| Skeleton sermon -- add your own meat |
16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.
17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me.
18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.
19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.
20 Deliver my soul from the sword; my darling from the power of the dog.
"Who Let The Dogs Out?" is a recent popular song you may have heard, but it's also a question we can ask ourselves as Christians. We know there were three different animals present at the crucifixion of Christ. 1) Bulls of Bashan (Psalm 22:12). Bulls run in packs and crush little lambs. 2) A Lion. A lion toys with his prey and makes it suffer, like a cat with a mouse. 3) Dogs -- Gentiles uncircumcised -- like the Roman guards, the dog is looked upon as impure, filthy, worthless. The day our Lord was on that cross dying for sinners like us, a pack of dogs was turned loose on him like we had never seen. Religious dogs are the worse kind. Please read Philippians 3:2 where it says, "Beware of the Dog." This scripture is saying for us to look out for vicious dogs -- they're all around.
A Pit bull just attacked a baby who belonged to a friend of mine. The dog tore the baby's ear off and caused the baby to lose an eye. Then the dog went for the baby's throat, shaking the child like a rag doll. This week a lady was going into her apartment. While taking her keys, out she was attacked by two Doberman pinchers -- they ripped her throat out.
I've been in homes that don't have a BEWARE sign up, but under that house in the dark is a vicious dog. Without warning this dog called Gossip will attack and tear you to shreds. I could go on dogs like setters or pointers or bulldogs that are running around in our churches, but I don't have the time. But I want to ask you a question: "WHO TURNED THE DOGS OUT?"
I want you to know the dogs have been turned loose on folks trying to live for GOD like never before. These so-called Christian papers that attack and destroy folks reputation are no more than smut trash like the Enquirer. I say these folks are dogs. They love garbage, eating it and then puke it up at camp meetings or preacher fellowship meetings. They puke it up for the other dogs to eat. Then when there's no new garbage, they return to their vomit to eat it again.
The news media, whether it's the New York Times or Fox or CNN, Christian folks are made to look like retards -- I guess you can't blame them after seeing TBN). Look how John Ashcroft suffered for his faith, persecuted by the press. He was made to look like a deranged person that had escaped the insane asylum because it was reported he was against abortion and that he was a born-again believer. When Bailey Smith said that only the born-again could get their prayers through to Heaven, the press jumped on him. The press asked Mr. Smith, "Don't you think Jews and Muslims can get their prayers answered by just believing in a god?" Then they stirred up the clergy against Bailey but he stood his ground. Oh, the Rabbis and others said Christians hate all others. The press stirred it up.
Recently the news folks asked good pastors asking what's their opinion of the Brooklyn museum's new exhibit of the Last Supper with dogs at the table. Then another exhibit is called "YO Mamas Last Supper" with a nude black woman standing in front of the Lord's table. Another exhibit had a nude woman being crucified on a cross. Oh, the press eats loves these wicked people mocking Christians, all the while all these exhibits being paid for by our tax dollars.
When the world looks at Slick Willy, a professing Christian, and see the scandals with Monica, he is a dog turned loose to bring the name of CHRIST down. A Baptist pastor was arrested in Atlanta for propositioning an undercover cop. Another Baptist pastor was arrested for pimping off his wife at an airport after Sunday morning services. The courts are full of churches being sued for kids being molested by pedophiles. One church is being sued because the pastor will not have a business meeting. He tells the folks its none of their business about the money. He tells them to just keep putting it in the plate; so action has been brought into court. One pastor is big news for being sued for alienation of affection by church member's husband. The wife admitted she loved the pastor more than him after being counseled for ninety days alone by the pastor -- need I say more?
I am sure not politically-correct, but look how Jesse Ventura laughed at Christians saying organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people who need strength in numbers. Thank God we have politicians like Jesse Helms and Trent Lott. Mr. Lott took a stand recently when asked what he thought about queers and he said it was against the Bible and a sick lifestyle. They went to Dick Armey to get his opinion about Mr. Lott's statements about queers. So Mr. Armey pulled out his Bible and showed them what the word of God said about it. Glory! I ought to shout!
Oh, oh, come here doggie, doggie, time to worm you. They say a dog drags his backside because he has an itch. I know some religious dogs like that which have been dragging their back side for years who have an itch, also. They have an itch to get a big church and a big name. They've got the itch to be a lover not a fighter. They must be a poodle with painted nails who love to be petted while the deacons keep you trimmed and the sisters let you lay around on the couch. Everybody laughs when a poodle barks. Did you know a poodle gets jealous when he's not the center of attention? If you don't preach it straight, you ain't nothing but a hound dog with the mange.
I hear preachers all the time say, "I'm just a dumb country preacher." Just shut up! After five minutes in the pulpit we will all know you're dumb. Why would a man get to a pulpit saying I ain't really a preacher then spend thirty minutes proving it.
My favorite Beatitude is, "Blessed is the preacher that has nothing to say. Refrain from giving evidence to it."
I was with Lester Roloff when Johnny Pope was finished preaching, and Lester with that drawl said, "Johnny Pope, you ought to be arrested for attempting to preach." I believe the reason preachers are silent is because preaching is not a passion but a profession. It's a paycheck, a parsonage, a Pontiac, a projector, a party. You need a flee collar -- flee from public opinion.
Preacher, have you lost your bite, are you as Isaiah who likened you to a dumb dog that can't bark? Do you have anything else to preach beside women's pants, television and cigarettes. If not, I pray the Holy Ghost dog catcher will impound you by taking you out of the pulpit.
Who let the dogs out, Preachers? I think there's many more things I could say, but these are a few thoughts for you.
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