I Am Tired of Camping!
These are the notes to a sermon I preached back in June,
2003 or so - when we had returned from a church 'creation' camping activity
with Teno Groppi as our 'creationist' guest speaker. It rained almost
the entire time we were camping - and we were not allowed to have a camp
fire for fear of forest fire - remember, it was raining - seriously raining.
Add that with all the noise and bahooey of a public campground - and you
may understand the direction this sermon took us as a church family.
We see today where this 'departure' took us - to finding the real
living God through rightly dividing the KJB and learning to follow Paul
only - as our only apostle and his teachings. Some of you folks may
be finding yourself today where we were back in 2003 - thus this sermon
along with part II, What
Happens When You Leave a Campground" may be of interest to you today.
- Pastor M Paulson
As we
returned from our church camping trip to Mount St. Helens, I was reminded
that I am either too old to enjoy camping anymore or just too out of shape
to deal with camping 'reality!' Either way, I have come to the conclusion
that I am basically "Tired of Camping."
Camping
is suppose to be getting out into nature itself, away from the city and
hubbub of normal day living, amen? amen! At least that is what
I figure camping is suppose to be.
Camping is suppose
to be in a quiet place, away from the bass beat of the boom boxes on the
other side of town (yes, I know, the other side of Touchet is only
4 blocks away, but still...).
Camping out in the
woods (or in the prairie) is suppose to be a place
of solitude and beauty. It is suppose to be a place that is as far
away from the world's affairs as one can get (or at least afford
to get).
I
have come to realize though, as I was sitting in my recliner camping chair,
that camping today
is not as 'getting back to nature' as it is proclaimed to be.
LAWS!
There are more laws
today than ever before that actually prevent people from enjoying nature.
-
Even though the woods
were soaking wet, we still could not have a campfire. Even just with
our briquette fire going, we still attracted General Vivian in less than
a minute to make sure we didn't have a single piece of paper or wood in
that small bowl of heat!
-
We were not allowed to
do anything with guns. But then, who would think that anyone would
want to shoot those black Washington Roosters cawing in the early morning
hours? Who would want to think that we would ever need any 'protection'
from the drunks down about 6 sites from ours. Who needs protection
from those people as we walk off to the bathrooms in the middle of the
night. Is Big Foot still alive? Would General Vivian pop her head
up to make sure that we stayed on the trail and make sure we washed our
hands?
-
There were "quiet time
hours" that would prevent us from singing up a storm of praise to the Lord
around the propane but still allowed the loud talkers & shouters to
go on into the morning hours.
-
And those sanitation laws...
Why walk 100 yards with the flu when a bush is just a few steps away!
-
We certainly felt like
we were criminals because we had brought an extra car - we had to make
sure we paid that extra $ to make that car legal - in spite of a huge empty
parking lot.
OTHER PEOPLE!
-
We didn't get away from
the sounds of the world at all anymore. From drunken parties to music
to engines, etc.
-
Why is it other people
have to have barking dogs? Don't they hear them barking or what!!!
LUXURIES KEEP US FROM
ENJOYING NATURE!
-
Our camping 'items' we
take with us these days cause a lot of work to pack & then unload it
all - then later having to load it all back up to unload it all again
at home.
-
Ladies had to almost bring
their entire kitchen with them.
-
There were prepackaged
snacks of all kinds.
-
There were propane lights
& lighters and heaters & stoves.
-
There were even fluorescent
lights - portable as well as permanent.
-
We had air mattresses
with electric pumps to 'blow them up.'
-
We had multi-roomed tents
and multi-sized RV's.
-
We had to have refrigerators
instead of coolers for the refrigerated foods.
-
We had bathrooms and showers
(3
minutes for .50).
-
We had nice folding 'almost'
recliners for camp chairs.
-
We had various flashlights
that lit up bugs on the ground and all the way past the tree-tops.
-
We had hair dryers that
not only dried hair but were also great for drying towels and tents.
Remember, none of this
stuff is free - the hours to work to be able to pay for this stuff puts
another crimp on our home life - the home life sometimes suffers in order
that we can go and suffer in nature!
Now, I am not complaining
about those luxuries too much. These and other things made the trip
much easier and very enjoyable - but keep in mind the original intent for
camping: to get out into nature!
We tend to live in
the woods for the luxuries instead of living out in nature.
These riches seem to
keep us from truly 'enjoying' the reality and "closeness" of nature.
DIFFERENT TYPES
OF CAMPSITES
-
We can choose between
large or small campsite areas?
-
We can choose to have
them close to other sites or further away?
-
We can have a group campsite
or a private one?
-
Can we pull the RV through
the site or must we back into it?
-
We can have sandy bottoms
for the tent - or grass - or needles - or dirt and rock?
-
Do we need reservations
so that we can have the one we want or on a first-come basis?
-
Are we close enough to
our friends or would we rather be further away?
-
Do we want a site under
the trees or out in the open?
-
Do we want a site that
is close to the bathrooms or away from them?
-
Do we want electricity
and water or should we 'dry' camp?
Ah, America -
there is a 'choice' for everything, eh!
So in other words...
...most camping today
is a far cry from enjoying nature up close!
Bonus thought: if you
look around your campsite,
it looks like the
women do most of the work, too!
Part
II
The Specific "Camping"
I Am Tired of...
All that camping talk
above isn't really the camping I am tired of. "Actually," I may be
willing to try to camp again next year - although I could surely do withOUT
the flu bug that I picked up this year. We could also do without
Vivian telling us we can't have a fire.
But
the camping I am really tired of is the 'camps' that have developed over
these past years in regards to Bible believing people and their doctrinal
teachings. These are commonly called 'camps.'
-
There is growing confusion
developing in all the camps as to what IS REALLY right & wrong these
days. More and more people are happy living on the fence, enjoying
both sides - trying to serve both masters and yet wondering why they are
so unhappy!
-
The King James Bible is
falling in all the 'camps!'
-
More and more people are
letting 'men' come between them and their KJV!
-
Fleshy bluegrass country
music is moving into camp after camp!
-
More and more perversions
are being 'accepted' within our own homes!
-
The godly family structure
is all but dead within our own KJV churches!
-
The Spirit of God is quenched
and grieved more than any time in history!
It seems that there are
more and more of these campsites that have developed over recent years
- and to be honest, now that I have visited a number of them, I would prefer
to stay away from those sites and just get closer to God Himself!
The walk is getting
narrower and narrower for those wanting to stay on the straight path -
or least try to stay on it, anyway.
Let's look at some
of those camps!
First - Going back
to the typical worldly camps I used to belong to:
These were just
the wrong campgrounds - period!
The Lutheran camp
- I did learn to believe in God there - as well as the Bible - even KJV!
But I was also taught to stay away from the baptists. I didn't learn
a thing from confirmation, etc. that is good, eh! Not so much
to unlearn. In fact, when a preacher asked me if I wanted to 'know'
100% how to get to heaven, I was a textbook case!
The Catholic camp
- I didn't really belong to an official one, but I did visit one with Kurt
Kral a long time ago. There are millions who believe that silly stuff
- amazing!
The Mormon camp
- I didn't believe their teachings, but I did work for a bishop for a year
as a Culligan man - learned a lot about their organization.
When Satan blinds a
persons mind, then they will believe anything that 'helps' them these days!
First Camp:
My wife and I were first saved a Baptist Revival meeting in Minnesota -
then we found an Aubry McGann (?) crusade right away for our first feeding
about being saved. Soon we found the Evangelical Free Church
so
that we would be able to claim this as our first camp - this was all before
the KJV issue arrived into our personal camp. During those same years,
we also visited a very large baptist church as well as a tongue speaking
'temple' in Houston - not knowing about doctrinal camps yet, we just returned
to our little homesite in Minnesota. We had no idea what was about
to take place in our future "camping" years!!!
We were 'church searching'
in Las Vegas when we found a church that preached that water baptism is
what saves a person - but that preacher kept his Bible under his armpit
through all of his sermons. We didn't last long at that "campsite."
We also visited a church that the soloist for that morning was a dancing
show girl for Hallelujah Hollywood the night before! We also visited
a modern church with a glass pulpit that rose out of the stage while we
all sat in soft theater seats. I have no idea what he preached on.
But
as not to bore you with the details, suffice it so say, we have visited
so many various campsites in our lives that one will see very shortly why
I have just gotten so tired of camping in these Baptist doctrinal camps.
Remember this thought:
the idea of camping is to get us "out from the world" into nature; so the
idea of church camping should be to "get out of the world's secular &
religious affairs" and just get closer to God.
But I have truly
begun to see that today's doctrinal camps,
as have earthly
camps regarding nature...
...they all tend
to take you further from God, not closer!
We
have been to the Big Baptist Camps:
My observations...
-
Good devotional material,
but more and more of it is becoming humanism & psychology!
-
There is a lot of emphasis
on the pastor; some to the point of him being like a 'pope!'
-
They 'park' on I
Timothy 3 for their 'qualifications' and even look at only one
as unpardonable!
-
There is little if any
scriptural dividing of the word of truth!
-
The bible to them is a
"do & don't do" book!
-
Many of these folks are
usually King James 'almost' in that they do go to the Greek for their final
authority. The KJV is only "the best" - to them the 'originals' are
the only inspired ones and because of that secret belief, many of those
pastors are pulpit liars!
-
There are plenty of programs
& activities to appeal to all kinds of desires and ages - more than
preaching time!
-
Of course, many of them
ARE nice people. They really do care for others - in fact, many care for
others more than they do for God or for the truth!
-
These folks are mostly
concerned about their outward walk and testimony, be it fake or real; it
must look good to the others in the church family!
-
The people do even 'want'
hard preaching, but not on the doctrinal matters! To them, doctrine
divides and makes for unhappy church members.
-
These folks do learn to
play the game but they never learn their Book - thus down the road, when
temptation flares and the fiery trials appear, they tend to fall apart!
-
They are so into education
that many have their own institutes and colleges - some even have their
own elementary and high schools. For many, education is becoming
their religion and their 'god!' These students don't ever seem to
make it out to the empty pulpits throughout all of America!
-
It is too easy to 'hide'
in these big camps - it is easy to find a clique and to pretend that everything
is fine on the outside yet remain miserable and unsure on the inside!
-
Yes, there is a smattering
of truth there - but it is not as important as other things such as numbers
and activities!
-
There has recently developed
a lot of 'man' worship in regards to their pastors & teachers, etc.
They even have statues of their pastors in the lobbies and courtyards.
-
Money has become a necessity
- thus all activities and programs are designed to bring in money!
-
Music seems to have become
the great 'draw' in order to get folks to come to church!
-
Some have even now published
their own Baptist Bible!
-
Tithing has become such
a big issue that a fight within their own campsite is causing serious damage.
It is now being said that in order to understand the Bible & the power
of God, they need to be tithing, etc. The Charismatic influenced
teaching regarding the Prosperity Gospel has infiltrated the major camp
headquarters.
We
have even been to the itty bitty Baptist Campsite:
-
These folks mean well
& try very hard these days, but the struggle is a tough one - both
for the church folks AND the pastor! The church is like one family
and along with that one family comes all the family problems - and they
can't be hidden or ignored as easily, either!
-
Financially, things are
getting harder and harder - nearly impossible to solve unless it involves
personal sacrificing.
-
Personal encouragement
is hard to find - especially for the kids in the church.
-
The same problems with
music and bibles along with godly walk issues have moved into the little
church and if anyone cares to take a stand on any issue, it usually gets
frowned upon as causing division within their own campsite.
-
The little camps shut
down a lot quicker and easier than the big ones!
We
have spent a long time at the Baptist Doctrinal Campsite:
-
Rightly Dividing is the
big doctrinal issue, and rightly so - it is key to understanding Biblical
doctrine! But they rightly divided verses based on their educational
alma mater.
-
They say they are secure
on the KJV - but few and fewer are teaching it as 'only!'
-
They say there is a final
authority within the home, the church family, and on a personal basis!
-
Unfortunately, their personal
walk and testimony is often a poor one in many homes!
-
Many of the teens eventually
walk away from the Book and church family!
-
Some folks even say, "The
walk is nothing we can do anyway!"
-
Some say to "Dress,
talk, walk any way you want - you are covered by grace!"
-
Some say, "We ARE under
the law - and that we ARE sinners!"
-
Some say, "If you don't
street preach, you are out of the will of God!"
-
Some say that their children
should preach to adults - even if around the queers, etc.!
-
Their language can be
quite rough - and if a pastor spews his garbage mouth, nobody will say
anything for fear of losing their support - or any future money from the
income of his books!
-
Fleshy bluegrass music
has infiltrated these churches and is running out those who stand against
the new music!
-
Their liberty is often
abused and is often used as an occasion for the flesh!
-
The man is becoming more
important than the truth. It is what "he" says, not what "He" says!
Now,
of course all three of those campsites have wonderful people, some great
pastors and some good times! Much of the preaching is well done and
is excellent for growing, depending on the quality of the ground that it
is preached to.
But we also can't forget
that throughout all of this country, no matter what 'camp' you are in,
solid home-hitting at your heart preaching is OUT OF SEASON. People
can not and will not ENDURE SOUND DOCTRINE.
Church growth can not
take place when the word of God is being watered down, ignored or even
eliminated, so something must be wrong in those KJV churches that are headed
for mega camp size.
In order to maintain
these camps, you will see in all of them...
-
"pride" ...
(in
their pastor, for their pastor, in their facilities, activities and teachings!)
-
"man worship" (the
pastor has been placed between the Book and God)...
-
"money emphasis" and the
need for more "money" to pay for all the new programs & new buildings
that are being designed & built to 'draw' folks into their particular
camp!
Outside
the Main Campground Campsites
As people tire of those
previously described mainstream campgrounds, more and more people today
seem to be turning to these campsites...
Now remember - some
of these camps even have some great preaching, some have great and marvelous
christians, some have writers that have written some great books and some
sell other great materials; there is a marvelous history of America that
flows from within these groups. In fact, some even have many of the
issues right!
But a closer look shows
us the serious dangers that are involved outside of the local church and
inside these local modern campgrounds. Most of these 'other' campsites
are laced with some serious poison - some VERY SERIOUS poisons!
-
The Holiness - Homeschool
Campground
- the homeschool holiness movement is leading the mother of the home by
their many pernicious ways, making merchandise of the home.
-
Political Campground
-
there are enough political issues that are tearing apart Christianity that
one would think we could vote Jesus Christ in if we would all get involved
with the political arena.
No man that warreth
entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him
who hath chosen him to be a soldier.
II Timothy 2:4
-
Dominion/Kingdom-Now
Campground
- the Overcomers. These are the ones who believe that Christ
cannot return until dominion is achieved on the earth by Christians.
-
Reconstruction Campground
- The church is the new nation, Christ destroyed the Jewish state - they
will set up the kingdom before Jesus Christ returns.
-
Latter Rain Campground
-
Through a new emphasis on unity, prophecy, etc. God will perfect the church
to take over and rule the earth.
-
Seed Faith Campground
-
When one tithes, he plants seeds. One must speak to the seed with
his checkbook if he wants something in particular - it is the "name it
and claim it" teaching!
-
Hundred Fold Campground
-
When one plants the seed and waters it with money, he can expect that seed
to reproduce a 'hundred fold'. Whatever one gives up for Christ,
God will give him one hundred times in return.
-
Prosperity Gospel Campground
- The promise of material wealth is given to the Christian as a work of
Christ on the cross - you know, the abundant life!
-
ALPHA Campground
- a 10 week course that advertises itself as non-threatening, non-judgmental,
bible-based program with good food & warm fellowship - but is so far
from the truth of Christianity, it shows the ignorance of modern Christians
that so many even consider this program. It is so far from Biblical
Christianity... it's "biblical' base is Acts & Matthew - it is
the one final program that will destroy what's left of Christianity in
America and will bring it in to all the churches!
-
Extra Revelation Campground
- This camp believes that because so many believers are in the kingdom
now, they teach extra revelations to special anointed prophets and apostles
now.
-
Charismatic Theology
Campground - Mixed up beliefs regarding spiritual gifts, etc.
This
includes the folks that believe in tongue speaking, dancing in the spirit,
being slain in the spirit, expressing a holy laughter, dog barking and
certainly get into healing, miracles, prophecy, signs and wonders.
-
Creationism - Even
though the evolutionist takes God out of the Creation, modern Christianity
with their modern bible versions take Jesus Christ out of Creation!
This Creation Movement is a smokescreen for the anti-Christ to keep the
truth from the 'modern' Christian!
Now,
of course we don't expect any of the 'camps' to be perfect, - and knowing
that the devil only needs a little poison to infect his diseases, but as
we can see when compared to the open pages of a KJB, some have let in more
poison than others - and unfortunately, the trend is to let MORE poison
enter the camps as compared to taking any stands 'against' any poisonous
changes.
Something
/ Someone is Still Missing!
But even at that, there
still seems to be something very missing in all these campgrounds.
As it is in the outdoor camping, nature is missing; we see in all the religious
camps that God seems to be missing. Note these two paragraphs from
A.W. Tozer's book In Pursuit of God! This book was written in 1948,
and it doesn't take much imagination to see how much even worse the conditions
are today.
In this
hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: within the
fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers
of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God
Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off
with words, nor will they be content with correct interpretations' of truth.
They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have
drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water.
A closeness with
the Lord can result in a resurrection of life for many souls and a recapture
of that radiant wonder which should accompany faith in Christ, that wonder
which has all but fled the Church of God in our day.
Sound Bible exposition
is an imperative must in the Church of the living God. Without it no church
can be a New Testament church in any strict meaning of that term. But exposition
may be carried on in such way as to leave the hearers devoid of any true
spiritual nourishment whatever. For it is not mere man's words that nourish
the soul, but God Himself, and unless and until the hearers find God in
personal experience - [through that King James Bible],
they are not the better for having heard the truth. The Bible is not an
end in itself but a means to bring men to an intimate and satisfying knowledge
of God, that they may enter into Him, that they may delight in His Presence,
may taste and know the inner sweetness of the very God Himself in the core
and center of their hearts.
Keep in mind: A false
Bible brings the reader closer to the spirit of anti-christ. A King
James Bible brings the reader closer to the Holy Spirit of God Himself!
We are
going to seek a closer walk with God, not just a closer so-called 'godly'
walk! As your pastor, I am going to try to help you attain that closeness
s well as helping you stand against the poisons of these days.
P.S. Note one more camp
I must be wary of: Proverbs 25:17
- that is YOUR camp. Withdraw thy foot
from thy neighbour's house; lest he be weary of thee, and so hate thee.
The camp in the home is under the direction of the father
- the husband. I will stand at the door of this church and you are
to stand at the door of your home. I have even been burned when 'invited'
into your campsite to help. Dad, Husband - YOU do your own family!