What's On the Pastor's Mind
Last Sunday after church my wife, Paula asked me if I was interested in going to a concert with Bob and Patti Markle. To be honest with you, that was the last thing I wanted to do. I was tired and worn out. It had been a busy last week, taking communion to the shut-ins, visiting people in the hospital, working on my sermon, and making Paula’s 50th birthday special. Then to make it worse, I lost an hour of sleep because of daylight savings time. I was exhausted and just wanted to sit on the recliner and do nothing. As the afternoon went on, the more I felt like I needed to attend the concert. So, I reluctantly decided to go to a concert that I knew nothing about. I didn’t even know who was performing.
Bob and Patti Markle picked us up and we drove to Pennsville Baptist Church in Mt. Pleasant. There were about 400 people there waiting to see the Booth Brothers who sing Southern Gospel Music. I have never heard of them before, but apparently they are very popular in the Southern Gospel genre. They have appeared on the Gaither Homecoming tour and have been rewarded with multiple awards and recognitions. Included among these are Trio of the Year, Male Group of the Year, Best Live Performer of the Year, Song of the Year and various other honors.
The Concert
The concert started at 6:00pm and the church was packed. The Booth Brothers were good. They had easy warm voices with tight harmony. They were the best Southern Gospel group that I’ve ever listened to. The best thing about them was not the music, it was the presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. That’s what set them apart from the other concerts that I have attended. They courageously and fearlessly witnessed for Jesus Christ.
Michael Booth did most of the talking and what he had to say was powerful. There was one thing that he had to say that really hit home for me, “Don’t believe everything you see on the TV.” You may not know this, but there is a movement in our society called the “Faith Movement” which is preaching a false gospel, and many of these prosperity preachers can be found in our television sets.
Eleven Dangerous Teachings
With in the Christian community there are some teachings being taught that are just plain dangerous. Here are eleven dangerous teachings that I have personally heard from TV evangelists in the last year.
1. Powerful words create reality
2. With our words we can prophesy our own future.
3. Adam was God in the flesh.
4. The key to prosperity is to have faith in your faith.
5. One teaches you should talk back to the devil.
6. One does not believe in evangelizing the Jews, because they are protected under the old covenant.
7. One flat out denies the deity of Christ.
8. One teaches you give so you can receive.
9. Several do not recognize the trinity.
10. Some indirectly imply the size of the donation depends on the size of your
miracle.
11. People are not healed due to their lack of faith.
Get off the recliner!
During the concert Michael Booth said, “Many of these teachers present a small view of God and a large view of man. There are many born again believers that are being taught a false doctrine, but what scares me the most are those who go to church and are not born again Christians who are hearing these false teachings. So many people might be surprised when Christ comes again.” I walked away from this concert refreshed and renewed. The music was great and the message of salvation was preached with boldness. If you ever get a chance to see the Booth Brothers, get up off the recliner and go, because you will be blessed.
Pastor Ken