Sometimes You Just Can’t Win

Whew! I kind of thought that yesterday’s post might stir up a hornets nest…I had NO idea!

I cannot believe some of the things have been happening—calls calling me a “moron,” hate e-mail (I have literally had worse things said about me by pagans!)-and this is best—people questioning my love for Jesus and my motives for doing what I do.

You can question a lot of things about me…and I usually do not respond to things such as this because I understand that I am in a no win situation (I will explain later.) BUT when someone questions my love for Jesus Christ and my motives for doing what I do—that sets me on FIRE!

To those who would question these things—who in the heck do you think you are? You have no idea what my life was like before I met Jesus! I was one of the most screwed up individuals on this planet. I was so far away from God it wasn’t even funny. I made my best attempt to give it my all when it came to rebellion.

You see—my mother died when I was 12 years old…and she was one of the godliest women I know. And I was hacked at God—here was my mom, she read her Bible, went to church, I mean in the mind of a 12 year old she did everything RIGHT! And God “took her.” I didn’t want any part of a God like that.

But on May 27, 1990 at 6:50 on a Sunday evening before the church service even started…I realized how much God, ins pite of my running and rebellion, loved me and wanted to forgive me and have a relationship with me. So—I surrendered…and I have been passionately in love with Jesus ever since!

You ask my why I do what I do—it is my love for Jesus and my love for people who are in the same boat I was in. You can question my methods—but to question my motives—that just isn’t your place. You are not the Holy Spirit!

God knows I make mistakes. God knows I need His help! This church is not growing the way it is because of me…but rather in spite of me. I am “Captain Stupid” when it comes to making dumb decisions…yet God still continues to work…and lives still continue to be changed.

Speaking of changed lives…and you can receive this OR ignore it…and this is true whether it’s NewSpring or Fellowship…or any other church—if it is slightly possible that God is at work here, if the Holy Spirit is drawing people to Himself…and you speak against it—then my friend, you are speaking against the Spirit of God—and we all know what that is—even those of us who are “uneducated morons!”

I am not trying to start a fight here…I realize I can’t win. I mention that I do not have a seminary degree and people attack me…and then I read those same people who attack Rick Warren and Rob Bell…who do have seminary degrees and are brilliant men…and so I can’t win that argument.

I can’t win the argument about numbers. I say God is growing our church and people point out that numbers are not a measure for success. YET they would not say that in regards to their portfolio—evidently numbers do matter…they would not say that in regards to a test score…yet they will say that to defend the fact that they are not reaching anyone. I can’t win that argument, I understand that!

I can’t win the argument about methods of reaching people. We are doing church the way God is leading us to do church…this staff is do desperate for God it isn’t even funny—we weep over lost people—we rejoice when people come into the kingdom—we are doing all we can to put resources in the hands of people to see them grow in the Lord—and yet to some we don’t do enough or we don’t do it right…and I can’t win that argument.

I can’t win the argument about how “soft” our church is on sin. I have spoken out against homosexuality, couples living together before they are married—heck, I even did a complete message on the wrath of God—and yet some still say we are too focused on making people think that God is ok with sin…I can’t win that argument.

There are several arguments I can’t win! I understand that—that is why I don’t even try. I can’t—I don’t have time to try to defend what we are doing…you see, I care too much about the people around here that are going to go to hell if they don’t hear about Jesus.

But the reason, once again, for this post, is that my love for Jesus and my motives have been questioned by people on various websites. And if you are thinking, “Perry sounds a little mad in this post,” it’s because I AM! I make no apology for this!

If you disagree with me then that is AWESOME! I thank God for calm, intellectual people who e-mail in or call or see me in public and wish to discuss things in an intelligent manner.

However, when I disagree with you…and you question my love for Jesus, call our church office to rip me…or send me e-mail saying that I am an idiot…my friends—we just are not going to go there.

Jesus Christ changed my life—I am MADLY in love with Him…and I am doing exactly what He called me to do…and I am doing it EXACTLY the way He called me to do it. My vision is clear…and so is my conscience.

I praise God for His forgiveness of my past—and for His direction concerning my future. I can’t wait to see what happens next.