WOODBURY, Tenn. (BNC) by Joey Ferrell — I am absolutely dismayed about what is going on in the church and the persecution of her faithful servants.
This week, we were introduced to a trending article that was taken completely out of context and words infused by outside sources to try and condemn a sound and faithful preacher, Ben Bailey.
Then, Michael J. Shank has had a threat against his life because someone was upset with his book.
It is a shame that the church is facing this; however, some of this is stemming from inside our own beloved church families.
How? There are too many part-time Christians who may ceremoniously grace a pew for maybe, just maybe an hour a week. And that is it. That is their “church” and she’s done!
Preacher Joey Ferrell
I know this will anger some, but I have held my tongue long enough. It is a downright treacherous thought to know that some folks prefer to go to sporting events, sleep in, go to the lake, or whatever excuse it is this week instead of wanting, desiring, and obediently worshiping our God.
Then, on top of that, there are those in the church that only want frilly feel-good preaching and lovey-dovey acceptance of sin that will most likely find themselves facing a very disturbing scene at judgment.
This world is horrible — and it is bleeding into the church.
I was approached by an elder at the end of May on Sunday afternoon while working on articles and lessons in my office and told that there were some “members” who had complained that I was “preaching too much Bible.”
This was followed up with being given a sermon that was written out, told to preach it verbatim, using all illustrations and jokes, etc. and then a survey would be given to the members to determine how my “style of preaching” needed to change.
I left that night in tears, heartache, and disgust. I resigned the next morning. Some have told me I needed thicker skin. Some have told me I should have changed my preaching style. Some have told me that they hope I did not give up. And I won’t.
It is things like I’ve mentioned though that are tearing the church apart shred by shred and allowing division, false teaching, and irreverence toward God to enter in.
It is time to stand up and be heard! Preachers, preach on! Elders, lead us like everyone’s soul depends on it. Christians, please understand that God wants you and me 100%. Unbelievers, you better get right while you can!
Join me in prayer for the church, her people, and for the persecuted that continue to serve a God of incredible glory!
Joey studied Ministry and Biblical Studies at Heritage Christian University. He has been a vocational preacher since 2009 and owns a low-voltage company. He is the administrator of hearthegospel.net and co-creator of tbh!2015 youth events. This article was posted on his Facebook account Aug. 20 and used with permission.
2015-08-20 at 6:15 pm
“The first one to plead his cause seems right, Until his neighbor comes and examines him.”
Proverbs 18:17
“Prove all things.”
1 Thessalonians 5:21
I suggest that if brotherhood news.com is going to publish online as news for all the world to see social media posts which contain the thoughts and perspective of a brother in Christ about what was done to him at a local congregation by other Christians, it would be wise for brotherhoodnews.com to get both the consent and comments of all who are mentioned in the story before publishing it, not just one side of the story. I also respectfully suggest that airing the dirty laundry of a local congregation of the body of Christ online for non-Christians and spiritually weak and immature brethren to see and thus potentially stumble because of it might not be the wisest course of action.
I know Joey, applaud his desire to preach the truth and nothing but, and personally have no reason to doubt what he says, but I also know what it’s like for people to talk to others online about what I supposedly said and did without hearing my side of it, resulting in not getting the whole story, and thus bring to the attention of a larger audience something which is not their business and, in some ways unnecessarily and unjustly, brings shame upon the local congregation, the church overall, my family, and me.
Just something to think about, suggestions given respectfully and in love.
2015-08-20 at 6:22 pm
Since 2002 The church has lost 165,000 members. No surprise! Read the above to know why.
Does that include those congregations that are using instruments? My guess is no!
2015-08-20 at 6:58 pm
heartthegospel.net is no longer an active internet site.
2015-08-20 at 8:04 pm
The link was incorrect, the mistake was ours. It has now been corrected. Our apologies for the mistake.
2015-08-20 at 7:25 pm
Keep the faith and continue to trust in God. He will fight your battles for you.
2015-08-20 at 7:26 pm
In reading the article my heart broke for Joey as this experience surly was discouraging. I will join him in prayer for the church. However, I do not believe this article is appropriate for a news item. This is an incident that happened in one congregation and the leaders choice to deal with this in the way they did. We could not begin to make a judgement on their decision without knowing both sides of the issue. Nor do I feel that it is any of our business. I agree with the comments of Jon. Articles of these type can do more harm than good.
I continue to read your blog and appreciate being able to express my opinion. God bless you brother.
2015-08-20 at 8:11 pm
Did the apostle Paul “air dirty laundry?” Far too many are concerned about style rather than substance…
2015-08-20 at 10:33 pm
After getting both sides of the story now (the elders of the above church put their side of the story online), I really think it best that the above article be deleted. In the end, I see no edification in this and only detriment brought upon all parties involved.
2015-08-21 at 12:43 am
Unless this article was edited after you read it, I don’t see the name of the congregation or elder listed in the article. If the article is unedited, you have more information about the congregation and elder/elders than most of the readers. I don’t use facebook and don’t plan on using it so I don’t know what Joey posted there. The elders at that congregation are in charge there so Joey only had two choices, to preach what they wanted or resign.
2015-08-21 at 8:36 am
This was very upsetting to read. If you want comedy watch a show, if you want feel good, puff you up lessons listen to a false teacher like Joel. IF YOU WANT TRUTH stick to the Bible. Why go if you want a man made religion? I don’t want to hear about your family, what you did this past week, who’s visiting and certainly no jokes. I think if they were part of the pattern we are supposed to follow jokes would have been put in there to set an example. The elder that took that message to the preacher is either a coward or totally in favor of the seeker friendly movement. He needs to hear more of The Word and less of the gossipy ones wanting their ears tickled. Disgusting. I pray this man does the right thing and go back at least one time and preach the truth to those people and esp to the elder.
2015-08-21 at 9:45 am
1Ti 5:1 Rebuke not an elder, but intreat him as a father; and the younger men as brethren;
2015-08-21 at 4:44 pm
Wes, I Tim.5:1 has nothing to do with this discussion. The term “elder” in this verse refers to older men. It is not a reference to an elder in the church. For the rest of you there are not two sides to a story. There is only the truth. What is wrong with allowing people to express their opinion? The editor allows us to do so in these responses does he not? Let us not draw a line in the sand as to what can or cannot be considered proper for this publication. What some of you might call “dirty laundry” may not be such at all. Paul wrote a letter to the church at Corinth telling them that there was fornication among them in that a man had his father’s wife and they were puffed up about it. (I Cor.5) Almost two thousand years later and we are still reading about that. Did the Holy Spirit fail to do a proper editing job?
2015-08-22 at 10:38 am
Willbreun, If it is talking simply about older men, that would certainly include those holding the office of elder. Paul was inspired and wrote simply to the congregation and people involved. He did not publish it on Facebook and the internet, or any first century equivalent. The Holy Spirit left it for our benefit. It was not spread throughout the brotherhood at the time. If a preacher does not like the treatment he received he ought to quietly move on without causing problems in the congregation. I freely admit and repent of the times I did not, and am likewise very happy with the results of the times that I did. If there are not two sides to the story, why express an opinion at all? And what good is an opinion that contradicts the truth?
2015-08-21 at 11:19 am
It seems that my comment from last night has disappeared. These charges are false and self-serving. If you want the other side, go to this website. Churchofchristatelkins.org and go to blogs and articles, wise words from the elders.
2015-08-21 at 2:00 pm
Just because Christians get tired of stale, predictable preaching doesnt mean they are only wanting ” frilly feel-good preaching and lovey-dovey acceptance of sin”. I truly believe Joel wants to do what is best but he is woefully ignorant of the situation. The preaching in many churches is in vast need of improvement. Preachers like Joel think as long as they regurgitate the same ‘ol template as grandpa liked then they are the only ones preaching “the truth”. And if you disagree with him then you “no longer love the truth”. Hope he enjoys speaking to a smaller group of people each year because that’s what he’s going to get.