Miracles.....and J D Sumner

     I have been often asked if I have seen certifiable miracles in my ministry. There is no question in my mind that I have witnessed the miraculous intervention of God in such supernatural manifestations of His power that I could only come to the conclusion that I had been blessed as a witness to occurrences that can only be defined as miracles. Ordinarily, we have tendencies to associate miracles to medically unexplainable recoveries from terminal illnesses or injuries. However, our Lord moves among us with His "still small  voice" more often than with thunderous proclamations, and His equally miraculous acts may be so camouflaged as coincidences that they are simply overlooked by us. Someone has said that coincidences are God's miracles when He wants to stay anonymous.

     The greatest miracles I have been blessed to see on a regular basis take place during altar calls when people move down the aisles burdened with sin but leave the service delivered and free; they are facing eternal death when they awaken in the morning before their decision for Christ but go to sleep that night resting peacefully with eternal life as their pillow; they do indeed become new creatures in Christ.

     I love talking to people about Jesus, especially those who do not know Him. I certainly am embarrassed that during my ministry I have not led more to a saving knowledge of Him. Nevertheless, I can say with neither apology not boast, that the primary goal of all I do is to lead souls to Christ and my second goal is to enrich the lives of those already saved with a deeper study of Scriptures. 

     The great Methodist evangelist, Samuel Porter Jones, is my pulpit hero and I have patterned much of my evangelistic endeavors and methods after him. His best-known person he influenced for Christ was Capt. Tom Ryman who was converted at a Sam Jones meeting in Nashville in 1885 and later built the Union Gospel Tabernacle for Jones' use for meetings each year in Nashville. Upon Ryman's death, it was renamed the Ryman Auditorium.

     Similarly, the person whose name is most recognizable in association with mine is J D Sumner, the long time bass singer for the famous Blackwood Brothers Quartet, Stamps Quartet and close friend of Elvis Presley. A few days ago I watched an old video recording of the Stamps Quartet at North Jacksonville Baptist Church in 1989.  Most touching and precious to me was when J D stood alone at a microphone with tears flowing and told the congregation about my influence in his life for Christ. Suddenly, tears filled my eyes, too. My dear friend, 

J D Sumner, is with Jesus but I will see him again. I'm humbled that he felt in some way I had helped him. 

     J D is known far and wide. His name transcends southern gospel music. Stories of his legendary life are plentiful, but I want to share a few things about him from my perspective. 

     The last conversation that I had with him before he left for his final series of concerts in Myrtle Beach, during which he passed away, J D hugged me and whispered, "It's such a miracle to me to know that Jesus loves me like he does. Before I got right with God, I just stood on the stage and sang or said something funny; but now that I've found the Lord's love for me, I want to talk about Him instead of singing but I usually just bust out crying."

     Even when J D by his own admission wasn't living as close to to the Lord as he might have done, he was a very generous, caring person. On one occasion, when I was living in Jacksonville, I needed to see my father who was very ill about an hour from Nashville but the plane would arrive so late that I could not get a rental car. When I arrived, there was J D with his car waiting for me, full tank of gas and sack of food and drinks in the front seat. Then, he asked me if either I or my parents needed some money during this time. We didn't but I was overwhelmed with his kindness.

     Although J D is widely-remembered for his straight-from-the-hip honesty, I was truly impressed to hear him defend fellow singers, musicians, pastors or evangelists who may have fallen into sin. On one occasion, I mentioned the name of someone who had actually done him wrong, but he never said a negative word . Instead, he told about a funny experience they had shared one time.

     Somehow, the miracle of miracles is that when I looked at the body of this man who was larger than life lying in a casket, I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I would see him again. He wrote many, many great songs. One of my favorites is "Inside The Gate." It starts out "Oh how I happy I will be when life's journey here is run, when I look upon His face and I hear Him say well done; you have fought a faithful fight and my child you kept the faith. Enter now my joys are yours so just step inside the gate!" That, my friend, will be the greatest of miracles that we can all experience because of Christ!

     

"I'm tired of 'doing' church...."

     I'm tired of "doing" church.  It is apparent to anyone with an honest observation that the vast majority of churches today, both traditional and contemporary, have become nothing more than flesh  on parade.  Words like "awesome" and "exciting" have become buzz words that are regular adjectives describing church services. Flamboyant eye-catching "worship events" designed to elicit from the congregation,  depending on the mood of the preacher, either laughter and standing ovations or amazed oohs and ahs are now staples at  worship services. And, above all else, we must be sure people feel comfortable and unoffended, so worship leaders need to dress as ragged as a bouncer at a night club brawl, and ladies can forget Paul's admonition to women about dressing in modest apparel; and, for sure, men should not feel hesitation about their whiskey picture shirt or their favorite casino cap. After all, as we are so often admonished, "man looks on the outward appearance but God looks on the heart." When I hear that phrase used to justify a church crowd that's dressed like glorified sand fleas, I ask myself, "Doesn't the Bible also say to avoid the very appearance of evil"?  Doesn't the Scriptures tell us to "be not conformed to this world?" Doesn't the Bible command us to be "peculiar" people? Say what you will, these verses, as well as host of others, either directly state or firmly imply, that God does care very much how we are dressed when we approach Him and daily represent Him. While I acknowledge that clothing should never be a test of fellowship or genuine hand of welcome to everyone, I still maintain that as we grow by the leadership of the Spirit, everything about us changes, including our dress.

     This is not simply an older generational concern. Today, in 2015, suits and ties with ladies appropriately also attired are expected by participants in wedding parties, funerals, courtroom proceedings, television sports commentators, etc. This is because the degree of  their respect for the activity in which they are participating  is visually conveyed by what they wear as much as by what they say. Casually-dressed large crowds with some religious activity do not necessarily indicate a successful church; otherwise the largest church in Tennessee is located in Knoxville during the fall at Neyland Stadium when over 100,000 are in attendance and start everything with heads bowed in prayer.

     On the other hand, some churches are rusted in tradition and frozen in procedures. Unlike the churches just mentioned, these churches exist at the other extreme. They are bastions of proper decorum. If it weren't so tragic it would be comical that these stilted congregations are so insistent on procedures that a member could be vacationing a thousand miles away from church on Sunday morning but know that at 11:06 they are singing the doxology back home and at 11:23 the pastor is beginning his sermon. 

     While I agree with the scriptural admonition that God expects things to be done decently and in order, the WAY we do worship should never replace WHOM we worship. That applies to the fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants kind of disorganized churches mentioned in my opening remarks and also the very formal almost funeral home-like churches of latter remarks.

     The great man of God, Peter Lord, challenged me one time when he asked, "How much of what you do at church, and how you do it, did you ask God if that's what He wanted for YOUR church. Did you and and your leadership get on your knees and ask Him what kind of music that He wanted? Did you ask Him what kind of organization did He want? What kind of preaching did He want? After all, if your church is not really YOUR church, but instead is HIS church, why didn't you ask Him about every detail of what your church does?" Dr Lord's words changed me forever.

     In summary, the churches I was privileged to serve each had significant numerical growth but I believe significant spiritual growth too because I followed Dr Lord's penetrating questions and started seeking God's will instead of emulating what other "successful" pastors were doing. John 22:32 became my guide for growth, both spiritual and numerical, because Jesus promised "If I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me." For assurance, Jesus always keeps His promises, including this one. 

     Yes, I'm tired of doing church. Jesus does a much better job. And, if a church is really a New Testament church in worship, the congregation will actually meet Jesus. When a person meets Jesus, I doubt he will go dancing up shouting, "Awesome!" or formally stretch forth his hand to clasp the Savior's with a courtly "Glad to meet you."  Oh no, I believe that I and every other person who truly loves His appearing will, like John on the Isle of Patmos, fall at His feet as one dead. Friend, that won't be "doing" church, but it will be genuine worship!

     

On Good Friday, All Of Us Will Make One Of Three Decisions

     Good Friday is a day for remembrance of the agonizing death and the shed blood of Jesus at Calvary that provided salvation for mankind. 

     Today, I have been thinking of three Roman centurions who stood at the base of the cross that day. I believe each of them made decisions that reflect decisions made by everyone in today's modern world. I think you will understand as I present each centurion for your contemplation, because I believe two made the wrong decision and are in hell today, but one made the right decision and is in heaven.

     THE FIRST CENTURION MISSED SALVATION BECAUSE OF DISTRACTION. He was gambling for the seamless coat of Jesus, probably with his back turned on the most important event in human history. There is nothing either moral or immoral about wanting a coat. His problem was that he was distracted from Jesus. Modern Americans have little or no time for Jesus because of their being distracted by sports, family, careers, politics, etc. I believe hell will have huge crowds of people who were actually moral, good people, but people whose attention was on things that in and of themselves were good things but nevertheless kept people from gazing upon the Christ of Calvary.

     THE SECOND CENTURION MISSED SALVATION BECAUSE OF A USELESS

DEED. He cast a spear into the lifeless body of Jesus. That was a useless act. It made no sense. A spear is an instrument of combat against a living person. However, he must have despised our Lord so much that he could not restrain himself from this non-productive deed. There are millions who will be in hell because like this centurion they will choose some useless, non-productive sin rather than accepting Jesus as Savior. I believe at the judgment all of heaven's angels will mock them for the choice of a useless sin over the Son of God. 

     THE THIRD CENTURION MADE THE RIGHT CHOICE BECAUSE HE GOT AS CLOSE TO JESUS AS HE COULD AND ADORED HIM. In Mark 15:39 we are told that this centurion, according to the KJV, got over "against" Jesus. To be so close that you are against someone is to be as near that person as possible. And, once he was there, according to verse 39 of Mark 15, he saw Jesus as he gave up the ghost and then said, "Truly this man was the Son of God."

     On this Good Friday, as we ponder the cross, which of these centurions represents you? Are you so distracted by even good things of this world that you have no intimacy with Jesus? Are you too committed to a useless sin that you will not obey our Lord's commands? Or, are you as near to Jesus as possible and adoring him as the Son of God?

So What If They Did Backtrack In Indiana...

    It is extremely disturbing to me that there are preachers and laymen in the Christian community who believe it is a good thing when legislators and governors change enacted laws because of an unusually heavy backlash by not only their constituents but also by economic threats coming from out-of-state groups. We are seeing this presently in Indiana, the state in which I now have my residence. It is one thing if opposition to legislation is based upon the actual statements included in the bill, but it is quite another to stir up a mob mentality through screaming vitriolic falsehoods by alleging conditions in the bill that do not exist. This acquiescence to whichever group can shout the loudest will lead to anarchy, a total breakdown of an orderly government of laws and reason.  And, lest you think of me as a right-wing fanatic, let me assure you that I have friends of a more liberal political persuasion than mine that are also very concerned about this kind of socio-political protest that distorts facts to fit its own agenda.

     We are living in a time unprecedented in the history of our nation. There is an increasing gathering of storm clouds that is speeding toward all who follow Christ. Since Trinity Seminary has students and alumni in over eighty denominations, I believe I am in a unique position to speak on this subject because we have Christian leaders in this vast array of denominations who serve across the spectrum from very conservative churches to very liberal churches. Let me warn all of you. If this trend continues, none of you will be safe from government interference to preach your convictions concerning anything that touches at all on moral issues. This activist effort to use the government to squelch the faith convictions of business owners will never be satisfied. So, if you are of a more liberal theological leaning and perhaps even agree with the backtracking in Indiana and Arkansas, please consider the history of the USSR and its evolution into an atheist state. Before the fall of that country, not only were conservative churches banned but liberal churches were outlawed as well. It is extremely important that all believers in Christ, and I mean all believers, conservative or liberal, should immediately and very soberly look toward the future of America in terms of your ability to leave your particular religious faith to your posterity. 

     The best defense against an uncertain future that includes the possibility of a religious purging in America is the election of statesmen, not mere politicians, of high moral character to serve in both major political parties. We need men and women in elected office who cannot be threatened, coerced, intimidated, bribed, bought or sold. We need people who possess a reasonable mind who will listen carefully to opposing views; men such as Tip O'Neill and Ronald Reagan who fiercely argued their respective positions and then went out to dinner together. We need people of a resolute spirit who will not listen to the howling mobs or watch the latest polls but rather make decisions based on earnest convictions and then firmly stand on them even if it means the loss of re-election. We need people with a religious foundation that is anchored on "Thus saith the Lord!" as found in their regular study of God's Word. We need champions, not cowards, statesmen, not snivelers; and godly, not godless. 

     Finally, my appeal to all who name the name of Christ is that you determine within yourself that "as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!"

     

Dealing With Ugly Racism

     In one of the churches I served as pastor, we had some people with deep racism that had its ugly grip on them. Soon after I began my ministry there, we were blessed to have a wonderful family begin to visit our services. The husband was not only white, he was a very white white, and his African-American wife was simply lovely with a very dark complexion. Their three little children were just beautiful with a shading of skin that was a combination of their parents.

     One glorious Sunday, this precious couple came forward on the invitation and gave their hearts to God. As I later stood at the church door greeting members as they left the building, one very aristocratic gentleman leaning on his silver-tipped cane said to me, "We've never had black people in our church. You've broken tradition by letting her join." I responded by saying, "She didn't just join; she got saved!" He said to me, "Are you going to baptize her?"  I answered, "Yes, I'm going to baptize her." Then he replied, "You know good and well that she joined here to cause trouble and probably at the urging of the NAACP." To that I said, "If you're right and she's here to cause trouble and I don't baptize her, next Sunday, we will have the NAACP out here on the sidewalk protesting. On the other hand, if you're wrong, and she really got saved and I don't baptize her, I'll have trouble with God. Now if I've got to fight somebody, I'd rather fight the NAACP than fight God." So, I baptized her. Without that couple knowing of this incident, they chose to sit on the same pew with this old codger. She began to brag on him, bring him goodies to take home to eat, and call to see how he was doing. I watched his heart melt. She became like a daughter to him. And, a couple of years later he said to me, "I was such an old fool. Look what I would have missed."

     In that same church, we had an African-American couple begin to visit. They were the parents of a newly-born infant. In our nursery, we had several workers, including an elderly lady who was prejudiced through and through. She told me plainly that she would not deal with any African-American babies left in that nursery. One Sunday morning, that couple left their little baby in our nursery, and that little fellow began to cry with might and main. One worker after another tried to calm him to no avail. Finally, he was thrust into the arms of this antagonistic woman whereupon that baby began to coo and gurgle contentedly. From then on, that was HER baby and she jumped to be the first to take that child from his parents' arms each Sunday.

     Dr E V Hill was a great black pastor and orator who is now with the Lord. He was a guest preacher for me on an occasion. We were chatting in his hotel room before services about the issue of race relations. He said to me the whole issue would be resolved if we understood "racialism" and "racism."  He defined racism as being when an individual looks at people of another race as inferior. He defined racialism as being when an individual makes his own race the dominant consideration when interacting with individuals of another race. He said that both make race relations impossible to be anything other than virtually irresolvable.

     My conclusion is simple. A few years ago, I saw a news story telling of a masquerade party with first-graders at a school during Halloween. Thirty-one little boys and girls were in the class, and only one little boy was African-American. The teacher asked if the children could identify each other. Even though the little dark-skinned African-American lad's hands were exposed, he won the contest. Dr Martin Luther King, Jr. was right when he exhorted us to judge each other by content of character rather than the color of skin. I will put it this way. Racism is is not a skin problem; it is a sin problem.

     

     

Jesus Is Wonderful

     Rodney (Gypsy) Smith was a great evangelist of a bygone era. He was born inside a tent to humble parentage in England and raised in a gypsy wagon. His family eked out a living by selling baskets and clothes pegs. Smith's mother died with smallpox when he was just a lad. When he was 15 years of age, his father's heart was strangely touched by the singing of Ira Sankey who was the song leader in the great campaigns of the famed evangelist, Dwight L Moody. That night, he accepted Christ as his savior. In turn, he went home and led his son, Rodney, to the Lord. Little could anyone have guessed that this event with this young teenager, later known as Gypsy Smith, would be the catalyst to hurtle him into world renown as a minister....preaching to huge crowds for over 70 years literally around the globe twice and across the United States 30 times.

     Gypsy Smith was characterized as a man who deeply loved Jesus and wanted everyone to know it. His favorite song was "Let The Beauty Of Jesus Be Seen  In Me" and often in the middle of a sermon he would joyfully burst out singing it. Here's a verse: 

Gypsy Smith

"The world says I'm dreaming

But I know tis Jesus

Who saves me from bondage 

And sin's guilty stain

He is my Lover, my Savior, my Master

Tis he who has freed me

From guilt and its pain

Let me dream on if I'm dreaming 

Let me dream on, my sins are gone

Night turns to dawn

Love's light is beaming

So if I am dreaming, let me dream on"

To Gypsy Smith, Jesus was wonderful! He said one time, "Everybody in the world would want Jesus because he is so wonderful if it weren't for their Christian friends who don't look or sound like he is wonderful."

Like Gypsy, I've learned he is wonderful. I wonder what I would do without his sweet name and presence. When I'm fearful during dark days or nights, I breathe the name, Jesus....When faced with hard decisions, I first say, Jesus....When death takes a loved one...my quiet thoughts turn to Jesus. When sickness overtakes me or someone I love, my quick cry is, Jesus. Bill Gaither was right.  There is something about that name.

     Gypsy Smith continued traveling and preaching well into his eighties. When asked why he continued to do so, he quickly responded, "I've never lost the wonder!"

Religious Pluralism Is Accepted....Except Jesus

     We are living in a politically correct society. This political correctness is manifested in many ways, but it assuredly is vicious in its opposition to previously almost universally accepted moral codes of personal conduct, and even more often these shrill advocates of political correctness attack without mercy any Christian who holds to the fundamentals of the faith and a devotion to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

     However nonsensical and odious their arguments may be to us who love God, we must nevertheless grant these detractors the right to express their opinions. This has been termed as the "supreme right" by some as granted in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution as penned by our Founding Fathers for all Americans. Wars have been fought and blood has been shed to protect, in part, that precious freedom of speech; but we must with that same freedom of speech be ever ready to defend with passion and vigor the truths we hold dear...especially against those that defame the name of Jesus, his church and our precious relationship with him.

     So, the beleaguered believer finds himself under an increasing pressure to hold in silence his religious views while, at the same time, granting those who espouse religious pluralism unrestricted platforms to assail the Christian community with impunity. This results in nativity scenes during the Christmas season becoming fair game, no allowance for references in public schools to anything that pertains to Bible-based faith and even attacks on faith-based institutions. 

     The politically correct crowd insist that we are too narrow-minded when we say Jesus is the only way to heaven. The ancient Romans insisted the same of our early martyrs. These individuals were not slain in public arenas like the Circus Maximus because they believed Jesus is the Lord of All; they were martyred because they believed Jesus was the ONLY Lord of All. They were asked to be open-minded and accept the validity of other gods. It is the same today in America.

     It was Jesus who said of himself in John 14:6, "I am the way, the truth and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me."  C S Lewis was correct when he challenged people to make up their minds about Jesus. He is one of three things:

     (1) HE WAS A LUNATIC: If Jesus really thought he was the only way to heaven, but he actually wasn't, he was a lunatic.

     (2) HE WAS A LIAR: If Jesus knew he wasn't the only way to heaven, but said he was anyway, he was a liar. 

     (3) HE IS LORD: if Jesus knew he was the only way to heaven, and really is the only way, he is Lord. Please notice that Jesus did not say that he is a good way, one of many ways, or even the best way. Jesus said, "I am THE way, THE truth and THE LIFE, and NO MAN cometh unto the Father BUT BY ME."

     In conclusion, our response is to grant the supporters of political correctness the right to speak whatever they choose. Too many have died on battlefields on foreign soil to jerk that right from anyone. However, 1 Peter 3:15 admonishes us to always be ready to defend to everyone the reason for the hope within us. Our most glaring weakness in the modern American's Christian community is a thorough lack of understanding of the bedrock doctrines upon which our faith is built. If you are not attending a church where a deep prayerful study of the Word of God is the centerpiece of everything your church does, and if you spend little time in personal devotion and Bible study, you have no basis upon which to be angry when some political pundit or entertainer maligns the things of God.

The Church's New God

I find it interesting that Jesus did not say that his house shall be called a house of great singing, a house of great preaching, a house of architectural magnificence, a house of large crowds or a house of fun and fanfare. Rather, our Lord simply said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations." Let's be honest! It would be remarkable indeed if your church is identified in your community as a praying church above and beyond anything else.  Both members of your church and non-members alike say things like, "You should hear our music!" Or, "We have a pastor that can preach the paint off the wall!" Or, "We have the most wonderful programs for your family!" But, isn't it true that you never hear anyone say as they leave your church after their first time attending services, "Oh my, what a praying church!"

     I became so convicted as a pastor about this prayer issue that I determined that any churches that I served as pastor must become houses of prayer. At First Baptist Church of Etowah, TN, we built an upper room where people prayed on bended knees seven days a week and during the times that I was preaching in the sanctuary. Later, as pastor of North Jacksonville Baptist Church, annually we had a service called "A God's Kind Of Healing Service," an idea given to me by the legendary Dr W A Criswell, and the entire service was about prayer. And, I made sure every service and  every activity was literally saturated in prayer. Any good accomplished by me at these two churches, the last two I served as pastor, is directly attributable to the power of prayer.

     So, the overriding question is this: why are churches  not known first of all as places of prayer? Please note. Good music, good preaching and good weekday activities are assets to a church fellowship, but remember, Jesus said, "My house shall be called a house of prayer...."  There are two shocking reasons:

     (1) WE HAVE CHOSEN THE GOD CALLED "FAMILY" OVER THE GOD CALLED "JESUS."  Go to the average church staff meetings. They are dominated by suggestions of church activities that will make families want to attend their church. Upcoming plans are made for outings, ball leagues, pizza blasts, ocean cruises, hot dog roasts, special guests performers, etc. Very very seldom will you hear a staff member or pastor say, "What does God want?" Look at your Sunday bulletin at the average church and you will be almost overwhelmed with the multitude of flashy announcements of activities....so much so you would think your church has turned into a glorified YMCA.  And, if you look closely enough, you might find a prayer service mentioned in small print. Why? Because the modern church has a new God....the family.

     (2) WE HAVE CHOSEN THE SUPERFICIAL OVER THE SUPERNATURAL.  Because we have chosen to first of all, perhaps unwittingly, install the family as our new God and relegate the importance of prayer to the realm of a traditional "add-on" at each worship service, Jesus is no longer the center of worship and adoration; no, he is now outside and sadly knocking. When that happens, the church with its well-oiled organization, eloquent preacher and awesome music becomes a church of influence but is no longer a church of power.....power that makes the supernatural so real that the world cannot ignore it. Most sinners have seen all the religious dog and pony shows at the modern church and they are thoroughly unimpressed. What your community needs, and the world at large needs, is to to be confronted by the undeniable and unexplainable supernatural acts of God that only come about as a result of real prayer.

     

     

Fundamentals of the Faith

     There are five basic doctrinal positions often called the fundamentals of the faith. These are:

      1. The Deity of the Lord Jesus Christ

      2. The Virgin Birth of Jesus

      3. The Blood Atonement

      4. The Bodily Resurrection

      5. The Inerrancy of the Scriptures

     At Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary, we will not equivocate nor apologize for our conviction that these statements are absolute truth and are the sole basis for genuine fellowship between believers. There is ample room for brotherly disagreements on various interpretations

 and applications of other biblical subjects such as worship styles, modes of ordinances, end-time prophecies, etc; but the validity of one's personal faith and the foundation upon which a church or denomination is built must be upon all five of these bedrock doctrines or else the anointing power and approval  of God will not be demonstrated.

     While the national debate on the political and cultural demise we are presently witnessing deserves serious attention, and will be the ultimate purpose of this blog, the definition of a biblical church must be understood because the church stands as the last line of defense between America's doom or deliverance; and the clear definition of a New Testament church has virtually nothing to do with the name of the denomination with which it is affiliated. If a church does not boldly adhere to and loudly proclaim all five of these fundamentals, it may be a church in the colloquial sense but it is not a church in the biblical sense and should not be supported with one's attendance or money because its faulty faith will not be able to withstand the fierce societal storms that are coming upon the Christian community in America, and will certainly be found lacking on the day of God's eternal judgment.