ide.fazei.discípulos

I know that maybe this subject is a little over-mentioned since several blogs and sites here in Brazil (and other places) talked about it, but I’d like to give my opinion about if (if you disagree, you can comment on it – if you agree too).

I was at Hillsong Conference 2008 in Sydney, when I bought my copy of the CD/DVD This is Our God and during the Conference we listened to and learned the songs – which I liked very much. Joel Houston took a bigger position of leadership and it changed the face of the band, without getting rid of the Hillsong ‘nametag’. I liked almost every song, in particular ‘Your Name High’, ‘Run’, ‘You’ll Come’ (with ‘Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus’), ‘With Everything’ and ‘Healer’. This last one was a little special, with a word from Mike himself on Friday, when we cried out for his health. It was a moment of great anointing and emotion (that not necessarily walk together).

Weeks later I receive the news that Mike’s disease was, actually, fake that was created to cover his real problem. No need to say that I was shocked when we found out the true. But there is a need to say that I was a little bit sad with some news, messages and posts about Mike. Almost every time people would give their support notes and they would add ‘let’s pray for Mike now‘. It got me thinking: Why not pray before?

This is not the first (and, unfortunately, not the last) time that a brother in Christ has his sins exposed to the world – almost always a scandal. Like Pr. Ted Haggard, Igreja Renascer (a church in Brazil), among others. But what’s the difference between their sins and ours? The answer is just that: none! The difference between us and them is that they weren’t afraid or embarrassed to tell the world who they are: Christian, but human-beings, that made a mistake, make mistakes and will always do.

Why am I saying this? Because lately I got kind of angry with some ‘brothers’ that go online in websites like Orkut and created groups entitled ‘I Hate Ana Paula Valadão’, ‘Igreja Universal is Evil’ or similar things. This is my opinion: Are they doing the work of God? Are they evangelizing? Transforming lives? So, don’t criticize, unless you can do better. If your musical style is not like Lagoinha’s, so start a band with your style, but don’t forget to invest in the Kingdom of God, in Missions and in People as much as them.

Here’s a friendly request: Let’s pray for Mike. But let’s also pray for Ana Paula Valadão, Pr. Antônio Cirilo, David Quinlan, Bola de Neve Church [sorry, many Brazilian Christian 'artists'] and many other brothers in Christ that have taking the Word of God across the nations. Let’s pray after, but also before.

Right! I’ve spoken!

To read more about Mike’s story, go here (in Portuguese):

Everson Barbosa РLi̵̤es de Uma Farsa

Blogosfera Crisṭ РA Quesṭo Guglielmucci

EDIT: Better late than ever, I totally agree with the posts of the blogs I mentioned up there. I’m not criticizing them, ok?