A Man Called “Spiritual” Samurai

There was a movie that came out in the seventies- “A Man Called Horse”. Pretty good movie by the way. But I digress. David Montoya calls himself “Spiritual” Samurai. The “spiritual” part of his nickname is in question. Hince the title to my post, “A Man Called “Spiritual” Samurai”.

He likes to tear down fellow members of the body of Christ with no remorse whatsoever. And one of those fellow Christians is David Currie. Admittedly I don’t completely agree with Currie, but he is a brother in Christ. So he smokes cigars and probably drinks an occasional beer. He aint perfect and neither are any of us. By the way, last I checked it isn’t a sin to drink beer and smoke cigars. They smell and taste bad, at least to me, but it isn’t a sin.

Yet, Montoya takes swipes at him as if he is evil incarnate. But it is ok for him to spew out questionable theology from the world of martial arts?  He quotes “non-Christian” material often on his blog. Personally I don’t care if he quotes sources of philosophy on his blog. Some of the “outside” sources can enhance  Scriptural theology, so quote away. But for him to “throw rocks” at Currie is questionable indeed.

Seems to me, Montoya comes across as someone who has been spurned by Currie and is out to get him. In the past Montoya was a big supporter of TBM and other entities that he currently attacks. Did he not get enough sugar for his coffee? Were the peanuts not passed to him at the table? Was his raised hand at meetings ignored?  Would they not let him go to the bathroom?

Oh, I know what it is, Currie has hair and Montoya doesn’t!!  Just kidding.

It is not very “Spiritual” on Montoya’s part, the “poetry” he writes to demean and tear down a fellow brother in Christ. I would respond on his blog to his psuedo poems about Currie, but alas he has blocked me.

“The greatest of these is love”   have we forgotten.

“Be kind one to another…”   another forgotten verse.

“Do unto others…”  it can be done.

“If you have done it unto…” ouch!

Are we Stuck?

Been thinking alot about church growth lately. Most churches in my association are traditional. They have been doing things the same way for a very long time. They sing the same songs, in the same order of worship at the same worship time.  Dare change that, why you messing with God stuff, or so they say.

I am fearful for the traditional churches. Most of them have leveled off or are dropping in attendance. They are for the most part resistant to change. Oh, they call in a new pastor and sell him or her on the idea that they want change and need to reach a new generation. But as soon as those changes are brought up, they are voted down. Why you just can’t mess with tradition.

In some churches you can do some changes, but don’t mess with the sanctuary or the worship service. I do understand that for older folks, everything in thier lives have changed. But they revel in the thought that “at least my church is the same”. It gives them security and comfort knowing that when they come to worship, it will be as it has always been. Nevermind that the numbers are dropping further and further down.

I’m afraid many of our churches are stuck. They are stuck on phono players while most are doing mp3 players. They are stuck in the past glory days. They will set around and bask in those  days, when all the Sunday School rooms were overflowing with kids.

In the 1950’s, the golden years of the church, were days when all the churches were overflowing with families. Everything I was taught in seminary was based on those years. For a while in the 80’s some of those principles actually worked. Today they don”t.

But most churches are still stuck on what used to work. Have we done the same with BGCT?

My Point is Proven

It is true. People will read about “controversy” over evangelism. They prefer the train wrecks to lush green valleys of sweet salvation stories. I checked my hit counts and there were no hits on my blogs about evangelism, but a good number about the false view the SBTC is out of money.

I don’t know that people are bored with evangelism as such. Maybe we have images of it that are unwholesome. Mine were of some dude carrying this huge Bible around ready to get ya saved.  I picture him yelling “REPENT” at the top of his lungs. Admittedly this is a warped view, but it is the image many have.

Many think of the preacher giving invitations at the end of the worship service for salvation and implying to get saved ya gotta walk the aisle. I have heard many people share thier salvation stories and will include the time “I walked the aisle” as a part of the salvation process.

From what I have researched the idea of “walking the aisle” is a fairly recent event. It has it’s origins in the revivals of the Wesley brothers. I guess it was a way of counting decisions. Some say it is related to “confessing before men”. But I have always thought that was what Baptism is. The public confession was the believers Baptism.

Honestly I think the “walking the aisle” thing is to stroke the egos of pastors. So they can see results from the message. That the congregation can see tangible results of the preacher they pay to evangelize. Nevermind that it is not found in the Scriptures.

Charles Finney, the evangelist of the 19th century, never gave invitations to walk the aisle. He had what he called “enguirers rooms” for people to go to who were interested in salvation. He encouraged those who might want to follow Christ to meet him in a room at a nearby house or something like that. Those rooms would be overflowing with people.

In some of our churches, including mine, if the pastor didn’t give an invitation, why he wasn’t doing his job.  People feel strongly about walking the aisle. I realize it is tradition and not all traditions are bad. I starting to offer a time for those who are uncomfortable about walking the aisle to visit with me in the church prayer room. So far no on has taken me up on it. I also offer to anyone to call me anytime if they have questions.

I guess walking the aisle isn’t a real bad thing, but to say that it is the only way you can come to salvation is to add to the gospel message. Many of the Cowboy churches don’t do alter calls. And yet they have more conversion than the average church does. Hmmm. Makes ya wonder.

SBTC out of money!!

Just kidding. Thought I would test Rick Davis’ theory about hit increases. We will want to read and believe such stuff as my headline. But talk about evangelism, then the hit count nose dives. 

We human’s love “rubber necking” to see a car wreck. Or we see smoke and we just gotta take a look see. But talk about people getting saved, well that is a whole other matter.

Have a church call a female preacher, especially in Baptist circles, then the hair will fly. Elect female deacons, kick em out of the association as quickly as possible. Have a change the color of the carpet vote at a business meeting, attendance goes up and opinions are loud and bosterious.

But have a teaching session about evangelism,no one shows up or very few.

I don’t know that people are bored with the subject, so much that they are either scared of it or don’t really want to do it. Afterall, that’s why we pay the preacher.

Have You Been Saved?

That was the question asked of me when Brother Epstein approached me and a friend inside the Sears department store in Amarillo. He was the town preacher/evangelist. He had hair hanging down on his shoulders, wore a white robe outfit with sandals. He had a beard just like the white european portraits we all know of Jesus.

Brother Epstein had a reputation for practically chasing you down to preach/yell at you about Jesus. We saw him from a distance and knew what was about to go down. We high tailed it down the main aisle heading for the nearest exit. He caught up with us and grabbed us by the shoulders and spun us around and promptly said, “Boys, have you been saved?”

Understand that we  had very little church background and I for one didn’t know what he was talking about. I looked at my friend
Steve and said, “You say something!” To which he responded, “No you say something!” Not knowing how to respond I said, “Yeah, I’ve been saved.” Thinking that would satisfy him, I smiled. He said, “Well, tell me about it son.” I shared how I was pushed into a swimming pool and a friend saved me, and so I was saved. I literally thought that was what he was talking about. He shook his head and said, “I’m afraid you boys are missing the boat!”

I really don’t remember what else he said after that. I think I mentally blocked him out. 

My grandmothers on my dad and mom’s side, had a propensity to “preach” to each grandchild about getting saved. One grandma put lots of emphasis on getting baptized. The other getting right cause Jesus was gonna come back any time.

So my first experiences with the Gospel were negative in tone. No wonder I didn’t want anything to do with Christianity. It wasn’t until I got involved with Young Life in high school, that I finally heard someone share the gospel in kind and simple terms. I was gently told of His love for me and never pushed to “get saved”.

My high school vice-principal shared the gospel with me in kind and compassionate ways too.  A number of people gently nudged me toward the Savior. Yelling and screaming kind of gospel sharing turned me off.  But a kind, gentle approach brought to the a place where I wanted to know more of Jesus and His love for me.

Confrontational kind of evangelism, at least for me, just didn’t work. I am finding that more and more, that in your face gospel sharing is a turn off for most people. Sadly enough the image most have of evangelism is the smack down kind of stuff.

I remember a young man who pulled up in his car to see if we needed another person to play touch football. There were only three of us and yeah, he was much needed. He played football with us for a while and then afterwards invited us to attend church with him. I liked the guy, he was not pushy and was a genuinely kind person. The three of us agreed to meet him Sunday morning. He said he would look for us and save us a seat. And we went. Why did we go,because the guy didn’t come across as a fake. We saw something different in him. He meet a need that we had and we were grateful and gained a hearing for the gospel.

Texas Baptist and Evangelism

I see where Rick Davis and Ken Coffee are challenging all Texas Baptist bloggers to blog on evangelism. I accept the challenge. Montoya on the other hand, well, read his response to Davis.

I can remember while a student at SWBTS,  a well known evangelist spoke in chapel. I had high regards for this evangelist and sought his advice afterwards. While a student, was contemplating doing full-time evangelistic work.  

So I sought him out and patiently waited to ask him questions. I asked how a person knew they were called into evangelism. With great anticipation I waited for his answer. He said, “If you are called to do evangelism, then every single time you preach people  get saved.” That was not what I expected. I was stunned by that response.

I had done some preaching while a college student and filled the pulpit on a number of occasions. I could honestly say, on more occasions than not, people didn’t get saved when I preached.  When the evangelist told me his opinion of how a person knew they were called into evangelism, it was like someone had punched me in the stomach.  I was devastated.

I now know they dude was off his rocker. At the time I was a young Christian of about five years and was very much influenced by the evangelist. I had no idea what to do at that moment and was numb from his response.

I have since learned that I am called into evangelism. That all of us are called into evangelism. Some may be more “gifted” in the area of evangelism than others. Even the “gifted” ones don’t always get “responses” each time they preach or share the gospel.

More Hogwash from Montoya

Montoya says he recieved this email:

David,

I found this interesting. I was talking to the chairman of the committee that is recommending an interim pastor. The committee wanted to know how much to pay the interim, where to start, the going rates, etc. The chairman called the BGCT for help and was told that for eighty five dollars, the BGCT would furnish the formula for figuring a ball park amount.

Our chairman called the Arkansas general convention and got the information free.

The BGCT is not much help?

Personally I find this unreal. Now the big question is this. Did David call the BGCT himself and find out if this is true, BEFORE he posted this email? My best quess is probably not. David lives for this kind of thing.

The BGCT does not charge for it’s services. I talked to someone about coming out and doing an evaluation of our campus and they will come at no charge to the church. I have a fellow coming out to do a financial seminar at no charge.

David, someone sent you some manure for you step in. And you so willingly step in it!!  Please do some research before you publish such hogwash.

 

Just Wondering

Seems to me that Rick Davis was not at 1st Brownwood very long when he moved on to another church. I thought he was much loved and appreciated there. So why did he leave?

From what I gather he is the one that is making the claim that his current church was interferred with by someone within the BGCT building.  Apparently it is suggested that a pulpit committee member was “told” that Davis would not be good for that church.

Could be someone on the pulpit committee called someone at the BGCT, seeing as Davis previously worked for the BGCT and sought a reference on him. That is a perfectly legitimate thing to do, to not do so would be neglect on the committees part. So someone at the BGCT didn’t give him a good recommendation apparently, otherwise Davis would not be throwing a fit about all this.

Now understand if, that is a big if, someone within the BGCT called his current church unsolicitated and told a member of that pulpit committee a negative review on Davis, then that is inappropriate.  I suspect that is not the case.

Just wondering why Davis left 1st Brownwood. Everything I read on his blog was that things were going great there. That he loved Brownwood and the people in that great church. Hmm, just wondering. I realize it isn’t really any of my business, just wondering.

Could he have been (God forbid) forced out. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone. If that is the case then I am sincerely saddened by that. It is a  painful and hurtful situation to be asked to leave a church, after you have served for a number of years and poured your heart and soul into ministering to the best of your abilities. Only to be told “we don’t want you anymore”. If that is the case Rick I am truly sorry. I suspect that isn’t the case.

Maybe he felt it was time to move on. That his work there was complete and there was more work needed elsewhere. Or that it really wasn’t a good fit. I pray that he is happy where he is.  God speed Rick.

Watch out for the Blues Brothers!

Rick “Zebra” Davis and David “Karate Chop” Montoya have proven themselves to be wordsmith’s when it comes to attacking those who dare to criticize them. In a previous post I showed how vicious and onery Montoya can be to anyone who dares to critique him.

So now Davis has done the same.  Was gonna post his response  to me and other person named Peter, but alas at this very moment the responses have been removed. Hmmmm. Feeling guilty maybe. I happen to still have these fine examples for show that came posted on my e-mail.

I had defended a fellow named Peter, whom I don’t know. Peter had critiqued Davis’ response related to his blog on the SBC Today matter re: the supposed withholding of funds to the IMB. Peter was “ripped” a part by Davis and called a child. Davis responds to me with this:

Bob,On Wed, May 27, 2009 at 1:18 PM

You are not a child. You are a dolt. There is a difference. Regardless of your age, you will always and forever be a dolt.

RD

 

I said in response to that with:

“And you mean that ‘in Christian love’

And his response is:

“No, I meant I give you up to Satan for the sake of your soul. You are the kind of sneaky little snake who slithers around looking for something to slime on. You are not a serious person. Grow up.”On Thu, May 28, 2009 at 8:40 AM,

RD

 

So there ya have it. The responses speak for themselves. 

So watch out for the Blues Brothers, “Zebra” will blow his whistle and call you out of the “game”and “Karate Chop” will bust your ….well you get the point.

Whose Controlling Whom?

Was reading this exchange on Montoya blog related to a new scandal he thought he found,but has since gone up in smoke.

The first comment is from a Ms. Jackson.  Montoya had published the IP address on his blog as a type of threat to Jackson:

1. My husband predicted your responses. He warned me you guys go into an attack mode when anybody questions you. Courageous, good, intelligent, 2 fifth degree black belts (is that the equivalent of 1 10th degree black belt?) Davis, why do you feel so compelled to hide such a man behind your skirts? I remember when my big brothers paid the local black belt to make them the next version of the karate kid that they brought home materials which spoke of honor and self-control – qualities which seem to be lacking in the one you so ardently defend. If Montoya is so intelligent, why is it that every organization he is associated with seems to be on the receiving end of a law suit because he can’t control his mouth? Just another example of all testosterone and no brains.

   Here’s another IP address for you to publish…like doing that intimidates people.

2. Here is Montoya’s response to her:
3. Don’t you just love it. A person who attacks you and then accuses you of going into “attack” mode.

   MS Jackson, I am surprised your husband had the courage to make a prediction. Do you give him permission to speak? I bet he has a high squeaky voice. Perhaps if he had more testosterone and your were not so, “Jack in the Box commercial”, you could be of help in correcting the wrong in Texas Baptist life.

   I am being sued because the BGCT did not do the right thing. According to your logic, Dexton Shores, Roberto Rodriquez, and others could not keep their mouths shut either thus they are being sued.

   The only reason I do not delete your “attack” comment is because I have a hard time believing you work at Cooks. Do you not have any ethical problem using your work computer for personal activity? I guess that is why our insurance is so high, paying for people to work at a hospital so they can comment on blogs.

   If you post such a comment again I will add you to the spam list. You can disagree, discuss and offer other ideas. However I am sick of folks like you who focus on the speck in my eye while they have a long in theirs.

What a wonderful and “Godly” response from Montoya. He don’t like you, you get “spammed”. I too am on his spam list. He can’t handle any criticism, so he blocks comments that make him look bad. I allow him to comment on my blog anytime. I will delete any blatantly hurtful stuff, but he is free to post any time. But alas, his is not a free exchange of ideas and critique.

So who is controlling whom?