2nd Corinthians 8:7, “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.”
Just as God has had to bestow grace upon us as wicked sinners, so also should we as Christian believers bestow grace upon others.
I recently met with a local Baptist pastor who wanted to talk about my websites. It was a confrontation meeting, which although I stood my ground as a fundamentalist Bible preacher, I did not enjoy our interaction. The pastor was ruse, insensitive and made some horrible untrue accusations against my hero of the faith, Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). The pastor flat out told me in his office, “I am not a fundamentalist!” It took a lot of love and patience for me (as a fundamentalist Bible preacher) to show grace to that shallow neo-evangelical pastor. I am 20 years older than he is. The pastor honestly said that he'd expected me to storm out of his office when he confronted me about my website ministry, but instead I showed him grace and just sat there listening to him be the fool, while kindly but firmly standing my ground in defense of my doctrinal positions.
In particular, he took issue with my biblical preaching against Christian women wearing pants. You might as well try to convince me that the earth is flat, or that the moon is made of cheese, if you think you're ever going to convince me that it is okay biblically for women to wear pants. It ain't gonna happen! Deuteronomy 22:5, “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.” I cited this passage of Scripture to show that women ought not wear pants, which everyone recognizes historically as men's clothing (just look at any restroom signs), but the pastor tried to dismiss it as being under Old Testament law. What a bad pastor!
I really detest neo-evangelical pastors!!! This includes the entire Bob Jones University Lordship Salvation cult, Pensacola Christian College (who are wrong on Bible repentance and therefore the Gospel), Faith Baptist Bible College And Theological Seminary (ditto), Moody Bible Institute (ditto) and a thousand other pseudo-Christian schools and churches today. Truth has fallen in the street as the Bible says in Isaiah 59:14, “And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter.” This Bible verse practically provides the address of the United States of America today!!! We have become a wicked nation of baby killers, nudists, thieves, liars, false religion, idolatry, greed and false prophets, et cetera. God's judgment will not sleep forever!!!
“I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just; that His justice cannot sleep forever.” —Thomas Jefferson (third U.S. President, 1801-1809)
I shared the unpleasant experience of meeting that neo-evangelical pastor with a good ministry friend of mine who lives in Indiana. He used to be an unsaved Episcopalian, but through God leading him to my ministry website many years ago, he thankfully learned about Dr. Jack Hyles, Pastor Steven Anderson and Christian fundamentalism, and he became a born again believer. Praise God! My friend told me that in every neo-evangelical church he has ever been in, the pastor cringed when he mentioned the names of Jack Hyles, Steven Anderson and my Jesus-is-savior.com website (which by God's grace I started back in April of 2002).
I wrote this blog to encourage you dear reader to show grace toward others. Someone has wisely said that “GRACE” could be an acronym for: “God Riches At Christ's Expense.” I really like that! Certainly, none of us deserve God's mercy and grace which made forgiveness of sins possible through Jesus' sacrifice on Calvary's cross. We all deserve to go straight to Hell to burn in fire and brimstone forever without rest or mercy (Revelation 14:11, 20:11-15, 21:8). Thank God for His wondrous grace!!!
Last year on Facebook, I posted something that greatly offended another Baptist preacher, a pastor in Tennessee. I simply had said that Pastor Steven Anderson is the Pastor Jack Hyles of our generation. The pastor immediately disagreed and said I was very wrong. I didn't get upset or unfriend him; but rather, I kindly explained my position. Dr. Hyles in his youth was on fire for God. As a strong leader he influenced hundreds (if not thousands) of other men to become pastors and join the fight of good faith.
Dr. Hyles pioneered a new movement in fundamentalism across America in his generation. In that same regard, Pastor Steven Anderson has influenced hundreds of young men to join the good fight of faith, become pastors and aggressively go soulwinning. Since 2006, when Brother Anderson started his Faithful Word Baptist Church in Tempe, Arizona, the New IFB (independent fundamental Baptist) movement was created. That pastor in Tennessee thanked me for showing grace toward him, rather than become defensive and angry at him.
To be clear, I don't agree with all of Pastor Steven Anderson's teachings and methods. I support his ministry because he is an aggressive soulwinner and is correct on the Gospel and the inspired King James Bible. All other issues are secondary as far as I am concerned. I once sent Brother Anderson a Friend Request on Facebook, but he didn't accept me, which is okay, I am still a friend toward him. Pastor Hyles used to say: “Blessed is the man who has a friend. More blessed is the man who is a friend. Most blessed is the man who has a friend and is a friend.” I like that adage. In my online writings I call everyone my “friend,” not because everyone is my friend, but simply because by preaching the truth I am befriending everyone.
To be honest, I don't always show grace toward people. I am a wicked sinner just like everyone else. There is no such thing as a “good Christian.” We are all struggling sinners, desperately clinging to God's abundant grace to make it through each day. I heard Pastor Jack Hyles say that as he grew older, he found himself running to God's Word continually as a starving man running to food. I like that and wholeheartedly agree with him. Now more than ever we all need to abide in the inspired King James Bible as God's redeemed children. (WARNING: All of the modern English Bible revisions have been corrupted by Satan.)
May we all show more grace toward our loved ones, pastors, friends and even strangers. People may not deserve our grace, but neither do we deserve the beautiful grace which God has shown toward us dirty sinners. I have had to show a few people a lot of grace in recent months, with whom I am greatly displeased, but the Lord has helped me to do so, just as our dear Savior showed grace to the ungodly Roman magistrates and soldiers who crucified Him, when He prayed: “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34b).
Thank you for reading my internet blog.
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