500th. Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation!

On Tuesday October 31, 2017, while most people are busy preparing to hand out candy for Halloween, a momentous occasion will be occurring!  It is the 500th. anniversary of the Posting of Martin Luther's 95-Theses and the beginning of the Protestant Reformation!

For posterity sake and the sake of honoring such a landmark occasion not only for Christianity, but also for Western civilization, I post here the 95-Theses of Martin Luther which sparked a mighty move of God to reform the Church of Jesus Christ!  Be blessed and enjoy!

The 95 Theses

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Out of love for the truth and from desire to elucidate it, the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and ordinary lecturer therein at Wittenberg, intends to defend the following statements and to dispute on them in that place. Therefore he asks that those who cannot be present and dispute with him orally shall do so in their absence by letter. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

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1. When our Lord and Master Jesus Christ said, ``Repent'' (Mt 4:17), he willed the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
2. This word cannot be understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, that is, confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
3. Yet it does not mean solely inner repentance; such inner repentance is worthless unless it produces various outward mortification of the flesh.
4. The penalty of sin remains as long as the hatred of self (that is, true inner repentance), namely till our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.
5. The pope neither desires nor is able to remit any penalties except those imposed by his own authority or that of the canons.
6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring and showing that it has been remitted by God; or, to be sure, by remitting guilt in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in these cases were disregarded, the guilt would certainly remain unforgiven.
7. God remits guilt to no one unless at the same time he humbles him in all things and makes him submissive to the vicar, the priest.
8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to the canons themselves, nothing should be imposed on the dying.
9. Therefore the Holy Spirit through the pope is kind to us insofar as the pope in his decrees always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.
10. Those priests act ignorantly and wickedly who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penalties for purgatory.
11. Those tares of changing the canonical penalty to the penalty of purgatory were evidently sown while the bishops slept (Mt 13:25).
12. In former times canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution, as tests of true contrition.
13. The dying are freed by death from all penalties, are already dead as far as the canon laws are concerned, and have a right to be released from them.
14. Imperfect piety or love on the part of the dying person necessarily brings with it great fear; and the smaller the love, the greater the fear.
15. This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, to say nothing of other things, to constitute the penalty of purgatory, since it is very near to the horror of despair.
16. Hell, purgatory, and heaven seem to differ the same as despair, fear, and assurance of salvation.
17. It seems as though for the souls in purgatory fear should necessarily decrease and love increase.
18. Furthermore, it does not seem proved, either by reason or by Scripture, that souls in purgatory are outside the state of merit, that is, unable to grow in love.
19. Nor does it seem proved that souls in purgatory, at least not all of them, are certain and assured of their own salvation, even if we ourselves may be entirely certain of it.
20. Therefore the pope, when he uses the words ``plenary remission of all penalties,'' does not actually mean ``all penalties,'' but only those imposed by himself.
21. Thus those indulgence preachers are in error who say that a man is absolved from every penalty and saved by papal indulgences.
22. As a matter of fact, the pope remits to souls in purgatory no penalty which, according to canon law, they should have paid in this life.
23. If remission of all penalties whatsoever could be granted to anyone at all, certainly it would be granted only to the most perfect, that is, to very few.
24. For this reason most people are necessarily deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of release from penalty.
25. That power which the pope has in general over purgatory corresponds to the power which any bishop or curate has in a particular way in his own diocese and parish.
26. The pope does very well when he grants remission to souls in purgatory, not by the power of the keys, which he does not have, but by way of intercession for them.
27. They preach only human doctrines who say that as soon as the money clinks into the money chest, the soul flies out of purgatory.
28. It is certain that when money clinks in the money chest, greed and avarice can be increased; but when the church intercedes, the result is in the hands of God alone.
29. Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed, since we have exceptions in St. Severinus and St. Paschal, as related in a legend.
30. No one is sure of the integrity of his own contrition, much less of having received plenary remission.
31. The man who actually buys indulgences is as rare as he who is really penitent; indeed, he is exceedingly rare.
32. Those who believe that they can be certain of their salvation because they have indulgence letters will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
33. Men must especially be on guard against those who say that the pope's pardons are that inestimable gift of God by which man is reconciled to him.
34. For the graces of indulgences are concerned only with the penalties of sacramental satisfaction established by man.
35. They who teach that contrition is not necessary on the part of those who intend to buy souls out of purgatory or to buy confessional privileges preach unchristian doctrine.
36. Any truly repentant Christian has a right to full remission of penalty and guilt, even without indulgence letters.
37. Any true Christian, whether living or dead, participates in all the blessings of Christ and the church; and this is granted him by God, even without indulgence letters.
38. Nevertheless, papal remission and blessing are by no means to be disregarded, for they are, as I have said (Thesis 6), the proclamation of the divine remission.
39. It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, at one and the same time to commend to the people the bounty of indulgences and the need of true contrition.
40. A Christian who is truly contrite seeks and loves to pay penalties for his sins; the bounty of indulgences, however, relaxes penalties and causes men to hate them -- at least it furnishes occasion for hating them.
41. Papal indulgences must be preached with caution, lest people erroneously think that they are preferable to other good works of love.
42. Christians are to be taught that the pope does not intend that the buying of indulgences should in any way be compared with works of mercy.
43. Christians are to be taught that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does a better deed than he who buys indulgences.
44. Because love grows by works of love, man thereby becomes better. Man does not, however, become better by means of indulgences but is merely freed from penalties.
45. Christians are to be taught that he who sees a needy man and passes him by, yet gives his money for indulgences, does not buy papal indulgences but God's wrath.
46. Christians are to be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they must reserve enough for their family needs and by no means squander it on indulgences.
47. Christians are to be taught that they buying of indulgences is a matter of free choice, not commanded.
48. Christians are to be taught that the pope, in granting indulgences, needs and thus desires their devout prayer more than their money.
49. Christians are to be taught that papal indulgences are useful only if they do not put their trust in them, but very harmful if they lose their fear of God because of them.
50. Christians are to be taught that if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence preachers, he would rather that the basilica of St. Peter were burned to ashes than built up with the skin, flesh, and bones of his sheep.
51. Christians are to be taught that the pope would and should wish to give of his own money, even though he had to sell the basilica of St. Peter, to many of those from whom certain hawkers of indulgences cajole money.
52. It is vain to trust in salvation by indulgence letters, even though the indulgence commissary, or even the pope, were to offer his soul as security.
53. They are the enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid altogether the preaching of the Word of God in some churches in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
54. Injury is done to the Word of God when, in the same sermon, an equal or larger amount of time is devoted to indulgences than to the Word.
55. It is certainly the pope's sentiment that if indulgences, which are a very insignificant thing, are celebrated with one bell, one procession, and one ceremony, then the gospel, which is the very greatest thing, should be preached with a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
56. The true treasures of the church, out of which the pope distributes indulgences, are not sufficiently discussed or known among the people of Christ.
57. That indulgences are not temporal treasures is certainly clear, for many indulgence sellers do not distribute them freely but only gather them.
58. Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, for, even without the pope, the latter always work grace for the inner man, and the cross, death, and hell for the outer man.
59. St. Lawrence said that the poor of the church were the treasures of the church, but he spoke according to the usage of the word in his own time.
60. Without want of consideration we say that the keys of the church, given by the merits of Christ, are that treasure.
61. For it is clear that the pope's power is of itself sufficient for the remission of penalties and cases reserved by himself.
62. The true treasure of the church is the most holy gospel of the glory and grace of God.
63. But this treasure is naturally most odious, for it makes the first to be last (Mt. 20:16).
64. On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is naturally most acceptable, for it makes the last to be first.
65. Therefore the treasures of the gospel are nets with which one formerly fished for men of wealth.
66. The treasures of indulgences are nets with which one now fishes for the wealth of men.
67. The indulgences which the demagogues acclaim as the greatest graces are actually understood to be such only insofar as they promote gain.
68. They are nevertheless in truth the most insignificant graces when compared with the grace of God and the piety of the cross.
69. Bishops and curates are bound to admit the commissaries of papal indulgences with all reverence.
70. But they are much more bound to strain their eyes and ears lest these men preach their own dreams instead of what the pope has commissioned.
71. Let him who speaks against the truth concerning papal indulgences be anathema and accursed.
72. But let him who guards against the lust and license of the indulgence preachers be blessed.
73. Just as the pope justly thunders against those who by any means whatever contrive harm to the sale of indulgences.
74. Much more does he intend to thunder against those who use indulgences as a pretext to contrive harm to holy love and truth.
75. To consider papal indulgences so great that they could absolve a man even if he had done the impossible and had violated the mother of God is madness.
76. We say on the contrary that papal indulgences cannot remove the very least of venial sins as far as guilt is concerned.
77. To say that even St. Peter if he were now pope, could not grant greater graces is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
78. We say on the contrary that even the present pope, or any pope whatsoever, has greater graces at his disposal, that is, the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as it is written. (1 Co 12[:28])
79. To say that the cross emblazoned with the papal coat of arms, and set up by the indulgence preachers is equal in worth to the cross of Christ is blasphemy.
80. The bishops, curates, and theologians who permit such talk to be spread among the people will have to answer for this.
81. This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult even for learned men to rescue the reverence which is due the pope from slander or from the shrewd questions of the laity.
82. Such as: ``Why does not the pope empty purgatory for the sake of holy love and the dire need of the souls that are there if he redeems an infinite number of souls for the sake of miserable money with which to build a church?'' The former reason would be most just; the latter is most trivial.
83. Again, ``Why are funeral and anniversary masses for the dead continued and why does he not return or permit the withdrawal of the endowments founded for them, since it is wrong to pray for the redeemed?''
84. Again, ``What is this new piety of God and the pope that for a consideration of money they permit a man who is impious and their enemy to buy out of purgatory the pious soul of a friend of God and do not rather, beca use of the need of that pious and beloved soul, free it for pure love's sake?''
85. Again, ``Why are the penitential canons, long since abrogated and dead in actual fact and through disuse, now satisfied by the granting of indulgences as though they were still alive and in force?''
86. Again, ``Why does not the pope, whose wealth is today greater than the wealth of the richest Crassus, build this one basilica of St. Peter with his own money rather than with the money of poor believers?''
87. Again, ``What does the pope remit or grant to those who by perfect contrition already have a right to full remission and blessings?''
88. Again, ``What greater blessing could come to the church than if the pope were to bestow these remissions and blessings on every believer a hundred times a day, as he now does but once?''
89. ``Since the pope seeks the salvation of souls rather than money by his indulgences, why does he suspend the indulgences and pardons previously granted when they have equal efficacy?''
90. To repress these very sharp arguments of the laity by force alone, and not to resolve them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies and to make Christians unhappy.
91. If, therefore, indulgences were preached according to the spirit and intention of the pope, all these doubts would be readily resolved. Indeed, they would not exist.
92. Away, then, with all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, ``Peace, peace,'' and there is no peace! (Jer 6:14)
93. Blessed be all those prophets who say to the people of Christ, ``Cross, cross,'' and there is no cross!
94. Christians should be exhorted to be diligent in following Christ, their Head, through penalties, death and hell.
95. And thus be confident of entering into heaven through many tribulations rather than through the false security of peace (Acts 14:22).

The Shack---A Pastors Response

In my office still to this day is a copy of Frank Peretti’s book “This Present Darkness” which sold in excess of 2.5 million copies worldwide and remained on the Christian Booksellers Associations top best sellers list for over 150 consecutive weeks after its release.   I remember shortly after its release in 1986 that there was an uproar of Christians who were struggling with this book.  The struggle was this:  There were numerous people who were taking the fictitious characters and plots in the book regarding spiritual warfare and trying to apply them to their lives to live by!  I very well remember a Christian call-in show in the Detroit Metropolitan area that was talking about this latest epic novel that had the Christian community in such a buzz!  I remember the response of the host of this show, who incidentally had a degree in Theology, say…..”Brothers and Sisters, this book is not part of the Bible, and you cannot pattern your life after its story,…..IT’S FICTION!  Words well spoken,……… and Wisdom smiled!

Now, here we are 31 years later and that debate has surfaced again!  This past Saturday, I went and seen the movie “The Shack” for myself.  I read the book after my wife read it and asked me to read it as well.  I actually read the book in 2 days, because it was that well written!  Following is my response to “The Shack” from a Pastors perspective.

The movie is a little over 2-hours long, but honestly it doesn’t seem that long.  It doesn’t because it is that well produced and acted.  I thoroughly enjoyed the movie and plan on going back to see it again!  Here’s why in the midst of all the controversy I enjoyed it so much and my response to the criticism! 

First, I enjoyed the movie because I enjoy good fiction!  I am a fan of McDonald, Lewis, and Tolkien and the fiction they wrote.  When I was young, I was introduced to J.R.R. Tolkien and from that I went to C.S. Lewis’ the Narnia Series and his Space Trilogy then to the writings of George McDonald.  I LOVED IT!  I see these as great literary works of fiction and like Peretti, The Shack is another really good modern day example of this genre.

Second, and I want to make sure we deeply understand this point………. The Shack is…………..FICITION!  As Followers of Jesus, we DO NOT get our theology from ……….. FICITION!  It is an allegory of one man’s severe pain from two separate instances in his life, his subsequent anger at God, and God’s attempt at healing him from that pain!  It is a fictitious ALEGORY!  And like all good fiction it weaves a story around the characters and the plot, and while it is very entertaining, ………. WE DO NOT GET OUR THEOLOGY FROM FICTITIOUS NOVELS!  We get our theology ONLY from the BIBLE!  Brothers and Sisters, this is a book and subsequent movie utilizing methodology from the genre of literature we call…………FICTION!  It’s NOT TRUE, nor should we TAKE it as truth, nor should we pattern our life after it!  It is merely a form, might I add a really good form, of ENTERTAINMENT that is NEVER intended to be taken literally or truthfully!  To establish truth or life patterns from fiction is to violate the intent of the genre!  It is merely ENTERTAINMENT!

Third, It never ceases to amaze me that within the Body of Christ, we complain incessantly about the filth and violence that comes out of Hollywood, and yet here is a movie (REMINDER…..FICTION) that positively displays ONE MAN’S journey to having his relationship with God healed after two horrible tragedies!  And since I have seen the movie I can assure you, there is NO NUDITY and NO FOUL LANGUAGE!  However, sometimes the body of Christ gets so determined to fight a fight, that we pay very little attention to the fact that we are fighting THE WRONG BATTLE on the WRONG FRONT!  We are sometimes like Don Quixote so determined to find an enemy behind every tree and under every rock, that we don’t realize we are attacking a Windmill!  If the devil can get the Body of Christ to fight fights that really don’t exist and engage in battles on fronts that really are no fronts at all, then he has successfully diverted our attention and energy from the REAL fronts and the REAL battles that are raging all around us!  The Shack, either in book form or movie form, is NOT one of those fronts!  My friend Steve Chelette, a Christian Kingdom Businessman in Texas, knows personally the people behind this project and was even invited to support it and attend the premier.  He assures me that these people are devout Followers of Jesus with Pentecostal roots!  Their desire was to use a fictional work to tell the story of one man’s journey back to intimacy with God, after his healing!  There is NO diabolical plot to subjugate pure doctrine and Holy Truth,……………BECAUSE IT’S FICTION!  There is NO plot to overthrow Spiritual discernment or promote universalism,………….BECAUSE IT’S FICTION!  There is NO plot to water down sound Biblical truth,…………….BECAUSE IT’S FICTION!

Fourth, for far too long the things of culture that influence our society has been kept from the Body of Christ.  Some of this is the fault of the devil deceiving us into believing that they are intrinsically evil, but some of this is our own fault!  We willingly walked away from the things that influence our society and cursed them as evil!  Then when we dropped them and walked away from them and then the people without the Spirit of God aka the “world” picked them up.  Now, these cultural shaping things devoid of the influence of the Kingdom of God began to shape society.  Our response far too often within the Body of Christ is to get mad at this and “curse” the fallen sinful influence of society and talk about how evil our society had become, ignoring the fact that WE are the ones who turned our backs on those things which shape culture!  If we truly believe in the permeating power of the Kingdom of God and the life-changing shaping of society that Kingdom has, then it is OUR RESPONSIBILITY to “OWN” ………….EVERY SINGLE ASPECT OF THAT WHICH CAN SHAPE AND DETERMINE SOCIETY!  Bill Bright, the Founder of Campus Crusade for Christ and Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth with a Mission referred to this as the “7-Mountains of Influence.  These are seven aspect of all culture that “shape” our society and that are meant to be embraced by the Body of Christ, infusing them with Kingdom principles and reality!  Those 7-Mountains are:  Business, education, family, government, media, religion, and yes,………..ART AND ENTERTAINMENT!  These belong to the Kingdom of God and therefore belong to the Body of Christ!  It is our assignment to “infuse” within EVERY aspect of these 7-Mountains the principles and leadership of the Kingdom of God!  Our task is NOT to run away from Art and Entertainment, but to be the “LEADERS” in Art and Entertainment, much like the Writers, Producer, Director, and Actors did with “The Shack!”  And remember, the “KEY” word here is ……. ENTERTAINMENT!  Much like Peretti’s “This Present Darkness!”

And Finally, much like the movie that came out a couple of years ago entitled “The Son of God,” which was not at all Biblically accurate, the movie The Shack can be a WONDERFUL discussion starter for those who do not know Christ!  This is “OUR” opportunity as the Body of Christ to take a form of entertainment that might raise some questions about the nature of God and humanities relationship with Him, and speak into those questions the truth of God’s Word!  To share with genuinely hurting people, what God’s Word truly says about those painful life-situations we ALL face and who the Bible declares God to be!  Think about it……….. Letting the Spirit of God use this form of entertainment we know as FICTION to actually feed a conversation about REAL relationships with God and what we can expect in that relationship!  And who will God use?...............HIS BODY,……….So long as we are not so busy “cursing” art to realize that God is using that art to give us an opportunity to speak into the lives of those truly searching for God in a really hurtful world! 

In conclusion, …………… GO SEE THE SHACK (not for little children;… Too intense)!  Then ask God to position you to use this form of entertainment to start a discussion with those who desperately need the Truth that YOU possess in your heart...........The truth of Jesus and His love for us!

~~~Pastor Steve Gardner

NOTE:  You can read more about the 7-Cultural Mountains by clicking on this LINK or visiting 7CulturalMountains.org of

Modern Day Apostles and Prophets

There are several weapons that the devil has formed and uses against the Church of Jesus Christ in America.  Some of those weapons have been used very successfully by him to keep the Church off track, keep it weak, keep it bond in mere religious activities, or utterly destroy it.  In the very near future, we will be addressing some of these weapons in detail.  However, for today’s blog posting, I would like to discuss one of the most successful weapons the devil has ever used against the Body of Christ.  And, what makes this weapon so destructive and successful, is in many cases the Church is helping the devil perpetuate this weapon.  What is this weapon Steve?  It is the division of the Ministry Leadership or “Ascension Gifts” that God established for His Body the Church!  Let’s take a look at these Leadership Gifts God gave to the Church:

Ephesians 4:7-8 & 11-13 NIV.

⁷ But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. ⁸ This is why it^[a] says: When he ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to his people.” … ¹² to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up ¹³ until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

These five Leadership Gifts given by Christ Himself make up the Leadership Offices of the Body of Christ.  The craftily devised attack of the devil, is to get many segments [Isn’t that an interesting use of words?] of the Church to believe that some of these Leadership Gifts are no longer needed or in use today.  Just for a moment, think what would happen if with your car you accepted the engine, the battery, the cooling system but REJECTED the steering wheel and the transmission!....... You wouldn’t get very FAR!  This is the EXACT plan of the devil for the Church!  Get many to believe, and even teach, that certain parts of the Leadership “Engine” of the Church is not for today;……………… And the Body of Christ doesn’t get VERY FAR!

The division created by the devil within the Leadership Structure of the Church is this:  For the most part, EVERYONE accepts the gifting and offices of Pastor, Evangelist, and Teacher.  However, many of these same people, blinded by this cleverly devised plan of deception by the devil, deny the remaining two Gifts of Leadership within the Body of Christ, namely Apostle and Prophet!  The Apostle and Prophet, which according to the Apostle Paul, just happens to be the “Foundation” of the Church God established, with Christ Jesus as the “CORNER STONE!”  Isn’t that interesting?.......... Those gifts that are relegated to the past ONLY, just happen to be the ones that Christ uses as the FOUNDATION of His Church! 

Ephesians 2:19-20

¹⁹ Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

1 Corinthians 12:28

²⁸ And God has placed in the church first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, of helping, of guidance, and of different kinds of tongues.

These 2-Gifts just happen to be the Gifts that when used properly, establishes Churches, corrects Churches, corrects the Body of error, speaks the Words of the Lord, points out sins, strengthens Pastors and Churches, and hears “what the Spirit is saying to the Church!”  Now, if I were the devil, ……….. THOSE are the two gifts I would try to eliminate, and sadly, he has been extremely successful!  He has been successful even among those who claim to be Spirit-Filled, for even among these Believers, there are many that do not even recognize these Gifts and Offices! 

Interestingly enough, one has to remember that it is Christ who gives these Gifts to the Church, to develop, strengthen, and establish HIS body.  Also interesting, is the fact that Jesus was either referred to, or modeled, each of these Gifts He was giving to the Church!  Let me show you:

Of course we know that no one can dispute the fact that Jesus, in His ministry here on earth, was the consummate Evangelist, winning MANY souls to the Kingdom of God!

But, He was also referred to as “Teacher” as well…

John 3:2

² He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”

Jesus was also referred to as our “Shepherd” (The term for “Pastor”)…

1 Peter 2:25

²⁵ For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

……..Also as Prophet…..

Matthew 21:11

¹¹ The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

….And, as Apostle……

Hebrews 3:1

Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest.

However, the devil knew that he could not leave a vacancy, a giant “hole” in the Leadership of the Church, so he cleverly rearranged the Gifts given by God to the Church, and with the Churches support, we elevated those with the Gift of Administration to the Leadership “slot” that was meant for the Apostles and Prophets.  Now please understand, the Gift of Administration is a VERY needed Gift, given by God Himself to the Church!  However, in most Denominational Structures, those with this gift, lead those denominations in place of the Apostles and Prophets.  What is so unfortunate is, many within the Body of Christ don’t even recognize the absence of these 2-Foundational Leadership Gifts or the “rearranging” of the remaining Gifts!  But someone may ask:  “But Steve, the Church of Jesus Christ in America has done some wonderful ministries, and has helped many people and causes!  If we were absent of these two Gifts, why was this able to be accomplished?”  And in response I would say:  “This is very true!”  A lot of good ministry has been done through the Church, but, what might have been accomplished IF we had the proper Leadership Structure in place?”  Let me illustrate my point this way.  My Family and I live in Tennessee but we like to go to Florida every now and then for vacation and we usually drive there.  Now, if we got in the car and put it in REVERSE and got on the highway and drove all the way to Florida in REVERSE, we would certainly get there EVENTUALLY, but imagine how much faster we could get there driving FORWARD?  We have done a LOT of good through the Church, with the INCORRECT Leadership structure!  Imagine what could be done with the CORRECT Leadership Structure in place!

The Lord is reminding HIS Church, that HE has put together a Leadership structure for His Church, and more and more Followers of Jesus are beginning to see the truth and absolute necessity for the Modern Day Apostles and Prophets, to complete the task of advancing His Kingdom to the WHOLE WORLD!

The Song of the Artist!

A long time ago, and in centuries past,

A meeting occurred, a strategy to last.

It was easy to see, this Church would be trouble,

To completely succeed, the devils efforts must be double.

And, so with the skill of a master deceiver,

The devil launched an attack against every Believer.

We must reduce their weapons, if we are to win,

They are much too mighty against our strongholds of sin.

“Get them to divide the things God was giving,

The things the Lord meant them to use, in this world they were living.”

The sacred and secular, the two we will divide,

The talents they’ve been given, we will get them to hide.

To see the world they live in, as a much hated place,

Instead of a world in much need of God’s grace.

We must get them to turn their back on their creativity and skill,

The things they could use, for the disease they could heal.

The Art’s they must go, with their banter and rhyme,

They are just a distraction, for which we haven’t the time.

Paintings, and music, and even the dance,

We will certainly live holy, and leave nothing to chance.

It really doesn’t matter what God would want them to do,

We will play to their self-righteousness, oh, what a fool!

They’ll hate all the things they could use for the Lord,

They’ll say it’s not righteous, as they misinterpret the Word.

The sacred and secular, God never meant that divide to occur,

For He is the Lord, and to Him we should confer,

How far does His redemption reach into the night?

To what should the Church, purify with its Light.

Call those things evil, and tools of sin,

And never redeem the things in humanity, which lie within.

The Artistic, the Creative, they are just a distraction,

The folly of the world, against which, we must take action.

Repent!  We scream with self-righteous fire,

The passion you feel, is just an evil desire.

Don’t use the arts, or any creative skill,

They are lies of the devil, and your walk it will kill.

Instead withdraw into your own little world,

Sing you Christian songs; let the holy banners be unfurled.

We will not be like them, we say in our pride,

And the candle of truth, from them forever we hide.

Oh, how we feel so righteous, in our self-centered glee,

As we call for the world to repent, and become like me.

Leave the art, the dance, and even more,

Forsake all your talents, and walk through this door.

Into a world that is ever so bleakly painted gray,

And then wonder why we have no revival, like in the good ol’ day.

The devil laughs, this was much too easy,

I’ve got them to believe that culture is sleazy.

They bought into the lie, with its righteous holy sound,

And the world continues on, in their sins they are bound.

Because the Bride of Christ, took the gifts of the Groom,

And locked them forever away, in a dark isolated room.

And failed to use what God, meant to convey His pure light,

And left the world staggering in the darkness of night.

But, we’ve stood for holiness, we cry with self-righteous joy!

We’ve never partaken of his tricks or the evil one’s ploy.

Oh, but my Bride, what have you done?

You’ve failed to redeem it, for the glory of my Son.

I gave you the tools, the truth to them you were to carry,

And the talents I gave you, instead you did bury.

You hated the art, thinking you were so right,

But I your God am the Artist, who painted the stars into the night.

I gave you these things to show the world true life,

Instead in self-righteous glee, you caused chaos and strife.

You belittled the ones I gave special gifts to,

You said “the things they do, oh we will never do!”

We will live holy and pure, and honor the Lord,

Withdraw from the people, the culture; the world.

You have failed to realize this whole world is mine,

My Son took ownership from the devil, in my perfect time.

And commissioned you to go into all of the world,

Redeem it by my Spirit, and proclaim my Holy word.

Instead you had dinners, and parties galore.

Instead of a Bride, you became a cheap whore!

You are not what I planned to give to my Son,

Come back to me my people, unite and be one.

Embrace the gifts I gave you, with thankfulness and glee,

Redeem this world completely, by showing them Me.

Do not despise what I’ve given for you in this life,

Represent and redeem, and be to my Son, a pure wife.

Let your light so shine into the darkness of night,

Get back into this battle, this war, and this fight.

Use all the gifts I gave you, to proclaim my dear Son,

And be ever so faithful, ‘til you hear Me say “well done!”

And never call what I have made, evil and unclean,

Use it for My Kingdom, let my Grace now be seen.

And then once again you will see the people begin to come,

To hear of my mercy, and by faith accept My Son.

Here once again, I give you the tools,

Don’t fall for false righteousness, don’t be the devil’s fools.

His lies he will intensify, because he knows his time is short,

He’ll try ever so hard, my Word to contort.

But stand by My Spirit, and upon my True Word,

Proclaim it in power, with beauty unfurled.

To the Bride I am calling, use all that you’ve got,

Never cease from your commission, never quit, never stop.

I will soon be here to get you, and bring you to me,

And then, oh my child, such dancing you will see!

Such joy and gladness, I’ll have for you there,

But remember my prayer, as it is in heaven, so here.

Embrace what I’ve given you, the culture and art,

Employ the gifts I’ve given you, it is time once again to start.

And I will use you once again with my Holy Spirit’s power,

You will see my mighty works, as I reveal Myself each hour.

Yes, the devil met with his demons, the Church to destroy,

I laugh at his efforts, for I have turned around his master ploy.

And now my People, they have begun to see,

The things I have given, I have meant for them to receive.

The talents they now consecrate, the gifts I have given,

Will be used by my Spirit, to lead many souls home to heaven!

And what will you do with this poem you now read,

Will you accept it, embrace it, and to its truth now heed?

Will you begin to see all things belong to our Lord?

Both the sacred and secular can be redeemed by His Word.

Will you now never again, His gifts to despise,

Instead in His power, as the Church now arise.

And not withdraw from this world to which we have been sent,

But teach them the truth, and how to repent.

Use now the gifts that the Artist has given,

Represent Him now upon this earth, as in heaven.

And pray His Kingdom come, until our work here is done,

And one day we will celebrate and dance, in the Joy of the Son!

~~By Pastor Steve Gardner

So, You Want to Change America Do You?

Acts chapter 19 records the Apostle Paul’s 3^rd Missionary Journey.  He is in Ephesus, and God uses him in mighty ways.  Take a look at Acts 19:11-20 NLT.

“God gave Paul the power to perform unusual miracles. When handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin were placed on sick people, they were healed of their diseases, and evil spirits were expelled.  A group of Jews was traveling from town to town casting out evil spirits. They tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus in their incantation, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Seven sons of Sceva, a leading priest, were doing this. But one time when they tried it, the evil spirit replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and battered.  The story of what happened spread quickly all through Ephesus, to Jews and Greeks alike. A solemn fear descended on the city, and the name of the Lord Jesus was greatly honored. Many who became believers confessed their sinful practices. A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars.  So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect.”

Pay special attention to the results of the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit displayed through Paul………………” A number of them who had been practicing sorcery brought their incantation books and burned them at a public bonfire. The value of the books was several million dollars!”  The Ephesian society had been impacted and genuinely changed for the glory of God!”  And when society was changed in Ephesus, here is what happened…………”So the message about the Lord spread widely and had a powerful effect!” 

There are 3 institutions that the Lord created.  First, is the family.  Second, is government.  And third, is the Church.  Each of these Godly institutions has distinct elements to it, and roles to play within human societies.  One of the responsibilities of the Church is to change the hearts of people through the two-fold aspect in the proclamation of the Kingdom of God.  First, through the preaching of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and second, through the validation of that message and the Kingdom of God through the demonstration of signs, wonders, healings, and the miraculous. 

Here is what concerns me about the Church and the election cycle we are in.  While I am very much involved in the political process, and believe that we as Followers of Christ need to be educated, involved in the process, and vote; there is one thing that genuinely concerns me as I talk to Evangelical Believers.  That one concern is the abdication of our responsibility to effect change within our societies.  As I watch and listen to Evangelical Believers, I am deeply concerned that what many Believers are doing, is abdicating their responsibilities to change our society through the two-fold proclamation of the Gospel.  The message coupled with the power is the ONLY thing that will truly change America!  That is NOT the responsibility of government, …..BUT IT IS the responsibility of the Church of Jesus Christ!  In fact Our Lord instructed us in the Great Commission to “go into all the world and preach the gospel,” in essence, go into all the world and “CHANGE” nations through the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ!  And with that proclamation He would demonstrate the validity and power of that message through various “signs” through the power of the Holy Spirit.  With this “dynamic-duo” of the presentation and the power of the Gospel, Nations would be……….CHANGED!

On the flip side, the Apostle Paul instructs us on the God-created roll of the government in Romans 13:1-5 NIV.

“Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.”

Notice that the distinct role of Governmental authorities is to punish those who rebel against what is “right,” break laws, threaten the safety of those who do what is “right,”  and to keep those who do what is “right” safe!  However, while government’s role against those who do “wrong” is punitive, the role of changing their hearts lies solely with the CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST!  For those, who like myself, are students of history, please recall Prohibition!  We tried to “change” the hearts of people through the legislation of morality by passing laws against alcohol.  It was an utter failure and an exercise in futility as it only drove the industry of alcohol underground!  And on numerous occasions, we have elected people who identify themselves as “CHRISTIAN,” only to see that the change we were hoping they would bring, ……NEVER CAME!  Why? ……..Because it’s the CHURCH’S job to effect CHANGE within the hearts of people, and hence society, ……..NOT the government! 

If we are honest with ourselves, most of the Church of Jesus Christ in America has NOT been involved with society to effect change through the proclamation of the Gospel.  Instead, we have CELEBRATED the fact that we have WITHDRAWN from society and are NOT like those horrible sinners!  Perhaps you’ve read this attitude in the Bible, in Luke 18:9-14 NIV.

“To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’   “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

So, here we are in the election of 2016 and I have to honestly wonder if given our “track record” in the past, we are not trying to once again abdicate our responsibility as God’s “CHANGE-AGENT” to America, when we speak of electing a “Christian” as our President.  I sincerely believe that many Followers of Christ are looking to elect a President who will “FIX” all our moral and spiritual problems!  However, this is the role of the Body of Christ not our elected President!  Now while a President who professes Christ as their Lord and Savior DEFINITELY positions that President to receive guidance and direction from the Lord!  And it also establishes a Judeo/Christian “value system” by which that President can protect the people who do “right” and punish those who do “wrong!”  The “ROLE” of bringing about societal change lies squarely with the Church of Jesus Christ!  Many of us are so quick to pronounce judgment upon America for its moral decline and spiritual bankruptcy but let’s remember what 1 Peter 4:17-18 NLT.

“For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, “If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?”

Judgment begins with the Church of Jesus Christ, partly for our willingness to drift into being merely “religious” rather than being the true “Bride of Christ.”  A Bride that effects change in society through changing the hearts of people through the proclamation and demonstration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!  Message plus Miraculous gets the attention EVEN of the most ardent agnostic or atheist!  This is how Ephesus was impacted for the glory of Christ, and this is how AMERICA will be impacted for the glory of Christ,………NOT THROUGH AN ELECTION! 

How about another Scripture informing God’s People that the “turn-around” and redemption of their nation begins with them?  You most likely know it well, the often quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14 NLT.

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land!”

Verse 14 of Second Chronicles 7, is the response God directs His people to assume after He has sent judgment upon His People and their nation!  This passage coupled with the above passage of 1 Peter 4:17-18, identifies that the PEOPLE OF GOD, are the TRUE AGENTS OF CHANGE in their societies and their nations! 

My Brothers and Sisters, this is a BIBLICAL teaching from a PASTOR who loves the Lord and each of you!  You will notice I have not stated ANY candidate I am in favor of.  I learned my lesson several years ago to NOT post my political positions via Social Media.  Through the many years as serving the Lord as one of His Shepherds, I have had the honor to Pastor Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike.  I have my political positions, and when I am NOT in a Pastoral role or on Social Media, I am willing to talk about them (a position I truly wish other Pastors would embrace).  Sit down with me over coffee (you buy), and we can talk about who we each support, but I will NOT divide my followers on Facebook over political opinions!

PLEASE HONOR MY DESIRE CONCERNING SOCIAL MEDIA BY NOT POSTING “YOUR” POLITICAL CHOICE FOR PRESIDENT!  I humbly and respectfully ask that of each of you to honor my request! 

With that in mind,………..BE INVOLVED IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS and …..VOTE!  But understand, YOUR candidate CANNOT correct AMERICA!....... Only YOU, as a Follower of Jesus, have that kind of POWER!..............IT’S CALLED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST! ………BE THE CHURCH,……..WITH THE MESSAGE AND POWER OF THAT GOSPEL, and…….CHANGE THIS NATION!  God bless you and I love each of you my Facebook Family and Friends!

~~~Pastor Steve Gardner

His Ways!

His Ways!

In Isaiah 55:8-9 the Lord declares:  “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”  That passage of Scripture became so real to my wife and I in the early 1990’s.  We were sitting in the Doctor’s office when we received the news every couple dreads to here.  “You will never be able to have your own children” the Doctor informed us!  For two people who absolutely love children, that news was devastating!  I remember the empty hollow surreal feeling that filled our souls, as we contemplated life without children, life without a “legacy!”  We were heartbroken, and shared the dreadful news with our family and closest friends only.

 

Shortly thereafter, a Pastor Friend of ours called us to inform us that there was a Young Lady in his church who was pregnant and wanted to give up her baby to a good Christian couple.  He told her about us, and soon we were on our way to meet her!  Our sadness was turning a corner, or so we thought!  We met her, and she proceeded to “choose” us as her babies Adoptive Parents!  We were thrilled!  We soon found out that she was carrying a little boy, and we began making arrangements to receive our son into our lives!  I remember sitting in a restaurant and giddily talking with my wife about all we needed to get “our son!”  My contribution to this discussion included a Baseball Glove and a Thompson Chain Reference Bible! 

The day of his delivery came, and we were there at the hospital to pray with the Birth Mother.  He was born, and the hospital hosted for us a “Parents Dinner!”  The very next day, his Birth Mother changed her mind!  Again, devastation and heartache flooded our souls like polluted water!  Was this some kind of cruel joke?  Were we destined to be childless?  Were we suffering for some past sin?  So many questions crowded our mind, and honestly, it was difficult to even “hear” the voice of the Lord.  The weeks that followed that devastating news were filled with a bevy of emotions!  We went through our daily routines mindlessly, kind of on “auto pilot.”  You see, we are Pastors, and we had a church that still needed its Pastors!  But how could we talk about faith and meaning when our own faith was riddled with hurts that only parents who have lost children can understand? 

God was gracious during this time, and the reality of Isaiah 55:8-9, in time, became very real for us.  Actually, it wasn’t until eight years later that we understood just how much “higher” God’s ways were above ours.  One day my wife got a call from a woman she had not heard from in eight years, it was the Birth Mother of the baby boy we were going to adopt!  She was crying, and explained to us that her son, the one we were going to adopt, had been in a horrible bicycle accident.  He was riding down a hill, and flipped his bike.  The kick-stand penetrated his eye and lodged in his brain!  He was in the ICU in a coma and his head was 4-times the normal size!  She told us that the doctors had said that if he lives, he will have severe brain damage!  Then she asked us the incredible!  “Would we please drive the 3 hours to the hospital and pray for the boy!  Our response was…..ABSOLUTELY! 

Upon arrival at his hospital room, we were greeted and thanked by his Mother.  We were instructed by the nurse, that we could go in and pray for him, but that we had to whisper and could only anoint him on his foot, so as not to arouse him, causing his brain to have to work!  Emotions, of so many varieties, flooded our souls as we entered his room!  We gently laid hands on his toe, and began to pray.  As we did, we both felt what seemed like electricity running through our bodies and into his!  The power of God was so real, and in that room!  When we finished, we took his family out for dinner, prayed for them and went home.  We smiled and said:  “This must have been God’s purpose for what we went through in the failed adoption!”  However, the real reason came a few days later, when we received a call from the Mother informing us that the very next day after we anointed him and prayed for him, his brain swelling was gone, his eye was completely restored, and there was absolutely no brain damage!  We shouted!  No, really, we shouted at the miracle of God!  A few weeks later, she drove to our house and let us meet this miracle child, who was at one time, our son!  We truly learned that day that “His ways are not our ways!” 

I do not know what you are personally going through as you read this article, but I assure you that God has everything in His control!  You may not understand the “WHY’S” of what you are enduring, but you must understand the “WHO!”  There are things that you have gone through that you may never know why you went through them, but rest assured, within the perfect will and plan of God, there is a reason!  Your life matters, and the things you have endured in the Kingdom of God, have eternal purposes!  Trust Him and know that “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are His ways higher than your ways!”

Pastor Steve Gardner is the Lead Pastor of Christ the Rock Church of God in Knoxville Tennessee.  You can visit the Church website at:  CtrCog.com

Pastor Steve is also the Author of a blog where he writes on relevant Biblical issues at:  ReclamationMinistries.com

The Power of I.S.E.

Recently my wife Kelley and I were sitting in the Living room and having a very deep spiritual
discussion.  In the course of that conversation, she shared something with me that made me know that she was hearing from God.  Monday's are my usual day off, and Kelley said to me:  "Hey, why don't you take Saturdays off, since we are usually all together either at the Ball park for our Daughter, or doing something together.  Then you can make Monday's a day when you go out into the community and randomly minister to people?"  The idea resonated with my heart, and we made plans that the coming Monday I would do just that!

When Monday came around, I dropped my Daughter off at school and headed for Panera Restaurant for a bagel, cup of coffee, and whatever the Lord had in store for me!  My wife joined me until she had to go to work, and shortly after she left, a young couple came in and sat at the table next to me.  Now, what is so interesting is the fact that I was sitting at THAT table!  Because normally I set in the back of the restaurant, but someone had "MY" table, so I sat in a different one.  Little did I know at that time that God had heard our plans to minister in His Name and for His glory, and had "ASSIGNED" that table for me!  The couple next to me was talking to an older woman who obviously worked in ministry.  Their discussion peaked my interest, and so............I LISTENED IN!  After about 30 minutes, I knew this was my "ASSIGNMENT!"  I shared with them who I was and the ministries we were involved in.  It was so ironic to here them say that they had the same interest in ministry that we had, and were actually in the beginning stages!  Much discussion followed and we knew that God had orchestrated this meeting!  We have met a few more times, and have gotten to talk about what God was up to, and about mentoring this young ministerial couple.  God, in a completely spontaneous way, had brought a "seasoned" Pastor and a younger ministerial couple together in His time!

We began referring to this spontaneous ministry as I.S.E.  Which is an acronym for Intentional Spontaneous Evangelism!  How it works is this:  You pick time(s) to just randomly go to a restaurant, store, park, or even business.  You begin by praying and making yourself available to the Lord to "USE" you in ministry.  Being completely yielded to the Holy Spirit, you keep yourself "SENSITIVE" to His leading, and listening for His voice to speak to you about a person or people.  Then you pray for His words and go introduce yourself to that person or people!  You can begin by saying:  "Excuse me, but I am a Follower of Jesus, and I believe He has laid you on my heart to pray!  Then if you sense a particular need, you find out if that is INDEED a need, and offer to pray for them; speak into their life; or share Christ with them!"  You can ask probing questions that help you identify their full needs.  Allow me to illustrate with another example.  My wife and I were involved in a Conference in Gatlinburg in the Mountains of East Tennessee.  While having dinner one day, I noticed an older couple come in and the man pulled out the chair for his wife.  My first thought was..........."How neat it is to see a man acting like a Gentleman!" then I sensed the Lord say to me that they were hurting and grieving over their son."  so as we left, I walked up to their table and said:  "It's really good to see a man act like a Gentleman and hold the chair for his wife!"  They thanked me, and than I said, "Do you have any Children?"  They said they had three.  Two Daughters and a Son, their Son had just recently died!"  I told them that I was a minister of God, and that the Lord had impressed upon me that they were hurting over their son, and that I was to pray for them, because God was going to touch them and help them!  They were very thankful and appreciative!  My wife and I went to the car and joined hands and prayed for God to heal their broken hearts!...........THAT'S I.S.E.

I challenge you to accept the commission to do I.S.E.  Make yourself available to the Lord, ask Him to lead you to people, and then be sensitive to His leading!  It may be at the grocery store, department store, work, restaurants, or a park.  Wherever He leads you, simply be AVAILABLE and allow the Lord to minister through........YOU!  And THAT my Brothers and Sisters is.........I.S.E.