Goodness gracious, I’m growing tired of the B.S. and there is more of it now in the U.S. than ever before in our religious and political arenas. I think this is why so many people are so dispondant in these two areas. That is why I feel a series coming on. I’m going to share some things, say some things that are true , which people would most likely say I shouldn’t. Quite honestly, I don’t really care anymore what others think. This is my blog and how I feel. There is no point in having one if I can’t be real.
So a while back ago I did a series where I confronted pastors that were being hypocritical in their messsenging. I’m starting this series with another. It’s a new church here in Taylor that has the words “Journey” in it’s name. They aspouse in their videos and their messenging that we are all on different journeys and to come just as you are (red flag!) and experience being loved like you never have. Well, I used to fall for that quite easily but I don’t anymore. So I did some digging. When I did, I found this post on their Facebook Page as they condemned this minister to hell because he doesn’t match their theology:
“It’s sad that Carlton Pearson has died but we have to acknowledge that his teachings have led and are leading many people to hell. The gospel of inclusion that he preached is not the true gospel. Hell is real and if a person doesn’t place their faith in Jesus Christ they will not receive eternal life.
“There are many Christians that are celebrating him and even calling him a “man of God.” We cannot compromise the scriptures so we can honor someone’s legacy. His “gospel” has poisoned thousands of souls and if anyone mentions this, they are considered unloving. The church is slowly rejecting the authority of the scriptures. Do not consider it unloving or inconsiderate to talk about Carlton Pearson during his death because his teachings continue to negatively affect the church. There are people that both openly and secretly agree with this teaching.
“Hell is not a myth or an allegory. It is a real place that through Jesus’s death allows us to escape. Carlton Pearson’s family should celebrate him as a father, brother, and a son but God’s people must remember that his teachings has done more damage to the kingdom than his Azusa Conferences had done good. The church can choose to celebrate all of his past accomplishments but how does God view it?
“We need to revisit our theology on how to deal with false teachers. False teachers are to be avoided completely.
“If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not welcome him into your home or even give him a greeting. For the one greeting him shares in his evil deeds.”
2 John 1:10-11 TLV
“But when a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and does injustice and does the same abominations that the wicked person does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds that he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, for them he shall die.”
Ezekiel 18:24 ESV
“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.”
Galatians 1:8 ESV
I was flabergasted at the stark difference of their welcoming message and the call to condemn this man to hell at the announcement of his recent death. This is how something that used to move me to tears in Billy Graham Crusades, the song “Just As I Am”, has now become a red flag when churches say it. They really don’t mean it. It’s a scam. It really is “Come As You Are But You Can’t Stay That Way Or You’re Out!”
Here is the post I gave them in reply:
Hmmm… I was considering visiting this new church but then I saw this. Come as you are, God is loving, we are all on our own journeys but you would condemn this man to hell? So many worship an Americanized Interpretation of the Bible instead of the One True Loving God and you are putting that as a law before the spirit of it, which both Christ and Paul warned against. I’m not necessarily a Pearson follower but in an era of church exclusion he spoke about something very important–inclusion. Many right now are disenfranchized with church as it is and for the first time ever in this nation agnostics and atheists are largest segment of our society than Christians. Judge not, lest you be judge and in all things use love. Love the lord your god with all your heart soul and mind and love your neighbor as you love yourself–this sums up all the law and prophets, so says the Lord. None of what was written here reflects any of this but a judgment this man doesn’t deserve because you don’t agree with some of his theological perspectives. Thank you for showing me who you are and I hope God opens your heart and minds to love and spirit of Jesus Christ rather than a fixation of where your perspective is now.
What was once a largely Christian nation is now largely agnostic and atheist. Isn’t that fascinating? I would say we are better off if todays’ Christians are a reflection of a what a Christian is. While good Christian circles decline, fundamental Christian nationalism is on the rise. A nonthinking, heartless religion with a Majorie Taylor Green grin attached to it.
As a God follower all my life, I don’t know what to do or where to go now. I’m in my small, loving church but it is barely holding on itself. My passions and dreams around ministry were killed and broken by churches and ministers long ago. I don’t want to indoctrinate children into an Americanized version of the Bible or Bible worship. People use it now as such a supressive thing and I don’t want to be part of it. I would like to, if anything, lead a choir of revival singers that bring about a new era of inclusion in churches and new perspective about God while setting out to bring the local community into that inclusive setting. Anytime I get revved up in my worship music, that is what I envision.
But the Church is glued to a 2000 year old text as if no error can be found in it’s American translation and just as well glued to how things are done by the most cherished of their congregations. It would take a big move of God that I would be willing to be part of but not alone. For now, though, I have to be content that God is my friend when there is none. This world is filled with ignorant, stubborn people who only care when you meet their needs. But for myself, God has always been there and maybe that is why my path has been particularly painful and lonely. It is a blessing. The gift is I get God as my friend. I hear and see things I might not otherwise hear. Perhaps that makes it worth it if I’m not just making all this up to make myself feel better right now. I could be but I know in the past I was way too niave and unknowleagable to have made those experiences with God up. I will never forget them. They are often what makes feel warm inside again and am reminded that God does indeed love me because God was there in many of my darkests and brightests hours when others were not. It would require more faith for me to be an atheist than to be a believer in God at this point in my life and in that regard I count myself blessed, but I was also open to it. I received God. Thank goodness for that because these are some dark days.
If you need some spiritual guidence or just want to talk about this, please reach out in email
and put in the title “Spiritual Chat”
lajamison@gotwords.org
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