Evangelism=Intolerance?
Long time no blog. My bad. I went on vacation with my fam. I’m back and I do solemnly vow to be a more consistent blogger…..
Lots happening! Perhaps you saw the TIMESNEWS editorial condemning Lighthouse for “picketing and leafleting the new Mormon Temple” and “impeding other’s free exercise of faith”. There have been so many rumors flying around about us that I’ve lost count….
-”Lighthouse has a $85k account that they are going to use to launch a protest against the Temple”
-”Lighthouse has secretly hired two bums to hand out anti-Mormon material” (no joke)
-”Lighthouse bashes Mormons”
Let me just say (after I quit chuckling) that none of these or the other rumors are true. The truth is we love Mormons….so much that we want them to come into a saving relationship with the real Jesus Christ! And I applaud and pray for those few Lighthouse brothers who have been down at the Temple humbly directing people to an awesome and very informative website <sacredorsecret.com>. We did not, however, organize this outreach. A few brothers felt led of the Lord to go reach out to those taking Temple tours.
So, the TIMESNEWS accused our church of being intolerant. So here’s the question: Is evangelism by default intolerance? That seems to be the implication. I suggest to you that Satan (very real being–not mythical, metaphorical, wearing red spandex or otherwise unreal), is attempting to ‘hamstring’ the Church by making whole groups of people off-limits to the gospel. “It’s intolerant” we’re constantly told. But I’m throwing my lot in with the Apostle Paul who said, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God unto salvation to those who believe” and “Woe unto me if I preach not the gospel…”. (Rom.1/1Cor.9) And didn’t our Savior, Lord and Hero, Jesus Christ command us to “Preach the gospel to every creature”? (Mark 16:15)
Anyway, God bless you guys who are down at the Temple reaching out to the Mormons in love. I’m proud of you.
Below is our response to the TIMESNEWS editorial……
peace, pastor g
With all due respect to the Times News Editorial staff, to our knowledge no one from our church (Lighthouse) is picketing or opposing the existence of the new LDS Temple. We absolutely affirm the right of the LDS to build their Temple and worship as their faith dictates. Again, we are not opposed to the existence of the Temple or the rights of Mormons to worship there.
We do, however, see a vast difference between LDS doctrine and what the Bible actually says. The difference is so vast that the LDS ‘gospel’ is unrecognizable from the Bible’s gospel of grace. As a result, we must obey our Lord’s command to “proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15) and reach out in love to our Mormon neighbors. We don’t see this as “impeding others’ free exercise of faith,” as you suggested. It’s what Jesus did when He challenged the beliefs of the Samaritan woman (John 4). It’s what the Apostle Paul did when he spoke to the Greek philosophers on Mars Hill, challenging them to abandon their false religion in favor of worshipping the one true God (Acts 17). It’s what followers of Jesus have done since the day of Pentecost. It’s commonly called ‘evangelism’.
The truth is that God loves Mormons, Muslims, Hindus, Agnostics, Atheists and people of every nation, background and religion. He does not want anyone to perish (2 Peter 3:9). All the various religions of the world have essentially one thing in common: they teach a works-based salvation. That is, you must earn your way and do your part in order to reach heaven (or whatever the ultimate goal is). The Bible, however, reveals a gospel of grace. God accomplished everything necessary for us to be saved by becoming a man and dying for the sins of mankind upon the cross and then rising from the grave.
From the cross, Jesus cried, ‘It is finished!’ Therefore, when a person abandons their self-righteousness (i.e. religion) and puts their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, they enter into a completed work. Jesus was asked ‘What must we do to be doing the works of God?’ And He replied, ‘This is the work (singular) of God, believe on Him whom He has sent.’ (John 6:28-29)
Salvation is free. It cannot be earned. This is truly good news! The few folks from Lighthouse that have felt led to go down to the Temple and share with the gospel, do so out of obedience to Jesus’ commands and love for the precious Mormon people.
While we affirm the rights of Mormons to build a Temple and worship there, we also take to heart our Lord’s command to proclaim the gospel of grace.
In Christ’s love,
Greg Fadness, Ron Heath, Kevin Newbry, Dan Marks, Bryan Devore and Mike Littleton (The pastoral staff of Lighthouse)
It Begins
Today, Monday, June 16th is a day of spiritually historic proportions for our nation. At 5:01 Pacific Standard Time it became officially legal in the state of California for homosexual couples to exchange vows and be legally married. It could mark the beginning of the persecution of the Church. I would imagine that we will see descrimination law suits against churches that speak against such unions or even simply refuse to perform the ceremonies.
I have felt the Lord speaking to me with great clarity and simplicity. ‘Be steadfast, immovable. Be strong and courageous. Love those who hate you. I am with you.’
Buckle your seatbelts Lighthouse. It’s going to get interesting.
Until He comes,
Greg
Musings from Murrieta, Ca.
I just returned from the Calvary Chapel Pastor’s Conference in Murrieta, Ca. A thousand or so pastors from around the nation and the globe gathered to hear from people like Chuck Smith, Greg Laurie and Mike Macintosh. Perhaps the highlight for me (besides eating a ‘double-doublewas hearing pastor Chuck sing ‘How Great Thou Art’ accompanied by Dennis Agajanian on guitar.
Perhaps the lowlight for me was a guy named Warren Smith (no relation to Chuck) speaking on the danger of the new age infiltrating Christianity. He made not-so-subtle references to Rick Warren (pastor of Saddleback) being in league with Satan’s one world/one religion agenda. I couldn’t help but be repulsed at his observations and conclusions. Though I’m not necessarily keen on his methodology, Rick Warren is a champion of the faith. I saw him give one of the most clear presentations of the gospel I’ve ever heard on ‘Larry King Live’.
While the Oprah/New Age philosophy is obviously something to be concerned about in these last days, so is slander and bearing false witness. If I was given the choice between Warren Smith and Rick Warren being on my gospel preaching team, I’d take Rick Warren in a heartbeat. I look forward to your comments.
Until He comes,
Greg
A Personal Confession from Pastor Greg
I’m presently assessing lots of emotional and spiritual information in the aftermath of our Eastland building dedication. There was a weightiness to it I hadn’t anticipated. I had some really good one on one time with Pastor Chuck. He is genuinely enthused about the work of the Lord here at Lighthouse. I also discovered that he is very sorry about the decisions he made and the people he backed in 1994 when our church was born. He issued a number of personal apologies to those who were impacted by those decisions. But he also told me that he is so thankful that God has a way of sovereignly overseeing even our failures and using them to accomplish His will on the earth. The truth is, if Pastor Chuck hadn’t made the decisions he made in 1994, Lighthouse Christian Fellowship would probably not exist.
That brings me to something the Lord has revealed to me personally concerning the birth of our church. Confession time: Deep in my heart I had always viewed the way our church was born as a negative. It was born of a church-split (or so I viewed it). So I tended to downplay those beginnings. No more…..In reality, Lighthouse was not born from a church split; it was born from Church deliverance. God put in motion an ingenius (although painful) plan to wrest a people out of a bad situation, so that He could give birth to a new work–a work He had in heart all along.
The Lord was speaking to me about this when I first came to Twin Falls 13 years ago. He gave me a passage of Scripture to tuck away in my heart that characterized the situation….’……1“Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!” declares the Lord.2Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who care for my people: “You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds, declares the Lord.3Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply.4I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord…..’ (Jer. 23:1-4 ESV)
I knew from the beginning that God was doing a special work with a special group of people. I was privileged and humbled to be the one God chose as their pastor.
So….. I will no longer view the birth of our church in a negative way; nor will I apologize for God’s ways and plans. Nor will I take any credit for His work. Lighthouse is an amazing church with an amazing beginning and…….an amazing future. My love for you who were there at the beginning is deep and profound. I’m here for the long haul. What do you say we march forward together into the next exciting chapter God has prepared for His church-Lighthouse Christian Fellowship….Greg
Papa Chuck and the Calvary Tribe
Pastor Chuck Smith is coming to Lighthouse on May 15th to be a part of our Eastland building dedication. His coming has me thinking all sorts of thoughts. So here goes……’Papa Chuck’ as he is affectionately known, was in the center of what was arguably the greatest revival of the latter half of the 20th century. The ‘Calvary Chapel Movement’ as it is known, is really a group of approximately 1400 churches throughout the world who are loosely linked by a set of common ministry values i.e. teaching verse by verse through the Bible, casual dress, contemporary worship, etc. Lighthouse is a part of the Calvary Chapel movement.
Though I spent the first 10 years of my Christian life in Calvary Chapel, I also spent a number of years outside of the movement as well. Those years taught me some very valuable lessons:
1. The Body of Christ is big, diverse and beautiful (some of my biases and prejudices were torn down and God developed in me an appreciation for other parts of the Church)
2. Tribal pride is never a good idea (I look at the various churches, denominations and ministry styles as being a ‘tribe’. Pride in your tribe always comes off as arrogance to the other tribes. It’s just not a Jesus attitude.)
3. All the tribes are mine (God spoke to me deeply during those years from 1 Cor. 3:21 ‘Greg, it’s not good to boast or glory in any man or teacher or movement. All are yours. Chuck Smith. Chuck Swindoll. Chuck Stanley….’ you get the idea)
Those were hugely valuable lessons that I needed to learn. I now have deep love and appreciation for Body of Christ in all of its various expressions around the planet. And I also have a deep love and appreciation for our tribe-Calvary Chapel.
We make a mistake when we boast in anything other than the Lord Himself. ‘…let him who boasts, boast in the Lord…’ 2 Cor. 10:17
All that to say this, you’re officially invited to our Eastland building dedication (no matter what tribe you’re in)……peace, pastor g
Check one, two. Checking one, two, three.
Hello out there. This is my first post so I don’t even know that anyone will read this. But here’s the dealio…. My goal is to post on a weekly basis (or so) the things I’m thinking about and going through and working on. You (if there is a you) will have the opportunity to read my blog and then respond with blog comments. I will read the comments and respond to your ….maybe…At any rate, this is our initial foray into cyber-fellowship. I look forward to a cyber-relationship with you…..if there is a you.