The "Gay Accepting Church"

At The Bridge Community Church, we are now broadcasting our services live on the internet, and then rebroadcast on demand all week on livestream.com. This is amazing as we have invested no money into this at all. A couple of cameras and techie items from E-Bay and the little ole Bridge is running with big dogs. Livestream is completely free for us because we allow them to run Google ads across the bottom our broadcast 24 hours a day. This gets interesting sometimes as Livestream is not a Christian organization. You can check this out at www.bridgelife360.com.

For 12 hours last week, Google's ad at the bottom of our broadcast read, "Gay Accepting Church." Anyone who came across that unaware of how Livestream works would have thought that this ad pertained to our church, and I wondered how people perceived that. Let me start by saying that this writing is not going to focus much on the homosexual issue (the ad could have said 'Heroin Accepting Church' or 'Extortion Accepting Church' or 'Premarital Sex Accepting Church' and the conversation would be the same). Someone watching could have had many thoughts. If they thought to the extreme -- this church believes that a person can be a practicing homosexual and go to heaven; as a matter of fact, the pastor or priest could be gay and be ordained. Or the observer could have thought -- they believe that homosexuality is not a sin and they are actively recruiting people who believe the same. Or they could have thought -- this church is a 'hospital for all sinners' and the homosexual would be welcomed in their midst understanding that he/she must repent, turn from his/her sin, and believe the Gospel. There are many other possible scenarios, but of the three, the latter most accurately describes The Bridge. Quite honestly, we go to the Bible for our stance.

First of all, homosexuality is a sin. Abusing our body with heroin is a sin. Extortion is a sin. Premarital sex is a sin. All of these things separate us from a perfectly holy God and are incredibly offensive to Him. Nobody should lead in God's church while actively practicing any of these sins as though they are not an offense to God. They are an offense to God. However, all sinners are welcome at The Bridge!!! Anyone who is practicing sins that could harm our people or especially our children would not be allowed to attend our public celebrations, but we would find somewhere safe for violent or dangerous folks to hear the Gospel. But, all others will find tremendous hospitality and love as they hopefully seek the truth of the Gospel. And the Gospel message is clear that sinners can be forgiven if they repent (turn from their sin; stop sinning) and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Only the repentant, forgiven child of God, who still slips up and sins on occasion, can lead at a healthy, well-balanced church like The Bridge.

I can sum this up in a story of a test I received within just a few weeks of becoming the lead pastor at The Bridge. We had two young ladies (one of them with a small child) who began attending our church and they communicated on their Connect Card that they were gay and wanted to visit with me about my feelings about that. We met after church one Sunday and I told them that I loved them very much and I hoped that they had felt welcomed at The Bridge because I hoped that they would continue seeking God at our church. They very gently, but boldly, asked my opinion about their relationship. I, lovingly but directly, told them that I would have the same answer for them if they were a man and a women living in a sexual relationship outside of God's plan for His people and that answer was that they were practicing sin and they would have to repent to be forgiven by God. I told them that my job was not to judge them (except about their roles in our church), but that my job was to love them and proclaim the Gospel to them. I explained that I hoped that they would stay and experience Christ with us for a long time to come, but they would have to truly become convinced of a need for change before they would be allowed to join the church. However, they were looking for a different kind of "Gay Accepting Church" than the one I described. Very respectfully, they explained to me that they had gone to Bible college and that the Bible did not teach that homosexuality was a sin and that a good church would agree with them. I knew at that point that I would not see them again, but I was not angry and I hoped that I would and I still hope to see them this Sunday listening to the teaching on the Sermon on the Mount that requires us to set aside our human pride and with humility accept God's plan for life.

Summer on the Mount

Whew! I have the first sermon written from Matthew 5 as we are going to delve into the SOTM throughout the whole summer. This is going to be really challenging because I do not think that there is a stronger example of God's teaching that OUR ways are not HIS ways. Every week is going to be this brutal awakening that we actually have been taught by the human race to live far from the way God thinks. The question is: will we be willing to change?

What I thought I would do as I study to present this challenging text is to blog some of things I learn that there will be no time to present. So, this morning's topic is the Talmudic law. As Jesus begins speaking on the hillside that morning, one set of his listeners was the Pharisees. They had created the Talmudic law because as they became more and more self-righteous, or depending on their abilities to keep law, instead of a dependence on God, they realized what a miserable failure they were. As a result, they started whittling down the law into manageable traditions. Instead of putting their whole weight on God (Commandments 1 & 2), they became RELIGIOUS with the legalistic following of some man-made fence laws that were much easier to show off with their 'outside-of-the-cup' efforts. As they scream about protecting God's law to Jesus, what they are really wanting to protect is their peripherial efforts that looked good to the public while actually they were terrorizing God's true law. We don't do that today, do we?

Yes!
God's #1 command is to love him constantly by being obedient. We lessen that immediately by claiming that we don't steal (but we covet), don't lie (that's a lie), don't commit adultery (never lust?) while we spend large portions of our day setting aside the Gospel, setting aside the cross, setting aside Christ and doing life in thought, word, and action on our own. You know what that is called? IDOLATRY, and it makes us no different than those who killed Jesus three short years after having their world first challenged on the side of that hillside. We have whittled down what is acceptable to God from, "Do, think, and say everything from a wellspring of the Gospel" to "I am a law abiding person most of the time." The American church has developed its own Talmudic law because we don't like the difficulties of Scripture. We must repent and believe the Gospel. Only God can empower such change from the wicked deception that we have been taught.

I Apologize...

...for not having written anything in a while. My life is always on the accelerator. I am always in overdrive. I have really enjoyed my job at MAC this past year -- relationships have been developed and I have really been trying to do my job there "as to the Lord." But it has taken away from some of my teaching opportunities such as writing to you on this blog. I am not going to teach much today either. I am blind in one eye and I have not been able to study much recently. However, I have been reading At the Altar of Sexual Idolatry by Steve Gallagher. This book is worth getting simply to experience the forward which is written by the late Ed Cole ("The only scriptures that you believe are the ones that you obey"). But today, I am just going to share with you a letter. Meg Reiner wrote the forward to this magnificent letter, "The Bridge Community Church has received a special letter from one of our friends at the CSC. We began our relationship with Scott last December, and he has become a part of our lives. His neatly penned letter was given to us on his birthday. Thank you, Scott - we love you too!"

Dear Bridge Members,

You may not see the progress that I’ve made throughout the last few months, but you have all made an impact on my life, which means the world to me. The little things that you all continue to do has helped me change my outlook completely. I know that God is working in my life through you. I had given up all hope and was ready to die when I started attending the Bridge months ago. Nothing seemed to matter to me but everyone, and I mean everyone, offered their love and God’s unconditional love to me, even the wreck that I am. You have shown me hope and helped me in ways that my family wouldn’t help any more because they had given up on me. At times I felt worthless, but even through my dark times you stood beside me and loved me as God would want and I want to thank you all for everything that you’ve all done. Every one of you has helped save my life and I love you all for it. May God Bless you all.

Thanks and love you
Scott Joseph

Check out more about GAP and CA here.

Quite a week, Quite a God!

I stand amazed the in presence of Jesus, the Nazarene -- and wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean. How Marvelous, How Wonderful! Easter is anything but a holiday for a lead pastor of healthy church. I have not blogged in a while because I was just hangin' on for the ride. I was just downright proud of our youth over the last few weeks as they went from hesitant and self-concerned as we challenged them with the human video to confident deliverers of the Gospel, the greatest story ever told. People who came to Easter services have a memory and a reference point to the Gospel that I don't think they will ever forget. The kids told the story as it appeared 'according to the Scriptures.'

To make sure that I kept things in perspective though, two deaths blasted their way into my world. At 12:05 Sunday morning, my cousin Roger went to be with God after battling cancer. Roger was a minister for cause of Christ so the Resurrection is a comfort. But he was just 55 years old and his daughter was to be married this Friday. Please pray for our family.

I don't even know what to do with the second death. BJ was a narcotics addict who had been brought into our lives through our work at the CSC and had attended our Conquering Addiction 12-step program. BJ had been sober while living in the CSC and was release just a couple of weeks ago, but the last time I saw him I was really put out with him because he was obviously high. Our friends who struggle with addictions many times do not do well on the outside of a highly supervised environment. So this last sit down with BJ was the combination of rebuking him for his sin, praying with him to repent, and listening to him talk about how much he loved The Bridge and its people who had accepted him, flaws, tattoos, and all. Well, I am struggling with whether BJ had been changed by the Gospel because BJ is dead. I am leaving this in the hands of a sovereign and just God, but I am shaken as I am sure other members of our GAP team are as well. I left BJ that last time knowing that he needed more help than I could give him; man, was I right. I am glad God knows what is best because I feel really small.

Wanna Know What's Real?

Check out this poem written by a young lady from our GAP ministry:

My name is Meth,
I destroy homes, I tear families apart,
take your children, and that’s just the start.
I’m more costly than diamonds, more precious than gold.
The sorrow I bring is a sight to behold.
If you need me, remember I’m easily found,
I live all around you - in schools and in town.
I live with the rich, I live with the poor,
I live down the street and maybe next door.
I’m made in a lab, but not like you think,
I can be made under the kitchen sink.
In your child’s closet, and even in the woods.
If this scares you to death, well it certainly should.
I have many names, but there’s one you know best,
I’m sure you’ve heard of me, my name is crystal meth.
My power is awesome, try me you’ll see,
But if you do, you may never break free.
Just try me once and I might let go,
But try me twice and I’ll own your soul.
When I possess you, you’ll steal and you’ll lie,
You do what you have to just to get high.
The crimes you’ll commit for my narcotic charms,
Will be worth the pleasure you’ll feel in your arms, your lungs and your nose.
You’ll lie to your mother, you’ll steal from your dad,
When you see their tears you should feel sad,
But you’ll forget your morals and how you were raised,
I’ll be your conscience, I’ll teach you my ways.
I’ll take kids from parents and parents from kids,
I turn people from God and separate friends.
I’ll be with you always, right by your side.
You’ll give up everything, your family your home,
Your friends, your money then you’ll be alone.
I’ll take and take till you have nothing more to give.
When I’m finished with you, you’ll be lucky to live.
If you try me be warned, this is no game,
If given the chance I’ll drive you insane.
I’ll ravish your body, I’ll control your mind,
I’ll own you completely, your soul will be mine.
The nightmares I’ll give you while lying in bed,
The voices you’ll hear from inside your head.
The sweats, the shakes, the visions you’ll see,
I want you to know, these are all gifts from me.
But then it’s too late and you’ll know in your heart,
That you are mine and we shall not part.
You’ll regret that you tried me, they always do,
But you came to me, not I to you.
You knew this would happen, may times you were told,
But you challenged my power and chose to be bold.
You could have said no and just walked away.
If you could live that day over, now what would you say?
I’ll be your master, you will always be my slave.
I’ll even go with you when you to your grave.
Now that you have met me, what will you do?
Will you try me or not? It’s all up to you.
I can bring you more misery than words can tell,
Come take my hand and let me lead you to hell.

WOW! Are you kidding me? These are the people that we have been commanded to take care of, to preach the Gospel, and just flat out love. Let's love them well!

Bad Singers Unite

Thanks to everyone who showed up last night to worship and who performed volunteer tasks that made our Grand Opening an event that I don't think people will soon forget. Plenty of folks showed up and did their job with style and grace.
Parallax View was outstanding. Fee was Fee. And our great big white chocolate building performed magnificently as our God was glorified.
I just cannot believe that nobody bought me a "Bad Singers Unite" t-shirt. I am the leader of that choir -- HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

Interesting Encounter

One of the strongest pieces of direction to pastors and leaders of churches is to protect the flock from false teachers and wolves who try and devour the sheep (1 Timothy 3 and Acts 20). I had an interesting encounter yesterday about that subject in between our two services at The Bridge. I thought the first celebration brought glory to God as Seth Durbin led worship for the first time and the study from Daniel 3 was strong and evident. But afterward, a lady that I had never seen before approached me off of the street with immediate questions. Her first question was: "Does your church support the 'word of faith' movement?" Assuming that she was asking me if I supported the prosperity teachings of folks such as Benny Hinn, Creflo Dollar, and Joel Osteen, I answered her quickly but gently, "No." Her second question was: "Does your church support the ministries of Kenneth Copeland?" Having studied his teaching quite a bit, I answered, "No." She did not like these answers and challenged me strongly on them. I really wanted to go rest for the second celebration, but she had many questions. I informed her that I did not presume to know about the salvation of these men and women who teach 'word of faith,' but I, with gentleness and respect, answered all of her questions about what I personally had heard them teach that I found troublesome and even gave her directions to a church that had a speaker in recently from the Copeland Ministries if she would like to go there. She left the building three times and came back 3 times to challenge me some more (after the events of last week, I confess that I wondered if she came bearing more than questions and challenges).

Here are some things specifically that Kenneth Copeland teaches that I have a problem with:
1. He is very passionate about saying that Jesus never claimed to be God. Jesus did claim to be God; that is what got Him crucified. To say that he did not claim to be God is heresy and requires very bad hermeneutics to even come up with the idea in the first place.
2. He teaches constantly that Jesus had to descend to hell during the three days in the tomb and fight Satan for the keys to life and death. This is a heretical teaching for many reasons: #1) the issue was settled on the cross (there was no further work needed), and #2) Jesus has always possessed the keys to life and death. He is the sovereign God of the universe, so He would never need to take something from Satan because He has ALWAYS been in control of such things.
3. He teaches a prosperity Gospel. He does not understand the basic nature of God. He thinks that God is our cosmic servant. John McArthur calls it a "genie in a bottle" theology, or in other words, we rub the bottle, call up God our genie, and he fulfills our wishes (you demand healing, you demand money prosperity, you demand a new job all under the guise of faith). It is "give to get," and it is a man-centered theology that has no basis in Holy Scripture or reality and is very destructive. It always ends up that if these things do not happen for you that you just did not have enough faith. God's sovereign will is basically tossed to the curb. The truth is that God cares so much for us that he would never allow our weak hearts and weak thinking to rule what is best for us.

This lady told me as she left that she would pray for me, and I appreciate her doing that. I am also praying for her (she is welcome anytime) because I am afraid that she has passionately committed to something that sounds great, but only tickles the ears of a wicked and deceitful heart.
I could go on and on about these bad teachings, but let me finish with this. There are people locally that think I am arrogant for taking such stands (like The Bridge is the only church that has correct doctrine). That is a false accusation. I believe that there are many other churches that are healthy and have truly surrendered leadership teaching great Biblical truths and doctrines. However, when bad teaching is present and I am asked to comment on it, I will always point out the bad teaching -- I am commanded by Scripture to do so. The three things I listed above are as bad as it gets, and I will always point these out to the flock -- not to glorify me or our church or to demean any human being (only the teachings, not the teacher) -- but to glorify the One who is in charge of all things. His name is Jesus Christ and He is our God.