People Who Criticize Pastors are The Worst

Posted on February 21, 2012 by catalyst

Pastor, Philip Wagner, writes a lengthy article criticizing other pastors for criticizing Joel Osteen.

The article could have been written by one of the many people who come on here and tell us to knock it off. The only phrase it is missing is “Touch Not God’s Anointed”. I’m going to assume Mr. Wagner just forgot that particular verse.

My favorite part:

Does Thomas Nelson write blogs to publically ridicule and humiliate their authors who have their own flaws? The comments that Joel J. Miller makes are not intellectually honest nor are they spiritually appropriate.

As I stated earlier, the main thing leaders should be “called out for” is publically attacking the authenticity of another’s ministry.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Eph 4:29-31 NIV

Arrogance is really hard to see in the mirror.

Yes, arrogance is really hard to see in the mirror. Really, really hard.

Anyway, the article gave me a good chuckle.

In the NFL off-season, God likes to help the NBA

Posted on February 15, 2012 by catalyst

I don’t know how many of you are following this Jeremy Lin story. But he is an asian Harvard grad, who came from out of nowhere and is tearing up the NBA . He has led the New York Knicks to a six game win streak. Last night, scoring a game winning bucket at the last second to help the Knicks beat the Toronto Raptors.

He also happens to be a fervent Christian. His twitter bio claims, “to know Him is to want Him more”. And his tweets are filled with praise for God.

If the Evangelical movement was smart, they would ditch those old fat guys James Dobson and Rick Warren and have Tim Tebow and Jeremy Lin be the face of Christianity.

(And yes, I know technically Jesus is the face of Christianity. But when was the last time Christ made a game winning three or led his offense over 80 yards to a touchdown in overtime?)

Is using birth control a sin?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by catalyst

Where in the Bible does it say that using birth control is a sin?

There is this huge debate about whether Catholics should have the right to refuse to provide contraceptives in their health insurance. And I am genuinely curious how the Catholic Church came to this position. Is this a belief based on the Bible or is it just a conservative religious position that has been passed down through the years?

I’m genuinely curious. Does anyone know?

Moments in Marital Awkwardness

Posted on February 13, 2012 by catalyst

While looking for a sermon from Judah Smith elaborating his position on homosexuality, I stumbled across this message from December 2011 titled, “The Discussion”. In it, Judah and his wife Chelsea answer questions from the congregation, and in the process, give their very best Al and Peg Bundy impression.

“The Discussion” – Q&A from The City Church on Vimeo.

I have zero insight into Judah and Chelsea’s marriage. I hope it is great. But what you see in that first five minutes are two people who just plain do not like each other. I watched that first section three times. I’ve had friends watch it. And I’m telling you, those two are not fans of each other. As a friend told me the other day, “I know Judah loves Judah. I’m just not sure Chelsea loves Judah.”

And hey, I get that marriage is hard. But if you can’t fake it for forty minutes in front of an audience, then I’m going to guess there are some deeper issues going on that perhaps might require some help.

Oh, and Judah’s position on homosexuality is just as ridiculous as always. His church welcomes gay people, provided of course, that they stop being gay. Only in an Evangelical church would this make any sense to anyone.

“Benny Perez is a Crook and a Fraud”

Posted on February 9, 2012 by catalyst

Below is quite the revealing comment from someone who appears to have inside information on Benny Perez’ outreach to ex-prostitutes.

I was one of the handful of women who was in the Destiny House under Annie Loberts Ministry that the so called Church is now claiming as theirs. Not only were we exploited by the church but we were used as was Annie Lobert and her ministry for their own financial gain.

They are and always will be exploiting someone else for status and financial profit. Hooker For Jesus has not been associated with the Church for a long time now yet they still are deceptive to donors and to their own congregation about the issue. They have accepted donations for Hookers For Jesus knowing full well it was not for their church and knowing Hookers For Jesus was no longer associated with them in any way shape or form.

Benny Perez is a crook and a fraud. As for the IMPACT organization of course this was so he could hold onto more money. There is no other reason for it. As for their so called new sex trafficking house it is a joke and a front. In months since Hookers For Jesus stopped association with the church they have continued and do continue to accept donations knowing full well they have no had a single girl in that house with the exception of one and even or if they ever do it is there plan to then pawn them off to the Dream Center so they don’t have to deal with them cause they are incapable and over their heads.

They exploit/pimp their congregation and the populations such as sex trafficked girls they claim they want to help.

Usually, this is the part of the blog where I make a snide sarcastic remark. But Anna more accurately captures my thoughts:

“I think the Bible has a few things to say about those who exploit the poor for their own gain. I would not want to be one of them on the Last Day.”

God Works on Commission

Posted on February 7, 2012 by catalyst

That is going to be the title of my upcoming “prosperity gospel” book.

A pastor in Maine, William Cripe, titled his book, “The Proper Pursuit of Prosperity”. (My title is better). And I love what Mr. Cripe says about the prosperity scam:

Cripe said the book is intended for people struggling with the frustrations of life. He made clear that there is nothing about financial success or extraordinary wealth.

“Many of the faithful people of the Bible were wealthy,” he said in his email. “This is not another book that bashes the rich nor does it maintain that poverty is next to godliness. There are in fact promises of ‘blessing’ in this life for the one whose priorities are God-centered rather than self-centered.

“But material wealth and perfect health are not guaranteed to anyone no matter how faithful they are,” he continued. “Some of the most faithful people in the Bible and throughout history were dirt poor or suffered horrible diseases or experienced great tragedies. We all know examples of very wealthy yet very nasty people and we probably all know some very wonderful people who experience crisis and calamity. Poverty and wealth are both poor indicators of God’s favor on a person.”

Um, yeah. Exactly.

Makin’ Sinners out of Saints

Posted on February 6, 2012 by catalyst

When a commenter becomes annoying and dominates the online discussion, a lot of blogs will just ban the individual. But not here at City Business. No, here, we write a song parody about them.

Below is ‘Scrupe’s ode to Antipas. (To the tune of If I Only Had a Brain)

He loves posin’ with his doggie
And postin’ on our bloggie
Makin’ sinners out of saints
And with his Bible quotin
He’s been boastin’ and a gloatin’
Makin’ sinners out of saints

He unravels ev’ry scripture
And paints a damning picture
Makin’ sinners out of saints
With all the words he’s spewin’
He’s got all the bloggers fumin’

Makin’ sinners out of saints
Oh, why Cat’ tell us why
We must endure this bore

He sounds like preachers we have heard before
Who had us running for the door
He’s been huffin’ and a puffin’
Spewin’ lots of nothin’
Like a cloud that gives no rain

He should take a long vacation
From all all his accusations
Makin’ sinners out of saints
If he’d leave there’d be less fightin’
Though I’m sure we’d all miss Titan

Antipasta is insane

(c) 2012 ‘Scrupe

Scrupe also did us the favor of singing the song as well. You can listen to it via the link below. (You have to click through to the link and then click it again to hear the song.)

making_sinners_out_of_saints

Stop Bullying Pastors

Posted on February 3, 2012 by catalyst

I have to say the ex-members of Harvest Church are a pretty fired up group. We’ve had a lot of people roll through this blog, but none with quite the fervency of these folks.

Recently, they created a petition asking Pastor Mark Bryan to stop bullying his current and ex-members.

On a related side note, I saw via Facebook that Bill Scheidler is relocating from South Africa to the Boise/Meridian area. I have no insight into why he is making this move, but my guess is that it has something to do with the issues expressed in the petition above.

City Business Church

It is not by grace that one enters the kingdom of heaven, but by tithing. – Damazio 3:16

Monthly Archives: February 2012