When should a ministry close its doors?

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God wants everything we do to prosper, right? Afterall, it’s all about our prospering, right? If I run a ministry and I am a Christian, then God wants me to succeed, right?

Apparently not in every case. What about the “Christian” television networks? Have you watched any of these lately? Have you seen any programming that is Biblically correct? Probably not much. What about “Christian” radio? What about the number of stations that are removing Biblical teaching programs and playing style-driven “Christian” music instead?

Now, what I am attacking is not ministries that want to succeed for God’s glory. I am attacking the notion that God wants all things that we do to succeed therefore if we need to remove properly Biblical teaching programs and replace them with heresy, flim flam artists, and almost-worldly music that occasionally mentions God, then we must do that in order to pay the bills to keep the ministry alive.

Where does it say in the Bible that God is OK with us mixing in worldly and even heretical stuff in order to cause enough people to watch/listen generating sufficient cash flow to stay on the air?

I see no teaching anywhere that justifies such a thing. As a matter of fact, I see teaching from Genesis to maps that says God’s people are not to mix fallacy with God’s word and not to incorporate wickedness into the practice of serving God.

Is the argument of  “if we do not change to be more like what the world wants we will not be able to stay in business”  a valid one? I don’t think so. Look at what the Bible says about compromise, dilution of truth, mixing truth with lies, combining righteousness with wickedness, and mixing fiction with truth. You will get the picture that God is not interested in compromising truth.

So, why do so many compromise…? Should a ministry close down instead of mixing with ungodiliness? If these are the only choices available, I would say to close down. It is more important to honor God in what you do than to dishonor Him in a ministry that carries His name.

Hosea 6: 3-6  says, “So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth.”What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? For your loyalty is like a morning cloud And like the dew which goes away early.Therefore I have hewn them in pieces by the prophets; I have slain them by the words of My mouth; And the judgments on you are like the light that goes forth.For I delight in loyalty rather than sacrifice, And in the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

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Daily Truth Bible Study Acts 10:1-23

Daily Truth Bible Study  Acts 10:1-23 Daily Truth Bible Study  Acts 10:1-23 Daily Truth Bible Study  Acts 10:1-23 Daily Truth Bible Study  Acts 10:1-23

Here in chapter 10, we will see two huge truths of scripture unfold before our eyes. Peter (the leader of the first Church) will be taught that God will accept Gentiles into the Church as equals to the Jews and we will see God’s sovereign process of salvation transpire in the life of a Gentile.

We see that God is working in the life of Cornelius and at the same time in the life of Peter. For Cornelius, God is in the process of bringing him into the faith via transformation by exposure to Jesus Christ. For Peter, God is showing him that all of God’s created people are not only loved by God but also seen as desirable for fellowship by God.

Peter is praying on the roof while food is being prepared below. He sees a vision with different types of animals that were considered unclean for food and he is told to eat them. He is told that what God has cleansed should no longer be considered unclean. While Peter is perplexed and trying to understand what is meant by this, the servants of Cornelius arrive at the house asking for Peter.  

Let’s look back at what Peter has learned thus far. He has learned that people other than Jews can be saved into God’s kingdom, that the Holy Spirit dwells within them, that even former enemies of Christ can be saved, and now he learns that Gentiles will also be equal members of the Body of Christ. What!? That’s right, they will be equal in the Body of Christ.

Remember that Peter was a zealous Jew/Christian to say the least. He was probably what many would call overboard in his behavior. He was certainly not a liberal! He vigorously protected all that he had been taught. Now, he would learn yet another lesson.

In Caesarea, Cornelius (a devout man who prayed often, lived a Godly life, and gave money to the Jewish church) was praying. During his prayer, he sees an angel in a vision who tells him to send to Joppa for Peter. The servants arrive for Peter at the same time that Peter is contemplating what the vision of the sheet and the animals may mean.

Verse 19 says the Spirit told Peter to go with the three men who were seeking him and not to doubt what they told him for God had sent them. Peter was many things but disobedient to God was not one of them. He went directly downstairs and greeted the men. He invited them inside and gave them lodgings for the night. The next day, he took some of his associates and went with the men to Caesarea.

Peter was ready, willing, and able to represent God and to serve God’s purpose anytime and anywhere. We should be so willing and ready…

Cornelius was told that his prayers had come before God. He was now anxiously waiting for Peter to tell him what he needed to hear. God was working in the life and soul of a man. He was doing a work of grace and mercy in salvation. God was setting up Cornelius, Peter, the message, and the timing of it all.

Now, back to Peter for a moment. Peter was staying with Simon the tanner. A ‘good Jew’ would not have stayed with a tanner but Peter had developed in understanding past the point of discriminating against such a man. Now, Peter invites the three servants of Cornelius to lodge for the night. This would also be unheard of for a Jew. A Jew would not invite gentiles in to lodge for the night as guests. Peter is developing in his obedience to God and he is learning to let go of some long held traditions.

Coming to faith in God through Jesus Christ for salvation begins a process. It is a process of sanctification. This is not immediate. Justification takes place at once but sanctification takes place over time…usually much time. The first chapter of Philippians talks about God doing a work of development in believers’ lives and completing this work over time. God was beginning to do this work in the life of Cornelius and was continuing to do it in Peter’s life.

Both men showed obedience in seeking to do what God wanted them to do. May we do the same.

Baptist Bible Brian McLaren Christianity Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Conservative Creation Discernment Doug Pagitt Evolution Faith Fundamentalist God Gospel Intelligent Design James McDonald Jesus Christ John MacArthur Joel Osteen John Piper Liberal Logic Relevance Missions New Age New Testament Old Testament Paul Washer Politics Post-modern Purpose Driven Religion Rick Warren Rob Bell Scripture Spiritual Theology Truth Inspirational Intellectual Calvinist Orthodox Bible Study Bible Study Theology Doctrine Daily Truth Calvinist Calvinist Calvinist Baptist Bible Brian McLaren Christianity Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Conservative Creation Discernment Doug Pagitt Evolution Faith Fundamentalist God Gospel Intelligent Design James McDonald Jesus Christ John MacArthur Joel Osteen John Piper Liberal Logic Relevance Missions New Age New Testament Old Testament Paul Washer Politics Post-modern Purpose Driven Religion Rick Warren Rob Bell Scripture Spiritual Theology Truth Inspirational Intellectual Calvinist Orthodox Baptist Bible Brian McLaren Christianity Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Conservative Creation Discernment Doug Pagitt Faith Fundamentalist God Gospel Intelligent Design James McDonald Jesus Christ John MacArthur Joel Osteen John Piper Liberal Logic Relevance Missions New Age New Testament Old Testament Paul Washer Politics Post-modern Purpose Driven Religion Rick Warren Rob Bell Scripture Spiritual Theology Truth Inspirational Intellectual Calvinist Orthodox Bible Study Bible Study Bible Study Christian Christianity Religion Religion Religion Reigion Grace Grace Grace Hope Hope Hope Change Change Change  Doctrine Doctrine Bible Bible Bible Relevant Relevant Relevance Post-Modern Church Truth Truth Truth Truth Truth Emergent Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Emerging Church Emerging Church Discernment Discernment Discernment Discernment Discernment Discernment Soteriology Apologetics Hermeneutics Soteriology Apologetics Hermeneutics Soteriology Apologetics Hermeneutics Peace Mercy Grace Peace Mercy Grace Apologetics, Hermeneutics, Soteriology, Mercy, Grace, Peace, Hope, Change, Bible Study Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Election Election Election Election Election Election Election Election Election Baptist Bible Brian McLaren Christianity Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Conservative Creation Discernment Doug Pagitt Evolution Faith Fundamentalist God Gospel Intelligent Design James McDonald Jesus Christ John MacArthur Joel Osteen John Piper Liberal Logic Relevance Missions New Age New Testament Old Testament Paul Washer Politics Post-modern Purpose Driven Religion Rick Warren Rob Bell Scripture Spiritual Theology Truth Inspirational Intellectual Calvinist Orthodox Bible Study Bible Study Theology Doctrine Daily Truth Calvinist Calvinist Calvinist Baptist Bible Brian McLaren Christianity Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Conservative Creation Discernment Doug Pagitt Evolution Faith Fundamentalist God Gospel Intelligent Design James McDonald Jesus Christ John MacArthur Joel Osteen John Piper Liberal Logic Relevance Missions New Age New Testament Old Testament Paul Washer Politics Post-modern Purpose Driven Religion Rick Warren Rob Bell Scripture Spiritual Theology Truth Inspirational Intellectual Calvinist Orthodox Baptist Bible Brian McLaren Christianity Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Conservative Creation Discernment Doug Pagitt Faith Fundamentalist God Gospel Intelligent Design James McDonald Jesus Christ John MacArthur Joel Osteen John Piper Liberal Logic Relevance Missions New Age New Testament Old Testament Paul Washer Politics Post-modern Purpose Driven Religion Rick Warren Rob Bell Scripture Spiritual Theology Truth Inspirational Intellectual Calvinist Orthodox Bible Study Bible Study Bible Study Christian Christianity Religion Religion Religion Reigion Grace Grace Grace Hope Hope Hope Change Change Change  Doctrine Doctrine Bible Bible Bible Relevant Relevant Relevance Post-Modern Church Truth Truth Truth Truth Truth Emergent Church Emerging Church Emergent Church Emerging Church Emerging Church Discernment Discernment Discernment Discernment Discernment Discernment Soteriology Apologetics Hermeneutics Soteriology Apologetics Hermeneutics Soteriology Apologetics Hermeneutics Peace Mercy Grace Peace Mercy Grace Apologetics, Hermeneutics, Soteriology, Mercy, Grace, Peace, Hope, Change, Bible Study Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Perry Noble Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Mark Driscoll Mark Election Election Election Election Election Election  Election Election Election Election Election