THE TRUTH

A Newsletter of PURSUING THE TRUTH MINISTRIES
(Educate to Liberate!)
February 2004

I thank all of you who have supported this ministry over the years and for our new supporters. Your prayers, comments, and questions are very much appreciated. I ask that you would join us in our campaign to promote the name of Jesus above all of the hype in the church community today. We need to be focused on Jesus Christ and we want to be a part of that remnant of people that promote Jesus Christ above all the other religious activities. Join us by supporting us in prayer, testimonies, and even financially as we prepare to begin a mass marketing campaign for this objective. Thank you.

- Pastor William R. Cunningham

THE ANSWER IS JESUS!

Pastor Bill

Ministry, church, and ministry! Let's go to church! Let's have a seminar! Let's have a workshop! Let's have a Bible study? With the plethora of activities in the Christian community, it becomes increasingly probable to forget what it's all about. Our main objective is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that the purpose of Jesus Christ would become fulfilled. What is Jesus' purpose? His purpose is to save us from our sins (See Matthew 1:21). Don't get so caught up in being busy that we forget the purpose. People need Jesus Christ to save them. We need Jesus Christ to sustain us. Therefore, it becomes increasingly necessary that we remember what it's really all about.

God Bless Women!

By Pastor William Cunningham

I was reading some information on a on-demand publisher as I am actively pursuing writing a book. There was one Christian publisher that I happened to encounter and I was quite impressed with them. I was impressed until I read the answer to a question in the "Question and Answers" section of the web site. I'll quote it here for convenience.

"Do you ever turn down manuscripts?

Yes. We maintain a high standard in what we publish. You could consider us conservative from a theological viewpoint. We publish for Christian authors, but stay away from publishing books that promote the Word of Faith/Prosperity doctrine, the Brownsville/Toronto “revival”, or women pastors in leadership over men."

Now I was floored when I read this. I could understand that they would not publish books dealing with the faith and prosperity movement and the Toronto "revival." Those are definitely unbiblical teachings, which can be shown by Scripture studies. However, the fact that they would include the issue of women pastors in leadership over men was unfortunate. If someone wanted to publish their findings for women pastors then he or she could not be published by this company. It is also interesting that women pastors in leadership over men is grouped with two definitely false doctrines.

I have found that women have always had a hard time in regards to operating in ministry. Since the human race desires to dominate each other, then it is quite common for things to be turned into a power struggle. First of all, let me say that a pastor, whether male or female, does not have authority over anyone. Jesus Christ is the head of the church and all authority was given to him. Note the word "all." See" Matthew 28:18, which I will quote here for convenience.

Matthew 28:18 (NKJV) And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

The word all is translated from the Greek word, pas and according to the Strong's Greek dictionary it means Including all the forms of declension; apparently a primary word; all, any, every, the whole. There is no authority of one over another in Christ. Christ is the authority. The only authority over the life of someone is their parents or the government (See Exodus 20:12 and Romans 13:1-2 respectively).

Another important thing to consider is the concept of leadership. This publisher, along with many other "Christians" assume or reckon that leadership is authority. Therefore a woman cannot be in leadership over a man because woman are not to be in authority over man. Of course this is totally untrue from social, economic, and especially a Christian perspective according to the Scriptures (See my study on "The Place of Women" for more information. The point here is that leadership is not authority. Leadership is through influence. There are several levels of leadership according to John Maxwell, which are:

1. Position (people follow because they have to. Ex: you are the boss)
2. Permission (People follow you beyond what they have to)
3. Production (People follow because of what you have done for the group or organization)
4. People Development (People follow you because what you have done for them)
5. Personhood (People follow you because of who you are and what you represent)

See "Developing the Leader Within You" by John C. Maxwell.

The main point that Mr. Maxwell makes in his leadership teaching is that leadership is through influence not authority. Any authority that a leader does have was given to him or her by those he or she leads. Therefore, to say that a woman cannot lead a man is ridiculous. If a woman proves herself according the steps just presented, then she could lead anyone. Leadership has nothing to do with gender and it is a shame that people would suppress and discriminate against women because of their gender. We should be judged, respected, followed, or whatever because of what we have done and proven of ourselves. We should not be discriminated against because of our gender, race, nationality, or whatever.

I say, "God bless women!" This world would be so much worse if it were not for the women. Women have a place in this world and in the Christian faith. Her place is determined by God and His calling on her life and not by men who declare what a woman can and cannot do. Women are blessed because God has blessed his people. Women are blessed because they are God's creation. Women have done much for all of humanity and Christianity and therefore should not be discriminated against because of their gender. Women are blessed so why don't we just let them take part in salting and lighting the world (Matthew 5:16). Amen.

Biblical Authority

Pastor Bill

The authority of the Christian is Jesus Christ. Actually the authority of all is Jesus Christ. However, when we try to determine what is true or false in regards to Christianity, then we have one sure place to turn. We can always go to the Bible to determine what is true and what is false. Unfortunately, men and women turn to their own biases and presuppositions before turning objectively to the Scriptures. The key here is objective analysis of the Scriptures. This means that we rid ourselves as best we can of any presuppositions about the topic in question when we seek answers in the Scriptures. You approach the topic as if you know nothing about it else you will insert your own philosophies and presuppositions into the interpretations of the scriptures.

The ultimate authority of the Christian faith is the written word of God. Men and women have always introduced their own dogma into the mix and people pursue those instead of the truth of the Scriptures. Do you realized that men and women died because of their belief in the authority of Scripture. They died because they believed that Jesus was head of the Church and the ultimate authority of the Church is His word. What about you? What is your ultimate authority in regards to the Christian faith. Are you committed to following Christ or men and women?

Sin is Crouching at the Door

By Latonia Ayscue, M.Ed

Genesis 4:6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.” NIV

Today was a particularly trying day – you see I am not self-employed, so I have to go to work. I went to bed exhausted with a lot of things on my mind. Those things; however, weren’t enough to prevent me from sleeping because I went to sleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.

It’s really late at night - the wee hours of the morning when I fitfully aroused myself from a dream. Pulling the covers close around me for security, I recalled parts of the dream feeling frightened, running from something that caused me to thrash back and forth desperately trying to wake up. Still in a metaphysical state, I drifted off again. The dream- continued from where it left off. Eventually, the dream became so terrifying that my thrashing woke me abruptly and completely. I groped for James and he wasn’t there. I suddenly remembered that he was out of town and that I was in the house alone. I pulled the covers, which were disarray, over my body. I’m shaking, my senses, tingling, and my mind racing. My thoughts were on Him.

I listened. Sounds of the night reverberate in my ears: crickets, cracking from the radiators, sounds from cars moving outside, my own breathing and a stillness that is inaudible. I don’t know why, but there is a sense of anticipation. I’m gasping, breathing hard through my mouth, frantically looking around in the darkness...... Read the rest of this exceptional article.

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Well, God bless you always. Remember to eat, drink, and digest the word of God and know God for yourself. Be blessed and be free!

- Pastor William Cunningham