The Church Of Sodom

In the Bible, in the Old Testament, there is a specific list of charges brought against Sodom. That is, the Abrahamic era sister city to Gomorrah, both of which were destroyed by fire and brimstone. Before the potential opponents of this statement speak up, yes there is now scientific evidence; and no, we're not discussing that in this article.
The actual account in Genesis 19 of this city's visitation by two angels details the intent of the city's men to engage in rape and "unnatural relations." Verse 7 of Jude states clearly that they had given themselves over to sexual immorality. For some reason, while these two portions get major play when speaking of the sins of Sodom, the other list is repeatedly and (in this writer's opinion) criminally ignored. It is found in Ezekiel 16:49-50.

Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. [KJV]

For those of us so-called "heathens" that prefer a more modern and understandable language:

Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door. She was proud and committed detestable sins, so I wiped her out as you have seen. [NLT]

The reason I bring this up will become clear in a moment. First, I want to point out that the order of words and items listed within Scripture is of the utmost importance. For instance, Proverbs 18:21 does not say "Life and death are in the power of the tongue" as is most often misquoted. Rather, it says "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." Humans, even those who follow wholeheartedly after the Christ, are more apt to speak evil (death) than blessing (life). Thus, death is addressed first with the warning that follows: "Those who love it will eat its fruit." The message of course being so clearly stated in the children's song: Be careful little mouth what you speak.

Second, I want to briefly turn our attention to the showdown taking place between our government and various church leaders within our Christian community.

The Dissenters 

Rodney Howard-Browne

For those of you wondering why the name Rodney Howard-Browne sounds so familiar, you need look no further than the so-called "Toronto Blessing."

I am more than a little familiar with the event. Some former pastors of mine bought into the move quite heavily, even diverting a portion of church giving to help fund "God's work" at the Toronto Airport Vineyard Church. I can say that what started as a genuine move towards repentance became a circus of promises and pandering when Howard-Browne and protege Randy Clark took the wheel.

Rather than encourage the continued direction of repentance, fasting, and prayer, the two men moved to a different tact: They stated that God wanted to bless everyone. This is always welcome news to people who don't necessarily want to be reminded of their sin, but want to prosper in spite of it. And since blessing is always in response to giving, the promises/pandering cycle began. Basically, this consists of the promise ("God wants to bless you in a mighty way tonight!") followed by the totally uncoerced urge to give money ("God loves a cheerful giver and will bless you abundantly beyond what you could ever ask or think!")

You may also remember that Rodney Howard-Browne claimed that Hurricane Irma had no teeth, despite its causing 50 deaths and power outages for 5.5 million people. He has been a part of not one but two multi-level marketing schemes; and I use that particular word because the first defaulted on a $182 million dollar loan while being charged with fraud and infringement, among other things. The second has been the subject of class action lawsuits, allegations of tax fraud, and several questionable out of court settlements.

Repeatedly, this man has shown by word and deed a serious lack of discernment and wisdom. This holds true to the present, when on Monday, March 30, 2020, he was arrested for violating emergency federal, state and county orders banning large gatherings. These orders are a response to the novel (meaning no inherent or acquired immunity in humans) virus COVID-19, which is officially a pandemic (meaning it is infecting and killing people en masse around the globe.)

Rather than utilize his impressive social media platform, his highly visible websites, or any of his traditional media offerings (radio, television, etc), Howard-Browne urged people to physically attend services. During a pandemic. With a virus that can be spread through contact, coughing or sneezing. That's killing people within days of detection. Specifically, those who are elderly and those with compromised immune systems. Did I mention that his church is in Florida, where nearly a third of the population meets those criteria?

Tony Spell

Mark Anthony Spell; whom most know as Pastor Tony Spell of Life Tabernacle Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana; is not as widely known as our first dissenter. He is a family man, and by all accounts a good husband and father. Many within his congregation have rallied behind their chosen spiritual leader with statements regarding his character. This, in my opinion, says a great deal more about him than whatever the nightly news might bring up.

However, even the best intentioned folk are prone to error. While I will not speak to Spell's character or person; I do not know him, and thus would otherwise be guilty of both gossiping and maligning him if I did; I will raise some questions and draw some conclusions.

Spell was charged with, though not arrested for, six misdemeanors on Tuesday, March 31, 2020. These charges are emergency powers specific: Violation of Governor's Order LA R.S. 29:724E. Local news affiliate WAFB cited attorney Hillar Moore just a few weeks earlier as saying, "Hopefully, there will be some alternatives this church can use to ‘congregate’ and pray through other means that comply with the restrictions. Summonses and prosecution will be the least favorable means to have well-intended people comply." Spell continued in calling for services, so those least favorable means were employed.

Where Lanes Merge

The Points Of Defense

Photo by Bill Oxford on Unsplash

Pastor Tony Spell leads an Apostolic Pentecostal church. Rodney Howard-Browne leads a Word-of-Faith church. Pastor Tony Spell has been hailed as a wonder-worker by some of his congregants. Rodney Howard-Browne has proclaimed himself "God's bartender." Pastor Tony Spell has loudly proclaimed his attendance numbers and intent to continue meeting. Rodney Howard-Browne has done the same.

These two men are quite different in their doctrinal beliefs. If Life Tabernacle Church holds to traditional Apostolic beliefs, they have significant theological differences as well. So what causes two men, from two different backgrounds and disciplines to do the same thing?

It could be said that they are being led by the Holy Spirit. Certainly there have been other points in history where the Spirit of God has led multiple people in concert with one another without their knowledge. No doubt that is what each man might claim. Certainly that is what some of their supporters have been saying already. If indeed it is the Holy Spirit, then nothing in their words and actions can/will contradict Scripture.

Naturally, the first passage that comes to mind is Hebrews 10:25, which says not to forsake the assembling of ourselves together. This was said to followers of the Christ amidst intense persecution, and should always be read in its full context as well. The next thing that comes to mind are the words of Jesus Himself. In Matthew 22:21, He says to render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's. This was specific to taxes, but it certainly applies to study, prayer, praise, and worship as well. Finally, there is Acts 5:29, in which Peter and the other apostles tell the Jewish leaders that they must obey God and not men. As they were answering officials demanding they cease preaching, this certainly applies! (For the record, accounts such as that found in Daniel 3, fall in lockstep with this account in Acts, and as such are not detailed here.)

The House Of Cards

Photo by Nicolette Attree from Pexels

Christians have developed a neat little double standard when it comes to obeying the Word of God, I'm afraid; not to mention laws of the land. When a law of God goes against our human nature and/or desires, we say we're under grace so the law does not apply. Yet when a law of man also interferes with our empire building; or genuine good intent; we default to saying we must honor the law of God above all else. Much of this prepackaged doctrine based solely upon a single statement by a man who later had to be set straight by the last inductee to the original apostles club (Paul.) Concerned? Confused?

Let me make two vital points, and I'll start with the easiest to digest first.

If the government were to outlaw Christianity, by all means we disobey. In this, it is not a matter of outlawing a religion, thereby forcing us to choose between God's law or man's. Rather in that situation, the government has outlawed a culture. A heritage. Literally, who we are as children of God. So it's not one law versus another; it's one law versus a people's very identity. This is why, when that day does come, many will "fall away." It won't be Life for them, just as it is not now for many. It's simply a belief or a good idea that can be abandoned in the face of opposition.

The second point is far harder to hear. In fact, I am struggling to write it because it goes against almost everything I was raised to believe. It is found in Romans 13:1-5. The quick takeaway is that we are to obey our governing authorities because they are appointed by God. Anyone rebelling against them rebels against God. There are all kinds of stipulations people place upon and within this passage these days. The problem is that Paul gave no qualifiers, and he was writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit. So if God does not change, then we are without justification or excuse in this matter.

I've heard most of the arguments against this understanding. Paul wasn't writing in our day and age. No, he was writing in an age where actions our society today still considers abhorrent were acceptable and commonplace. Paul wasn't talking about a government that was as godless as ours. No, he was speaking about a government far worse; one that had multiple gods which allowed people to do almost anything that passed into their minds. Paul was speaking about church authority, not secular governments. Honestly, no, he wasn't. This rationale requires that linguistic gymnastics be taken to a whole other level of extra. Extra foolishness, extra ignorance, extra rebellious. Paul clearly speaks of the authority wielding a sword to exact God's wrath upon wrongdoers. Unless someone wants to argue also for vigilante pastors, this cannot be speaking about church leadership.

The bottom line is the one that no one, let alone yours truly, actually wants to acknowledge and submit to: That regardless of what government we are under, and who is running it, it was GOD who appointed it for His own purpose and ultimate glory. And this, friends, is where we come full circle. Because no one wants to submit to the Lord on this issue, we have fallen very, very far down the devil's rabbit hole.

The Church Of Sodom

Sodom's sins were pride, gluttony (being overfed, indulgent), laziness, apathy (the poor and needy were at her door), and after placing themselves in the position of God, began committing those other things which are so often spoken of as their only sin. Sodom may, at one point, have been a good city. A decent place to live. We don't know, because the depths to which they sunk were all that is remembered.

The Christian Church today has its genuine, God fearing, Christ following, soul winning, example setting believers. It also has more than its fair share of charlatans, predators, fiends, fools and hardheaded boasters. It has a good number of genuine scholars and teachers desiring to know the truth and communicate it to others. It also has far too many ignorant and deceived leaders who don't know they're walking into a trap; as well as manipulative and power hungry megalomaniacs who set such traps.

Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay 

In this case, we see two churches whose leaders are standing in violation of the nation's authorities. Forget that our Constitution grants the federal government special powers in situations such as these; forget that in such times, these men have no constitutional ground to stand upon. Rather, let us look at their actions in light of what we've just gone over.

We live in an age when we can gather virtually. We can gather via phone, video conference, or a host of other ways. There is no need to gather physically, except that it honors tradition. There are some things more important than tradition, such as keeping people alive and well. Physical gathering is important, but not as vital as protecting the lives and health of those within the church.

We are also capable of rendering unto God what is His without setting foot into a single church building. As a point of fact, our homes ought to be our personal sanctuaries. There should be no reason to feel as though God is closer in some other building and further away at home. Our study of Scripture, prayer, praise and worship can all take place within our homes and with family. No fancy church building needed.

We have not been told to cease preaching. We have been told to temporarily cease gathering physically. Emphasis on temporarily and physically. Were this "persecution," as both men have claimed, there would be no gathering of any kind; there would be no pretense of temporary; Howard-Browne would not have been allowed to post bail and Spell would certainly have been arrested and detained; and properties would have been seized and occupied. Quite the opposite is true, in fact. Ministers have been encouraged to continue preaching, praying and seeing to the needs of their congregations - Just without gathering in large crowds. For now. While this killer virus without a cure runs rampant.

Now since no one has been told to cease preaching; and no one has been told to bow down and pray to a statue of Donald Trump or Nancy Pelosi; there is not one biblical justification, excuse, rational, or imperative for standing against our government. Not one.

What do these actions prove, then?

In the very best case scenario, it proves that both men are severely deficient in the areas of wisdom, discernment, biblical scholarship, and connection with the Holy Spirit. In the instance of Pastor Spell, some of his theological training may be at fault for a portion of his actions; the apostolic Pentecostal movement traditionally teaches no authority but God, in contradiction of Romans 13:1 which states in part that there is no authority but that which is from God. In the instance of Howard-Browne, it is possible that because of his Word of Faith and Prosperity theology and doctrines, he genuinely believed he could simply cast COVID-19 out of the building if not out of people.

In the very worst case scenario, both men are secretly working for a demonic shadow government bent upon destroying humanity and creating a scorched earth upon which may dwell Cthulhu. Probably not this scenario, though. I'd say almost certainly not.

The most likely scenario? Neither of these men have actually heard from God. Neither are being led by the Holy Spirit. This is the most logical conclusion given what we already know: God doesn't change; He doesn't contradict His Word; their actions contradiction His Word; ergo, He is not leading them.

More troubling about these instances is the fact that years from now, they will be looked upon as a reason to create an agency for the monitoring and regulation of places of worship. Their actions, and those of others yet to act out rashly and foolishly, are what are building the foundation of the very one world government they seek to oppose.

The most troubling thing in the present day is that their actions directly violate the law of God, while claiming it was being upheld. We are told by the Christ to be gentle as doves and wise as serpents; both of these creatures avoid threats. They don't court danger. We are told to care for the old, the widows, the sick and the orphans; luring these most at risk categories out to a single gathering location is not caring for them. It is the exact and precise opposite.

Original Photo by kailash kumar from Pexels - Alteration by AJ Unlimited

Finally, we're told that a pastor's job is to safeguard the flock. This is the very reason the term "pastor" is used; they are literally under-shepherds to the Good Shepherd. What do you think happens to an under-shepherd when the lead shepherd discovers they've intentionally led them through diseased lands and poisoned air?

 The core truth of the matter is as chilling as it is simple: Both of these men broke laws, both of God and of man. Both should be held accountable - And ultimately, both men will be. When the Christ speaks of the judgment of sheep and goats, notice that He does not say "you had me come to you." He said "you came to visit me."

Pastors, reverends, and ministers across the United States, understand this clearly: We will be held accountable not only for every sickness and every death caused by our stubbornness and rebellion, but for every single soul we put in danger by not keeping the law of God by obeying the law of man.




(Author's Note: This article represents a radical departure for me from a doctrine I've come to understand is wrong. I encourage all visitors to do the reading for yourselves, don't just take my word for it. God remains sovereign, and there will be times when He calls us to rise up. When that happens however, based upon Scripture, it will always accompany forced idolatry and/or an attempt to eliminate His people.)