The Emotional Church

By: Minister Tim Butler

If you are someone who attends church today on a regular basis, you may have noticed an escalation of emotionalism in the church worship.  It appears that there is a steady escalation in “foolish, orchestrated praise” taking place in our churches today.  And it is all done under the pretense of “rendering up some bold praise” unto the Lord.  New and unlearned Christians and others under the heading of Christendom are taught that this type of “PERFORMANCE” is pleasing in the sight of God.

The pastor would read a scripture from the Old Testament, like Ps 150:4; that says, “Praise the Lord with a song and dance:”  But ignoring the fact that Jesus said in (Jn 4:23), that the time has come where the true worshiper must worship the Father in spirit and in truth.  The Old Testament is always used when prompting people to perform and seldom the New Testament.

Why do preachers use the Old Testament when it comes to getting people to act foolish before the Lord?  Because this is the only place where they could find scriptures to support their parade of shenanigans.  You will never find a scripture in the New Testament showing Jesus or any of His disciples dancing like the people did in the Old Testament, because Jesus said the time has come when the true worshipers must worship the Father in  “Spirit and in truth.”

To read this entire article, please go to page 6 after clicking on the 2010-June link of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

Hold On Saints

By: Minister Tim Butler

It is no secret that we are living in uncertain and trying times.  What should “The Christian” do?  The economy is in a steady decline.  The unemployment is at an all time high.  Those who have homes have seen their home value decrease.  Many have lost their homes and others are struggling to make their monthly mortgage payments.  The “so called” middle class is struggling to make ends meet.  The poor are hurting more than ever before.  The government is out of touch with the people.  The “Stimulus” package benefits the “rich” and did absolutely nothing for the middle class.  What should “The Christian” do when it seems as if they have more “bills” than money?  What should the Christian do when faced between choosing to pay bills or whether to buy food?

What should Christians do when constantly lied to by their “money driven” pastor who continues to tell them that their ship is on its way in? 

To read this entire article, please go to page 3 after clicking on the 2010-March link of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

“WHAT DO YOU EXPECT?”

By: Pastor John E. Coleman
(California)
www.johnecoleman.org

Day after day the scene of American Christianity is changing. There was a time when many Christians understood that the absolute biblical authority concerning God, Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit were to be accepted taught and never challenged. It appears that there is nothing sacred during these times of pragmatic change in the church with her uncertainty and ambiguous behavior. How do we cope with such behavior?

Can there really be a level of trust in theology that each of us might be certain about our faith? Let me suggest these simple solutions.

(1) Know God for yourself: I constantly come into contact with those who profess to be Christians that cannot define their relationship with Jesus Christ. I may ask them what was the impactful statement that Christ made to them upon their inception to being a child of God. Most people I pose this question to have no idea what I’m talking about. Have you taken a time out and attempted to ask yourself that question?

(2) Practice the habit of defining theology by means of strict biblical exegesis: There has never been a time in the history of the church when we must be called upon to define our selves by the defining aspect of the biblical interpretation. Even though this takes a little more study or insight into searching out certain texts must become an obligation on the behalf of every Christian who is called by the name of Christ.

(3) Practice the Christian life for yourself: Always do your Christian faith in the solo lane. Realize that you should never require a partner to assist you in living for Christ. If you have a bible and are pretty literate in understanding of the language, allow your theological knowledge to blossom as you grow in your individual sanctification. Keep in the forefront of your mind that you are never required to have someone else to dictate your faith to you. Please attempt to keep in mind that this also includes pastor’s spiritual advisors or anyone that you have given the title of expert to.

To read this entire article, please go to page 12 after clicking on the 07-november link of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

DON’T CALL ME “REVEREND”

Written by:  Min. Tim Butler

By now, many of you may have already heard that I was recently ordained to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The officiating elder asked me how did I prefer to be ordained?  I chose to be ordained as Elder or Minister because both of these terms are found in the word of God.  The Apostle Paul said For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee (Titus 1:5).  The Apostle Paul also told Timothy If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained (1 Timothy 4:6).

It is not wrong to call someone “Reverend” or any other title for this matter except for “Father”, because Jesus commands us not to call any man father (Matthew 23:9).  However, I would not prefer anyone to call to me “Reverend” because of the high esteemed honor the title holds.  The word “reverence” itself means to be deserving or worthy of reverence.  Reverend is used today as a title for a clergy in many Christian Churches, but the word itself places a high esteem on the person who bears the title
To read this entire article, please look on page 3 after clicking onto the 09-November link of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

       Page-5     STAND UP MINISTRY NEWSPAPER    2009 – August

                                     US TO PAY (10%) TITHE

                 UNDER THE “NEW TESTAMENT” COVENANT?

                                Written by Sister Lessie Myles

                                   LessieMyles@optimum.net

Testimony

This is my testimony. When I was a child, I watched my mother faithfully pay (10%) of her income to the church we attended.  I listened to the leaders preach (Malachi 3: 8-10). You know the scripture. Will a man rob God? They taught that if you paid (10%) of your income and everything that came across your hands to the church, that God would pour you out a blessing that you would not have room to receive. But that was not what I witnessed.  What I witnessed was my mother died as a very poor woman. She did not receive her financial blessing after paying tithes for more than forty (40) years. She died and her “ship” never came in…

The (10%) Tithe Law was created for the Priestly order of the Levitical Law. The law itself was good, but the priest who watched over the (10%) income of the people eventually became greedy and they took advantage of them. This is why the scriptures in Malachi 3:8 ask the question, “Will a man rob God”. If you would begin reading (Malachi 2:1) to (Malachi 3:8), you would find that God was speaking about the priests robbing Him. Jesus is our New Covenant “High Priest.” Jesus declares the New Covenant is “Better!” (Heb 8:6)

New Testament

“Liberty” in Giving

The Apostle Paul, being filled with the Holy Ghost, is led by Spirit of God to set in motion all the “Rules and Doctrines” we are to adhere to under the New Covenant. Paul was a zealot and well educated religious man under the Old Testament Law, and having full understanding of the significance of the monumental change that occurred after Christ’s death. Paul went to great lengths to explain to new converts the difference in the two covenants. You will not find one single scripture where the Apostle Paul instructs Gentiles to give (10%) of their incomes to the church.  Under the New Covenant, Paul, under the direction of the Holy Ghost, sets up “Free-Will” giving. Paul teaches that Christ’s “Grace” freed us, as Believers from the law. In reference to giving, Paul instructs Gentiles in (2 Cor. 9:5-8) to allow the Holy Ghost to inspired them to give generously, and in doing so, they experienced the “Liberty” we all have in Christ…

To read this entire article, please look on page 5 after clicking onto the link 09-August of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

God Used Satan To “Set Us Up”   

                            (Blindsided With A Curve Ball)

                                         Barack Obama

                            Written by:  Deacon Tim Butler

(1 Thes 2:10, 11), Because man doesn’t have the love of the truth, God said He would send a STRONG Delusion to cause them to be a lie.  So thus, God set the world up with a man that appeared to be a Savior that would see us out of bad times.

To read this entire article, please look on page 3 after clicking onto the link 09-february2 of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

   The After Christmas Woes

                                   Written by: Deacon Tim Butler

Are you one of the millions of people suffering from the “After Christmas Woes”?  What is the “After Christmas Woes”; well I’m glad you asked.  The “After Christmas Woes” is an overwhelming, burdensome feeling that comes upon a person after he or she has lost their mind due to the extreme pressure that the world has placed on them during the Christmas season.

Yea I know, you are probably trying to justify your “After Christmas Woes” by saying, I get this feeling sometimes from the stress at my job or from the stress of life in general.  It is a big difference when you get this overwhelming, burdensome feeling from the pressure of life because the issues of life are out of our control.  Wouldn’t you agree that life has enough stress on it’s own to begin adding more unnecessary stress to it?

Well you may be saying I celebrate Christmas because it is about the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Then if Christmas is about Jesus, then why do we let “The World” who has rejected Jesus tell us how we should celebrate Him? 
 
To read this entire article, please look on page 14 after clicking onto the link 08-January of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers.

               The Glory of The Cross

                                   Written by: Rev. Miguel Soto

I recently counted references to the cross in the New Testament and counted 34. I believe the symbol of the Cross is the most taken for granted symbol in society. But what does it mean to you? Most of us have seen all sorts of people wearing crosses. Musicians, actors, athletes, ministers and others, but the majority of those don’t even know Christ, but yet wear the symbol.

Maybe they wear the Cross for religious reasons, like a charm or even to be reminded of what Jesus Christ did for His own.  Life for me before the Cross was difficult and even more so in many ways, after the Cross. But before I go any further, what do I mean before the Cross?

To read this entire article, please look on page  12 after clicking onto the link 08-october of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers .

Go Ye into all the World and Preach the Gospel to all men and make disciples of all nations (Mark 16:15). It’s not a suggestion but a Command. It doesn’t say sit back and let the people come to you nor invite people to Church and let the Pastor speak to them.

It doesn’t say, “Befriend someone and later on when you get comfortable then share the gospel. What happens if they die before you get comfortable? We want them to come to US when the WORD says “GO TO THEM”! Anything less is disobedience to our Lord and Savior Jesus!

Let’s call it what it is, not obeying the Great Commission is SIN. This is sin of omission.

To read this entire article, please look on page  12 after clicking onto the 08-october link of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers .

Page-3     STAND UP MINISTRY NEWSPAPER    2006 – March

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 Why can’t we all just get along?
                                             By Deacon Tim Butler

After fighting and feuding with other so-called Christians, we tend to mutter the question, “why can’t we all just get along”?  I know it may sound harsh but the truth of the matter is, since the fall of Adam in the garden, it was not design for everyone to get along.  In this world, there will never be total peace! (Jn 16:33).

No matter what we do to obtain peace, we will never obtain total peace. One might think  by doing the right thing, this might bring people together.  But you must remember, that everyone doesn’t want the right thing.

The devil has waged war on God, and God has declared judgment on the devil. Therefore the unjust has waged war on God’s people and God’s people have declared war on the unjust.

With this being said, there will always be division on earth. When the unjust are in power, God’s people declare war on their unjust policies. When God’s people are in power, then the unjust wage war on us for the good we do.  This process continues to revolve, and thus causing continuance discord between the righteous and the unrighteous.

To read this entire article, please look on page  3 after clicking onto the 06-march link of the “Stand Up Ministry” Newspapers .