Mr. Tinkling Symbol

Tim Lovett

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1 Corinthians 13

King James Version

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.

2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.

3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.

10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Pray:

This church is being built on the word of God. And when people come here, I believe they are coming to hear the bible taught.

We don’t have any tricks. We aren’t trying to market religion. Our only interest is a crowd of people who want to study the bible. That is why we are here this morning.

Not long ago I was counseling with brother Virgil. It is always good to have the counsel of any and all church members in my opinion. And brother Virgil’s response was to tell me to put together a business plan. And I thought that’s great advice. I have owned and started three very successful companies. And I have put together more than one business plan. And so I began praying about it.

And as I began praying about it every day, I began to recall my history as a business owner. In 1991, I started my first company. Everyone told me that there was too much competition in that particular field and that I should get a job like everyone else. At the time I had no business plan and I had no business savvy that I was aware of. But I did read one statistic. And that statistic said that a new company will get a certain percentage of all established companies within the first five years. I did the math and thought well I can live on that. And of course, that business was eventually making upwards of 20K a month.

Now when I went to start my second business. I felt as though I should be more professional about it. So, I put together a business plan. It looked like the cover of the catcher and the rye. It was a thing of beauty. I didn’t really have to have the loan. But I thought I would leverage the banks money and save my own. I was shocked to hear the bank say that is one of the best business plans ever. But the handwriting in your application is careless and sloppy. We are going to have to say no.

The second business was just to buy and flip houses as I already worked alongside realtors every day. So, I used my own money, and I purchased a house in need of repairs for 30K dollars. I worked side by side with the carpenters and was able to update and repair the home for an investment of only 5K dollars. Within a year I was able to sell it for 75k and I had made money renting it for a year. So, I had a business plan for the second company, but it really didn’t do me any good.

On my third company I had no business plan. But after a few years of doing too much I began to have health problems and so I got out of all of it. Sold it off.

A couple of years ago, I was praying about starting another company. So, I went through a government office that helps people with disabilities start companies. They asked me to put together a business plan. So, I did. And a month later they contacted me to say that while my business plan was excellent, they could not approve it. The one guy telling me that he fought tooth and nail for me because he really believed in my plan.

I want you to understand that I love writing a good business plan. But in my professional life they hadn’t done me a bit of good to date.

But I like writing a good business plan. So, I returned to praying about it.

Then I remember something. Maybe I could just use someone else’s business plan. There must be someone out there who has written one down for how to grow and build a church. I just need to find one that works!!!

And God said to me. Hey Mr. Smarty pants. I already gave you the best business plan in the world. It’s called the bible. Pick up BIBLE.

Now, the word charity means love or agape. It is love given freely. And we know that you could be the best speaker in the world but without love it would do no good. You could give every dollar you have to feed the poor but without love it will do you no good.

When the bible tells us that love abideth it means that love is permanent. It never ceases.

Then we are told that love is the greatest of all the gifts that we can have.

And I want us to have a good understanding of why love is so important in the church.

Please turn with me to:

3 John 1-11

1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

The lesson here in John is that we will encounter difficult people in the church. Thetr NT tells us over and over that we will encounter divisive and discouraging people.

John wrote this to Gaius. And Gaius is a church leader. Gaius is having trouble with a man named Diotrephes. And Diotrephes was a wicked man.

He enjoyed causing problems in the church and he enjoyed being the center of attention. Now I’d like to refer to Diotrephes in the remainder of this morning’s message as Mr. Tinkling Symbol. So, if you hear me say Mr. Tinkling Symbol please know I am referencing Diotrephes here in 3 John.

Poor Gaius had to keep dealing with this man Diotrephes or if you will Mr. Tinkling Symbol.

Mr. Tinkling symbol we are told loves pre-eminence in the church. You see this man has no respect for the God called leaders of the church. He may try to hide it. But it shows forth in speech and his determination to undermine his pastor.

Mr. Tinkling symbol is the man who would say to you. You know I love our Pastor and that was a great message. But that one thing he said was way out in left field. I just don’t agree with that at all. Mr. Tinkling symbol is a pro at playing the part and has done so for many years. But the pastor is getting attention that HE wants and he just can’t control his mouth.

The way we would say it today is, Mr. Diotrephes’s or Mr. Tinkling symbol loves to put himself first. Which means that he loves himself first. He is the bible version of what we could call today a narcists’. He is not driven by his love for God but rather by his love for self. He wants authority and adulation and the tax write off that comes from giving his 10%.

Can you see Mr. Tinkling symbol walking into church? Late because he doesn’t have any respect for you or your time. Walking down the aisle and in his head, music is playing. As he walks about shaking hands like a politician. And as people are saying good morning. What this man hears is we just can’t live without you. And of course, he is delusional as he smiles and laughs his little effeminate laugh.

Again Mr. Tinkling symbol doesn’t acknowledge the apostle’s authority. He has no respect for the responsibilities and callings of the other members in the church as he believes himself to be the only true authority.

Sometimes Mr. Tinkling symbol is a pastor. Sometimes he’s a deacon other times he’s a Sunday school teacher. Because it is authority that this man craves.

Mr. Tinkling symbol lacks respect because he lacks the ability to love.

I have heard that Diotrephes was an uncommon name in that time. It means nourished by Zeus. It is a name associated with wealth and privilege.

In verse 10 Johns says I am going to have to talk with this man. He complains about every visitor the church has. He even stops some of them from coming into the church.

So, Mr. Tinkling symbol was a wicked slanderer. Meaning he bad mouthed people behind their backs. He was an insufferable cheapskate. And he was a bully.

The more I read about this man the more I see a picture in my mind. This very wealthy man probably goes to a church that is falling apart. But wouldn’t lift a finger to do anything about it.

And I just bet that Mr. Tinkling symbol walks past homeless people every single day. Until he can see that a church member is watching. And then Mr. Tinkling symbol who is probably worth a billion dollars. Pulls out a 5 dollars bill and says now go get yourself a happy meal. But be sure to be in church Sunday morning to publicly thank me for my generosity.

And the bible says that he slanders the church leaders. Again, probably saying. Well, I sure love that pastor. But he is wrong about this or that. How would Mr. Tinkling symbol know? It should be obvious to everyone that he doesn’t understand the word of God. But that is not always the case. As no doubt Mr. Tinkling symbol has purchased a number of gifts for the church’s members. Not from brotherly love, but to manipulate them and hold it over their heads.

We see that this man is a liar and a master of innuendo. Oh, this guy is a company man for sure. As the old saying goes. The nasty politics of getting ahead in this world aren’t wasted on Mr. Tinkling Symbol. He knows exactly how to say bad things about another church member without coming across as the jerk that he is.

But that isn’t enough for this man. He even refuses to welcome the brothers into church and even puts some people out.

Mr. Tinkling symbol doesn’t want to be welcoming to the evangelists and speakers of the church. He refuses to help take care of them. After all the churches money is HIS money. And being the greedy self-absorbed man he is, there is no way he will part with church funds to help a brother.

Mr. Tinkling symbol is a controlling authoritarian, and he is a bully.

Sounds like Gaius and John had their hands full. And this type of person is in every church I have ever been a part of.

Nowhere in the letter does it say that Mr. Tinkling Symbol failed to understand bible doctrine. Although that is a possibility.

One thing we can know this man by is his fruit. And let me give you an example of how we can biblically examine someone’s fruit.

Years ago, brother Ken was Trump this, Trump that. I just got tired of hearing it. So, I thought why not. I’ll turn on my tv and see what this guy is selling. Now keep in mind, I have NEVER voted. Not even once. I have always held to the statement made by Mark Twain. If your vote could change anything, they wouldn’t let you do it.

But I began listening to this guy’s speeches. Going through transcripts. Really studying the guy. He said all the right things. Maybe Ken was right. Until one day I heard the man say this:

After being asked if he was a Christian who had repented of his sins. He said, “I have nothing to repent of, I am not a sinner.”

Now I want everyone to turn to 1 John 1:8. I will wait because I want us to all read this together. Go ahead. I’ll read it the first time. And once you get there hold up your hand, so I’ll know everyone is there.

1 John 1:8

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

There it is. Right? The man was a liar. Any time any man says that he is not a sinner he is a liar, and the truth isn’t in him. Paul was redeemed by the grace of God. Yet he stood before the church and admitted to being the chief of sinners. The only people who denied being sinners were the Pharisees or the Jews.

So, this politician who loves to be the center of attention, is definitely a bully and definitely likes to run things is just like Mr. Tinkling symbol. And no, I don’t endorse Biden either. They are both evil zionists.

You can know a person by his fruit. Evil will tell you that it is evil. You just must pay attention. And that’s the thing with Mr. Tinkling symbol. Nobody is paying attention to him. People hear what they want to hear.

In this letter John is saying I doubt this guy is even a Christian. Or at least that is how we would say it today.

Of course, John gives us some advice on how to deal with this type. First, he tells us do not imitate evil. We are all sinners. And it is in our base instinct to return evil for evil. But John says don’t do that.

As a pastor I have dealt with people who do not want to accept the teachings of God’s word. I will always tell them privately as many as three times before I rebuke them openly. But I will rebuke them openly when the situation calls for it. But John cautions us to deal carefully with this type.

When a person goes out of his way to teach against what the pastor is teaching then it is very likely you have a Diotrephes’s on your hands who needs to be dealt with.

And this is why I opened this morning’s message with 1 Corinthians 13. When the church is faced with people like this it is VERY important that we focus on those in the church who give us joy and are full of love.

What John is telling us is to focus on the brother Danny’s. Focus on the brother Rogers, Focus on the brother Dons of the congregation. The people who you know are real and genuine and demonstrate Christian love and brotherhood. And just let Mr. Effeminate, soy boy, low testosterone, limp wristed, tinkling symbol enjoy the delusion that he is a leader.

Don’t become disillusioned. Stay the course with those who matter. Therefore, John says imitate those who are good. Pay attention to those who are sincere.

Not long ago. Don was sitting somewhere here around this front row. And he looked at me and he said these words:

Brother Tim. I don’t know if you are a man of God or a false teacher.

Laugh.

Now some preachers might get offended by someone making such a statement. But what I heard was a REAL Christian talking about REAL concerns. I know because I share them. One of the jobs of a pastor is to look out for wolves in sheep’s clothing. To be aware of the tinkling symbols of the world. And there are times when certain people come across as wolves. And I have faced the very same feeling more than once.

But I went on a visit to brother Don’s house not long ago. And he began talking about the line of Ruth. And I remember saying. I gotta stop you. Ruth was not a Moabite. Study it again.

And I don’t recall if it was a week or two but eventually, he came to me and said. Brother Tim you are right. Ruth was a descendant of Lott’s and could not have been a Moabite. Let me explain to you the importance of this:

The line of Christ had to be pure. It could not have been contaminated by the seed of Cain.

And Cain was the devil’s biological child. This is why Cain was cursed. Cain’s curse wasn’t a temporary curse or a generational curse. It was a biological curse.

Cain like his father the devil was going to hell regardless of his sacrifice because he was NOT OF God. Sure, God spoke with Cain just as God spoke with Satan. But it wasn’t about his redemption. Cain knew that men would want to kill him. He was a wretched disgusting man. Think of the old vampire movies with Noseferatu. Those vampire movies were a perfect description of the line of Cain.

Think about it like this:

Cain was from Eastern Europe.

Cain drank the blood of babies.

And Cain hates the sight of the cross.

But then you might ask why did God protect Cain? The answer to this is simple. We would not have crucified Christ. Jesus said. My sheep know my voice and they know me, and they follow me.

The Romans went out of their way to not give in to the Jews demand to crucify Christ. They even offered up a horrible criminal named Barabbas in exchange for the life of Christ.

But Cain was determined to bruise the heel of Christ. And so, God let him live for his purpose.

Deuteronomy 23:2 says:

2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord.

The word bastard here doesn’t mean the same thing it means today. Today it means a child who grows up without a father. But in bible days it meant someone who was of mixed heritage.A child that was the result of a forbidden marriage. Not the way we think of mixed today. But mixed between a fallen angel and a man.

When the bible says that the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair and desired to marry them. That is a different phrase from the phrase sons of God in Luke 3:38. This version of Sons of God in Genesis and Job 38 refers to fallen Angels.

The results of this unholy marriage were giants. If it was just a matter of one being lost and the other being saved the results would not have been giants. If that is what those verses meant there would be giants everywhere today.

Now turn with me to: Ezra

1 Now when these things were done, the princes came to me, saying, The people of Israel, and the priests, and the Levites, have not separated themselves from the people of the lands, doing according to their abominations, even of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Jebusites, the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Egyptians, and the Amorites.

2 For they have taken of their daughters for themselves, and for their sons: so that the holy seed have mingled themselves with the people of those lands: yea, the hand of the princes and rulers hath been chief in this trespass.

All of those tribes are from the line of Cain. Now if the curse of Cain was just a generational curse. Then why hundreds of years later. Is the Holy seed or mankind. Not allowed to marry the descendants of Cain?

Genesis 3:15 again reminded us that there was a Holy seed, the seed of Adam and an unholy seed or the seed of the serpent, which is Cain.

Now you can say you don’t agree with it all you want. It really doesn’t make any difference. The truth doesn’t care about your opinion.

And let me add this. This false doctrine that refers to the seed of Cain as a mere generational curse has been used since its inception to teach two forms of racism and bigotry. Those who teach that Cain’s curse was merely generational have traditionally taught that the curse of Ham was that God turned him into a black man. Folks, this is utter nonsense. And I’m telling you right now. I will NOT tolerate racism in any form at Westside Baptist Church. God made black man just as he made white man and the curse of Ham had NOTHING at all to do with skin color. Furthermore, the denial of the curse of Cain as a biological one is used to teach another form of racism in the church. Jewish supremacism and Zionism. And again, I will NOT tolerate any form of racism as long as I am pastor.

Now I’m running out of time. But just know this. Cain’s line did not drown in the flood. And that is easy to prove just by reading the flood story in the original Hebrew.

But I will say this. God flooded the entire area to save the sons of God meaning the line of Adam.

Therefore the bible tells us that Noah was perfect in his generations. That word means race. Noah was perfect in his race. Again, not meaning black or white or Asian. Meaning no fallen angels or the seed of Cain had made its way into Noah’s bloodline.

This is why Jesus told the Jews that they were responsible for all the murders from Abel to Zacharias. He’s saying they are Cain. This is why Jesus told the Jews that they were not his sheep. Again, he’s telling us that they are Cain. This is why Jesus told us that the Jews were of their father the devil. Someone once said well Jesus is talking to specific Jews. Nope those are 4 different groups of Jews in 4 different locations.

This is why Jesus said to the Jews that they were NOT of Abrahams seed. This is why God said for Jacob have I loved but Esau have I hated. Because Esau married JEWS. This is why God cursed the entire race of the Jews at the end of Matthew 23. It wasn’t a generational curse. It was biological ONE!!!

Of course people will ask. Why did Jesus curse the Jews again in Matthew 23 when they already had the curse of Genesis 3:15 on them. The simple answer to this is that Jesus constantly explained and repeated the Old Testament to us. And was doing so again here:

Of course teaching this truth isn’t very popular. Very few ministers today teach it. A lot of them know it but would never teach it for fear of being fired. But in the end it really doesn’t matter if nobody believes it. As Mark Twain said:

Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.

But lets get back to Mr. Tinkling symbol. All we can do is love and cherish one another. And if we are faced with having to deal with a Mr. Tinkling symbol. Just ignore him and let him enjoy the delusion of thinking he matters. God is usually pretty good at using that type to teach us what we need to learn before he deals with them. And God will deal with him. Love and pray for him. But take care to what comes from this kind of persons mouth.

We are told in:

1 Chronicles 16:22

“Saying, Touch not mine anointed, and do my prophets no harm.”

Which means do not mistreat or treat badly the man of God. And undermining the man of God is the very definition of doing harm to the ministry he has been called into: