The Ballestero Blog

Pentecostal Spin Doctors?

Car Race Story

Mr. Madden, my teacher from South Bend Central High School, told a story one day to make a point during our Speech and Debate Class in 1961.

He repeated a story that TASS, the official news source of the U.S.S.R. had released during the Cold War.

The news article was a report of an automobile race between an American Ford, and an unnamed Russian vehicle. Only two cars were in the race.

The Ford blew the doors off of the Russian vehicle. Ego was at stake. The Russians refused to lose face, so they skewed the details, without actually lying.

TASS reported that in an International Stock Car Race, the American car came in next to last, and that the Russian car placed second. That type of reporting, Mr. Madden told us, was called Propaganda. Today, we are uncomfortable with using that term. We choose to use the word spin and those who spin, are called Spin Doctors!

Even Husbands And Wives Are Good At It!

Spin Doctors are not always highly paid professionals. Some are folks just like you and me. We may not get paid for doing it, but most of us have tried it on some level.

He – May Try To Put A Spin On Why He Needs A New:

• Boat
• Truck
• Deer Rifle
• iPad 3
• MacBook Pro

She – May Try To Put A Spin On Why She Needs A New:

• Dress
• Pair Of Shoes
• Couch
• iPhone 5
• Mini Van

The Old Testament Even Had Spin Doctors.

The Prophet Isaiah decried the use of Spin Doctors nearly 740 years before the birth of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

This generation has nothing new in Spin Department. It was in use before the church was ever born in Acts Chapter 2.

To feel more comfortable in our waywardness, we mortals try to:

• Justify our sin,
• Justify ourselves,
• Justify our compromise.

Today, some Church Members have done it, some Backsliders have done it, and worse than that, some Preachers have done it too. God, especially, detests the work of Spin Doctors!

For Centuries, Some Have Wanted A Spin Doctor For A Pastor.

Isaiah 30:8 Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book, that it may be for the time to come for ever and ever:

Isaiah 30:9 That this is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of the LORD:

Isaiah 30:10 Which say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:

Carnal people have always wanted the preacher to leave them alone. “Preach, but don’t preach,” seems to be the message they convey to their pastor. Hirelings have no problem adjusting.

The New Testament Had Spin Doctors.

Paul Warned The Church

Colossians 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.

Colossians 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.

Paul Warned Timothy

2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

2 Timothy 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Some congregations love the Pop Psychology they hear in the pulpit. But, deaf ears are turned to the preaching of doctrine. Not every congregation is willing to sing the song, “Preacher Preach To Me.”

Preacher, preach to me,
Preacher, preach to me,
whatever it takes,
I must be saved.
Preacher, preach to me.

For many years I served sin
But a preacher preached to me.
I’ve come thus far, but not on my own
A preacher preached to me.

Preacher, pay me no mind.
Preach it right down the line
There’s one thing for certain,
regard not my person
Preacher, preach to me.

Preacher, preach it right
Lord knows we need to hear from Heaven tonight
The word itself is pure, there is nothing it can’t cure
Preacher, preach to me.

Preacher, preach to me
Preacher, preach to me,
Whatever it takes, I must be saved,
Preacher, preach to me.
Preacher, preach to me.

(Lyrics and music by Bro. Wayne Lawhorn)

Jesus Even Warned His Followers Of Spin Doctors

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

Judas Was A Spin Doctor

John 12:5 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

John 12:6 This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Spin Doctors:

1. Write Bible Translations they think people will like better!
2. Hate to call sin, Sin! So they rename it or rephrase it.
3. Think the mention of the Blood is not necessary.
4. Tell you that fat meat is not greasy.
5. Want their churches to be seeker friendly.
6. Believe they can win more of the world by looking like the world.
7. Are in Chat Rooms.
8. They are on Forums.
9. They have Facebook Accounts.
10. They are found in Religious Organizations.
11. They are also among Independents.
12. They no longer say they spoke in tongues. They say they prayed in their prayer language.
13. They no longer say they will baptize in you Jesus Name. They now baptize you, “Into Christ.”

No Apostle Ever Put A Spin On The Gospel Message. Their Preaching Was:

• Straight forward
• Simple
• No-nonsense
• Practical
• Their accounts were accurate and not self serving
• Their words benefited the reader
• Their advice served others, not themselves
• More importantly, it was truthful and anointed.

Satan Was The First Spin Doctor!

Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden:

Genesis 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Genesis 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

We all should have learned our lesson from this example alone!

Nathanael Was NOT A Spin Doctor!

John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

The Lord Jesus chose him to be a Disciple. He knew Nathanael could be trusted with handling the Truth!

In whom is no guile. That is the very first comment out of the mouth of Jesus when He saw him. Would Jesus be impressed with you as a disciple, because you had no guile?

1 Peter 3:10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

The Punishment Of Spin Doctors.

Revelation 21:27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

The Truth Still Matters!