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Friday, January 7, 1999

A Nation Out of Control

Two random mass shootings, a major and unexplainable airline crash
(the second such crash in the same area in three years), politicians
more concerned with what is popular than with what is right, increasing
weather problems and earth changing events and one cannot help but
ask, "What is going on"?
For a supposed "Godly Nation", America seems to be filled these
days with more than its share of UNgodliness and the subsequent
environmental extremes would appear to be God's warning that America
has become a nation out of control.
Some would argue that people are still standing in line trying to
come to America and as a result, it must mean that "it's really not
all that bad." But Old Testament Israel was also a haven for those
seeking a better life and also a very sinful Nation out of control.
God warned but no one listened.
Part of America's lack of control results from Christians who would
rather the church DIE, than change her methodology and remain more
interested in "religious heritage and tradition" than in winning
the lost to Christ. America is out of control because the church is
trying to take control rather than let God be in control. If America
is going to change, the church must be WILLING to change.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.
Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

Friday, November 19, 1999

Genuine Christianity and

the Will of God

Who ever said knowing God's will was easy ?
Recently, while waiting in line to be checked out at the supermarket,
I overheard two ladies (who I assumed were Christians) discussing
the various aspects of finding, knowing and accepting God's will.
Quite frankly, for a little while I thought I was listening to a pretty
good sermon. Suddenly, one woman boldly stated, "Honey, if you don't
know what God's will is, then you just ain't saved . . . just ain't
NO doubt about it." . Well there went the sermon.
Unfortunately, there continues within certain venues of Christianity
what I like to call the "Super Spiritual Syndrome". This is the
contemporary version of the problem the Apostle Paul encountered
in the days of the New Testament, of which we often refer to as 'LEGALISM".
It is the idea that, I got it, I know it, I'm doing it and if you're
not, then you couldn't possibly be saved. Well, it just isn't
so. Most BELIEVERS, including pastors, evangelist, and the Old and
New Testament saints STRUGGLED constantly with finding, knowing, accepting and actually DOING the will of God. The TRUTH is, unless you are
seeking God's will, you will never find it.
Most believers know that it is God's will that they believe and
repent, but beyond that, most struggle with the issue and some NEVER do find it. That is why the words of Isaiah are so important, "Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on Him while he is near." (Isaiah 55:6 NIV) When each of us have the RARE opportunity of truly knowing God's will, we MUST seize upon the moment,
accept it and act upon it.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.
Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

©One "Outlaw's Opinion"

Thursday, August 19, 1999

Genuine Christianity and YOU

Of all the issues I have discussed recently concerning this matter of "Genuine Christianity" the one issue yet to be determined is YOU . . ,
i.e., are YOU a Genuine Christian ?
Really, are YOU ? Don't tell me about what you know theologically, how much money you give to the church or other charitable organizations,
how much scripture you have memorized or even how long you have been going to church !
Tell me about YOU.
Do you call yourself a Christian because you were born into a traditional "Christian home" ? Do you associate yourself with Christianity because you were born in America which has (until recent) been basically known as a "Christian nation" ?
Do you consider yourself a Christian because you were not born Jewish, Islamic, Hindu or some other NON Christian group ?
If YOU do call yourself a Christian and believe that you are INDEED, a Genuine Christian, then tell me WHY ?
If this sounds a bit PERSONAL,
it's because it is !   When Jesus asked
Peter, "Who do men say that I am ?" and then later, "Who do YOU say that I am ?" He was leading Peter to both a PERSONAL and PUBLIC profession of his most intimate BELIEF about Jesus . Jesus wanted Peter's PERSONAL belief and not the popular trend or opinion of others.
The same is true for you and me. It's NOT what your Dad, Mom, brother, sister, wife or husband believes that matters to Christ,
it is what YOU believe.
Do YOU believe ?
That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

©One "Outlaw's Opinion"

Thursday, July 8, 1999
Genuine Christianity Pt.7

Over the past seven weeks I have discussed many of the falsities of what many consider "Genuine Christianity".
I appreciate the e-mail "A-mens" from many of my Southern Baptist brothers and sisters . It is rewarding to know that there are so many believers from all walks of life who are actually "fed up" with the legalism which has become so prevalent of recent among those of us who would gladly call ourselves, "conservative"!
The truth is, there is an immense yet untapped source of inactive, unchurched believers out there
who long to be back in fellowship
with their Christian brothers and sisters.
I know this for a fact. I run into them EVERY day as I witness, but having seen the reality of "Genuine Christianity", AWAY from the traditional, legalistic, judgmental church of yesterday
(trying to exist in a modern day culture which
is foreign to them), these Christians feel more like "disabled" and "excluded" believers and remain unchurched.
In short, MOST churches of today are extremely DISINGENUOUS and NOT Genuinely Christian because we are too self absorbed with trying
to win the approval of the saved rather than influencing and persuading the hearts of the lost.
If we are to be " Genuinely Christian", our churches must stop trying to please "Sister Sue" in her pew and begin IMPRESSING without PREJUDICE "Joe Six pack". Then and only then will the unchurched reconsider church as essential.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to

Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

©One "Outlaw's Opinion"

Thursday, July 1, 1999

Genuine Christianity Pt.6

Last week's article received much attention by both the church family as well as friends and guest to the web site.
Anytime you start "messing with tradition" people get all excited and anxious and inevitably, someone is going to get upset. It's like you have taken away their "security blanket" or best friend.
One new comer to the web site was upset with me. He said it was "my kind of Christianity" that made him stop going to church 40 years ago. I wasn't really offended or anything because I was only 8 years old at the time (and had not yet accepted Christ) when this man had made his decision to stop attending church and except for my oldest sister (and her dolls) when we "played church", I hadn't even preached my first sermon. Ironically, this man's comment makes my point.
Genuine Christianity isn't HOW you DO church at all ! Genuine Christianity has always been a PERSONAL matter of the heart. It is an individual's PERSONAL relationship with Jesus Christ based in GENUINE belief that Jesus IS the Son of the LIVING God who died voluntarily for the sins of human beings and the resulting repentant attitude which accepts and invites the one and same Jesus to live within one's life that makes one a GENUINE Christian. When the heart is RIGHT, the head becomes right, most often resulting in a DESIRE to DO church some where and some way. That's NOT "my kind of Christianity", that's the BIBLE !
By the way sir, after 40 years, I think it's time you try church again.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to

Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

©One "Outlaw's Opinion"

Thursday, June 24, 1999

Genuine Christianity Pt.5

The definition of being "genuinely Christian", by some, is often the misguided notion of remaining "old fashion" or avoiding ( and
often considered evil) CHANGE.
Some years ago on a trip back from the Southern Baptist Convention in Atlanta, I drove past a small church in Northern Florida which had a sign out
front almost bigger than the church itself.
On this enormous sign was simply the name of the church that read as follows:
"The Regular, Old Fashion, Only the REAL Bible Used Baptist Church".
Under the above name of the church was this:
"Only Jesus Songs Sung Here with the World left Outside."
Bless their hearts, that group of believers actually think that that this is what "Genuine Christianity" is all about. It doesn't apparently
matter to them that few if any people who are hurting spiritually and seeking a genuine relationship with God will ever darken their door.
Genuine Christianity has NOTHING to do with man made limitations on doing church the way it was done in the past, but rather the church of today, doing whatever is necessary in order to make relevant and effectual the message of the cross to CONTEMPORARY man .

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

©One "Outlaw's Opinion"

Thursday, June 3, 1999

Genuine Christianity Pt.4

These articles on GENUINE Christianity have definitely sparked the interest of many people who associate themselves with the term "CHRISTIAN" both on the web and at BCC as well and rightfully so.
Becoming and then living as a Christian (i.e. a BELIEVER) is serious business. It is far too often we hear the rumblings from the lost and unchurched crowd, "I am not going to associate with a bunch of hypocrites". The general inference of course, is that the lost and/or
unchurched persons making such a statement observe people who go to our churches on Sunday and exhibit all the outward appearances of
a "SAINT", only to exhibit with both ease and authority the life of a "SINNER" Monday through Saturday. Such an observation is then used by these same unchurched people as a license for NOT attending church or associating with anything religious or Godly. In essence, the
BELIEF that most lost and/or unchurched folks experience is HEARD and seldom if ever seen.
That is VERY sad !
One response I received from the web this week stated,
"I had never really considered the importance of MY belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of the Living God before I read your articles. I had always assumed my belief was part of the salvation process but now I realize just how important it is for me to both demonstrate and verbalize that belief to those around me. I realize now that MY belief is WHY I should choose to live a Godly life. Thanks."
A fellow pastor.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 27, 1999

Genuine Christianity Pt.3

Jesus said BELIEVE !
That would seem to be a simple concept that most people would get.
Unfortunately, many do not.
For nearly 2000 years there has been a perception among "the brethren" that salvation consist of BELIEF in Jesus, PLUS, i.e., plus something else. It seems there are always those who would alter the Jesus plan of salvation.
In the days of the Apostle Paul, it was the Jewish Christians who attempted to add (of all things) CIRCUMCISION as a requirement for salvation.
At Corinth, the Greco-Roman (gentile) Christians wanted to add a touch of the "Mystery Religion" or Greek mythological idea of Mysticism as a salvation requirement.
Many contemporary Charismatic denominations base almost their entire ministry on this concept. One only need view many of today's TV preachers (with exception to Dr. Billy Graham,
Charles Stanley, etc.) to view the mystical version of Salvation PLUS.
Of course, for many Christian pastors and theologians alike, my emphasis on BELIEF would be considered, salvation lite.

Not so ! John 3:16 emphasizes BELIEF.
IF one truly BELIEVES that Jesus is the Christ, the son of the living GOD and that HE is the ONLY way to salvation, certainly, repentance,
fellowship and an associated life-style are not far behind.

Genuine BELIEF is the essence of genuine Christianity.

More next week.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

I

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 20, 1999

Genuine Christianity Pt.2

As we consider the issue of genuine Christianity, there can be little doubt that BELIEF is central; at least that used to be the case.
In a recent informal discussion I had, among ten people who claim to be Christians, only three indicated a solid belief in Jesus Christ
as the son of God was essential for salvation.
All of these individuals are active members of mainline evangelical churches. Of the seven who did not consider belief an essential part of genuine Christianity, one teaches a Sunday School class and one is a former deacon in a Southern Baptist Church. As strange as it
may seem, these same people consider things like blood atonement, justification and eternal security of the believer all important and
essential doctrines of the Christian faith.
And yet, believing that Jesus is actually the son of the living God was not seen as really that important.
At first thought this may seem like some sort of "fluke". But upon a closer look, most of us would have to agree that most "so called Christians" certainly don't live as though they really believe. If they did, there would be more evidence of such. Jesus said, "Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say? "LK 6:46.

Far too many Christians live in disobedience.

Genuine belief deters disobedience.
Genuine belief results in genuine Christianity. More next week.

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.Net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

Thursday, May 13, 1999

Genuine Christianity

Most Christians will agree that it is great to be a Christian.
Some will take it further and say, that it is great to be a Christian
IF ( and that is usually a big IF), one is a genuine Christian.
This is as close as most Christians agree. Regardless of the denomination
or ideological label (liberal or conservative), at the word "genuine"
Christianity departs in agreement to near extremes.
The charismatic Christian community often claim mainline denominations
such as Baptist are in "Baptist bondage" and not genuine because of
our doctrinal difference regarding the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Some highly liturgical denominations often criticize other non-liturgical
mainline denominations as less than genuine because of the lack of
formal worship.
Some denominations view every other Christian group as not genuine
because of the lack of Apostolic succession.
What is it all about and who is right ?
Becoming a genuine Christian is not about the denomination to which
you belong, the way you worship or the version of the Bible you choose
to read.
Over the next several weeks I will use this column to speak to this
issue and beginning this Sunday morning at 8:45 a.m. (at BCC), I will
begin an in depth study of what it means to be a "Genuine Christian"

That is, One Outlaw's Opinion.

Let me know your opinion.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or RESPONSE
or if you have a topic you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on,
Please E-mail or Fax to
Fax- (419)831-3696 E-mail = Drtruthman@churchcc.net

©Copyright July 11, 2003 Rev. Lee Outlaw, III All rights reserved.

If you would like to respond to ANY week's opinion or if you have
something you would like Pastor Outlaw's Opinion on simply E-mail
to Drtruthman@churchcc.net or Fax at 419-831-3696

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