Recent Comments about Jason Fritts and the Issue of Christ Being Part of the Gospel

For those who are following the situation with Mr. Fritts, and also the issue of Christ being part of the gospel, there have appeared a number of informative comments under the posts regarding Mr. Fritts I have published since the first one I published on 5/25/26. I have published 6 posts so far including this one.  I suggest, for those interested, that you look at the comments under each one.  There are a number of new comments, some of them mine, but not together - they are under a number of different posts.

In one of my comments I referred to one or more past posts of mine on the subject of Acts 5, Ananias lying to Peter.

I have searched for that post, and found it.  Perhaps there is more than one if you search earlier than this one.  Look at the post titled, "Is It Ever Right for a Christian to Lie?", dated October 18, 2020.

I make the point that Peter did not accuse Ananias of lying to an apostle or to a minister.  Ananias lied to God.  How?  By lying to an apostle or minister?  No, it doesn't say that.  He lied to God by lying to the Holy Spirit.  How did he do that? By lying to a member who had the Holy Spirit in him.

In other words, the Bible doesn't say that this was serious in God's sight because Peter was an apostle.  It was serious because Peter had the Holy Spirit.

But by the same principle, it can also be serious when if a minister lies to a Church of God member who has the Holy Spirit.  As I understand this lesson, a minister who lies to his members who have the Holy Spirit is lying to God!

And members who support and follow that minister have to bear some responsibility, if they stay with him after knowing that he lies, because God says, "Keep yourself far from a false matter; do not kill the innocent and righteous. For I will not justify the wicked" (Exodus 23:7).  Also, "You shall not circulate a false report. Do not put your hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness" (Exodus 23:1).

I am not trying to be overly harsh, but that is what God says.

Also, God does not have kind words for ordained ministers who abandon the flock.

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep" (John 10:11-13).

"And the word of the LORD came to me, saying, 'Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel, prophesy and say to them, "Thus says the Lord GOD to the shepherds: 'Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks? You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the flock. The weak you have not strengthened, nor have you healed those who were sick, nor bound up the broken, nor brought back what was driven away, nor sought what was lost; but with force and cruelty you have ruled them. So they were scattered because there was no shepherd; and they became food for all the beasts of the field when they were scattered. My sheep wandered through all the mountains, and on every high hill; yes, My flock was scattered over the whole face of the earth, and no one was seeking or searching for them.' " '  Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'surely because My flock became a prey, and My flock became food for every beast of the field, because there was no shepherd, nor did My shepherds search for My flock, but the shepherds fed themselves and did not feed My flock' - therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD! Thus says the Lord GOD: 'Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My flock at their hand; I will cause them to cease feeding the sheep, and the shepherds shall feed themselves no more; for I will deliver My flock from their mouths, that they may no longer be food for them' " (Ezekiel 34:1-10).

"So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Feed My lambs.' He said to him again a second time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' He said to Him, 'Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.' He said to him, 'Tend My sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?' Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, 'Do you love Me?' And he said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed My sheep' " (John 21:15-17).

Sometimes it takes time for a minister, or any member, to sort things out and come to know God's will for them.  I understand that.  Nevertheless, it is good to be reminded of the overall truth, regardless of how details fall, that an ordained minister has a calling to serve God's people, and in some cases, to preach the gospel and the Ezekiel warning to Israel to prepare our nations for the great tribulation that is coming.  This should be motivated by love for our neighbors and for our brethren in the Church of God.