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Print Less than a month to go before the presidential election; I hope everyone is registered to vote and plans to exercise their right/opportunity! Lots of letters this week, so enjoy, and if you decide to write in don’t forget to leave a name (both first and last) with your geographic location. (So many people still overlook this necessity. Last but not least, this weekend ninetyandnine.com staffers will be convening to discuss our future: a redesign (at last!), content refocusing, etc. If you have any suggestions or thoughts, feel free to email them to us (editor@ninetyandnine.com) and we will gladly take it to the table!
Letter about the fallacies in “The Power of Four“ The point about general “witnessing” having a relatively low success rate is well taken. Note, however, that “The Power of Four” article was careful to delineate “people that truly hear the Word of God.” In the specific scenario discussed of teaching at least one personal Bible study during each year of college, the “hearers” are not classmates you may talk to once or twice about Jesus, but people who have a real desire to learn more. While it is very hard to come by actual data (I have tried on occasion), my personal experience during my on-campus days and anecdotal accounts I have gotten from others support the one-out-of-four principle. David Kuhtenia, Ohio
Re: “UPCI General Conference Update“ The outcome of the TV-advertising Resolution at this year’s UPCI General Conference is deplorable. This organization ought to reconsider its motto. It should be changed from “The whole gospel to the whole world” to “The whole gospel to everyone who happens to walk through our little church doors.” How can we expect anyone to think we take our mission seriously when we deny the use of the greatest medium ever available to mankind, to evangelize mankind? The issue of TV evangelism/advertising is about one thing: making the most of every opportunity to present the gospel to as many people as possible. Ask any preacher if they had the option of preaching 10 separate messages on 10 consecutive days to 10 different crowds, or the option of preaching 1 message on 1 day by utilizing an auditorium that can accommodate all 10 crowds at once, which one they would choose, and I’m sure it would be the latter. Why? It’s because it would allow them to use those other 9 days to reach even more people with the Gospel. We want every message we preach to reach as many lost individuals as is possible. TV accomplishes this goal. If we would choose the bigger building to be able to preach to a bigger audience for reasons of spiritual expediency, on what principled basis can we reject the utilization of TV? The typical answer to this question is that it would “send the wrong message to our people.” But TV evangelism/advertising is not for “our people.” It is for the lost sheep of this world. We ought to be more concerned about sending The Message to the lost than we are about sending (what some perceive to be) the “wrong message” to existing sheep. What are we more concerned about: the lost, or some individuals’ personal convictions? Are we deeming a particular level of sanctification to be more important than salvation itself? Are we so worried that some Christians may turn on the TV to watch a sitcom in the name of “my pastor is on TV” that we are willing to withhold the Gospel from thousands and thousands of people who may never hear it any other way? We are measuring the salvation of multitudes against the personal convictions of some, but there is no comparison between the two. The possible risk of some saints buying TVs in the name of “my church is on TV” is nothing compared to the definite reality that the vast majority of the world is going to hell because they have never heard the truth. No carnal and unprincipled Christian should get in the way of the church choosing the most effective methods to fulfill the Great Commission. And I don’t buy into the idea that allowing TV evangelism/advertising sends the wrong message anyway. I don’t buy into the idea that it is hypocritical to preach against the evils of TV on the one hand, and yet utilize it to reach the lost on the other. We are trying to reach sinners, right? If TV is as evil as we say it is, and sinful people are attracted to evil things, then TV is the best place to find sinners! What is hypocritical is to think that it’s hypocritical to preach against the evils of TV and yet utilize it for evangelism, but see nothing wrong with preaching against the evils of the internet and yet utilize it for evangelism. Both mediums can be used for evil, but clearly both can be utilized for good as well. The only hypocrisy I can see is in allowing one, but disallowing the other when the same principle applies to both. If the church’s advertising the Good News on TV is an invitation for one to watch all the “bad news” TV has to offer, then surely broadcasting our services on the internet must be an invitation for people to look at the porn so easily accessible through the internet! When will we wake up? When we will rid ourselves of these irrational inconsistencies? When will we start living by principle rather than the traditions of men? There is no other medium better suited to reach the large numbers of people we have been commanded to reach. To not use TV as a medium for the Gospel when we have the means to do so (thereby severely limiting the number of people that will ever hear the true Gospel) is to make a conscious choice to be half-hearted in our attempt to fulfill the Great Commission. That is the choice the UPCI made last week. God help this great movement. Stephan Boudros, California
Re: Gays in the Apostolic Church You are to realize that while you are not rejecting your friend Andy, it’s your responsibility to say and constantly hold the stance which the Bible takes which clearly states that homosexuality is wrong. Be very careful, because Satan is very crafty and deceitful. He will impress upon you to be sympathetic and at the same time tries to lure you to be deceived into accepting homosexuality as normal. Finally, your friend Andy is being influenced by a demon, and you need to take him to the Church leaders to be loosed. Although God called Lazarus from the grave, He said we are to loose him (Lazarus). Andy has been called by God but his enemy Satan wants to deceive him to believe God did not make him to be attracted only to women. If you really want to help him, show him the right and help in the process of taking him to Church and the Church leaders filled with the Holy Ghost and going on fasting and prayer including Andy. (For these deceitful demons only go out by prayer and fasting.)
Re: “This is my story; This is my song“ I am really encouraged and blessed by your testimony. I encourage you to continue to serve the Lord Jesus Christ. We are truly living in the last days and ought to stay awake spiritually. Remain in the truth and continue to love the Lord and be resilient. Shaneika Will, Jamaica
Re: “Conference News“ I was happy to see that the vote for advertising and putting services on TV was as strong as it was. Maybe in a year or two, enough people will really believe Matthew 28:19, “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature...” means exactly that. I was sorry to see that those who still hold to the view that the verse reads: “Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature except those who refuse to attend Bible Studies or go to church or couch potato types who sit home and guzzle beer,” did still carry the majority vote. I really believe Jesus was saddened by the outcome of that vote. Rev. Samuel M. Smith, Hawaii
Re: “TV or not TV?!?!” Enough already with the TV thing! Do that many people want to read it again? Time for a commercial! Travis Carter, New York
Re: Evolution–Science or Religion? Your article simply highlights your ignorance. The Theory of Evolution does not say that life began through “somehow-by-chance chemical reactions.” In fact, evolution (and chemistry and physics and science in general) supports the opposite idea; that molecules combine in very systematic, predictable ways. You are also misunderstanding the Second Law of Thermodynamics. I don’t have time to explain it right now, but feel free to contact me in the future for a full explanation on how the Second Law of Thermodynamics does not apply to the Theory of Evolution at all. There are other misconceptions printed in your article. Perhaps some other time I’ll return to this site to discuss further. Until then, good day. Stephanie Kucera, Montana
Re: Married to the Perfect Man This was exactly the article I was looking for. My husband is a model Christian. He has a strong gift of discernment which has made it challenging for me. He sees everything. My challenge is not being supportive, loving, or working around the house. Its being able to deal with my issues in time before he sees them and they become an issue with us. We are newlyweds and I am not used to someone truly seeing me up this close. And because I’ve been alone for so long, I wasn’t use to dealing with everything. Truly this marriage was my next step up. Now I am forced to deal with my self. Confront and confess. However, I haven’t always been that willing. And because he has such a strong gift of discernment, sometimes I can’t even see what’s truly in me. And sometimes I’m in denial. At first I cried, because I thought, “You think I’m such an ugly person. How can you say that about me?” So he backed off and the Lord started showing me the same thing. Now I’ve gotten to the point where I’m starting to believe my husband when he tells me what he sees. My challenge now is how do I get from point A to point B. I have been stubborn and rebellious and very headstrong. I need the Lord to make me meek and quiet. Sweet and loving. The fruit of the Spirit needs to manifest in my life. I’m fasting right now and praying until my change comes. Any suggestions? Thank you. Name Withheld, Colorado
Re: “Anything about T.V.” I am relatively disappointed with the many negative responses that we have seen towards the idea of television being an accepted avenue of ministry. On a personal note, I do not own nor do I desire to own a television set. As a teenager desiring to reach God in a supernatural way, God convicted me of the television that I had in my bedroom. From that time I have not entertained the idea of owning one. My concern is not whether we should have a TV or not, my concern is the tremendous justification that is made for other avenues of media not being as dangerous as TV. Why are we not seeing more writings on the dangers of the internet in our homes? I am a youth pastor and have had more problems arise in our youth regarding sexuality and perversion due to the internet in their home, rather than a TV. Let me note, that it is not always the youth that are initiating this twisted world of false reality either, it is often a parent. Our attractive Pentecostal Herald even recently disclosed an article about a man that was addicted to pornography that was placing his salvation, family, and ministry on the line for a www! How many scary testimonies have we heard of wives leaving their husbands on some ludicrous escapade to discover the lover that she met on some chat-room? This is crazy! Yet with all of the snares that lie on a creation such as the internet you yourself are feeding on one right now. I am not preaching for or against, I am preaching that we should wake up and quit being so blind by saying that we are okay with the internet but anathema on television. It almost sounds like a double standard. Of course, someone will make the point that filters can and should be purchased to protect their homes from the filth that is available on-line. This is a valid argument. Perhaps we should do an actual survey to discover how many of our preachers, pastor, saints, youth, etc. actually have these filters in place. As I close, let us consider who our leaders are. We are a spiritual movement where God is the head. There should come a time that we as a church have a little more confidence in our leaders to actually lead us. With all of the chances that the United Pentecostal Church International has had through the years to compromise and become like everybody else, why do you think that all of a sudden your pastor and my pastor will suddenly become the next flashy televangelist? To suggest such is simply disrespectful to the character of so many tremendous men of God that we have. I am a proud minister in the UPC. I know that our movement’s heartbeat is evangelism. World evangelism. Television ministry is not a means to corrupt our movement, it is an idea to more effectively reach the average American. Let us be fair in our approach to this concept and consider all arenas of evangelism in a true and balanced way. For our youth, Joshua S. Lewis, Missouri
Re: “General Conference Observation" The answer to your questions is simple. Without the formation of this nation by God-fearing men like G. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, etc., the Gospel would very much still be stifled by totalitarian and religiously intolerant governments. It was in this great land that the modern-day outpouring of the Holy Ghost began. It is my opinion that God has blessed America for just that reason. It is from America that we send missionaries all over the world to preach in nations which do not tolerate Christianity and the freedoms of worship and assembly that we hold dear. That is why we honor this nation founded in liberty, under God. No other country is like us. We are certainly not anything like the Roman Empire. It is wrong to compare us to that, or any other government in world history. I pray that even in today’s apathetic society at least we Christians will continue to uphold and honor that to which honor is due. Alex Daszewski, New York
Re: “Bro. Arnold on TV“ I’m not saying Bro. Arnold condones TV or owns a TV. I don’t live in his home nor do I attend his church, so it would be very wrong of me to say that. However, I am just repeating what he said in a sermon. I could only assume that he doesn’t have a problem with television as long as it is monitored and used for the right purpose. I agree very strongly that TV can be monitored and if used in the right context can be beneficial to all of society. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’m going to hell for watching cartoons, the news, or a football game on a screen any more than I would for reading them in a newspaper or listening to them on the radio. Kimberly Rigney, Mississippi
To Bro. Willhite from Arkansas: I can/did watch The Passion of the Christ with the same open mind used to read books authored and/or published by Trinitarians—even those purchased from our very own sanctified Word Aflame Bookstore in Hazelwood, MO. And, that very same open mind is used when listening to/singing/playing/conducting music penned by Trinitarians or worse. As a result of my acceptance of an invitation to view “The Passion” (by a group of my workplace colleagues) when it first came out, I am now involved in 2 weekly bible study groups with some of those very same folk (and another is in the works). I was able to answer their questions immediately after the film and in the weeks and months since then. My sainted mother always said that God gave her the same sense He gave a goose: to pick the corn, and leave the rocks alone. To Sis. Stephens from Maryland: Thanks for plugging Harvestime. We should have more than one medium and method to reach more than one person and personality. To Sis. Fowler from Texas: Thank you for again reminding us of the ministry needs of the sick and shut-in. How quickly the Body forgets those who are now able only to “be” rather than “do.” To Bro. Daszewski of New York: You believe the UPCI should preach against TV stronger than ever, yet “Every once in a while I watch either at work (my boss likes to keep up with current events) or at my relatives’ homes.” Hmmm. I seem to remember reading something about “a double-minded man…” To Brother Smith from Hawaii: After my move back to New Orleans from Columbus, Ohio, I too missed (and still miss) the weekly TV broadcast of “Living Faith Apostolic Church” (Bishop Posey)—what a service, what a preacher, what music, what worship!
Re: “The Power of Four” Campus ministry—this is, I believe, the great need of the hour. Reaching domestic and foreign students with the fire and fervency of an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ—as America is more hated in the world, foreign students can return to their homelands well-equipped to do what we will one day be unable to do—minister on foreign soil. We seem to make no preparation for the inevitable, content to keep on keepin’ on with the programs that served us in the past and serve us now, albeit not at optimum levels. RuthAnn Kerr, Louisiana
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