Here's a little background. I was watching this parody periscope video featuring two characters, Mother Walker, a church mother played by Lexi Allen, and Antwan, a gay man played by DW Bass. Periscope for those who don't know is an app that allows users to do live video shows or sessions. So Mother Walker and Antwan was doing what some would consider a mockery of an old school prayer service. They were taking prayer request and all that. I will admit that I was laughing and laughing hard. But there was one part where I feel that they went a bit over the line, and I felt convicted after laughing. The name of Prophet Brian Carn came up, and the real mockery started. If you don't know who Brian Carn is, he's one of the well known prophets. I guess best known as a traveling evangelist.
Before I go on, let me say that I'm not going to offer an opinion on him or his public perception right now because this is not the place for it. And I got enough heat on me already.
Anyway, they began to make a mockery of the accusation of him being a false prophet. I was aware of the story, and I was laughing. Where I got convicted is that it came back to my remembrance when my pastor talked about the story in the Bible about Elisha and when some youth made fun of his bald head.
"And he went up from thence unto Bethel: and as he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; go up, thou bald head. And he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them." - 2 Kings 2:23-24
So I looked at those verses and then I read the commentary which had this to say, "When we are cynical and sarcastic toward religious leaders, we are in danger of mocking not just the person, but also the spiritual message. While are are not to condone the sin that some leaders commit, we need to pray for them, not laugh at them." Now that's heavy. How many times have we mocked people and not prayed for them. Now let me say that I'm that guy that mocks and makes fun. So I understand the gimmick. But, how much is too much?
"Pray without ceasing." 1 Thessalonians 5:17
"I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honestly. For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." - 1 Timothy 2:1-4
"Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you." Luke 6:28
When you hear about the "old school church" you hear about the healing that took place. The miracles, signs, and wonders that took place. And you hear about the prayer that used to take place. Of course some focus on the part of the old school that is about make-up and the women wearing pants thing. I say let's focus on the parts of the old school that made it work. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't the clothes they were wearing that made things go the way they want back in the day. I could be wrong, but I read no where in the Word that these things come by wearing a long skirt and no pants.
Back to prayer tho. Prayer is how most ministries got their start. Stop allowing the devil to take prayer out of your life. I hear it talked about all the time that prayer got taken out of schools. Well it didn't get taken out of your home or your church did it? You don't have to be in the school to pray.
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear form heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." - 2 Chronicles 7:14
I think the old school church really understood that. The same God back then is the same God today. God hasn't changed, We have. We need to get back to basics. Not talking about clothing. I'm talking spiritual. Get back to prayer. Get back to fasting. Get back to the "songs that brought us over." That can still bring us over. Those old songs still work if sung with power. Lets get back to prayer.
"Confess your faults one to another, and pray for one another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16
Pray for me.
Stay Saved,
Daniel Richerson
