My Grandfather Was An Idiot! My Dad Was Crazy Too!
My Grandfather Was An Idiot! My Dad Was Crazy Too!
“My grandpa was old school. His ways may have worked back in the 60’s, but this is a new day! They won’t work now. Gramps was sincere and I love him, but bless his heart he didn’t do it right. Since he is gone, and now that I’m the pastor, I’ve had to make changes that will reach my generation. Grandpa’s ways just won’t work today. This is a new day!”
That’s what he said. He laughed and openly made fun of his grandfather as he talked to me about the old-time Pentecostal church services ‘back in the day.’
I knew his grandfather. I’d even preached for him. My father knew his grandfather and preached for him too. Yes, he might have done things different according to the grandson’s ‘enlightened’ thinking, but he still had over 700 in Sunday School having church the old-time way.
(You and I aren’t the finally judges of things, I know. But why can’t some people see what is so obvious and apparent to the rest. It’s seems simple when you do the doctrinal math.)
Grandpa’s “Old Time Pentecostal” Type Leadership Was,
- Preaching “Holiness” and naming sin.
- Preaching “Modesty in dress”.
- Preaching “Separation from the world”
- Preaching “Standards”.
- Preaching “The essentially of Acts 2:38 experience.
- Preaching “You must repent!”
- Preaching “You must be baptized in Jesus Name!”
- Preaching “You must be filled with the Holy Ghost speaking with other tongues!”
Because Of What He Preached, Grandpa Had Over 700 In Church Membership.
The Grandson’s “Emergent Church” Type Leadership is,
- No “Standards” preaching.
- No “Holiness” preaching or naming of sin.
- No “Modesty” preaching.
- No “Requirements for Salvation except Believe” Holy Ghost = optional.
With All His ‘Progressiveness’ He Only Has 40 In Membership.
The bulk of the saints scattered when the grandson tore down what the grandfather had built. Yet in the grandson’s blindness, he still thinks his grandpa was an idiot for preaching the old-time Pentecostal ways. And he still thinks his grandfather did it all wrong. Even though most of the saints have left, he still rejects everything that is, and everything that looks Apostolic.
Nevertheless, Grandpa Was Right!
†††
A Son’s “Enlightened” Pastoral Style
His father pastored a revival church. A growing church, but he got old and retired. The people wanted his son to be their new pastor.
Today, all evidence the father’s holiness preaching has been removed. What once was a Pentecostal showcase in the area and made true Pentecostals smile, now only makes them shake their head in dismay.
The difference is unbelievable and unacceptable to all of the senior saints. Even ministers that grew up in the church, no longer want to go back even for a visit. They now would never consider taking members from their own congregation over for a visit. The church is so shockingly different; it is even shunned by many liberals.
The choir members look just like the sinners they are singing to. All standards have disappeared.
To top things off, the son dangles a weekly retirement check over his aged father’s head in an effort to keep his dad silent. He cannot afford to ever let his father preach again. It’s a shame to see the old man of God treated with such disrespect.
He believes his dad’s doctrinal preaching of the new birth was unnecessary. He also believes preaching about any kind of dress standard is unnecessary too.
The church is not growing, but the son would rather have the smaller church and be free of standards. So, he is happy because his wife is happy. They are free at last.
Nevertheless, Dad Was Right!
†††
I don’t expect one compromiser or hater of holiness to change because of my post today. But I would like to remind my readers of an old scripture.
It’s A Promise And It’s A Prophecy!
1Cor. 3:13 Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is.
There’s coming a day…
Apostolic Expository Series
Christy Ballestero (My Beautiful DIL)
http://marciaballestero.com/
Pastor Anthony & Kim Ballestero, New Destiny Worship Center, Clearwater, FL (My Son)
Pastor Bryan & Christy Ballestero, Temple Of Pentecost, Raleigh, NC (My Son)
James Groce Blog – "Toward The Mark"
Kenneth Bow Blog
Kingdom Speak Podcast
Philip Harrelson – "The Barnabas Blog"
Verbal Bean Ministries
Holy Ghost Radio
The Ballestero Blog 
Sometimes you make us laugh, and sometimes cry; this one made me cry.
DEH,Sr
April 26, 2011 at 1:48 am
Me too.
mballestero
April 26, 2011 at 1:49 am
I have seen this happening and still see it happening. Strangely, in the ones I see, the youngest of the generations of pastors in that family is letting standards go for growth. In some, its really kicking off because the older ones lost strength to fight and no place to go and the younger are ruling and like you said, paying off dad above them to keep his mouth shut. Like Brother Booker said in a recent message, because of human reasoning and not spiritual reasoning, they approve of worldliness as ok, see Revelations unfolding and know prophecy well but will take the mark of the beast simply because of human reasoning. Keep at it with what you are doing. It affects all our friends and family in the churches.
Janell and Tom Puleo
April 26, 2011 at 8:00 am
It’s sad how many Apostolic churches are trying to blend in with the denominational churches of their town. Unless you’ve got unlimited funds, you can’t possibly compete with many of their programs, professional music, etc. The only hope you have, is not blending in, but in standing out. We need to stop being Apostolic in name but agnostic in practice. It’s time for us to go back to being Spirit led, on-fire, holiness churches. Only the Truth will make a difference in your city.
Tammi
April 26, 2011 at 8:03 am
Sad stories but true.
Steve Epley
April 26, 2011 at 9:24 am
Wow What a great post Elder Ballestero. I’m glad for a One God Apostolic holiness preacher in my life. I have seen, in my own church town, what compromise will do, it is sad and my heart grieves for it but I refuse to compromise. Like my pastor said I’d rather a church that has only 50 people that love God than a church with 500 and it’s members wont let him preach anything. As His coming gets closer we need preachers like you, bro. booker, my pastor, and any other evangelist and pastors trying to hold up this blood stained bannar of truth to preach this truth it’s whats going to get us out of this world and it’s the only message that is going to work. Thank you elder for this post.
chris smith
April 26, 2011 at 9:34 am
I have been a Jesus Name Pentecostal all my life and I see the same changes all over. The Devil has blinded the eyes of those that have given over to the worldly ways.Why play church?
Marian June Davis
April 26, 2011 at 10:23 am
I shake my head in wonder at the stupidity of these two preachers you have shown and others like them.
“A fool despiseth his father’s instruction…” Proverbs 15:5
“He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.” Proverbs 17:21
Johnny King
April 26, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Wow, your verses say it perfectly. Thank you.
mballestero
April 26, 2011 at 2:28 pm
I visited a church with a good preaching pastor but he let his wife get a hold of something in his heart where she wanted to cut her hair, wear pants, and wear jewelry. That was the end of his church. It was really sad the last time I was there. They sang Happy Birthday to me and invited me to go up front and get a gift on the piano. I walked up there and the preacher looked me square in the eye and said, “You won’t want any of that.” I looked at the piano, where his wife was sitting, with a basket of beaded necklaces sitting on top of the piano. It broke my heart that he knew and still let her run the show.
Veridical_Angel
April 26, 2011 at 10:28 pm
Amen amen amen
kennethbow
April 27, 2011 at 11:23 am
So sad! Jeremiah charged us to “Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, wherein is the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls…” (6:16) The next verse says “Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet…” (v.17) But we are living in a generation that embodies the last part of those verses: “But they said, we will not walk therein.” “But they said, we will not hearken.” I hope and pray that if the good church I am in ever takes this road that I am not so desensitized that I would remain there and go to hell! Thank you for the wakeup call, Bro. Ballestero.
Crystal Smith (Morris)
April 28, 2011 at 12:40 am
Unfortunately, the churches that have done that in our area have grown in number…but who wants a social club full of goats? Real revival is still in the Apostolic Churches!
Michel Heimoz
May 17, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Awesome post! Almost 9 years ago, I turned my backslidden life around and found my way back to the house of God. I cried the whole way through my first service because Pastor J. King in Calgary, Alberta was STILL preaching the same message that I had heard 20 years prior. I am SO GLAD that there are good men of God out there that preach the same message as the men before them… they preach standards and they name sin. I thank God for my Pastor… every day!
Lisa Goode
May 25, 2011 at 5:14 pm
This is DEEP. It’s very moving, really. Keep on teaching, this message is so rarely preached in today’s churches! I’ve been “saved” for 24 years and have just heard this topic of holiness and modesty preached for the FIRST time this year. It’s really SCARY to think how western Americans have accepted Satan’s bait and corrupted God’s standard by acculturating the holiness of God to the American standard of “anything goes”. I now understand for the first time in my life that the purpose of modesty is not restriction, but to outwardly demonstrate what God has done for us on the inside. We are to glorify God with our temple, our body. God is not into “sexy” and He equates it with harlotry (in modern day terms=prostitution) Don’t “sell out” to the world, the consequences are eternal. We need to teach the upcoming generation God’s standards for holiness, and how we please God by dressing modestly. I really want to be holy, and meet Him in His Kingdom in eternity. How about you?
Rebecca Rhoads Toruno
August 13, 2013 at 10:01 pm
Bro. Ballestero – I have truly enjoyed your blog! This has challenged me to stay the course no matter what is said! That holiness in everything that it means is a must! As a young minister I would love to read a post of the words of wisdom from an elder to a young man in the ministry. Again thank you for your Blog!
Jason Wilke
July 1, 2014 at 5:40 pm
Holiness is still right. I love old school preaching. We need to go back to the old landmark.
Debbie Moore
June 10, 2017 at 9:52 am
Aman! the Old lighthouse is being tore down.
And we better get back to the old path where in the good way..and the only way to real happiness. And to life eternal..
Earl Swonger
January 9, 2018 at 12:06 pm
Old time holiness preaching preached holiness or hell. That is still the message for today
Patricia Holden
April 9, 2020 at 10:58 am