You might call this a cross between an "About Me" and a testimony.
Pr 18:13 � He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.
I'll admit that I am not your run of the mill Christian. To begin with I realize that my feet are dirty; you'll not honestly accuse me of being a Goody-Two-Shoes, or, Holier Than Thou. I don't have any special unction from God; I am not infallible; I am not Jeremiah, Paul, Jack Hyles, Peter Ruckman, or Billy Graham...least of all I am not the Pope (1). Please save any accusations to this effect for your prayers. Simply because you disagree with me gives you no right to accuse me...and you might just be wrong...unless you think you(?) are infallible.
Ro 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.
Ro 14:4 Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.
My name is Joseph (I used to give my last name till an unethical person posted it all over the internet.). You can call me Joe, Joseph, Lamp Lighter, Blacksheep, or most anything you want...I prefer something civil (2). I was born in 1950 so I'm not a young'un, and I was born-again in 1984 so I'm a brother (3) to many of you. One thing I've learned; one's knowledge of biblical truth is not simply a matter of how long (4) one has been saved. I know of people who have been saved for years who have learned very little. And, I know of people who have learned a lot in a very short time. I also know of some very prideful people who have practiced slanders, name-calling, the questioning of one's morals, and so-called fruit inspection into a fine art form. Funny how some people would rather do these things that examine themselves...how vain some people are.
2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?
Pr 16:18 � Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
How prideful some people are...to assume that they and their leaders can't be deceived. How prideful some people are who quit learning and instead settle for playing Follow The Leader. They think that just because they're saved and know some prophecy that the truth is all held inside their own denomination, or their own group's teachings...after all "Don't question God's man!".
Mt 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
No!, I'm not going to intrude on these men's flocks...but I'm sure going to point out their errors as I see them. The sheep can play Follow The Leader if they want, or they can do the honorable thing and be like the Bereans. Of course, human nature sends most people playing Follow The Leader. They hide behind a man they have chosen to be "God's man" no matter how gravely he might err, and choose to ignore the scriptures...refusing to look any further.
Ac 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
Mr 7:13 Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
Getting back to letting you know a little about me though, here goes....
I'm the son of Southern, bar running, alcoholics. My father had a number of beagles and coon hounds most of the time and I've spent many a Winter night chasing dogs through the woods and across icy creeks. I spent many nights begging him and my mother to leave the bar and take me and my brother home. I spent many nights sleeping under the bed so I would be able to sleep without being disturbed. I want to make it clear though, I was never physically abused...in any way.
Him, along with his wino buddies, believe it or not, taught me a lot of things...both good and bad. He was a very backslidden man who later in life straightened up, sobered up, and died in Jesus' arms. He is the person who (in his sober moments) introduced me to the KJV, Clarence Larkin, warned me of the errors of the Roman Catholic Church, and clued me in to prophecy. I knew more about the bible at twelve (12) than many learn in their entire life. My father was a drunk...but he taught me a lot.
Dad was most closely associated with the Assembly of God and believed many of their errors. His uncle, my great-uncle has been a Church of God minister for over 40 years and has published two books on prophecy, he's 90 now...they were very close. Whenever we get together I try to explain eternal security to him and he keeps admonishing me to live for God. I have fond and very sorrowful memories of my mother. She died when I was 15, or rather I should say that is how old I was when she committed suicide. Her drinking, no doubt tied in with the depression that caused so many problems for her in her life, was likely the cause of her suicide. My mother was far from faultless but like the old saying goes..."Don't talk bad about Momma!". I'm sure it also had something to do with my dad's running around...neither were perfect...both had problems. Mom was raised Southern Baptist...
My mother's alcoholism doesn't affect bible truth concerning alcohol or drinking...the bible stands King.
When I was younger I swore to myself that I would never become an alcoholic...how vain we can be sometimes. I started drinking heavy while I was in the army, added marijuana to the list in 1968 while I was in Germany, other drugs were added as time went on, and by 1979 was a full-fledged alcoholic dope head with a criminal record who spent more than my share of nights in jail and barely escaped prison several times. I was saved in 1984, the Lord helped me overcome alcoholism in 1986 and for ten (10) years didn't have one drop of alcohol. I learned that AA has no idea what they are talking about when they say "Once an alcoholic, always an alcoholic." because the Lord didn't almost cure me...He completely cured me. I can't help but laugh when people say to me: "You don't understand alcoholism" or when some legalist accuses me of winking at alcohol abuse. The vanity of some people never ceases to amaze me.
My prior alcoholism doesn't affect bible truth concerning alcohol or drinking...the bible stands King.
Looking back over my life I find that at present count that I have had 2 aquaintances that went to prison for murder, 1 that went to prison for manslaughter, 1 for racketeering, 2 in prison for arson, 3 on dealing drugs, 1 in prison for Assault and Battery, 2 sentenced for rape, 2 served time in prison on unknown charges, 1 killed by police in the line of duty, 1 murdered for ripping drugs from associates, 2 women who were very visciously murdered, 2 that have been shot but not killed, 3 that have been stabbed, several suicides, several drug deaths, 1 Police Chief, 1 Sheriff, and several police officers. I've had my car shot twice and one drive by shooting of my home. Some of you may take great pleasure in the fact you now feel you have an excuse to discount my witness. However...the bible stands King.
1Co 6:9 � Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.
11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
A lot has happened in the last twenty (20) years. I started getting my life back together and started back to church about 1979; by 1982 I was driving truck and studying the bible; I got saved in the sleeper of my truck one rainy Fall night in 1984 (5); by the end of 1986 I was grounded in the truth that the KJV is the word of God in the English language, and, the Lord answered my prayer to save me from the alcohol and drug abuse which had ruined my life.
Perhaps by now you understand that few people in this world have enough reason to hate alcohol and drug abuse as I do. But the bible stands King. As much as I hate the abuse of alcohol, I must bow to the bible and admit that responsible drinking is not sin. However, if you believe that it is, then it is for you. If you believe that responsible drinking is sin...then God forbid that I should cause you to stumble.
Ro 14:21 It is good neither to eat flesh, nor to drink wine, nor any thing whereby thy brother stumbleth, or is offended, or is made weak.
22 Hast thou faith? have it to thyself before God. Happy is he that condemneth not himself in that thing which he alloweth.
23 And he that doubteth is damned if he eat, because he eateth not of faith: for whatsoever is not of faith is sin.
Now, I've spent a great amount of time in the bible over the years and it was while I was studying other religions that I began to notice some distinct peculiarities similar to those which I'd seen in my own church(es). Before some of you get all high & mighty about studying other religions let me remind you that comparative religious studies is taught in many, if not most of our own bible colleges...so please spare me the: "Yep!, I knew it...studying other religions lead more people into error..." nonsense. What might be wrong for you is not necessarily wrong for other people. And, once you have a firm grip on the truth, the bible doesn't tell us to stop growing.
1Co 12:14 For the body is not one member, but many.
15 If the foot shall say, Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
16 And if the ear shall say, Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body; is it therefore not of the body?
17 If the whole body were an eye, where were the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where were the smelling?
18 But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him.
19 And if they were all one member, where were the body?
20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.
And, now we come to the end of this. Perhaps you do, and perhaps you don't understand where I am now. Perhaps you understand why I am so concerned that people in my own denomination are falling into error...being led there in many cases. Or, perhaps you are blind to it all? Or, just plain don't care. In any case I pray that the Holy Spirit works in your life and that if there is anything here to benefit you, that He helps and guides you, even if it means a poke in the nose to wake you up.
Thanks for listening, and thanks for your patience...May God Richly Bless You As You Study His Word.
Endnotes:
1)-See: Rev. 16:13
Back to "Pope"
2)-See: Pr 29:20
Back to "civil"
3)-See: Mt 18:15
Back to "a brother"
4)-See: 1Ti 4:12
Back to "how long"
5)-See: Eph 2:8,9 ; Jn 6:28,29
Back to "1984"