Boldness (re: pulpit language)

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(***I brought up Jeff Arnold...Rich did not***)

The discussion going on about language has went in many directions.
Rich  asked the question of whether or not it was appropriate to
use certain language from the pulpit.  I stated that Bro Arnold used
 some of the terms mentioned Thursday night at MARC 96'. 
 From then on, the discussion bouncedaround and lost some
 of its point.  

Let me state, I am against improper language from the pulpit.
If a person is annointed, I really don't see them using improper
language.  Bro Jeff Arnold was annointed Thursday night.

 Now lets look at what Bro Arnold said Thursday night at MARC 96':

Arnold:  "...we need to be delivered as Pentecostals, you hear me, from
this ego-Pentecostal stinky better than other people who are
whoremongers and drunks and drug addicts and fags and queers and
twinkies..I wanna tell you something we aint better than nobody except
by the grace of God.  And if the grace of God was withdrawn from us for
one day we'd be out doing the craziest stuff, you aint got no  idea what
you are capable of doing if the grace of God ever withdrew from us."


"If your not looking for the unusual, your damned to the usual."

Now these two statements have controversial words in them.  I did
not find them offensive.  I did ask the person next to me though
if he did indeed use those terms when he said them.  I feel that 
the point he was making was in line and very toe-stomping to 
a lot of Apostolics today.  I did not find it being rude to the 
homosexual. 

Let's face it.  A sin is a sin.  whether it be watching a tv hidden
away in your closet or having an intimate relationship with a person
of the same sex.  We as Apostolics( I am talking to the preachers here
which I am not one of..yet)need to quit being so politically correct
or whitewashed in sermons.  There needs to be a little more boldness
at the pulpit.  Too many preachers side step issues of controversy
anymore and if you were to ask around I am pretty sure that the saints
of the church would be for more boldness and less nicey-nice, lacey
and cute sermons.  Many probably won't admit they like getting
their toes stomped on, but sermons are not to make you feel all 
cozy in side all the time.  Saints need to feel like they need to 
run to the altar by the time your done preaching.  Ask Brother
NA Urshan, he said on Harvestime a few weeks back that we need
to feel conviction and uneasy when someone preaches.
Now is not the time for the saints to be getting into comfort zones.
We all know about comfort zones and how we can become lazy
and idle in our ways.  The devil will make you think everything
is ok when you are in a comfort zone.  In fact, I believe that a
person can get "covered" by the Holy Ghost and the devil not 
worry.  He will have you rocking in a nice comfortable rocking
chair and slowly rock you to sleep.  You see, a person can have
the Holy Ghost all over them and not have it in their heart.
We can be fooled by the devil to think everything is ok.  To him
it is, he is taking your soul straight to hell.  
Well, I got off track there...sorry...then again..i'm not sorry, it
needs to be said.  I have seen this comfort zone attack *my*
church.  I hate to admit it but this needs to be said to make my 
point.  First off, I love my pastor and he is a very good 
teacher/preacher.  I would not trade him for any other preacher.
Now with that said, As he has grown older and weaker(grew up
with polio) he has lost a lot of his strength.  That might not be the
reason for this but...anyways, standards are a big thing for me right
now and a soap box of mine.  My pastor doesn't preach standards 
enough.  This has gone on for a long time.  We did have a recent
Bible study on them but..(long story).
My point is, because he hasn't preached them enough, the very church
I sit in looks more and more charismatic everyday.  I refuse that spirit
and have taken my own stance and decided to become a example and
not a follower of some.  I have had discussions with those in my church
who will argue that a little make-up, a little tv, a little clip here on
the
hair, etc, is ok.  These are people I was suppose to look at as examples
of the church!  Well, I finally asked about this to the pastor's wife
and his daughter.  They both said he doesn't want to cause a stir in 
the church.  a sitr????  AGHHHH!  Hell is creeping in and he doesn't
want to cause a stir???  Let's get bold people!!  If you don't, who will?
If we don't start getting serious and saying that a homosexual is going
to
hell if they don't get saved, or start talking about this rampant thing
called divorce, which the Bible stands strong on, or...whatever it takes
with an annointing of the Holy Ghost, then do it!  Don't stand there
idle talking, helping the devil rock the church to sleep.

To get back on track about the controversial words....If after I pray
for an annointing on a sermon and I still feel a need to use a word
to make my point then I will do it.  I will never use vulgar language,
but I don't consider the words up for topic are really vulgar.
Would I preach against homosexuality?  yes.  Would I use those
words?  maybe.  I myself find it very sick to see such a thing
in today's society.  I would love to save these people but fag, queer,
etc.. do cross my mind.  If I knew I had a homosexual in the crowd,
would I still say fag?  I don't know.  
The main importance is to get this person saved.  They need to hear
the truth about God and if it takes saying a fag is not going to heaven,
then.....

Chris Sterrett
sterrett@juno.com