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At UNITE Twin Cities |
Dear Brothers in Christ,
I’m an evangelist who mostly does one-on-one witnessing in reaching individuals with the gospel. Still, I appreciate brethren who step out to do open-air preaching. It definitely brings a Christian outside his comfort zone particularly amongst audiences that sometimes become hostile.
This past Thursday night, the UNITE gathering led by Pulse Movement took place outside US Bank Stadium. After doing some witnessing in downtown Minneapolis that afternoon, I arrived at the stadium early to get a seat at one of the purple tables across the street. My legs were tired from walking and would have preferred not having to stand while watching the service. Just before it began, your group set up a loudspeaker and banners in front of where I was sitting. Your subsequent preaching hindered me from hearing what was being said from the stage.
As I walked closer to the stadium, one of you offered me a gospel tract. Eventually, I asked how he would feel if another Christian group held a meeting outside your church that disrupted one of your services.
This man replied, “We’re preaching the word.”
I responded, “So are they.” (referring to the ministers and musicians on stage who quoted Scripture and exalted the name of Jesus throughout the night)
He then said, “They are preaching false doctrine.”
Despite this man’s claim, I perceived the presence of God at that service but chose to leave early. Your continuous preaching behind me was an unnecessary distraction. That prompted me to look up your church’s website when I got home. While I agree with many of your stated beliefs, one caught my attention:
“We believe that this statement of faith is a basis for Christian fellowship, and that all born-again men and women who sincerely accept it can and should live together in peace, and that it is their Christian duty to promote harmony among the members of the Body of Christ, who are walking separately from the world both in theory and in practice.”
Judging from your actions that night, you didn’t promote harmony amongst the Body of Christ. Other ministers I know tried reasoning with you. You persisted with your loud preaching without being considerate of those who showed up to pray and worship the Lord. Your church could have joined us instead of sowing discord and competing for our attention. I thought of what Jesus said in Matthew 12:25 (KJV), “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.”
I noticed one of you wore a sign quoting Deuteronomy 22:5. It appears your ideas of “walking separately from the world” are based on the clothing Christians wear and the types of music they listen to. When someone professes Jesus as their Lord and Savior, we should believe the best about them instead of demonizing those who don’t fit our religious mindsets.
In John 17:20-23, Jesus prayed that all His disciples become one. Christian unity is not based on outward appearances but our shared life in Christ. Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” That includes Catholics, Lutherans, Methodists, and Pentecostals as well as Baptists. I don’t agree with some doctrines taught in certain churches. Every church has imperfections (including yours). That shouldn’t stop us from coming together from time to time in reaching our communities with the gospel. We don’t need to “major on minors.”
I hope this letter doesn’t fall upon deaf ears but you will prayerfully consider what was written here. Paul stated in Romans 15:20, “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man's foundation.” Instead of “preaching to the choir”, I encourage you to focus on reaching the lost by speaking the truth of God’s word but showing more compassion and grace. Perhaps then more Christians will want to team up with you in fulfilling the Great Commission.
“Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” - Colossians 3:11
Actually if you stood for the truth you would have joined us. We would never go worship with friends of the Pope. That's insane. The Bible says- Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed? Why would a Christian desire unity CONTRARY to sound doctrine> If you follow God and your doctrine is sound then real unity, which means to BE OF ONE ACCORD, will be the natural result. If Nick Hall wasn't really a devil, a minister of Satan, he would have rebuked the Pope and warned him of the wrath to come. But he didn't because he's a wicked fake hireling and a wolf. I smelled weed from that crowd. I saw biblically naked women dancing like whores in that crowd. I saw sodomites in women's clothes in that crowd. All lost people and the only ones warning them was us. Everyone was having a grand ole time. It looked like a party in Sodom. Care to show me "felt the presence of God" as a standard in the Bible? We definitely heard it in the songs. Follow your heart, just believe, blah blah blah.. We don't obey our feelings. We obey the word of God. If we obeyed our feelings instead of God's express will we would be new age witches, not Christians. Uh oh... That's what Christians are saved to do, OBEY GOD. Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. And what does "the presence of God" feel like anyway? Does it make you feel good like everyone I saw smiling and dancing? Because here's what the REAL presence of God does- 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
ReplyDeleteYep, that describes us few who were preaching across the street because we actually have the holy Spirit and desire to obey God. Will you get right now? Or will your feelings continue to carry more weight with you that God's word? We will continue to warn the saved and the lost in these perilous times either way. This is a matter of eternal torment or salvation, and it's a war, not a game. So man up or get out of the way of men who will.
Revelation 18:4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.
Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
Aaron Marshall
Aaron, The purpose of UNITE National Day of Prayer was for Christians from different denominations and backgrounds to gather together lifting up the name of Jesus, not Nick Hall or the Pope. I appreciate your church's desire to stand up for biblical truth but still don't agree with your methods. “And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient” (2 Timothy 2:24)
ReplyDeleteI agree with Aaron Marshall!!!...I'm tired of worldy, compromised so called "christians" who honor God with their lips but have hearts far,far from God....fake phony pope loving hypocrites.
ReplyDeleteBlayze, Were you at UNITE? It’s likely most of the people there were not “pope loving” Catholics. Again we were there to lift up the name of Jesus. Instead of judging brethren who don’t meet your self-imposed standards, I suggest reading 1 Corinthians 13. Love is what draws people to Christ, not acting like modern-day Pharisees.
ReplyDelete