Judging the Stupid

At first glance you are probably thinking that this is a blog about judging stupid people; well I hate to disappoint you but it’s everything but that. The Lord put it on my heart a few years ago that Megan and I was to start a ministry that would reach a different generation of people; people that were tattooed and pierced, people that under most normal churches would face extreme ridicule. Why is it so hard for people to drop their religious attitudes and focus on what Christ has called us to do?  We so often forget that Jesus reached out after the “tattooed and pierced” people of his time. Jesus hung out with the tax collectors and prostitutes developing relationships and ministering to them. A couple years ago I had a young tattooed friend come to me and tell me of how an old Pastor basically told him that he was going to hell because of his tattoos. What amazed me even more about this whole situation was that this old Pastor couldn’t be any more wrong. This young tattooed individual was more on fire for God than I had seen him be for years and has continued to grow since then. Why exactly do we judge from the outside? First off I want to clear up something before we go any further concerning tattoos. Almost every Pastor or church member that I have ever spoken with and had this debate pull out the same scripture.

Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I [am] the LORD. Leviticus 19:28

At first glance of this scripture I would say too that tattoos are bad and that it clearly states here that we as Christians should not partake in getting tattoos. The problem with this situation is that too many people look at one scripture and declare it for what it simply reads in that one scripture. If you examine the surrounding scriptures and the physical history associated in this time in history you will see a different story. The above scripture was written for a certain audience and a certain time. I know I am going to face some ridicule from certain individuals that read this. Let me say it a little more clearly so you get entirely what I am saying. The Bible does not say that it’s a sin to get a tattoo!!!!!! Now what the Bible does say is that we are to work out our own Salvation with fear and trembling. I am a firm believer that as an individual grows in their walk with Christ that there may be certain things that convict them. I know certain individuals that feel convicted concerning the ideal of getting a tattoo. I am in no way saying that they are wrong in their thinking. God will put certain things on our hearts for certain reasons. But as I rant and rave over this let me get back to the main point. Weather its tattoos, piercings, or any other ridiculous thing that we could judge. Judging people will not get them saved and in our church doors. A loving hand that is willing to share struggles and encourage people when they fall is what the lost are searching for. I know most people tell us not to think about the past but forget that for a moment and think on how many people that you avoided because they were different or seemed unreachable.  Most of the modern church has in fact put a label on this tattooed and pierced generation as an unreachable generation but let me tell you that the fields are ready and the harvest is plenty.

 

The Prodigal

One of the coolest stories in the bible is that of the prodigal son.  It’s a very simple story that should require very little to understand.  Boy leaves home.  Boy returns home.  The father drops everything he is doing to celebrate over the returning son.  Easy enough right?  Then  why is it that there are so many religious people standing in the way of the prodigals of this generation?  I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been in a church and not seen someone welcomed because of their social status, race, sexual preference, the way they look(tattoos and piercings), or any other multitude of things.  Often we as Christians condemn these people before they ever even walk in the doors.  We do this by placing religious standards out there that if examined through a biblical standpoint would be broken down and thrown out the window.  What I do know is that Jesus was called a friend to sinners.  He hung out with the people we as a church are not reaching out to.  Could this be that we are afraid to get out of our comfort zones and do something different?  Let me encourage you to be different, break the mold, be a true follower of Jesus and minister outside your comfort zone.  Genesis chapter 4 tells the story about Cain and Able and how God did not find Cains sacrifice quite good enough.  Cain was offering something that was within his comfort zone.  God wants so much more of us than what we can offer from our comfort zone.  

Matthew 9:11-13

¹¹ When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

 ¹² On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. ¹³ But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’^[a] For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.

Union or Unity

I have noticed a transition in the church and a hunger for revival.  Just a nugget to throw out there.  If you really want Holy Ghost revival like on the day of pentecost there has to be unity in the church.  To often we have union but no unity.  I’m not sure if you’re catching my drift yet but let me break it down.  If you tie two cats together by their tails you have union.  Are the cats going to do anything productive? NO.  Theres a lack of unity.  If we want revival there has to be unity like their was in the upper room when the church first received the Holy Spirit.  They waited 10 days in the upper room for the spirit to be poured out.  If they spent an average of 16 waking hours each day in fellowship and prayer with the others that meant that in a 10 day period they spent 160 hours creating something special.  UNITY.  It would take the average church goer almost 3 years worth of sunday morning services to spend 160 hours around other christians.  It’s time for change and I encourage all that are ready for a supernatural move of GOD, to not just be in union with your local church body and its vision but to be in unity with it.

The Pursuit / Keep Me in Your Prayers

On a day-to-day basis I see so many people who are called to so much more than what they are doing.  For the longest time people were probably looking at me saying something of the similar.  It wasn’t as if I was outright rebelling or disobeying God for the last few years, it was more of the fact that I wasn’t giving it 110% of my effort.  For those of you that do not know me on a personal basis I have felt the calling of God on my life since I was five years old to preach the gospel.  To be precise I have always felt called to be a Pastor to people, but just like anything else, a person has to be prepared and ready when the time approaches them to step into their calling.  Keep me in your prayers as I study to show myself approved and work towards gaining my credentials with the Assemblies of God.

Crazy Christians

To often we the church fall short of reaching people because of our own stupidity.  I’ve been reading a great book by Ed Stetzer titled “Lost and Found,” and it has really opened my eyes on what we as the church are doing to not reach the lost (especially young adults).  According to the studies that were conducted to come up with this book nearly half of nonchurchgoers between the ages of twenty and twenty-nine agreed with the statement, “Christians get on my nerves.”  I’m not writting this to come down on anyone by no means, but am writting this in hope that you will look at what you are offering people.  Over the past couple months I have come to realize that there is a short list of things that people are really looking for.  People are looking for community, people are looking for something of depth, and people are looking for someone who actually cares about them and isn’t just offering mouth service.  If you desire to reach a generation for Jesus then there it is.  Its not a lot but its good.

My Very First Blog

This is my very first blog and I am actually somewhat excited about it. I feel like a kid learning to ride a bike for the first time. Well I’ll start this off with a little introduciton about myself, my family, and the stuff that I am involved in. If your on here then more than likely you already know who I am or at least came accross my facebook page. My full name is Charles James Bennett Jr. but most people call me Jamie Bennett. My wife and I are the Young Adult Directors at Trinity Life Center in Shepherdville, KY and love every minute of it. I have 3 wonderfull children and work a full time job in addition to my church involvement. I know this is all fast and alot of information but hey I’m new to this and I just wanted to get some facts out.