Re: Baptizing in Jesus Name on the City Hall Lawn
 

You are posting here too.

Believe me, those guys lurk. :heeheehee

Re: Baptizing in Jesus Name on the City Hall Lawn
 

If anybody listens to my pastors sermons they will find your characterization of his beliefs and approach are fundamentally wrong. Sure he is miles away from old time Pentecost but believes the bible is the word of God and what it says matters, that God's values, morals, etc are timeless and apply to today. He believes that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to God and heaven, etc.

As far as "marketing" goes we do not advertise. Our growth and evangelism has been by word of mouth. We do not do any promotions enticing people to come to church. No giveaways on Easter Sunday's, no Sunday School contests, etc. We never bring in any outside preachers or singing groups to draw a crowd. I think my pastor was much more comfortable and in his element when the church was a couple hundred people vs 3,000+ now.

So I have absolutely no problem with you disagreeing with my pastors doctrine, "standards, etc but where i take offense is your mis characterization that he has no specific doctrines and is in it to be cool or an ego and built the church through some kind of slick marketing. just not true.

Re: Baptizing in Jesus Name on the City Hall Lawn
 

Don't ever take offense, because I don't take offense when you mischaracterize what I believe. Call it good, throw out your chest, suck in your stomach muscles, and let's continue forward in grace and peace.

Does your pastor teach on the godhead? Is the godhead important? How about this, is the godhead important to you? Why do you baptize people? Will people be saved without baptism? Can someone make heaven without baptism? I already have been told that speaking in tongues is a non issue, and therefore receiving the Holy Ghost is a nonissue. Bro, I have friends who don't have outer standards, but they are solid on your so called Lynyrd Skynyrd "gimme three steps" soteriology. Bro, I don't know your pastor, you know I don't know your pastor. I'm just saying that it's all marketing, plain and simple.

I know, I know, you guys don't have billboards saying eat at Pepes. Yet, the marketing happens when you sit in the pew. I came into this not because you Pentecostals had good music, or a tattooed hippy girl in a sundress tripping over ESVs in the tall grass.

I came into the Apostolic faith because you guys had book, chapter, and verse. Brother JT Bass, blew me away by saying that over and over again. He preached One God and Jesus name baptism with the infilling of the Holy Ghost with tongues. I almost hillclimbed to the third heaven. The Apostolics told me they were the people of the name. They proved it, with explanation that Jesus was His name, and that name was important. That was the launching pad, the Bible, what they believed, and how they told me to prove what you believe. You left in your 20s? Bro, that's like a guy who gave up riding Harley Davidson because the kickstarter kicked back on him and it hurt. Next day bike is up for sale. Was Peter a Baptist? Ws Paul Assembly of gods? Was Titus an Episcopal minister? Was James a Catholic? We just don't have the scripture for the circus train wreck the Industrial Church Complex believes. Your pastor? Bro, forget him, how about you? Your pastor is a young guy who is on his own journey, going places you may not want to follow. or you may want to follow, depending on which direction he chooses.

But, the New Testament doesn't paint a picture of the Who's Magic Bus riding through the pearly gates. Just because everyone was nicer than Jesus. People were sweet, kind, baked cookies for their crackhead neighbors, or led Satan through a sinner's prayer. It isn't AA, or NA, where we are to do this through our own human discipline. We are to go through the water way in Jesus name, be saturated with His Spirit and endued with power from on high. That is in an altar where tears pour like hot faucets, and noses run like mucus hot air balloons .

Please, please, listen. Think about it. Who doesn't say the above about whatever religion or sect they are involved with? My pastor, yada yada, believes the bible is the word of God yada yada and what it says matters blah, blah that God's values, morals, etc, etc, and etc. Pastor, priest, bishop, overseer, apostle, guru believes that Jesus Christ is the one and only way to God and heaven? Seriously? Come on already, who in their right mind would say different? Moses David Berg of the Children of God would state the exact same thing, as would his devotees. As would David Koresh of the Branch Davidians, Jim Jones when he was in his prime, Yoneq Sprigg and the 12 Tribes community say the same exact things. But all believe in teachings so beyond what even your pastor believes. People who leave Mainstream congregations, and the First Church of the Coin operated Bible, do it because they read the scripture, but see more of a your OK I'm Ok teaching when it comes to doctrines. Trinitarians are saved? Why? How? They believe that Jesus is a second person to a greater whole, and that there are two other persons who are as separate as He is. The pastor then throw up their hands telling you its a mystery. Pastor is Joe saved? Well, my boy, God has to determine that. So, as the Eastern Orthodox preacher once told me, "You guys all believe the Bible is a magic book" Was he wrong? Because all he sees a churches who agree to disagree on verses in the Bible. In order to fill more pews. We went from zero to hero and we are now 3,000 +!!!

Plus what? 3,000 what? Navy Seals aren't looking for quantity, they are looking for quality. Yet, the Church wants to count heads, and feel good about a crowd. When Jesus only pointed to a little flock. Something wrong?

City Hall lawn was done for what reason?

Come on man, wipe the sleep from your eyes my brother.

If you believe that, you have swallowed the blue pill and washed it all down with Kool-Aid.