Perilous Times
“This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be…lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God” 2 Tim. 3. The big story of this year’s Super Bowl, broadcast to a billion people around the world, involved the arrest of Eugene Robinson. Robinson is a star football player with the Atlanta Falcons. The night before the game, he had been arrested for soliciting a prostitute. Afterwards, the newspapers reported that Robinson is a born-again Christian known for boldly preaching about Jesus Christ. A few hours before his arrest, he had received an award for high moral character from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
These are certainly perilous times. Our President, who claims to be “born-again” and attends a Southern Baptist church, is being tried in the Senate for charges relating to his immoral behavior. According to the polls, most people think it is a private matter and don’t care. Meanwhile, pornographer Larry Flynt, who once claimed to be “born-again,” is paying a million dollars to anyone who can expose immorality in a (Republican) congressman. Several have been exposed.
What are we to make of this? If a liberal such as Rev. Martin Luther King or Rep. Barney Frank is found to be living immorally, people don’t seem to care. But they are outraged when a conservative, especially one who claims to be Christian, is exposed.
This shouldn’t surprise us. “You therefore who teaches another, do you not teach yourself?…You who says a man should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery” Romans 2:21. When a politician publicly condemns sexual immorality, his personal life must be above reproach. And when a Christian preaches against sin and for righteous living, he had better be living a morally pure life.
“He shall have judgment without mercy, who has shown no mercy, and mercy rejoices against judgment” James 2:13. The Holy Spirit gives Christians the power to resist temptation and live according to God’s moral code. But Christians sin. Some even commit such “gross” sins as adultery. Let us show mercy to those believers who fall, and help restore them in a spirit of humility. “These things I write unto you that you sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” 1 John 2:1.
When a woman was brought to Jesus as an adulterer, the Pharisees wanted Jesus to publicly condemn her. Instead he showed mercy: “Go and sin no more.” We say that we should “hate the sin and love the sinner.” Often, we are known more for hating the sin than loving the sinner.
Jim Bakker’s fall brought great reproach to the cause of Christ. But a few Christians showed mercy by ministering to him in prison. He has repented, and God has restored him to ministry. When a Christian is caught in immorality, it makes it harder for us to preach the gospel. Non-Christians have another excuse to regard all Christians as hypocrites. We need to respond by ministering to people as Jesus did. He loved people, showed mercy to them, and avoided all self-righteousness. He spoke the truth in love.
Ministry News
For the past eight years, the San Francisco Vineyard Church has graciously allowed us to meet in their facility both for our Friday night outreaches and for our week-long SOS-San Francisco outreach. In January, their landlord told them that they need to find a new meeting place by early March. Pastor Michael Brodeur does not think they can afford a full-time facility. He expects to lease a meeting place for Sunday mornings, and rent some office space the rest of the week. Please pray that they will find a good facility. Call them at (415) 558-9900 if you know of an available place to rent in San Francisco, preferably in the downtown area.
Meanwhile, this left us without a meeting place. Fortunately, Pastor Jeff Green of Glad Tidings Church was eager not only to allow us to meet in their building but to get his church involved in the outreach and help us recruit workers and intercessors for it. Glad Tidings is an Assembly of God Church which has ministered in the city since 1913. Our SOS-San Francisco outreach met at Glad Tidings from 1981-1987. We hope to find a meeting place for our Friday night outreaches by the time you get this newsletter. Call us and we’ll let you know.
Coming Events
Note: All outreaches are subject to change. Call (510) 531-5325 the day before to confirm outreaches or for more information.
Friday March 5, 12, 19 7:15 PM. Witnessing in various S.F. neighborhoods. Call (510) 531-5325 for meeting location.
Sat. March 6 Berkeley Outreach. 1:30-5:30 PM.
Sat. March 13 San Francisco Outreach. 12-1:30 PM Powell and Market. 2:30-4:30 PM Union Square.
Sat. March 20 San Francisco Outreach 12-1:30 PM Powell and Market. 2-5 PM Powell and Ellis St.
SOS-San Francisco
August 13-21
We have set the dates for this summer’s SOS-San Francisco outreach. Teams from the Vineyard (San Diego) and from Calvary Assembly of God in Salinas are already planning to come. Besides being the last year of the 1900’s, it is our 20th annual summer outreach and we expect it to be a great outreach. We hope many of you who have attended SOS outreaches over the past 20 years will join us this summer.
Ministry News
God blessed with dry weather and wonderful outreaches in January.
We held two outreaches at Union Square. Each time, a local church brought not only a worship group but many of their members to witness with us. On January 9, Shiloh Full Gospel Church in San Francisco ministered. They took one man they prayed with, Robert, to their discipleship house. We also prayed with Juan Pablo, Diane and Edwin that day. On January 30, the Father’s House in Vacaville ministered. We gave out food and New Testaments and prayed with several people that day.
The Motion to Dismiss the criminal charges against me from last August has been rescheduled twice. It is now scheduled for February 9. I’ll let you know what happened next month. Please continue to pray for this ongoing problem. Pray that the persecution by the Police Department and District Attorney’s Office will end, so we can freely preach the gospel in San Francisco.
We have had no problem with the police since last August, and are still getting permits. However, our permits at Powell and Market are limited to 1 1/2 hours. Please pray that we could once again get five hour permits at this location.
Once again, I want to thank you for your prayers and financial support for this ministry. Pray for more Christians to help us witness on Friday nights and Saturday afternoons. Ask God to open people’s hearts so that we will see more people saved. Please pray for those who responded to the gospel on the streets this past month, or wrote us in response to tracts. Pray for Ariel, whom I spoke with on Polk Street. When I spoke with him a year ago, he was addicted to heroin. He has been drug-free for six months and is trying to follow Jesus. Pray also for Omar (SF), Cindy (Rodeo, CA), Bill (Susanville, CA prison), and Larry (Daytona, FL prison).
Our Tape of the Month is “Witnessing Boldly for Jesus.” This is a message I gave last month at the Business Men’s Fellowship in Vacaville. I hope many of you will join us for an outreach this month. We need your help.
Yours in His love,
Larry Rosenbaum
