Covering Sin With The Wrong Motive: A Recipe for Cont'd Sin

In light of all the recent exposures of sin that has taken place within the organized church system, I feel the need to explain what it means to cover sin, why the Bible says to cover sin and when covering sin for the wrong reasons always ends up in someone falling into a LIFESTYLE of sin.

Many times, when someone is found in sin-especially if that someone is popular or in leadership-many quote the scripture:

1 Peter 4:8

And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves:  for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.

So off they go with 1 Peter 4:8...they rush off and use this as a scriptural reference and excuse to participate in sometimes intentional, sometimes innocent cover-ups of sin (among leadership) that they now know about.

Religion has taught many that to not expose the sins of others is walking in love.

Others KNOW that true meaning of the scripture, yet they still misapply it to justify a blatant cover up of sin that the guilty party has absolutely NO intention of repenting of.

There is a process to this thing - the repentance of sin, the covering of sin, the application of the forgiveness of sin, and restoration.

Allow me to share:

1)  Knowledge of the sin (whether that be in yourself, or in others who were involved with sin)

This is when - when a person either is convicted of sin by way of the Holy Ghost Himself - made aware of their sin.  Or when a person discovers the sin of another.  When the Holy Ghost convicts one of sin, the remorse and grief one feels can be likened to that of grieving for the death of a loved one.  It can feel like the end of the world...the conviction can be extremely heavy...the way to tell the difference between conviction and condemnation is that the Holy Ghost will lift the conviction off the guilty party until they repent.  When one is walking in condemnation, that remorse and guilt over sin NEVER leaves the guilty party.  It lingers until the person feels worthless, unloved, forsaken, abandoned.

When it involves the disclosure/exposure of sin of others, shock can settle in for others who learn about the sin.  Unfortunately, the way of human nature is such that when most find out 'dirt' on someone else, they feed off it.  They may laugh and joke about it.  They are not interested in your being healed of sin or restored.

But the biblical way to deal with finding out the sins of others is for the SPIRITUAL to restore them....

2)  Confession/Repentance of Sin

New Testament repentance requires one to change their mind about their sin.  The Greek word for 'confess' used in the NT is 'exomologeo,' which means 'to acknowledge openly and publicly.'

The Word of God admonishes us to confess our sin/faults one to another so that we may be healed (James 5:16).

But did you realize that the same Greek word used for repentance is used for confession?

'Exomologeo is used for the word 'confess' as well as 'repent!'

That means in its proper biblical context, confession IS the same thing as repenting!!!!

(How come we don't hear this type of teaching IN THE CHURCH?????)

What we have been taught in the church is that if a church leader is caught in sin, then that leader's being caught in sin-and yet never fully acknowledging or publicly confessing of said sin-equates repentance.  THAT is simply NOT TRUE!

I don't know if this misinformation and misconception about the role of confession and repentance in the restoration process is intentional or if it is, in fact, due to religious ignorance and denial.

But whatever the reason, THIS misconception and false practice of NOT PUBLICLY confessing sin (exomologeo) and, therefore, properly repenting of sin is the numero uno reason why I believe many are NOT healed of their sin, neither or they restored!

Because the whole religious system is carnal and are ignorant of what it means to confess and repent of sin, and lack TRUE SPIRITUALITY sent from the Spirit of GOD, it is NOT equipped to help people be healed and restored of sin.

This would also explain the church's trend towards covering up and denying sin instead of dealing with sin...whether it be an individual's own sin, or a sin of church leaders.

Sweeping sin under the rug because company is coming over to the 'house' (church), does NOT mean the house is clean.

How many (black) church leaders who have been caught in blatant sin in the past few years flat out refused to address the situation AS THE WORD OF GOD INSTRUCTS US TO?  OPENLY and PUBLICLY.

A confession speaks to something that is actually BEING SAID by a person.  Its speaks to speaking on something they would rather keep private, but are compelled either by the law or by the Spirit of God to disclose, confess, share.

So many I know will misinterpret my stance on open and public confession of sin (especially as it pertains to church leaders)  and mislabel it...calling it gossip or slander.

Nothing could be further from the truth!

Listen.

For years-particularly after having fallen into sin myself and having to publicly repent, having had to leave a ministry, and later on shut down a ministry I started a few years back, it has been a serious concern of mine that there was no proper restoration in place for leaders who have fallen into sin.

What I have found is that the more you tend to cover up sin, the more likely it is it will come out sooner or later.

No one is healed.  Only hurt.  There are more souls hurt by the covering up of sin than there would be if they would just REPENT.

We all know of one famous preacher in the Atlanta area who fell into a scandal involving having illicit affairs with young men.  Instead of publicly confessing to what happened, he came out 'swinging,' so to speak, and vowing to fight the allegations.

Then after a few other young men came out with the same allegations against this preacher, he STILL refused to deal with it publicly, but opted to 'settle' in court, paying the young men millions of dollars!

This happened at least 2 years ago, and this preacher has yet to (properly) repent/confess to this sin.  

This type of atrocity happens (in the church) ALL the time, unfortunately.

The people find out a sin about the pastor.  In black churches especially, the tendency leans towards covering up the truth than dealing with the truth.

This type of dishonest, unhealthy, unbiblical approach to sin fosters and breeds more sin, dysfunction and is also a breeding ground for demons.

When unconfessed sin lies within a house-no matter HOW ANOINTED the leader is-the Spirit of God LEAVES that house.  And another spirit rules.  It looks like God, acts like God, sings and preaches like God...but it is NOT!

I was inspired to write this blog based upon a story I learned of yesterday...

Gospel recording artist Deitrick Haddon publicly confessed to adultery, repented, and then he named names of others involved in the breakup of his marriage to his ex-wife, Damita.

I publicly applauded the courage, bravery and actions of Haddon in that it was refreshing to find someone who is still in the (church) system who I believe understands the process of repentance and restoration.   

He shared how he had not preached at his church in over a year.  In his letter confessing his sins and others involved, he didn't bad mouth anyone, but instead encouraged the involved parties to 'come clean in 2013' and bring back integrity and honesty into the ministry.

Some argued that Haddon had selfish motives and another agenda in doing what he did.  But according to the scriptures (and NOT the contemporary laws of political and religious correctness), I have to concur he was just, biblical and right in HOW he repented.

Yes, his confession involved naming names, but look at it this way:

In a court of law, when one has confessed to a crime, they are STILL required to take the stand...and they are STILL required on that stand to tell THE TRUTH, the WHOLE TRUTH and NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.....

The confessor cannot cover for another in the guise of loving them, or covering their sins/crimes.  If they pull that in any court of law, they may be served the full sentence, and even may be in contempt of court!

The 'covering' of sin DOES NOT entails LYING FOR, WITHHIDING INFORMATION, or SWEEPING it under the proverbial rug in religious piety and hypocrisy...

CONFESS/REPENT means to CONFESS/REPENT....TOTALLY.  PUBLICLY.

3)  Covering Up sin to Save Face is NOT an Act of Love!

Which brings me to my final point...

MANY in the religious world are guilty of appearing to do the right thing...but if you dig further, one can see that it was done as an attempt to save the reputations of favorite superstar preachers, ministries, denominations and fellowships.

Yes, LOVE covers a multitude of sin...

BUT it does so only AFTER that person has CONFESSED/REPENTED (publicly) of the sin, and the covering is for the purposes of helping the fallen leader/brother/sister BE RESTORED.

The covering up of sin only is supposed to take place AFTER the person has confessed to the sin and are in the healing process of said sin.

Covering up UNCONFESSED sin is making whole congregations partakers of their leaders' sins...and this is why many households of faith are under the judgment of God.  They have allowed unconfessed sin to fester, rot and grow in an atmosphere of dishonesty, lies, deceit and cover up...NOT so the leader or the people can be healed....

But to save face!

It is a prideful, willful denial of sin-which is outright lying-and when one does NOT confess their sins, there IS no healing, deliverance, forgiveness or restoration for that person...AND for EVERY LAST PERSON who participates in the cover up of their sin!!!!!

I think in the legal world, it is called 'an accomplice to the crime.'

You didn't commit the deed, but you were a partaker of it...therefore you suffer the same fate/judgment as the one(s) who committed the sin...and WON'T repent.

Yes, I understand that there are people out here who are malicious, and will use confession/repentance as way to malign and mock persons found to be in sin.

But just because there are people like this in the world does NOT negate the necessity to obey the Word...EVEN in the matter of CONFESSING and REPENTING properly of sin.

Once you come clean, then God can heal you.  But if you continue to cover it up, the Word says you CANNOT be healed.

Don't worry about what others are going to say or do.

YOU DO what GOD says to do!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now, having said all that, I don't want you to be discouraged!  The church (as a whole) may not be a safe place, a healthy place, where you can confess your faults, one to another, as the Word of God tells us to.  

I want to share with you that in the midst of all this confusion, THERE IS A SAFE PLACE!

A social network under the auspices of Pam Sheppard Ministries, the Remnant Exodus Society (aka RES-CUE),  is an online haven for sheep whom the Lord is leading out of a barren, corrupted place, into green pastures of a ministry that will do as Jesus said: "Feed and tend His sheep, and when one is lost, leave the 99 and go after him or her.  Many sheep are damaged today when they leave the Institutional Church.  Once you have watched the video series called "Leave the Church," and  read the various articles in this blogroll, go to  http://pamsheppard.com/rescue and become a trial member of our social network for born again Christians, the elect of God. You will hear from an RESCUE minister within 24 hours of your joining the network, most likely hours sooner.

Or, simply call 518-477-5759.

KINGDOM TALK: What Did The Original Apostles Teach & Preach?

~~This is another blog I wrote four years ago, right after the last one about the 12 (disciples/apostles) mission.  It IS a long read....It's good to be reminded of some things!~~

Luke 6:13 -- The Call to Apostleship

Vs 12 says Jesus was in prayer all night in the mountain.  He called 12 out and named them Apostles.  

Jimmy Swaggart defines apostle as:  one sent with a special message; which will always be according to the Word of God; will set the standard (of the church).  

After Jesus called the apostles, He modeled for them what they were to do.  Listen to what HE preached after the commission.

Vs 17 - Jesus and His Disciples were out on the plain; met the masses who came to hear Him and to be healed.  They were delivered from unclean spirits.  The masses endeavored to touch Him; virtue flowed out of Him and they were healed.

Vs 20-23 - Sermons on the plains (aka the Beautitudes)

1)        I like to call it the "Blessings and Woes Sermon"

           First, apostles are to teach the people who and what is REALLY blessed and who and  

           what is REALLY cursed.

           *Blessed be the poor                    -                yours is the Kingdom of God

           *Blessed are you who hunger     -                you shall be filled

           *Blessed are you who weep        -                you shall laugh!

           *Blessed are you when men hate you, they shall separate you from their company, 

             shall reproach you, cast out your name for evil for the Son of Man's sake.....

           Rejoice in that Day!  Leap for Joy!   Your reward is great in heaven.  They did it to the

           prophets of old.....they will do it to you!

           *Woe to the rich                           -                 you got your reward

           *Woe unto you who are full        -                 you shall be hungry

           *Woe unto you who laugh           -                 you shall mourn

           *Woe unto you when all men speak well of you; for they also did of the FALSE 

             prophets!

2)         Love Your Enemies

Jesus commands us to love our enemies.  Not a milk toast message, or easy to swallow like pamplin.  But this is kingdom.  IF you're walking in the kingdom, you are loving your enemies.  And there IS a specific way JESUS instructs us to love them...

Vs 27-30 says we are to love our enemies and do good to them that hate you.  Bless those who curse you; give the other cheek after they slapped the first. 

Give to every man who ask of you; and to those who stole from you don't ask for it back in return.  

What?  What kinda message is that?  Surely God doesn't want us to teach the people to be weak, to be punks?  This is agape love; a love that will keep putting ourselves in positions to be punked.  The world's way is to avenge and protect ourselves.  God's way, kingdom, is to keep putting ourselves out there.  Seems crazy?  Probably.  But that's kingdom!

3)             The Golden Rule

We all have heard of the golden rule.  Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

The scriptures says...for if you love them which love you what thank have ye?  What does that mean?

Jesus is saying sinners have the capability to love those who love them.  Many Adolph Hitler was in love with Eva Braun, his mistress.  But what he had wasn't real love, it was lust.  Because after he finished having sex with her, he would put his uniform on and go kill about a 1,000 Jews or more per day!  If he had real agape love, he wouldn't have been able to exterminate millions of Jews!

That's the world's version of love.  And if we only love those who we think love us, we are no better than the sinners.  We are fooling ourselves!

Sinners also do good to those who do good to them.  But Jesus says take it to the next step.  He commands us to do good to EVERYBODY!  Enemies, friends, family, jealous folks, and all.

He also says 'lend to those who cannot pay you back!'  

What?  What is that?  

If we lend folks $5, we get all hot and backslide if we don't get $7 back by the end of the month!  I have heard folks so many times, so called saved folks, belly ache over another saint they lent money to not paying them back.  So now its been 5 years and you ain't spoke to Sis. Who Knows What because she forgot to or maybe couldn't pay back $5!!!!!!??????  

That's CRAZY!!!!

Sinners operate like that.  Banks do it every day (or well,maybe not so much these days now!)

We in the Church have gained the mentality, the spirit, of the world that says "I will be good to you only if you are good to me.  If you look like me, sing like me, preach like me, believe as I do, etc..  If you fast as long as I do, then we can hang.  If you hold onto my denominational standards, then we can fellowship."

Now e don't even want to help the poor.  I'm talking about the church!  I don't know where this spirit came from in the so called church today that says we aren't supposed to help the poor!!!!

When right here in the scriptures it says to lend to those WHO CANNOT PAY YOU BACK!  Sinners do that; that's how we as a nation got into this economic upheaval we are in right now.  Banks lending money, being greedy, thinking 'Hey, we will give you this loan and that loan and tack on 20% interest and get rich off your need!'  Then the same banks get upset, give bad credit scores, and take people's homes because they haven't gotten rich off you.  If that ain't charlatain, sinful, I don't know what is!

If these banks and financial institution were saved, kingdom minded, they'd forgive all these loans and stop seizing peoples' homes like they've been doing!  God commands are made to be obeyed.  God has cursed this nation with this financial crisis because these banks won't forgive these loans.  They are being greedy and prey on those who are suffering financially.

No matter what Obama does -- and I pray for him -- this financial crisis won't subside until we as a nation get rid of this credit bureau devil that hold peoples' financial mishaps and mistakes against them for too many years.  According to scripture, all debt is supposed to be forgiven after seven years.

Deuteronomy 15:1-2, 8-10

At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release.

And this is the manner of the release:  Every creditor that lendeth ought unto his neighbour shall release it; he shall not exact it of his neighbour, or of his brother; because it is called the Lord's release.

But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his need, in that which he wanteth.

Beware that there be not a thought in they wicked heart, saying, The 7th year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against that poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee.  

Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givenst unto him; because that for this thing the LORD they God shall bless thee in all they works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto.

Yet creditors will mark peoples' credit for debt that was made sometimes as much as 10 years ago!  The companies where the debt was made a lot of times doesn't even exist anymore.  They will sell the delinquent accounts to collections agencies and referred others to lawyers and spend all types of money to find debtors (called skip trace).  All of this to collect on an old debt, one the debtor isn't necessarily running from but sincerely has not been in a position to pay.

Yes, the debtor is given options to pay minimal payments, sometimes as low as $20/month, which seems low to many of our standards.  And while that is do-able, if you are talking about a $10,ooo deficit, how long will that person be paying off that debt?  there is principle involved here...

God says to forgive ALL debt!  Lend to those who cannot pay back.  That's Word.  And we are to do it with a GLAD heart, knowing we are not doing world business, but KINGDOM business!  

When we do this, the Word says "he that lends to the poor lendeth to the LORD!"  And trust, God will pay you back, WITH INTEREST!

And don't get angry with folks who don't-or can't-pay you back.  Doing Kingdom Business isn't just a matter of doing, but the motivation and spirit behind what we do!

If you got an attitude of "Man, she asked me for such and such, and that devil never paid me back..."  God will NOT bless you.  If you do something for someone, and you go and tell it on the mountaintop what you did, you have missed out on your blessing.  God says do it in secret, with simplicity...

Romans 12:8

Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation:  he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.

That's where you gain the greatest reward!

Do it expecting NOTHING in return!

When you do it this way, the Word says not only will your reward be great, but that you will be called CHILDREN OF THE HIGHEST!  Sons of God.

Jesus is good, merciful to the unthankful, the evil as well as the righteous, HE rains on the just AND the unjust.

We are COMMANDED to be merciful--TO EVERYONE.  Why?  Because that is a characteristic of our Daddy!  It's supposed to be in our DNA. Spiritual DNA!  If you come across someone who lacks the capacity to be merciful to others, I'd question their Sonship.  

Ask them...

"WHO'S YOUR DADDY?"

4)              Judging Others (Vs 37-42)

I think its amazing that as soon as God points out that we are supposed to be merciful that He goes on to speak on judging others.

            *Judge not                     -          you won't be judged

            *Condemn Not              -          you won't be condemned

            *Forgive                         -          you shall be forgiven

Take note--why would Jesus say these things in this order?

When one speaks of mercy, it lends to the fact that one has something they've done wrong, they've sinned, and need mercy.

That being said, when we come across someone who is in sin, who owes us, or God, has a debt to pay, yes, they did it and SHOULD pay!

They should die for their own sins.  They should be put in financial prison (given a low credit score) because they have a debt they owe.  They did wrong, and we shouldn't forgive them.   Because they are GUILTY!

But Jesus came to take the guilt away!  If we keep holding onto others' sin, if we keep judging them for past mistakes, if we keep taking folks to court for debt, keep marking up their credit reports, then what was CALVARY for?  All our sin, our mishaps, mistakes, debt, our junk....ALL OF IT....was nailed to the Cross!

With the work of the Cross and the Resurrection, ALL sin, ALL debt, ALL junk, ALL drama is gone!  Jesus' blood has forever allowed a way for it all to be washed away!

It's like there is a river of blood and there's a sewerage system availed to EVERY living soul walking the face of the planet.  But if you don't turn on the FAUCET and let the BLOOD flow, the sin, the debt, the drama is still there!  Staining up everything!

Has someone wronged you?  Owes you?  Turn on the faucet!  Cover it up not with more lies and deceit, but with the BLOOD OF JESUS!  How do you do that--turn the faucet on?

DON'T JUDGE!  DON'T CONDEMN...FORGIVE.  That's how you turn the faucet on!

When you do, the vale to that River of Life is released and where once a river of blood killed (in Egypt as one of the plagues) THIS river of BLOOD-if allowed to flow freely-will GIVE LIFE!!!!!

The Letter kills, but the SPIRIT GIVES LIFE!!!!!!!

I'm not saying don't preach against sin.  Jesus preached against it; so should we.

But after we've shown the people their sin, we also have to show them the way OUT OF SIN!  Point them to the Cross!  The Empty Grave!

True spirituality is the capacity to see in, preach and teach against it, and yet almost simultaneously offer a way OUT of sin.  It's the ability to show compassion and mercy to those who don't deserve it.

Vs 38 says if we give it will come back good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over shall men give to our bosoms.  The same measure we give is the same way we'll get it back.  This can be for good as well as for evil.

Vs 39 says can the blind lead the blind?  They will ALL fall into the ditch.

The blind in this scripture are those who cannot see the Kingdom.  The KOG is not meat, drink, but righteousness, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost.

Kingdom is loving your enemies.  Treating others the way you want to be treated.  Lending to the poor and not expecting anything back.  Kingdom is raising up the lowly and resisting the proud.  Kingdom is healing folks, deliverance, showing the TRUE WAY of salvation.

Kingdom is doing what Jesus did, walking like Jesus walked, teaching what HE TAUGHT.  We are supposed to be just like our Daddy.

If we aren't, He calls us hypocrites.

Funny how the world calls people hypocrites those who go to church and live another life outside of it.  But that's just the surface of it....

Vs 41-42 says how can you notice the (mote) speck in your brothers' eyes and not see the beam in your own?

Do you know how hard it is to see a speck in another person's eyes?  It's extremely hard to do.  When someone gets something in their eyes, we might inspect the eye a little bit.  But if we don't see anything what do we tell them?  

God wash your eyes out with some running water to flush that thing out.

Then we ask that person "do you still FEEL that thing in your eye?"

They can feel it, the object that's not supposed to be there EVEN BEFORE WE DO INSPECTING THEIR EYE!

Sometimes we get things in our eyes, and just let it stay there.  It doesn't bother us that much so we make no big deal about it.  But if it starts bothering us and obstructing our view, we will seek to get that think out of our eye, maybe even ask someone else to help us out!  

That's the way we are with sin.  

You know, most of the time, folks know when they are wrong.  It's not until that speck becomes a beam in our eye, our spirit, til it bothers us enough, that we try to get it out!

They're getting right, getting their vision right is NOT up to us, but to them!

We go around inspecting folks lives and no one ask us to.  It has to be their quest to get right.  that has to start with conviction ON THEM.  They have to get sick and tired.  Then they will seek help.  Our job is to let them know, 'Hey, if you need help, I'm here.  I love you.  And Jesus Does, too.'

If we were walking around downtown, how many of us would run upon every person who passes us by and start inspecting their eyes?  I mean, imagine it.

It's Christmas, so they got folks downtown.  And because we thought they may have specks in their eyes, especially today because it's snowing and all, and we are like, 'Uh, excuse me.  Let me inspect your eye to see if you got something in them...'

We would think to ourselves 'What is WRONG with that person?'

And how many of you know that that person just may run upon the wrong person and get beat down?  

Well, we gotta lot of folks like that, who run upon folks, inspecting their eyes, their lives, their marriages, their children, etc., sniffing out the 'SIN IN THE CAMP!'  

they say they SEE this, and SEE that, blah, blah, blah.

THAT'S not kingdom!

That's just like when they caught the woman in adultery..

Now, let's be real.  IN order for the Pharisees to have caught them IN THE ACT, they had to have followed or stalked them.  What????  When they got in the bed, they had to have their noses pressed up against the window, fogging up everything.  What's amazing is that they didn't even get ashamed when they saw them get undressed.  They STILL was looking!

For what??????

Were they like 'I wonder what they are going to do next?'

Well, duh!  What do you think?

They had to have been watching whatever happened in that bedroom for awhile...but their nosey behinds were still up in the business!

Bunch of FREAKS!  Peeping Toms!

But you gonna preach to me?  Mote?  Beam...HELLO?

But my point is in order for the religious folks to have caught the TWO of them in the act they had to been a bunch of Filthy McNasties, sitting by, watching them to see what they would do next.

So now because they felt guilty for not having run from the scene of 'the act'-and possibly enjoyed it-to defray from that guilt and deflect attention from THEMSELVES, they brought the woman only to be stoned.  

I mean, where was the man?  Come on!  If the people saw the naked woman all in the street, they would KNOW she was guilty.  And if the village people was too busy stoning them, they would escape being judged, being stoned by this open spectacle.  

Mote?  Beam???

We got many in the institution of church who love outward appearances of holiness.  The long robes and what not, openly showing and exposing the sins of others.  And what you DON'T know or see going on is what's going on underneath those robes while they sit in the best seats of the synagogues, behind the doors of the hotel room where that conference is being held, in the homes of the most prolific and profound teachers of our times, in the confession booths of our biggest rectories....ITS SIN!

Porn, rape, incest, theft, fraud.  You name it!  It's going on!

And these modern day preachers who preach against sin and yet offer no way of escape are preaching an incomplete, ineffective gospel.  

They are NOT preaching kingdom, but religion!

That's a Pharisee spirit.  That's why Jesus Christ of Nazareth called them 'hypocrites.'  Because He knew they were pointing out and preaching something they were guilty of themselves!

KINGDOM TALK: The 12--Their Mission

~~A post I first created four years (wow! it's been that long!) I thought it was worth reposting~~

The Twelve: Their Mission
Matthew 9:37, 10:15

"The Harvest is Plenteous, but the Laborers are Few...Pray"

Pray for the apostles to come.

Jesus calls 12 disciples (He called them disciples--gave them power).

Their mission?  Jesus sends the 12 NOT to the Gentiles or Samaritans.  Not to unbelievers or pagans.  Jesus sent them to the Israelites...THE CHURCH!  In particular, to the lost sheep of the House of ...Israel....

Lost sheep?  In the House??

YES!

What Jesus instructed?

1. FIRST MESSAGE (In order of priority)

          Matt. 10:7 -- The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!

          In other words, get it right?  Jesus is coming back!

     2.  SECOND MESSAGE

          

          The Kingdom of God:  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Freely you  

          have received, freely you give.

     3.   THIRD MESSAGE

           Jesus addressed their natural realm.  This is important.  We preachers/ teachers teaching the 

           Kingdom is getting natural needs met.  Owning a business, etc.

           vs. 9-10     Don't hoard $$$$$

           vs. 11        Scrips were bags used to store food in; no heavy packing.  Mann-daily bread.  Jesus 

                             instructed the apostles to go into a city, ask around to find people of like faith and stay 

                             with them til released by God.  Work with them.

           vs 12         When going to a house bestow peace unto it.

           vs 13         If the house is worthy (of like faith), Jesus says 'allow your blessing (your peace) to

                             come upon it.  Part of the apostolic anointing is to be able to pronounce PEACE on a 

                             body.  If they are not worthy, don't bless the house.  Exact words?  "Let your peace 

                             return to you."

           vs 14         Whosoever doesn't receive you, shake the dust off your feet indicating their blood is 

                             no longer upon your hands. Because you did what God said to do.  It is a cursed

                             house...an unrepentant one! 

           vs 15         States it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah on Judment Day than not just  

                            for that house, BUT FOR THAT WHOLE CITY!!

When a body won't repent and does not receive the Word God gave them, not only is that house cursed, but their sin affects the city that the house resides in!!!! It curses REGIONS!!!!!

Look at Hait, or some parts of Africa.  There are WHOLE REGIONS that have been cursed because whole houses of God subverted the truth of God, rejected His Word, ignored the prophets and apostles and resorted to other spiritual means to do 'their business.'  Not God's business.  So this is why poverty, sickness, disease and premature death, unfruitfulness of the land is so rampant in that part of the world.

It's just like when the two angels warned Sodom & Gomorrah they were coming under judgment and Abraham asked them if the city would be spared for, at first, 50 righteous men?  (Gen. 18:26-32), then 45, 40, 30, 20, then 10.

Let me tell you something.....

There may be wickedness all around you.  All the houses in the city may be filthy.  Sodom & Gomorrah like.  But if there is a REMNANT....just a small number of folks who are really living for God, God will spare THEM.

The city may perish...those who don't repent.  But if you are a righteous remnant of God, your life will be spared!!!!!!

Go on to read Gen. 19:15-25 (the whole chapter 19).  Judgment was delayed until the righteous GOT OUT!!!!

The Angels were not to release judgment until the righteous remnant, the covenant people, got out of Dodge!!!

NOW, if the righteous turned back - as Lot's wife did - and disobeyed God after God gave them specific instruction to get out and DON'T LOOK BACK, then they perished along with the wicked!

Once the decree of judgment had already went forth from God...the only way it could be reversed was if the guilty repented.  God will delay destruction in His Divine Love and Mercies, to get the righteous out of danger!

This explains why when it says in vs 14 that whosoever doesn't hear the voice of God and take heed, a curse is upon it.  Shake the dust off your feet knowing you've done what God commanded.  

I've heard preachers say that sprinkling dust on someone's doorstep was witchcraft.  I personally had never heard of anyone sprinkling dust, til I read this IN THE SCRIPTURES!  Yet the apostles were instructed by the Lord Jesus Christ to shake the dust off their feet if a house didn't receive the Word of the Lord.

You see, Jesus knew that the apostles would be sent by God with a hard word.  An unpopular word.  A correcting word.  A stringent word.  And the Word of God says that in the last days that men would hate

that which is good, despisers of good, calling good evil and evil good.  And that they will heap teachers unto themselves, having itching ears.  When you see someone rubbing their ears, in denotes that they are trying to clear up their ears so that they can hear clearly.

They got many hungry folks, but they are hungry for the WRONG THING!  They are hungry for ice cream, candy, cookies, cakes and pies, like Madea says of Cora.  They are NOT hungry for MEAT.  For that which will nourish then, will fill their sensual appetites.  When you find someone who always crave sweets, something wrong.  They never want food, but junk.  They get sick a lot, out of shape, etc.  

That's why we got so many in the organized church SICK.  Spiritually sick.  They have not been eating right!  And they wanna eat right.  So when someone comes along with spinach, liver or beef, they go a running to all those conferences and meetings, prophetic ones, in particular, where they can get their fill of cookies, cakes and pies!  They will give their whole rent checks to false prophets to lie to then, but will starve a REAL pastor and their families b/c the pastor preaches come OUT of that lifestyle!  A hard word...but Jesus didn't back down.

Kingdom teaching/preaching will confront sin and provide a way of escape from sin.  Religion merely points out the sin...with no way of escape or hope of REAL deliverance.  

IT'S TIME TO REPORT NASTY PREACHERS & DEACONS!

Where should I begin with this...

I must address this as a survivor of childhood sexual abuse (within the religious circle) FIRST.  

This picture is Bishop Larry Trotter, pastor and founder of Sweet Holy Spirit Church in Chicago and his 4 year old granddaughter ... taking a bath together.  

Now, while none of us know if Trotter has on trunks underneath that water, we have to conclude that this photo was, at the very least, HIGHLY inappropriate to take, it was HIGHLY inappropriate for Trotter to be in the tub with his granddaughter in the first place, and then it is GROSSLY unwise to post this picture on Instagram!

The question of whether or not this is child pornography has come up.  

It has always been my understanding that child porn is taking pictures of children simulating or actually performing sexual acts.

According to the Center of Missing and Exploited Children's website, http://www.missingkids.com/missingkids/servlet/PageServlet?PageId=1504, this is what child pornography is under federal law:

"What Is Child Pornography?"

Under federal law (18 U.S.C. 2256), child pornography is defined as any visual depiction, including any photograph, film, video, picture or computer or computer-generated image or picture, whether made or produced by electronic, mechanical, or other means, of sexually explicit conduct, where

• the production of the visual depiction involves the use of a minor engaging in seuxlaly explicit conduct; or
• the visual depiction is a digital image, computer image, or computer-generated image that is, or is indistinguishable from, that of a minor engaging in sexually explicit conduct; or
• the visual depiction has been created, adapted, or modified to appear that an identifiable minor is engaging in sexually explicit conduct."

Since Trotter is not engaging in a sexual act with this baby, neither is she, then this particular photograph does not fit into the category of child porn.....

BUT...

Who is to say what happened BEFORE or AFTER this photo was taken?

It's the IMPLICATIONS of what may have been going on that is SO disturbing!

And since this post was put out here publicly, then ALL implications behind this photo should be dealt with...publicly...as well!

I have come across a few stories where parents were arrested JUST for taking pics of the kids-ALONE-in the bathtub.  

Swedish Mother Arrested Over Taking Pics of Kids in Tub

http://www.thelocal.se/32400/20110304/#.UPakvuT7Ing

Texas Parents Arrested Over Bathtub Photos

http://jonathanturley.org/2009/08/17/texas-officials-arrest-parents-and-take-away-their-children-for-taking-pictures-of-their-children-in-a-bathtub-and-breastfeeding/

Are Bathtime Pictures Pornographic?

http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/21/are-bathtime-photos-pornographic/

These parents were arrested for taking pictures of their kids in the tub....they were NOT in the tub with the kids.  One mother was breastfeeding her child....but if a mother can breastfeed her child in PUBLIC and not get arrested for it...how is it ok that she was arrested for doing it IN PRIVATE?

(That's another blog, for another day!)

I am going to tell you why these parents were arrested, lost custody of their kids and went through hell and high water to regain custody of their kids....

Because these acts did not take place inside of a church or within the confines of a religious system!

Because they were not leaders in a church or a religious organization!

Sad to say, within the religious system, child abuse and exploitation is not only acceptable, but if it is ever discovered or even suspected, it is MOST likely to be swept under the rug, dismissed, and allegations and obvious warning signs are blatantly ignored!

We all remember 20 years ago when it first started coming out about the priests molesting altar boys?  These altar boys were grown men by then and just couldn't go on without sharing what they went through at the hands of perverted priests.  I am sure that at some time during their childhood, these altar boys reached out to someone for help.  

But their cries for help were ignored.  The allegations went uninvestigated, ignored, filed away for no one to search further.  People were undoubtedly bought off in exchange for their silence when allegations went public.  

This makes me think about former christian gospel artist Tonex now known as B. Slade.  Anthony Williams grew up in the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World denomination and went on to become one of the most popular, most talented singers in the industry.

That's until he came out of the closet.  

Once Anthony went public with his gay lifestyle, he was shunned and pretty much blacklisted by his christian compadres and the industry.  He did take on the pastorship of his father's church in the Spring Valley area.  But I haven't heard of him preaching lately...it is my understanding that even after coming out of the closet, he was still allowed to pastor Truth Apostolic Community Church.  And he was even invited to preach at other gay-accepting, gay-affirming churches....

But....

I don't want to focus so much on Anthony's turn of lifestyle, but on WHY this happened...

I want you to watch this video.  Anthony is now known as B. Slade.  Slade is an openly gay performer who performs at various venues.  This video explains a LOT of what Anthony went through...that brought him to this point where he is right now:

In this video, Anthony shares that he was molested as a child in the P.A.W (@3:12 into the video).

What most religious people see in this video is an embittered, wounded, hurting young man who is lashing out at the religious institutions.  

Well, HOW DID HE GET THERE????

THAT is the question we need to ask.

He was not just expressing his hurt and anger over how the industry shunned him after his coming out, or the breakup of his marriage, or the death of his parents-and the insensitive way that religious people supported him (or didn't support him) afterwards.  

He was not just expressing disappointment and bitterness over losing popularity and fame he had worked so hard to attain within the gospel music industry...

This was a young man who grew up in a coveted popular pentecostal denomination, one where 'holiness' was supposedly preached and taught.  I went to another popular pentecostal denomination for almost 5 years.  

If you listen closely 3 minutes and 12 seconds into the video, he utters these lines:

"...the irony is I was introduced to this by you.

    so I'm a product of a double standard institute.

    Homey, bitter ain't the word for it, that's an understatement.

    That's why I had to take a vacation..."

Introduced to WHAT?

Homosexuality! Sexual perversion!  Within the religious circles!

It seems to me that within religious organizations, there is a tendency to ignore signs of child abuse.  When I was in ministry, I was told that ministers are mandated child abuse reporters.  

But it is within the institution of church where abuse happens the most and is reported THE LEAST!

If anyone sees anything that may constitute child abuse (within the church setting, or committed by church leaders or workers), it is highly likely that that abuse WILL continue, go unchallenged, unreported and will serve to destroy the innocence of children entrapped within the religious institutions.

Trotter's grandbaby is smiling in this picture with her granddad.  Undoubtedly, she loves her pawpaw implicitly.  In her mind, she is just having fun with pawpaw.

But the sick thing is in his mind, they are having fun, too!

But WHAT IF he is abusing that baby?  Exploiting her?  

I challenge you if you're a church leader, or even if you go to church and you stay in the Chicago area, maybe you go to Sweet Holy Spirit....PLEASE don't be blinded by the charisma of this man.  SOMEONE needs to report this man ASAP to the local authorities so that that household can be investigated.

At the very worst, if nothing is going on, then at least those around them will sleep a little better at night.  

There is no worse feeling than to have witness possible abuse (of a child or a woman-of anyone), having had the power to put a stop to it...but because you didn't want to get involved, or because you love your pastor, or because you don't want to make the church 'look bad,' you kept silent.

Then it comes out later on that that WAS in fact abuse....

Who is going to look out for the children?????

No one looked out for Anthony Williams/Tonex/B. Slade.  And look what's happened to him now.

Ten or twenty years down the line, what if this baby IS being abused?  And she ends up being whorish?  Or lesbian or bisexual?  Or she abuses chidren herself?  

It all began right here, folks.  With her grandfather taking inappropriate pictures with her in the tub....

That's how it started with me.

My uncle would tongue kiss me every night.  Then he fondled me...I was maybe 10.  Then he took the Polaroid and took nude pictures of me.  He would compare me to models in porno magazines.

Then the sex began...

It's only by the grace of God that I've been healed of it all.  And I experienced GREAT shunning and persecution within the church I grew up after I reported my uncle to the police.  I didn't report it til I was like 14 years old....I couldn't muster up the courage to do it before then.  

I am speaking for every child right now...and from the heart.

Church folks...I know I'm hard on you.  But you got to do better than this...by these babies!!!

DO NOT ALLOW YOUR LEADERS TO EXPLOIT, MOLEST, RAPE AND ABUSE YOUR BABIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.  REPORT THEM.  DO NOT BE AFRAID.