Ravenous Wolves

Here recently I've been able to be a part of a group on Facebook that consists of youth pastors and pastors and up until recently, I thought things were going great, and the group as a whole is great, but here recently, some posts about homosexuality (and other sins) and the validity of the Bible have been met with some very questionable responses.  Responses that make you wonder how certain people got behind a pulpit in the first place.  Now, I'm not one to criticize other pastors, how they want to lead their church is not my business but when it comes to plain and simple scripture and twisting it to meet our own desires, that's where I have to draw a line.  Reading today I was reminded of Romans 1:16-32 (NKJV) which says,

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.

24 Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, 25 who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

26 For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. 27 Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due.

28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, 30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; 32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

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A few things that stand out to me here are one, that I don't believe this is just talking about unbelievers, I believe it is talking about believers as well, that through their intelligence, truly became ignorant or fools.  I've learned through my life in and of the ministry that a lot of times, we complicate the Bible when instead of seeing it's message for what it is, simple.  Yes, sometimes we have to dig deep to find true meaning to things but let's be honest, the Bible (if we believe it to be without error) is pretty simple and straight forward on most things.  I believe that many men of God have complicated the Bible and put their own intelligence into it and taken away from the clear message that it is trying to convey and in doing so, have twisted it and watered it down and in essence, have become fools and ignorant to God's teaching.  

Secondly, the last part sticks out to me the most, after the recent responses in the group about homosexuality and other sins.  It says, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.  This is extremely dangerous.  Do I love all sinners, yes, do I accept them into my path and with open arms, yes, but do I condone of the sin, absolutely not.  

The church has become watered down and the pulpits have been filled with ravenous wolves in sheep's clothing.  Questioning the validity of the Bible but preaching it in the pulpit is asinine.  Saying that certain sin is probably not sin because of our interpretation of the Bible, when it's plainly translated and written out, is ignorant and foolish.  The Bible says in the last days that many will appear to have a form of Godliness but they will deny it's power.  Keep away from these people.

I pray for the teenagers and people under these ministers ministries, that they will seek God and seek out the truth on their own and not be led astray by ravenous wolves.  It's past time to be urgent about the Lord's work.  He is coming quickly, just look at the news.  Prophecies are coming to fruition right before our very eyes.  

I pray blessings on you.  Thank you for reading.  

- Nathan Hellrung

Youth Pastor - IGNITE Student Ministries
Beltline Christian Center COG - Alton, IL
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Being Authentic

In Matthew 23, we see where Jesus is teaching and he brings up the Pharisees and their hypocrisy.  Matthew 23:27-28 says, "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. 28 Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.

The Greek word for hypocrite means to pretend.  The Pharisees were extremely knowledgeable.  They knew about Jesus and they knew the Old Testament, some even memorizing it front to back.  They were very educated in the law and in the Word of God but they didn't truly "know" Jesus.  Even though they knew the prophesies that were foretold of Jesus, they still didn't recognize he was right in front of them.  They felt threatened by him because what he taught threatened their strangle hold on the people.  Their hearts were evil and they abused the law and the people.

*On a side note, I think part of the reason that so many tore their garments and claimed, "Truly, this was the son of God," when Jesus died was not just because they came to the realization that they had killed Jesus but because they came to the realization and frustration that they were the ones that were prophesied about to carry out this event.  Even so, they tried to cover up his resurrection.  So, even in the end, they still didn't turn their hearts to God, but I digress.

Jesus could see right through the "fakeness" of the Pharisees and what Jesus is saying in Matthew 23 is this, don't be like the Pharisees, who know about the Bible and know about God but don't have a relationship with Jesus and therefore don't "know" Jesus.  That word "know" there defines an intimate knowledge.  To know someone intimately, you need to be in a close relationship with them.  I believe that even when we fail and mess up, even when our hearts are dirty, Jesus doesn't want us to be like the Pharisees who put on masks to make it look like they were righteous and holy but he wants us to be authentic.  Be real with yourselves and real with others.  I've learned in Youth Ministry that teens can tell if you are authentic or not.  They can smell a fake a mile away.  God tells us to be perfect, but when we fail, just as importantly, he wants us to be authentic and real!  Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.  I believe one of the main reasons many people don't attend church is because of the hypocrisy in Church.  A lot of Christians go around with this mask on that everything is perfect and they cast stones as soon as someone does wrong.  Be real with people, don't hide your imperfections.  Sometimes those imperfections are exactly what someone needs to see in order to relate to you and that may open a door for you to share what God has done for you.  I know I'm not perfect and God is working on me and molding me every day of my life and he will be until the day of my redemption.  That's why I'm so happy to have God's grace, his grace that abounds, but that's another topic, for another day.  :)

*One final thought, to ponder on:  Are you a fan of Jesus or a follower of Jesus?  Are you a Nicodemus  or a Simon Peter?  Think about it.

May God's blessings be evident in your life today.


- Nathan Hellrung

Youth Pastor - IGNITE Student Ministries
Beltline Christian Center COG - Alton, IL
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Teenagers

As I sit here in my bed at Winterfest in Ozark, MO I can't help but think about how much energy these teens have. I wish I could vacuum the youthfullness out of these teens and bottle it up somehow. I'm sitting here battling it out with Ethan on Flappy Bird and barely getting past one pipe due to crossed eyes, lack of sleep, ready to throw my phone out of frustration and questioning my sanity. I wonder how I will ever make it driving home tomorrow and going back to work Monday. But as I sit here and think on these things and think about what I've seen this weekend and what God has done in these teens lives, I realize that I wouldn't change a single thing. These teens are what keep me going, what burden my heart and reassure me of God's calling on my life. This weekend has been fantastic and God has moved and changed the lives of many. I have come to the realization that I am extremely blessed and my cup is overflowing. I will lay my head down tonight with a fire burning in my spirit ready for what's next. God, thank you for blessing me with the teens I get to minister to. I love my calling!

Oceans

Just recently I started listening to the new album by Hillsong United titled "Zion".  My favorite song at the moment is "Oceans - Where feet may fail".  I can't get enough of it.  This song is beautiful and upon reading about the song and how it came to be I couldn't help but think about the story of Peter and Jesus, on the water.  You see, Jesus had told the disciples to go out into the boat and head out and that he would come to them.  I'm sure they hadn't truly thought about how Jesus would get to them, they just went as they were told.  Well, after the wind began to pick up and the boat started to be thrown to and fro, they looked out on the sea and the waves and they saw a man walking on the water.  They thought it was a ghost at first and then realized that it was Jesus and he was walking on top of the water, a miracle. They were amazed and frightened, as I'm sure many of us would.

This is where it gets good.  Peter, full of faith, yelled out to Jesus, "Jesus, if that's you, tell me to come out onto the water with you."  And sure enough, Jesus told him to come out to him.  So Peter, full of faith, stepped out of the boat and began to walk to Jesus, on the water.  Everything was great until one thing, Peter's flesh began to take hold of him and his faith began to waiver.  He began to look at the waves and the water and began to doubt.  It's then that he took his eyes off of Jesus and put his hope and trust in his own being.  Because of this, he began to sink and drown and he called out to Jesus, who upon Peter's request and cries for help, reached down and pulled him out of the water.

What I take from this story in the Bible is just how important it is to fix our eyes on Jesus.  So many times in life, we take our eyes off of Jesus, our Lord and Savior, our comforter and we trust in our own abilities.  We put our eyes on the waves of life, the struggles and the problems we face all the time and because our trust isn't in Jesus, we feel overwhelmed, to the point of drowning.  It's when we fix our eyes on Jesus that our problems and struggles are placed under our feet and we walk on our problems, victorious!

Be encouraged today that we serve a good God, one that loves us so much that he sent his Son, Jesus Christ, to die on the cross for our sins and to raise from the grave and give us victory over sin and death.  Stand upon your waves today in victory, clinging to the hope of salvation that we have received freely by Jesus' death on the cross and the hope of life we have in his victory over death.  God bless.

- Nathan Hellrung

Youth Pastor - IGNITE Student Ministries
Beltline Christian Center COG - Alton, IL
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