#Open Letter….to family, friends, former church members and servants of the Lord Jesus Christ…..

This is an open letter to my family, friends, former church members and all those who consider themselves servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. There are many of you think I have gone off the deep end, fallen into error, and worse of all, some have even called my salvation into question. I assure you, neither of things have happened and my salvation is secure. I have approached some in the church, and the majority of the time I’m met with resistance, and sometimes even hostility . I have been warned to be careful on one end, and that I am going straight to hell with gasoline drawers, and a lighter in my hand on the other end, and many things in between. I have been told that I am teaching and preaching heresy, and that I am involved with a cult. That I should not talk about the “church”, or “the mand of gawd” the way I do. Sadly this attitude, and some attacks and slander have not only come from strangers and associates, but family and friends. My heart and motives have been judged as hateful and divisive, instead of for what they really are. Oppurtunities to share information, to spark dialogues not taking place in churches and to challenge church traditions that are held by some as the Word of God, but are man-made, to show many who are in bondage their freedom and identity in Christ, but most importantly, to preach the Gospel. Heartbreakingly, there have been only a handful of people who have actually come TO ME directly to discuss my lack of church attendance, my questioning of church doctrine and traditions that I once stood and fought for. Now I stand for the open rebuke of many who have abused and manipulated the flock by deliberate and at times unintentional false teaching. To those who came to me, I say thank you for caring enough about me to check on my well-being, I can respect that. I know there are many of you who feel one way or another, and share your thoughts about me with your confidants (gossip), but have never approached me in any attempt to bring me back into the fold (because you believe I am in error), and those who have turned their backs on me. That is not what the scripture teaches, that is not what Jesus teaches (Parable of the Lost Sheep). This is not a plea for a rescue attempt, but an opportunity for those who are quick to cast off and out, to examine themselves and repent. I must confess, there have been times where the expression of my heart has come across as mean, and unloving. Times where I have forgotten that those who are stuck in bondage of false teaching and spiritual abuse are God’s people, to you I humbly apologize and to God I repent. I am very accessible, unlike many in church leadership; you do not have to go through my security, armor bearers, the eldership or a secretary. I do not bite (at least not hard, anyway) I am willing to have a civil discussion. Inbox me and we can do it that way, we can exchange phone numbers or emails. We may never come to an agreement, but we can come to an understanding.

I know folk who live where war resides, whose whole existence is duckin and pullin. All they know is lookin over they shoulder, no thought of tomorrow who what they goin be when they older just how to get it now
I know folk whose war resides on the inside, their whole existence is ducking and pulling self, to flicks and naked chicks. They know they out of order, releasin to somebodies daughter in order to achieve climax. They understand the tax on their soul, but as hard as they fight thy find no relief in self control.
I know folk whose smile is wide but the war of they mind has dulled the shine on the inside, depression continues to scrape at their strength, each morning they question do have any left. Not sure if they can it make over the hump becuz the dry humps late night turn into baby cries with the humper out of sight.
Everybody is fighting a war, exhausted and frankly don’t want to do it anymore. Asking when will it end, screaming I can’t do anymore while looking out of the corner of their eye for a self made exit door. Fightin they vice, fighting for their life..*deepsigh* what hope do I have to offer, I don’t have much but mine is yours that’s why I bother…. as we walk, let me tell you bout the Father….

PRIDE. LUST. FATHERHOOD. Starting May 6, 2012, Real Talk Radio will begin a 3 part series titled “Manhood”. Each part in the series will be aimed directly at men, and the issues that are plaguing us, and destroying generations of woman, children and men. This will be a no excuses, justification series, but real talk, not about change but making change, responsibility and accountability with men the target for solution. There 3 things that are destroying the legacy of men, you don’t have to travel far at all to find a woman complaining about a man, whether it be his decision making skills, his unwillingness to admit faults, flaws and mistakes. To find a family left in ruins, because a man has chosen to selfishly pursue and fulfill his lust. You can walk into any church, school, super market anywhere and see Single Mothers, with a child on her hip and holding the hand of others, with the Fathers of these children no where to be found. Where are the men? Lack of responsibility, lack of self-control, and the flat out abandonment in the home by men has cause unimaginable pain to so many, and in the process destroyed countless lives. One cannot argue what the right influence of a man can do in the home and community. Men stand up.

Falling in love is like looking out at an ocean when day is at its hottest. It looks refreshing and inviting and oh so desirable. Its just what your heart aches to be soothe by, the beautiful waves of emotion are captivating and have your being in a trance-like state as you are drawn closer to the pool of delight which is called love…BUT…

You heart pauses as your mind rewinds to a time such as this….

This high of the moment of feelings unexplainable, acknowledging that yes the desires resides deep within ones self, the refreshness of this blessing called LOVE can be cold, dark and deep like and abyss off the coast when the one you desire does not notice they are the one you wish to drown in love with……

Yet you jump in……Falling in LOVE.

Going to take this moment to make some things apparent, that apparently my transparency to bring clarity to things around me has distorted what I was pointing to…some thought it was them a few thought it was you, but all the while I was I pointing to Him…..Jesus.

You will be hard-pressed to find many of the Brethren whom do not subscribe to their salvation as by grace alone, faith alone and Jesus Christ alone. We could go back and forth all day on the “how” of the salvation experience whether you line up on “It was all God (Monergism)” or “a cooperation of Holy Spirit and you (Synergism)”, for this topic those things are not very significant. The “how” we got to our faith is something we can address in another article. In this piece we will be looking at the “what now”, in a more theological term “Sanctification”. Roll with me for a few…let’s look at some theological terms, justification and sanctification. Justification is the declaring of a person to be just or righteous; it’s a legal term essentially meaning acquittal of all charges. This takes place at the moment of salvation, meaning  the moment of salvation you the Believer are acquitted of all charges (sin) and made righteous, not because of anything you bring to the table, but because of “It is finished”, the finished work of Jesus Christ. This brings us the “what now”, this is where we tend to get off the path and usually stumble into one of two ditches. On one side we have the ditch of “Legalism” and the other side of the ditch is “Antinomianism”.

 Let’s call Legalism the “quicksand” ditches, it gives the impression of sure footing and looks like the rest of the ground (obedience), you do not realize you are sinking until your neck deep and cannot move. Legalism is the strict adherence to laws, standards, rules, and regulation, with the attempt to gain favor, and blessings from God. Also it is usually done with the intent to remain in right standing with God, (earning of righteousness). We see the accusing finger pointing towards legalism by others to anyone, who is practicing any behavior outside of one’s personal opinion of the norms of the faith. You get up at 4am to read your bible and pray, someone who does not do that can point the legalistic finger at the other and use the justification “you don’t have to that” as a reason for their finger pointing, and vice versa.

If you have ever seen someone mix then lay concrete. You know that concrete after mixing and settling is hard, stable and almost unbreakable. When it is laid down and begins to dry it looks very much like, something you can stand or build on. When concrete is almost dry it resembles the concrete that has withstood the constant and consistent pounding. Properly mixed dry, hard, stable and unbreakable concrete would be the metaphor of grace. Antinomianism means “against the law.” Antinomianism is the belief that there are no moral laws God expects the Believer to obey. You hear this charge pointed often towards those who preach and teach grace, and say things like “we are not under the law”, which is a truth, BUT as with Legalism the attempt use rules and regulations to keep us, antinomians view there are no laws, rules, or regulations to keep them or follow, grace will do it. That as with most false doctrines has some truth to it. Grace will keep you, yet there are something’s a Believer must do. The “antinomians” view is an attempted abuse of grace, such as I am saved so I can sin, because I cannot out sin grace (some truth). Here is a major indictment of antinomians, Jesus said in Matt 22:37-40 ““You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment.  And ha second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

At some point in time each and every Believer has strayed over into one of these two ditches. Sometimes we do it unintentionally other times intentionally. Fortunately neither one of these ditches are the “what now” or part of Sanctification. Let’s make it plain, whether you are a new Believer or a seasoned vet, a clear understanding of sanctification will save you time, effort, energy, sweat, tears and keep you out of those ditches. Sanctification or sanctify literally means “to set apart” for special use or purpose. The state of being sanctified coincides with justification. It is the process of being set apart. Sanctification is growth in which the Holy Spirit works in “you to will and to act”, according to God’s purpose.  What is seen far too often within the body of Christ, is that the Believer thinks/acts as if they are the sanctifier. Jesus did the saving; now it is up to us to remain saved? Oh how we try to do it on our accord, and up in a ditch. Sanctification is the ongoing cooperative process in which the Believer, alive to God and freed from sin’s dominion (Rom. 6:11, 14-18), are required to submit themselves to sustained obedience. God’s method of sanctification is neither activism (Legalism) nor apathy (Antinomianism), but God-dependent effort (2 Cor. 7: 1; Phil. 3:10-14; Heb. 12:14). Knowing that without Christ’s enabling we can do nothing, morally speaking, as we should, and that He is ready to strengthen us for all that we have to do (Phil. 4:13), we “stay put” (remain, abide) in Christ, asking for his help constantly — and we receive it (Col. 1: 11; 1 Tim. 1: 12; 2 Tim. 1: 7; 2: 1). Instead the Believer submits and surrenders to the Holy Spirit (repentance, renewing the mind, obedience), trusting Him to keep His word and lead us into all truth.

Peep this though, your sanctification will not like look like anybody else’s sanctification. That needs to sink in deep. If/When a Believer stumbles into sin; goes through financial struggle; health issues;  relationship difficulties, before we begin to question their eternal destination, think about sanctification process, help where you can, restore if you can or sit back and watch God work.  Imagine the joy and peace you will feel when you fully trust in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide. Trust Him, He got you. #Freedom