Pastors, Tigers, and Cheetahs

Posted by revscottie on December 5, 2009
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Did you see the recent New York post headline about Tiger Woods and his “personal transgressions”? It read: “Tiger admits I’m a Cheetah” By now most of us should be used to the news of celebrities being “caught with their pants down”. Its amazing how celebrities adore the limelight and every bit of publicity they can get until they get caught in a major screw up. It then becomes about how they need to work out their personal problems in private, that no one is perfect, and we all deserve forgiveness. I have no problem with privacy nor forgiveness but I do have a problem with glossing over lack of personal self control and simply labeling it a ” transgression”.  What about the church and those that God allows to lead it? What standard should they be held to? The rest of this post is aimed at church leaders and not your average Christian. It would be great if everyone took this advice to heart but God has a very specific message for those who want to lead His church as pastors.

The bible sets forth some pretty specific qualifications for those chosen to lead the church. 1st Timothy chapter 3 illustrates the requirements for those who desire the position of pastor. This passage is all about having self control, living wisely, and having a good reputation. It says people outside of the church must speak well of you. This same passage says that the wives of church leaders should also exercise self control.  Now with all of this straightforward teaching why do disgraced pastors believe they can do what ever they want and after a certain “cooling off period” and time of restoration they can step right back  into the pulpit and limelight? When other leaders call their hand they become angry and complain they are being publicly attacked, mistreated, and misunderstood.

Here are some simple guidelines for pastors and church leaders:

Don’t take a big stinking dump on the bride of Christ and expect everyone to tell you it smells like cotton candy. The world is confused enough concerning morality without the church going around trying to comfort pastors who screw around on their wives. The pastor is held to a higher level of accountability than other Christians. How can you expect a  congregation to trust you if you will lie to your own wife? A few months away from the pulpit while allowing God to restore you does not change your reputation in the community and how the world sees you. There is no “do over”;  you screwed up, face it and move on. God does forgive you and still loves you but that doesn’t mean He wants you to represent His church.  God demands a lot from those who lead because they influence decisions concerning Heaven and Hell.

I cant understand how things that were once shameful even in our secular society are now being found acceptable for church leaders.  No wonder the church is losing its influence in society; it is slowly killing itself from the inside out.

The True Meaning of Halloween or Stupid Christian’s Eve

Posted by revscottie on October 29, 2009
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Here is an update of my post from 2008 concerning Halloween. Check out this opinion article from the Chattanooga Times Free Press October 29, 2009:

Halloween celebrates Satan

Luke 11:2, “Our Father which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name…”.

Hallowed means to hold holy, honored reverenced.All Saints Day, Nov. 1, long ago once was a day that Christians remembered those Christians who had died and left a good witness of a life lived for Christ and the good deeds that they had done for his sake.The evening before Hallow-Eve, the poor would go door to door asking alms, food, clothing, the necessities of life and were given these in the name of our LORD.In time, the pagans, Satan worshippers, to mock the Christians, would disguise themselves as evil beings, witches, devils, ghosts, monsters, coming in the dark to frighten and demand a “Treat,” alcohol, food, money and animals to sacrifice to Satan in their worship of him on a night Christians used to honor Christ.If the pagans’ threats were denied, they would “Trick” by vandalizing, stealing, burning, to punish their victims, just like today.In time, other people and Christians too, began to dress as the same and play “Trick or Treat.”Christians, why are you today still joining in on this holiday celebration of Satan? Please understand and stop.

Jesus loves you all. He is Lord.

ROBERT “BOB” M.

STANLEY JR.

Hixson

Wow talk about revising history to suit your own agenda! The “Christian” festival known as All Saints Day was actually moved from May to November in order to supplant existing Pagan festivals.  These Pagan festivals already featured many of the customs we attribute to modern day Halloween celebrations. To say that these customs were invented to mock Christians is absolutely untrue. No wonder the world continues to shake its collective head at all of the “Stupid Christians”

Watch this hilarious video concerning the origins of Halloween. The real point is that no matter where the traditions originated they have become thoroughly commercialized just like Christmas. By the way churches you might want to reconsider that “fall” or “harvest” festival you have as a Halloween alternative since that is the original reason for the Pagan holiday. I still haven’t figured out how when children dress-up and fill their plastic pumpkin with candy at a church it’s a great alternative but if they do the exact same thing at their friend’s and neighbor’s houses it’s wicked and evil? Churches need to wake up and smell the pumpkin pie. The Church should realize that the only kids participating in their “festivals” as a true alternative are the church kids who aren’t allowed to venture out and associate with their neighbors. The rest of the kids have figured out that churches simply offer a great way to score tons of candy quickly to supplement what they already get going door to door.