"O BROTHER, where art thou?"

After discussing the larger scale “problems” that have eroded the power and witness of our modern-day Charismatic churches, I thought it would be appropriate to begin dialoguing and provoking thoughts on SOLUTIONS.  As I am sure many of you have already been spending time on the very subject.  I would love to hear your thoughts as well. 

 

The Church... ONE Body of the redeemed in Christ,
assembled throughout the world, testified in countless voices.

 As powerful and glorious as it all sounds (and it is), yet finding UNITY within this supernatural body of people has increasingly become such a difficult piece of the puzzle.  Why?  We know that other religions have various “branches” of the same faith, but shouldn’t more be expected from those who are sealed and filled with the very Spirit of the Living God?  If we have the power to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils, surely it should be a “piece of cake” for modern day Christians to simply unify… to come together as one voice, right??  Well, I think we all know the answer to that one... history answers this question with a resounding no.  In fact it seems the further we are from our humble roots, the further we get away from UNITY -even with modern day technology at our side.  But should this really be the case?

Before we go any further, allow me to preface:  
In no way is this article meant to diminish or dilute in anyway what the Church has accomplished over the years.. for many lives have been changed and transformed with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Overall, I believe that the Church has certainly progressed, but unity within the Body has remained stagnant at best.  Some would even argue that it has increasingly declined.  So what’s the problem?  We have bigger buildings, more programs, nicer platforms, but no more UNITY than the local VFW!  Lots of talk about “moving forward”, but really going no where as far as making a lasting impact on the culture of a generation OUTSIDE the church walls.  In fact, it even seems at times that the very “idea of unity” itself is nothing more than a desert mirage, being chased by the young minds of every passing generation.   

But should this "news flash" really come as a surprise? 
If you keep pushing the same button, how are you going to expect a different result?  Or rather if you keep pushing the wrong button, how do you expect to produce the right result?  

A majority of our problem in the Body of Christ is that most leaders are more committed to their PET DOCTRINES and CULTURAL TRADITIONS than they are to the overall spiritual condition of the Church!  Not to mention those who have gotten "lost" seeking after that first "high" they hit on the pipe of Charismania Stardom...  How do you go from preaching against the religious practices of Catholicism, to dressing just like them?  Does your “title”, "collar" and "ring"... make you more holy?  Perhaps producing "material appearances" of spiritual fruit is easier than producing transformed hearts.  "O BROTHER, where art thou?" 

Today's average believer will typically find themselves following one or the other:
Leadership A)
Believes unity in the Body of Christ simply cannot be accomplished until Jesus returns.

Leadership B)

Decrees it will be accomplished as we progressively “take dominion” over the systems of the world… delivering the Kingdom to Christ when he returns. 

 

I am firmly persuaded that NONE of the above are correct.    

Imagine the Church as a Building:

Christ laying the foundation as the Cornerstone and the Apostles beginning with the Acts of the New Testament building upon that and so on and so forth until today.  If each generation does not effectively finish their portion of the "wall", the next generation will have to pick up where they left off.  Not to mention those who have erected a faulty wall and left it behind as an inheritance for their children to correct.  God forbid we continue to wander in the same section of the wilderness for 40 years!!  How frustrating is it to be stuck and "indefinitely stopped" on the job with no movement and no power in solving the source for the delay?!  Could it be the problem lies with the LABORERS?? and possibly their ability to COMMUNICATE the same "MESSAGE"... hmmm... Tower of Babel anyone?  What is it that we are REALLY trying to build here?? 

WHERE ARE THE NEHEMIAHS OF TODAY? 

 Those who SEE the spiritual condition of the walls of the Church and are moved enough to DO something about it...

I submit to you that Unity is possible, but it will never manifest in a "Tower" of our own fleshly agendas.  And certainly NOT when all groups come together under the guise of fleshly leadership, seed-faith prosperity gospel, revival, or any other latest fade “movements”.  In fact why would God want to “revive” anything that is not working??

Matt. 9: 37, 38 “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to SEND OUT workers INTO his harvest field [world].”

"O BROTHER, where art thou?"

My question is:  Does a field of harvest, harvest itself?  Why then do the majority of churches WAIT for the lost to find their way into the building??  This “button” is not working.  Worse yet, some of us workers continue to passively sit in churches that we KNOW are filled with unrepented sin and fleshly agendas.  Can such FRUIT produce an atmosphere of holiness and truth that would even be able to SUSTAIN new believers?  If leadership is still bound to sexual sin and addiction themselves, how then are they able to free anyone else?  Not to mention, how quickly  new members are ordered to stand in the line of obedience and submission to the "spiritual covering" of a Man.  And we all know if you are without THEIR covering, "they are vessels without lids, bastards, unclean..."  Really?  No wonder the world doesn't take our message serious, we "sound" JUST like them.  Does our "Good News" really have the power to change or not? 

Church... it's PAST TIME to wake up and get BACK to the authentic message of the Cross.  THE HARVEST IS READY AND WAITING!  In fact the Church needs to stop saying "we are waiting on God for a move" –HE IS WAITING UPON US.

John 17:20-23 “My prayer is not for them alone [believers]. I pray also for those who will believe in me through THEIR MESSAGE,  that all of them may be ONE, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be ONE as we are one —I in them and you in me— so that they may be brought to complete UNITY. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."    

We clearly see in the above scripture that  UNITY  is found when:

Our Core Message becomes UNIFIED.  Notice I did not say when our "cultural or denominational differences" become the same or "one".  But rather UNITY in the Body comes when we keep the Gospel of Jesus Christ at the HEARTBEAT of our cause.  THIS MISSION should be the driving force behind all that we do... our main purpose for assembling every week.  This will also safeguard us from placing too much emphasis on teachings that should remain in the "backseat" instead of front and center.

If we veer away from the Message of the Cross and the Power of the Resurrection, how will the world know that OUR MESSAGE is The ONLY Way?  Are we of the same GLORY as the Father gave the Son??  Are we of their UNITY in Purpose, Mind, and View??  Has such LOVE persuaded us to forsake all and pick up our cross?  Are we truly BUILDING THE BODY for ministry and MAKING DISCIPLES?? 

We repackage prosperity, redemption, grace, justification, sanctification, and atonement to the point that there is no distinct difference between our “message” and that of the "world." 

It seems to me that the modern-day American Church (at large) is increasingly emphasizing everything BUT the message of the Gospel.  Simply throwing the name "Jesus" on at the end of a sermon, doesn't fil the bill.  Almost like an after thought... Oh, here's a bone, come forward and give Jesus a try, He came to calm the storms and make it your best life now!  Then you've got the sensationalist gospel stars in the other corner... Be sure to sow that $eed covenant partners, you must "release" it in order to receive "this word".  Money, cometh!  Lord help us!  There is so much emphasis on everything else... no wonder the world is confused!  How can an unbeliever even distinguish what Our Message is, when there's 10 different "voices" pushing 10 different agendas?  Not to mention taking the confusion to a whole new level, by broadcasting it to the world as "Christian TV"... need I say more?  

There is NO distinct UNITY in our Churches, because we have lost

PASSION in UNIFYING for the heartbeat of our Cause.     

My brothers and sisters, we can no longer afford to turn a blind eye.  Do you not perceive the spiritual condition of our generation?  Do you not notice the hour is getting later and later??  Are you too busy waiting for YOUR next breakthrough to notice that even our own are anemic and sick from a poor spiritual diet??  We must once again carry a “Nehemiah Burden” for the spiritual condition of the walls of the church.  What has become of our message?  Our pulpits must once again be filled with an aguish of burden for the lost and preaching the Gospel at any cost.  Let us return to building upon our FOUNDATION.  Is there not a cause?

Heartbreak Warfare

Article By: Leroy " The Guitar Player"

Experiencing hurt while proclaiming what's right according to the Word of God... is what I have termed “Heartbreak Warfare.” 

This psychological emotion is experienced when you speak the truth in love, in efforts to break a downward spiral or to avoid a fall altogether. Speaking the truth in love does not mean your words will be accepted, valued or appreciated, and this causes the heart break. Proclaiming truth, the gospel and the principles of the Word of God is where the warfare begins. This is warfare because any principality, power or spiritual wickedness in high places will be vehemently opposed to the proclamation of truth.

The Bible says in Eph 6:10-18
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints..” KJV

(The portion of Scripture in bold print is the basis for my conviction.)

Caring for the prosperity of people is a major motivating force which causes me to speak.  I certainly have no ax to grind, I am not disgruntled because “I did not get my way” and I speak not to besmirch the reputation of anyone. The truth is what I love and the truth is what loves me.

Verse 12 of Ephesians 6 is where the warfare opposition resides, because it is the principalities, the powers, the rulers of darkness of this world and the spiritual wickedness in high places which determines what the man (who has submitted himself to these forces) may say and do.  For this reason, I am not at odds with flesh and blood, neither is it my battle, I simply proclaim that which the Bible says, all while having no agenda and desiring no reward from any man. It is guaranteed that the truth will be victorious, so I have determined to be on the winning side.

Heartbreak Warfare is not for everyone but without it, the numbers of people who are victimized would be greater and the duration of oppression longer.

To my brothers and sisters who remain at Cornerstone and to anyone who finds themselves in the midst of spiritual abuse, Heartbreak Warfare involves asking questions. If you refrained from asking questions because you don't want to be mischaracterized as being a complainer or if you’ve convinced yourself to remain silent by saying “I won't complain”, you are actually saying I will suffer quietly and it is at that point the spiritual abuse continues.  And although the Word of God is ready to work for you, it will have been made null and void in your life. Why?  Because 100% of the levels you experience in God are directly related to your obedience to him.

There is no aspect of our lives which does not involve asking questions, why would a church be any different? As a child the first question we all ask our parents is why? Our adolescent years the question was how come…? And in our teen years most of the questions sought permission to explore…can I? Why then as an adult, would the ability to question leadership be removed altogether?, in a word CAPTIVITY.
 

Life after Cornerstone...

The Open Road after the

"One Man Show"

After coming to the “Heart of the Matter” over the last 6 mos., I hope you have been blessed and encouraged in your journey forward.  As I’ve said before, it’s “AS you move forward” that the Holy Spirit brings clarity and purpose to your season of transition.  And now the time has come for us to bring you to the final chapter… what I’m about to share with you IS the sobering truth behind Cornerstone.  It’s what all former members discover after leaving.  It’s the “Crux of the Matter”… that answers the question of “What’s Next?”

With almost 7 billion people living on the planet, what is the value of… ONE LIFE?  How much is ONE PURPOSE worth?  The answer of course depends upon who you are asking.  To that ONE PERSON… the answer would be INVALUABLE.  And so to each man is given ONE life.  We must enjoy it, value it… because “this IS it”.  For the years of a man’s life are like grains of sand.  They pass through your fingers ever so quickly, no matter how hard you try to hold on.       

Acts 17: 26, 27 --“From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and HE DETERMINED THE TIMES SET FOR THEM and the EXACT PLACES WHERE THEY SHOULD LIVE. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

 

What a powerful scripture that testifies to the brilliant plan of predetermining the “set times and places” of every man that is to step foot on the planet.  As believers in Christ, we know that each person is born with a divine purpose --a REASON for living in the “time” and “place” they were born into “for such a time as this”.  And with every life is also appointed a number of years in which to carry those purposes out.  To everything there is a season, and a TIME to every purpose under the heaven…

Along with PURPOSE and TIME, each man is also endowed with ABILITY -spiritual and natural GIFTS that were intended to be used to bring glory to God in the Earth.  The greatest demonstration of a person fulfilling their purpose is given to us in John 17:4 --“I have brought you glory on Earth by completing the work you have given me to do.”  
-Jesus 

I believe all of us would agree to this: 

As Christians, we have a personal responsibility to fulfill the Call of God upon our lives.  Each of us will stand before God and give an account for what we did with the TIME & TALENT we were given.  No one will be standing with you on that day.  Not your Pastor, your Parents, nor your Peers. 

Allow me to get right to the point.  As much as I hate to disappoint the critics, this is not going to be a final “explosive article” aimed to “blast” everyone away by finally revealing all the shocking “inside” information that we have.  Nor will this article be for the purpose of revealing the future “outcome” of the whole situation.  The truth of the matter is… the future “outcome” is fully realized by EVERYONE after they leave.  The “truth of the outcome” was there all the time… but often ignored, put off, or set aside.  And THAT TRUTH will do you far more “good” than the discovery of anything else.  What am I saying? 

Here is the CRUX: 

Contrary to sharia law of Cornerstone, Michael Pitts was never the Gatekeeper of your Calling.  Nor was he responsible for the fulfillment thereof.  But at some point, we bought into that system of thinking through very persuasive indoctrination.  We were apart of what became a cult in part, by the false teachings that stemmed mainly out of the "Shepherding Movement”. 

In a nut shell --we were taught that God calls us to serve a particular Pastor, where we are to submit to him indefinitely by coming into a “covenant relationship” and in return…. we are provided Spiritual “Covering” under the umbrella of his network.  It is through our submission to the “Bishop”, that we ultimately go on to fulfill our Calling, our Purpose.  And so it goes... one could never leave their “Covering” unless of course the anointing of "Proper Protocol” is followed -aka- “They release you”.  For all intents and purposes, we were REQUIRED to give the “Set Man” of the house…. complete and total submission without question.  Reminds me of the song “Hotel California” --you can “check out” anytime you like, but you can NEVER LEAVE…

The HeArt of Worship...

As you listen to the words of this song… think about the picture you are painting in your relationship with Christ.  Remember when everything was simple, because it was all about Him?

I hope you are beginning to see the picture we have been trying to paint for you... Jesus IS the CENTER at the Heart of the Matter.  LIFE in Him is complete when we pursue fulfillment through the only Well that never runs dry...

Let HIS LOVE, His Spirit pour out over you today... For His Foundation is STRONG, STEADFAST, AND ETERNAL.  It's usually when everything else fades away, that we discover the TRUE Significance in what remains.    

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me."    Galatians 2:20

Allow Him to search deep within your heart, as you continue to walk this journey out.  Allow the Holy Spirit to once again flame the fires of your pursuit of the risen King.  For there is a call... for all to return their hearts back to their first love.  Back to the only real thing that remains... after all the offerings have been given, after the lights go out and all is said and done.  Our prayer is that ALL would once again encounter the simplistic, yet powerful and passionate Cause of serving Christ and one another.  It's time to go back to the future...

"May the Fullness of Joy that is found only in HIM...

be IGNITED in your life once again."  

The HEART of the Matter

Dear Former Members:

Maybe you just left or perhaps you have been gone for awhile now.  Either way, I feel it is time to highlight the HEART of the Matter.  So I write this article, in hopes that not only will you find it helpful in your journey forward…but that ultimately you will be able to draw purpose from those Precious Things that the Holy Spirit desires to give you.  For truly the Hand of God is yet forming us, as He reveals to us individually --the true HEART of the matter.  

What determines the destiny of any particular movement?  What determines what will become of those that LEAD that movement and those that FOLLOW that movement?  The answer to both is complex, and yet simple.  Keep in mind, there are (2) sides to every coin.

Allow me to preface this article by stating this: 

A movement's destiny is not found in how "safe" the structure is.  Some could argue that it's the "system" that is to be blamed.  There may be some truth to this statement.  We know that certain unhealthy elements of any church "structure" will ultimately play a role in the future of that movement.  Perhaps there wasn't any true biblical accountability among the leadership... While others could argue that "organized Christianity" altogether is the real problem... and if we would just meet without all the “bells and whistles”, then we could avoid the pitt-falls that we once fell into.  There may be some truth to this statement.  However, let’s hit REWIND for a minute and go back to the beginning…to when that movement first began.

First we will discuss the LEADER:

Let’s take for example a young man who has a heart to follow God’s will and he is instructed to begin a ministry in a particular city.  9 times out of 10, he is just simply excited that God has entrusted him to preach the Word and reach out to those in need.  He will not have “all the answers”, so he will have to rely upon the Holy Spirit and any experience/knowledge he would have at that particular point in his life.

I would venture to say, that in the beginning phases of that ministry…..this young man fervently prayed over the direction of each step he was facing.  He probably went all over town, walking in and out of grocery stores to humbly invite people to the church gathering.  I’m sure his excitement and zeal were contagious to those he greeted.  In the beginning, it was His church.  In the beginning, they were His people.  And soon those people began trickling in, receiving salvation and deliverance.  The Word originally spoken to this young man was actually coming to pass as he pointed the members to follow after Christ. 

Before long the fruitful movement began to grow and elders would need to be appointed to accommodate the growing demand of needs among the people.  An official praise and worship team was formed and ministry departments were created.  It appeared that the “dream” was coming together...  So, at what particular point did things start to change?   When the ministry was still small and simple, or later when the ministry grew along with the offerings?  If we polled everyone today, there would be a lot of different opinions.    Some of those view points would be correct, as hindsight is always 20/20.  However, for the purpose of examining the “heart of the matter”:  I’d like us to focus on the ROOT of the problem, and not just the symptoms.

When do things start to go in the wrong direction?

I have found that the answer to this question is not ultimately found in the “size” of the church OR the offerings.  The answer does not lie in the particular type of “structure” nor “organization” a movement adheres to. 

The root answer is found in one place and in one place only –in the hidden recesses of the HEART of the man who leads that group.  For better or worse, it is the hidden motives of HIS HEART that dictate what that movement will become. 

And for those who FOLLOWED, you must take the time to examine the hidden parts of your own heart in the process.  This is for your good... to take those precious "lessons learned" with you and NOT become defined by the devastation.  For this is the true HEART of the Matter…that ALL must face. 

I want you to think about what I am about to say…

It is very evident that we belonged to what BECAME an “Authoritarian Movement”.  It slowly progressed into this as the leader(s) increasingly required UNQUESTIONED SUBMISSION TO “their” AUTHORITY.  The overall sense conveyed from the platform was, “There is something we are part of that is greater than we are, and at all cost, IT comes first –NO questions asked.”  Members were eventually indoctrinated to “Consult your Covering” and to NEVER commit the unspeakable sin of “questioning headship”.  Over time, the “Pastor” would slowly begin to remove himself as a real shepherd who fed, gathered, carried, and gently led.  You can still make an appearance twice a week to preach AT the sheep….but this is a far cry from taking the time to personally lay down your life for them.  Big difference.

As stated in previous articles:  A Spiritually Abusive Leader is one who uses their Position and their Teachings to CONTROL, MANIPULATE, AND DOMINATE the sheep.  Therefore, we were apart of what BECAME a Sustained, Spiritually Abusive Church.

But, HOW did this happen?

The MIND often chooses to IGNORE, what the HEART tries to tell us many times.  The HEART knows all too well, what the MIND doesn't want to hear.  Things will begin to change course... the moment a "leader" chooses to IGNORE whose Nature he is reflecting to the people.