2 Samuel 16:9,11 - "Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head...let him alone, and let him curse; for the Lord hath bidden him."

Matthew 7:15 - “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves.

Matthew 24:11 - “…and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people.”

Sunday, April 17, 2011

FBC Jax Knocks it Out of the Park With Passion Play

I watched the Sunday night FBC Jax Passion Play broadcast live over the Internet. It was the third performance of the weekend.

Truly remarkable - it was an incredible portrayal once again by the FBC Jax musicians and lay people of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, as they have done in years past. Luke Whitmire, the son of FBC Jax music director Jim Whitmire, did a great job again portraying Jesus.

The FBC Jax media department tweeted that they had a full house Sunday night, and several hundred in overflow, and over a thousand watching on the Internet.

Kudos to Jim Whitmire and the choir and the orchestra and the media team and all those involved in the production of this event. I doubt you could find a production like this anywhere else - and FBC Jax provides this for free for everyone to attend.

I recall last year on their local TV broadcast FBC Jax played a video giving a behind-the-scenes look of the making of this production, and it is truly amazing what all of these lay people do.

If you missed the Passion Play this year, be sure to catch it next year live, in person - or on the Internet which is broadcast in crystal clear HD.

77 comments:

Anonymous said...

WD-
It is posts like this that lends legitimacy to your complaints and concerns on your blog (unfortunately there are those who would like to hi-jack this blog from time to time). It is posts like this that shows that you love FBCJAX and it's ministries and have a true desire for openness and contrition by the leaders and lay-people!
May God bring about the changes at FBCJAX and in all of us that bring glory to Him.
Kyle

Anonymous said...

wonder if they invited the homeless that live across the street. Probably not. If the homeless showed up, where would all the "wealthy" and "important" people sit? Although I do hear that church does reach out to the homeless that live so close....WITH THE SHERIFF!

Anonymous said...

It was ok

Anonymous said...

Did any one get saved?

Anonymous said...

The "performance" was spectacular. However, Steve Clifton and his message on the giving envelopes spoiled it all . . .he talked about love, love, love when they are the only church in the nation who banns a woman like Mrs. Rich & her children from coming on property. Clifton is nothing but a puppet of Brunson!

Anonymous said...

It is my understanding that many choir members have been meeting in private homes SINCE JANUARY to practice singing for the Passion Play.

These meetings were WITHOUT Whitmire and were intended to improve the Passion Play.

I noticed that Whitmire still took the credit.

Anonymous said...

My husband and I were one of the thousands there last night, as we have been for the last several years. The presentation and message is very moving. When you think about the suffering that Jesus went through. Absolutely incredible. Two things they could change that would make it better: reduce the insanely high volume level of the sound system and completely rewrite the finale. Some of the pieces throughout the performance were ear splitting loud (maybe it is only that way in the balcony) and the finale is way to cheesey. Tacky would be another way to put it, which is a shame, because the quality of the orchestra and the pit choir was flawless.

Anonymous said...

Why don't they get creative?

Elevation Church in Charlotte is doing a 3d service and handing out 3d glasses for Easter, that is going to rock the flock!

This old fashioned stuff doesn't work any more.

You know what Jesus said..."that old wineskin can't hold the new wine!"

I love these new creative churches like Bay Area Fellowship in Corpus Christi Texas....check out what they did last year....

Bay Area Fellowship, the largest church in Corpus Christi, gave away flat-screen televisions, skateboards, Fender guitars, furniture and 15 cars — yes, cars — at its Easter services last year!!!

YEA GOD!!!!!

Josh from FL said...

I'm with Kyle on this one.
It was a great performance. We went in Friday. My wife liked it so much she took her mom and me to it again on Saturday :)

Anonymous said...

One Anonymous dude said:
Bay Area Fellowship, the largest church in Corpus Christi, gave away flat-screen televisions, skateboards, Fender guitars, furniture and 15 cars — yes, cars — at its Easter services last year!!!

I am with you brother, lets peddle more junk for Jesus. Salvation is like a game show, come on downnnnn!!.

Just kidding, your stupid comment deserved a stupider reply.

Anonymous said...

Last year, the Lindenwald Baptist Church held its first “1,000 Strong Easter Celebration Give-Away,” in which it offered a $1,000 cash — $500 each to a member and a guest — to boost Easter Sunday attendance.

The church, which normally has a Sunday attendance of around 500, according to Pastor Randy Moore, recorded 1,137 in attendance that day, well-exceeding the goal of 1,000, and packed the sanctuary to the rafters.

“A lot of our members gave up their seats and went to the foyer to listen,” Moore said.

“We had a parking lot crew help direct traffic and a police escort to help everyone get out of here when we were done.”

Even better, he said, 36 people gave their lives to Christ that day.

THIS STUFF WORKS PEOPLE!!!

Ramesh said...

I did not watch this year's passion play, but did watch in 2008 April. I am simply amazed with the professionalism and dedication of lay people in this production. The lay people of FBC Jax are its jewels with Jesus Christ as the center most jewel.

Anonymous said...

I'd rather see this than preachers bungee repelling from the ceiling on Easter Sunday. (Which as been done...)

Be thankful the JAX music program is still strong enough to do meaningful programs. (Unlike some churches that once had music programs of the highest quality, but no longer do.)

I thank God for the lives the Passion Play touched.

Anonymous said...

Did you see the smoke around Jesus! What???

We have taken the sacred and turned it into Broadway...and YOU are okay with that??

We are entertained with the crucifixation of Jesus...why not sell popcorn and candy!

You critique the assassination of Jesus like it is Mary Poppins....
"good acting, good lighting, good music"....

WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING!!!!!

THIS IS NOT A MOVIE OR A DRAMA!!!

THIS IS THE MURDER OF MY KING!!!

FBCJ Insider said...

To set the record straight,



We had 118 people profess Christ, and 115 people inquire about joining our church, as a result of the passion play. It is probably safe to assume, a good many of the 115 are those of the 118.


I am in the choir. Choir members did not meet privately in homes to practice for the play. Practices took place at the church starting in March, under Whitmire's direction. And Whitmire deserves all the credit given to him. The passion play is his. He brought it from bellevue (sp?). He and his son do a great job putting it on together. And with the devotion of the lay people, the choir, the cast, the pit choir, Whitmire's son and J. Whitmire's direction, Christ has and always does great things through this production.

To God be the Glory!

Jon L. Estes said...

"Did you see the smoke around Jesus! What???"

Wasn't it an awesome way to get people's attention? I applaud those who use creative methods to present the gospel.

"We have taken the sacred and turned it into Broadway...and YOU are okay with that??"

You are wrong. We have stayed true to the message but have used a beautiful method to get across a serious story.

"We are entertained with the crucifixation of Jesus...why not sell popcorn and candy!"

I think a better word to use would be "moved'.

"You critique the assassination of Jesus like it is Mary Poppins....
"good acting, good lighting, good music"...."

I would imagine the dog was not even thinking of Mary Poppins but of the message being presented through a dynamic method.

"WHAT IS THE CHURCH DOING!!!!!"

Being the church, telling HIS story.

"THIS IS NOT A MOVIE OR A DRAMA!!!"

It is a very dramatic story and i don't think anyone was making a movie.

"THIS IS THE MURDER OF MY KING!!!
"

And mine. The most horrific yet beautiful day in all of history, thus far. We won't win people by boring them.

WishIhadknown said...

“THIS IS THE MURDER OF MY KING!!!”

Yes and for which I stand guilty. MY sins nailed Jesus to the cross. It was for MY transgressions he died. I can’t tell if all of the car give a ways and raffles and bingo are worth it but I do know Jesus is the best gift of all.

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

Great comments here.

Let me be a bit clearer.

What an unbelievable contrast between what FBC Jax has done to celebrate Easter and to portray a clear gospel message of the resurrection of Christ and what it means...and between emergent churches who use shameless gimmicks to try to draw a crowd:

- Ed Young's church that has "3D Easter" last year.

- Here in Jax, Charlie Campbell's church "The Bridge Church" raffling off (yes, RAFFLE) JEA payments

- Perry Noble's church playing AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" on Easter Sunday

and others.

All these are cheap gimmicks to get casual church attenders to come to their church. FBC Jax lay people worked for hours and hours and hours, and the church invested much money in the production. They didn't sell tickets, as far as I know there were no ads sold on the imags, no church consultant "promotions packages"....just Christian lay people working hard to deliver a clear gospel message for free to the community.

Kudos to FBC Jax.

Anonymous said...

We had 118 people profess Christ

What is meant by profess? Dose this mean they who professed are already saved?

Anonymous said...

Wasn't it an awesome way to get people's attention? I applaud those who use creative methods to present the gospel.

You should say the new testament.

Anonymous said...

118 people came to know Christ as a result of the easter pageant.

Jon L. Estes said...

"You should say the new testament."

Why?

Anonymous said...

It was beautiful. I really want to commend Jonathon Welch for the last minute step in...he did it perfectly. That was unrehearsed, as I understand it, and he did just a phenomenal job.

Anonymous said...

"You should say the new testament."

Why?

The gospel is a written account that describes the life of Jesus Christ.

The New Testament(the work of Jesus)consists of the life, teaching, and death of Jesus. Describing forgivness of sins in the gospels.

Anonymous said...

Thank you FBC for your spirit of servanthood and excellence in bring alive a riveting and joyful event for us Believers. Your level of excellence was riveting in every detail - Yes! your "talents" were used well to remind us all of this great story that purchased our freedom from sin! Amen, Amen, Amen!!! We understand that the "message" was to illuminate the Word - in rememberance. Let those who have made no effort to convey this story be reminded that they rose up, had a dream and acted on their vision.'Thank You, FBC"!

Jon L. Estes said...

"The gospel is a written account that describes the life of Jesus Christ. '

The gospel is a good message of Jesus. Mark 16:15 is an example of this definition. The drama of the easter season is a message of Jesus Christ, His birth, death and resurrection. That is very good news.

euaggelion, yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on; from the same as Greek 2097 (euaggelizo); a good message, i.e. the gospel :- gospel.

It is more than the written four books.

I hope this has been helpful.

Anonymous said...

more than the written four books.

Exactly, Make your point clear for those who need the basic understanding, those who are not royal.Be alive for christ not the bank account.

Jon L. Estes said...

"Make your point clear for those who need the basic understanding"

Exactly, and that is what the presentation did. Thanking God for those who were saved.

Anonymous said...

Jon has the gift of arguing.
DFTT

Anonymous said...

The Play was okay, I've seen better.

Acting was bland, singing was good, set design was like small town stuff.

Jesus deserves better.

Jon L. Estes said...

"Jon has the gift of arguing.
DFTT"

If I came across as arguing, that was not my intent. I was simply agreeing and being thankful for the gospel being shared and people being saved.

Thanks for letting me know how I could have been read.

TROLL DETECTOR said...

"The Play was okay, I've seen better.

Acting was bland, singing was good, set design was like small town stuff.

Jesus deserves better."

TROLL!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

The fact is the play costs a lot of money!

Is that the best use of those resources?

Another Passion Play???
Is that what JAX needs?
Did anyone go to bed with more food in their frig or more soup for their son after the play had finished?

Was this just an excuse for us Christians to come together and spend a ton of money on something that really accomplished very little?

Would Jesus had put on a play like this?

Or could we have taken the money and helped some single moms or some senior citizens that can't pay their medical bills.

I know FBC JAX have good intentions....
but was the play done so we could pat ourselves on the back and tell ourselves how awesome we are???

CULTBUSTER said...

Even in spite of King Mac Brunson and his disciples,

The show MUST go on!

Anonymous said...

"Thanks for letting me know how I could have been read."

You mean like literally?
You're welcome.

Anonymous said...

After being involved in passion play marketing for a mega for many years, here are some of my highlights:

1. The first Jesus had the part for6 years but problems arose after a few years when he started believing he really was Jesus. So did the young girls in the church.

2. The second Jesus was a professional actor and was paid 60,000 plus a 20,000 bonus for promotions. He lasted about 5 years before he started making more movies.

3. The third Jesus was a stage actor and also a playwrite. He got a bit creative with the script. Satan had more star billing than Jesus and some scenes were added that had nothing to do with scripture. Such as a young Jesus hugging a cross.

4. The Vegas people did special affects and were more temperamental than a Hollywood actress demanding special water when they were working.

5. The animal handlers made a ton. Camels WILL spit on you from very far away. Camels got enemas so they would not poop on stage.

6. The first year, tickets were 3 bucks and no one in the production was paid except the animals. :o) By the 20th year, Jesus made 80 grand, the Vegas people made a ton and the set designers raked up. Tickets are now 30 bucks for the good seats.

7. Enough to buy an expensive car is spent on Advertising but the best bang for your passion play buck is movie theatre preview ads.

I have been gone for several years now out of the mega hell hole but I hear they have a new Jesus and a new script. I am thrilled to miss it.

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah, our marketing data over 20 years showed it was the same people coming year after year. We were not reaching unbelievers. But churches all over the reigon were busing them in.

And another shocker...many of the extra's in the play were not even members of the mega! Even the second Jesus was not a member!

WishIhadknown said...

Wow! I think I need to add those to the list of things that tell you when a church has enough.

Anonymous said...

Luke(JESUS) did GREAT, even though he had gotten hurt in practice. You could still tell he was still in pain.
We went on Friday night and Sunday night.
The Passion Play this year was the best so far we've seen. The ending of the choir Walking in singing You are Worthy to be Praised was the BEST!
JESUS LIVES AND HE IS WORTHY TO BE PRAISED...........................
Thank You FBC for a OUTSTANDING Performance of the Passion Play 2011. We give you all the Praise and Honor and say "Thank You".

Anonymous said...

I went to the "passion play" and was disappointed.

It was the same old stuff that we have done before.

I will not bring my lost friends again to something like this.

They were hoping to be wowed and boy were we upset.

FBC Jax Watchdog said...

"Same old stuff"?

Would you have preferred something "new", like raffles for JEA payments like at the "Bridge Church" here in Jax (they aren't even paying for all of it, trying to get "sponsors" from the community!!)

A rock band playing "Highway to Hell" or "Running with the Devil" on Easter morning like at Perry Noble's church?

Or maybe flying Mac and media staff to Las Vegas to film at a "secret location" for a "3D Easter" like is being done at Steven Fertik's church? (last time I checked, when the preacher is standing and preaching I DO see him in 3D)

Or maybe do like Bellevue Baptist did, where the guy replacing Adrian Rogers (Steve Gaines) canned Jim Whitmire when he arrived, and then last year they did NO passion play but rewrote the script and this year their play (now called "The Prodigal") included a corny modern adaptation involving a young lawyer and an old man.

Give credit where credit is due: while everyone else is using Easter as a time to market cheap gimmicks to get more noses in the pews, FBC Jax and Whitmire stuck to the story of Jesus.

And Anon 7:08 - correct me if I'm wrong here, but there are no professional actors at the FBC Jax Passion Play, it is lay people who are presenting the play, and they do it all for no pay, just because they love the Lord and want to present the gospel.

Anonymous said...

Truth is, for some of you, it doesn't matter how the Gospel is presented. You are going to question it regardless. I'm sure you would like to give Jesus some pointers regarding the Sermon on the Mount. Be excited that the Gospel was presented and quit griping that it didn't fit you idea of how it should be done.

Anonymous said...

I have been a choir member at FBC for over 30 years and was a part of our Passion Play last weekend. I can assure you that there are no paid actors. We are all members of the choir and present this program as a gift to Christians and pray that seeing this reenacted will lead many people to accept Christ. There were no secret meetings in homes to learn the music. We all rehearsed together for many, many hours and days. We are responsible for providing our own outfits at no cost to the church.

Anonymous said...

CHURCH on a MISSION and it was ACCOMPLISHED!
The BEST CHURCH AROUND!
Jesus LIVES!

Anonymous said...

Truth is, for some of you, it doesn't matter how the Gospel is presented. You are going to question it regardless. I'm sure you would like to give Jesus some pointers regarding the Sermon on the Mount. Be excited that the Gospel was presented and quit griping that it didn't fit you idea of how it should be done.

April 20, 2011 9:35 AM

Hey, why not use plate spinners? Or how about a circus theme? Some mega's have a fire engine bapistry to lure little kids to get dunked!

It is ALL the Gospel, right?

Anonymous said...

And Anon 7:08 - correct me if I'm wrong here, but there are no professional actors at the FBC Jax Passion Play, it is lay people who are presenting the play, and they do it all for no pay, just because they love the Lord and want to present the gospel.

April 20, 2011 9:10 AM

I am sure it has nothing to do with being on stage before thousands. Of course not.

WishIhadknown said...

Actually, being on stage before thousands is most people’s worst fear. Oddly, death comes in at number 7.

WishIhadknown said...

To me the real value of the “Passion Play” is the impact on the lives of the participants. There is a lot of discipleship that happens in the months leading up to the presentation and lives are deeply impacted by the message of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus. Yes, decisions are important but there is a lot more happening than just a Gospel presentation.

Anonymous said...

This may sound stupid but Jesus may not want to be mocked. I know the play was a triller but plays are not going to save people. Its like going to a movie you forget it after seeing it. The saving grace of jesus is through the trenches.

Anonymous said...

You are so wrong about people not getting saved through the presentation. We had 118 people saved at the three performances and 140 total decisions

Anonymous said...

You are so wrong about people not getting saved through the presentation. We had 118 people saved at the three performances and 140 total decisions

There is a story in acts where some one believes in jesus and gets baptised, I for get the person, but thing it is barabus, then after a while states he dose not want vany thing to do with it. Baby he seen a thriller as well. The story of jesus probally sounded good at first. Maby like the people at the thriller. Glammer never saves but makes one feel good. Alot of fluff no saving trench work for the audience.

Lynn said...

What happens to those 140 next? Does anybody keep track of that?

They watched a performance that brought out their emotions. They said a prayer.

Jon L. Estes said...

"This may sound stupid but Jesus may not want to be mocked. I know the play was a triller but plays are not going to save people. Its like going to a movie you forget it after seeing it. The saving grace of jesus is through the trenches."

You are correct, plays do not save anyone, only Jesus does. Yet, He does it though plays, sermons, VBS lessons, sport missions, door to door evangelism, even the word of Truth through someone as useless as me. It is amazing what God can and does use to get His message across.

I am so glad you are in the trenches, as many others are also. I praise God He uses people through the trenches but I also praise God His ways are much bigger than that and especially much bigger than my few ways.

While I served in Nigeria, it was amazing how God used my whiteness to open doors to share the gospel out in that small farm village of Oko, Kwara State. People simply wanted to know why I would leave America to come to a place like that. The same thing happened last year while I was in Cuba but it was less about the color of my skin than it was about my nationality.

I am of the opinion, we have no idea what the trenches really are but if you are there, stay where God has planted you and give 'em heaven.

Anonymous said...

"Hey, why not use plate spinners? Or how about a circus theme? Some mega's have a fire engine bapistry to lure little kids to get dunked!

It is ALL the Gospel, right?"

As long as the message is truth. Methodologies have to change. Changing methods is a good thing. The ultimate goal is the truthful presentation of the Gospel.

Anonymous said...

As long as the message is truth. Methodologies have to change. Changing methods is a good thing. The ultimate goal is the truthful presentation of the Gospel.

It was not a message, it was theater, it is a sign, God dose not change

Jon L. Estes said...

"It was not a message, it was theater, it is a sign, God dose not change"

What was the theatrical story being presented? It was Jesus' life, death, resurrection. It was an opportunity to tell His story to any and all who came to the presentation.

Can you tell me how God's message changed in the presentation? I can agree that there is only one way to heaven but there are many ways to tell the story. Sharing with lepers in Nigeria took a completely different approach (method) than we would use here.

Anonymous said...

People want to see a sign just like when Jesus walked the earth, nothing new, A sign you will see!

Anonymous said...

The new f words are Fools and Fluff.

Jon L. Estes said...

"People want to see a sign just like when Jesus walked the earth, nothing new, A sign you will see!"

AMEN!

John 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:

I love it when the Lord gives us a sign.

Anonymous said...

Did the disciples do a Passion Play 5 years after Jesus rose again?

Is there a record of this 100 years or 1000 years after his resurrection?

Why do we need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars like this?

Is there a record of this in early Church history?

Are we getting perverted?

Are we so carnal that we demand to be entertained with the crucifixation of Jesus?

Something don't smell right here?

Jon L. Estes said...

"Did the disciples do a Passion Play 5 years after Jesus rose again?"

I don't think that matters. There are a lot of things they did and did not do that we do differently. For most here, I believe, this dramatization is a matter of a method being used to share His message. We are to become all things to all men that we might win some.

"Is there a record of this 100 years or 1000 years after his resurrection?"

Does that really matter. I don't think you would really want to go back and do church as they did it 1000 years ago, much less 100.

"Why do we need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars like this?"

Hundreds of thousands of dollars? really?

"Is there a record of this in early Church history?"

Doesn't matter.

"Are we getting perverted?"

I don't think so. I do think we are getting dynamically creative in how we share His story.

"Are we so carnal that we demand to be entertained with the crucifixation of Jesus?"

In words, music, books, paintings, the story must be told. The report is 118 people prayed to receive Jesus. I choose to join the angels in heaven and celebrate with them.

"Something don't smell right here?"

I'm sorry.

TROLL DETECTOR said...

"They were hoping to be wowed and boy were we upset."

ANOTHER TROLL!!!!!

Jon L. Estes said...

"They were hoping to be wowed and boy were we upset."

The gospel can be offensive to some.

If the focus was on the performance, as good as it was, many might not have been wowed. If the focus was on the message of Jesus, that is a personal problem.

Anonymous said...

How do they know 118 people got saved?

Billy Graham said over 90% of the people who "get saved" at his crusades never went any further in their spiritual life.

So...Rev. Graham....did they REALLY get saved?

Are we throwing those numbers out their to justify our performance?

Are they being followed up on?
Are they being discipled?
Do we have a plan to help them grow?

.....didn't think so......

Jon L. Estes said...

"How do they know 118 people got saved?"

I am sure there is a way to count those who made decisions. is the flip side to that question a fair one? How do we not know 118 people got saved?

"Billy Graham said over 90% of the people who "get saved" at his crusades never went any further in their spiritual life."

Apples and oranges. There is a huge difference between a stadium where the visiting team leaves and a church which remains on its corner, hopefully making a difference.

"So...Rev. Graham....did they REALLY get saved?"

Only God knows.

"Are we throwing those numbers out their to justify our performance?"

I doubt it.

"Are they being followed up on?"

I hope so.

"Are they being discipled?"

Soon, I hope.

"Do we have a plan to help them grow?"

I hope so.

".....didn't think so......"

Do you have a source to show this? I know many, if not most churches are doing little.

I'll applaud the church that is doing something over the church that is doing nothing, anytime.

Anonymous said...

"I love it when the Lord gives us a sign."

Luke 11: 29

WishIhadknown said...

As Dr Rogers used to say, "Do I think all the people who indicated they made a decision for Christ were sincere, no I don't but if only one person meant it then it was worth the cost."

Anonymous said...

As Dr Rogers used to say, "Do I think all the people who indicated they made a decision for Christ were sincere, no I don't but if only one person meant it then it was worth the cost."

April 21, 2011 6:22 PM

That is the ONLY attitude a mega church pastor can have since he barely knows them or will ever know them.

Anonymous said...

"Are we throwing those numbers out their to justify our performance?"

Yep, it is measurement to justify their salary. No matter what Eddy Haskell...er...Jon says.

Anonymous said...

"I don't think that matters. There are a lot of things they did and did not do that we do differently. For most here, I believe, this dramatization is a matter of a method being used to share His message. We are to become all things to all men that we might win some."

Right. So be a whore to win whores? Be Hollywood to win the shallow who will only want more shallow because they will love it that they are to be saved to more entertainment!

Jon L. Estes said...

"Right. So be a whore to win whores? Be Hollywood to win the shallow who will only want more shallow because they will love it that they are to be saved to more entertainment!"

I don't think contextually you can make a case that one should sin to win souls. You have not made a case that the dramatization was a sin. You have demonstrated it is not to your liking but that is much different than it being a sin.

I am really trying and wanting to understand you but am finding it very difficult to see how you think the dramatization is sinful.

We don't get to say what is sin and what is not, scripture must do that. Can you help me by showing where this type of thing is sinful, according to scripture?

I'd really like to discuss this rationally and like two adults. I think that would be the biblical way of such a discussion.

Anonymous said...

I am sick to my stomach of these Churches going Purpose Driven and making money off the Cross.

It is sad to know that my old Church has put in haze machines and lazer lights to try to reach people with the Gospel.

When God's man gets behind that sacred desk and opens up the Book, then the Glory falls!!!!!

Anonymous said...

1 Timothy 2:5
For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus

Jon L. Estes said...

"When God's man gets behind that sacred desk and opens up the Book"

I agree completely that the preacher is to get behind that sacred desk and preach God's word but I am also reminded that every bible I have purchased some Christian bookstore has made money off of "the Book". Is this any different than people making money off the cross as you point out?

WishIhadknown said...

What is sacred about a piece of furniture?

Anonymous said...

Watchdog thank you for giving credit when it is deserved. This gives legitimacy to your blog. You aren't here to just hate but to point out wrong when you see it and credit when you see Churches and Christians serving! You forum is very refreshing.

Anonymous said...

"Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so." James 3:10. "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful". Proverbs 27:6 The cynicism of this blog is absolutely stunning!