A Letter In defense of Jay Bakker's Ministry:

Editor's Note: Apparently this visitor misinterpreted our comments about Jay's ministry and we regret that implication. We agree with the fact that we are received through Christ Jesus unto salvation as we are. In fact we cannot live a sinless life while in the body. But we are to die to ourselves in Christ Jesus and allow the Holy Spirit to use our bodies for His works. The Holy Spirit in us cannot live in the environment of rock music and tatoos.

If you are born again: ".. you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Where-in in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience.: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God . who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2)

"If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitfulness of lusts: And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members of one another... Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:17-25, 29-30)

The letter stated the following:

There was something in your article/opinion regarding Jay Bakker that I have to take issue with. When describing his ministry, you took issue with his tattoos and basically his whole form of ministry by saying "Apparently he doesn't tell his clientele that they have to change and die to themselves to be born again."
My arguement is this: If I could die to myself and change before I could be born again, then I wouldn't really need Jesus in the first place, would I? In my Bible (1611 King James version) it specifically says that the only prerequisite to becoming a Christian is to accept Christ. It doesn't say that I have to first clean myself up before I present myself to Him for redemption.

With all that the Bakker family has endured, it is a wonder that any of them are willing to return to ministry at all. It is our duty, let me place emphasis: DUTY as brothers and sisters in Christ to uplift our fellow brothers and sisters who have fallen, and we are to help them to the place of restoration. Matthew 18 needs to be revisited by the author of this cephaministry article before any further damage is caused.

I didn't submit to Christ for so long because I fell into the lie that I had to clean myself up before God would have anything to do with me. It was only after hearing someone tell me that Christ wanted me "as I am" that I totally surrendered to Him. After I surrendered, He chiseled away the things that didn't need to be there, an d replaced them with the qualities that He had designed specifically for me.

I say kudos for Jay Bakker and anyone who has a ministry like his. I seriously doubt that you or any of your readers would so much as even give his "clientele" a second glance on the streets, much less even attempt to share the love of God with them.
Last time I checked, Jesus died for ALL, not just the ones who could get themselves cleaned up and presentable beforehand.

That's my OPINION.

Scott Rogers
OneLegWonder@Yahoo.com

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