Friday, December 19, 2008
Loren (Larry) Greenawalt Home with the Lord
Loren (Larry) Greenawalt (1976) passed away in his home on December 19th. A filter in his leg failed and a blot clot traveled to his heart and he died suddenly and unexpected. He was living in Ann Arbor, Michigan where he wrote, performed and recorded children's music and also was a featured organist at a specialty renovated movie theater. He was known at FBC for being a popular accomianist for many soloists and pianist for Sound of Truth and Promise and for chapel. He and his incredible musical talent will be greatly missed. Funeral will be Sunday, December 28th in Ann Arbor. Prayers for his son and daughter in law Jeremy and Rebekah Greenawalt in Dallas Texas and his former wife, with whom he remained a close friend, Kathleen (Greenawalt) Gabrielle are greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Gene Baily Home with the Lord
We just got word that Gene Bailey went home to be with the Lord today. Gene was at FBC in the late 70s.
Anderson McQueen Funeral Homes
(727) 822-2059
2201 Dr Ml King St N,
St Petersburg, FL 33704
Visitation is on Friday 12/19 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Funeral is on Saturday 12/20 11:00 AM
Cindy invites anyone local who knew Gene. She does not expect anyone to travel a distance.
Anderson McQueen Funeral Homes
(727) 822-2059
2201 Dr Ml King St N,
St Petersburg, FL 33704
Visitation is on Friday 12/19 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM
Funeral is on Saturday 12/20 11:00 AM
Cindy invites anyone local who knew Gene. She does not expect anyone to travel a distance.
Phyllis Carbonell, Mels' dear wife, went home to be with the Lord
Phyllis Carbonell, Mels' dear wife, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, December 10. She passed away in her sleep while Mels was holding her hand. His youngest son, Rob and his family were also in the room, plus Jim and Tris Sheffield had just driven up from Atlanta to pray with her a minute before she sighed her last breath. How comforting it was for her to be surrounded by friends and loved ones at her darkest, but brightest moment. She died of a weakened immune system due to a stroke which was caused by an accident while exercising. Phyllis was only 60 years old and a CPA, but spent the last ten years helping and traveling with Mels in ministry. "She was the sweetest lady I ever knew," says Mels. Phyllis was also a Grace College graduate and soul-winner. She was loved by all and admired by everyone who knew her. There will be a viewing this Saturday from 12 noon - 2 p.m. and Memorial at 2 p.m. at the Crossover Community Church at George Curtis Road and Hwy. 5 in Blue Ridge, GA 30513. Everyone who can is encouraged to give a love gift in her honor to the church's Missions Fund in leu of flowers.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Mini Reunion in Tampa/Clearwater area
We are planning on a Mini reunion in the Tampa Clearwater area on December 29, 2008.
As the group of people that wanted to come grew larger it was having difficulty finding a restaurant that we could use to meet at. Thankfully, as we all know, the Lord is able to provide. We will be meeting at Ron Satterwhite's church in Tampa. The website for the church is http://www.firstbaptistporttampa.com
We will ask each of you to bring a side dish and we will provide hot dogs and hamburgers. A donation will be taken to cover the cost of the food and to help with any church expenses.
Be sure to bring your guitars etc we hope to have some music as well as a worship service.
As the group of people that wanted to come grew larger it was having difficulty finding a restaurant that we could use to meet at. Thankfully, as we all know, the Lord is able to provide. We will be meeting at Ron Satterwhite's church in Tampa. The website for the church is http://www.firstbaptistporttampa.com
We will ask each of you to bring a side dish and we will provide hot dogs and hamburgers. A donation will be taken to cover the cost of the food and to help with any church expenses.
Be sure to bring your guitars etc we hope to have some music as well as a worship service.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Youth Ranch Reunion - Tampa Area
Youth Ranch Reunion = Anyone who was involved in the Christian Youth Ranch Ministry or Florida Bible College (a result of the Youth Ranch Ministry) November 15th, 2008 from 4 PM until 9 PM Meeting at the First Baptist Church of Port Tampa, 8306 Interbay Blvd. Tampa, Fl. 33616RSVP to Ron or Melody Satterwhite (813) 769-9595 or (813) 846-3078our website is http://www.firstbaptistporttampa.com/
We will have hamburgers and hot dogs, please bring side dishes to share
Our purpose is to reconnect, fellowship and worship the Lord
For many of us Youth Ranch is where we began our spiritual journey, we really don't have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy fellowship with each other again.
Help me spread the word about this event, I look forward to seeing you soon !
Ron Satterwhite
We will have hamburgers and hot dogs, please bring side dishes to share
Our purpose is to reconnect, fellowship and worship the Lord
For many of us Youth Ranch is where we began our spiritual journey, we really don't have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy fellowship with each other again.
Help me spread the word about this event, I look forward to seeing you soon !
Ron Satterwhite
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Dick Haynes home to be with the Lord
Dick Haynes an FBC Alumni and past Vice President of the Alumni Association has gone home with the Lord Monday, Oct 27, 2008.
There will be a celebration of life in Memory of Dick Haynes on Wednesday, November 5, 2008 It would have been his 65th birthday) at Friendship Baptist Church, 4001 74th Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33709, 727-343-3321, beginning at 6 PM with dinner to follow. Everyone is welcome to come. If you live in the San Antonio, Texas area, there will be an announcement in the San Antonio Express this Thursday.
In lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make a donation to the Focus Evangelistic Ministries, Inc. P. O. Box 498, Danielsville, GA 30633. This is the company that hosted/organized the Bible camps that Dick attended
Monday, October 20, 2008
Reflections on a wonderful reunion
I wanted to take a few minutes and reflect on the recent reunion of the Florida Bible College Alumni Association.
There was much prayer and work put into the organization of the reunion and there are many people that need to be thanked. You know who you are and my personal thanks is extended to you.
After much preparation, prayer and anticipation the reunion began that Friday afternoon. As alumni began to arrive I could feel the excitement in the air. I saw many long separated friends run to each other embrace and weep. As people mingled they would gaze at the name tags as they passed each person to see if it was someone they knew. I saw one person as they were taking pictures and sweeping though those that were seated to take pictures, realized that the person in the camera was a friend they had not seen for almost 30 years. He nearly dropped the camera as he ran to embrace his friend. There were many moments such as this throughout the weekend. It was a wonderful weekend of reuniting with “old” friends. In that sense the reunion was greatly successful.
Yet if that was all that one gained from the reunion then much was missed. What was very evident was the renewal of the fellowship of many brothers and sisters in Christ. There was a moving of the Spirit that was unmistakable. What I saw was a working of God in the hearts of those that were there. There was a refreshing of many souls and the changing of lives. I cannot number the times that someone came to me and said “This is exactly what I needed”.
Much of what happened that weekend was unplanned and was of our Lord and not of us. I must say that what we prayed the reunion would be was far exceeded and the Lord worked greatly in how things worked and in what was done.
There were many that had their heart and soul renewed there were many that were able to begin a healing process, and many that were brought back to their desire to serve the Lord.
I thank the Lord for all that he accomplished through this reunion. My wife and I were sick this Sunday so we watched the Worship service of the reunion and we found ourselves touched as deeply by it as when we were there.
Although it is good to remember and think on this wonderful weekend and the way that the Lord worked in so many hearts, I feel that we must not forget to take what happened to us there and apply it to our lives, to take the connections that we re-established and use them to glorify our Lord.The Lord provided us a wonderful reunion, what will we do now?
There was much prayer and work put into the organization of the reunion and there are many people that need to be thanked. You know who you are and my personal thanks is extended to you.
After much preparation, prayer and anticipation the reunion began that Friday afternoon. As alumni began to arrive I could feel the excitement in the air. I saw many long separated friends run to each other embrace and weep. As people mingled they would gaze at the name tags as they passed each person to see if it was someone they knew. I saw one person as they were taking pictures and sweeping though those that were seated to take pictures, realized that the person in the camera was a friend they had not seen for almost 30 years. He nearly dropped the camera as he ran to embrace his friend. There were many moments such as this throughout the weekend. It was a wonderful weekend of reuniting with “old” friends. In that sense the reunion was greatly successful.
Yet if that was all that one gained from the reunion then much was missed. What was very evident was the renewal of the fellowship of many brothers and sisters in Christ. There was a moving of the Spirit that was unmistakable. What I saw was a working of God in the hearts of those that were there. There was a refreshing of many souls and the changing of lives. I cannot number the times that someone came to me and said “This is exactly what I needed”.
Much of what happened that weekend was unplanned and was of our Lord and not of us. I must say that what we prayed the reunion would be was far exceeded and the Lord worked greatly in how things worked and in what was done.
There were many that had their heart and soul renewed there were many that were able to begin a healing process, and many that were brought back to their desire to serve the Lord.
I thank the Lord for all that he accomplished through this reunion. My wife and I were sick this Sunday so we watched the Worship service of the reunion and we found ourselves touched as deeply by it as when we were there.
Although it is good to remember and think on this wonderful weekend and the way that the Lord worked in so many hearts, I feel that we must not forget to take what happened to us there and apply it to our lives, to take the connections that we re-established and use them to glorify our Lord.The Lord provided us a wonderful reunion, what will we do now?
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hank Lindstrom home to be with the Lord
Hank, 68, of Tampa, passed away Monday, October 13, 2008. He was preceded in death by his son, Matthew Henry. Survivors include his wife, Jeanette; daughter, Melissa; grand-daughter, Isabel; sister, Margaret (Ron); brother, Richard (Mary); and several nieces and nephews. He graduated from the University of Florida with a five-year Electrical Engineering Degree. He entered his biblical studies at the Florida Bible College in Miami. For 35 years, he directed the youth ministry at the Tampa Christian Youth Ranch, which hundreds of teenagers attended. In 1966, Dr. Lindstrom became pastor of Calvary Community Church and has celebrated 42 years of ministry. He had a television program on Time Warner Access Channel in Hillsborough County for more than 20 years in the Tampa Bay area and was heard on Christian Radio for the past 20 years, most recently WTBN radio. He frequently traveled to Israel, Middle East and Europe, baptizing many in the Jordan River. Dr. Lindstrom was an instructor of Moody Bible Institute extension in Chicago, Ill., for 11 years. He was also chaplain to many major league baseball teams and chapel speaker to several NFL football teams. Services will take place at 11 a.m. Friday, October 17, 2008, at Calvary Community Church. Interment will follow at Trinity Memorial Gardens in New Port Richey, Fla. The family will receive friends noon-4 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2008, at the Carrollwood Chapel. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Dr. Hank Lindstrom Memorial Fund, in care of Calvary Community Church, 4811 George Road, Tampa, Fla., 33634. Words of comfort may be expressed at http://www.blountcurry.com/(Carroll Wood Chapel).
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Friends of Grace Farm
The Lord Did It!
We just finished the first Camp Grace at the Grace Farm property! All credit goes to the Lord for his power in bringing us just what we needed to open the property to campers.
Just Do the Next Thing
We decided after last year’s Camp Grace (held in Florida) that we would try hard to have camp at Grace Farm in 2008. We abandoned our long-range development plans and began working on getting the property to “the threshold of usability” – the bare minimum of completion required to use the property. For months we have watched God send people and supply needs. As we waited for more of His provision we just did the next thing that we could do. And the dream kept materializing.
We have lights
As we heard the bus pull in with our largest group of campers, we flipped the light switch in our meeting room.
Minutes before we had turned new shower knobs for the first time and flushed toilets that had just been installed.
We just worked hard until the campers were in. Then we put down our tools and had camp.
Four Hands in the Air
At the close of the very first meeting of Camp Grace ‘08, there were four hands in the air. The hands indicated that those four teenagers had understood the message and had just trusted the Lord for eternal life. Praise the Lord!
But for those of us who know the young history of Grace Farm, those four hands meant even more. Those hands meant that God had done it, in front of our eyes. With no explanation except the faithfulness of God, a new lighthouse for the clear gospel had been raised!
Thank you for the role you have played to help raise Grace Farm. We are far from being finished and still covet your prayers and help.
What’s Next?
Now we can turn our attention back to our long-range plans. We will plan to finish the Cabins, the Barn, and pray for materials to be delivered for the Fellowship Lodge. Here’s a more detailed list of upcoming projects:
Cabins – Insulation, sheetrock, trim, finished floors.
The Barn – Sheetrock, trim, stairs to “The Loft”, electrical fixtures and switches.
Fellowship Lodge – Pray for materials!
The Grounds – Finish the Lake, sow the ball fields.
We are planning several dates for work projects in the early Fall. Thanks for caring about kids who need to be saved and trained!
Freddie
(706)540-0860
Focus Ministries
Po Box 498
Danielsville GA 30633
www.FreddieCoile.org
We just finished the first Camp Grace at the Grace Farm property! All credit goes to the Lord for his power in bringing us just what we needed to open the property to campers.
Just Do the Next Thing
We decided after last year’s Camp Grace (held in Florida) that we would try hard to have camp at Grace Farm in 2008. We abandoned our long-range development plans and began working on getting the property to “the threshold of usability” – the bare minimum of completion required to use the property. For months we have watched God send people and supply needs. As we waited for more of His provision we just did the next thing that we could do. And the dream kept materializing.
We have lights
As we heard the bus pull in with our largest group of campers, we flipped the light switch in our meeting room.
Minutes before we had turned new shower knobs for the first time and flushed toilets that had just been installed.
We just worked hard until the campers were in. Then we put down our tools and had camp.
Four Hands in the Air
At the close of the very first meeting of Camp Grace ‘08, there were four hands in the air. The hands indicated that those four teenagers had understood the message and had just trusted the Lord for eternal life. Praise the Lord!
But for those of us who know the young history of Grace Farm, those four hands meant even more. Those hands meant that God had done it, in front of our eyes. With no explanation except the faithfulness of God, a new lighthouse for the clear gospel had been raised!
Thank you for the role you have played to help raise Grace Farm. We are far from being finished and still covet your prayers and help.
What’s Next?
Now we can turn our attention back to our long-range plans. We will plan to finish the Cabins, the Barn, and pray for materials to be delivered for the Fellowship Lodge. Here’s a more detailed list of upcoming projects:
Cabins – Insulation, sheetrock, trim, finished floors.
The Barn – Sheetrock, trim, stairs to “The Loft”, electrical fixtures and switches.
Fellowship Lodge – Pray for materials!
The Grounds – Finish the Lake, sow the ball fields.
We are planning several dates for work projects in the early Fall. Thanks for caring about kids who need to be saved and trained!
Freddie
(706)540-0860
Focus Ministries
Po Box 498
Danielsville GA 30633
www.FreddieCoile.org
Monday, June 16, 2008
The Florida Bible College Alumni Association Reunion in Marietta
The Florida Bible College Alumni Association Reunion in Marietta, Georgia is approaching quickly with less than 75 days remaining before Friday evening's opening reception, Saturday's association meeting, golf tournament, and banquet, and Sunday's worship service and afternoon Youth Ranch meeting.
Over 150 alumni have already registered and are looking forward to spending the Labor Day weekend getting reacquainted with their former teachers and classmates. We understand that some will not be able to join us for the entire time, so for those who are only able to join us for a day or two of the reunion, a reduced registration fee schedule is now available.
The registration fee for the entire reunion is $45. One or two day registrations can be purchased for only $15 per day (per person). The registration fee includes the opening reception and all the events during the reunion save the banquet, your meals, and the golf tournament. Lodging is available at the resort at a special reunion rate of $79 per night for as long as the rooms last. See our web site for lodging details.
The Saturday Banquet will be one of the highlights of the weekend and we have finalized the specifics with the catering office. The price has been negotiated at $27 per person. Of course, banquet attendees must also be registered for the reunion. If you have not yet registered for the reunion, registration (complete or one- or two-day) and banquet tickets are now available on the web site using PayPal at (www.floridabiblecollege.com/index.cfm?action=reunionpay).
If you have already registered for the reunion, you can help our planning committee by going online and purchasing your banquet tickets as soon as possible.
Over 150 alumni have already registered and are looking forward to spending the Labor Day weekend getting reacquainted with their former teachers and classmates. We understand that some will not be able to join us for the entire time, so for those who are only able to join us for a day or two of the reunion, a reduced registration fee schedule is now available.
The registration fee for the entire reunion is $45. One or two day registrations can be purchased for only $15 per day (per person). The registration fee includes the opening reception and all the events during the reunion save the banquet, your meals, and the golf tournament. Lodging is available at the resort at a special reunion rate of $79 per night for as long as the rooms last. See our web site for lodging details.
The Saturday Banquet will be one of the highlights of the weekend and we have finalized the specifics with the catering office. The price has been negotiated at $27 per person. Of course, banquet attendees must also be registered for the reunion. If you have not yet registered for the reunion, registration (complete or one- or two-day) and banquet tickets are now available on the web site using PayPal at (www.floridabiblecollege.com/index.cfm?action=reunionpay).
If you have already registered for the reunion, you can help our planning committee by going online and purchasing your banquet tickets as soon as possible.
The Florida Bible College Alumni Association is an active, non-profit corporation registered in the state of Florida
It is now official. The Florida Bible College Alumni Association IS an active, non-profit corporation registered in the state of Florida. We have been working on this for several months now but have kept it quiet because we did not want to have anyone object to us using the name. With the planning and reservation challenges of the reunion, it was necessary to open a bank account in the name of the alumni association, but we could not open one without incorporating the association.
We are working on the next step, which is to file the determination letter with the IRS for final tax exemption approval.
Several alumni have reported hearing a rumor that FBC was restarting. This is not true.
A group of FBC alumni incorporated a Bible college in Georgia with Chris Carrier as president, and have a web presence to start a distance learning institute that they desire to grow into a campus-based college. Check them out at www.floridabiblecollege.org
The original Florida Bible College corporation was voluntarily dissolved by Florida Bible Church in 1998 and a group out of Tennessee (who were never assoicated with original Florida Bible College) took the name of FBC and incorporated a distance-learning college with a Tallahassee, Florida mailing address last year. I contacted the group very soon after we heard of them starting and offered to buy the FBC name back from them to avoid any confusion between the two colleges, but they were not willing to do so. Check out their website at www.biblecollegeflorida.com
We then hurried to file an application for incorporation with the Secretary of State, hoping this new Florida Bible College would not object. They did not file an objection, and we are now officially the Florida Bible College Alumni Association.
This opens the door to a lot of possibilities for the alumni association and we would ask you to consider what God would have us to do from this point going forward with our new organization. We will have a town-hall type meeting at the reunion to discuss your thoughts.
Because HE Lives
Joe Alessi, Mels, Carbonnel, Donna Rodgers
We are working on the next step, which is to file the determination letter with the IRS for final tax exemption approval.
Several alumni have reported hearing a rumor that FBC was restarting. This is not true.
A group of FBC alumni incorporated a Bible college in Georgia with Chris Carrier as president, and have a web presence to start a distance learning institute that they desire to grow into a campus-based college. Check them out at www.floridabiblecollege.org
The original Florida Bible College corporation was voluntarily dissolved by Florida Bible Church in 1998 and a group out of Tennessee (who were never assoicated with original Florida Bible College) took the name of FBC and incorporated a distance-learning college with a Tallahassee, Florida mailing address last year. I contacted the group very soon after we heard of them starting and offered to buy the FBC name back from them to avoid any confusion between the two colleges, but they were not willing to do so. Check out their website at www.biblecollegeflorida.com
We then hurried to file an application for incorporation with the Secretary of State, hoping this new Florida Bible College would not object. They did not file an objection, and we are now officially the Florida Bible College Alumni Association.
This opens the door to a lot of possibilities for the alumni association and we would ask you to consider what God would have us to do from this point going forward with our new organization. We will have a town-hall type meeting at the reunion to discuss your thoughts.
Because HE Lives
Joe Alessi, Mels, Carbonnel, Donna Rodgers
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Reunion Schedule
Friday, August 29, 2008
1:00 - 5:00 Arrive, Register, Get Settled
5:00 - 6:30 Dinner on your own
7:00 - 9:00 Welcoming Reception, Portraits
Saturday, August 30, 2008
7:15 - 8:00 Early Risers Bible Study / Devotions
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast on your own (and Advisory Board meeting)
9:30 - 11:50 Get Acquainted / Opening Session / Brainstorming Session
12:00 - 1:30 Lunch on your own
12:00 - 3:30 (Optional GolfTournament)
1:45 - 3:20 Afternoon Session
3:40 - 5:30 FBC Alumni Association Meeting
6:30 - 9:00 Banquet
Sunday, August 31, 2008
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast on your own
9:15 - 10:00 Bible Study Hour
10:30 - 12:00 Worship
12:15 - 1:45 Lunch on your own
2:00 - 3:30 Youth Ranch Meeting
3:30 - 6:30 Free time & Dinner on your own
7:00 - 9:00 Evening Session
Monday, September 1, 2008 (Labor Day)
7:15 - 8:00 Early Risers Bible Study / Devotions
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast on your own
9:30 - 10:45 Closing Session
11:00 Check out of hotel
1:00 - 5:00 Arrive, Register, Get Settled
5:00 - 6:30 Dinner on your own
7:00 - 9:00 Welcoming Reception, Portraits
Saturday, August 30, 2008
7:15 - 8:00 Early Risers Bible Study / Devotions
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast on your own (and Advisory Board meeting)
9:30 - 11:50 Get Acquainted / Opening Session / Brainstorming Session
12:00 - 1:30 Lunch on your own
12:00 - 3:30 (Optional GolfTournament)
1:45 - 3:20 Afternoon Session
3:40 - 5:30 FBC Alumni Association Meeting
6:30 - 9:00 Banquet
Sunday, August 31, 2008
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast on your own
9:15 - 10:00 Bible Study Hour
10:30 - 12:00 Worship
12:15 - 1:45 Lunch on your own
2:00 - 3:30 Youth Ranch Meeting
3:30 - 6:30 Free time & Dinner on your own
7:00 - 9:00 Evening Session
Monday, September 1, 2008 (Labor Day)
7:15 - 8:00 Early Risers Bible Study / Devotions
8:00 - 9:00 Breakfast on your own
9:30 - 10:45 Closing Session
11:00 Check out of hotel
Sunday, March 23, 2008
Homosexuality, Lesbianism and Christian Fundamentalism
Observations and Reflections by Rev. William A. Phillips
In 1973 I was 18 years old and a new student at Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida. Nearby the college was a small park where I occasionally went to talk with people about the Gospel message. On one such trip I spoke with a young man named Bill, he was a self proclaimed homosexual. Bill and I had talked before at the park but on this particular day he told me I really needed to talk to a young woman named Linda who was standing alone crying under a nearby tree. Bill said she really needed “help”. I walked over to her and she immediately recoiled – apparently she was not grateful for my presence or Bill’s referral – it was evident however that they did know each other. It was a curious situation, while I was not one to back down from a conversation about the Gospel I also knew when it was time to let it alone and move on. I would have moved on as it was obvious Linda was in no mood to discuss my agenda but she was in so much distress I did not feel comfortable leaving her. She verbally exploded letting her emotions fly fast and furious. Right about that time Bill left while I sat and listened to her. Her immediate distress was at being hungry, frightened and angry with Bill for some issue I had no knowledge of. After she calmed down just a little she began to tell me her story – she was about my age and was at odds with her family who lived in the Carolina’s. She had come to Florida and entered into a Lesbian relationship.
I have rarely been around someone who cried so hard for so long and had so much trouble getting her sentences completed before another sob literally racked her body. All I could do was sit and listen to her. Eventually this poor girl regained a semblance of composure and between the tears asked me if I would take her to the Royal Castle, a local fast food place, and buy her some food. During the course of Linda opening her heart to me I became very aware that there was more pain in this woman’s life than I was capable of dealing with in all my wisdom of 18 years. I asked her to go back to the school with me where the snack shop was open and she said yes. I was hoping and praying to not only get her fed but also find someone who could better help this girl. It was about a mile back to the college and as we started walking back she asked me if it would be ok if she held my hand. I said ok and she cried and we walked to the college holding hands – the lesbian and the young fundamentalist.
We got to the college and Linda asked to use the girls room to wash her face. Some of my friends were in the snack shop and when Linda came from the girls room we went in, I introduced her and we got some food. It was Saturday morning and I happened to look out the window of the snack shop and there in the college lobby was one of my professors – Dr. Seymour. I excused myself from Linda and my friends for a moment, went to him and told him about Linda. I asked him if he would speak with her and he said to bring her to his office in 15 minutes. Linda and I went and Dr. Seymour sat her in a big easy chair that was in front of his desk. I sat in another chair just behind and to the side. Linda once again began to sob. Through the tears she got out bits and pieces of her story including the lesbian relationship. After listening a while Dr. Seymour asked Linda if she believed that God loved her and Linda said no. Dr. Seymour opened a Bible to John 3:16 and asked Linda to please read that to him, she read the verse back to him.
John 3:16 NIV says:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I still remember Dr. Seymour going over this scripture with Linda again and again. He would ask “Linda, are you part of the world?” Linda would say yes. “Linda, God loves the world so He loves you, He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for your sins, that’s how much He loves you – can you believe that?”. Linda would bring up some reason why God did not love her and back over John 3:16 we would go.
I’d like to tell you that things went well for Linda but I don’t know if they did nor not. I do know during that meeting with Dr. Seymour Linda remarked how much she liked a ceramic white horse he had on his bookshelf. I know he met with her one more time and gave her the ceramic horse. I never saw Linda again after that day – I looked for her at the park when I was there but didn’t see her. I have thought of her often.
Why this Story?
First I want to tell you that this account of my experience with Bill and Linda is totally authentic. They were the first openly gay people I knew. Second, I want you to know that I am a Christian Fundamentalist. I have a B.A. in Biblical Education and attended 3 Fundamentalist colleges, Florida Bible College, Lancaster Bible College and Trinity College of the Bible. I am well acquainted with many Fundamentalist churches and Learning Institutions. I was ordained at a Fundamentalist church and examined for ordination by Evangelical and Fundamentalist Ministers.
I share this real account of Linda to illustrate for you the heartbeat of true Fundamentalist Christianity. Fundamentalists such as myself want all people, including gay people, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who loves us and gave His life for us all because we are all sinners. Further, after a person chooses to believe – we want and encourage believers to follow the Lord Jesus by being obedient to His written Word – the Bible. More on that later.
For now – let me be very clear – I am a Fundamentalist and I do not hate gay people. The Bible does not teach us to hate gay people. I have never, in my entire experience as a believer in Jesus Christ or as a student of the Bible, been taught to hate gay people. I am not and never have been a gay basher. While I do not approve of lesbianism or homosexuality and the gay lifestyle – I do not believe the answer to those things is to hate or beat gay people up. I am not homophobic. I am not afraid of gay people. If anything, I am afraid FOR them.
Contrary to the current thinking, seemingly promoted by the gay movement, Fundamentalists as a whole do not hate gays nor do we promote hating gays. It is true there are a few wacko’s out there hold up signs saying “God hates Gays” or “God hates Faggots”, etc. But the Scriptural evidence is clear – God loves us all, homosexual or heterosexual, as demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for all our sins. See Romans 5:8; John 3:15-18; 1 Timothy 1:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:3,4.
Just What Is A Christian Fundamentalist?
Webster’s Dictionary defines a “fundamental” this way – “of or forming a foundation or basis: basic; essential”. Christian Fundamentalists believe that certain teachings are basic and essential to the Christian Faith as set forth in the Bible, which we believe to be God’s written Word. The actual use of the term “Fundamentalist” began being used to describe Bible believing Christians around the 1920’s. The reason for this was the publishing of a set of books called The Fundamentals in 1917. The books are actually a series of essays written by conservative Bible Scholars, Teachers and Pastors. The writers came from a variety of Protestant Denominations and Learning Institutions. The denominations included Presbyterian, Anglican, Reformed Episcopal, United Free Church, Baptist, Congregational and Methodist Episcopal. They also came from the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Germany. The reason for the Essays was to answer the Bible discrediting teaching coming from liberal minded religious schools of thought – often found within the denominations themselves. These sets of books were distributed to Bible believing Christian Workers all over the world. Believe it or not – there was a time when Protestant Denominations pretty much agreed on the basics of the Christian Faith. These basics were covered in the essays entitled The Fundamentals. Basics such as:
• The Existence of the Supernatural World
• The Bible is God’s Complete and Inerrant Written Word
• The Divine Creation of the Universe and Mankind
• The Historic Fall and Fallen State of Mankind
• The Reality and Penalty of Sin
• The Virgin Birth of Christ
• Salvation by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone
• The Substitutionary Death and Literal Resurrection of Christ
• The Trinity
Certainly within the different Protestant Denominations there was theological debate over some issues but the basics were pretty much set. The Bible was understood as the source of information for the debates and its validity and truthfulness were not in question. When the liberal schools of thought launched attacks on the integrity of the Scriptures, and thereby what the Scriptures taught on a variety of issues, the conservative schools, Scholars and Pastors responded. The 4 Volume Set is available today, published by Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is well worth reading. The “Fundamentalist Fathers” (there is one woman author also), were not afraid to face, evaluate, research and answer the negative assertions and outcomes of liberal thought. There is an example for Fundamentalists to follow today.
Previous to being called “Fundamentalists” Bible believing Christians were known as “Evangelicals”. Today many Bible believers still prefer that label. The reason “Fundamentalists” moved away from the term “Evangelical” was because of religious liberal infiltration of the “Evangelical” ranks. The term “Evangelical” began to lose its definition and identification merit. When I was in Bible College at least one professor thought we ought to start going by the term “Biblicist” because of certain unbiblical or extra-biblical teachings held by some who call themselves “Fundamentalists”.
I want to note here that Christian Fundamentalism is first and foremost a movement born of issues regarding the defense of the historic Christian Faith. It is not a political action group or a political coalition. See Fundamentalism and American Culture by George M. Marsden for further insights. More about Fundamentalism and Politics later. Christian Fundamentalism at its roots was and is an affirmation of historic Christianity as revealed in the Bible. It traces its heritage back through the Protestant Reformation to the early church. It is NOT Roman Catholic, which teaches a system of faith and good works to earn salvation and has 3 sources of religious authority:
• The Bible and Apochrypha as interpreted by the Roman Catholic Church
• Church Tradition
• The Papacy
Christian Fundamentalism holds to the Protestant Reformation Articles of:
• Scripture Only
• Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
• The Priesthood of every believer (male or female)
It is unfortunate and inaccurate that Christian Fundamentalism is portrayed and often stereotyped by the media and frankly the gay movement, as a band of Bible waving, screaming hate mongers who are on the verge of being committed to a mental institution or jail. I can see where some of this impression may be had by the public when the media continually and intentionally focuses on the ridiculous and/or sinful exploits of certain television evangelists or the antics surrounding certain isolated incidents where wrong headed individuals hold up placards saying God hates gays. Make no mistake about it – the Bible believing Christian seeks the salvation of everyone because God loves everyone and Christ died for the sins of everyone. We don’t want gays beaten or strung up – we want them to understand the love of Christ and be saved just like we want for everyone else. We love people because they are created in the image of God, because Christ died for them just as He did for us.
In spite of what the media often contemptuously portrays, Christian Fundamentalists come in all flavors and are in all walks of life. Most go quietly about their daily lives seeking to honor God by loyalty to the Scriptures, doing good and loving those around them, hopeful of bringing them to trust in the Savior Jesus Christ. Being a Fundamentalist is not synonymous with being perfect – we are painfully aware of shortcomings both privately and as a group. We are aware of our falleness (sinfulness) and our need of a Savior. That is why we initially trusted in Christ. After believing in Christ and receiving the gift of eternal life - God’s will for us is to be like Christ, that in itself is part of growing after having believed and is a lifetime pursuit. Each believer is in a different place in that pursuit – but we do pursue. Romans 8:28,29; Romans 13:12-14.
Christian Fundamentalism, Morality, Sexual Behavior and Hate
Morality – the way a world view tells us we can or should live in this world. Every philosophy of life has a morality based on some logic, reason, authoritative writing(s) and/or authoritative person(s). Fundamentalism has a clearly defined morality based on the Bible. We see the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to humankind. It is a needed and specific revelation that tells us things we could not otherwise know about God and ourselves, things we could not know only through investigation of the natural world and the universe. The natural world, by the existence of order, design, unity, diversity and personality plainly indicates the existence and creative power of God. We need more than that to know God. The Bible tells us who God is, who we are in the universe, what our responsibility is to God and man, God’s acts in History, His plan for us and the world. We believe life has meaning, purpose and an ultimate accountability. Like it or not, agree with it nor not – that is how Christian Fundamentalists see the Bible.
Let me answer a notion being popularized today by the gay rights people. The notion is this – if people say the practice of homosexuality or lesbianism is a sin – that is hate speech and teaches others to hate gays. It gives people a basis to beat up or kill gay people. Interesting concept. A bit narrow and I believe intended to be politically self serving by the gay community. Permit me to bring some perspective to this notion of calling certain behaviors wrong or sinful and teaching hate. The Bible teaches the following sexual practices are wrong, destructive and sinful – fornication, adultery, bestiality, homosexuality, lesbianism, orgies, incestual relationships and rape. As a matter of fact the only sexual relationship between people the Bible recognizes as not wrong or sinful is found in a heterosexual marriage relationship. That means Christian Fundamentalism is at odds with far more than the agenda of the gay rights people – we are at odds with any culture which allows or approves of sexual relationships between people (or people and animals) outside of the safe haven of heterosexual marriage. Based on the Scriptures – Christian Fundamentalism maintains sex with animals is breaking the law of God. Sex between two people who are not in heterosexual marriage is sinful. That means children having sex with each other is wrong. High School and College students having sex with each other is wrong. Non-married adults having sex with each other is wrong. The john and the prostitute are sinning. Business people involved in one night stands are being immoral. Casual sex or “friends with benefits” between people is a sin. People involved in group sex are sinning. These are despicable practices. Please understand the point here – Biblical teaching on sexual morality does speak to homosexuality and lesbianism – but not ONLY to homosexuality and lesbianism. Because heterosexual sin is without question far more frequent in any society, the BULK of Biblical teaching on sexual sin is aimed squarely at heterosexuals. Shall Christian Fundamentalism now be accused of teaching people to hate heterosexuals because we label ALL heterosexual sexual activity SIN when it occurs outside the context of heterosexual marriage? I think not.
Christian Fundamentalism and more importantly the Bible, does NOT teach that the response to sexual sin is hating the person. We think that sexual sin of any sort is wrong, harmful and displeases God. But just as the Lord Jesus taught us by His own example – we call sin what it is, we hate the sin and we love the sinner. We Fundamentalists are sinners too, saved by God’s grace, Ephesians 2:8,9. The same grace we try to explain and extend to ALL people. We were, everyone of us who call ourselves Fundamentalists, reached by someone who loved us and saw our need of the Savior. We were reached out to by someone who looked beyond our falleness (sinfulness) and our expression of that falleness. Be it involvement in sexual sin or some other manifestation or many manifestations of our falleness such as lying, bullying, hatred, stealing, drunkenness, etc. We were reached by someone who cared enough about us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, prior to becoming believers in Christ, we put that caring to the test and the person(s) reaching out to us had to be patient for a long time. We seek to imitate our Lord and those who loved us enough to share the Gospel message with us. We want all people to have the priceless gift of eternal life, Romans 6:23. That is why we (Bible Believing Christians) have a history, from the time of Christ on, of missionary outreach and the various forms that takes such as Schools, Medical Missionaries, Orphanages, Rescue Missions, Prison Ministries, Visiting the sick and elderly, Soup Kitchens, Vacation Bible Schools, Crisis Pregnancy Centers and even Ministries to gay people such as Exodus International (www.exodus-international.org). These outreaches are not based on hate – they are based on the love of Christ and are the direct result of his command to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”, Matthew 28:19,20 NIV.
The point here is to show that hating people because they are sinners is simply not consistent with the Biblical Christianity proclaimed by Christian Fundamentalists. It is self defeating to the cause of Christ, a misrepresentation of the Scriptures and not what God Himself modeled for us. The simple truth is that all of humanity is fallen and needs to place their faith in the Savior, Romans 3:21-26. Let me close this section with the following:
Romans 5:8 NIV says:
But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Again, 1 John 4:10 NIV says:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away our sins”
Fundamentalism and Politics
Because Christian Fundamentalism has and does exist under different political systems I will confine my remarks to Fundamentalism in America. Let it be clear at the outset of this section that those who call themselves Bible Believing Christians, derive their view of morality and responsibility from the Scriptures. It does not matter what a political system allows, does not allow, legalizes or criminalizes, or if it seeks to remain neutral. For example, in the mind of a Fundamentalist, adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism, etc. will remain outside the realm of acceptable sexual conduct regardless of what the American legal system says about our freedom to practice these things. Let sexual immorality have the legal system on its side – God says no, that settles it. We derive our way of life from the standard and commands found in the Scriptures.
That is one of the purposes of the Bible – to give us instruction on how to live so we don’t:
• Offend God – whose creation we are and whose universe this is
• Hurt others with our fallen, sinful, selfish behavior
• Hurt ourselves with our fallen, sinful, selfish behavior
• Miss the joy of living fully, by living within the guidelines of the One who created us and knows what it best for us
Having said that – we live in America. We recognize the many and tremendous benefits of living here. In the early years – generally moral issues were agreed upon. That is no longer the case. Our society has become more diverse politically and philosophically. So much so that now we have a definite polarization of ideas regarding sexual morality – not just political theories. Everybody has the right to the ballot box and access to the courts. Fundamentalists will always vote in accordance with what they understand as God’s standard – or atleast will vote for someone who is closer to that morality than another who is farther away. Why do we do that? We vote like that because we believe in and can see the wisdom of God’s laws for the good of society. All society benefits from a sexual morality based on God’s laws. As opposed to the detrimental effects of a philosophy that says I have a right to have sex with anyone I want.
Permit me an example. If, starting today, everyone waited until they were married to have sexual relations and confined sexual relations to their marriage, consider the following outcomes:
• Stop the spread of the epidemic of STD’s and AIDS.
• Stop the increase in AIDS deaths – 7,945 per day in 2006 – 2.9 million died.
• Stop new AIDS orphans from being created and the consequent associated costs – financially and in human suffering.
• Stop babies being infected with STD’s.
• Stop women from being sterilized by STD’s and the pain associated with not being able to have children.
• Stop women from being exposed to HPV and to cervical cancer related to HPV which causes approximately 290,000 women to die world wide each year.
• Stop babies being born to unwed mothers who do not have the financial or emotional capacity to care for them.
• Stop the pain and regret associated with premarital and extramarital sex.
• Stop almost all abortions and the pain and regret associated with them.
• Stop emotionally needy women from becoming victims of sexual conquest and impregnated by an opportunist who denies responsibility and moves on to his next fling.
• Leveling of the playing field in teaching people to respect each other and not treating people as sexual objects for conquest.
• Focus on the development of other parts of a relationship – the intellectual, spiritual and emotional aspects – before marriage - without the baggage of premature sexual union and an unhealthy or imbalanced focus on that aspect of the relationship. For instance - How many have felt they had to marry because they had sex before marriage? How many have had sex before marriage and found themselves so absorbed in sex that it blinded them to other relational issues? It happens all the time.
• Consider all the money that could be saved and spent in more productive ways by society not having to pay for the research, medical facilities, medical care and other costs associated with STD’s.
• No more open fields of opportunity for sexual predators or self absorbed sexual opportunists who knowingly hide their disease and expose and/or infect others with STD’s. Remember Gaetan Dugas, the gay airline steward who, after he found out he had AIDS continued to infect gay men with AIDS. It appears he was largely responsible for the spread of AIDS in North America. This scenario is common in both homosexual and heterosexual contexts.
In summation of this section – STD deaths with a focus on AIDS deaths in particular, are a LIFESTYLE DRIVEN HOLOCAUST of horrific proportion. I submit society and the world at large would do nothing but benefit from a Biblical Standard of Sexual Practice. Given the ongoing WORLDWIDE LIFESTYLE DRIVEN HOLOCAUST, one would think people would adopt the abstinence until marriage and faithfulness in marriage ethic based simply on outcomes and what would be best for all societies.
Abstinence until and faithfulness within marriage is the CROWN JEWEL of stopping STD’s that KILL people, create orphans, destroy families and ruin lives. I submit that the best friends any society has in this situation are those who do NOT increase the problem by exercising their “right” to have sex but use self control to not add to the pandemic already in progress. It does not even have to be a question of what the Bible teaches – but what is best for society and each person to have a healthy LIFE.
The purpose of this entire writing is to give some initial insight and explanation as to the relationship between Christian Fundamentalism, its Mission, its Sexual Ethics, the Gay Community and the world at large.
Finally, I present to the reader a list of New Testament Scriptures (the Old Testament has far more and they will be addressed in future writings) that speak to the issue of Christian sexual ethics and practice. As stated earlier, the bulk of Biblical Teaching is aimed squarely at heterosexuals. However, simply stated - the injunction to “Flee Fornication” 1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV or “Flee from sexual immorality” NIV, applies regardless of “sexual orientation”. No one gets a free pass on this. No one.
In future writings on the subject of Hedonism, False Teachers & Teaching in the Church, Pseudo-Christianity, Sexual Sin in Fundamentalist and Evangelical Leadership and other related issues, many of these texts will be revisited and expounded upon. The plain meaning of the texts is quite apparent. Even where the imagery of sexual sin is used to describe spiritual adultery, as in many of the Book of Revelation passages, the point is clear – sexual sin is not countenanced or approved by the God of the Bible. It will be judged. Further – the issue is not - will God forgive those guilty of sexual sin who come to Him in faith through the Lord Jesus Christ – He absolutely will. Colossians 2:13,14; Acts 13:38,39. Once any individual trusts in Christ – God has a sexual standard for His people to live by and that standard is - sexual purity until and faithfulness in heterosexual marriage. May we see His wisdom in this.
Some New Testament Scriptures that speak to or set the standard for sexual pratice are:
Matthew 15:16-20 NIV
16 "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17 " Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
Mark 7:21 NIV
20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
Acts 15:19-20, 29 NIV
19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood…… 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
Acts 21:25 NIV
25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
Romans 1:18 – 32 NIV
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 NIV
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
1 Corinthians 6: 9-18 NIV
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."] 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.”
1 Corinthians 7:2-5 NIV
2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 10:6-8 NIV
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
2 Corinthians 12:21 NIV
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 5:3-5 NIV
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Colossians 3:5-7 NIV
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-9 NIV
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
1 Timothy 1: 8-11 NIV
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Titus 1:15-16 NIV
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Jude 3-7 NIV
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Hebrews 13:4 NIV
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Revelation 2:14 NIV
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Revelation 2:20-23 NIV
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 9:20, 21 NIV
20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 14:8 NIV
8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."
Revelation 17:2-4 NIV
2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
Revelation 18: 3-5, 9 NIV
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crime…. 9 "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: " 'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!'
Revelation 19:1-3 NIV
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
Revelation 21:6-8 NIV
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
I hope this writing has proven equal to the task of its purpose.
Rev. William A. Phillips
February 2008
Wajphil2@verizon.net
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
In 1973 I was 18 years old and a new student at Florida Bible College in Hollywood, Florida. Nearby the college was a small park where I occasionally went to talk with people about the Gospel message. On one such trip I spoke with a young man named Bill, he was a self proclaimed homosexual. Bill and I had talked before at the park but on this particular day he told me I really needed to talk to a young woman named Linda who was standing alone crying under a nearby tree. Bill said she really needed “help”. I walked over to her and she immediately recoiled – apparently she was not grateful for my presence or Bill’s referral – it was evident however that they did know each other. It was a curious situation, while I was not one to back down from a conversation about the Gospel I also knew when it was time to let it alone and move on. I would have moved on as it was obvious Linda was in no mood to discuss my agenda but she was in so much distress I did not feel comfortable leaving her. She verbally exploded letting her emotions fly fast and furious. Right about that time Bill left while I sat and listened to her. Her immediate distress was at being hungry, frightened and angry with Bill for some issue I had no knowledge of. After she calmed down just a little she began to tell me her story – she was about my age and was at odds with her family who lived in the Carolina’s. She had come to Florida and entered into a Lesbian relationship.
I have rarely been around someone who cried so hard for so long and had so much trouble getting her sentences completed before another sob literally racked her body. All I could do was sit and listen to her. Eventually this poor girl regained a semblance of composure and between the tears asked me if I would take her to the Royal Castle, a local fast food place, and buy her some food. During the course of Linda opening her heart to me I became very aware that there was more pain in this woman’s life than I was capable of dealing with in all my wisdom of 18 years. I asked her to go back to the school with me where the snack shop was open and she said yes. I was hoping and praying to not only get her fed but also find someone who could better help this girl. It was about a mile back to the college and as we started walking back she asked me if it would be ok if she held my hand. I said ok and she cried and we walked to the college holding hands – the lesbian and the young fundamentalist.
We got to the college and Linda asked to use the girls room to wash her face. Some of my friends were in the snack shop and when Linda came from the girls room we went in, I introduced her and we got some food. It was Saturday morning and I happened to look out the window of the snack shop and there in the college lobby was one of my professors – Dr. Seymour. I excused myself from Linda and my friends for a moment, went to him and told him about Linda. I asked him if he would speak with her and he said to bring her to his office in 15 minutes. Linda and I went and Dr. Seymour sat her in a big easy chair that was in front of his desk. I sat in another chair just behind and to the side. Linda once again began to sob. Through the tears she got out bits and pieces of her story including the lesbian relationship. After listening a while Dr. Seymour asked Linda if she believed that God loved her and Linda said no. Dr. Seymour opened a Bible to John 3:16 and asked Linda to please read that to him, she read the verse back to him.
John 3:16 NIV says:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
I still remember Dr. Seymour going over this scripture with Linda again and again. He would ask “Linda, are you part of the world?” Linda would say yes. “Linda, God loves the world so He loves you, He loves you so much He sent His Son to die for your sins, that’s how much He loves you – can you believe that?”. Linda would bring up some reason why God did not love her and back over John 3:16 we would go.
I’d like to tell you that things went well for Linda but I don’t know if they did nor not. I do know during that meeting with Dr. Seymour Linda remarked how much she liked a ceramic white horse he had on his bookshelf. I know he met with her one more time and gave her the ceramic horse. I never saw Linda again after that day – I looked for her at the park when I was there but didn’t see her. I have thought of her often.
Why this Story?
First I want to tell you that this account of my experience with Bill and Linda is totally authentic. They were the first openly gay people I knew. Second, I want you to know that I am a Christian Fundamentalist. I have a B.A. in Biblical Education and attended 3 Fundamentalist colleges, Florida Bible College, Lancaster Bible College and Trinity College of the Bible. I am well acquainted with many Fundamentalist churches and Learning Institutions. I was ordained at a Fundamentalist church and examined for ordination by Evangelical and Fundamentalist Ministers.
I share this real account of Linda to illustrate for you the heartbeat of true Fundamentalist Christianity. Fundamentalists such as myself want all people, including gay people, to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who loves us and gave His life for us all because we are all sinners. Further, after a person chooses to believe – we want and encourage believers to follow the Lord Jesus by being obedient to His written Word – the Bible. More on that later.
For now – let me be very clear – I am a Fundamentalist and I do not hate gay people. The Bible does not teach us to hate gay people. I have never, in my entire experience as a believer in Jesus Christ or as a student of the Bible, been taught to hate gay people. I am not and never have been a gay basher. While I do not approve of lesbianism or homosexuality and the gay lifestyle – I do not believe the answer to those things is to hate or beat gay people up. I am not homophobic. I am not afraid of gay people. If anything, I am afraid FOR them.
Contrary to the current thinking, seemingly promoted by the gay movement, Fundamentalists as a whole do not hate gays nor do we promote hating gays. It is true there are a few wacko’s out there hold up signs saying “God hates Gays” or “God hates Faggots”, etc. But the Scriptural evidence is clear – God loves us all, homosexual or heterosexual, as demonstrated by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for all our sins. See Romans 5:8; John 3:15-18; 1 Timothy 1:15 and 1 Corinthians 15:3,4.
Just What Is A Christian Fundamentalist?
Webster’s Dictionary defines a “fundamental” this way – “of or forming a foundation or basis: basic; essential”. Christian Fundamentalists believe that certain teachings are basic and essential to the Christian Faith as set forth in the Bible, which we believe to be God’s written Word. The actual use of the term “Fundamentalist” began being used to describe Bible believing Christians around the 1920’s. The reason for this was the publishing of a set of books called The Fundamentals in 1917. The books are actually a series of essays written by conservative Bible Scholars, Teachers and Pastors. The writers came from a variety of Protestant Denominations and Learning Institutions. The denominations included Presbyterian, Anglican, Reformed Episcopal, United Free Church, Baptist, Congregational and Methodist Episcopal. They also came from the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Germany. The reason for the Essays was to answer the Bible discrediting teaching coming from liberal minded religious schools of thought – often found within the denominations themselves. These sets of books were distributed to Bible believing Christian Workers all over the world. Believe it or not – there was a time when Protestant Denominations pretty much agreed on the basics of the Christian Faith. These basics were covered in the essays entitled The Fundamentals. Basics such as:
• The Existence of the Supernatural World
• The Bible is God’s Complete and Inerrant Written Word
• The Divine Creation of the Universe and Mankind
• The Historic Fall and Fallen State of Mankind
• The Reality and Penalty of Sin
• The Virgin Birth of Christ
• Salvation by Grace Alone through Faith Alone in Christ Alone
• The Substitutionary Death and Literal Resurrection of Christ
• The Trinity
Certainly within the different Protestant Denominations there was theological debate over some issues but the basics were pretty much set. The Bible was understood as the source of information for the debates and its validity and truthfulness were not in question. When the liberal schools of thought launched attacks on the integrity of the Scriptures, and thereby what the Scriptures taught on a variety of issues, the conservative schools, Scholars and Pastors responded. The 4 Volume Set is available today, published by Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and is well worth reading. The “Fundamentalist Fathers” (there is one woman author also), were not afraid to face, evaluate, research and answer the negative assertions and outcomes of liberal thought. There is an example for Fundamentalists to follow today.
Previous to being called “Fundamentalists” Bible believing Christians were known as “Evangelicals”. Today many Bible believers still prefer that label. The reason “Fundamentalists” moved away from the term “Evangelical” was because of religious liberal infiltration of the “Evangelical” ranks. The term “Evangelical” began to lose its definition and identification merit. When I was in Bible College at least one professor thought we ought to start going by the term “Biblicist” because of certain unbiblical or extra-biblical teachings held by some who call themselves “Fundamentalists”.
I want to note here that Christian Fundamentalism is first and foremost a movement born of issues regarding the defense of the historic Christian Faith. It is not a political action group or a political coalition. See Fundamentalism and American Culture by George M. Marsden for further insights. More about Fundamentalism and Politics later. Christian Fundamentalism at its roots was and is an affirmation of historic Christianity as revealed in the Bible. It traces its heritage back through the Protestant Reformation to the early church. It is NOT Roman Catholic, which teaches a system of faith and good works to earn salvation and has 3 sources of religious authority:
• The Bible and Apochrypha as interpreted by the Roman Catholic Church
• Church Tradition
• The Papacy
Christian Fundamentalism holds to the Protestant Reformation Articles of:
• Scripture Only
• Salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone
• The Priesthood of every believer (male or female)
It is unfortunate and inaccurate that Christian Fundamentalism is portrayed and often stereotyped by the media and frankly the gay movement, as a band of Bible waving, screaming hate mongers who are on the verge of being committed to a mental institution or jail. I can see where some of this impression may be had by the public when the media continually and intentionally focuses on the ridiculous and/or sinful exploits of certain television evangelists or the antics surrounding certain isolated incidents where wrong headed individuals hold up placards saying God hates gays. Make no mistake about it – the Bible believing Christian seeks the salvation of everyone because God loves everyone and Christ died for the sins of everyone. We don’t want gays beaten or strung up – we want them to understand the love of Christ and be saved just like we want for everyone else. We love people because they are created in the image of God, because Christ died for them just as He did for us.
In spite of what the media often contemptuously portrays, Christian Fundamentalists come in all flavors and are in all walks of life. Most go quietly about their daily lives seeking to honor God by loyalty to the Scriptures, doing good and loving those around them, hopeful of bringing them to trust in the Savior Jesus Christ. Being a Fundamentalist is not synonymous with being perfect – we are painfully aware of shortcomings both privately and as a group. We are aware of our falleness (sinfulness) and our need of a Savior. That is why we initially trusted in Christ. After believing in Christ and receiving the gift of eternal life - God’s will for us is to be like Christ, that in itself is part of growing after having believed and is a lifetime pursuit. Each believer is in a different place in that pursuit – but we do pursue. Romans 8:28,29; Romans 13:12-14.
Christian Fundamentalism, Morality, Sexual Behavior and Hate
Morality – the way a world view tells us we can or should live in this world. Every philosophy of life has a morality based on some logic, reason, authoritative writing(s) and/or authoritative person(s). Fundamentalism has a clearly defined morality based on the Bible. We see the Bible as God’s revelation of Himself to humankind. It is a needed and specific revelation that tells us things we could not otherwise know about God and ourselves, things we could not know only through investigation of the natural world and the universe. The natural world, by the existence of order, design, unity, diversity and personality plainly indicates the existence and creative power of God. We need more than that to know God. The Bible tells us who God is, who we are in the universe, what our responsibility is to God and man, God’s acts in History, His plan for us and the world. We believe life has meaning, purpose and an ultimate accountability. Like it or not, agree with it nor not – that is how Christian Fundamentalists see the Bible.
Let me answer a notion being popularized today by the gay rights people. The notion is this – if people say the practice of homosexuality or lesbianism is a sin – that is hate speech and teaches others to hate gays. It gives people a basis to beat up or kill gay people. Interesting concept. A bit narrow and I believe intended to be politically self serving by the gay community. Permit me to bring some perspective to this notion of calling certain behaviors wrong or sinful and teaching hate. The Bible teaches the following sexual practices are wrong, destructive and sinful – fornication, adultery, bestiality, homosexuality, lesbianism, orgies, incestual relationships and rape. As a matter of fact the only sexual relationship between people the Bible recognizes as not wrong or sinful is found in a heterosexual marriage relationship. That means Christian Fundamentalism is at odds with far more than the agenda of the gay rights people – we are at odds with any culture which allows or approves of sexual relationships between people (or people and animals) outside of the safe haven of heterosexual marriage. Based on the Scriptures – Christian Fundamentalism maintains sex with animals is breaking the law of God. Sex between two people who are not in heterosexual marriage is sinful. That means children having sex with each other is wrong. High School and College students having sex with each other is wrong. Non-married adults having sex with each other is wrong. The john and the prostitute are sinning. Business people involved in one night stands are being immoral. Casual sex or “friends with benefits” between people is a sin. People involved in group sex are sinning. These are despicable practices. Please understand the point here – Biblical teaching on sexual morality does speak to homosexuality and lesbianism – but not ONLY to homosexuality and lesbianism. Because heterosexual sin is without question far more frequent in any society, the BULK of Biblical teaching on sexual sin is aimed squarely at heterosexuals. Shall Christian Fundamentalism now be accused of teaching people to hate heterosexuals because we label ALL heterosexual sexual activity SIN when it occurs outside the context of heterosexual marriage? I think not.
Christian Fundamentalism and more importantly the Bible, does NOT teach that the response to sexual sin is hating the person. We think that sexual sin of any sort is wrong, harmful and displeases God. But just as the Lord Jesus taught us by His own example – we call sin what it is, we hate the sin and we love the sinner. We Fundamentalists are sinners too, saved by God’s grace, Ephesians 2:8,9. The same grace we try to explain and extend to ALL people. We were, everyone of us who call ourselves Fundamentalists, reached by someone who loved us and saw our need of the Savior. We were reached out to by someone who looked beyond our falleness (sinfulness) and our expression of that falleness. Be it involvement in sexual sin or some other manifestation or many manifestations of our falleness such as lying, bullying, hatred, stealing, drunkenness, etc. We were reached by someone who cared enough about us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ. Sometimes, prior to becoming believers in Christ, we put that caring to the test and the person(s) reaching out to us had to be patient for a long time. We seek to imitate our Lord and those who loved us enough to share the Gospel message with us. We want all people to have the priceless gift of eternal life, Romans 6:23. That is why we (Bible Believing Christians) have a history, from the time of Christ on, of missionary outreach and the various forms that takes such as Schools, Medical Missionaries, Orphanages, Rescue Missions, Prison Ministries, Visiting the sick and elderly, Soup Kitchens, Vacation Bible Schools, Crisis Pregnancy Centers and even Ministries to gay people such as Exodus International (www.exodus-international.org). These outreaches are not based on hate – they are based on the love of Christ and are the direct result of his command to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you…”, Matthew 28:19,20 NIV.
The point here is to show that hating people because they are sinners is simply not consistent with the Biblical Christianity proclaimed by Christian Fundamentalists. It is self defeating to the cause of Christ, a misrepresentation of the Scriptures and not what God Himself modeled for us. The simple truth is that all of humanity is fallen and needs to place their faith in the Savior, Romans 3:21-26. Let me close this section with the following:
Romans 5:8 NIV says:
But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.
Again, 1 John 4:10 NIV says:
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away our sins”
Fundamentalism and Politics
Because Christian Fundamentalism has and does exist under different political systems I will confine my remarks to Fundamentalism in America. Let it be clear at the outset of this section that those who call themselves Bible Believing Christians, derive their view of morality and responsibility from the Scriptures. It does not matter what a political system allows, does not allow, legalizes or criminalizes, or if it seeks to remain neutral. For example, in the mind of a Fundamentalist, adultery, fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, lesbianism, etc. will remain outside the realm of acceptable sexual conduct regardless of what the American legal system says about our freedom to practice these things. Let sexual immorality have the legal system on its side – God says no, that settles it. We derive our way of life from the standard and commands found in the Scriptures.
That is one of the purposes of the Bible – to give us instruction on how to live so we don’t:
• Offend God – whose creation we are and whose universe this is
• Hurt others with our fallen, sinful, selfish behavior
• Hurt ourselves with our fallen, sinful, selfish behavior
• Miss the joy of living fully, by living within the guidelines of the One who created us and knows what it best for us
Having said that – we live in America. We recognize the many and tremendous benefits of living here. In the early years – generally moral issues were agreed upon. That is no longer the case. Our society has become more diverse politically and philosophically. So much so that now we have a definite polarization of ideas regarding sexual morality – not just political theories. Everybody has the right to the ballot box and access to the courts. Fundamentalists will always vote in accordance with what they understand as God’s standard – or atleast will vote for someone who is closer to that morality than another who is farther away. Why do we do that? We vote like that because we believe in and can see the wisdom of God’s laws for the good of society. All society benefits from a sexual morality based on God’s laws. As opposed to the detrimental effects of a philosophy that says I have a right to have sex with anyone I want.
Permit me an example. If, starting today, everyone waited until they were married to have sexual relations and confined sexual relations to their marriage, consider the following outcomes:
• Stop the spread of the epidemic of STD’s and AIDS.
• Stop the increase in AIDS deaths – 7,945 per day in 2006 – 2.9 million died.
• Stop new AIDS orphans from being created and the consequent associated costs – financially and in human suffering.
• Stop babies being infected with STD’s.
• Stop women from being sterilized by STD’s and the pain associated with not being able to have children.
• Stop women from being exposed to HPV and to cervical cancer related to HPV which causes approximately 290,000 women to die world wide each year.
• Stop babies being born to unwed mothers who do not have the financial or emotional capacity to care for them.
• Stop the pain and regret associated with premarital and extramarital sex.
• Stop almost all abortions and the pain and regret associated with them.
• Stop emotionally needy women from becoming victims of sexual conquest and impregnated by an opportunist who denies responsibility and moves on to his next fling.
• Leveling of the playing field in teaching people to respect each other and not treating people as sexual objects for conquest.
• Focus on the development of other parts of a relationship – the intellectual, spiritual and emotional aspects – before marriage - without the baggage of premature sexual union and an unhealthy or imbalanced focus on that aspect of the relationship. For instance - How many have felt they had to marry because they had sex before marriage? How many have had sex before marriage and found themselves so absorbed in sex that it blinded them to other relational issues? It happens all the time.
• Consider all the money that could be saved and spent in more productive ways by society not having to pay for the research, medical facilities, medical care and other costs associated with STD’s.
• No more open fields of opportunity for sexual predators or self absorbed sexual opportunists who knowingly hide their disease and expose and/or infect others with STD’s. Remember Gaetan Dugas, the gay airline steward who, after he found out he had AIDS continued to infect gay men with AIDS. It appears he was largely responsible for the spread of AIDS in North America. This scenario is common in both homosexual and heterosexual contexts.
In summation of this section – STD deaths with a focus on AIDS deaths in particular, are a LIFESTYLE DRIVEN HOLOCAUST of horrific proportion. I submit society and the world at large would do nothing but benefit from a Biblical Standard of Sexual Practice. Given the ongoing WORLDWIDE LIFESTYLE DRIVEN HOLOCAUST, one would think people would adopt the abstinence until marriage and faithfulness in marriage ethic based simply on outcomes and what would be best for all societies.
Abstinence until and faithfulness within marriage is the CROWN JEWEL of stopping STD’s that KILL people, create orphans, destroy families and ruin lives. I submit that the best friends any society has in this situation are those who do NOT increase the problem by exercising their “right” to have sex but use self control to not add to the pandemic already in progress. It does not even have to be a question of what the Bible teaches – but what is best for society and each person to have a healthy LIFE.
The purpose of this entire writing is to give some initial insight and explanation as to the relationship between Christian Fundamentalism, its Mission, its Sexual Ethics, the Gay Community and the world at large.
Finally, I present to the reader a list of New Testament Scriptures (the Old Testament has far more and they will be addressed in future writings) that speak to the issue of Christian sexual ethics and practice. As stated earlier, the bulk of Biblical Teaching is aimed squarely at heterosexuals. However, simply stated - the injunction to “Flee Fornication” 1 Corinthians 6:18 KJV or “Flee from sexual immorality” NIV, applies regardless of “sexual orientation”. No one gets a free pass on this. No one.
In future writings on the subject of Hedonism, False Teachers & Teaching in the Church, Pseudo-Christianity, Sexual Sin in Fundamentalist and Evangelical Leadership and other related issues, many of these texts will be revisited and expounded upon. The plain meaning of the texts is quite apparent. Even where the imagery of sexual sin is used to describe spiritual adultery, as in many of the Book of Revelation passages, the point is clear – sexual sin is not countenanced or approved by the God of the Bible. It will be judged. Further – the issue is not - will God forgive those guilty of sexual sin who come to Him in faith through the Lord Jesus Christ – He absolutely will. Colossians 2:13,14; Acts 13:38,39. Once any individual trusts in Christ – God has a sexual standard for His people to live by and that standard is - sexual purity until and faithfulness in heterosexual marriage. May we see His wisdom in this.
Some New Testament Scriptures that speak to or set the standard for sexual pratice are:
Matthew 15:16-20 NIV
16 "Are you still so dull?" Jesus asked them. 17 " Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? 18 But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' 19 For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. 20 These are what make a man 'unclean'; but eating with unwashed hands does not make him 'unclean.' "
Mark 7:21 NIV
20 He went on: "What comes out of a man is what makes him 'unclean.' 21 For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. 23 All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.' "
Acts 15:19-20, 29 NIV
19"It is my judgment, therefore, that we should not make it difficult for the Gentiles who are turning to God. 20 Instead we should write to them, telling them to abstain from food polluted by idols, from sexual immorality, from the meat of strangled animals and from blood…… 29 You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell.
Acts 21:25 NIV
25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality."
Romans 1:18 – 32 NIV
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. 21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the
Creator—who is forever praised. Amen. 26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion. 28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 NIV
1 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that does not occur even among pagans: A man has his father's wife. 2 And you are proud! Shouldn't you rather have been filled with grief and have put out of your fellowship the man who did this? 3 Even though I am not physically present, I am with you in spirit. And I have already passed judgment on the one who did this, just as if I were present. 4 When you are assembled in the name of our Lord Jesus and I am with you in spirit, and the power of our Lord Jesus is present, 5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord.
1 Corinthians 5:9-13 NIV
9 I have written you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people—10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. "Expel the wicked man from among you."
1 Corinthians 6: 9-18 NIV
9 Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 12 "Everything is permissible for me"—but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"—but I will not be mastered by anything. 13 "Food for the stomach and the stomach for food"—but God will destroy them both. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. 14 By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 15 Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! 16 Do you not know that he who unites himself with a prostitute is one with her in body? For it is said, "The two will become one flesh."] 17 But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. 18 “Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body.”
1 Corinthians 7:2-5 NIV
2 But since there is so much immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife's body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband's body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
1 Corinthians 10:6-8 NIV
6 Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did. 7 Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: "The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry." 8 We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.
2 Corinthians 12:21 NIV
21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.
Galatians 5:19-21 NIV
19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Ephesians 4:17-24
17 So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. 19 Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. 20 You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. 21 Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. 22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 5:3-5 NIV
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Colossians 3:5-7 NIV
5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6 Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
1 Thessalonians 4:3-9 NIV
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. 9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
1 Timothy 1: 8-11 NIV
8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me.
Titus 1:15-16 NIV
15 To the pure, all things are pure, but to those who are corrupted and do not believe, nothing is pure. In fact, both their minds and consciences are corrupted. 16 They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. They are detestable, disobedient and unfit for doing anything good.
1 Peter 2:11-12 NIV
11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
Jude 3-7 NIV
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints. 4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord. 5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Hebrews 13:4 NIV
Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.
Revelation 2:14 NIV
Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: You have people there who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin by eating food sacrificed to idols and by committing sexual immorality.
Revelation 2:20-23 NIV
20 Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. 21 I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. 22 So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways. 23 I will strike her children dead. Then all the churches will know that I am he who searches hearts and minds, and I will repay each of you according to your deeds.
Revelation 9:20, 21 NIV
20 The rest of mankind that were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 14:8 NIV
8 A second angel followed and said, "Fallen! Fallen is Babylon the Great, which made all the nations drink the maddening wine of her adulteries."
Revelation 17:2-4 NIV
2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries." 3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a desert. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries.
Revelation 18: 3-5, 9 NIV
3 For all the nations have drunk the maddening wine of her adulteries. The kings of the earth committed adultery with her, and the merchants of the earth grew rich from her excessive luxuries." 4 Then I heard another voice from heaven say:
"Come out of her, my people, so that you will not share in her sins, so that you will not receive any of her plagues; 5 for her sins are piled up to heaven, and God has remembered her crime…. 9 "When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10 Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry: " 'Woe! Woe, O great city, O Babylon, city of power! In one hour your doom has come!'
Revelation 19:1-3 NIV
1 After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: "Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God,
2 for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute
who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants." 3 And again they shouted: "Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever."
Revelation 21:6-8 NIV
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
I hope this writing has proven equal to the task of its purpose.
Rev. William A. Phillips
February 2008
Wajphil2@verizon.net
Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Spring Bible Conference
Free Grace Seminary & Eagle's Brooke Community Church invites the Florida Bible College community to their Spring Bible Conference with Dr. Richard Seymour (Frontier School of the Bible), Hal Haler (Luther Rice University), Dr. Mike Halsey (President of FGS), & Tom Eckman (FGS).
Dr. Ed Hoard is the Host Pastor and Vice President of Free Grace Seminary. The conference will start on March 14 (Friday night) at 7:p.m. and March 15 (Saturday) from 9:00a.m. - 4:45 p.m. The conference theme is "The Battle Cry." The New Testament book of Galatians was the "battle cry of the reformation" under Martin Luther. It has been called the "Magna Carta of Christian Liberty."
For further information or directions, go to our website (www.freegraceseminary.com), or call 770-775-1464. Eagle's Brooke Community Church is located at 751 Dean Patrick Road in Locust Grove, GA.
Dr. Ed Hoard is the Host Pastor and Vice President of Free Grace Seminary. The conference will start on March 14 (Friday night) at 7:p.m. and March 15 (Saturday) from 9:00a.m. - 4:45 p.m. The conference theme is "The Battle Cry." The New Testament book of Galatians was the "battle cry of the reformation" under Martin Luther. It has been called the "Magna Carta of Christian Liberty."
For further information or directions, go to our website (www.freegraceseminary.com), or call 770-775-1464. Eagle's Brooke Community Church is located at 751 Dean Patrick Road in Locust Grove, GA.
Rally Up! In Georgia
A poem by E Norris Class of 76
The troops from FBC were fresh, the call to "Charge" was cried
And they rushed forth to storm the beach, and at once, some fell and died
So the others dropped down to the earth, and bellied towards the fray
And the battle days turned into months, a year soon passed away
And the soldiers kept on fighting, it would not end 'til death,
And oft they had no ammo, of armour, they're bereft
Years then passed spent for the Lord, and oft wounds were sustained
And some took leaves of furlough, with injuries and pain
You didn’t have to look too far, to see a brother brace
Another fallen comrade carried, back to a safer place
Their leader, strong, He is a king, who powers the attack
On Satan's gates, He leads the charge and soon is coming back
With strength from Him they fight, these troops from FBC
With struggles they are wrought, the prize, eternity
And the soldiers all had taken wounds, and needed help to stand
Those fresh young kids from days of yore-- now a ragged, broken band
Remember during the Civil War, when a battle went askew
Despair and fear are crippling souls, as battles often do
A bugler and a flag bearer would signal rendezvous
“Rally!” they would cry aloud. “Regroup! Refresh, anew!”
So like the battle-worn soldiers, who clashed in days of yore
The troops of FBC come back, exhausted, weary, sore
Rally round the Lord, over ‘neath the Georgia sky
Time to Rally FBC, up on eagle wings to fly
To all FBC fighters, who're still God’s soldiers true
Rally now to run His race, you're still His fighting crew
And the cost to Rally’s tiny, little more than a small pittance
So register today, and to FBC send your remittance.
The troops from FBC were fresh, the call to "Charge" was cried
And they rushed forth to storm the beach, and at once, some fell and died
So the others dropped down to the earth, and bellied towards the fray
And the battle days turned into months, a year soon passed away
And the soldiers kept on fighting, it would not end 'til death,
And oft they had no ammo, of armour, they're bereft
Years then passed spent for the Lord, and oft wounds were sustained
And some took leaves of furlough, with injuries and pain
You didn’t have to look too far, to see a brother brace
Another fallen comrade carried, back to a safer place
Their leader, strong, He is a king, who powers the attack
On Satan's gates, He leads the charge and soon is coming back
With strength from Him they fight, these troops from FBC
With struggles they are wrought, the prize, eternity
And the soldiers all had taken wounds, and needed help to stand
Those fresh young kids from days of yore-- now a ragged, broken band
Remember during the Civil War, when a battle went askew
Despair and fear are crippling souls, as battles often do
A bugler and a flag bearer would signal rendezvous
“Rally!” they would cry aloud. “Regroup! Refresh, anew!”
So like the battle-worn soldiers, who clashed in days of yore
The troops of FBC come back, exhausted, weary, sore
Rally round the Lord, over ‘neath the Georgia sky
Time to Rally FBC, up on eagle wings to fly
To all FBC fighters, who're still God’s soldiers true
Rally now to run His race, you're still His fighting crew
And the cost to Rally’s tiny, little more than a small pittance
So register today, and to FBC send your remittance.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Youth Ranch is alive and well in Nicaragua!
Youth Ranch is alive and well in Nicaragua! Toney Jones and John Raulins have teamed up to launch the Nicaraquan Youth Ranch.
The mission field is ripe. They had 340 kids at the first meeting in December. Check out the link below for pictures and more info and how you can get involved.
www.nicyouthministries.com
The mission field is ripe. They had 340 kids at the first meeting in December. Check out the link below for pictures and more info and how you can get involved.
www.nicyouthministries.com
Saturday, February 2, 2008
Florida Bible College Alumni Association signs contract with the Marietta Conference Center and Resorts to host the FBCAA Reunion in August of 2008.
Florida Bible College Alumni Association are pleased to announce that the Florida Bible College Alumni Association has secured a meeting place for the FBCAA reunion scheduled over the Labor Day weekend, August 29-September 1st, 2008 in the Atlanta area.
FBCAA has signed a contract with the Marietta Conference Center & Resorts in Marietta Georgia, just outside of Atlanta to host this event. You can visit the resort’s website at www.mariettaresort.com. You can begin to make your room reservations now by contacting the resort. Be sure to let them know you are with the Florida Bible College Alumni Association so you can receive the special room rates.
All Florida Bible College Alumni that are interested in attending should register at the FBCAA website, www.floridabiblecollege.com.
At this time the registration fee is $35 (which does not cover lodging or meals) if received by February 1st and $45 if received after March 1st. The FBCAA encourages you to register soon. If you know of any Florida Bible College alumni please pass this information on to them so they too can attend. We currently only have contact information for about 10% of the FBC alumni and would like to reach as many alumni as we can.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Nelson and Lucy Guerra
Nelson Guerra trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior in 1973 while completing his second year of college in Honduras. From that moment, Nelson became a follower of Christ wanting to learn more about God's plan for his life. He immediately started to witness to others in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, his hometown. As a result, he started and led a weekly Bible study.
In 1975 Nelson moved to the United States to study at Florida Bible College. Daniel Sierra, missionary and FBC graduate, was instrumental in Nelson attending FBC. There he met and later married Lucy Davila, who had come from Wally and Jane Morillo's ministry in Pharr, Texas. Upon graduation he was ordained as pastor in the Hispanic Christian Church of Miami.
In 1980 Nelson and Lucy went back to Honduras. They joined the team he had left in Tegucigalpa. The challenging thoughts of reaching the world with the gospel revolutionized the small church. Soon the vision expanded to plant churches throughout Honduras. Missionary teams were sent to plant churches in two neighboring countries in Central America. Dreaming larger dreams, the vision expanded to reach all of Latin America.
As the churches multiplied, and under Nelson's leadership, Great Commission Latin America (GCLA) was born. Today 25 churches have been planted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and in three Hispanic-populated cities in the U.S.
During his ministry in Honduras, Nelson served as Pastor of Great Commission Churches in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. He also was President of the Honduran National Association of Churches, Chairman of the Franklin Graham's Evangelistic Association Crusade in Honduras, Board member of the Great Commission Association of Churches and World Vision Honduras.
In 2002, GCLA's headquarters moved to the "capital city of Latin America": Miami, FL. Here Nelson serves as GCLA's director and as Pastor of the Great Commission Church of Miami.
God has used GCLA to help rebuild communities that have been affected by hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. In 1999 and in partnership with Samaritan's Purse, more than 5,400 houses were built in Honduras and El Salvador to benefit the families whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch.
Today GCLA has many community outreach programs throughout Latin America: medical clinics that serve thousands of people a year, nutrition clinics, orphanages, Christian daycare centers and a support center to minister to HIV/AIDS infected families. Different projects have been created to help poor families be self sustained: a bakery, a tortilla factory, a tilapia farm, and others.
More than 500 short term missionaries from US churches are mobilized each year to minister in different GCLA churches in Latin America.
From two small Bible study groups in the 70s, GCLA has developed into more than 6,500 people attending weekend services, 3,000 committed members, 645 small group leaders and 34 ordained pastors. The GCLA pastors are all committed to the vision of having a "growing church in every important city of Latin America."
Nelson and Lucy reside in Miami. They have six children, Karisa Rivera (27), married to Abelardo Rivera, Irene (25), Susan (23), Marcos (21), Karen (19) and Nelson Andres (15). They have one granddaughter, Madison (2). All their children share their parent's vision to make disciples in every nation as Jesus Christ commanded in Matthew 28.
Great Commission Latin America, Inc
12905 SW 132nd Street, Suite 2A
Miami, FL 33186
Tel: 305.252.1223 - Fax: 305.252.4042
Website: www.reachinglatinos.com
In 1975 Nelson moved to the United States to study at Florida Bible College. Daniel Sierra, missionary and FBC graduate, was instrumental in Nelson attending FBC. There he met and later married Lucy Davila, who had come from Wally and Jane Morillo's ministry in Pharr, Texas. Upon graduation he was ordained as pastor in the Hispanic Christian Church of Miami.
In 1980 Nelson and Lucy went back to Honduras. They joined the team he had left in Tegucigalpa. The challenging thoughts of reaching the world with the gospel revolutionized the small church. Soon the vision expanded to plant churches throughout Honduras. Missionary teams were sent to plant churches in two neighboring countries in Central America. Dreaming larger dreams, the vision expanded to reach all of Latin America.
As the churches multiplied, and under Nelson's leadership, Great Commission Latin America (GCLA) was born. Today 25 churches have been planted in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Venezuela and in three Hispanic-populated cities in the U.S.
During his ministry in Honduras, Nelson served as Pastor of Great Commission Churches in the cities of Tegucigalpa and San Pedro Sula. He also was President of the Honduran National Association of Churches, Chairman of the Franklin Graham's Evangelistic Association Crusade in Honduras, Board member of the Great Commission Association of Churches and World Vision Honduras.
In 2002, GCLA's headquarters moved to the "capital city of Latin America": Miami, FL. Here Nelson serves as GCLA's director and as Pastor of the Great Commission Church of Miami.
God has used GCLA to help rebuild communities that have been affected by hurricanes, earthquakes and other natural disasters. In 1999 and in partnership with Samaritan's Purse, more than 5,400 houses were built in Honduras and El Salvador to benefit the families whose homes were destroyed by Hurricane Mitch.
Today GCLA has many community outreach programs throughout Latin America: medical clinics that serve thousands of people a year, nutrition clinics, orphanages, Christian daycare centers and a support center to minister to HIV/AIDS infected families. Different projects have been created to help poor families be self sustained: a bakery, a tortilla factory, a tilapia farm, and others.
More than 500 short term missionaries from US churches are mobilized each year to minister in different GCLA churches in Latin America.
From two small Bible study groups in the 70s, GCLA has developed into more than 6,500 people attending weekend services, 3,000 committed members, 645 small group leaders and 34 ordained pastors. The GCLA pastors are all committed to the vision of having a "growing church in every important city of Latin America."
Nelson and Lucy reside in Miami. They have six children, Karisa Rivera (27), married to Abelardo Rivera, Irene (25), Susan (23), Marcos (21), Karen (19) and Nelson Andres (15). They have one granddaughter, Madison (2). All their children share their parent's vision to make disciples in every nation as Jesus Christ commanded in Matthew 28.
Great Commission Latin America, Inc
12905 SW 132nd Street, Suite 2A
Miami, FL 33186
Tel: 305.252.1223 - Fax: 305.252.4042
Website: www.reachinglatinos.com
Friday, January 11, 2008
Florida Bible College Reunion in Atlanta Labor Day Weekend 2008
The Alumni Association is sponsoring a Florida Bible College gathering which will be held over the Labor Day weekend, August 29-September 1st, 2008 in the Atlanta area. Your immediate registration will help determine the size of the facility that we will require.
At this time we are asking for a $25. registration fee (which does not cover lodging or meals) The registration fee is $25. if we receive your registration by January 31st, $35 if received by February 1st and $45 if received after March lst. A fee schedule and further details on the reunion will be posted at a later date.
At this time we are asking for a $25. registration fee (which does not cover lodging or meals) The registration fee is $25. if we receive your registration by January 31st, $35 if received by February 1st and $45 if received after March lst. A fee schedule and further details on the reunion will be posted at a later date.
HCC taps attorney, FBC Alumni for consultant for board
FBC alum Roddy Jurado (ThB '96) was recently appointed to the Hillsborough Community College board of trustees by Florida Governor Charlie Crist. The following appeared in the Tampa Bay Business Journal on April 12, 2007:
Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Andrew L. Graham of Tampa and Rodrigo "Rod" Jurado of Temple Terrace to the Hillsborough Community College board of trustees.
Graham is an attorney for Trinsic Communications, the principal operating subsidiary of Trinsic Inc. He will succeed Chappella I. Hill for a term beginning April 11, 2007, and ending May 31, 2010. Jurado will succeed William "Edward" Gonzalez and is also appointed for a term beginning April 11, 2007, and ending May 31, 2010.
Jurado is a management consultant for the Profitable Group. He previously worked as the director of outreach and development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa. He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and another in exercise physiology from the University of South Florida and a master's degree in leisure behavior from the University of Illinois, a release said. Jurado also holds a bachelor's degree in theology from Florida Bible College.
Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The board of trustees administers HCC in accordance with the board of governors of the State University System of Florida.
HCC taps attorney, consultant for board
Gov. Charlie Crist has appointed Andrew L. Graham of Tampa and Rodrigo "Rod" Jurado of Temple Terrace to the Hillsborough Community College board of trustees.
Graham is an attorney for Trinsic Communications, the principal operating subsidiary of Trinsic Inc. He will succeed Chappella I. Hill for a term beginning April 11, 2007, and ending May 31, 2010. Jurado will succeed William "Edward" Gonzalez and is also appointed for a term beginning April 11, 2007, and ending May 31, 2010.
Jurado is a management consultant for the Profitable Group. He previously worked as the director of outreach and development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Tampa. He received a bachelor's degree in philosophy and another in exercise physiology from the University of South Florida and a master's degree in leisure behavior from the University of Illinois, a release said. Jurado also holds a bachelor's degree in theology from Florida Bible College.
Both appointments are subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.
The board of trustees administers HCC in accordance with the board of governors of the State University System of Florida.
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