VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED" PREACHING

VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED" Preaching

The un-Holy means some use to win souls must stop

Why should we have to use "VIEWER DISCRETION" to see some of the videos of preaching from the Internet?

Didn't they believe it was "ok" with Jesus to subject themselves to such things? Jesus didn't say "no" to them specifically to be there, right? So it's ok for us to see it then, yes? So why shouldn't we be able to watch the video without regard to the results? Just where in scripture can you give solid justification for not subjecting yourself to the lust of the flesh if you have "good" reasons?

That sounds pretty dumb doesn't it? It sounds that way because it is. Scripture is clear, we don't do such things. We don't go into bars; we don't go into porn shops; we don't go to the beaches; we don't go to biker conventions (I had to see that one myself) in order to reach the lost. God does not call anyone to place themselves in situations where they will have to work at not being tempted in order to preach the Gospel. If someone sends you a video that requires "Viewer Discretion" to watch, like because there are naked men and women in the video, then send this article to them and their Pastor.

A lot of us preachers seem to think subjecting ourselves to lust of the eyes is ok as long as what we are doing is "for" The Lord. But when you ask to prove how we aren't sinning we can get pretty torque'd. That indication of guilt likely means I think:

1. You made me look bad.
2. You have no authority to tell me to stop sinning
3. You said something that was true and my conscience just screamed very loudly.

You would be pretty upset, and wouldn't think too much of your wife's witness, if she went to a Chippendale's concert to "reach" women who might never hear the Gospel otherwise. You would ask her how she thinks she can not sin. You'd ask why she thinks she is better able to resist lust than anyone else. You would think she considered herself better than "those people" she is speaking to, wouldn't you? "After, all, I can resist if God told me to go!" she might say. "Hogwash!" would be my response.
And then, what you would do, is have a long talk with her; a very long and serious talk.

Consider this your talk if this is you.

You and I can agree that we shouldn't be seen in places like a pornography convention. But the XXX Church finds ways to justify it, don't they? Are they doing something wrong? Are they missing something?  Does the sky really look blue?

The question is simple and we must all see it:

How can anyone prove disowning Jesus in front of others is ok to do?

Isn't disregarding the warnings of God about being in places that would tempt you, places that would bring a shame to Jesus to be seen in, a turning of our backs on Jesus to go to? Does Jesus have to specifically tell us not to subject ourselves to temptation? Or has He not said so quite clearly, over and over again, in the Bible, to all?

Maybe you might think that I'm going too far. Maybe you think scantily clad women on a beach "real men" can handle? Maybe you think being seen in a bar is ok? But aren't we supposed to not be seen at such places? Are we not giving Christ Jesus, Our LORD, a bad name even being seen where sin is flaunted? Nevermind the temptation you are being subjected to! Should one rescued from alcoholism be seen in a bar? Should a former homosexual be seen at "Gay" parades? Why would anyone think they can resist evil? Aren't we supposed to RUN from evil? Isn't that what the Bible says?

The answer of the Bible is a clear "DO NOT GO THERE!" I don't have to show you the number of Scriptures that say so implicitly or explicitly. We should all just go to our Pastors and watch their incredulity at such a silly question.

We are all saved from pits. All were pits of some form of lust. But all sin is of idolatry, some manner of manifested lust. Are we now going to say God tells us to jump back into the pits to preach there? Can we really say to our Holy God it's ok to preach to naked men and women? Can we really justify such actions and still believe we are "ok" with Jesus?

Don't let your good be evil spoken of, is what comes to mind. And I haven't read anywhere in Scripture where Jesus went into the brothels, or any other similar dens of iniquity, to seek the lost. No, Jesus met people at the market square, in the street. There is where we must go also.

Brother, sister, you can have a great ministry. So please don't let it fail by being so naïve as to think you are some kind of super-Christian, able to resist the sins of the flesh, so you can reach the lost "where they're at."

Let's not be so foolish as to think we can resist the temptations we willingly subject ourselves to.

Patrick James Burwell
President/Founder
OnlyJesusSaves.com

By Patrick Burwell Click here for bio and archived articles

With Compassion Or Not At All Posted On: 12/31/09 12:15:38 PM Age 47, PA The point, my effusive friend in NJ, is that we must NOT preach on the street from anger, spite or a warped sense of guilt. And we must surely not use means that are sinful. Paul had no issue associating himself with WHO the lost were but never with their sinful acts. For instance, Paul never said, "I have become a drunk to reach some drunks." But he did say he had become a jew to reach some Jews. Neither does Paul recommend going into Pagan temples to "rescue" some. No. What he does say is to use wisdom and have compassion on the lost as one who has been barely saved yourself. You can be tempted just like anyone else. When I see profesing ministers of the Gospel subjecting themselves to barely dressed women under the guise of preaching the gospel to them I am reminded man deceives himself first. Just recently my Pastor and I came to the conclusion that no man who desires to reach the lost may drink. Ever. It's not about legalism it's about testimony. I am NOT saying right living is the Gospel. But what is true is that what you do REFLECTS upon the truth of the Gospel; A saved person is a changed person. Does this mean we may subject ourselves to sin to reach some sinners? No. Just the opposite is true! We know better than they what we may become so we avoid it. As Paul said, when we preach the Gospel we must look to ourselves to be sure we are not evidencing personally our disqualification from the very requirements we proclaim. Just because this message is perceived to be "negative" does not mean it isn't needed, or correct. Patrick J. Burwell, OnlyJesusSaves.com Response@OnlyJesusSaves.com The church is fine Posted On: 04/19/09 06:39:11 AM Age 46, PA What you call the "church" is actually a large group of unregenerate people with a form of godliness. We in the West have changed the process of conversion from God to man. We chose who's going to be saved not God. Our children, spouses, friends and just the nice people are accepted into "God's" family, so we fill the buildings with the unregenerate and wonder why it's so messed up. Go part 3 Posted On: 04/14/09 06:53:23 AM Age 57, NJ Before you write things, please pray for heavenly wisdom. We are not God and we don't know what His reasons are for doing things. People could read blogs like this and not go witnessing when the Spirit has led them. Few go witnessing today and are looking for any reason not to. Don’t help them out. Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Please take that to heart. And don't forget to take the gospel to the lost. Sometimes we just take legalism to the readers of blogs. My fear is that bloggers only have negative things to say on these sites and have forgotten the message where Jesus came to the most ungodly of all places. Earth and our place on the cross go part 2 Posted On: 04/14/09 06:52:44 AM Age 57, NJ Even Jesus went out to temptation "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season." Luke 4:13 But Jesus did it for a just cause. Us. Luke 7:34 said "The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!" They called Him names because they were using their earthly logic instead of the spiritual. It sounds good to not go into bars, but what if a person clothed in prayer and led by the Spirit to seek the lost goes. Remember the old Salvation Army and the early Methodist. They went where they were led and avoided sin. If I am free from alcoholism, then why would I even want it? What I want is to see others saved from sin and in a right relationship with God. Bind the strongman Posted On: 04/14/09 06:50:05 AM Age 57, NJ Mark 13:18 tells us "Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak. Luke 22:40 "And when he was at the place, he said unto them, Pray that ye enter not into temptation" We are to avoid sin. I also realize that "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed" John 8:36. If Jesus has freed me, then I am able to resist the devil "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. “James 4:7 "Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Eph 6:11. Even Jesus went out to temptation "And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season." Luke 4:13 But Jesus did it for a just cause. Us. Luke 7:34 said "The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!" They called Him names because they were using their earthly logic instead of the spiritual. It sounds good to not go into bars, but what if a person clothed in prayer and led by the Spirit to seek the lost goes. Remember the old Salvation Army and the early Methodist. They went where they were led and avoided sin. If I am free from alcoholism, then why would I even want it? What I want is to see others saved from sin and in a right relationship with God. Before you write things, please pray for heavenly wisdom. We are not God and we don't know what His reasons are for doing things. People could read blogs like this and not go witnessing when the Spirit has led them. Few go witnessing today and are looking for any reason not to. Don’t help them out. Proverbs 3:6 "In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Please take that to heart. And don't forget to take the gospel to the lost. Sometimes we just take legalism to the readers of blogs. My fear is that bloggers only have negative things to say on these sites and have forgotten the message where Jesus came to the most ungodly of all places. Earth and our place on the cross.