Lateral Ministries: Following Jesus Beside You

I have a really simple history with drugs and alcohol. There’s nothing complicated about it. I was 11 1/2 when I first started seeking to fit in with the wrong crowd, and 12 or 13 the first time I ever used a mind-altering substance, and I absolutely loved it.  That was not good.  I spent the decade that followed crippled and enslaved to substance abuse. It hurt me, and I hurt people I loved during those dark years. Above all, I was being disobedient and disrespectful to the Lord, whom I knew better than almost any of my peers did (though I didn’t know Him as well as I thought I did). But graciously, He had mercy on me. He spared my life, and though I had several serious run-ins with the law, He also providentially spared me any serious charges or long-term incarceration.  At age 21, I made the first of several major steps towards a serious commitment to the Lord, and things got progressively better from there, though it was a longer road than I imagined it would be. Deca...

What’s in a name? In short, the answer is “a lot.” Our misguided friends among the so-called Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) emphasize the covenant name of God, YHWH (Yahweh, or Jehovah), above all other descriptors of God’s people. I’m going to expose three problems with this.  First, if the JWs were accurately bearing witness to the truth of YHWH’s Scripture, I wouldn’t have as much of a problem with the name they use. As things stand, however, it’s problematic. All true Christians are faithful witnesses to Jehovah because we teach His word in truth. They don’t, so, sadly, they’re taking His name in vain (Exodus 20:7).  Second, there is a name Scripture teaches Jesus’ disciples to wear, and it’s His. This doesn’t forbid our wearing His Father’s name or any other of the several biblical descriptors of His people, but the primary name affirmed by Scripture by which Jesus’ disciples came to be known is “Christian.” Luke recorded in Acts, “And in Antioch the disciples were first calle...

The Jehovah’s Witnesses (JWs) started as independent “Bible Students” groups influenced by the teachings of Charles Russell, that the “time of harvest” had come, and the end of this world was near. His teachings were given the name “Russellism” by his detractors. In 1881, he founded “Zion's Watch Tower Tract Society,” to disseminate tracts, papers, doctrinal treatises, and Bibles. In 1886, its name was changed to “Watch Tower Bible and Tract Society.” After Russell’s death, his followers formed several groups, the largest being The Watchtower Society, under the leadership of “Judge” Rutherford. They adopted the name “Jehovah’s Witnesses” in 1931. The JWs are a pseudo-Christian cult. The organization is led by the leaders of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society, headquartered in Brooklyn, NY. The organization claims to be the “‘faithful & discreet slave’ class whom Jesus has ‘appointed over His belongings.’” This comes from a misinterpretation of Matthew 24:45–47, which I wi...

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." (1 Corinthians 9:24–27 ESV) The recognition of a spiritual nature in humanity is nearly universal. Even those who deny it believe in and depend on undeniably spiritual realities, such as meaning, justice, and love. We are spiritual beings, and our spirit is much more than animated dirt and cannot be explained away by a science book. Everything that exists has a cause, a string of “parent” sources that stretches back to the Uncaused Cause. Lambs have sheep for parents. Humans have a man and a woman. Spirits come from Spirit. God is our Father. He is the Father of all ...

Hebrews 12:23 says Jesus’ people are “enrolled in heaven.” The apostle Paul teaches us that the faithful’s “names are in the book of life.” In Revelation 3:5, the Lord promises, “The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life.” In Revelation 13:8 and 17:8, we learn the names of the saved have been written in the Book of Life from before the foundation of the world and that the names of the lost are not written in the book. What Scripture teaches is true: “God’s firm foundation stands, bearing this seal: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and, ‘Let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity’” (2 Timothy 2:19 ESV).  There are two sides in the war for our souls, God’s and Satan’s. You’re on a side whether you realize it or not, and the choices you’ve made as foreknown by God (Rom. 8:29) have and will determine whether your name is written in that all-important book. This is why Peter says, “Be all ...

First, greetings. I've started this blog as one of several efforts to increase the helpful teachings I can share with Christians and truth-seekers everywhere. Lord willing, I'll say more about myself and what I do in a future official introductory post. For now, I'll just post this "open letter" that I initially wrote to church members where I serve as Preaching Minister and pray it will bless someone. —JLP AN OPEN LETTER TO CHRISTIAN YOUTH ABOUT TO HEAD OFF TO COLLEGE Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, I hope you will hear me out as I have a few things I want to share with you as an investment in your happy and prosperous future. It won’t take more than five minutes to read this short note, so please take the time.    You need to be warned that you may be heading for dangerous territory. I don’t want to come across as alarmist or fearful or negative, as I’m not the least bit worried about the dangerous influences you all are likely to be exposed to—there isn...