Judging by the response on Facebook, that Jan. 13 post wasn’t inspired by Dale Carnegie’s HOW TO WIN FRIENDS AND INFLUENCE PEOPLE! Or by an article like “How to build a big church full of happy Christians.” Maybe though, inspired by Ezekiel, Jesus, Paul or John.
If you don’t like the title, please know that I don’t either but it’s what came with it back in 1978-79 during my first pastorate. It’s an affront to what we typically know as “the church,” and it’s personally insulting. I mean, what trade is considered lower than a prostitute?
Even back then, I saw Jesus’ and the Apostles’ call to discipleship to include our being transformed to become like Jesus in holiness, mission and Spirit empowerment, and in Biblical family life.
THE WARNING
An elder warned me that if I kept preaching like that there would be trouble, but that I shouldn’t back off because it was Biblical and we needed it. He promised that the eldership would stand with me when it came. (After I was shown the exit he apologetically said he knew what he had said, but that he never expected the trouble to come from his own family. I understood.)
History has since repeated itself, because that message is no more popular today even if the urgency has increased because of the decline in America’s morality and in the Church’s spirituality. The instruction and warning of Ezek. 3:4-11 are to be taken seriously.
THE PROSTITUTE BRIDE was inspired by scriptures like Lev. 20:7, Deut. 7:6, Isaiah 35:8, Ezek. 3:17-19, Mt. 28:18-20, Luke 9:23-26, Luke 14:25-35, II Cor. 4:1-6, Eph. 5:25-27, Phil. 1:9-11, Titus 2:11-15, I Peter 1:15-25, I Peter 2:9-12, II Peter 2:10-18, I John 2:15-18, I John 3:2-3, Rev. 22 and more. Read them!
Maybe you should print it off and put it beside your TV remote to read during commercials this weekend, and then tell us how well YOU think we’re doing as compared to Eph. 5:25-27 and God’s overall expectation of us in life and mission as His special people. It’s in both WORD and PDF formats at: www.john2031.com/poetry_and_piety/the_prostitute_bride.html
Unapologetically Yours,
Ken Stoltzfus
CLICK HERE for a printable pdf.
What popped into my head after finishing this was Matthew 10:32-33 “whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.” I feel people in the “church” think this only will happen when up front asked if they believe in God and not in their subtle actions. But every moment is a chance to stand with Him or against Him. If you’ve read His Word (again sadly I’m not sure how many in the “church” are immersed in His word) and put your head in the sand and ignore what it says or cast out those who are calling you back to the Word you are denying Him. I never really understood the verses in Matthew 7:13-14. How could it be with all these churches and all the people in them that few will enter? Sadly the older I’ve gotten the more I see. But let us always remember the beginning of Matthew 7:1-5.
Sober words my sister, but words well spoken. You “get” it. Thank you.