January 21, 2009
Why do they hate SD's most loving blog?
The gals at Dakota Women have no categories for one like me. They think a "pastor" holds people hands, speaks softly and smiles silently and "nonjudgmentally." Yet the Bible says I'm supposed to call good "good" and bad "bad." They have no concept of the prophetic punch that has typified religious leaders of the civil rights movement, the abolition movement, the revolutionary period in America, and all the way back through history into the Biblical days of old. The one period where there was no prophetic punch coming from the house of God was in Germany prior to the holocaust.
Today they vilify me again - their tone is vicious, mean-spirited, and immature. They hate me. And what is my crime? Speaking up for the unborn and shining light on the deeds of those who profit from their death. The Dakota Women pride themselves as being good "Lutherans" and take comfort (false peace) in the fact that they belong to "large" mainstream segments of the Christian Church that are "okay" with abortion. No one has shown them the national membership stats of these mainstream churches that abandon the Word of God. It's Ichabod. (They are too Biblically illiterate to understand that - it means the Glory has Departed - they still don't get it… ladies, it means God has left the building.) Don't misunderstand me - there are lots of mainline churches full of the life of God, but as a movement, it's dying and that is well-documented. As a influence in society, they are irrelevant. The salt has lost it's saltiness (more Biblical references for them to scratch their heads over.)
In their post today they seek to lump me in with a dying breed saying young evangelicals are losing interest in the message of the Bible. Huh? We are filling stadiums with tens of thousands per gathering, hundreds of thousands of young people are rising up as pro-life and as radical Nazirites following the Lord. True some evangelical youth have fallen into the false justice movement - the cultic pull surrounding Obama drew many unrooted ones off the foundation. But our numbers aren't shrinking. At our church here in Sioux Falls, we have people parking on the streets to get in and, as soon as it thaws, we will be expanding our parking lot for the second time in two years. My friends are the pastors of the fastest growing churches in America. The Dakota Women can try to disparage me and marginalize me, but their leaders at Planned Parenthood know what I represent.
They label this blog a "hate site". Yet, what comes forth here is far more tame and toned down compared to what they regularly do to pro-life leaders in our state like Leslee Unruh, Roger Hunt or myself. Nothing is off limits for them. But I get held to the highest of standards. Again they have no clue or concept of the categories of religious leadership in the Bible - apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher. They go to church a handful of times a year and watch their "pastors" and figure that's what pastors ought to be like. Cory at Madville recently noted a minister is called to "comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable." It's an old cliche but it's true. And guess what will happen, Cory and friends, when a preacher starts afflicting the comfortable? He's vilified, run out of town. Darkness hates the light.
The Dakota Women are only tolerant of Jesus the Compassionate and Loving One. Yet they are militantly intolerant of the Jesus who spoke of casting people away from him forever. They've construed a Jesus of their own image - one who tolerates evil. They celebrate the comments of Al Sharpton when he chides pastors for only preaching against homosexuality and abortion but unfortunately have nothing to say about corporate greed or the poor. We all know these girls put that post up as a slap at me. Yet what they don't know is that I've preached nearly 1000 different messages (most of them 2-4 times a weekend) since I moved to Sioux Falls. These are each 30-45 minutes, hardly the 13 minute sermonettes they are accustomed to sleeping through. Of those nearly 1000 messages, 12 were messages on abortion. There have been zero messages on homosexuality, though once or twice a year I do lift up God's ideal for marriage. What the heck are those other 950 sermons about, ladies?? Compared to the three or four tired notes that Al Sharpton has played repeatedly over the years, it's a full symphony over at Church at the Gate. But unless you go there, you'll only form false conclusions.
The Bible calls us to love what God loves and hate what God hates. The Bible says there is a time and place for both. God hates abortion. It's demonic. The Bible directly addresses it in over 100 places.
The Dakota Women gloat in recent wins and interpret my recent posts as defensive. Read them again ladies. With the exception of this post, I'm still in offense mode and I'm sorry if the leaders of the abortion cartel in South Dakota feel insulted. I'd rather insult an adult than see a living child get dismembered. I have no intentions of toning down the prophetic punch against an industry that uses deceptive euphemisms, hides sex crimes against minors, accepts racists donations, disregards abortions effects on women, etc, etc., etc. Unborn children feel pain at 8 weeks and the Dakota Women are so selfish and self-absorbed they could care less. When a woman says "abortion hurt me, my abortion haunts me," they say "suck it." Where's the love girls?
The love is on this blog not yours. Love steps in the path of the one planning to kill and takes the bullet himself. Love seeks justice for the unborn by exposing the dark schemes of those who profit off their death. It is not love to make peace with the fact that abortion is legal in America. The Author of Life, the God of Justice, hears the cry of the unborn and will hold us accountable for our silence.
Comments on Why do they hate SD's most loving blog? »
Nikole @ 12:42 pm
Steve,
This is a great post; well spoken. I am glad we at CATG have a pastor that doesn't shy away from a topic because it's controversial or may offend someone. Thank you for standing up for what is right, even when you get ridiculed.
Remember in Horton Hears a Who how EVERYONE, even his own friends turned against him? They called Horton crazy because they couldn't hear what he heard. But he was faithful 100%. Thanks for being faithful 100%!!
Stephanie @ 1:11 pm
AMEN
Bob Ellis @ 1:23 pm
Today the liberal idea of a church, a pastor, a Christian in general means someone who smiles dumbly and mutters "God luvs u" a lot–in response to pretty much anything that's done, regardless of what the Bible says.
Christians/pastors/churches aren't supposed to say anything relevant about anything. They are supposed to just stay in their irrelevant corner of society (and be thankful that they're tolerated enough to even be ALLOWED a corner) and keep their mouths shut.
And if they dare say anything at all, it's supposed to be affirming platitudes that allow those caught up in darkness and sin to continue their journey to destruction blissfully unencumbered by guilt.
Their idea of God is a simpleton who talks about being good and all that, but will simply smile and say "Okay, come on in" no matter what spiritual or moral choices someone makes. They have no comprehension that God is a holy/clean/pure/perfect/good being who cannot tolerate sin, as it is contrary to his very nature. They cannot understand that God's holy and just nature is every bit as strong as his love–and that the sacrifice Jesus made on behalf of humanity was every bit a sign of God's requirement of JUSTICE as it was his LOVE.
Sadly, the pathetic AWOL status of Christians/pastors/churches over the past 50 years or more are largely responsible for this mistaken impression. Because as our culture and our nation began to go literally to Hell in a handbasket in the middle 20th Century, Christians/pastors/churches….did nothing…said nothing…offered nothing.
Only in the last 30 years or so have SOME Christians/pastors/churches begun to shake off the lethargy and begin to be the salt and light we are called to be. |
And even today, far, far, far too many remain on the sidelines. Too afraid of being called "judgmental." Too afraid of being called "bigot." Too afraid of being accused of pushing their values on someone (even though the Godless and dark world hasn't the slightest qualm about pushing its values on everyone). Too afraid of being called a "flat earther" or some such nonsense. Too afraid of being called "Bible thumper." Too afraid of being called a "fanatic." Too ignorant to realize God's truth speaks to EVERY area of life: personal, political, religious, spiritual, family, work, history, labor, art, government, science, etc. Too afraid–because of their own unfamiliarity with the Scriptures and the Truth–that some liberal will have them for lunch if they even broach a discussion on something relevant.
Too many Christians/pastors/churches these days DO suffer from a lack of love. They don't love God enough to obey him, to be the salt and light he told them to be, to make disciples as he told them to. Too many Christians/pastors/churches lack the love necessary to overcome those fears, to care enough about a person to want to see them escape the destruction sin brings.
Thank you, Pastor Steve, for caring enough and loving God enough to take the hits, to take the insults and abuse. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but they hate you because they first hated Christ.
But we can hope that with God's work in their lives, their hearts may someday soften, and they will accept what they now vehemently reject. And that someday we can embrace them as brothers and sisters, not with an "I told you so" but with gratitude as fellow prisoners who have escaped the kingdom of darkness.
RyanS @ 4:34 pm
Keep speaking the Truth, Brother!
Angie @ 5:45 pm
Clearly, Anna's post struck a nerve. Hers was relatively short…but you've clearly spent your afternoon hammering out a 1,027 word response. Um, yikes.
More importantly, I think it's hilarious that you spent a pretty serious chunk of this tirade talking about how awesome you are. Pretty proud of yourself, eh?
Here's a biblical reference they apparently didn't teach in you in your "pastor school." The proud shall be humbled. Get excited, pal.
Steve @ 8:34 pm
Ryan - will do!
Thanks to the rest for your words of encouragement.
Angie, I wondered what snotty little retort this would stir up. I eat humble pie every day but it's always good to keep pride in check. Thanks for your concern. And regarding the time spent on this post - 30 minutes between breakfast and staff meeting this morning. It may take you all day to put something like this on paper, not me.
Travis @ 8:42 pm
Steve -
They hate the truth because the truth convicts them. They need to silence and or discredit the truth becuase it hurts them.
How many thumps does it take to soften a heart? Keep count and maybe we can find out.
ANGwife2008 @ 11:17 pm
Pastor Steve, keep up the awesome work!
RyanS @ 11:53 pm
Angie-
Did you seriously take the time to count the number of words in Steve's post? If that is indeed the case, it is quite revealing….and sad.
wlciff20 @ 12:27 am
Angie is that really all you have to do all day.
Steve I think it was impressive. Keep em comeing.
mom @ 12:46 am
Lord God,
I bring Angie to you, It is such a sad thing for her to reject you who loves her so much. Lord cover her with your peace and your presence, give at least a moment when she truely knows that you are present in all your glory. Break her heart with your love for her. Lord draw her near to you by your Holy Spirit. Lord we pray now together that you would transform her life, clean her Lord from the inside out that the pain that causes her to be so spiteful would be healed. Give us grace Lord to see her as you see her broken and lost.
Lord give us hearts to be like you. That while we were yet sinners, when we hated you, rejected your way, spit on your word, when we were enemies of yours you gave your son for us, that we might know you and be known by you, that we can now come boldly before your thone to obtain grace to help in time of need.
"How great the Father's love for us, how great beyond all measure, that he should give his only son to make a willful, disobedient, nonlistening wretch his treasure.
Thank you Lord for your love for me…and for Angie. Call her Lord, draw her Lord, hold her in the palm of your hand and heal her broken heart. Amen
Grace @ 9:49 am
Ryan, there are programs on the Internet that will do that for you. Just copy and paste. But nice try at trying to insult someone.
And the truth will set you free, truth about fetus cosmetics, the dangerous consequences behind RL 6 and IM 11, fetus pain, voter fraud, the liberal abortion-loving media, Obama's place of birth…need I go on about the untruths told on this site? I don't have that much time..
Stephanie @ 11:26 am
Grace,
…and yet with the little time you do have you still post mindless ramblings on this blog.
Angie @ 11:46 am
Clearly, I've overestimated how long it takes Steve to throw out a rant like this. My apologies, O Humble One.
For the record, I got a word count on the post from Microsoft Word. Copy, Paste, wordcount. Welcome to 2009.
Angie is Funny @ 12:01 pm
Angie,
I had my suspicions about your word count. My first thought was Microsoft Word. Then that got me thinking that maybe you are keeping wisdom literature for some reason or another. It would probably be good for you to reflect upon some of the posts over and over again. Let it sink in and start changing your life.
Have a wonderful afternoon lil-word-counter.
Grace @ 1:50 pm
Hey Steph,
Happy 36th Roe Anniversary Day.
Love, Grace
CompleteFaith @ 3:40 pm
Funny how the Undakota Women that lurk on this site refuse to address anything directly, if at all. Offer a question to any of them and they sidestep and attack you from every other direction possible until they draw you into a totally unrelated argument.
Grace is confused @ 4:04 pm
Maybe while Grace and her Lackeys are celebrating their happy Roe v Wade party they will bake a cake in the Auschwitz Ovens.
Only a moron would rejoice in the celebration of the slaughter of millions of people.
Grace, I am sorry you fit into that category. Is there an end to your deception?
jen @ 5:42 pm
Umm, I agree with "Grace is confused"… WOW. Who would rejoice in the fact that thousands of babies are ripped apart every day? Really? Go on and pay tribute to Hitler while you're at it. Its the same thing. Where does it end?
Grace is confused @ 5:52 pm
Jen -
I am afraid that the only end is when Jesus comes back to administer justice. In the meantime all we can do is fight the good fight, finish the race, and lament.
PC @ 5:58 pm
Steve,
People living contrary to God's plan flat out don't like hearing the truth from His prophets and people.
Elijah wasn't popular with Jezebel nor are you with those who try to pervert God's justice at the dw blog.
You are well aware of the ancient spirits of Molech and Mammon controlling these poor deceived folks. It's very evident by the attacks above that they try to pull us into useless arguments in order to get us off subject.
"Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. BUT YOU ARE NOT IN THE FLESH BUT IN THE SPIRIT, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you." (Rom 8:7-9a)
"For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but MIGHTY IN GOD for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God,.." (2Cor 10:4-5a)
Dw might be bashing you Brother but all of heaven is applauding you and cheering you on (us too!) as you run the race with perseverance.
Stephanie @ 10:26 pm
Dear Grace,
I love you!
Jesus Christ
Stephanie @ 10:27 pm
Angie,
You only insult yourself. Word count has been a part of Word for years, its not new to 2009!
RyanS @ 10:39 pm
Grace,
Given your penchant for celebration of dubious events in history, you might consider adding January 20th and April 20th to your calendar to throw parties. You may not recognize their significance, but you can look them up on the internet. It's simple really, just copy and paste.
RyanS @ 10:42 pm
And by the way, the January 20th date has nothing to do with the presidential inauguration.