Maryann, Norway, SC - My family belongs to a small SBC affiliated church in the midlands. Several of us have been watching recent events in the SBC with concern, but our concerns are downplayed or dismissed by our pastor. Recently he came to the deacons with a part-time job offer from the South Carolina Baptist Convention and the deacons brought it to the church. While God can speak through any sermon, the ones we are hearing are shallow (I spent several years at CBC and learned the difference between the milk and the meat) and pastoral care of the congregation is practically non-existent. Is it wrong of us to think this additional responsibility is not something he should pursue? Finding faithfully committed churches is getting so difficult, how would you encourage those of us out here in the middle of nowhere trying to do the right thing for our families and our church?
Anonymous. Bluffton, SC - Hey Pastor Carl, On Sunday you mentioned how after you presented the plan of salvation to someone, it moved them from 50 to 75% sure, which means they are still 100% lost. About 2 weeks ago I had 3 men working at our house. I got the sense they were open to the Word so I bought them lunch so I could take them through the red booklet. They followed along on every page and we had good dialogue. They asked questions and I gave examples of why works didn’t help etc.
We got to the end and they said they believed (some said from childhood), but I didn’t get the sense they got it. Later in the afternoon just before they left I popped the question “how many of y’all are 100% sure you’re going to heaven?” All 3 stumbled for the typical answers, “God knows; try to be better; work harder”. I explained again about the works problem and reminded the of the scripture we read and examples discussed. I told them to read the booklet again and pointed them to some resources in the Savannah (where they came from) to help them.
My long question short is, where do you go from there. When you’ve gone through the booklet and they’ve appeared to followed intently and had great conversation and then they miss it by a mile, what’s the next step? God is sovereign and it’s not our job to “save”, so I’m not asking from a state of disappointment. I pray the booklet burns a hole in there pocket and next person waters the seed.
I’m breaking down the game film so to speak and after hearing your comment in the message, I thought I might ask as I’m sure you run into this often.
Alberto, Savannah, GA - A lot of churches claim they preach verse-by-verse from the Bible. But when you listen to their messages, they mention a couple of verses, but then they go every place other than the Bible. What does Pastor Carl think about this?
Anonymous - Our church has voted nearly unanimously, to leave the United Methodist due to all of the LGBTQ stuff and changing of scripture coming from the United Methodist. Our preacher is not a normal Methodist preacher. He does a good job. Is a very prayerful man & a man of God. Our church is filled with many on-fire godly people who truly live for the Lord. I grew up Baptist. My family & extended family attends a Baptist church in our hometown, on Sunday nights & that offers fantastic preaching. We study scripture ourselves & listen to Christian radio all of the time. So, all together we are getting fed. Truly as far as the total package & good preaching, I feel like our church is probably the best one around our community even though it is Methodist. (Our preacher will baptize by immersion if some people want that, as well). Our family has been in this church for a long time. They are not opposed to leaving all together, but we want to fight to get it right before throwing in the towel. This church has been a great church. If in the end, this church is off, then we will have to leave, but we want to try to get it right.
Our church is in the process of deciding whether to become independent, join another independent Methodist Church, or join the Global Methodist Church. Can you tell me anything you know about the Global Methodist church? We don't want to go this way but some may. We have to present this with the facts to explain to people why to join or not join this denomination. And, maybe, why not to become independent Methodist.
Do you know anything about the global Methodist background and their beliefs? Do you know anything about where the apportionments will go? Where will the money given go to?
William - What happened to the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were they judged then or will they be at the Great White Throne judgement?
Anonymous - This caller's friend went to a 7th Day Adventist service and heard about the serpentine prophecy and told our caller about it. What do you know about that prophecy and what are your thoughts on the 7th Day Adventists?
