."

And the people will be left with a multi-million dollar debt to pay, just because they gave in to the lust of the eyes and had to have a new "country club" church.

----------------------------------------------------------------

Recently, I spoke with a couple of the members of First Christian Church who were not in favor of the move. They wondered aloud how the church was planning on reaching the people now when they didn't even try to reach them while they were in town? They wondered why the church (First Christian) did not reach the local people before moving to the country?

I also wonder the same thing about good ole First Baptist Church. As I continue to ask, if you aren't reaching the people now, then what makes you think you are going to reach the people when your new Country-Club church is finished?

Do you want a new church to win lost people or do you want a new country club church?

My bet is, THE LUST OF THE EYE!!

My bet is, First Baptist Church loves the world more than they love God.

If you love God, then GO NOW and reach the people NOW!

Don't wait until you build the new country-club church with new carpet and new seats. GO NOW!

Some of the members of First Baptist Church have never witnessed to a single citizen of Alamo. But they are consumed with the LUST OF THE EYES, wanting a new building, new carpet, new pews, new parking spaces. First Baptist church wants "all that is in the world." And let me tell you, all that is in the world is NOT of God.

A - Lust of the eyes.

B - A new country club, not a church.

C - Away from the people, not among the people.

And the pastor will leave them with a multi-million dollar debt when God suddenly "calls him" to a bigger church with a better retirement plan.

Lust of the eyes...not of God.

WKB

"To Reach Lost People?"

2007-05-03T15:03:00.000-07:00

To Reach Lost People?!?

The FBCAlamo web page sums up the idea to go into debt millions of dollars and move the church building AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE as "the best opportunity to reach lost people."

To quote from the FBC Alamo web site itself:

...the membership believes that this represents both the will of God and our best opportunity to reach lost people.

I have heard figures from $2,000,000 to $4,000,000 for reaching lost people.

HERE'S A THOUGHT FOR YOU:

Jesus reached lost people on a budget of ZERO DOLLARS and changed the world.

Consider that there are approximately 2,500 people in Alamo. Let's say moving the building AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE cost $2,500.000.

That means leadership of First Baptist Church in Alamo wants to spend ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER PERSON "to reach lost people."

HERE'S THAT THOUGHT AGAIN:

Jesus did it on a budget of ZERO DOLLARS and changed the world.

Now tell me, what specifically does it take "to reach lost people?"

What is required "to reach lost people?"
What equipment is required "to reach lost people?"
What transportation is required "to reach lost people?"
How much lighting is required "to reach lost people?"
How many baseball fields are required "to reach lost people?"
Is insurance required "to reach lost people?"
Is food required "to reach lost people?"

HERE'S THAT SAME THOUGHT AGAIN:

Jesus reached lost people by walking to where they were and talking to them. Jesus reached lost people on a budget of ZERO DOLLARS and changed the world.

The leadership of First Baptist Church of Alamo can reach lost people if they will walk to where they are and talk to them about serious spiritual matters, not about baseball, not about the choir, not about the new building, but about the Lord.

The leadership of First Baptist Church of Alamo can reach lost people if they want to. The members of First Baptist Church of Alamo can reach lost people if they want to...and can do it without spending $2,500,000 to do it.

Is it "God's will" to spend $1,000 per person to reach lost people or it is "God's will" to go and make disciples and teach them to do the same?

Does First Baptist Church of Alamo REQUIRE $1,000 per person to reach lost people?

Can First Baptist Church of Alamo reach lost people without spending $1,000 per person to do it?

You tell me WHICH way is "God's will" to reach lost people?

HERE IS A SPIRITUAL AND PRACTICAL TRUTH:

If you are not reaching lost people now, you won't suddenly begin to reach lost people by going into debt (clearly against what the Bible teaches) and moving the building out on the highway, away from those very lost people you claim to want to reach.

If you are not reaching them now, you will not reach them any better when you move away from them. If you are not reaching lost people now, you will not reach them any better when you abandon your strategic location and move to the country.

-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- --

But Glory To God...we will have baseball for Jesus.

And it only cost $1,000 for every lost person in Alamo to play baseball.

The Mystical Will of God! Who's Kidding Whom?

2007-04-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

I was reading the web site for First Baptist Church, Alamo. Nice, simple site, pushing the move away from the people as a vehicle to reach the people. Illogical, but not surprising. While reading the "vision" page, I came across the following regarding the decision to move the church from its strategic location out to the county road:

...the membership believes that this represents both the will of God and
our best opportunity to reach lost people.

Wait a minute!

You are telling me that moving OUT OF TOWN, out on the highway is your "best opportunity to reach lost people?" Is that right? Is going into four-million dollars debt as good as you can do to "reach lost people?"

Where did that illogical idea come from?

What is the purpose for such a move from an already strategic location as you have now?

Why would "God" will you to move out in the country when you don't even reach the people in town?

Who came up with that nutty idea first?

How will being AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE give you your "best opportunity to reach lost people?"

And finally, WHO is going to benefit the most from such a building program and from this move?

Who told you it was God's will anyway? Who convinced you of that lie? Who was the FIRST to plant that little false seed and begin harvesting it?

HERE IS A QUESTION FOR THE CHURCH MEMBERS TO CONSIDER:

Has the staff made a comittment to stay with the church after putting the members into debt for several million? Or will "God" suddenly "call" the leadership to brighter, greener pastures to, perhaps, put another congregation into debt?

Moving the church building is the most stupid rationalization I have ever read for splitting a church, and it has split the membership of First Baptist. Who is pulling the wool over your eyes, People of FBCA? Who is kidding you?

If you are NOT reaching "lost people" now, why do you think you are going "to reach lost people" when you move the building AWAY from the people? Would someone please tell me what opportunist came up with such an idiotic and illogical idea, then had the audicity to call it "the will of God?"

FACT: Literally hundreds of people inside the city limits of Alamo sit at home each Sunday and watch television within the shadow of First Baptist Church. Why aren't you trying to get them into church on Sunday?

QUESTION: Within the last four weeks, upon how many doors have you knocked within walking distance of that church building? Within the last month, how many people who live four blocks from the church have you personally invited to church?

Hundreds of people in Alamo do not even go to church anywhere. Why aren't they at First Baptist? Why don't you try to reach them BEFORE you move the entire building AWAY from them? Are you going to go door-to-door down the highway "to reach lost people" who live between Bells and Alamo? Is that what you are going to do? Are you gonna witness to the thousands of people who live at Green Frog?

QUESTION: Who's gonna reach those lost people in town when you are gone to your country club on the highway with your baseball fields and paved parking?

Oh, I forgot, all the people left Green Frog and moved to town, literally.

To the people of First Baptist, Alamo: You better stand back and take a good look at reality. You better stop kidding yourself. There are lost people all around the church now who YOU ARE NOT REACHING. People, you are kidding yourself to think that you will suddenly begin "to reach lost people" after you move the church building.

Wake up!!

It would be sensible to first begin reaching the HUNDREDS OF LOST PEOPLE LIVING IN THE SHADOW OF THE CHURCH before you think about moving away from the people. You are NOT reaching lost people now. Please convince me that will change when you move out into the country.

BASEBALL FOR JESUS.
Yeah, that's certainly the way to win Crockett County to the Lord!
Move to the country and let the city go to hell!

Yeah, that's the will of God, ain't it?

Sure, Mack, sure.

God's Vision for First Baptist Church Alamo!

2007-02-22T07:25:00.000-08:00

If you refuse to do God's actual will for His church, then you can claim "God Told Us To Build A Building" and people will believe you.

GOD has a will for FBC Alamo. God has a vision...to see his people involved in spiritual reproduction.

You hear about "the vision God has for our congregation" yet nobody mentions those who oppose this alledged vision, those who's objections have been ignored by the church leadership, those who think God has a different "vision...for our congregation." Does God's vision include ignoring long-time members opinions? It certainly seems so.

Everything is presented in the form of "THIS" is God's "overwhelming plan for our future" with no room for facts, no room for scriptural truth (which has not always been presented or followed.) When you talk about praying "hard about the future of our church," why is there a problem with the church actually DOING WHAT JESUS SAID TO DO?!?

Here it is, GOD's WILL for FBC ALAMO:

1) GO
2) MAKE DISCIPLES
3) REPEAT

Here it is straight from God's Word:

"Go then and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you..."

God's Plan for FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH of ALAMO is to go first, to make disciples, then to teach those disciples to go and to make disciples and to teach those disciples to go and make disciples and to teach those disciples to...so on and so forth.

Can you see how the plan repeats and the result is spiritual reproduction? THAT is GOD'S PLAN for FBC Alamo. That is God's Vision for First Baptist Church of Alamo.

Why is that so difficult to see?

If you are not GOING and if you are not MAKING DISCIPLES and if you are not TEACHING THEM to reproduce the entire process, how dare you blame God for your own agenda to take a small, non-reproductive congregation into a FOUR-MILLION DOLLAR DEBT!

How dare you blaim your own selfish agenda on God.

THE BAPTIST WAY: Build a Building, give the illusion of spiritual action.

GOD'S WAY: Make disciples.

When First Baptist Church was having 300 and 350 people on Sunday morning, they ran out of space and needed to build. TODAY, with only 170 people on Sunday morning, how can you claim there is a need to build?

You can't!

When you are GOING as Jesus instructed, when you are MAKING DISCIPLES as Jesus instructed, when you are MAKING DISCIPLES who are REPRODUCING MORE DISCIPLES, only THEN it will be revealed what you should do. When you are having 300 or 350 people on Sunday morning instead of 170, THEN you might need more space.

For now, it is MAN'S PLAN over which you have laid "GOD SAID" which is simply not true, it is a lie.

For now, it is MAN'S VISION to build while the auditorium sits half-empty on Sunday morning.

Remember when I said earlier that anytime someone says "GOD TOLD ME" or something similar that we would be asked for money? Well, it's happening. Ya gotta give to the building fund. Ya gotta admit "that we have not given to the building fund like we could."

Here's an idea: WHY DON'T YOU ADMIT THAT YOU ARE NOT MAKING DISCIPLES?

Why don't you admit that?

Instead of praying "hard about the future of our church" why don't you go out and make some disciples? Instead of all the talk about giving "what God lays on your hearts," why not make some disciples?

ACTION does not replace MAKING DISCIPLES!

A new building does not replace MAKING DISCIPLES!

If we aren't winning souls, if we aren't making new disciples as Jesus taught, we must have ACTION to make it look like we actually ARE doing something spiritual. The Southern Baptist Convention has taught churches that for decades. Unfortunately, it has become habit, the rule of thumb in many SBC churches.

If nothing is happening in your church, then BUILD A BUILDING so it will LOOK LIKE SOMETHING IS HAPPENING!

Yep, when you aren't winning souls for Jesus, blame it on the baby-boomers, blame it on the old folks, blame it on the economy, then build a building and make everyone THINK you are doing something spiritual.

Here's a simple question: Why don't you FIRST Go and Make Disciples? Why don't you do that FIRST?

Why don't you make some disciples and teach them to make disciples THEN you would actually need a building?!?

Why don't you make disciples first??

Inquiring minds want to know!

Missing Posts - A Higher Standard

2007-02-20T08:36:00.000-08:00

It is interesting that the first comment to the first post on this blog has been deleted by the author after it was already quoted, addressed and documented. I have found that many people are not really interested in truth. Most folks are interested in what agrees with their position or with what keeps them comfortable. I like to be comfortable and I certainly do not like criticism. That post was critical of my words but I allowed it and responded to it. I have discovered that most folks do not like criticism. But it is good to have others examine our words. I may be wrong. I post here expecting my words to be examined and critiqued. The critical responses won't bother me and it will give me a reason to examine my own words and motives.

Chances are I probably will not remove my words soon, like the previously mentioned poster.

I have discovered that truth was not an issue to most folks. Serious truth is not something most folks will consider. Truth is scary. Truth is often different than what we want to hear.

Unfortunately, many Christians have stopped thinking. Many Christians have stopped "testing the Spirits" regarding virtually any issue presented from the local pulpit or from the television pulpit. Many folks will not "study to show yourself approved" and will believe whatever "God's man" tells them, although the term "God's man" is so often abused.

(Any believer is "God's man" and any believer is allegedly able to receive wisdom from the Holy Spirit and to think for himself.)

Yet when one objects to the religious establishment, one is told to "get on board or get off" as one poster proclaimed before removing his words. People are not allowed to actually question the establishment, not allowed to publicly question "God's man." FBC Alamo is not the only church in that position. But FBC Alamo has been told that the only way to fix their problem is to go into debt several million dollars and to MOVE away from their strategic location. They have been told THAT is the solution while sitting with a half-empty sanctuary every Sunday morning.

There is a Biblical solution to what some have claimed is a problem at the church. But it is clear that FBC Alamo has NOT been given the Biblical solution to their alleged "problem!"

Truth is still truth, no matter how loudly error is proclaimed from the pulpit or the television set. I think Christians should seek truth and should stop floating along, believing any bit of error tossed to them. Christians, members of FBC Alamo should seek a higher standard for their leadership and a higher standard in their own personal and spiritual life.

One of my favorite atheists, Earl Dogerty, voiced my position far better than I have in the past. Doherty said:

"If Christianity and Christians are to be distinguished from all others as subscribing to the truth, as operating under the aegis of the one true God with all the benefits which ought to be accruing from such a state of affairs, then we should have the right to demand of them a standard of conduct and enlightenment that would set them apart."

To that, I will respond, AMEN and AMEN and AMEN!!!

Doherty continued:

"Either [non-Christian actions and words of Christians] reflect adversely on the disposition of the Deity himself, or they indicate that having a pipeline to the true God does not prevent one from holding as bigoted and inhuman attitudes towards one's fellow man as anyone else. If the representatives of that Deity, whether priest, televangelist or faith healer, can regularly be found guilty of child abuse, avarice or fraud, then one can hardly tout Christianity as the one effective guide and guarantor of proper moral behavior. Any philosophy, no matter what it may claim for itself in principle, is only as good as it works in practice. Christianity's track record gives us no reason to regard it as occupying a privileged position in regard to divine benefaction."

Allow me to paraphrase Doherty by adding,

"If the representatives of that Deity,whether pastor, choir director, youth director, Sunday School leader, organist, pianist, deacon, elder or any other church member can regularly be found guilty of jealousy, envy, resentment or slander, then one can hardly tout Christianity as the one effective guide and guarantor of proper moral behavior. Any philosophy, no matter what it may claim for itself in principle, is only as good as it works in practice."

Some have said I am holding a grudge because of my criticism of spiritual leaders. That is not true at all. I have made observations of the actions BY "representatives of that Deity" that are most unlike the message that those "representatives" are proclaiming. Truth is truth, error is error, lies are lies, false figures are false figures, misrepresentations are misrepresentations. My motive is irrelevant. The actions of those "representatives" should be examined and "judged" based upon the standard that THEY claim to represent.

As Doherty said above:

"Any philosophy, no matter what it may claim for itself in principle, is only as good as it works in practice."

If you are going to tell your critics to "get on board or get off," then you better be able to support your position from all sides, not just by claiming ""get on board or get off" or by claiming we must take drastic measures. If you are going to expect folks to give you four-million dollars, you can expect your words and actions to be examined and re-examined.

There is a Biblical answer to the perceived problems facing FBC Alamo. But in the past five years, that Biblical answer has not been presented to the congregation. There is a simply and practical Biblical answer to the perceived problems facing FBC Alamo and from what I have seen in church over the past few years, that Biblical answer is not being practiced.

But the church already bought and paid for the land for a soft-ball field.

Glory to God, softball for Jesus

while most of the county stays home on Sunday morning

or goes to the lake.

INSTANT EVANGELISM...Another Member Speaks

2007-02-13T19:52:00.000-08:00

After each post is a "comment" link. When you click there, you are able to add comments regarding the post.

Comments were sent regarding the "Instant Evangelism" post. They were good and I thought they deserved more space than on just the comment page. So I decided to respond in a post here. The original comment can be read by clicking on the "comment" link on the post "Instant Evangelism."

THE MEMBER SAID:
I understand the concern about going into debt... believe me, it is a concern for me as well. But when you're sitting in a building that is 80+ years old and falling apart... sometimes you need to take drastic measures.

MY RESPONSE:
What drastic measures? Why not fix the problems? Are you saying the problem is too much for FBC to handle?

The Crockett County Court House is over 130 years old and is being used daily. The US Capital building is over 200 years old. Please tell me specifically how the church building is falling apart. What is wrong with the building that can not be repaired? Please be specific. Are the church people incapable of repairing the building? Is the membership so inept that they can not repair the church building? Is the leadership so determined to move that they have convinced the majority that the building can't be repaired?

Are you saying the ENTIRE church building is falling apart? How strange! FYI, not all of the church is even close to 80 years old, not even close!!!

Why not say it this way,
"We are sitting in a strategic location with a beautiful, 80 year old historic building with roots going to the very founding of Crockett County."

That would be far more accurate (and far more honest) than to condemn a building that is only 80 years old.

THE MEMBER SAID:
However, I also feel that the amount of 4 million is a little inflated.

MY RESPONSE:
That is the figure the congregation was given for the new building. I didn't make up that figure.

THE MEMBER SAID:
That is crazy and a foolish notion that FBC Alamo exists ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING ALAMO.

MY RESPONSE:
Please be more honest. I did not state nor imply that FBC exists "ONLY FOR THE PURPOSE OF SERVING ALAMO," did I?

Let me ask you, if you are not reaching more than 170 people in Alamo, what makes you think you are suddenly going to become so evangelical that you reach the entire county...if you are not doing that already? Please tell me what is going to be different? If you can't reach more than 170 people in Alamo, how are you planning on reaching 15,000 in the county? How?

THE MEMBER SAID:
The "Fact" that FBC Alamo hasn't been soul winning is also not a valid point. I believe it was just a few weeks ago that we baptized. And just a few weeks before that I believe we baptized then too. Wait a minute... was it just a few months ago... around OCTOBER in a tent revival that 45 people were saved and several families joined our church. That tells me that GOD IS WORKING IN OUR CHURCH!

MY RESPONSE:
In the original post, I stated that the membership has become "stagnant" for the past five years. Where are those 45 people? The attendance did not go up even 10 people, much less 45. Who did follow-up on those 45 people? Where are they today?

Don't forget, it was JESUS who gave the evangelism plan that Baptists seem to ignore. Jesus said FIRST to "make disciples," and SECOND, to baptize them, not to baptize them first then lose them.

THE MEMBER SAID:
He might not be working some of the members lives, but HE IS WORKING IN OUR CHURCH! FBC is evangelical

MY RESPONSE:
I repeat, the membership has stagnated for the past five years. If you, if the pastor, if even one church member made ONE DISCIPLE per month over the past five years, then the church attendance would be over 230 members as it was even 20 years ago, not the 170 it is today.

THE MEMBER SAID:
... if some people don't think they will become evangelical when the church builds that is fine... but I see the hand of God working in our people and I see the love of God displayed from so many.

MY RESPONSE:
That's fine for you and your world. However, when this building program began to be pushed through, some church members began to gravitate towards one side or the other and make it a personal issue. Some members stopped speaking to others who disagreed with the pastor. Those who questioned and opposed the abandonment of the current property were ridiculed and scorned by other members and by the staff. Yes, you may "see the love of God" but some folks were so hurt that they left the church or stopped coming to the preaching services. Perhaps you have not been around long enough. Perhaps you just jumped on board and are still on a spiritual honeymoon. Perhaps you are just not paying attention.

THE MEMBER SAID:
If this church isn't evangelical, then tell me why is there a new Sunday school class for young adults splitting at the seams and most of the attendees of that class were not in our church, or any church before that class came into being.

MY RESPONSE:
If you say this church IS evangelical, then please tell me why the membership has been completely flat for the past five years?!? If you say this church IS evangelical, then please tell me where those 45 people are from that revival.

THE MEMBER SAID:
IF MEMBERS IN OUR CHURCH WOULD ACTUALLY LOVE EACH OTHER THE WAY THE BIBLE COMMANDS AND QUIT STIRRING UP TROUBLE, YOU'D SEE MANY MORE PEOPLE COMING TO FBC.

MY RESPONSE:
You act like if anyone questions you or questions your position, they are "STIRRING UP TROUBLE." You seem to think that if anyone questions actions by the church leadership, they are "STIRRING UP TROUBLE."

Perhaps that is why you simply think everything is loving and wonderful. You have surrounded yourself with people who agree with you and who agree with your viewpoints. Either you are blind or you don't want to see the problems or you just think YOU ARE RIGHT and everyone else is "STIRRING UP TROUBLE."

THE MEMBER SAID:
I think there are many valid concerns. However, trying to sway the opinion of others is simply wrong.

MY RESPONSE:
WHY? YOU are trying to sway the opinion of others when you do not allow any oposing view to be stated. Why is it wrong to offer a different viewpoint? That's what you are doing. That's what was done when this whole fiasco began. Why is it right for you and wrong for me?

When this building program began, the leadership and a handful did their best "trying to sway the opinion of others" which you now think "is simply wrong." Please tell me why it is OK for them to express an opinion but it is not OK to express a contrary opinion here? Please tell me why it is OK for them to express their opinion in the church but it is not OK for others to express a contrary opinion in the church? Tell me why? Please tell me why?

THE MEMBER SAID:
Let each man decide for himself what God is speaking to his heart. If the decision comes back that the church feels we should go forward with the building... than get on board or get off. Those are the two options you have.

MY RESPONSE:
That is a pretty self-righteous answer and an extremely arrogant attitude. "get on board or get off." How pompous of you to say that. So are you saying that YOU have all the answers and nobody is allowed to question you?

Brother, in your arrogant boast "get on board or get off," YOU JUST REVEALED WHY the membership of FBC has been suffocated. Your proud and self-righteous attitude is the reason that church has as many people going out the back door as come in the front. That is not evangelism. That is not discipleship. That is SAD!

And you just demonstrated why with your high, haughty proclamation, "get on board or get off!" I am really sorry that is your attitude.

Examine The Entire Situation

2007-02-13T07:23:00.000-08:00

First John 4:1 is an amazing verse which, in my opinion, too few people take seriously.

The "KJV" reads the passage this way:

"Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. "

THE MESSAGE version of the Bible reads it this way:

"My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. "

Three points:
1) Don't believe everything you hear.
2) Test, carefully weigh, examine what people tell you.
3) There are a lot of lying preschers loose in the world.

The word translated "TEST" is the Greek term dokimazo.
1) to test, examine, prove, scrutinise (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals
2) to recognise as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

It is interesting that this word has its root in dokimos, a word closely associated with coins and money in particular. For example:
1) accepted, particularly of coins and money.
2) accepted, pleasing, acceptable

Donald Barnhouse made the following comments:

"In the ancient world there was no banking system as we know it today, and no paper money. All money was made from metal, heated until liquid, poured into moulds and allowed to cool. When the coins were cooled, it was necessary to smooth off the uneven edges. The coins were comparatively soft and of course many people shaved them closely. In one century, more than eighty laws were passed in Athens, to stop the practice of shaving down the coins then in circulation. But some money changers were men of integrity, who would accept no counterfeit money. They were men of honour who put only genuine full weighted money into circulation. Such men were called 'dokimos' or 'approved'."

Barnhouse called them "men of honor." "Men of honor"..."genuine" Consider the term "men of honor." Consider the term "genuine."

All too often, we get caught up in a movement, wrapped up in a situation. We repeat what we have heard over and over. We hear the rhetoric and we accept it as truth, depending on the source. All to often we fail to step back and examine the options. All to often we fail to examine the messenger.

All to often we fail to examine the motives of the messenger...a fatal error.

There is a huge church in Jacksonville, Florida with over 20,000 members and with a pastor who came there in June '06. Without even being in that church one full year, that pastor is already attempting to convince that church of "God's vision" for the church, a building program, a vision that will cost them tens of millions of dollars. One member recently said that he is "behind our pastor" and that the pastor will need his support to execute the new vision after he fully explains it.

The "vision" is being leaked a little at a time, like trial baloons. It is an emotionally manipulative technique used by many leaders to "plant the seed" of an idea. By the time the entire plan is revealed, many people are convinced it is "the only way" when in reality, they have not bothered to stop and examine the situation from another viewpoint, to look at options, to consider costs vs results.

Bill Clinton was a master of mass emotional manipulation using this technique. You talk up your idea, your plan. Then you present, often misleading, figures and charts and claims. To top-off the situation, you claim "GOD IS LEADING US TO DO THIS."

Who is gonna argue with God?

1) You repeat the plan again and again,
2) You repeat the plan over a long period of time.
3) You proclaim it loudly and with conviction, real or feigned.
4) You claim "GOD WANTS IT THIS WAY" and "IT'S GODS WILL"
5) You never allow any objectors to speak in a public forum, especially in church.

Hey, hey...ya got it made.

Pretty soon people are convinced that what you say is THE ONLY OPTION! People are convinced that, even when they pray, GOD is going to agree with them. Suddenly, it's God's will.

And you have another feather in your vocational cap, allowing God to call you (if you are a leader) to a new situation, a bigger church with a bigger income and a better retirement plan.

Now, in the church situation above, it is not told that the pastor's vision€€ for his former church was to demolish a fifty-year old, historic building, claiming it wasn't good enough for them. In June '06, his former church had a forty-foot deep hole in the ground that covers an entire city block. In June '06, his former church still owed TEN MILLION DOLLARS on a FORTY-EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR DEBT.

Then ya know what happened?

__TRUMPETS SOUND AT THIS POINT___

Suddenly and without warning...

GOD CALLED THAT PASTOR TO SUNNY FLORIDA!!!

HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH!

Nevermind the forty-foot hole in the ground kids, we're goin' to Florida!

AIN'T GOD GOOD???

___End of the Trumpets___

After his sudden and unexpected exit from his half-finished building program, he said emotionally, “I can’t imagine God bringing me to such a wonderful place like this.” He continued, “But in my heart, I sense this is where God has called me, and with your help, I will do my best to be your pastor."

WAIT!!! STOP THE PRESSES!!!

That's the same thing he said just a few years before, when he convinced another church to demolish a historic building and then ran to Florida, leaving them in debt and leaving a hurt congregation behind!

I submit that many who repeat the rhetoric and platitudes of "God's will" and "let's move to the country" have not examined the situation as thoroughly and as earnestly as they could have. Many who "jumped on the bandwagon" have not considered other options, of which there are plenty.

HERE'S A SPIRITUAL TRUTH not from me, but from God's Word:

1) Don't believe everything you hear.
2) Carefully examine, scrutinise everything you hear.
3) There are a lot of lying preachers in the world.
1John 4:1

"Building programs DO NOT REPLACE personal evangelism."

-----

Something to Consider Overall

2007-02-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

Here are a few questions and something to consider.

Do you believe in truth?

Does truth really matter?

Sometimes it is good to step back from a situation, to consider reality, to consider truth. It is good to consider the truth in a situation. It is not good to get caught up in emotionally driven, holy-sounding rhetoric. Seek truth in all matters, especially when it comes to your Christian life.

When someone tells me, "God said to me" or "God is leading me," the first thing I do is check my billfold. It's not gonna be long before the person who said "God is leading me" is going to ask for money.

When someone says, "I think God is leading us to..." you can be sure there is an agenda ahead, and it is usually NOT God's agenda.

Holy-sounding rhetoric? You bet it is. Personal agenda? Indeed.

FBCA

Instant Evangelism. Where is the logic?

2007-02-11T23:00:00.000-08:00

. . .
Here are a couple of statements that I have found to be true, for the most part:

Many members of First Baptist Church in Alamo equate debt with the will of God.
Many members of First Baptist Church in Alamo believe in sudden, instant evangelism.

Owe nothing to anyone except to love one another
--NASB
Don't run up debts, except for the huge debt of love you owe each
other
--The Message
Keep out of debt and owe no man anything
--Amplified
Owe no man any thing, but to love one another
--KJV

QUESTION:
What part of "owe nothing to anyone" do you not understand? Is that only a generalization? Is that only for certain individuals? Is that a "cultural" command? Is that not for the body of Christ?

QUESTION:
How logical is it for 170 people to go into debt $4,000,000 thinking THAT is going to make them suddenly become evangelical?

Each regular attendee of FBC Alamo would owe $23,529.41. And somehow, people have been convinced that THE ACTION of owing $23,529.41 each, THAT ACTION would suddenly motivate them to win souls to God, something that they are NOT doing now.

Even if the debt is only ONE MILLION DOLLARS, that represents almost SIX-THOUSAND DOLLARS owed by every man, every woman, every boy, every girl, every teenager and every infant who regularly attends First Baptist Church.

That's not all. They are convinced that they will miraculously and instantaneously become evangelical AFTER moving out of town, away from their ministry base!

Please show me the logic in that! THAT is what I can NOT understand, how going into debt will suddenly cause non-soul winners to become soul winners. PLEASE tell me exactly how that is gonna work!

INSANITY: Doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

CHURCH INSANITY: Moving the building out of town (away from the ministry base) then continuing to do the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Since starting this fund-raising program a few years ago, the attendance has remained stagnant. And yet, church members are convinced that they will suddenly become evangelical overnight by moving away from their ministry point.

In the past four years, FBC Alamo has not even added one person per month to the church roll. Yet moving out of town is gonna change that?

I don't think so.

Tell me how?
Tell me how you are going to suddenly become evangelical?
Tell me how many members are going to begin witnessing who are not witnessing now?

Go ahead, convince me that First Baptist Church will instantaniously become evangelical when they go into four-million dollars debt!

Convince me that FBC members will suddenly begin winning people to Christ when they move out of town even though they don't do it now. Prove it!! Convince me!