How to teach sound doctrine

I was asked to watch a video on biblical cosmology, so I am watching it as I promised, but the speaker's method of arriving at theological conclusions is disturbingly myopic. He throws a hypothesis mixed with a handful of scriptures at a wall and expects his theology to stick. There is no attempt to establish context or perspective. In fact, he states that perspective is irrelevant.

As leaders, our ability to influence others is too great to neglect sound Bible study habits. Reading our Bibles is #1 of course, but learning to rightly discern the Word of God comes not only with knowing what the Bible says but what it does not say. We can only know these things if we read the entire Bible, skipping nothing, and not just once. That's why I recommend reading our Bibles every day, always picking up today where we left off yesterday.


Developing good habits such as comparing passages and determining whether or not they are related is important. Considering the context of verses, considering the perspective (who is speaking) of verses is critical. Religious cults have been founded on myopically looking at a single Bible verse and without looking at context and perspective toss thousands of years of responsible scholarship. Sound doctrine is important. Jesus said when the blind lead the blind, ALL fall into the ditch.


Error is progressive. The Rulers of the Darkness of this world see to that. Once we embrace one error, we place ourselves in a position of being oppressed by seducing spirits who are dedicated to promoting doctrines of demons. Paul foretold the of the day when saved people would not endure sound doctrine.


Follow Jesus's example of judging all theology by the written Word of God. How many times did he tell Satan, "It is WRITTEN...?" Consider Isaiah's warning about following or creating new doctrine that has not already been WRITTEN. God gave us his sacred writings for a reason. Remember, when the apostle brought the good news to the Bereans, they "searched the scriptures" to see if what they were being told was true?


Don't blindly trust the scholars. All scholars do not teach truth. All scholars do not agree on everything. All scholars do not belong to Jesus and have the Holy Spirit living in them. Therefore, they do not have the ability to compare spiritual things with spiritual.


Prayerfully question and compare. All Children of the Most High God have the Holy Spirit of God dwelling in us, and John said this is the anointing that teaches us all things and is Truth.


One of the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of teaching. God gave us teachers, not to utterly depend on but to help equip EVERY Believer for the work of the ministry.


John understood this when he said we have no need of any human to teach us, that we all have access to the same anointed teacher who lives in us. That anointed teacher will never tell us anything that contradicts what has already been written. We walk by faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. Contend earnestly for the faith, but don't become contentious. Faith works by love.


Amazon.com: Jocelyn Andersen: books, biography, latest update

How should I feel about transgender people at my church?

The Bible tells us how to feel about all people

We view and treat them with compassion and agape love. Hatred has no place in the lives and hearts of any who profess Christ. We only need to answer two questions, and if we can answer these, we will know exactly how to feel about transgender people attending our churches.

  • Why is the transgender person attending my church? What are they looking for?
  • What is my church's policy about church membership or leadership for transgender people?

With the rare exceptions of true intersex people, those who are born with some or all characteristics of both sexes and can legitimately choose which sex they want to live as, we are all born as one of only two sexes, either male or female, each of us with greater or lesser degrees of estrogen or testosterone influencing our inclinations and appearance. 

It is unconscionable that the Christian community does not accept intersex people for who they are, many of whom hide it or gravitate to LGBTQ communities because they are largely rejected by mainstream culture and churches. 

But what about those who are not intersex, those who simply don't like the sex they were born with or who sincerely believe they were born in the wrong body? This is becoming an upfront and personal issue in churches and will likely only become more prevalent. Transwomen (biological males) are the most likely to attend church without hiding the fact that they are biological males who wish to look like, dress like, be addressed as, and be treated as, women. 

On the other hand, seeing transmen (biological females) in church, is not as common. Are they there? Most likely. There are various reasons why some women choose to hide the fact that they were born female. Gender bias is the age-old number one reason for this. I am not saying that this is still the case today, but I listened to one woman tell her story of why she lived as a man, and that was the reason she gave. 

She not only lived as a man and no one ever guessed the truth, but for ten years she was a loved and respected [supposed male] leader in her church. She said she grew up wanting to be a boy because her father bullied and abused the female members of her family, while treating the male members well. She equated weakness to female and strength to male. She attributed being strictly limited to female and almost limitless autonomy to male. She watched boys get preferential treatment because they were male. For these reasons she decided, early on, that she did not want to be a girl. But after ten years of lying to everyone in her church about who she was, they somehow found out the truth. Her church did not throw her out on her ear. She agreed to an extended hiatus from leadership while she and her church family worked out whatever needed to be worked out. According to her, it took a while. Today, years later, she still attends that same church, and has been reinstated as a Bible teacher and church leader. Only today, she leads as the biological woman she was born as. It was not a simple cut and dry process. And it took a great deal of time. And we can't even imagine the effort. But, in the end, love prevailed. She did not lose her beloved church family and they did not lose a precious sister and beloved leader. 

History is rife with stories of women who posed as men (historical transmen), because men had autonomy, freedom, and opportunity that women did not have (women still don't have these in complementarian churches and marriages). 

Some women posing as men don't want to simply be treated and addressed as males, they want everyone to believe they were born as males. They pass as males. They are not interested in having their transgender-status recognized and approved. With hormone therapies and surgeries, these women can be very successful at passing as biological males

So, how should we, as Believers, feel about church members who want to be recognized and accepted as transgender people?

I have no conflict with showing unbiased Christian love to all people, and that includes transgender people. But this does not extend to lying to them by telling them the Bible does not address transgenderism and that it is forbidden to God's people. 

If a transgender person asks me what the Bible says about it, I will tell them the truth. If they do not ask me, I will continue to treat them with love and respect, but I will keep my opinions about their lifestyle choices to myself. I will not gossip about them with other church members. That being said, I also will not sit under the ministry of a transgender person or of a non-transgender person who teaches that the God is Ok with it. I will find another group to worship and fellowship with. 

Sharing about an experience I had earlier in my ministry may be helpful here. I was called to street ministry for a season. For two years, I preached the Good News on the streets of Winter Haven, FL. I held Sunday church meetings in a local park for the homeless and hungry. Some began spontaneously calling me their pastor. The majority of people I met with (every Sunday), were active alcoholics and drug addicts. Though I never preached about the sin that was devastating their lives, many told me how deeply my ministry had impacted them for the good.  

Did I ever broach the subject of their sin? Yes.  I was forced to deal with those who wanted to come to my meetings high or drunk. They would come wanting to participate in leadership by preaching or praying. After dealing with this for a while, I wondered if I should even be holding meetings for this unruly group, most of whom lived open and obvious sinful lifestyles. Our outdoor church smelled like a brewery. It literally reeked of alcohol. 

My religiosities were challenged. 

As I struggled with knowing what I should do, I considered giving it up. I wasn't sure if it was even right to be worshipping with these people. You see, this wasn't a project for me. It was where I went to church every Sunday, and I worshipped with whoever came to join me. The Holy Spirit gave me a choice that forever changed my perspective and attitude. I was asked if I would stay and feed the flock God had given, or if I would give up, walk away, abandon them? 

I chose to stay and feed them. But I made on change. I told the group that everyone was welcome to attend my meetings, in any condition they were in (today, that would include transgender), but I told them that if they were drunk or high, I would not allow them to preach, pray, read the Bible to the group, or participate in any other way. And, because my group could become disruptive, I instructed them to quietly sit down and enjoy the ministry in word and song. That did it for them. After that, there was never a problem. Anyone who didn't like that policy just didn't come back, and there were a few who didn't. 

Another story along that line. Later, when I was praise and worship leader at a brick and mortar, traditional, church, our church drummer showed up drunk for practice one evening. I quietly drew him aside and told him I could not allow him to practice with us in that condition. He left offended. We did not see him in church again. About three years later, I received an email from him. He thanked me for what I had done three years earlier. He said it had been a wake-up call for him. He told me that he had since sobered up and married a wonderful godly woman, and that he had been called to preach and was currently in Bible college.

Yes, these stories do relate to Christian response to the transgender issue and how we should feel about transgender people attending our churches. Would to God our churches were filled with them!  

Most of the alcoholics and drug addicts that regularly attended my Sunday meetings had hungry hearts. They came to feed on the Word of God. The evidence of this, is that though I fed them physical food, I fed them spiritual food first, and the overwhelming majority came early for the spiritual food. 

What they did with the spiritual food was between them and God, but all hungry hearts were welcome in my church meetings, though participation and leadership was reserved for those who chose to forsake all and follow Jesus. I see no difference in applying the same policy to transgender people attending our churches, as I applied to those who attended my street meetings all those years ago. 

The Bible calls men trying to be women and women trying to be men ... sin. It is forbidden to God's people. The Bible calls a lot of things sin that Christian leaders should be gently and lovingly dealing with. Sin of every sort is becoming the cultural norm, and we must not lie to people about what the Bible says or does not say about any topic. God's love-letter to us, the Bible, forbids certain things to his followers, and transgenderism is one of them. 

That being said, there is never justification--ever--for treating anyone with hatred or disdain. 

Every human being is created in the image of God, is loved by our Creator, and is a soul for whom Christ died. Even if strong leadership (like what happened with my street ministry troublemakers and with the drummer in our church's praise and worship group) is called for, it should always be handled with gentleness, humility, compassion, and love

  • We should welcome all hungry hearts into our church meetings--including transgender people. 
  • Our churches should have policies of not lying to people about what the Bible says about transgenderism or any other issue. 
  • Our churches should have biblical policies in place about who can or cannot participate in certain ministries or church sponsored activities, become church members, or serve in leadership. 
  • Our churches should not have an across-the-board policy of refusing to allow transgender people to attend meetings. 

Everyone needs love. It is not a hard thing to love transgender people when we understand that true Christlike and biblical love does not mean we must accept every lifestyle or make everyone feel good about their choices. 

Love is being not afraid to tell life-giving truth. 

Jocelyn Andersen: My Statement of Life

 

Healing from abuse

 


When we are finally able to leave the hurt behind, we are much more effective in helping others who have experienced similar hurts.

All those years ago, when I was experiencing and writing about my insights into domestic violence, I knew that one day I would write a book about it, but I also kept hearing the small still voice of the Holy Spirit telling me I wasn't ready just yet, there was more I needed to learn...and to be healed from.


I couldn't help others until I was truly free in every way.


Today, I hold no animus against anyone. I lose no sleep at night being tormented by hurts others have inflicted on me. Giving abusers free rent in our heads doesn't bother them, in fact, they love it. But true freedom comes when we can sincerely pray for their freedom, for their happiness.


Doing so doesn't mean the abuse we suffered is minimized or invalidated, or that we must give them continued access to us by allowing them back into our lives. Their time for that is past. But it does mean that we can live our lives--every day--free from thoughts and emotions that will not only continue to harm us but others as well.


One thing that helped me walk away from excruciating emotional pain and crippling anger, was a question the Holy Spirit asked me, "WHAT WOULD IT TAKE FOR YOU TO FEEL VALIDATED, HOW MUCH PAIN WOULD HE HAVE TO ENDURE TO TAKE YOUR PAIN AWAY?"


I couldn't imagine that any amount of pain inflicted on my abuser could ever take my pain away or validate my suffering. In that moment, I gave it up. I knew I could never win that one. Wisdom is knowing when to throw in the towel, and my battle for validation and freedom from emotional pain was futile. I finally understood that it was a battle I was not created or equipped to win. That understanding enabled me to give all my pain and hard feelings to my Creator, who said, "Vengeance is mine..."


If those who hurt me were never sorry for what they did, then they have a bad time awaiting them. I don't wish harm on anyone, even those who caused me great suffering and distress. I pray they will come to true repentance and receive forgiveness from the only one from whom it really counts. My forgiveness is for me. My forgiveness is for my freedom. I have no control over theirs.


No one gets free rent in my head. And they shouldn't in yours either.

Child Custody Abuse

American family courts are destroying lives and have been for decades. I call it the family court holocaust.

In any other situation (besides this nation's corrupt family court system), the term "Mama Bear" is an affectionate term assigned to hero mothers. Protective mothers are unsung but libeled, slandered, and cruelly punished national heroes.

One family court Judge unbelievably removed children from a loving mother's custody (handing the children over to a documented abuser), calling the mother's behavior "irrational" in interfering with visitation while trying to protect her children from physical and sexual abuse, overwhelming evidence of which was presented in court.

I say the mother's behavior was perfectly rational and exactly what one would expect from any mother (mama bear) protecting her children from the horrific and documented crimes of the abusive father.

Christian response to unwed motherhood


How many times have we heard disparaging words spoken against large families being born to unwed mothers, or against unwed fathers having multiple children by multiple mothers (but we know most of the time hard words are aimed at the mothers)? 

How can we forget that God knew every one of us before we were conceived, regardless of the circumstances of our conception? We were all known and planned by God from before the foundation of the earth.  

Because of this, we should never utter those hateful words, that all of us have heard so often about unwed mothers, "Doesn't she know where babies come from?" 

Babies come from the heart of God. He knows each one of us before we are ever formed in our mother's wombs. 

Can we say of anyone that our Creator did not know them before they were conceived? Did he not have a plan for their lives as well as for ours? 

The parents might have lived less than righteous lives. And their children and society might pay a price for it. After we are born, whether to married or unmarried parents, we might or might not live righteous lives. But the conception of NO ONE is an "accident." 

Motherhood should be honored and protected. And that isn't done by hanging scarlet letters around the necks of unwed mothers. And I'm talking to churches here. Embrace the motherhood of even unwed mothers. Love those expectant mothers. Stop looking down our noses at them. Christian response to unwed motherhood is to reach out to and embrace those mothers. 

Loving and accepting unwed mothers does not mean that immoral behavior is encouraged or condoned. But once a child is conceived, the time for censure is over, and the time for loving community becomes paramount. These mothers must be embraced and shown the love of God. They will be much more inclined to serve a Savior whose love and compassion is demonstrated by those who claim to belong to him. 

Every birth should be celebrated. Think of the wonderful difference that can be made in the lives of unwed mothers and their children when we accept their impending motherhood with open arms and offer love and practical assistance as they wait and prepare for the joyful birth of their child.

Why can't we just be ourselves?


 How often do we weigh ourselves in the balance (compare ourselves to others) and come up lacking? Who says we're lacking? Who says we are not exactly who we were created to be? 

Works in progress

Has the Gift of Apostle and Passed Away?

If the ministry gift of apostle passed away with the original twelve, then Paul could not have been an apostle (Romans 1:1-5). But we know that Paul was an apostle. Although, he was not apostle number twelve nor even apostle number 13. 

Matthias was apostle number twelve (he was numbered with the eleven: Acts 1:26). That means Matthias was likely included in that special group that will be represented in the foundations of the New Jerusalem known as "The Apostles of the Lamb," those who walked with Jesus from the baptism of John until he ascended (Revelation 21:14, Acts 1:20-26).

If the ministry gifts listed in Romans 12 and Ephesians 4 have passed away, then we no longer have evangelists, pastors, or teachers either, as no difference or division was made in any of the lists as to perpetuity, aside from the fact that none of the gifts will be needed once the Body of Christ is complete. 

If the ministry gift of apostle had passed away with the original twelve apostles, then Barnabus could not have been an apostle, but the Bible says he was (Acts 14:14).

Andronicus and Junia were in Christ before Paul, and the Bible says that among the apostles, these two were notable (Romans 16:7). Andronicus and Junia were apostles.

Paul included the gifts of apostle and prophet when he expounded on the gifts of the Holy Spirit in 1 Corinthians 12:28-31. 

In 1 Corinthians 15:7 and Galatians 1:19, James the brother of Jesus is named as an apostle. So far, just in this article, we find six apostles who were not included in the original twelve. That makes 18 apostles. And they were not the only ones. 

In 2 Corinthians 11:13 Paul wrote of false apostles, but nowhere did he say the gift and calling had passed away or would pass away before the return of Christ. He simply said that some who claimed to be apostles were frauds. I write about in more detail in my book. But Paul's warning did not mean that all who claimed to be apostles were frauds or the gift passed away. 

In Ephesians 2:19-22 we are told that God's building is built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets. We are told that Jesus is the capstone (cornerstone) of God's building. 

Only one structure in the world has a capstone, and that is a pyramid. The Holy Jerusalem is foursquare. A pyramid is a foursquare structure with a capstone. The Holy Jerusalem is not a cube like the Borg in Star Trek have. Cubes do not have capstones. 

Where is the capstone located on a pyramid? At the bottom? No. The capstone is located at the top. Jesus is the Capstone of his building made of Living Stones. 

Ephesians 2:19-20 does not even hint that the ministry gift of apostle has passed away, only that the gifts are significant to the foundational building of the Body of Christ. Now this goes for the ministry gift of prophet as well.

Ephesians 4:11 is written in the present tense. English-translation-theology erroneously teaches that Jesus gave (past tense). But the Greek is written in present tense. Jesus GIVES. Still today, Jesus continues to GIVE his people apostles and prophets, as well as evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 

Ephesians 4:12 tells us what he gives them for. Ministry gifts are given FOR the adjusting (literal Greek) of his people. Don't we constantly need adjusting in our faith walk and spiritual growth?  When did the need for God's people to adjust pass away?

Ephesians 4:12 goes on to tell us that ALL the gifts are given for THE WORK OF THE MINISTRY. When did the need for the work of the ministry pass away?

Lastly, Ephesians 4:12 tells us that ALL the gifts are for the edifying--the enlightening and enriching--of the Body of Christ. When did the Body of Christ lose the need to be enlightened and enriched? 

We can never forget that Jesus said it was upon the rock of revelation that he would build his Out-Called (both individually and collectively. God's Building made of Living Stones. Each stone is an individual member of The Body of Christ, built into the collective whole of the Body. 

None of the ministry gifts can operate without revelation, including the commonly accepted gifts of evangelists, pastors, and teachers. 

Those who hate revelation, hate the ministry gifts they believe require it. Sadly, those who hate revelation deny the "lesser" gifts need it--hence, pastor's toolboxes and organizations dedicated to teaching pastors and teachers how to regurgitate someone else's ideas in how to fulfill their callings, without the need for personal revelation. 

But ALL the gifts include revelation. If a so-called evangelist, pastor, or teacher does not depend on revelation from the Holy Spirit, and the anointing and teaching of the Holy Spirit, then they are frauds.   

Ephesians 4:13 tells us exactly when ALL the ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit will no longer be needed. Jesus gives (and will continue giving) these gifts, for the adjustment, enlightenment and enrichment of his people, and for the work of the ministry to continue, UNTIL we are all in unity and complete in our knowledge of Christ--i.e., until Jesus comes and we see him as he is, for, at that time, we will be like him.

Ephesians 4:14-16 tells us that ALL these gifts will protect us from being tossed about from here to yonder with every wind of doctrine that any charlatan decides to throw at us. 

That is why, with the help of the Holy Spirit, we judge every word by the WORD OF GOD. What we do not do, is throw the baby (the Spiritual Gifts) out with the bathwater because we are afraid of the supernatural spiritual gifts that Jesus still GIVES today.