The Ballestero Blog

Throwing Rotten Electronic Eggs And Cyber Tomatoes

Some of us have lived long enough to remember moments of light persecution to some of our churches in America. I’m not talking about the level of persecution the early church experienced during the days of the apostles. I’m referring to basic hatred and expressions of animosity against the church seen in our lifetime.  Maybe some of it was even done in ignorance, but some of it was not.

I have been in services where rotten eggs and tomatoes were thrown at the church building and cars. Brother Hoy Holcomb in Christ Temple Church in South Bend, Indiana got hit on the head with a big rock thrown through the window by neighborhood teens that hated Pentecost. It was bad and very bloody.

I preached a tent revival in Hemphill, Texas in 1964 and sinners came during the night and sprayed acid all over the canvas so that there was nothing but shreds of canvas hanging from the ropes. They had thrown tomatoes and eggs on the cars during the service as well.

Most all of us have heard stories of what Pentecostal pioneers went through in the last century. An encouraging note is that the work of Jesus Christ has always continued to thrive and grow under such persecution.

There are not too many current reports of attacks on the church anymore. Oh, occasionally some sinner kids spin their tires in the parking lots or do some other acts of stupidity. But by-in-large, Pentecostal worship is becoming more and more accepted by the outside world.

Nevertheless eggs and tomatoes are still being thrown. The ones thrown today are mostly “electronic eggs and cyber tomatoes,” as my friend Pastor Jerry Rowley Jr. says.

The people throwing them are not members of another denomination. The throwers are mainly Pentecostal backsliders and holiness rejecters. They throw them because they are mad. They evidently feel a need to trash truth so they can feel justified for leaving it.

They don’t want the Bible telling them how to live or dress, and they sure don’t want a man of God to preach or write anything that touches any area of their life.

They’ve refused to submit to the Word of God. They’ve refused to submit to the man of God. And many of the women have refused to submit to their own husbands.

These evidently are some of the silly women that got ‘led away captive’ that the Bible talks about in 2 Tim. 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,

The electronic egg and cyber tomato throwers are the same people who once talked in tongues and dressed godly but have now been turned over to a reprobate mind. They no longer believe the Holy Ghost is necessary and they dress like they’ve never been inside of an Apostolic church in their life. They now throw cyber tomatoes at anyone who still lives what the Book requires.

They once were numbered with the holiness crowd, now they make mockery of all those that still walk holy and humbly before God. It’s unbelievable! They feel no shame, and they cannot blush.

These little modern-day Jezebel’s with painted faces get on their Facebook pages and rail on anyone else that calls their hand. They don’t have it in themselves to say anything to your face when they see you in person. They are only brave when the get in front of their computer screens at home.

They wish to appear to others as a spiritual giant of some kind. They are very sure they know more than their former pastor. They seem to think they know more about Bible interpretation than anyone else. Their comments make everyone think that they alone are right and everyone in the church they’ve left is wrong and unenlightened.

That’s when their true spirit surfaces. How dare any one tell them they are wrong! They reject anyone who calls a spade a spade. How dare a preacher say black is black, and white is white. How dare he say something is actually wrong. He is being mean when he calls sin a sin. He is harsh if he enforces a standard.

These cyber tomato throwers write about good movies they went to see. They try to give presents of jewelry to the folks still in church. They show off their bathing suits and slacks. They dye their hair purple and act like everyone else has a problem. They can’t cry and worship like they once did because it would smear their makeup.

They are proud of their new tattoos and want you to see them. They are not ashamed. They are proud of their deliverance from bondage, as they call it. The guys can’t wait to show off their new facial hair.

They make jabs at holiness every chance they get. If a young lady dresses godly, they call her a grandma.

One prayerful and modest dressing young woman I know was referred to as “Virgin Mary” because she didn’t wish to be included in their carnal activities.

I am tired of listening to their justifications. I don’t wish to debate with a deluded mind. The Bible says for me not to even eat with them and I won’t.

I can’t tell you that I have ever seen anyone go charismatic and come back repentant or get restored. I am not saying it can’t happen, I am saying I haven’t seen it. No wonder the Bible says, after the second admonition… reject.

Do you know who comments on these rotten egg thrower’s posts and then helps toss electronic eggs? Other backsliders. They won’t call themselves backsliders because they attend a church.

It’s a compromising church with a backslidden pastor that lets them live like they want and dress just like the world. They have a hireling for a pastor and they love it like that. But in their mind, it’s a church.

Their Facebook pages wouldn’t look any different if they were members of a Methodist or Presbyterian Church. What a sham and reproach! The sad thing is, they still feel saved. God has turned them over to a reprobate mind.

They are not content to just go away. They are not content to avoid holiness preachers in the mall. They are not content to be classified as truth rejecters. They have to turn around and throw their rotten cyber tomatoes at those that are still living a life separated unto Him. It helps them feel justified in doing what they are doing. It really makes them feel good.

What about all the folks that love to connect with these egg throwers? At General Conferences, some get real buddy-buddy with them. They wine and dine them. Some even connect with them on Facebook and send sweet messages back and forth. Their Inbox stays busy. But they are not the same people they were years ago.

You are not going to change them. They just might change you. Go ahead, laugh with them, chit-chat and watch as they continue to throw electronic eggs and cyber tomatoes at the good guys. You are setting your self up to be one of them if you are not careful. That spirit will get off on you if you keep hanging around them. Run, don’t walk. Get away from them. They are tools of Satan. You will be to, if you are not careful.

I’m afraid for some the final chapter of ‘throwing’ has not yet begun. If God’s Word is still true, He is going to do some throwing Himself in ‘that’ day when He throws some into a lake a fire.

2Pet. 2:9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

2Pet. 2:10 but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.

2Pet. 2:11 Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord.

2Pet. 2:12 But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption;

2Pet. 2:13 And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you;

2Pet. 2:14 Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children:

2Pet. 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2Pet. 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man’s voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

2Pet. 2:17 These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever.

Remember this when the electronic rotten eggs and the cyber tomatoes start flying. They haven’t rejected us as saints or as preachers, they have rejected Him. The horrible truth will be declared in the Judgment when they finally realize God has rejected them.

The Message Has Never Changed. It’s Still… Holiness Or Hell.