Comments on: “See How They Love One Another!”

By: Chris Bell

Chris Bell — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 23:46:29 +0000

Hello. You find yourself looking at life and asking, what happened? Whos battle gound is this? Whos side am I sopposed to be on? Please just stop hating each other? oh if only people could listen to that. I believe that there is a true God and a false god. I believe that there is a right and a wrong. I believe there is good and evil. I believe there is a heavy burden I MUST carry. The road is NARROW. The righteous are FEW. When I reach the end of the road then I may have peace, then the door will open wide with the white light of Love shining through, then I will rest in the arms of a God whos Love and Power and Authority are scorned by men. The world peirces my soul with its obsesion with sex, power, money, and fame. These things have become the god it prays to every night. These things have become the god the world bows down to. These things have become the god with which the world has some shalow empty relationship. The God I know is all powerful and deeply LIKES His children and is ABLE to comfort and protect them. The God I know even asks us to LIKE our enemies, to forgive them. And my God is NOT free will, or any human power, or sex, or any worldly wealth. Those things are not my God. My consceince would not rest if I were to think otherwise. I simply can’t. Some people are far too eager to try and push Gods loving arms away. Well that makes me a little angry.

If your church treats cults as people to be shuned and hated or if your church treats hyper-calvinists as people top be shuned and hated, then of what Love do you speak? If it does not involve people wanting and liking each other then of what Love do you speak? Would I be treated as second class garbage if I visited your church for having some idea you disagree with? Would I be forced to aviod certain peole if I were to go to your church. Does your church get angry without someone elses anger being the cause? Do you treat hyper-calvinists, or calvinists or arminians like scum or do you really truly love as you say?

Do you have “one a month” visists or do you guys fellowship often? Is there any tendancy to aviod sleep overs?

Ok Ive asked all I can ask. No wait. Does this church value loving fellowship with God and man as the MOST important form of obedience as far as obedience to God is concerned?

Will anyone carry this burden with me or will I go on carrying it by myself?

names? emails?

Hey, Chris. Thanks for inquiring. I couldn’t really follow the entire bent of your comment (especially the first part), but I’ll say this: My church is a church that adheres to the Word as properly interpreted.

It is a house of prayer and of love. But you must understand that there is an element of correction and discipline to true love. Love is not just a touchy-feely, gooey emotion that tells people that they are all right in whatever they do.

We call sin sin, too. You may come as you are, but you may not necessarily stay that way! There is no hate taught here. But understand, too, that if I tell you that I disagree with a particular lifestyle, and that that lifestyle is wrong, that is not hate.

Cults are dangerous and deadly organizations. Those caught in them can not only forfeit their lives, but their souls as well! Is it not love to warn those entangled in them to stay away? However, apologetics is not the focus of Fellowship Bible Church Memphis.

You can click the link on the blog and find all you need to know, and the pastors will most certainly answer your queries.

I don’t know what you mean by sleepovers, though. You might want to be more clear there…

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 23:27:32 +0000

First of all, Let me say, Don’t be embarrassed! What they “prayed” over you was the ignorant muttering of biblical illiteracy!

Secondly, what you said next — true health and true wealth — was right on the mark! You have the right idea! God is blessing you, and WILL bless you with what you need. The prosperity gospel is the result of greed and selfishness — a desire to live pain-free, suffer-free lives.

Jesus’ example was of sacrifice and of suffering and of serving.
Your story is exactly why I rant about those who prey on those in need. I wish I could “lay hands on them”!!

I most certainly will pray for you, and will ask here that others do so, too:

Dear LORD, thank You for Lynne, and for the chance to lay her concerns before You! Please see fit to meet her needs and desires.

Please, if it is in Your will, help her through the health issues she faces. Heal her if You will, but give her mercy at any rate.

Please provide her with the financial resources with which to take good care of herself and her children. Please bring her into contact with those who will love, aid, and encourage her according to Your abundant grace and provision.

Thank You for the wisdom you have given her to know that she HAS wealth in eternity, and the promise from You to care for her. Thank You for giving her peace in her struggles. But, Lord, give her Your strength, for ours often fails.

Give her the wonderful fellowship You have given me and so many others who so desperately needed it. Give her an Earthly glimpse of the diversity, soundness, and love that You have given ME.

Show her, and whoever else reads this, who You are, and how “BAD” You REALLY are! Do those wonderous and unbelievable things that You do when our faith wavers and when we begin to doubt Your true capabilities.
Bless her, Lord, and make her an example of how You care for Your children! And let those who only seek to get something from You be ashamed, convicted and changed.

I ask these things according to Your Word and in the Name of Your Son, Jesus! Amen.

By: lynnesmith

lynnesmith — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 19:46:45 +0000

I got on your web site searching for something on the prosperity gospel. I recently had someone pray and command curses against my health and prosperity to be removed. I’m
embarrassed because I’m still sick. I feel really blessed
by God and I don’t feel cursed even though I have health problems, I’m low income and single with four kids. I feel wealthy because of my inheritance of eternity with God. In churches around here I have these choices: A place where they can recite the gospel “ABC’s” and they tell you how to get people to come to church but the people sitting there on Sunday file in as if they are sleep walking, sit as if in a stupor and leave the way they came in. A church like the one you described growing up in- only mostly white. Then the prosperity gospel type (who apparently think I’m cursed). I would really love some fellowship with people who love God and really study the Bible. Please pray for me. Thank you – what you had to say encouraged me to hope that I might find a place to fellowship.

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:45:43 +0000

By all means… Come on!

If you click the “listen and learn” tab, you will see how you can hear the podcast of the sermons, and hear past ones on Fellowship radio.

Thank you so much! Keep reading and spread the word about what we are doing here. Feel free to link as well.

By: HFuller

HFuller — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:29:14 +0000

I linked this post to my blog, I hope that is OK.

By: HFuller

HFuller — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:13:48 +0000

I went to your churches website. The ERACE groups sound so much like what God has been putting in my heart to do at our church. We might have to take a trip to Memphis this summer. I look forward to following your church and your blog. Thanks for sharing your story.

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:39:36 +0000

You have SURELY blessed me!!! Yes, we have a website. It is on my blogroll.

By: HFuller

HFuller — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:15:55 +0000

I found your blog by searching for blogs about racial unity…two hours later and lots of polital and racially slanted blogs yours was the first I found written from the heart of God. I being white most of my life, thought I had overcome prejudice as one of my best friends was black, and the church I had started attending was dedicated to tearing down racial walls…then I went to college. I met a wonderful man that challenged my theology because he was black. After 14 wonderful years of marriage, 3 children, and an incredible church, it is my hearts desire to see the church tackle the issue of race. Thanks for sharing your story. I intend to check out your church on the web. I hope they have a website. Thanks again for sharing your story.

By: Rafael

Rafael — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 03:59:27 +0000

Amen hermano Derrick! I am part of the Latin/Mexican contingency at Fellowship and could not agree more on the comments made by Derrick. Our family has also been greatly blessed by at Fellowship and we still have a sense of great excitement for what God is still doing with all of us at Fellowship for His glory!

HEYYYY, Rafael!! Good to hear from you! Thanks! We, too have been blessed.

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 08:45:38 +0000

Thanks, guys!

By: Beth/Mom2TwoVIkings

Beth/Mom2TwoVIkings — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 01:59:50 +0000

Derrick, here via Sara’s link to you. Ya hit the nail on the head! I grew up in Dearborn and know what you speak of! *sigh* I’ve been embarssed on multitudes of occasiona to tell anyone I’m from there just for the reasons you refer to.

I seem to have travel a similar path as you…born Catholic, found Lutheranism in college, and still felt I must be missing something. Where was the LOVE of Christ? Where was the hunger for the Word? While I was also made to feel awkward re: any emotional outbursts, but where were the people IN LOVE, like crazy in love with Jesus and trying to know Him better and act like Him more?

After a VERY convoluted path, I married the son of a Pentecostal preacher and received my “baptism” (if you’ll pardon the pun) into Church of God of Prophecy – an integrated, on-fire, Bible-believing, submitted to our pastor congregation! What a difference! LOL

Glad you found your “home” here on earth as well! Blessings!

By: ANappyGirl

ANappyGirl — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 16:34:38 +0000

I’ve always wanted to attend a racially diverse church — I think it’s most representative of what heaven will be like. No segregation there.

My church is probably more black now, than it’s ever been. It has always been predominately black, with a sprinkling of white folks. I’m rarely there, unfortunately, because of a “work every Sunday” schedule. But I appreciate the spiritual foundation I received, and the willingness of my pastor, to push Christ-like race relations.

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 06:41:53 +0000

Sara, you know you can comment as much as you like! We are blessed.
Kathy says, “hi”. She’s having some Braxton Hicks action right now, I think…
Thanks so much for the link.

By: race relations and a bunch of other stuff « Breaking Ground

race relations and a bunch of other stuff « Breaking Ground — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:02:29 +0000

[...] relations and a bunch of other stuff This is really [...]

By: sara

sara — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 04:00:46 +0000

OH, I’m a comment hog, but I want to say hi to Kathy. I hope you’re feeling well.

By: sara

sara — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:59:28 +0000

OK, done reading. You hit on soooo many subject here. and I agree with you all the way. Black most of your life. that’s funny! Anyway, you are so very blessed to have fellowship like that.

By: sara

sara — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 03:53:25 +0000

I had to stop reading halfway through to say “amen” so amen. Going back to read now.

By: Kathy aka "Maxmomma"

Kathy aka "Maxmomma" — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:32:21 +0000

This is the first time I’ve commented on my husband’s blog. I tend to leave the writing to him. God has truly blessed us at Fellowship. I don’t think that I would be the wife and mother that I am if it wasn’t for the men and women at this church. They have had a huge impact on my life. I’m not from Memphis, and my view of this city is very low. For the first time in my life I’ve had to deal with in-your-face racism. If I could leave today I would catch the midnight train to Georgia (Whooo Whoooooo). But since we have been attending this church and experiencing the love of Christ through all races of people, I am excited to see what impact this church will have on racial reconciliation in this town.

Please keep reading Derrick’s blog. This is an opportunity for him to spread the love of God through his words.

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:16:36 +0000

Al, I appreciate your comment. I agree that there are sometimes other reasons for all White or all Black churches existing.

We often, though, do not seek to interact with those different from us, and I think that we who claim Christ should.

By: maxdaddy

maxdaddy — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:08:25 +0000

Good to see you, Lionel! Thanks for reading.

By: Big Al

Big Al — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 23:03:23 +0000

I do not see intellectuals walking out of biker bars either. Sometimes birds of a feather (or neighborhood) flock together. I appreciate the fact that our area is predominantly white and that most of the members at our church are caucasian, however we have some very lovely and wonder whites that do not like the contemporary music I like and prefer the old hymns and pipe organ. No more or less spiritual but at least it is not like my childhood church where a deacon was in the lobby to keep the blacks out.

By: lionelwoods7

lionelwoods7 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:56:09 +0000

Thats a great testimony. I have some good friends there. BJ Adam T, and Lecrae. B.J has been trying to get me to move to Memphis for over a year. I don’t know bro, but we will see. God bless.