This is what it looks like when God permits
people to exercise their free will and respond to the call of the world to walk
the broad and easy path to Hell.
In early January, Hoke designed a sign that read: "Bruce Jenner is
still a man. Homosexuality is still a sin. The culture may change. The Bible
does not."
Despite there being no outward sign of fracture within the church, on Saturday evening, Hoke published the following unexpected update on Facebook:
As of today, I am no longer the pastor of Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church. After much prayer and counsel, I have decided that it is best to briefly communicate what has taken place.
1. I was informed by our other elder that he felt he could no longer follow my lead as Pastor of TBPC.
2. I was informed that essentially all but one couple in membership would leave the church if I continued as pastor of TBPC.
3. Our other elder and the couple felt that those who left would likely return if I would leave.
4. Our other elder was agreeable to stay and assume the pastoral responsibilities.
Therefore it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the local body for us (TBPC and the Hoke family) to part ways.
Despite there being no outward sign of fracture within the church, on Saturday evening, Hoke published the following unexpected update on Facebook:
As of today, I am no longer the pastor of Trinity Bible Presbyterian Church. After much prayer and counsel, I have decided that it is best to briefly communicate what has taken place.
1. I was informed by our other elder that he felt he could no longer follow my lead as Pastor of TBPC.
2. I was informed that essentially all but one couple in membership would leave the church if I continued as pastor of TBPC.
3. Our other elder and the couple felt that those who left would likely return if I would leave.
4. Our other elder was agreeable to stay and assume the pastoral responsibilities.
Therefore it was determined that it would be in the best interest of the local body for us (TBPC and the Hoke family) to part ways.
It's
a pity that Pastor Hoke left the church rather than informing the other elder
and all but one couple in membership that they were welcome to leave. After
all, they have already abandoned both God and the Bible in order to pursue the
favor of the world.
The purpose of the church is not for non-Christians to feel good about how they are not [insert anti-Narrative badthink here]. What good does it do for anyone to return to a building that is now, at best, spiritually empty? The pastor said he left "in order to keep the church intact", but that church is not merely shattered, it is dead.
Never quit. Never, ever, quit. Make them kick you out. And then, make the rubble bounce.
The purpose of the church is not for non-Christians to feel good about how they are not [insert anti-Narrative badthink here]. What good does it do for anyone to return to a building that is now, at best, spiritually empty? The pastor said he left "in order to keep the church intact", but that church is not merely shattered, it is dead.
Never quit. Never, ever, quit. Make them kick you out. And then, make the rubble bounce.
