The pastor at the church in which I came to know Jesus Christ as my Savior and my Lord told a story about a man in his first church back in New England. He used to come into the church about once every two months, smelling of booze, smoke, wearing his sweaty leathers after having been out all night on his Harley raising you-know-what. His mom was a member of the church, and if he was going to continue to live at her house, he was going to have to show up at church every now and then.
One day, he sat down in his usual back pew, looking like he was either going to puke or pass out, when suddenly he sat bolt upright, stared at the pastor, who had just started speaking on Romans 7. Something in what the pastor said resonated with him, and he paid rapt attention the rest of the service, and when it was over, he steered a beeline for the pastor. He said, "I've never heard that explained that way before!" He asked several questions, made an appointment with the pastor for the following day, and spent nearly four hours talking, telling his story, and in the end, asking how he could know Christ.
From that day forward, he was a changed man. He got himself cleaned up, sold his bike, stopped smoking dope and dealing it to others (his own admission, apparently never having been caught selling), put together a resume, and got a job (he had a degree in education, but never felt motivated to use it) at a local high school as a history teacher and automotive shop instructor. He started serving at a soup kitchen (one he'd personally eaten at often in his drunken stupor days) and taking the gospel to his former biker buddies. But he couldn't give up drinking. He went through several treatment outpatient programs, finally in the summer, when school was out, checking into an inpatient program. He fell off the wagon six months later. He came to the pastor, crying out for help, God's mercy, God's removal of his sin -- and kept drinking. He even started dating a young lady at the church, married her, had two kids -- and kept drinking. He hated himself every time he gave into the urge, but not falling into the temptation was not an option.
So, I ask you, was he "carnal" or would you put another label on him?I know I quoted you out of order here, but before I responded, and wanted to put that other issue out there in front of you and ask you about it, because here's what I see: Washer would condemn this man to hell. Many on this board would too. I've never seen Washer say anything that would mitigate my statement here. He would mercilessly judge this man and claim he was not saved. And again, many on this board would too. I never met the drunken ex-biker, but I trust my former pastor, a solid preacher and Bible believer, and he was convinced -- I believe rightly so -- that the man was saved, but couldn't find the ability to surrender to the Holy Spirit regarding that one stronghold. I believe he will pay in lost reward for the missed opportunities, the rejected chances at ministry, he undoubtedly experienced because of his drinking. But not saved? Nonsense.
Paul Washer would not be invited to speak at my church.
