My Response (To Another Brother In The Lord) About The "FU" Video From Pastor R.A. Vernon

It is very easy to automatically assume that one is being “pharasaical” when they don’t agree with someone/something in the body; especially if they have experienced some level of success in ministry like Pastor Vernon has, but that is not the case in this situation. I know that you (as well as many others on this message strand) have experienced a TON of people/leaders who are “in the box” in terms of their approach to ministry and have wrongly criticized innovative leaders (like Bro. R.A. Vernon) for whatever reason. This is not that case.


What this is is an observation from another brother in the Lord who sees another brother who has erred (not in his walk) but in the discharge of his ministerial duty to God’s people through the course of his sermon. As ministers of the Gospel (which we ALL are) we must adhere to the highest standards (by the grace of God) as representatives of the Kingdom, and have the utmost integrity in the faithful discharge of our ministerial duties, especially the ones who preach in a public setting.

I agree with you totally that the methods in which we reach people must change, (I am probably as unorthodox as they come when it comes to “out of the box” ministry) while the message (the Gospel) remains consistent. New rules do require new tools. But let me share with you why him even implying “FU” (in the context in which he used it) is wrong.

The same Apostle Paul (that you quoted) also said: “It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine NOR DO ANYTHING by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak.” –(Romans 14:21)

Would Paul contradict himself by saying “became all things to all people” and then say “don’t do anything which would cause your brother to stumble?” Not in this case, because the Word NEVER contradicts itself. Know what I mean?

We know (talking about everyone on this strand) what he meant when he said “FU” (meaning forgive you). But what about the ones who when they hear that term used all they can think about is the worldly term of “FU?” (regardless of his explanation of the “new” terminology.) Do we care about if what we say offends them? What if they struggle with cursing still? They hear it all day long in their head, on TV, and everyplace else, is it fair for them to have to hear even an implication (because we all know that he didn’t cuss cuss) of it in church which should be a place of rest/safety/instruction? Do we care enough about them to lay down our lives (our right to do certain things that may not be sinful or offensive to us) in order to strengthen their walk, or is it really to each its own? Are we our brother’s keeper?

This example is similar to someone who may be a musician or an artist who takes the music/melody/beat from a popular worldly song (say for instance “Single Ladies” by Beyonce) and then lays new lyrics to it and then attempts to minister the new song on a Sunday morning. For everyone who has ever heard the Beyonce song, it will be hard for them to enter into praise/worship because in their mind all the can see and hear is her lyrics and her doing the dance moves from her video. Should we bypass everyone and potentially “offend” them and play this new song for the sake of “reaching the young people” or being “out of the box?” Wouldn’t people in the service that morning during that song be looking around all confused and not knowing whether to sing the new song or break out dancing like Beyonce? Is God the author of confusion? No, He is not; where confusion is present, God is absent.

Speaking of offense, the Bible also says that “A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a castle.”-(Proverbs 18:19) We well may be within our “right” to say/do certain things, but if it causes offense to even one soul (not the Holy Spirit offending them pushing them towards repentance, but offense that comes from the carnality of man) I would encourage that we not even go that way.

While all of us mature Christians are laughing and saying “Amen, I got it Pastor!” you’ve got that one person who has become so offended because in their heart and mind a leader like a pastor should not even “act” like they’re cussing, know what I mean? Didn’t Christ say that he left the 99 just to rescue the 1? My brother, our disposition should be the same.

Last thing, let me tell you how we should ALL be able to tell that Pastor Vernon was wrong on this one (which is ok, because we all blow it from time to time). Anytime that you have to preface your comment with “Now ya’ll don’t get offended…” and then lead in to say what the Holy Spirit is NOT leading you to say (in this case “FU”), then you are probably about to err. Remember the bible teaches don’t do anything that causes your brother to stumble (which is normally due to some kind of offense); remember, a brother offended is hard to win (Prov. 18:19).

Pastor Jamal Bryant actually preached this message some years ago, which caused the same kind of ruckus. Why don’t we all, for the sake of unity, lay aside every sin and weight that may beset others, so we all come into a maturity in the faith with the rest of the family of God. Let God (and His Holy Word) be true, and every man be a liar. #mytwocents

"Why Revival Tarries" and The Message of The Kingdom

Over the past 100 years or so, well-meaning Christians (including myself) have prayed and sought the Lord to send revival to the nations of the world. We have heard about great moves of God in the past like the ones that occurred in California (Azusa Revival), Britain (Wales Revival), and Florida (Pensacola Revival) just to name a few. Although we have seen God do many great things during those times, those moves of God, for whatever reason (and we could all argue many points), were never sustained.

One reason that I believe that the Church has not seen revival and societal transformation like it so desires, is because Jesus NEVER told us to pray for revival to come. WHAT?! Yes, believe it or not, Christ never told us to pray for revival. Now before you jump all over me and label me a heretic, allow me to explain this position.

In the book of Saint Matthew (6:10), Jesus' disciples asked Him to teach them how to pray. One of the things that our Lord taught them during that time of instruction was to pray "that His Kingdom would come." He never once told them to pray for revival. So the question is if they didn't pray for it, then why do we?

The word of God teaches that God's people are destroyed due to a lack of knowledge (Hosea 4:6). A word that is synonymous with the term "lack of knowledge" is the word ignorance. Webster's dictionary defines ignorance as: Destitute of knowledge; uninstructed or uninformed; untaught; unenlightened. Something Unknown; undiscovered. The reason why we have/host revival services and pray for revival is due to the deficit of knowledge that we possess concerning the Kingdom of God and how it operates.

What is the Kingdom? In a nutshell, The Kingdom of God is the government of the Kingdom of Heaven. It is the preeminent ruling authority in all of heaven and earth to which every government and kingdom of every nation is subject. We, the people of God, are the citizens and ambassadors of this kingdom who have a divine mandate from our governmental leader (Jesus Christ, the King of this Kingdom) to expand the influence of our heavenly government into every sphere of society into which we are called. Ultimately, establishing His will (His influence, attributes, desires, government, etc.) on earth as it is in Heaven.

The Kingdom of God and your understanding it is of immense importance. How important? It was (and still is) so important that its message is THE ONLY message that Christ ever preached!! The ONLY ONE!! (Did you know that?)

Need more proof? It is so important that Christ instructed us to "seek FIRST the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matt. 6:33) Seeking implies looking until you find what was/is lost or until you come into a full understanding of the thing that you're seeking after. And the word "first" has implications of something that ought to be your primary focus. Christ thought that this message of the Kingdom was so important that the very first words that came out of His mouth when His ministry became public were "Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand." (Matt. 4:17)

What am I really saying? I am saying that we pray ignorantly for revival due to our lack of understanding about Christ and His Kingdom. You see inherent in the Kingdom is healing, deliverance and the revival that we pray for and long to see. We ignorantly seek and pray and ask God for the fruit (healings, deliverance, salvations, revival, etc.) instead of praying that the root (The Kingdom of God) which produces those things would be in perpetual manifestation in the nations in which we live. In the Kingdom, there is grace for the transformation of the nations, not just revival.

Due to our ignorance, not only are we, the people of God destroyed, but the world around us that we are called to impact and influence perishes as well as it eagerly awaits for the full manifestation of the sons of God (Romans 8:19); in whom the Kingdom now resides (Luke 17:21).

So beloved, don’t pray for the fruit (revival), but make a demand on the root (His Kingdom) and watch the “kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord & of His Christ.” (Rev. 11:15) #AMEN

Scripture References:

*Hosea 4:6
*Matthew 4:17
*Matthew 6:10
*Matthew 6:33
*Romans 8:19
*Luke 17:21
*Revelation 11:15

 Suggested Readings:
*The Bible (search Kingdom, Government)
*Rediscovering the Kingdom: Dr. Myles Munroe
*Understanding the Kingdom: Dr. Myles Munroe
*The Kingdom of God in You: Pastor Bill Winston

This article was originally written by Pastor Warren G. Curry, Jr and is a publication of Life Changers Ministries International. All rights reserved. © Copyright 2011