I was born and raised in Benton Harbor MI, I was raised by grandmother from an early age, due to the lost of my mom. My mom struggled with drugs and alcohol and Alcoholic Hep finally took her life at the age of 28. I wish I have got to know her better. Well my dad lived around the corner from us but really had no dealing with me or my sister for the most part. He got a new family when I was around 5 and well lets just say she wasn’t to fond of us. My grandmother did all she could to raise us. She could be verbally abusive at times, but she always provided for us and gave us all she could with minimal resources. Life started to change for me at around 11 years old. My sister who is 3 years older than me, started to experience inner city teenage life and well I followed right along.
It wasn’t long before I was drinking, smoking, and having sex (I was 12 when I experienced all of these). Right before the age of 13, I got involved with the neighborhood drug dealer and well lets just say I liked what he had to offer me. I started to sale crack at the young age of 12. Though I was only doing small numbers, a package here or there, it gave me a taste of the fast life and fast money. I started to mess with a few older girls and life started to move even faster. By the time I was 14, I was helping a guy I had known for years chop up 8th of Kilos and the money got even better. By the time I was 15 school wasn’t a concern and by this time I had already moved out of my grandmothers house twice, I was actually sleeping over a cousin house in which I could hustle with more liberty.
Blunts, sex, partying, drinking and hustling became the norm and well, I was headed for hell in a hand basket. By the end of my 15th year, I had become what the streets could make out of a young men. I met a young girl and shortly after my 16thbirthday she was pregnant with my son Lionel Jr. Lets rewind some. I was raised in a pseudo-religious home. My grandmother was heavilyinvolved in church, but as for now I still don’t believe she is regenerate. I got involved in Jr. Ushering when I was about 10 years old but by the age 11 I wanted nothing to do with church. I think something had happened when I was around 8 or 9 though. I was reading Revelation while the pastor was hooping and hollering and after coming across the last couple of chapters, this story about the lake of fire thing scared me senseless. I couldn’t wait to go and ask how to escape such a judgement and they baptized me, gave me a certificate and well that was it. Over the next few years nothing changed, I had another experience when I was around 11 but once again my behavior only got worse. As I look back I believe God was working in my heart. But back to age 16.
Right before my son was born my best friend was shot to death over gang affiliations. His name was Sam Maryweather. And I miss him greatly. He was loyal and talented and funny. He would give you the shirt off of his back and would scrap with anybody. How this went down was ironic. My cousin Toney would come by my house every Wed and Sunday. He would be dressed up and talking about this Jesus stuff. I would laugh or ignore him, but to get him off of my back I decided to go one night. Well that night, God started to deal with my heart in a special way. Though I wrestle with my salvation because of the fruit afterwards, I do believe that God was beginning to set me apart. I spoke in tongues was immediately baptized in Jesus name (this was an Oneness Pentecostal Church) and my life was turned upside down. I threw away my CD’s and told Sam and the fellows I could hang out with them anymore “I had found Jesus”.
That weekend Sam and Mitchell went to a party on the wrong side of town. David and Dre was there and they had a shot gun. They blew a hole in his side with the sawed off shot gun, same died a week or so later (maybe two weeks). I think it was September. I cried like a baby, at the funeral and for the next couple of weeks. I couldn’t get over the fact that I should have been there. Well my son was born and I decided I wanted to do something different. I got focused on school, preached the gospel to everyone I could, wore dress clothes to school and was a straight cornball dude. People would laugh and shortly there after I fell back into the same lifestyle. The problem was that I didn’t feel as good as I did before, I tried to come back to church and only lasted a week. Well I got my GPA up to a 1.9 and passed the ASVAB test and joined the Army.
The Army was good to me. I got away from the environment and started to see positive black folks. I started to read and just live my life. You know club on the weekends, work during the weeks, had a girlfriend and you know the rest. One day in California I met a guy name Gary McCall. He was an older man on fire for God. He spoke with boldness and was very knowledgeable of the scriptures. He too was a Oneness Pentecostal but even worse they were Seventh Day Adventist also. It was very legalistic church but I excelled because I needed holiness! I worked hard, I was the first one at church and the last one to leave. I became a deacon at age 19 and I was on fire for God.
Until, the pastor took all of the money and left the church broke. He took the car, left the house we were paying for and all the money from the bank. He just disappeared. He straight ran game on us. Well, I was furious withGod and this church and if that was the way church was I didn’t want to have anything to do with them. I ran across some 5 percentersand started to build withthem. I loved East Coast music and Wu was my favorite. I started to talk east cost and knowledge 120 (the Lessons). I called myself Born Divine Allah. During this time I went to Kuwait and when I got back about 6 months later I had read and learned more. I visited Austin withsome of the dudes I was kicking it with and another major event in my life was about to take place. I met my now wife, Charity. We met at a mall and I fell head over hills in love. I couldn’t stop thinking about her.
Well things moved fast and we were married, 6 months later. She moved to Ft. Hood with me and we embarked on life. I ran into some legal trouble and was facing serious charges. A guy in jail with me told me to pray and God would let me out. I listened to him and I was released a day before Christmas (I was in for 30 days). The Army stood by me and eventually I took a plea that allowed me to not have criminal record. Well I ran back to my old church and my wife hated it. Eventually after they told me to divorce her we left. We went from church to church and eventually I got out of the Army after serving 6 years, my wife convinced me to move to Dallas and go to college. This begins the next chapter.
I went to college and excelled. I excelled at work and life was good. Spiritually I was lost though. I played church, went clubbing on the weekends. Just the typical 24/25 year old black dude. Faithful to my wife and a hard worker. However things changed on December 23 2003. After a night of drinking with a relative, the Lord woke me out of my sleep and I could here Him say as clear as day “choose ye this day” that verse would not leave my head and it tormented me until the wee hours of the morning. I eventually went in the other room and started to pray. I told God that I was tired of religion and that I couldn’t figure out which was true. I told God that they all say they are true so I don’t want either of them. Then the sweetest words were whispered to me by the Spirit. Those words were grace. I didn’t have a clue what biblical grace was, but I knew it was a church word, so I went back to church. I joined a church in Lewisville called RLWC, there I blossomed. Though they are a word of faith church the Lord was working in my life mightily.
One day at college a guy name B.J Thompson came and sat down at the table I was at. He was a Christian Hood Dude. He didn’t look like the typical Christian, with Timbs and baggy jeans on and when I met him he had Christian rap in his car. We became friends and he found out my church situation. I told him that the sermons were always about name it and claim, but it was the best church I could find. He did the greatest thing for me. He gave me a McArthur CD and folks my life was changed. Later I graduated and started to work at Blockbuster Corporate and there I met a guy name Shannon Neffendorf (he just married Jennie a couple of weeks ago and I am so excited). He led a bible study and gave me all of Piper Romans series and Tom Nelson CD’s. I fell in love folks. I started to listen to Hank Hannegraf and after a few months, I was bashing every word of faith pastor I could.
I stated to mature and the Lord opened his word to me. I was introduced to the Doctrines of Grace, and then Reformed Theology. Christianity became very real to me and I understood the Sovereign work of God. I started to read commentaries and different theological books. I listened to sermons on the way to work at work and on the way home. I listened to Sproul, Duncan, Piper, Mahaney, and others. They made the Gospel plain to me and I was even more bitter at the Jakes, Dollars, Prices and Whites. But over the last year God has been maturing me. I stopped debating with people and the love of Christ began to overflow. The cross has become so real to me. As I looked back it was always about earning God’s love, versus free grace. Election changed me from arrogant to humbled. I realized that it was God’s unmerited favor and that I was a product of Unconditional Election. I am free because another one bore my sins and I love Him for that. My works became more about gratitude and less and less that of a debtor. During the last year or so, I started to look into the different systems of theology and decided recently to embrace New Covenant. I pray that this testimony is heart warming and edifying. God bless.
Lionel,
I read your blog on church diversity. I just want you to know that I “hear” you. I am a pastor/elder at my church, and I am white. Our distinctives are expository preaching, elder leadership, passion to reach souls for Christ, and an earnest desire to be a NT church. We desperately want to reach our community and to be a diverse church. We are small, predominantly white, with a few black members. One of my best friends and partners in the Gospel ministry here at our church is black, and he and I have brought up many of the same sentiments/concerns that you expressed in your blog. We don’t know the answer, but I feel that you bring up some legitimate points and I am going to pray about some of these things.
Last night, our church hosted three other churches in our city (one predominantly white, the other two predominantly black). We had an awesome time of fellowship and worship together. One of the pastors, who is black, preached on how the Gospel eradicates racism. I feel that we now have some momentum. We’ll see.
Thank you for your expressing your desires for a unified, diverse church that reflects the glory of the Gospel.
Ryan
Pastor Ryan,
Where are you located Sir? I would love to get you on the good church list. My heart is warmed by your heart for diversity Sir (brother). Many say they want it but few are willing to run the risk of change and discomfort to bear through it all. Many refuse to change up services and take the steps you and the leadership of your church has taken brother. I am getting all mushy here. LOL! As I have tried to convey, both parties are responsible, though I feel the “white” church bears the burden a little heavier due to the history of race relations within America and the Western church.
Those of us who are black and God has revealed to us the poison spewing from many of pulpits,, and not only that the refusal to fulfill the Great Commission and properly train their congregants we have to have the courage and take the next step and go to these churches and fight and pray for their hearts to be changed on the issue of diversity. I do believe many whites are afraid (and maybe rightfully so) to interact with blacks and vice versa. I think we all have to come to the table, discuss our differences and work on reconciliation and bridge building. I think this goes beyond sending a couple of dollars and helping plant churches (I am almost ready to say, you shouldn’t plant ethinc churches). But that is for another blog. I pray that God will bless your endavors greatly Pastor Ryan. God bless.
Do you still go to Lifeline in Denton?
No I don’t. How are things with you? How is LA?
Hi Lionel,
New reader to your blog. I too am a reformed black christian and this site is an encouragement to me. Are you still in the DFW area? If so I would like to build with you because I live in Carrollton.
I am very familar with Lifeline as I am friends with a few cats there as well as Dhati.
I would to get chat with you bro over some things like where you currently fellowship at, Holy Hip Hop and doctrines of Grace.
Hit me up with you can..
Thanks,
Jason
Hey Jason hit me up
972-816-7024
As christians, born again by Jesus Christ, blood bought by the lamb of the all might God, shouldn’t we be trying to lead more people to salvation, helping each other instead of bad mouthing everyone that doesn’t think just like you. Just cause you don’t agree with it doesn’t mean you need to waste time bad mouthing. The devil and the ones that follow him do enough of that, we should be joining together in one common goal to push the Kingdom of God forward, after all that is what He tells us we are suppose to be doing. The devil is running crazy all over this world as it is shouldn’t us brothers and sisters in Christ ban together not fight each other. I pray that God will speak to you, God’s word says a good man’s steps are order of the Lord, and I pray that you walk in the steps God has ordered of you.
Hello Child of God,
1. If you are referring to my bad church list. I am trying to help lead people to salvation by not allowing to fellowship with false churches that preach a false Gospel
2. Who said time was wasted other than you? Wolves are to be exposed at all cost. I didn’t speak negatively about the individuals just their teaching. They may be nice people just like Mormons, Muslims and Jehvoah witnesses. However the doctrine they preach is damning and if you really cared about people you wouldn’t want them to be devoured by these wovles and false prophets. These individuals are your brothers and sisters and just like I wouldn’t want my sister dating an abusive man, I don’t want my sister being abused by false teaching.
3. I refuse to join with those that Pauls says “antethama” to. That would be contrinbuting to false prophets. Remember what Paul wrote in Corinthians “Don’t be unequally yoked”. This is what he was referring to these “super apostles” who are no apostles at all.
4. Yes the devil is running a muck, however these individuals that I listed aren’t my brothers and sisters they are false teachers with a different gospel which is no gospel at all. So yeah we should be joining together that is why I have a good church list. BTW the devil is cutting a fool and using these false teachers to help.
5. My daily ambition is to walk with the Spirit by putting on the new man. I have been crucified with Christ so “my ordered steps” have become the Great Commission and anyway that I can contribute to the Kingdom. So hopefully I am walking in those steps. It is my greatest desire to please the one who enlisted me for service. My God, Friend, Master, King, Priest and Savior has purchased me with His blood and I pray that I can be a pleasing aroma to Him. But allowing false teaching and sitting back on the porch like a scared dog isn’t pleasing. A real Shepherd lays down his life and I don’t want to be a hired hand but a true shepherd of God’s people, who is the True Shepherd.
Please tell me some of the teachings that are wrong. I can honestly say I agree with Junita Bynum and Joyce Meyer, I don’t agree with their teachings either, and they don’t set right in my spirit, nor does Joel Olsteen, but I know Rod Parsley and his teachings, the others I know but haven’t followed their teachings as much. What wrong do you find in Rod Parsley’s teaching?
Here is something from Rod Parsley let me know what you think:
Here is one
https://www.breakthrough.net/Resseed2007/index.asp
Here is a quote from one of his fund raisers:
“I believe this is your time to receive the tangible transfer of God’s miracle-working power, and I want to encourage every one of my Breakthrough Partners and friends to send a prayer cloth along with your prayer needs to be prayed over. When I return your prayer cloth to you, I believe the tangible transfer of God’s creative power will flow into your life and birth your miracle! I believe God, Himself, will anoint you to reap a mighty harvest of your physical, spiritual and financial needs… ”
Here is another
“right now I want to mark or target your greatest need whether finances health, family situations with the anointing of God for your miracle . In the early church people saw tangible transfer of the anointing from the apostle Paul to those he laid hands on so then they began to give him handkerchief’s for him to pray over and miracles followed Acts 19:12 declares that diseases departed from them and evil spirits went of them . The clothes became a point of contact for the anointing to be transferred to others I want to mark your prayer cloth with the tangible anointing of God which the bible says will destroy every yoke and burden during Dominion camp meeting I believe the anointing of God will be manifested on July 3rd during our year of Jubilee old fashion miracle healing and deliverance prayer service on that day as we do each year directed of the Lord with my self and thousands of people will pray over your prayer cloth … then well send that prayer cloth back to you believing God to transfer his Jubilee anointing into your life and mark you for a miracle .”.. I’m going to place them on our prayer altar throughout dominion ‘98 camp meeting where they will be saturated in the presence of God then sent back to you. When you write please remember I need YOUR FINANCIAL HELP to help the support this ministry to you.” (With a gift of $15 or more he’ll send you his brand new book the jubilee anointing .)”
And just in case:
“They laid the sick the whole the lame the blind in the streets, Peter shadow caused strength to come back into their legs, some of you are going to be pushing the grocery cart between the frozen peas and carrots and somebody is going to jump out of a wheelchair over in the cereal aisle because of the glory of god that is coming upon you. The glory of god is going to come upon you and cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. Isaiah prophesied that the mountain of the lords house shall be established on the top of the mountains and shall be exalted above the hills and all nations shall flow into it, the gravitational pull of the church is going to become so strong on the world because the gravitational pull on us is so strong from our Jesus that its going to make them seem as though they were forced into the kingdom of God. Your sons and daughters are going to get forced in, your neighborhoods, mayor is going to get forced in, the president of the United States is going to get forced into the kingdom of God. We win this thing. Yes, the rapture is coming, …but before then, there is going to be the greatest revolutionary harvest of souls by the army of God that world has ever seen. They’re not coming in one or two at a time, They’re not coming in a thousand or ten thousand at a time but by the millions they are going to be forced into the kingdom of God” (Breakthrough Jan.7, 2000).
Let me know if you DON’T have any problems with these quotes.
no I don’t, many people take him all wrong, God has given Rod Parsley gifts of the spirit and he uses them, just like the financial breakthrough or breakthrough in your health or whatever your wanting, Rod Parsley is putting his faith out there but you have to put yours out there as well. You also have to keep in mind that the devil is going to do everything in his power to keep you from getting that. As for them wanting you to give money….they are a church they work by our contriutions, but so many people can’t even follow God’s simple command and pay tithe faithfully. They always ask for money but you have to be able to discern and ask God and hear from God on weither or not to give money and if so then how much. As for the prayer cloths and the tangible touch, thats in the bible, Paul did it, it doesn’t have anything to do with the cloth itself its the prayers and the faith and Gods word and God’s miracle working power thats in it, the cloth is just a point of contact, I know that it works cause my little brother turned from close to worshipping the devil to turning his life back over to God. I have had family members and friends healed of things because of that.
Child of God you said:
“no I don’t, many people take him all wrong, God has given Rod Parsley gifts of the spirit and he uses them, just like the financial breakthrough or breakthrough in your health or whatever your wanting, Rod Parsley is putting his faith out there but you have to put yours out there as well.”
I will have to graciously disagree with you. We are all given gifts of the Spirit when we are saved. The bible never talks about a “financial” breakthrough or a “healing” breakthrough. Some were healed some weren’t some were poor but some werent. I will not question your experiences nor the expereinces of your loved ones. I am thankful that God delievered both your brother and your loved ones. I will say that I don’t think it had anything to do with Parsley though, and all to do with God. Remeber what Peter said in Acts 4
11 While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s. 12 And when Peter saw it he addressed the people: “Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we have made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified his servant Jesus, whom you delivered over and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release him. 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And his name—by faith in his name—has made this man strong whom you see and know, and the faith that is through Jesus has given the man this perfect health in the presence of you all.
It is Jesus who delievered your brother and healed your loved ones. It had nothing to do with Parsley. I do see however, that you are emotionally attached to Parsley and I don’t want to offend you any further. But after reading the statements above especially his false teaching on the ressurection and that if “you sow a seed your loved ones will be healed” and you don’t have a problem with that there may not be much room for us to discuss anything.
I do appreciate your concern and I appreciate your heart for God and your love for the brothers and sisters of the faith. This is amazing in this day and age. Thanks a lot for the dialouge and don’t hesitate to comment in the future.
I meant your loved ones will be saved! This is very troubling to me Child of God. He promises something he can’t grant and this is somehow unlocked by giving him money. This is a very old heresy taught by Rome in the 15th and 16th century that was the catalyst for the Reformation. I am very afraid that someone would charge to grant someone else salvation.
No, it doesn’t have anything to do with Rod Parsley other than he humbles himself to God for God to use in whatever way He wants, Its God that does it all and we all know that. You have to know and remember though Jesus said He will that we be healed….do you remember that verse?Luke 5:13 But you also have to know and remember that God needs and earthly body or agreement if you would as He says if two or more come together there I am in the mist, He needs us as a vessel to bless us and do things for us that we desire. The first miracle in the bible was a want not a need, but God isn’t going to bless us if we can’t do what He has asked. It is Gods will that we prosper, and are blessed but only to push His kingdom forward, He won’t do it for selfish reason and thats were it gets people, everyone is living of the flesh instead of the spirirt like we are suppose to do and they want a new car then never take anyone to church. This world is selfish and greedy. The sowing of the seed is biblical if you will look,Mark 4:26-32, Is 55:10, seed reproduces after itself, the ressurection seed refers to the feasts in Israel, when they sow there seeds, we are grafted into the Jews and tradtions, we need to honor them just as Jesus himself did. They sow seed 3 times a year one of which is what we call Easter only we don’t call it easter cause its not, its really ressurection day or when Jesus ressurected. Just like in farming, the seed is the designated portion of your harvest, it unlocks the harvest, you sow the seed of whatever plant and then you recieve the harvest which is the plant. Just like God sowed a son which was Jesus to reap a harvest, of souls, a family. If you will listen to some of Rod’s teachings or even some of the elders without having an opinion before you even listen you will see what he says is biblical. I thought the same at first, but I have been able to met Rod and set under his teachings and whatched him and the MINISTIRES close and he is a man of God and teaching just what God has said to teach. You can’t get mad cause God has given him revelation knowledge either, its there for whoever asks. He is doing move to push God’s kingdom forward then most people and I get aggrivated when people want to bad mouth him, he is only helping people, like all the slaves in Sudan he went and got set free. The clinic he has open to save babies about to be aborted, to all the natural disasters that happen world harvest church is there with whatever the people need, like with the wildfires of Cal and hurrican katrina and New Orleans. I’m just saying I know his teachings and I was leary at first but they are all biblical, sound doctrine, and I’m tired of people saying he all bad just cause they don’t like that he has a mega ministry.
Thanks for the response Child of God. I pray all is well.
Hey Brother Lionel, I stumbled into your site by “accident”. I wanted to commend both you and “childofGod” for not getting too out of hand in your correspondence with each other. It is a challenge to love (and like!) those whom we have disagreements with but I thought you handled it very graciously and in true Christ-like love. Well done!!! I think I may have seen posts by you on a book review about the decline of African American theology. In it you said that if anyone knew of any Black Reformed preachers or congregations to pass that information on to you so that you could pray for and encourage them. First of all, I am 37 and completely white!!! I am married to my best friend and she is completely black!!! We met in the Army and have been married now for 16 years (Praise God!!!). We have 3 beautiful children and live in Lancaster, PA. This is a hotbed for a lot of conservative theology (Anabaptists, Mennonite, Amish, Brethren, etc…). My wife and I have always struggled to find a church that met both of our “needs” (most of them are actually wants and not needs). We attended a church that was very multi-cultural but ended up going the way of the “bad churches”. We found another one that we liked but after about 3 months we felt alone and unnourished. Turns out this is a seeker sensitive mega church. We decided to keep looking and started going to a small church that doesn’t have their own property or building yet but meets in the gymnasium of a local mennonite school. I have to say, the people are some of the most friendly people I have ever met but I have a hard time finding the “meat” with all of the “milk” they are preaching. I am frustrated again!!! I recently have had a switch in my theology, switching from an Arminian background to a Calvinistic theology. So I am currently looking for a church that will hold to the Reformed line of doctrinal teaching. I found a couple of churches in our area, but the most notable is Westminster Presbyterian Church (PCA). We have not tried it yet, but interestingly enough, they have helped start 5 other sister churches. One of them is an inner city fellowship for Lancaster city called New City Fellowship (PCA) and is pastored by an African-American named Stan Morton. I have emailed the Westminster church to give us info on this pastor and the fellowship he is leading in the city. As soon as we get some contact info on him or the fellowship I want to touch base with him and see if we could attend this fellowship. I will keep you updated on how things transpire. Pray for my family and for this pastor. Lancaster county is primarily white but Lancaster city has a substantial minority population. Most of the churches in the city are old school churches that do not typically appeal to minorities. There is one or two churches that are having success in the area of reaching out to minorities but they are not of the Reformed mindset. I have felt a burden for quite some time to be used in the city reaching out to “the least of these”. It would be a wonderful blessing from God to answer my prayer by also being part of the Reformed Church movement. It is ashame to me that most Reformed Presbyterian churches do seem to attract upper-middle class whites. It breaks my heart to know that churches are some of the most racially divisive places on earth. I don’t think these churches necessarily set out with this as an agenda. People just gravitate to what they are most comfortable with. But I could care less about comfort at this stage of my life. All people need to hear the REAL gospel of Jesus Christ. I’m hoping that I this fellowship will be a first step in our path of finding the right church for our family as well as taking the gospel to the city. I have been extremely encouraged by the websites and blogs I have found of Black Reformed churches that are out here. I’m sure they are few and far between but it seems that the Lord is calling His people from everywhere and I’m excited to see Black people receptive to this doctrine. My wife gets frustrated at times because if we find a church that seems to be teaching what we agree with then it’s usually white and her and the kids feel that even though they are among spiritual brothers and sisters it’s frustrating to see that they are the only black ones there. If we go to a black church where they see other people who look like them it’s usually a bunch of the same ‘ol same ‘ol being preached from the pulpit. I am hoping that the possibility that seems to be sitting right before us will be God’s answer to our prayers!!! If you ever want to correspond my email is scottie3371@comcast.net. You have a beautiful family and you all have big wonderful smiles!!! Must be the joy of the Lord!!! Take care, brother and may God’s grace and blessings be on you and yours.
Child of God,
I read the earlier blogs between yourself and Lionel.
I wanted to chime in because I was able to see both of your points from a bird’s eye perspective.
I don’t want you to feel like anyone is ganging up on you, because certainly that is not were I am coming from, I am a new visitor on this site. I hesitated to say anything, but I really understand why you said what you did, and I see so much of who I once was in you, so I decided to write something.
One thing that caught my attention was when you said:
“If you will listen to some of Rod’s teachings or even some of the elders without having an opinion before you even listen you will see what he says is biblical.”
I think the reason you will find that many people from this site have an opinion is because they are coming from churches like Rod Parsley’s. Therefore are very familiar with the Charismatic doctrine and way of teaching. I want you to know that, because at one time I would have looked at this site, and thought the same thing. That they are a bunch of hypocritical, legalistic people who don’t understand the good intentions of these pastor’s, of which my pastor and the church I attended was one of them. It is important for you to know that some of the people who single out Charismatic Pastor’s , are not doing so based on a lack of knowledge. Many use to be apart of those congregations themselves, and are speaking with experience.
I also want you to understand that just because someone is using scripture does not mean what they say is biblical. You have to remember to listen out for what context someone is using a particular scripture. What they are saying is only godly if they are using the scripture the way God intended. Remember, satan used scripture to deceive Eve, but he was twisting what God meant to say, therefore it was deception. PLEASE UNDERSTAND…if you research the context behind the scriptures your Pastor is using you may find some discrepancies with what they are saying and what that scripture really meant.
One bit of advice that I would give you, because I was where you are, is to be very watchful, please do not ignore the signals that the Holy Spirit will give you. You seem like you are very eager for God, and His word. As you seek Him, He will lead you to the truth. What happened to me was that God would bring certain things to my attention that were not right, out of order, or not in line with His word, but I ignored them. I ignored them, because I figured that the intention behind what was happening was pure, because I trusted my leader (and leaders) so much. So I let those things pass. Then come to find out, when the truth was revealed (like Jesus said it would be), what the Holy Spirit was telling me the whole time (and what I was ignoring) was correct. I had been deceived.
I am saying this out of love, not to hurt your feelings. I wish someone would have told me this, if only to open my eyes a little so that I could have been on my guard. I will not tell you what to do, but trust me, the reason why you see people trying to speak out about these pastors is because they too have been where you are, and they realized the truth, and are trying to warn others. You may not understand what I (and others) are saying now (just as I didn’t at one time), but when the truth comes out, it will all make sense.
I don’t mean to scare you, just stay in your word, and ask God to lead you in all truth, and He will. Just make sure you trust Him and His word, more than your church Pastors, and leaders. Psalms 118:8 “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.”
http://www.mountzion.org/text/BEL_1-6.rtf
This is a link to a book on your wish list, Biblical Eldership.
bro. lionel have you a list for guys like tony evans yet or is he tied in the with the legion of doom?
What do you mean Sam.
Dear Brother Lionel,
You have had quite a journey! What a wondeful, gracious, Saviour we have!
As a 75 year old preacher who has been pastoring since age 23. I thank God that He is so great and HIs Word is so rich that we can’t fully grasp it all, even though we study and seek to teach God’s Word correctly. I encourage you to just keep magnifying Jesus and His Word. I’m glad the difficult 11th chapter of Romans ends with a doxology that magnifies the unsearable wisdom and knowledge of God.
I encourage you to get hold of Martyn Lloyd Jones’ studies in
The Sermon on the MOunt. That study helped me years ago to get a good balanced understanding of God’s sovereignty and of the whole Bible. I’m still learning and rejoicing in the privilege of preaching God’s Word.
Check out my web site http://www.alamedabiblechurch.com and go to HIDDEN TREASURES for about 500 Bible studies on many, many topics.
God bless you, brother, and continue to use you for His glory.
Your Brother in Christ,
Mal Bicker
wow.. what a CHRIST centered testimony! I am praising the LORD for the new life He has given you!! Man, when I read testimonies like these and think about my own.. I am just in amazement and awe.. who would have thought we would know Him this way! Just brings a grown woman to tears
Thanks Nicole! God’s grace brings me to tears and my knees quite often. Especially when I get self-righteous, judgmental, self-serving, selfish and pious! I have to remember Paul’s statement in Romans “don’t think too highly of yourselves”! But thank God that I am clothed in His righteousness so that even these self serving sins are covered by His blood.
Lionel,
Looks like our Brother dug and fertilized around your tree!
Love is the bridge. The Father made His love real to us by showing us His Son. We demonstrate to others that same love, because He first loved us.
You’ve got a story, man.
Tom
This might be of intrest to you.
Why Believers Should Not Attend “Church”
Here are four main points that will be covered in this article
1. “Worship” is a service, not a ritual. Those who “attend church” and imitate Old Testament worship patterns generally neglect the New Testament commands to exhort one another daily (Hebrews 3:13; 10:24-25).
2. The Old Testament looks forward to the Age in which all men would worship God everywhere, and not just in that “place which the LORD your God shall choose” (Deuteronomy 12:11). The New Covenant priesthood is decentralized and universalized, not restricted to the “ordained” and the church traditions of men.
3. Exhortation is conversational, not sermonic. Preaching means dialogue, not a monologue. Rather than being equipped by New Testament-style exhortation and service, church-goers can become impotent and dependent upon a credentialed “professional” who engages in statism.
4. Fellowship is best accomplished in homes, not in pews. In “church” the “dignity” of priestly pomp and “worship” is substituted for the personal, house-to-house communion pictured in the Scriptures (Acts 2:46). A military-style symbol of a meal, and a view of the back of someone’s head, is substituted for a genuine meal and a time of face-to-face fellowship.
These four points are very plainly at odds with most every church in the country. But the point is not simply to be different, nor to insult all other churches. The purpose is to analyze apparently “obvious” traditions in the light of the Scriptures (Acts 17:11).
What is “Worship”?
The basic meaning of the word “worship” is service. To “worship” God is to put every area of one’s life under the His Law. Worship in the generic sense is the devotion we owe to God in the whole of life. God is sovereign, He is Lord, having sovereignty over us and propriety in us, and therefore in all that we do we owe subjection to him, devotion to His revealed will, obedience to His commandments. There is no area of life where the injunction does not apply (1 Corinthians 10:31). In view of the lordship of Christ as Mediator, all of life comes under His dominion (Colossians 3:23,24).
In the Old Testament there was also a more specific usage for “worship,” namely, the observance of the ceremonial rituals. These ritual observances typified worship in every area of life. Animal sacrifice, the burning of incense, attendance at temple, and other rigors were imposed on the people of Israel, and were but shadows of the worship of the New Covenant.
Jesus spoke of the New Covenant form of worship in John 4. The woman at the well, having been confronted with the ethical demands of the Lord Jesus (regarding her adulterous life), attempts a “doctrinal” diversion: she asks Jesus about “worship.” Putting words in Jesus’ mouth, she claims that worship occurs in a certain place (John 4:20). Jesus denies that worship occurs in any place, and says, “true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth” (John 4:21-24).
In the common, specific sense, “worship” means attending to the ceremonial requirements of the Old Covenant, going to a certain place. But these acts only symbolized true “worship,” and were necessary to prod a Spiritless people to that worship which means obedience to God in every area of life, in Spirit and in Truth.
Can you find one occurrence in the New Testament books of “worship” in the ceremonial/specific sense (going to a specific place to worship) being required of bondservants of Christ? The answer is no. Or are the occurrences of “worship” speaking of obedience in every area of life? The answer is yes. Do any of the Greek words used for “worship” occur in any sense requiring bondservants of Christ to go to Jerusalem, or to any specific “place” to “worship” God? No, they do not. Would we expect centralized ceremonial “worship” to be required today in light of the fact that Jews were doing this because the spirit of God was not yet given them (John 7:39)? In light of the fact that in the Old Testament, God only dwelt in temples made with hands because the Spirit was not yet inside of the people, but today, God says He does not dwell in temples made with hands, because the Spirit of God dwells within our bodies? If you “attend church,” have you been trained to search the Scriptures to find the answers to such questions as these (Acts 17:11), or do you need to ask your “minister or elder”?
The Enduring Old Testament Law
The Mosaic law commanded God’s people to gather for worship and to hear God’s Word (Deuteronomy 12:5-12; 31:11-12). The Old Testament required travel to a centralized location to hear a special priesthood. The reason is that the Spirit was not yet given to the people under the Old Covenant, and since they had no Spirit to communicate with God, they had to go to a physical building and hear a physical priest to understand what God’s Word was. Do we still have to hear God’s Word from a special priesthood? Or does the Spirit of God dwell within us today? Compare these commands with Jesus’ conversation with the woman at the well (John 4:20-24). Do we still go to Jerusalem? Must we listen to Moses or the priests to hear God’s Word?
Obviously, we do not “bring an offering” or “come before Him” in the same way we did in the Old Covenant. Nor do we “hear God’s Word” by going to the typological temple and hearing a priest. Scripture says we are all priests now (1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10; Isaiah 61:6), and God’s Word has gone out through all the world (Romans 1:8; 10:18; Colossians 1:6,23).
Old Covenant believers would be astonished at the scope of publication of God’s Word in our day. This is guided by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit Himself. Thus, publishers should labor as priests under God, and see their work as having great and special Spiritual significance.
This massive outpouring of Truth works to enable every believer-priest to know and study God’s Word and to proclaim it to his neighbors. And it all takes place outside the walls of institutional churches. In fact, the “church” has historically opposed the free dissemination of Scripture and its exposition. The Roman Catholic Church burned Christians at the stake for doing this.
All of this should be understood as the true Spiritual meaning of the Old Testament prophecies. Joel 2:28 is an example of how the world-wide decentralized spread of the Gospel was spoken of by the Prophets. Similarly did Moses speak, when he prayed that God would make all of His people prophets and preachers (Numbers 11:29). Acts 2:17 is a fulfillment of Joel 2:28, when the Holy Spirit was finally given to His people. So you see, we are all prophets, priests, and kings today (; Isaiah 61:6; 1 Peter 2:5,9; Revelation 1:6; 5:10).
Thus, no building can be said to be the place to worship simply because of the presence of the special “ordained” priests. Every Believer is a Priest. We need not “go to Jerusalem”, or to a “temple made with hands” (Acts 7:48; 17:24). This is why, when Jesus died, and confirmed the New Testament, the physical temple was rent in half (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:34). This is why New Testament believers worship “from house to house”, in homes (Acts 2:46), and not in temples made with hands.
Does the Bible say Believers must go to a Physical church?
Churches commonly quote Acts 20:7 as a precedent for Church worship, but the whole impression of Acts 20:7 is rather that of a family meeting together in a home than of a modern congregation met in a church. “Family” meaning a group of believers and friends. Is it possible that we may have lost the sense of the congregation as a real family in God?
Psalm 22:22 is also quoted, and it is cited in Hebrews 2:12, as referring to Christ. How does Christ stand in the midst of his congregation and declare His Name? Only in certain buildings at certain times? Matthew 18:20 spells doom for those who would so assert: “For where two or three are gathered together in my Name, there am I in the midst of them.” His Presence with us is through the Comforter, the Holy Spirit (John 14:16-17), who fulfills Moses’ wish that we could all be prophets and not have to be dependent upon special priests to teach us (1 John 2:27). God’s Presence is not localized “in temples made with hands” (Acts 7:48; 17:24). Our body is now the temple of God, and the Spirit of God dwells within us (1 Corinthians 3:9,16,17; 6:19-20, Ephesians 2:20-22), just like Jesus referred to his own body as a temple (Mark 14:58, John 2:19-21). And as believers exercise dominion over the entire globe, Christ is correspondingly present (Matthew 28:18,20).
Does Scripture require this “special” place of worship in addition to “everywhere”? One of the burdens of the first century was the corrupt worship among the Jews, and scripture says in God’s advent, that will be replaced with pure worship among the Gentiles in every place (Malachi 1:11; 3:3-4). Worship would no longer be limited or tied to Jerusalem, or to the outward shadows of the Old Covenant, or to a centralized Church. Because once the Holy Spirit is given, shadows are no longer necessary.
How do we worship God in the New Covenant? Do we need an institutional priesthood? Must we journey to a certain centralized location? Must we “attend church”? It is virtually implied that those who do not “worship” in a certain place (subordinate to a priest) do not believe in “assembling” together, or with any appreciation of the Community we have in Christ. This is false. The question is not, “Are we to ‘gather together’”?, but rather “How are we to ‘gather together’”?
The Judaizers told believers in Christ that unless they observed the ceremonial requirements of the Old Covenant they weren’t being faithful. Their purpose was not to make obedient patriarchs out of the new converts, but to gain power over them (Galatians 2:4).
We should not localize God:
Acts 7:49, “Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?”
1 Kings 8:27, “…behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded?”
What does “Preach” mean?
Believers are to Preach God’s Word (2 Timothy 4:2; Acts 20:7-9; 1 Timothy 4:6-16). Also mentioned is “exhort” and “teach” in these verses. Far more significant, however, is the entire notion of “preaching”. There were no one-man lectures (monologues) in the early Church until Greek philosophy was imported into the Church. The traveling philosophers (peripatetics) were popular in the Greco-Roman world, and were too easily imitated among Believers. What passes for “preaching” in our day has absolutely no Biblical warrant. Nowhere in the New Testament is there an example of a “sermon” in the Christ’s assemblies.
We need to emphasize this point. If the Apostle Paul were invited into one of our meetings and saw only one man give an oration patterned after the Greek philosophers of his day, with absolutely no interaction with the “laymen,” Paul would demand to know “What’s going on here?” This modern pattern bears no resemblance to the New Testament pattern, although it is unwittingly patterned after ancient Greek itinerant moralists. The “sermon” is an unscriptural tradition, imported from Greco-Roman paganism. Some preachers, of course, fail to meet even the standards of the Greek philosophers. Their “preaching” is pure entertainment.
Acts 20 is used to establish many modern practices of the church, and yet it supports none of them. Consider “preaching.”
The text were added so the reader can see how different translations wrote the verse.
(ALT) Now on the first [day] of the week [i.e. Sunday], the disciples having been gathered together to break bread, Paul began holding a discussion with them, being about to be departing the next day, and he kept prolonging the word [fig., discussion] until midnight.
(ASV) And upon the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul discoursed with them, intending to depart on the morrow; and prolonged his speech until midnight.
(BBE) And on the first day of the week, when we had come together for the holy meal, Paul gave them a talk, for it was his purpose to go away on the day after; and he went on talking till after the middle of the night.
(CEV) On the first day of the week we met to break bread together. Paul spoke to the people until midnight because he was leaving the next morning.
(ISV) On the first day of the week, when we had met to break bread, Paul began to address the people. Since he intended to leave the next day, he went on speaking until midnight.
(KJV+) And1161 upon1722 the3588 first3391 day of the3588 week,4521 when the3588 disciples3101 came together4863 to break2806 bread,740 Paul3972 preached1256 unto them,846 ready3195 to depart1826 on the3588 morrow;1887 and5037 continued3905 his speech3056 until3360 midnight.3317
(YLT) And on the first of the week, the disciples having been gathered together to break bread, Paul was discoursing to them, about to depart on the morrow, he was also continuing the discourse till midnight,
The Greek word for “preach” in Acts 20:7,9 is word dialegomai: it’s a “dialogue” not a “monologue.” Dialegomai means: “to say thoroughly, that is, discuss (in argument or exhortation): – dispute, reason (with), speak.”. It comes from the word “di” which means “a combining form meaning ‘two’, ‘double’.” We do not have “dialogue and discussion” in most “churches,” and therefore do not obey Acts 20:7. Does the church really believe that Paul gave an uninterrupted lecture — for twelve hours?!? Dialegomai is also translated as “reasoned” in Acts 17:2, where Paul “reasoned” in the synagogue out of the scriptures. Paul “reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath” (Acts 18:4,19). In church, the preacher doesn’t “reason” with anybody, but simply talks with no chance of interaction with those in the audience. Dialegomai is also translated as “disputed” in Acts 17:17, where Paul “disputed he in the synagogue”, and in Acts 19:18 where he was “disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.” In Church, the minister or elder does not give anyone the chance to “dispute” or “question” him. Is this biblical?
For now, note the inescapable fact that there simply was no “preaching” or “sermon” as we popularly conceive it today. When we proclaim the Gospel to our neighbor, we engage in “official and professional instruction” as priest-kings of Christ! The gates of hell are assaulted and overcome by our “informal discussion”. Modern churches have replaced the discussion and animated conversation of the New Testament with “sermons,” an invention of the Greeks, and a man-made tradition.
As a result, I cannot obey the Scriptural commands as cited in 1 Corinthians 14:26,31 when I “attend church”; I cannot edify and prophesy. Neither can I obey 1 Timothy 4:13 and 2 Timothy 4:2 when I “attend church”; I cannot exhort, I cannot “teach”, except through hymns (but not of my choosing). Only one person exhorts in a “church”; the whole congregation violates Hebrews 10:24-25, at least when they are “attending church.” Perhaps they obey these commands later in the afternoon, when in colloquial discussion they bring all thoughts captive to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5), but certainly not during Church services.
Who is a Minister or a Priest?
While the Apostle could claim to be a “steward of the mysteries of God” (1 Corinthians 4:1), we wonder what Churches mean when they claim the same thing for themselves, after the age of the Apostles, and denying the duty to all other (“non-ordained”) believers. Perhaps they dispense mysteries only when speaking ex cathedra. No, surely whenever any believer shares the Word of God with another, he dispenses mysteries in the same sense as the churchmen might legitimately claim for themselves.
It seems that church preachers are sometimes not as interested in exalting the Apostles or the Gospel as much as their own ecclesiastical power. This seems to be a fairly significant issue, one that underlies the issue of preaching and this entire article: The ecclesiocrat works to “mystify” his “office.” He wants a “mystique” to surround his position. He seeks not to exalt the Word of God so much as to intimidate and impress the “laity.” Many are unable to think of the work of the elder as attainable, practical, or understandable, because it is invested with an aura of mystery. The every-day function of nurturing younger believers and watching over them, concerned for their Spiritual growth, is converted into a high and lofty ecclesiastical “office” resembling an inscrutable, occultic link between god and man. Rather than rooted in Biblical Law and practical competence therein, this ecclesiocentric authority is esoteric, shrouded in mystery.
In the Priesthood of All Believers, all believers can strive to be mature, wise, and Godly. In denominational churches, the “uninitiated” can never be “mysterious.” They are qualitatively (not just quantitatively) inferior. “Religion” is thus removed, and the rest of us must read Ann Landers for “practical” guidance the rest of the week.
In sharp contrast to this mentality, the Bible wants us to think of every believer as one who must dispense divine mysteries (Isaiah 61:6; 66:20-23; 1 Peter 2:9). In fact, the “mystery” which was hidden in the Old Covenant is the fact that all men shall be a part of God’s Kingdom of priests, and they shall function fully, obediently, and spontaneously (Ephesians 2; Revelation 1:6; 1 Peter 2:5,9; Hebrews 8:8-12) without the rigors of the Old Covenant ceremonial priesthood (Colossians 1:26-27; Ephesians 1:9-10; 3:5-6; Galatians 3:19 – 4:11) and without fear of the principalities and powers which held sway over the nations during the Old Covenant (Revelation 20:1-3). Everyone engages in an extremely significant and special act when they bring the Word of God to bear on a neighbor’s problems. The New Testament tells us that this conversation has cosmic significance; the very gates of hell itself are pulled down and Christ’s Kingship extended (2 Corinthians 10:4-5; 1 Corinthians 15:24-25). By virtue of our priestly and kingly office, it is an act of official and professional instruction, and yet this shepherding of another believer or this preaching to an unsaved neighbor should be an “ordinary,” every-day occurrence. The hocus-pocus of a clerical religionist is not demanded.
The Godly father does not dangle fatherhood over his son’s head as an unattainable “mystery.” He seeks to display and explain fatherhood, helping his son to become a Godly father. The Godly “Minister or Elder” does not mystify himself or an ecclesiastical position of power. He models a life of service and obedience to Biblical Law in a practical way, demystifying competence and Godliness so that it might be imitated by all (1 Peter 5:1-3).
Conclusion
To say that we are violating Scripture unless we also “attend church” in the building of an ecclesiastical corporation with a credentialed seminary graduate in the spotlight, is simply preposterous, a remnant of Roman Catholic teaching. There is not a shred of evidence to support such an ecclesiastical requirement, and the whole of Scripture seems to go against it. The movement in the Bible is away from ceremony and limited special priesthood, and toward decentralization, an every-believer priesthood, and a return to direct communication with God through His Spirit.
Our failure as believers to implement this truth comes from our friendship with the world, and conformity thereto (Romans 12:1-2; James 4:4). It seems strange to us to think of a household communion. In our culture, Grandparents live in their own house, Aunts and Uncles are likewise separated from their Nieces and Nephews, and it is “trendy” for children to move out of their parents’ house as soon as they possibly can. In our day “the Family” has been described as one or two working parents and (maybe) 2.2 children (recently down to 1.8).
If we were to take a first-century believer (or even a modern-day member of a number of non-western cultures) up into an airplane over Southern California, and showed them city after city of single-family dwellings, all packed in like sardines, row after row, with parents in one house, children in another, grandparents in another, aunts and uncles in still another, and the poor and homeless wasting away in the abandoned section of industrial parks and urban ghettoes (where the suburban dwellers have coercively zoned them) our passenger would cry. Then he might become enraged: “This is sick! This is an abomination! I could never have imagined such atomism and selfish isolationism!” Little does he know that even among those houses where parents and children dwell together, it is little more than a motel, with students and commuters simply dropping in to sleep at night. In this land there is no property — genuine property — over which fruitful, honest dominion can be exercised unhindered by banks or landlords. It is a nation of slaves. Where in our land is an Abraham, with hundreds of adopted children, hundreds of domestic apprentices, hundreds of the poor and needy receiving shelter, hundreds of illiterate orphans being educated and brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, and several generations of Family in blessed contact and harmonious community? Well, if we believe the churchmen, that ideal is clearly unattainable: we live in the New Covenant, and we do not have the Spiritual resources which Abraham had under the Old Covenant. Right?
Does Ephesians 5:19 – 6:24 command anything that cannot be fulfilled in “informal” Family-gatherings? The idea of Family communion is in our (atomistic, self-centered) day rightly ridiculed. We are not Patriarchs; we are children. How we cherish the churchmen, who only require us to “worship” in their church one day each week, and then dismiss us to watch our TV’s in isolated silence.
We should always be conscious of Christ’s Presence “where two or three are gathered in My Name.” Whenever we obey the command to assemble together for praising God, Scripture reading and study, exhortation and comfort, prayer and singing, and remembering the Lord’s death in the communal meal, we are clearly engaging in a very special activity.
Remember, the “Church” does not save anybody, only our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ can save us (John 3:17; 10:9, Acts 2:21; 4:12; 15:11; 16:31, Romans 10:9,13).
I found your blog through Brother Hank’s website. I want to tell you that I find your story very inspiring. I am glad the Lord is working in your life. You have a beautiful family and I know He will use your gifts and talents greatly for his ministry.
Your posts are extremely thought provoking and honest. They give great insight and they are a tool to many of us out there who are digging deeper into our faith and searching for our God. Keep posting!!
MW
Thank you for the kind words.
Hi Lionel,
I just saw you responded to my post months ago bro! Congrats on the 10 anniversay btw. Still would like to build with you if possible..
For the glory of Him,
Jason
Lionel,
I have read that you are in Texas. Up until four years ago I lived in Gainesville Texas right off I-35 thirty miles north of Denton. My parents and brother still live in that area. I now live in Conway AR. and fellowship with Phillip. It is a small world when you have the internet. I have family all around and in the metroplex. If you ever get up this way maybe we could visit. I would welcome you and your family in our home. Take Care Steven
I actually live in Aubrey on University/380! I belong to a church plant of http://www.dentonbible.org. I should be up that way next month so I will contact you guys when things are solidified.
Good Morning Brother,
As I mentioned I started a blog and would appreciate if you took a look and gave your opinion. I would also like permission to add you to my blogroll.
Thanks
Good Morning Brother,
As I mentioned I started a blog and would appreciate if you took a look and gave your opinion. I would also like permission to add you to my blogroll.
Thanks
The web address is http://www.cep31974.wordpress.com
A few weeks ago I posted some comments on Melvin Jones pulpit-pimps site about christian universalism. I’m not sure how to contact the blogger blackandreformed, so I’m posting my message here. I responded to your (BlackandReformed, Gary V, Kyle, Melvin) about scriptures that deal with everlasting (aionios) life and everlasting destruction and the scriptures that attribute God as the everlasting (aionios) God. However, Melvin refused to post it for reasons that I don’t quite understand. The reason for this post is to respond to your questions and ask that you explain to me where I am in error with my understanding with aion/aionios and the belief that Jesus is indeed the savior of the whole world and is reconciling the all mankind to God. I was under similar beliefs as you but upon further study of the subjects of the lake of fire (second death) Hell, the resurections and judment, I have come to a different understanding. I’ve reached out to the pulpit pimps site because I thought it was a sight of sincere Christians helping other sincere Christians avoid error in our faith. Please respond if you are interesting in helping a fellow brother in Christ avoid error if there is error in my current poistion.
These are two of the three post that I sent to Melvin’s site that he refused to post (it’s somewhat lengthy but I think it thorougly explain my current understanding on the subject):
As I’ve stated before, we know God’s Word does not contradict itself. However, there are what seems to be contradictions with various translations of His Word. Therefore, whenever scripture seems to not agree with other scriptures or doesn’t seem to not make much logical sense, we must delve deeper into the study of the Word. One way this is done is by referring back to the original languages to hopefully bring about greater understanding on any given passage(s) of scripture. Now let’s try to apply this approach in our study of the words translated everlasting, eternal, forever and ever.
Some translators have used the English words eternity, eternal, everlasting, forever, forever and ever, and forever more for the Greek words aion and aionios. The word aion means age which is a time span having both a beginning and an end. This Greek word aion parallels the English word eon which means the same thing. The word aion in its adjective form is aionios (in English it is eonian for the purpose of translation). As a matter of fact, many of the same Bible translators have indeed rendered the Greek word aion into “age” or “world” in several other passages of scripture.
Eph 3:9 – a secret concealed from the aions (past)
Heb 11:3 – the preparation of the aions (past)
Gal 1:4 – the present wicked aion (present)
Matt 28:20 – the conclusion of the current aion (present)
Luke 18:30 – the coming aion (future)
Eph 2:7 – the oncoming aions (future)
Titus 1:2 – In hope of aionios-life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the time of the ages (pro chronos aionios)
Now let’s define the words eternal, everlasting, and forever.
eternal – perpetual, endless, everlasting, continual, ceaseless, timeless, infinite, unending, immortal, deathless, constant
everlasting – unending, ageless, perpetual, continual
forever – always, eternally
Now let’s define the words age and eon.
age – pertaining to time, duration, term, space, span, season, era, eon, moment, while, interim, interval
eon – age, time
What can logically be concluded? The words that denote time have been translated (by some) to indicate infinity. This has obviously led many to declare that God intends to torment man infinitely, when in fact His judgments bear fruit unto the ages.
What does aionios mean?
One helpful way to find out what a word means is to look at its parts. For example, consider this similarity: the English name Christian was first used by non-Christians to describe Jesus Christ’s early followers. The term means “of Christ” or “pertaining to Christ.”
The word aionios is formed from two parts: aion (age) and the suffix- ios (pertaining to). Thus, aionios means pertaining to aion or pertaining to ages.
For the English form of aion it is again eon and the suffix used – ian (eonian).
Now when considering the word eonian we can hopefully bring to light what is means by looking at some more examples with the use of the suffix “ian”
ian (pertaining to)
Christ (Christ – ian)
Armenia (Armen – ian)
Orwell (Orwell – ian)
History (Histor – ian)
Italy (Itlal – ian)
Eon (Eon – ian)
The length of the aion depends on the subject to which it attached. It is sometimes translated “world”, with “world” representing a period or a series of periods of time (Matt 12:32; 13:40-49; I Cor 1:20; Eph 1:21) Similarly the worlds, the universe, the aggregate of the ages or periods, and their contents which are included in the duration of the world (I Cor 2:7; 10:11; Heb 1:2; 9:26; 11:3).
The word always carries the notion of time, and not of eternity, It always means a period of time. Otherwise it would be impossible to account for the plural, or for such expressions as this age, or the age to come. Therefore, aion (eon) and aionios (eonian) in themselves, cannot denote the sense of endlessness or everlasting.
Now let’s deal with some of the seemingly contradicting passages of scripture.
The reason that aionios was translated “everlasting” is largely due to a false assumption. Your reasoning is that because this adjective is applied to life, God, and punishment, the word means “everlasting” on that basis alone. If I told you that three large objects are red, does that mean we should believe that the word “red” means “large?” Of course not. Likewise, just because aionios is applied to God does not mean “aionios” automatically means “everlasting.” God is many things, and immortal is one of them. God is holy, righteous, and good. Guess what? The word aionios doesn’t mean any of those things either. Here are some of the scriptures you’ve used to support your assumption:
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal (aionios) life.
Matthew 18:8
And if your hand or your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it from you; it is better for you to enter life crippled or lame, than having two hands or two feet, to be cast into the eternal (aionios) fire.
Romans 16:26
And by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal (aionios) God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.”
You say: since God is “aionios” and the life promised to Christians is “aionios,” doesn’t that mean that “aionios punishment” is infinite? If we say punishment for those who do not obey the Gospel is “related to the ages” rather than everlasting, doesn’t that limit the aionios God and aionios-life to being temporary themselves? Here lies the false assumption that led to false doctrine. If one man says that aionios means everlasting and another says it means “temporary,” they would both be wrong. It does not mean either “infinite” or “temporary.” Instead, “aionios” means “PERTAINING to the aions/ages.” The difference is huge:
2 Peter 3:8
Do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.
A day is like a thousand years to God, as a thousand years is like only a day. God does not age, nor does he end. It is difficult to imagine because we are human. We are rooted in time and are subjected to its effects and experiences. Since that is all we know, Peter expresses God’s ultimate transcendence in terms we can understand.
How powerful He is, that time does not limit God, nor does He experience time the same way we do. This is very important to remember, for the following reason.
If “aionios” means “eternal” just like God – does “aionios judgment” transcend time, just like God? Would “aionios punishment” also be like a thousand years, but like only a day? That would be pretty good news for people being judged. Of course, the Religious Institution would not have you believe that. But, if their established rule is that “aionios” is “eternal” because God is “aionios,” shouldn’t we at least apply their reasoning consistently?
Look at it in reverse: if we teach that “aionios” means “eternal,” and that “aionios punishment” lasts for an infinite span of time, they are limiting God! By placing Him in the same time-based framework as they do judgment, they limit His transcendence of time. Judgment, transcending time as eternal, if it was a thousand years, would only be like a single day. It is hypocrisy to insist that non-Christians will experience judgment for long expanses of linear time, only to reverse course and claim that God is NOT likewise bound by time, when they are both aionios!
GOD: THE ROCK OF AGES
As it is, “aionios” does not mean “eternal” at all, as all honest scholarship demands. Let us consider a more sensible understanding. Let’s recap the facts:
- Aion means “age” which is a unit of time
- The word aionios is aion + ios which means, as demonstrated before, “pertaining to aion”
- God is “aionios.”
Think about these facts for a moment. Why should anyone assume that such facts would limit God? Aionios does not mean everlasting or temporary. If you will recall, it simply means pertaining to aion – or more commonly relating to the ages. It indicates a relationship between God and the ages, not God’s limitation by them. Do you see the difference? God will never die, or end just because ages do, but doesn’t God relate to what he creates, even if He is not limited to what he creates? Is this so difficult to understand? If God did not relate to the ages, how could we ever know Him?
He created the aions/ages to reveal his plan to the Israelites through their prophets of ages past (Hebrews 1:1-2). He is God of what He creates. God is big, even bigger than the universe, but is He limited to being big? Is not God also smaller than the tiniest atomic particle, able to see all things?
Here is a scriptural example of how God pertains to – without being limited to – what he creates: in Genesis 24:4-3, we read that God is the “God of heaven and the God of the earth.” Now, the earth is visible, natural and will pass away (Matt. 24:35). Is God visible? No, He is invisible. Is God natural? No, He is Spirit. Will God pass away? No, He will not pass away. Yet, he is the God of the earth, nevertheless. Likewise, He is the God of the ages.
1 Titus 1:17
Now unto the King eternal (aion), immortal (aphthartos), invisible (aoratos), the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever (aion eis aion). Amen.
Above, we see Paul attributing three distinct characteristics to the King. He is:
1) of the age/aion
2) immortal
3) invisible
Here is another instance where aion is translated eternal. And we see aion eis aion (meaning – age unto age) translated as forever and ever. By the way, does forever actually need another “ever” attached to make it infinite? Why not “forever and ever …. and ever?” Does three do the trick? How about four? How many “evers” will do?
Acknowledging that aion means age – and aion eis aion means age unto age – does not limit God, not according to the verse above. He is the God of the aion/age, AND He is immortal, AND He is invisible. AND, unto Him be honor and glory from “age unto age.” Amen.
Even the old-time Christian hymn says, our God is the “Rock of Ages.” He is, therefore, the “aionios Rock.” He endures through all generations – and He is with us age unto age – straight through to His plan’s ultimate fulfillment when time has reached a fulfillment (we will get to that later). When Christians sing that God is the Rock “of ages,” do they mean to say that He is limited to those ages? Of course not. They mean that His glory and majesty endures throughout the ages He created, until surely all knees bow to Christ and all tongues confess that he is their Lord (Phil 2:10-11).
Is aionios-life (the life of the ages) the same as immortality or everlasting life?
immortal – everlasting, deathless, imperishable, incorruptible
“Aionios-life” is not immortality at all, and the Bible proves it! It was misunderstood by translators to be “everlasting life.” But, the Bible provides very specific and explicit definitions for aionios-life and NOT ONE definition approaches the concept of being physically alive.
Because Christians were always told that aionios-life is immortality after death (and because the Bible’s original translators made the same mistake), they also believe that aionios-judgment is everlasting torment. As a result, they visit this failed teaching upon the whole world, even while in their deepest hearts they wish they were wrong. They wish billions were not doomed to infinite torture at the hand of the very God who tried his best to save them.
Let the scripture speak for itself:
2 Timothy 1:8-11
Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before the time of the ages, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought LIFE and IMMORTALITY to light through the gospel.
Did you think I was suggesting that because aionios-life is not the same as immortality, that immortality will not come through the gospel? Far from it. You have it here without question: immortality is indeed “brought to light” through the Gospel, and guess what, immortals never die! However, this is only a part of the Gospel. The full Gospel promise includes much more than that.
Notice the distinction drawn in Paul’s words above between life and immortality. See how immortality is not the only thing illuminated through the Gospel that Paul preached, but life as well. In fact , it looks like immortality is actually added to life. Is this distinction a casual redundancy, or could it be that there is something more to “life” than simply being in existence?
Consider this scriptures:
1 Timothy 5:6
The widow who lives for pleasure is dead although she is still alive.
Don’t overlook that, because, Paul also taught a solution to this problem given by God’s grace:
Titus 2:11-12
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present age (Greek – nun aion)
As the scripture says, in this present age (nun aion), God is providing deliverance from “ungodliness and worldly lusts.” If such death presently reigning in these ages, doesn’t it make sense that the solution to that problem is the LIFE of the ages?
Consider these scriptures:
1 John 3:14-17
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers. Anyone who does not love remains in death. Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer
has aionios life IN HIM. This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be IN him?
According to John, where does aionios-life abide? It dwells within you. Doesn’t it make sense? If someone hates his brother in his heart how could he have LIFE within him? Obviously he couldn’t. With that in mind, here is Jesus Christ’s explicit definition of “aionios-life” in His own words:
John 17:3
And this is life aionios: that they might know you, the one true God, and Him whom You did send, Jesus Christ.
Here, God has given you the true definition of aionios-life, directly from His Son’s voice. Does someone who hates his brother really know God, and does he have this knowledge within him? No. He remains in death. Contrary to these truths, according to your traditions, aionios-life is something we must secure now to obtain after death. Really? Then, do you admit that you do not have aionios-life within you now? Are you waiting until the afterlife to receive aionios-life within you?
You confuse immortality with the life-of-the-ages. Just read the Scripture and believe it for yourselves.
Consider these scriptures:
1 John 5:20
And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and aionios-life.
Here we have yet another Biblical “this is” statement with regard to aionios-life. Do you see the simplicity in the truth? THIS IS aionios-life: that WE MAY KNOW HIM today (that is true) that we are in IN CHRIST today (that is true) – because the Son of God is come. Do you see anything in that definition about being physically alive everlasting? Of course not, because Paul already carefully made the distinction between life and immortality.
He says that both have come to light through the Gospel. Immortality will be added to the life-of-the-ages, after our physical deaths. It is at that point, Paul says, “this mortal must put on immortality.” (1 Cor 15:53)
Here is something to consider carefully: if immortality and aionios-life were identical (like many assume) did Paul not have “aionios-life” during his lifetime as a mortal? Did Paul not have knowledge of God before his mortal death? Or did he indeed have aionios-life within him before he could “put on immortality?” Of course he did! This is because Paul received aionios-life in his “present ages” BEFORE receiving immortality after his death. One comes after the other.
This is because “aionios-life” is the Spirit of Jesus Christ living in us now in our ages too! This is exactly why Apostle John said, “anyone who hates his brother has not yet passed from death to life,” though he lives and breathes right now. Remember, John says that no murderer has “aionios-life within him.” In contrast, anyone who loves his brother has indeed “passed from death into life,” because the love of God is within him.
Didn’t Jesus Christ call himself “the way, the truth, and the life?” (John 14:6)
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is aionios-life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
aionios-life is “life” because: It is the Spirit of Jesus Christ our Lord within man.
aionios-life is “aionios” because: this promise has fulfillment in these present ages/aions, that we may know the one true God, giving us life from the wages of sin. Aionios-life is freedom from subjection to sin today, not after death.
This was in God’s plan, who promised this “life of the ages” before “the time of the ages” to live within us during the very ages of our lives, to resurrect us from death in sin. Jesus himself reiterates this promise before his death and resurrection, before the age of Pentecost to come, the Spirit within man:
Mark 10:29-30
And Jesus answered and said, “Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions, and, in the world (aion) to come, aionios-life.”
Take a look at how the translators swapped “world” for “aion” into in the above verse. However, they were left with an interesting dilemma. They translated aion as world, but they obviously could not stay consistent and translate “aionios” as “worldly.” Worldly life? So, they got inventive. They stayed with “world,” but stretched aionios into “eternal.” After all, they had a preconceived doctrine to adhere to.
Let’s stay consistent: Jesus spoke of the coming age, in which a promised Life of the ages would be given. As He spoke these things, He knew that His imminent Resurrection would usher in the latter ages, as His Spirit would be poured into human beings, starting with the day of Pentecost.
As the Apostle John affirms:
1 John 5:11-12
And this is the testimony: God has given us aionios-life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.
This Life in the Spirit, concerns the aions/ages of our lives – which is exactly what makes it
aion-ios. The “age to come” Jesus spoke about began at Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4), when the Holy Spirit first entered into the heart of men, and that age continues now, and continues onward. It is this “life of the ages” to which immortality is added to the saints. However, there will be an end or consummation of the ages-fullness of times (Eph 1:9-10; Rev 21)
Consider the Prodigal Son, who left his place with his father to seek fulfillment in pleasure. The wages of SIN is DEATH, because sin produces destruction in our lives, causing man to live in a perished state, away from the Lord seeking fulfillment in self. According to the Word of God, what was the Prodigal reaping during his experience, destruction or life? Obviously, he was reaping death and destruction in his sin. But the Spirit has come that we may not reap death in sin, but have life now. Look at the ages. Are they still ticking away? If so – and you have the love of God in you – you have aionios-life.
Jesus Christ sits on the throne of His temple, which is within his followers. Paul said “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Cor 3:16) According to the Bible, that’s life.
What a precious gift we have been given, to have the Spirit of God within us, even while living here in the flesh, that He gives us power over our sin, the ability to understand the things of Spirit, the gifts, and communion with God to know His heart and be united with His purpose.
Why must we believe in Jesus Christ to receive life? It is not an arbitrary command when you realize the scriptural truth about life.
God did not put his Son on the cross to die for the world, only to attach a self-defeating belief clause sentencing billions to infinite suffering. If we understand that aionios-life is Jesus Christ within his followers right now, and that “this is life aionios: to know the one true God,” it makes perfect practical sense!
How can one know someone else if not believing He exists? How would that be possible? It is by believing in Christ that you come know him, thereby receiving aionios-life away from sin in a daily walk. It is astounding that when some people hear that God, through Jesus, will bring the world into repentance and salvation, they say “why bother preaching the Gospel if everyone will be saved?” Do they have something against spreading good news? Given what the Bible says about being perished and receiving life, how could they keep the gift of God’s Spirit to themselves by NOT spreading the good news?
Melvin,
The good news is Jesus is the savior of the world.
You said:
“I would disagree. Jesus Himself said He came to save those whom the Father has given Him, not the world. [Okay, that was a rebuttal on your commentary. You don’t have to tell us no one is rebutting.]”
Consider these scriptures:
John 3:35; John 6:37-39
And I don’t see how you could not agree with so many scriptures that seem to state plainly that Jesus is indeed the savior of the world!
Consider these scriptures:
John 4:42; I John 4:14; John 1:29; John 6:33; John 12:47; I John 2:2
Thanks so much,
Jon Paden
http://www.churchatheart.com
churchatheart@yahoo.com
Lionel,
I tagged you with a three question meme.
See http://prozacstan.blogspot.com/2008/08/ive-been-tagged-by-tc-robinson-to.html.
Stan
Lionel,
Good morning brother! I just wanted let you know about a great blog site to check out. It is the Reformed Evangelist. They are out of California and I love their site as they are reformed in their theology and they go out and street preach also. That is more of what I do is street preach. It is challenging, but also refreshing to be out amongst the people who may never step foot in a church building.
Anyway I think it is http://www.reformedevangelist.com
Steven
Thanks Steven. I have checked them out before. Good brothers I think they even have a podcast now.
Hi Lionel,
I tried to reach Scott (message 16) RE: New City Fellowship in Lancaster, PA. Turns out the email address in his message returns undeliverable. I’d love to provide him with information about our ministry. If you have been in contact with him, or can contact him, might you send him my address? byoung00@comcast.net.
Thank you, and May God Bless,
brian
Hi Lionel,
I posted this question on your other site before I knew you shut it down.
Anyway, my question was: during your teenage or young adult years, were you ever aware of or drawn to the Nation of Islam, either through the written works of Elijah Muhammad or the speeches of Louis Farrakhan? I ask because I know it still attracts many young black men who are down and out and need structure, guidance and discipline and who can’t find it anywhere else.
My second question is: do you know anyone who is a part of that organization and have you tried to get them out and if so, is it hard?
Thirdly, are there things known among the black community about the Nation about which the outside world does not nor ever will know?
Peace,
Clarence
Forgive me brother for allowing our conversation on works to progress toward slavery idealism. I am going to say that I love your blog now and have not been able to find anyone putting heads together in our community of believers like this. Forgive me.
For the record, you are actually correct, Jonthan did defend slavery, and did not give up his slaves, I was mistaken as I did even further research. He did however convert his personal slaves to indentured servant status and did use the biblical rules of enslavement. He also condemned the slave trade itself as a horrible practice. His problem as it is with many, he never made the final connection to the societal problems with slavery in America. Good looking out. I still think that he was assured of salvation though, since our assurance is not based on that, but on whether or not we believe on the name of Jesus Christ. Its a tough debate and a hard one to deal with without offense. Again, forgive me for allowing it to go further than needed.
Hi Lionel,
You’ve got me blubbering like a baby, brother! God’s Grace is SO GOOD! You’re story is like so many of ours – maybe a little more dramatic ;o) (but maybe not if we realized the depravity of our sin before a holy God) – but God has to get us with a two-by-four and with the planting and watering of many workers in the field. I grew up in a Christian home (Reformed Baptist, what is now called NCT circles), the daughter of a pastor and it wasn’t until I left home and was wandering this country in a semi-truck that the Lord got a hold of me through the radio. (Only because I was addicted to talk radio and in some places you can’t find anything else but Hank or John Mac! ;0) We know we’re sinners instinctively, but it takes God’s timing to bring us to Himself. Praise God that He did bring us though! There are millions out there who are not in the family – who have not, and will never experience that Grace. We should pour out tears of joyful thankfulness everyday!
Thank you for sharing your testimony. It is, in essence, a testimony to His Grace.
Lionel,
I’m from just up the highway from you in Grand Haven, MI. I know Benton Harbor is a rough town–rougher than Muskegon. While my situation was different in life (raised in an almost all white town, no gangs, etc.), it wasn’t spared any tragedies.
In cany case, the Lord saved me from a pagan life too. And, John MacArthur’s ministry changed my life too. His book, Charismatic Chaos, totally changed my life and got me out of some wacked out stuff!
Yours,
Chris
Cheryl,
Thanks for the kind words. I am humbled and blushing!
Chris,
Man I will visit the blog. Yep born and raised there. You a Wolverines fan? Yeah MacArthur was that dude for me bro. It is funny being from Benton Harbor what my theological stance is.
Lionel! How have you been? Where are ya? How’s the family? It’s been a looong while.
To catch up, I’ve been attending St. Barney’s on Elm (sometimes, God draws people to liturgy, and He’s very humorous at it – “you were baptized Episcopalian, now go visit one”.) I’m hooked!!!
School is fine. I’m really busy, and I finally got a biology research job. But I should get a car at the end of the month, and I hope to catch up with people by burning my gas.
Pax Christi!
Ndidi.
Grace and peace,
its been such a long time since I got up with you! How have things been?
Email me sometime at: da.horton@yahoo.com
Grace and peace bro!
Lionel,
I just wanted to register my own appreciation for your story. Keep up the work you’re doing.
Hi Lionel,
I’m a 28 year old Hmong man married to my wife Linda and together we have 3 little boys. I’m also a seminary student at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary taking classes at its extension center in Michigan. Currently I work full time as a software developer and am in the process of putting together a core team to plant a church in the Metro Detroit area. I grew up in Detroit as a kid and pretty much had an urban outlook on life. But after college my parents left for the ‘burbs. In 2004 I bought a house north of Detroit and have an increasing burden to see a church emerge from this context.
I’m reformed in theology and am looking for guys in the Detroit area (or willing to relocate here) that are like minded. I was hoping that as someone connected to the black church and who is reformed in theology, you’d know some guys interested in planting a church near the 8 mile divide in Detroit. The intent of the plant is to be racially diverse and missional. It’s been tough for me to find guys burdened for Detroit who are reformed, missional, and progressive.
I’d appreciate any insight you have for me.
Strength and honor to you and glory to our Lord,
Daniel
[...] a favorite of mine is A Better Covenant. Writing on this blog is a brother I will call my friend, Lionel Woods. His mental game is like that of the old school hip hop group De La Soul. Now if you do not know [...]
Dear brother Lionel,
At the reading of your testimony, it only reminded me in a lot of ways of my own testimony.
I’m hispanic, born in South America, been here for over 20 years and little that I knew, the Lord brought me here to humble me and showed me of His majestic plan of redemption and marvelously saved me from my sins.
I have a whole lot that I would like to share with you, I actually would like to talk to you on the phone if that is possible, I’m not much into writing, I always thought that listening to someone’s voice is more “personal”, you know what I’m saying?
So if you don’t mind shoot me an e-mail and we’ll be talking.
I live in Oregon, home church, married and with six wonderful children that the Lord has given us to raise for His glory.
Waiting for your reply
In His absolute sovereign and holy name
Bro’ Rico
Lionel,
Just finished reading your testimony. Wow! God is sovereign. I myself am new to Reformed Theology. I came to faith in 1987 and embraced Reformed about 4 months ago. The verse that did it for me was Hebrews 12:2 “look unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of your faith”. The Author!!! My faith was written by Christ!! I did not choose it, He chose me! I was in the Army as well, got kicked out
, was a 17 year old wise guy who would listen to nobody.
Anyway one comment of constructive criticism; spell check your testimony
God Bless
Steve,
Thanks for your kind words and sharing your testimony! Hey man I don’t spell check. That is like putting on lip gloss before going into battle!
Indeed this is a truely heartwarming testimony. I felt you and still do. Keep you heart , eyes, and ears open.
Hey man I am a church planter in Grand Rapids Michigan…We seem to have a lot in common: A heart for Diversity, reformed Theology, NCT and a love for Reformed hip-hop.
Nice site!
Hey Lionel,
I came across this page by a friend of mine, I must say that you have an awesome testimony.To God be the glory! May God continue to bless and keep you by his power. I am a minister in Virginia, and it is always encouraging to see more reformed brothers preaching and teaching the truth. Its been a journey for me in coming into believing the reformed faith as well, but thank God for His grace and for the preciousness of the cross!
In Christ
Ray
Hey,
I stumbled onto your blog but you have a very interesting testimony. I’m a young black man originally from Saginaw, MI. I’ve never been to Benton Harbor, but I have fam in Grand Rapids. I plan to try to read your blog from time to time. God Bless.
Great advice, Clearly explained and easy to follow. Thank you