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?
???
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Friday, October 5, 2007
Building A Church On Sand
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.
---------------------------
--- 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.
---------------------------
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Let's Talk...Let's Discuss This !
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.
----------------------------------
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 ???
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!
------------------------
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!
------------------------
Friday, July 13, 2007
"Religion Is A Fringe Activity..."
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.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
The Vision...Sixty Four Residences? Not In This Life!
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
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.
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.
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?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
First Baptist Country Club - LUST OF THE EYES
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.
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.
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
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.
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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
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