A Trio Of Apostate Acts
(June 15, 2001; modified July 2004)

I.  No Tithes – No Church Membership

The Holy Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Apostolic wrote to it members in a threatening bill collector format that they had to pay their tithe (10%) or they’d be kicked out of the church.  According to Kathleen Burge’s Boston Globe online article, “Church Torn by Ultimatum Over Tithing,” April 16, 2001, the letter stated

“Please be advised that you are in default in the payment of tithes to the…Church…, for a period in excess of 90 days.”

The letter warned the congregants that if the money wasn’t paid that

"…all privileges of membership in the Church will be immediately suspended…."

Dear Saints, you know that was not God talking in that letter.  We must ask ourselves, how did it come to that?  First, the one and only pastor of the church for 35 years died suddenly in the year 2000, and the church was left in turmoil the article reported.  It was also reported that there has been a power struggle in that church. As you continue reading, keep in mind, “turmoil” and “power struggle.”         
            Tithe delinquency would never have been known had it not been for a membership roster and/or those money collecting envelops with a line for one’s name.  Saints, in the Church of Jesus Christ, there should be no membership. I would rather think that one becoming “Born Again” is sufficient as membership goes in the Body of Christ.   Having membership in a church is the same as census taking, and God never, ever closed His eyes to that even when David did so in 1 Chronicles 21:1-8.  For what reason does a church need to know the number of people in the body, being that Jesus is the head of the Church and the people are His servants?  The Church is Jesus’ Bride not that of church leadership; and it is Jesus who adds the souls to the church – not man.  The church leaders can see the increase in the number of souls added, but that’s Jesus’ business as to how many and how to accommodate the numbers.  All the church leaders have to do is trust in The Lord to make the way for whatever changes come about.  (That’s if the Holy Spirit in truly operating in that church body.)  
            Once the church starts the business of membership rosters, next come the cute little envelopes for tithes and offerings.  Those envelopes have on them a place to write the name and amount, and the reason for that is to know who is giving and how much is given.  If any church organization says they are not trying to determine how much the people pay, but the envelop is for them to be able to give people a statement at the end of the year for income tax purpose, that’s deceptive.  Anything in the Church of Jesus Christ that is untrue, is ungodly and it gets out of hand as in the case of Creflo Dollar’s World Changers Church International in College Park, Georgia. 

“Supporters see Dollar as a compassionate man who helps the needy and a spiritual visionary whose message of prosperity is twisted out of context. Detractors characterize him privately as ‘Cash-Flow’ Dollar, a high roller who often refuses to let members touch him and whose church requests access to their W-2 forms” (Atlanta Journal-Constitution on line, “Dollar And The Gospel” by John Blake, March 5, 2000).

 An example of the Tithe Police about the business of embarrassing:

“Demetrius King of College Park…joined the church in 1991. He said he left two years later after Dollar humiliated him. During a Sunday morning service, Dollar asked church members who tithed to stand. King remained seated. King said Dollar pointed to him and the others who were seated and said they were blocking the blessings of the church” (Ibid).

An example of the Tithe Police having its “payback”:

“Evelyn Williamson, who joined the church in 1993, said she was instructed during a class for new members to turn over her financial records. She refused. When the power to her home was turned off, Williamson said, she called the church for financial assistance. She said a church minister refused her request and told her that if she had turned over her finances to God she wouldn't need help” (Ibid).

            Church members should pay tithes where they are spiritually fed.  Paying tithes is mandatory.  But, when church leadership has to keep a record of whom and how much one pays, or requires members’ financial records, the leadership has turned into tithe policing.  The inspiration to have on duty, in the church, Tithe Police, did not come from Heaven.  That’s not Holy Spirit inspired.  Church leadership wanting to make sure congregants provide what is necessary for operating the church, should simply (1) be Holy Ghost filled, righteous and holy, trusting servants of The Lord; (2) Gently, ever so often, remind the congregants about the need for tithing and the benefits they will reap; and (3) let The Lord handle the rest.  You will not lack for anything.  The Lord will meet all of your needs – not necessarily all of your big dreams that come straight from your heart; but all your needs, yes.  

            Paying Tithes Wasn’t Nailed To The Cross

            The Pharisees were sticklers when it came to tithing and we know so because Jesus found lots of faults with the Pharisees, but He found none in tithing.

“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone” (Matthew 23:23).

No place have you read in the Gospel that the Pharisees, the “Tithe Police,” accused Jesus of not paying tithe.  They accused Him of lots of things, but not of delinquent tithes, and surely they would have said something.  Saints, Jesus’ coming to earth didn’t abolish tithing because He didn’t abolish The Law – God’s Word – God’s High Holy Standard (Matthew 5:17-19).  Sabbath, creation, marriage, and tithing (Genesis 4:6) have always been around – since Genesis – the beginning, and have not been abolished nor nailed to the cross.  You remember the lawyer that asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life (Luke 10:25-26), and Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law”  – ALL OF GOD’S WORD and that includes tithing. 

“In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou has had no pleasure….Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law [Mosses’ temporal law]…By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all” (Hebrews 10:6-10).

That is what was abolished – Moses’ law which contained temporal promises by virtue of temple sacrifices and offerings performed by the Levitical priesthood, and that had nothing to do with tithing.  You are still beholden to the ordinance of paying tithes to support God’s kingdom work, and when you do not, you rob God.

“Will a man rob God?  Yet ye have robbed me.  But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes [ten percent] and offerings [additional giving above tithing]” (Malachi 3:8).

            Even though tithing was not nailed to the cross with Jesus, we hear that paying tithes is not for the New Testament Church.  That’s just an excuse to not pay and is an untruth.  It has even been said that paying tithes was for the Jews only.  Well, that’s an untruth also. It has also been said that “it’s tradition” to pay tithe, which is another excuse to not fulfill your tithing obligation.  The one that steals the show about tithing is “It’s between you and God.”  Dear Saints, none of the above are Scriptural.  God Almighty mandated tithing as a sacrificial offering unto Him and to His works. 
            The word tithe means TENTH in both the Hebrew and Greek languages.  The act of tithing began with Abraham in Genesis 14:18-20, and in Genesis 28, Jacob gave tithe.

"And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou [God] shalt give me [blessings] I will surely give the tenth unto thee" (Genesis 28:22).

Jacob gave back to God a tenth of all God had blessed him with.  Saints, (1) you are blessed each week in God’s house when taught about God’s goodness and how to live holy and righteous unto Him. (2) You are blessed when God’s servants lay hands on you for healing and deliverance from demonic oppression, and you receive counsel.  With all of that and whatever else God sends your way (job, house, automobile, food, clothing, etc.), you are truly blessed, and as Jacob said, you should say to The Lord God, “I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.”  (Tenth off the top is 10% of gross income before taxes.)  If the Spirit of God is in the church, the people will get blessed, and the people will not think twice about paying tithes.  
            Who is led to pay tithes when they are not being spiritually fed?  Who wants to pay tithes when they can’t quite smoking or drinking, etc., and there is no such deliverance from those vices to be found in the church?   If the financial support in the church is dwindling, there is nothing improper about bringing that to the attention of the congregation, as long as you, the minister, are doing your job properly.  But, if financial support has dropped as there are numerous vacant seats in the church, then church, pastor, check yourself.  Something is wrong starting at the top.  Sin!  (e.g., greed, adultery, fornication, control and manipulation, gossip mongering, to name a few.)  Where sin is, the Spirit of God cannot come in.  When the Spirit of God doesn’t show up at the church, the people don’t get spiritually fed.  When the people don’t get spiritually fed, they fall by the wayside.    
            Looking back in subject article, (1) the church was left in turmoil after the sudden death of the long-time pastor.  Turmoil!  Why should there be confusion in the Church of Jesus Christ?  Satan is the author of confusion, which means something ungodly was operating in that church body before that preacher’s death.  Saints, Satan can’t just come into a church and bring about confusion and disorder unless there is already a slit in the Holy Ghost hedge of protection around the church leadership and congregants.  Slits in the Holy Ghost hedge of protection are due to sin.  (2) A power struggle ensued also after the pastor’s death.  Power struggle!  Here is a clear demonstration of spirits of control and manipulation operating, and I don’t mean godly spirits, but demonic spirits.  Saints, sin was already in that church before the pastor’s death and as we all know too well, sin spirals out of control.  It goes from being “hole-and-corner” to being “aboveboard.”  It is out there!  It is ridiculous!  This is the case with the “Tithe Police” at this church and any other church operating similarly. Desperate!  That’s not God in operation.  That’s apostasy!

            Some Advice

            Those of us who truly walk with The Lord will pay tithes and don’t have to be policed by any human being.  Churches, if you will give up your 501(c) (3) status (exempt from federal income tax) and you won’t have to be held hostage by the Tax Collector. Churches are to be accountable to The Lord only, and not the Tax Collector.  Just pay your taxes;  Jesus did.  By giving up the 501(c) (3)  status you churches won’t feel you have to report to the congregants how much they paid at the end of the year which would do away with the need to record who paid what. Abolishment of the 501(c) (3) status will also put a stop to congregants looking for a tally of payment for a write-off in taxes at the end of the year.  Give God what’s His!
            Through out the collection basket with the long handle on it – all styles, and simply have a large covered box or basket at the exit so that as people leave they can drop their money/checks in and no one knows what or who gave, and no one will feel embarrassed at what was given based on income.  Amen!  Remember the poor widow who “dropped” two mites into the treasury (Mark 12:42)?  No basket was passed around.  She didn’t have to turn in her financial records, and only Jesus knew how much she had put in the box. Trust in The Lord and He takes care of all the church’s needs as long as the church is not in sin and is allowing the True Holy Spirit move within.

INTERJECTION:  The mega-churches and ministries that are seemingly successful as evidenced by their membership growth and riches are lacking integrity and a genuine move of God.  These churches have lowered their standards and are apostate in every way. Yes, they are having all their needs met, but they have already been turned over to Satan, so please don’t think that they’ve got it just right and try to emulate them.

            Please allow God to bless you for paying tithes and offerings to support His kingdom work. When you tithe, you support God’s kingdom work.  When you don’t support the kingdom work, then, through you, Satan is succeeding in thwarting God’s plan of salvation via the Gospel.  To not pay tithes is a sin.  Tithing is binding as is Sabbath, marriage and creation – binding until the New Heaven and the New Earth and both God the Father and Son are dwelling here on earth.

II.  Cross Orbiting Around Earth

            You guest right, it’s Arthur Blessitt, who at 60 years of age is spiritually on Mars. Saints, apostate people with reprobate minds tend to move from what is moderately uncommon place to far-out and bizarre, and that’s precisely what he has now done.   
            On Arthur Blessitt’s web site, "Some Thoughts From Arthur" reads:

"I begin the new century with thrilling excitement. I…have been committed to following Jesus all my life…I love God and I love people….I love to do anything I feel Jesus tell me to do. My thrill is to please my Lord."

Should you visit Mr. Blessitt’s site, you will discern how "full of himself" he is. It’s all about Arthur and what he’s done. Arthur Blessitt said,

“I just know that God wants the cross lifted up in every place.” (“Evangelist Takes Off With Cross Space Mission,” Charisma News Service, April 26, 2001.)

Saints, Mr. Blessitt is paying $50,000 for a miniature cross (carved from the 12-foot one he carries) and Bible to orbit around the earth for up to 200 years.  200 years?  How asinine!  What’s the point in that when we know that Christ Himself will have His kingdom set up here on earth very soon.  In fact, He’s right now at the door.  The launch is to take place in May 2002, but prior to that up until November 2001, Arthur and his second wife Denise will take “The Cross in Space” on tour for viewing in select cities in the world.  (See Marriage And Divorce In The Church.)   
            There is nothing holy about this bizarre venture that Arthur Blessitt is making a poor attempt at justifying on his web site’s “Interesting Facts and Figures About The Cross. ”  He said  that when the payload  is transported to Kazakhstan, 

“There it [the cross] will be attached to the launch vehicle, a converted Russian Intercontinental Ballistic Missile.  This equipment made for war is now being used for peaceful purposes.” (“Interesting Facts And Figures About The Cross,” fact 13 at http://www.blessitt.com)

Please!  I suppose the peaceful purpose in this case, is the cross and the tiny Bible with it in a Cube Sat. 

“The Cross in Space will be ‘Free Flying’  That means it will be a Cross in Space Satellite!  Not attached to anything but flying freely in God’s sky.”  (“Interesting Facts And Figures About The Cross,” fact 17 at http://www.blessitt.com)

Saints of God, this cross in space of Arthur Blessitt’s  does not have God’s hand upon it anywhere.  This is his foolishness, and he proves it is by stating,

“The project is a ministry of the Arthur Blessitt Evangelistic Association.”   (“Interesting Facts And Figures About The Cross,” fact 6 at http://www.blessitt.com)

This project (scheme; venture) is not a ministry of The Lord’s, but is indeed as Blessitt states, a ministry of Arthur Blessitt Evangelistic Association.  It’s his!  All his!  Everything Arthur Blessitt has done is his own doing right down to the naming of the so-called ministry after him – Arthur Blessitt.  Arthur Blessitt is so very full of himself.  As I urged you before, I urge you again, please check out his website and you will see that Mr. Blessitt  is very “self-absorbed.” 

·        “The Man Who Carried The Cross Around The World in Every Nation.”

·        “He is in the Guinness Book of Records for ‘the world’s longest walk’, now 290 nations, island groups and territories for a distance of 34,501.5 miles.” (“.5 miles”!)

·        “31 YEARS and still WALKING!!  Started Christmas 1969”!

·        “The World’s Longest Walk as listed in the Guinness Book of Records” (Do you think God gives one iota about that?  No.  He does not.)

·        “Now 290 NATIONS, 34,501 MILES (55,523 KM) – 31 YEARS and still WALKING!  Started Christmas 1969!”

·        “Historic launch of the First Cross in Orbit Around the Earth”!

·        “The First Printed Bible in Orbit Around the Earth.

Saints, the above came from Arthur Blessitt’s web site – it was not something I made up.  It’s all about himself.  Can you now see how utterly nonsensical this business of a cross and miniature Bible in space stuff is? None of that “stuff” matters to The Lord, because that’s not what brings a soul into the kingdom that is “bought-out-and-sold-out” to The Lord.

 Mr. Blessitt said,

“I’m just seeing this as another way of lifting up the name of Jesus, another way of witnessing…  You can’t talk about putting the cross into space without talking about Jesus.”  (“Evangelist Takes Off With Cross Space Mission,” Charisma News Service, April 26, 2001.)

Yes, you, Arthur Blessitt, see this as another way of lifting up the name of Jesus or YOUR NAME? Is this really another way of witnessing?  No, Arthur Blessitt, you birth this foolishness right out of your own heart to make a name for yourself.  It’s a gimmick – attention-grabbing. Still the business of carrying around the world the 12-foot wooden cross is attention-grabbing.
            This man has carried a 12-foot cross around the world since 1969, into about 280 plus countries, doing what he said God told him to do.  I doubt it because The Lord never ordered The Church to literally carry a big cross around on wheels – a cross, publicity of shame.  However, The Lord did say to take The Gospel to the people – for the Gospel is life, and not death. It’s not the visible showing of a wooden cross that reminds or draws people to Jesus, but the all-powerful Gospel. The cross represents a dead Jesus Christ who never resurrected, when Jesus did in fact resurrect from the dead. The cross symbol is an accursed (Deuteronomy 21:23) tree, and death on that tree was the most humiliating death of suffering reserved for traitors, murders, and slaves, neither of which Jesus was. The cross is symbolic of Jesus’ humiliating and agonizing death (memento mori" – a reminder of death or mortality, or a reminder that we must die). My question is, why are we to remember death when Jesus didn’t stay in the grave but resurrected?  Follows is what Mr. Blessitt says about the cross:

“The Cross is the best known symbol in the world. At the cross the worst of man met the best of God and there is Hope! The cross is the symbol of Love, Peace and Hope in a troubled world.” (“The Mission” at http://www.blessitt.com.)

From where I sit, those are words of adoration for the cross.  Adoration of the cross or the image of Jesus on it is idolatry, and God strictly forbids that.  I know, you’re thinking to yourself that Apostle Paul glorified the cross.  Yes, he did in Galatians 6:14, but I want to believe it was from the standpoint of Jesus loving us as His friends that He laid down His life for our sins so that we might have life eternally in His presence.  I have to admit, though, it does appear as though Paul was glorifing the cross, when we know jolly-well better than to give adoration to anything that can be touched, or looked upon, for it is idolatry.  Keep in mind that objects such as the ark, the cross, etc, are nowhere to be found today because God knew that people would adore those things rather than Him and His purpose for Jesus’ death on the cross.  God doesn’t want His people into IDOLATRY.   
            The cross is symbolic of a dead Jesus and that is not a witness.  That does not lift Jesus up.  It’s the power of the Holy Spirit in one that brings that person to witness about who Jesus is and how He affects one’s life based on first hand account.

“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses [without gimmicks] unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth [not outer space].” (Acts 1:8).

Jesus said that.  He said “earth” not atmosphere outside earth, just to get a conversation going.  Besides, who cares about outer space!  Life is here and now on planet earth where the captives need to be set free from the claws of Satan and his demons. 

            Taking Up Your Cross

            Dear Saints, taking up your cross and following Jesus is not literally carrying two big-fat pieces of wood that have been jointed together – a cross – and flinging it over your shoulder.  Nor is it sending a cross to outer space.   It is also not about seeing glory in the cross.  Glory in the life of Jesus that led to His death on the cross being that He died for us to live and have life eternally forever in His presence.

“Then said Jesus unto his disciples, if any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24).

Agonizing death on the cross were numerous, and so much so that

“It was so common among the Romans that pains, afflictions, troubles, etc., were called by them [Romans] ‘crosses’” (Dictionary of the Holy Bible, edited by William W. Rand. American Tract Society, p. 118, 1886 and 1914.)

One can see from that precisely that Jesus was telling us what is expected of us in this way of life as followers of Him:

·        Continue in the faith

·        Be crucified to the world

·        Live godly as He did and we are sure to suffer

·        There will be afflictions in life – pray through them

·        There will be tribulations in life – pray through them

·        Be prepared to die

            How You Will Benefit From Arthur's Cross In Space

            Arthur Blessitt says it in one paragraph under “The Mission.”

“How thrilling to know that the cross of Jesus is lifted up above the earth! Circling this planet all the time. Day and Night the cross will be lifted up. Above wars, poverty, crime, greed, hate and pride the cross will circle in Glory. Jesus said, ‘People love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil’. (John 3:19) The cross will be lifted up above all evil on earth. Also the cross will be above, as a blessing upon the earth. A thrill to every believer in and follower of Jesus to know the cross is above him or her at all times. You can look up at the heavens on a star filled night and know the cross is up there above the earth.” (“The Mission,” at blessitt.com)

There you have it.  Apostasy is alive and well in the Church of Jesus Christ.  Hey, but this is the end time we’re living in, isn’t it?  The Church’s mission is to continue Jesus’ mission – redeeming mankind, not  putting icons into space to make us cognizant of Messiah Jesus’ ever presence and His blessings on earth.  Arthur Blessitt, you have missed the boat!   This is apostasy!  Think about all the captives here on earth needing and wanting to be set free from demon spirits, but no, putting a cross and Bible in space is how the church is busying herself at this serious time in life instead of ministering to the hurting.  Apostasy!

III.  Telemarketing Christianity

            The Los Angeles Times online reported that for several months now, Dr. Robert Schuller of Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California has been using 30-second upbeat telemarketing messages to invite people to his church or to watch “Hour of Power” television program.  In one week alone, Dr. Schuller reached some 400,000 homes.  This is not “just advertising” on a billboard, but it is marketing Christianity via telephone in the worse sort of way – gimmicky – attention-getting – trickery.  As the Times quoted one lady as saying…

"I want to respect Rev. Schuller so I’m not going to hang up on him.  But then when I find out it’s an advertisement, I feel used.” (LA Times on Line, “Televangelist Adds Telemarketing To Divine Calling”, June 3, 2001.)

The article also quoted Mike Regele, president of Percept, a church marketing company as saying…

“But I have a hard time with things like this.  We’re co-opting the methods of selling Fords to sell Jesus.  I’m not judging the motivation.  But I’m not certain it’s the best way….The question is, can you communicate something that’s authentic in an inauthentic way?” (Ibid.)

The above lady  was, in other words, TRICKED in to hearing that message.  You and I both know how much we despise telemarketers calling into our homes.  Telemarketers are a nuisance. They are irritating.  Personally, I don’t like the idea of someone coming across with that attitude about Christ when they discover it’s a telemarketing gimmick.  Schuller may have increased his Sunday attendance by 12%  and the “Hour of Power” weekly ratings by 5%, but rest assured, GOD IS NOT IN THAT.  God is not about gimmicks, and He sums it best by telling us that it’s…

"…not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” (Zechariah 4:6).

It’s about the Holy Spirit, Dr. Schuller, and not gimmicks.  
            Dr. Schuller’s clever gimmicks are not aid to the kingdom of God – God doesn’t need that.  God’s purposes prosper by the work of His Host Holy Spirit, not the attention-grabbing exploits of church leaders.  If Dr. Schuller were truly filled with the real Holy Ghost as he says he is, he would not have to resort to telemarketing schemes.  Nor would Dr. Schuller have to resort to having guest appearances of the rich and famous at his church, week-in and week-out.  This stuff is to lure people in to rob, steal, and kill them with “possibility thinking” and “self-esteem” before they reach God Almighty.                     
            Hey, but what do you expect from a so-called preacher-man who in a Time Magazine article dated March 18, 1985 is quoted as having said…

"I don't think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and, hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition." (Time Magazine, March 18, 1985.)

The most effective mantras employ the "M" sound. You can get the feel of it by repeating the words, "I am, I am," many times over.... Transcendental Meditation or TM... is not a religion nor is it necessarily anti-Christian. ("Peace of Mind Through Possibility Thinking," pp. 131-32.)

In Closing

            If only these church leaders would get the real Holy Ghost, and let Him have His way in the churches and ministries, there would be no need for threats or gimmicks to get the people to behave as real Saints of God should.  When the real Holy Ghost is moving in a church body, the word gets around, and around, and around, and before you know it, the place is overflowing with people wanting to receive from God.  It’s about the real thing – The Holy Ghost.  It is not about

·        keeping track of who and what is paid in the collection basket

·        threatening to take away membership if one is delinquent in paying tithes

·        carrying around two big pieces of wood resembling a cross

·        putting a miniature cross and Bible in orbit around the earth

·        telemarketing and other gimmicks

·        thinking positively and teaching people to have the greatest of self-esteem

·        weekly guests such as poets, singers, psychiatrists, painters, geneticists, actors, political leaders, architects, or sports stars as an example of possibility thinkers with high self-esteem

Saints of God, all of this stuff is far out from life in the Holy Ghost.  These fruits that you see in this message are not Holy Ghost fruit and Christ Himself said, "Ye shall know them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16).  Please, anytime someone says

“Your deepest desire is to love yourself.  If you love yourself, you will believe in yourself.  If you will believe in yourself, you will believe in God, and you will think it’s possible” (“It’s Possible” by Robert Schuller.  Fleming H. Revell Co., New Jersey, p. 148, 1971 and 1973.)

According to Dr. Schuller, “you must believe in yourself first and then you will believe in God”!  Hmm, that’s not Biblical.  Thinking something possible is a far cry from “faith in God for the impossible.”
            The church of this hour is truly apostate.  She goes about her business engaging in foolishness when at this very moment those in the church are held in “demonic captivity.” A good example of demonic captivity in the church is in the lives of struggling homosexuals sitting in the pews.  It takes more than just saying “no” to homosexuality.  Those who have said no, are yet walking and talking effeminate because it takes a “knock-down-drag-out” spiritual deliverance for the captives to be set free, and the church does no go that route.  The church must stop all the stupidity inside its four walls, “outer space,” and even the stupid belief that what went on in the book of Acts is not for today. (It’s all stupid because it’s of the Devil and he makes folk do stupid stuff.)  Starting at the top, church leadership must experience a genuine renewal so that the congregants can experience a genuine renewal, and both be on the road to continuing the mission of Jesus – setting the captives free to love and serve God with their whole hearts, minds, souls, and with all their strength in holiness and righteousness.  Amen!