An Open-Air Preacher responds to a Post-Modern Progressive Hypocrite- Repent and believe in the Gospel.

 

The article is in quotes, my responses to Tony Jones, the Post-Modern Progressive Hypocrite, are below the quotes.  Please feel free to go to the original post here and leave appropriate comments. I cannot comment on his blog because, besides being a false teacher, Tony cannot handle anyone with a brain that disagrees with his theology. 

When I first arrived on the campus of St. Cloud State University in January to teach Introduction to the New Testament, a couple of the students mentioned the preachers who come to campus. It seems that, as a Christian minister myself, they thought I should know how Christians are seen on campus.

Tony, you are about as much a Christian and a minister as I am a hamburger. To be fair, if we must label people, you would be a progressive universalist with a pseudo-Christian framework to your beliefs.

Last Thursday, as class was about to begin, they asked if I’d been around the previous day to see the traveling preachers make their annual appearance. I hadn’t, so one student began showing me photos she’d taken on her phone.

You can imagine my surprise when I recognized one of the preachers: John Chisham, aka, “Pastorboy.”

You can imagine my non-surprise that Tony Jones would be teaching a New Testament class to the itching ears of the student body at SCSU. With their knowledge of real biblical scholarship showing through most clearly in their responses to clear biblical teaching on things like adultery (Jesus says anyone who even looks with lust is guilty of this- like Mr. Jones and his relationship with his now wife Courtney Perry which was, and is currently, a relationship conceived, birthed, and presently living in adultery)

Longtime readers will remember Pastorboy. He used to comment on this blog regularly (he was banned from commenting by me in 2009), and to post about me and others on his various blogs. He allowed me to interview him on video when my book, The New Christians, was coming out. And he was the lone protestor outside of JoPa’s event, Christianity21 – we had 21 women preachers speak at that conference, and he preached 21 sermons on the sidewalk outside (since, of course, women are not capable of preaching the gospel in his twisted theology).

Tony banned me from his blog because, though he crows about his tolerance, he cannot stand someone who stands for the truth of God’s Holy Word. If Tony ever read my blog, he would see that I have a biblical view of women preaching. I labor with some of the most fantastic, loving, and capable female evangelists the world has ever seen- none of whom would ever sit under a woman’s teachings within the church because, despite Tony’s liberal views on the scripture, it clearly teaches women’s roles within the church- and teaching and having authority over men is clearly forbidden. (I think that Christianity liberalism21 was the same conference where Tony’s loving partner/’pastor’ Doug Pagitt threatened to have Tony’s then wife Julie McMahon removed by the police is she stayed there because, of course, he was still married and carrying on with Courtney Perry)- but that is another story. My own dear mother labors within a church that teaches that women can pastors, and though I disagree with that stance, I still love my mother and many of the faithful missionaries who serve around the world.

Chisham is a Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) pastor in Marshall, Minnesota at River of Life Alliance Church. But he regularly travels to preach his hate-filled “gospel” message at gay pride parades and college campuses. The StarTribune covered him at a gay pride parade here, and when he preached at Mankato State University in 2010, a bunch of students took him up on his invitation for them to come to his church — they came, and stood silently in front of the church bearing signs of their own. Of course, Chisham did not take this in stride but called on the university to sanction the professor who advised them. As you see in the photo above, and the uncropped version below, this year the students at St. Cloud State also fought back against his hate.

I am no longer a minister with the Christian and Missionary Alliance, nor do I work for them. As was explained clearly then, the ministry of the Gospel includes the unfortunate, but very biblical truth that those who are liars, fornicators, sexually immoral people(heterosexual or homosexual) thieves, the greedy etc. will not inherit the kingdom of heaven. The answer is the life changing Gospel that those who trust in Christ will be washed clean, forgiven, and changed into a new creature by the powerful grace of God. The individual student who was invited decided to bring her friends- and when invited in to sit quietly decided instead, at the coaching of Jim Dimock, to stand in the front. The police were called, not by me, but by the YMCA supervisor who thought their behavior was crass and inappropriate.

The photos were taken by Molly English, a student in my class who is double-majoring in Women’s Studies and International Relations. She’s also an atheist who is taking my class on the New Testament. I asked her about the incident, and she wrote the following, which I post here with her permission:
These takes place on a tiny “hill” right outside Atwood between Atwood and Stewart Hall. It’s a huge main point for students to pass by.
Apparently, they stand on a piece of public land that can be rented out, and that’s why the campus cannot do anything about them, unless they “disturb the peace” by using a megaphone or by singling out students (which they do anyways).
Anyways, they are like bugs that crawl out when the sun comes out. I’ve been told that they have been doing this at SCSU for at least 10 years or more? I was also told by my (openly queer) Women’s Studies teacher Beth Berila that they go to several campuses.
Many repeat a common rumor: “They aren’t even pastors. They just say that shit to get people to punch them, and then they sue the university for money. That’s how they keep their livlihood and make an “‘income.’” I personally doubt this.
They are known to single out students. From what I’ve heard, it tends to be women who are pointed out as whores for make-up or low-cut tank top shirts.
Obviously, the other main concern is their direct attack on homosexuality as a sin and in need of repentance. Then comes non-Christian believers = sinners and damned and in need of repentance. Then he speaks of smokers and how he saw the light and was a sinner himself, ect…
As an Atheist, I already am quite aware that I am in the minority and that Christians have more power in this country. So to come to school and be forced to hear and see this shit, it makes me livid and disgusted. I can only imagine it is the same for anyone who is queer or other non-Christians. I just want school to be a safe place where we don’t have to feel this way, not when we have to feel it every other moment of our lives in Minnesota.

At least Molly was fair in her assessment- although not entirely true. We do not single people out. We do not call names. We do indicate that people who claim to be Christians can reveal their true nature by the way that they speak and the way that they dress. Women who dress with low cut shirts, and men who have their pants below their buttocks speak volumes about their heart.

Here is a transcript of the message I preached on the hill when that picture was taken-I do record all of my messages to protect myself and others against false accusations of people like Mr. Jones and others who are tolerant of everyone except those who believe the Bible.

I see many of you in the crowd smoking today, against the rules of St. Cloud State- but I think that rule is pretty intolerant. So smoke them if you have them! But if you look on the sides of the cigarette packs, there is a warning. It says “Surgeon generals warning…Smoking causes emphysema, low birth weight, lung cancer..etc. Yet, I do not think that this warning has ever made you throw your cigarettes away out of anger that the surgeon general is so intolerant in warning you that cigarette smoking is harmful. The apostle Paul and Jesus Christ gave many similar warnings. In Luke 13, Jesus warned “unless you repent you will all likewise perish’ He warned in John 3 that ‘unless you are born again you will not inherit the kingdom of God’ and that those who refuse to believe are under condemnation (judgment) and the wrath of God abides on them to this day. (3:18,36). Paul warned that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of heaven, and he warned us not to be deceived (1 Cor 6:9-10) that thieves, greedy, sexually immoral- heterosexual or homosexual- will not inherit the kingdom of God. He warned that there was no one righteous- no one good- no one that sought after God (Romans 2- quoting Ps 14) I am here to warn you today- from scripture- that it is appointed unto man one to die and after this comes judgment (Heb 9:27) and you will be judged based upon your goodness- your moral perfection. So if you have lied- God’s word says he hates liars (Proverbs 6 Psalm 5) that lying lips are an abomination (Pr 12:22) and that liars will end up in the lake of fire (Rev 21:8) If you have stolen, ever in your life- you will not inherit the kingdom of God. No blasphemer, idolater, or adulterer- Jesus said that if you even look with lust you are considered an adulterer at heart-and no adulterer will inherit the kingdom of God. You see, God does not wink an eye at sin- he knows and will judge every thought, intent, motive, action. Every word you speak you will give an account for on the day of judgment. We- you, me, the pope, your imam, your philosophy professor- we all deserve Hell for transgressing even one of God’s holy laws. You see how seriously God hates sin- but at the same time loves humanity- at the cross. Jesus Christ, fully God, was incarnated- that is- he took on flesh and dwelt among us. He walked on this earth, made in every way such as we are, yet without sin. He came to seek and to save the lost. His plan- God’s plan- was for Christ to lay down His own life as a substitution. The Bible says it like this- God made Him who knew no sin (Jesus) to be made sin (treated as though He sinned) so that we could be made God’s righteousness in Him. In other words, on the cross Jesus took the punishment that we deserved- God poured out His wrath on His beloved Son and He died- for three days he sojourned in the tomb- and on the third day He rose again. Mohammad is still in the grave- every religious leader before and since has not conquered death, but Jesus did because He is God. On the cross, God demonstrated His hatred towards sin, and His love towards sinners. If you will repent, if you will turn aside from your sin and turn to Christ alone for salvation, He will save you. It will not be because of works of righteousness, or because of religion, but because of God’s mercy that He will save you. But Jesus is the only way. There is no other way- there is not other truth, and there is no other source of eternal life. Jesus said you must be born again. It is an invitation to life or condemnation to death. Repent and believe in the Gospel. Thanks for listening.

So, why post about this? Why bring more notice to this hate-monger who misunderstands the gospel?Because his hate must be be countered with love and respect. His bad version of the gospel must be countered with a better version of the gospel.

Yep- thats what those signs were- a loving representation of Tony’s Gospel.

Because when we crawls out from under his rock to preach hate and judgment, many undergrads are pushed one step closer to forsaking the Christian faith altogether.

They are already running as far away from it as they can- anybody taking your NT class will not hear anything close to the Gospel. It is a damning lie- and full of hate speech. Tony hates homosexuals so much that he gives them false assurance that their sinful lifestyle is a-ok with God. On the day of judgment, they will curse you with God, Tony Jones. Their blood is on your hands. You have the word of life, but in your adulterous hateful gospel, you will not warn the sinner to repent and believe in their only hope- Jesus Christ. Tony hates Atheists so much that, while he gives kudos to Molly English, he apparently cares nothing for her soul. Apparently, she has spent the whole semester in his New Testament class without ever hearing or believing the Gospel!

Kudos to the students who protested Pastorboy’s preaching, and kudos to Ms. English for writing to me about how it feels to be an atheist and a GLBT ally when these idiots come to campus

I give kudos to Miss English- she was fair at least. I pray that she will have the wherewithal to engage in discussion with me. I am always willing to hang out and speak with students. It is the highlight of my days of ministry on the campus.

.And to those of us with a better version of the gospel than Pastorboy, let’s figure out ways to counter their hate.

Your better gospel is a damnable heresy. I pray that you will repent and believe in the only way, Jesus Christ

Women in Ministry- Where to Draw the Line? Part 2: Spiritual Gifts

When examining any question that concerns the Word of God, one must examine Himself and use sound hermeneutic principles. This is especially important when it is a man examining the roles of women within the Body of Christ. As an example, too many men have used Ephesians 5 to inappropriately dominate their wives and treat them poorly because the command to the women  is to submit and respect. I have heard many a sermon that practically gives license to a man to beat his wife verbally, emotionally, and physically- and many a counselor say to a woman she has to take it and ‘submit’. All this while neglecting the command a few lines later to love his wife as Christ loves the church- and forgetting what that looked like when He did. The same problem was illustrated by the many in 19th century America using the scripture wrongly to justify slavery.

The problem has gone the opposite way as well; there are many from the more liberal bias towards scripture that use culture as a lens to interpret scripture. They believe, for example, that the clear roles laid out in scripture were only for that culture at that time. This has opened up the floodgates- we have genderless scriptures, genderless hymns, women who are Pastors and elders in churches- and now we have homosexual ministers as well as blessing and approval of homosexual marriage. What does that have to do with gender? When you break down gender roles while interpreting scripture through the lens of current culture, these types of errors become rampant. Every church that has negated clear biblical gender roles eventually must- and usually does- compromise on homosexual sin. And allow me to clarify- any church that allows a woman to have a eldership role over men- whether it be a pastor or the head of the board- has ceased to be a biblical New Testament church.

10 but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works. 11 Let a woman learn quietly with all submissiveness. 12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet. 13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve; 14 and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. (1 Timothy 2:10-14, ESV)

12γυναικι δε διδασκειν ουκ επιτρεπω ουδε αυθεντειν ανδρος αλλ ειναι εν ησυχια

So for many, this is an emotionally charged topic, and it may cause them to throw away sound principles of hermeneutics and submit to their gender pride. This can happen on both sides of the sexes. One of the principles we must examine is the historical context as well as the ecclesiological context of the commands. I submit to you that within the scripture that there are gender roles laid out for both church life and everyday life. The command above is in context with specific instructions for the assembly of the church. Verse 12, in English and in Greek, is misinterpreted by laymen and pastors alike that hold gender bias. It is in the contest of the church. There is the pesky word or (GR oude) between teach and exercise authority- that shows two separate activities within the body of Christ, and the role in the church. This has been properly interpreted that a woman is not to be a preacher over an assembled congregation. It does not mean that a woman cannot teach authoritatively on scripture in the proper context- outside of the context of the church and church governance. She cannot hold the role of pastor or teaching elder within the church. But I submit to you that there is a boundary there. There are rules that apply differently in the church and in the home- and there are rules that cross all of those boundaries. The challenge is to put off our pride and our opinions- and especially our gender bias- and honestly look at what those boundaries and roles are.

4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; 5 and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; 6 and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good. 8 For to one is given through the Spirit the utterance of wisdom, and to another the utterance of knowledge according to the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills. 12 For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit. (1 Corinthians 12:4-13, ESV)

The one shocking thing about this list of gifts in terms of this topic is that there is no gender differentiation in the gifts. There is no announcement from the Apostle Paul that these gifts are for men, these other ones are for women. In other words, shocking as it may be, women can have the gift of prophesy! You say, if she has that gift, then why can’t she use it?  She absolutely can- just not in a position of headship over a man (the pastors, the elders) in the context of the church. The question really is, in this context, where can she use that gift of forth-telling or proclamation of the word of God?

 3 Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. (Titus 2:3-5, ESV)

Herein lies the rub for so many people-the scripture states clearly the roles of wives, husbands, older men, older women, younger men, younger women etc. in the context of home and church. It does not speak clearly to the in between time- the time at work, the time at school, the time in the temple. Many people here on both sides of this question allow the scripture to speak from silence. In the example above, Older women have a role within the body of Christ, stated very clearly. It is a role of teaching and training younger women. But what of outside the body of Christ? Can a woman with children hold a job? Can she be a CEO? Can a woman be the head of a Christian organization that trains men and women to preach the Gospel? Can a woman proclaim the Gospel and the Word of God publicly on a street corner to non believers in the presence of male believers? The scripture is silent on these activities. We cannot stretch the principles made for the ecclesia- the church into life outside the context and scope of authority of the local church.

What this means, quite simply, is that if a woman who is single, begins a ministry outside the church, but under the authority of the church/Pastor/Elders this is not a usurping of authority, nor is it in rebellion to the Word of God. If the church leadership recognizes a gift of teaching and, under the authority of the elders, a woman teaches Sunday School, this is not against the Word of God. She is under authority- the authority of the man- the head elder. If she goes to the Super Bowl- or any other evangelistic outreach- to preach- having been sent by the local church, under the approval of her husband (if she is married) or with her husband- and if with a ministry under submission to the leadership of that ministry- then she ought to be able to preach if she has that gift.

In Part 3- we will attempt to break down what the Bible does say about the roles of women and men inside the church and outside the church.

Women in Ministry- Where to Draw the Line? Part 1: The Great Commission

In my current season of ministry, I labor as an itinerant evangelist with a small fellowship of people under the headship of Mark 1:15 ministries. In my role as a leader in this band of evangelists, I am often approached to join hands with other individuals and groups that are going forth to proclaim the Gospel. We do have standards of accountability, methodology, and theology that no one formally adheres to, but evangelists are observed and known before they go out with our group. There are a few standards that we demand of our members. They must be born again believers in Jesus Christ who faithfully attend church. They are all under the care and leadership of elders. They must demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit in their lives and ministry. They must have the approval of their spouses if they are married. If they are married with children, their first priority is ministry at home. There are a few other minor issues that we demand, including methodology of using sound biblical evangelism of the law to the proud and grace to the humble.

I was challenged this week about one other issue, the issue of gender. I have thought this through before, and have studied the scripture, but never have I written down a formal stand on the issue of women as evangelists on the street. There are a few groups of Evangelists that have gender-based standards, and that list is growing. It is going to become a point of contention in evangelism circles if it has not already. I am going to challenge thinking on both sides of the issue, but I am going to do so based on sound biblical exegesis.

15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. (Mark 16:15, ESV)

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20, ESV)

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, ESV)

15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, (1 Peter 3:15, ESV)

These commands come after the first evangelist – Does anyone know who this is?- proclaimed the good news.  The evangel- the good news- that Christ died for our sins according to the scripture, was buried- and on the third day rose again- according to the scripture. (1 Corinthians 15) Again, according to this standard, who was the first post- resurrection evangelist?

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. (John 20:11-18, ESV)

John and Peter observed- John believed- but both returned to their homes, no proclamation, no evangel, no good news. Mary stayed behind, she had been to the tomb, she first noticed that Jesus was not there, she got John and Peter. Now, she stayed behind in mourning. Jesus revealed Himself to her, and commanded her to go- to tell the good news- that He had risen and would ascend. He trusted this news to a woman- the gender whom the Jewish males would pray thus about: ‘thank you God that I was not born a gentile, Samaritan…or a woman’. This woman who could not even testify in court- she was entrusted with the first good news by Jesus Himself- post death and resurrection.

Having said all of this, notice in all of the scriptures that contain the Great Commission, there is no gender announcement. We know that Jesus’ disciples- not the apostles who were to be those who would be responsible for establishing and leading the church- but the disciples of Jesus which included the 12, but also at least 120-500 men and women at this time. If you contend that the Great Commission was only given to the 11 apostles, then you contend that there is no responsibility for Christians today to proclaim the Gospel. If you contend (rightly so) that those to whom the command was given included both apostles and disciples, you must include women in the equation. So from the time of the Great Commission, both faithful men and faithful women were commanded to proclaim the evangel- to be evangelists.

Of course, as we look in the book of Acts, the history of the establishment of the church and the early fulfillment of the Great Commission, we see the giants of the faith- Peter, Paul, Stephen, Phillip, Timothy, Mark- all men- all front and center. Is this to say that there were no women involved? Clearly, there was. Again, we must consider the culture, especially of the Jewish Church. Women were not reliable witnesses in that culture. We do not argue from silence in the scripture, and I will not do so here. We do not see Luke chronicling female evangelists. That does not mean there were not any, and it certainly does not mean that there was a gender restriction on the command.

So what is the issue? The issue gets convoluted when we begin to look into the epistles of Paul as he looks at the church- those who are part of the invisible and universal body of Christ- and the gender roles within the church. And this is what we will look at in the next article. Please prayerfully consider the scripture and respond and correct as we go by using the scripture.

 

 

Area preachers stage protest at former Juice Bar in Lynd

January 7, 2013

By Steve Browne , Marshall Independent

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LYND – Late Friday evening the sounds of heavy metal music competed with the loudspeaker system of preachers John Chisham, Jake Larson and Eric Espinosa in downtown Lynd.

The preachers stationed themselves outside a building that formerly housed a business known as The Juice Bar, which features nude dancers.

The Juice Bar opened in October. In early November, the Lynd City Council passed an adult business ordinance which established a $3,000 per year licensing fee and required an adult business must be located at least 700 feet from a residence, playground, daycare, or other adult business and limited the hours of operation from 10 p.m. to midnight.

Now, according to Dale Peterson, it is strictly a private residence which hosts private parties. A $10 donation is suggested.

Inside, about six women were dancing for tips for an audience of less than a dozen people.

Chisham was formerly a pastor at the River of Life Alliance Church in Marshall but said he has resigned. Chisham said he was ordained in the Christian and Missionary Alliance.

“I’m here because of the Juice Bar,” Chisham said. “I heard about it from some friends on the golf course, and I thought it would be a good place to preach. I’m just trying to bring people to Christ.”

Jake Larson, who said he is a pastor at Bethel Fellowship in Minneota, was using the portable loudspeaker system to tell partygoers they were objectifying women.

Eric Espinosa calls himself a reformed sinner.

“I’m out here spreading the Gospel,” Espinosa said. “They’re where I once was. I was a drug user, an alcoholic and engaged in criminalistic activities.”

Espinosa said he was saved six months ago.

“They’re very annoying,” Peterson said. “They bother my guests, calling them names and stuff as they come into my home.”

Outside, Lyon County Deputy Sheriff Adam Connor came in response to a complaint about the loudspeaker from a next door neighbor.

“It’s 11 o’clock in the (expletive) evening!” said the neighbor, who declined to identify himself to the Independent. “My daughter can’t sleep because of the noise.”

Chisham admonished him.

“Hey now, no F-bombs,” Chisham said.

Connor asked Chisham not to intervene and told the preachers to turn of the loudspeaker.

“I can’t regulate the content of the speech,” Connor said, “only the noise level.”

Chisham said he was assaulted by a patron outside the Juice Bar in late November. He said he’ll continue to be in front of the residence most Fridays and Saturdays.

A Fragrance from Life to Life

2Corinthians 2: 15For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

My brother, John Hedberg, was preaching in Minneapolis, as he faithfully does 3-4 days per week. He is like a postman, faithfully delivering the mail whether snow, or sleet, or cold, or dark of night. Like a postman, his only responsibility is to deliver the mail. He does not wander around people’s houses to see if they open the mail. He is only responsible to deliver it. Heralds of the Gospel message are not responsible to make sure that people respond to the Gospel, that is God’s responsibility. But we must faithfully deliver it through tracts, one to one witnessing, and verbal proclamation on the highways and byways of our world.

As happens frequently, John was assaulted by a homeless man a number of weeks ago. The truth was impacting Him so much that he reacted in anger. This anger manifests itself many different ways on the street- in the case of this man,  and threw a huge snowball at Him after a barrage of expletives and threatenings at John’s preaching. He was very angry at John, but as we know, what was really happening is that he was angry at the preaching of truth.

Fast forward to this past weekend. We were heralding the Gospel on the same streets of Minneapolis, I was on the box preaching. A man walks up slowly, tentatively to my friend Steve. He asks Steve if he can speak with me. Steve tells him that when I get off the box that I can speak with him. I get down off of the box, and this very humble man approaches.

” I want to go the way you guys are going”

I respond “What do you mean?”

” I want to follow Jesus”

I question him as to why he wants to follow Jesus. He explains to me that he is homeless, an alcoholic, and that he has led a very wicked life.

I tell him that Jesus cannot save him from being homeless, but that he can save Him from the penalty of sin, which is death. I explain that Jesus came to give us righteousness, which is what we need to be at peace with God (Romans 5:1)

He thanks me for being honest- he explains he wants to be cleaned up from the mess he has made of his life- all the ‘sh*t ‘ that fills up his soul. He wants to turn from his life and turn to Christ. “I want to do it now. How?”

I explain to him that he needs to cry out to God, tell God his desires to be clean just like he just told me. I take him to Psalm 51 as an example. He is humble. He is ready. He asks me to pray with him. He calls Steve over as well. He drops to his knees, and cries out ” God, I am so sorry for all the sh*t I have done. My life is full of sh*t, my heart is wicked. I am sorry for being a drunk. Rescue me! I believe on you!”

I prayed over Him….God, you know this mans heart. Grant Him repentance unto life, give Him grace. Wash Him clean of his sin. Help him to follow you by the power of your Spirit.

Now John came across the street, with tears in his eyes. He had many encounters with this man, including the last, most violent one. He came across the street to welcome this man into the family. Michael begged John for forgiveness. John granted it to Him and embraced him. He also made arrangements to have lunch with him the following week.

We do not know where this man is, and what God is doing, but we know that He did cry out to God and that God will be faithful to complete salvation to those who call on Him.

I street preach to the glory of God. For some my words are a fragrance from death to death, bringing judgment. For others, it is the sweet fragrance of life. For Michael, I believe it became a fragrance for life.

Preaching or Protest?

I am a street preacher. I am different from many street preachers, as I am an ordained minister and as such have had a great deal of biblical and theological training. I have been an associate Pastor, a head Pastor, a church planter, and am currently a campus minister. This is not to say that those who do not have my training are not good street preachers, it is just to say that I have had that training. Most people that have my training stay within the walls of a church or a ministry. I have the call, however, to preach the Gospel to all the world (Mark 16:15) and the passion and compulsion (2 Corinthians 5:11,14) to do it from the Holy Spirit.

I choose many different venues to hone my craft and to proclaim the Gospel. It is important to go to places where people are. I have preached on campuses and cities all over the country- Indianapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia, Florida, Los Angeles, San Diego, South Dakota, Minneapolis, St. Paul, New York City. I have preached at Major League Baseball Games, NFL Football Games, The Super Bowl, NBA Games, as well as many College sporting events. I have preached at Spring Break, at parades, and at festivals and concerts. I have preached with passion to save the lives of unborn children outside of Abortion clinics. What do all of these places have in common? They have large crowds in one place at one time. It is a very effective way to broadcast the Word of God to many people at once- many of whom would never darken the door of a church.

I have also  preached with passion to save the lives of unborn children outside of Abortion clinics. I have proclaimed the Gospel at Gay Pride events. I have told people the truth of who Jesus Christ is outside of mosques and Mainline churches. Most recently, I have been preaching outside the Juice Bar in Lynd, MN- The Juice Bar is a strip club that opened up in this small town of 420 people. This begs the question: Am I protesting or am I preaching?

A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations. Protesters may organize a protest as a way of publicly making their opinions heard in an attempt to influence public opinion or government policy, or they may undertake direct action in an attempt to directly enact desired changes themselves.

κηρύσσω (kērussō)

1. preach -ed, -est, -eth, -ing

to be a herald, discharge a herald’s office, to make proclamation, proclaim, announce publicly, publish announcements.

By definition, a protest is an expression of objection.  I do want people to know that to objectify women by looking with lust and going into strip clubs (or looking at porn, whatever) is a violation of God’s Holy Law. I stand against sin in all of its forms, because I have a new nature that hates sin and strives to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. But that is where the similarity to what I am doing ends. Now, of course, people who have not been born-again are going to follow after their lusts because they are dead in their sins (Ephesians 2:1-3) and they do the things that sinners do. In the case of the Juice Bar, or any place else I preach, the primary goal is to preach or herald the Gospel, to warn people that if they die in their sins, they will be cast into Hell for all eternity.

Places like the Juice Bar exist, and will continue to exist because men love their sin, and they are enslaved to it- particularly sexual sin. When we proclaim the light of the Gospel (John 3:16-17), they run and hide because they love darkness rather than light (John 3:18-20) and they are under condemnation and wrath (John 3:36). Many are also under the false assumption that they can simply ask for forgiveness and God will pass over their sin- thinking like the man who says they can continue in sin so that grace may increase (Romans 6:1). We warn and reprove them, using scripture like 1 Corinthians 6:9-10. We then let them know that there is hope (1 Corinthians 6:11) if they will repent they can be washed clean of their sin, freed from the penalty of sin, and free to live by the Spirit of God.

People always question if this is effective. Preaching the Gospel is always effective, because it always brings glory to God. Preaching the Gospel always works- for some it works to confirm their condemnation and to harden their hearts (Isaiah 6:9-10) and for others it is the power of God unto salvation (Romans 1:16). When I preach, I am doing it for an audience of One- the Lord Jesus Christ. I do it in public (Romans 10:14-15) so those that are ordained to eternal life will believe (Acts 13:48). I do it to warn people (Ez 3:17-21) both those who see them selves as righteous and unrighteous. I do it at the Juice Bar because I was once bound by the chains of sexual sin, but Jesus has set me free. I am proclaiming peace to the captives, because I want them to be free of the sins that has them captured under the law of sin and death. In all ways, I am preaching. To those who are under condemnation, it is foolishness. To those who are being saved, it is the power of God.

Chilling New John Lennon Movie

Los Angeles, CA. “Genius” is a new and chilling movie based on the life and tragic murder of John Lennon. The Producer of the Los Angeles-based film company, Ray Comfort, said, “It’s chilling because it reveals what people will do for money. There are ordinary people out there who would kill you. All they need is the right amount of money and the belief that they won’t get caught.” Just before he was murdered, John Lennon toldPlayboy magazine that he didn’t want to die at 40. Ironically the famous singer was gunned down at the age of 40 by a man who killed him just because he wanted to become famous. Comfort said, “Many think that John Lennon was a musical genius. His music has crossed cultures and even generations–the Beatles have sold more than 2,303,500,000 record albums, and in June of 2012 they hit number one on iTunes. They are as big now as they ever were and they’re half dead–with the tragic loss of Lennon and Harrison.” Ken Mansfield, the former U.S. Manager for Apple Records said, “Genius will open your eyes.” Other reviewers have called it “fast-paced, thought-provoking and compelling.” It is being promoted as “33 minutes that will rock your soul.” Comfort’s last movie “180″ received more than 3.7 million views on YouTube and aired on television around the world. “Genius” has been released for free viewing onwww.GeniusTheMovie.com to coincide with the December 8th anniversary of the death of John Lennon. Comfort added, “Abraham Lincoln said, ‘Towering genius disdains a beaten path. It seeks regions hitherto unexplored.’ That’s what John Lennon did. He pushed the musical envelope of creativity.” The Genius trailer: http://youtu.be/ZW2lhWfa28g Pictured: Each of these people freely admitted that they would murder for money. Interviews or questions: aalvarado@livingwaters.com