In a recent sermon Pastor Bartholomew Orr, Senior Pastor of Brown Baptist Church in Southaven MS used a zip line to dramatically illustrate the return of Jesus in the sky.
Immediately comes the rebuke and criticism (such as the comments in the video above).
“He’s being too dramatic!”
“It doesn’t take gimmicks to share the Gospel!”
“That’s what’s wrong with the church!”
It’s not my place nor anyone else’s to judge what God led this man to do, and when we do so we are dangerously close to judging what is in his heart.
But, for those of you who feel he was too dramatic, let me remind you that the God of our salvation is very dramatic.
Think about it…
God could have let Abram know where he was going.
God could have sent the ram from the bush before He almost let Abraham sacrifice his son.
God could have called Moses without a burning bush that wasn’t consumed.
God could have just forced Pharaoh to let His people go without sending 10 plagues.
Jesus could have healed a blind man without spitting on the ground, making a muddy clay and rubbing it on his eyes.
John 9:6 (NKJV)
6 When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
If that were today, people would have criticized Him for doing that. If we aren’t careful, we can be just like the Pharisees.
If Pastor Orr’s sermon was effective for the congregation in which he’s responsible, then it doesn’t matter what we think.
But, don’t forget this. If God’s Holy Spirit did lead Him to do this and we are critical of it just because it doesn’t make sense to us, (think about how much stuff God did didn’t make sense) then we are in danger of blaspheming His Holy Spirit.
Mark 3:28-29 (NKJV)
28 “Assuredly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the sons of men, and whatever blasphemies they may utter; 29 but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is subject to eternal condemnation”—
Ask yourself this question. What scripture did he violate?
BE BLESSTIFIED!
LOL! Well, except for risking his life, I think that’s quite awesome. Some of us miss out on the mystery and the surprise of the Lord, the way he keeps us guessing sometimes. It’s kind of fun when a pastor gets that and keeps you guessing too. 🙂
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God bless you my friend:-)
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We must not forget that God ways ain’t our ways but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.
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God bless you my friend
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Amen.
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Hey I love it because he never stopped preaching the word! Can you remember what your pastor preached last week? I bet those folks do!! Blessings and thanks for sharing
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Amen my friend!!!
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Hi brother the pastor has a point showing the return of Jesus but can’t wait for the real thing without wires.
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Hallelujah!
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Amen I was talking to a brother in Christ at church on Sunday talking about the origins of Christmas want to hear about it.
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Yes you can share.
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God bless you for well job
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Thank you. To God be the glory!
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Once again, it’s where you are damned if you do and damned if you don’t. He did what he did and did it for his personal effect, which I believed worked. Who cares what the others think. Personally, I don’t. In short, he placed himself in potential harms way to spread the gospel. I say, Praise the Lord for it.
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Amen my friend.
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After all, His ways are not our ways.
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Wow! Another blogger said the same thing. God bless you.
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I couldn’t see the video because it was removed. I have mix feelings on this one. But, I prefer to leave the drama to God.
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God bless you my friend!
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