The Wizard Of Oz
by Brother Johnny Campbell
One day after preparing for a Revival In Georgia. and letting folks know where I would be preaching, a good friend of mine that lives in Georgia was talking with me. We were talking about wanting the “Old Time Holy Ghost Meetings” again, that folks would return to the Old Paths that the old timers in Georgia used to have.
Then, Sister Vicki Carter sent me her thoughts. Since she lives there in Georgia, and knows about the way that state used to be spiritually, there were 20 thoughts about that spiritual condition of Georgia. But for length of time here are just a few:
It Ain’t Georgia Any More
(1) In the last twenty years, there have been a lot of changes. For instance, in our Baptist churches you didn’t have to worry that your Bible might not say the samething as the preachers. The King James Bible was the rule, NOT the exception.
(2) Twenty years ago, you didn’t have to worry whether to call your pastor Brother or Sister
(3) Twenty years ago, People were not ashamed to say that they got SAVED! Not that they had a conversion (sounds like a Chevy van to me), or a Religious experience. But they had a true, soul shaking, tear shedding, life changing, Blood bought salvation!!!
Now, Sister Carter had 20 reasons why she could say that Georgia ain’t Georgia anymore, spiritually. While reading this, I thought Tennessee ain’t Tennessee any more! You can read the history of Tennessee, how folks used to love God. For instance, the Rhyman Auditorium was built for preaching, not for Johnny Trash! Tammy why sing that trash music? This great state used to love God, and hated sin! Speaking about singing; Tammy Faye sung to Jim Bakker while he was in prison, 的 got the money honey, You got the time.” Ha Ha Ha! You say, “Brother Johnny, you’re gonna catch it for saying that!” Hey I don’t have any rabbit blood in me.
There is no state in the country that I can think of, spiritually, that’s like it used to be 20 years ago. You could say Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina. It doesn’t matter which state. Pick one. No state is like it used to be. Loving righteousness and hating evil.
Well I began to think about Ezra Chapter 3:10-13:
Ezra 3:10-13 And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the LORD, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the LORD, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. (11) And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. (12) But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: (13) So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
You see, when this Temple was finished, the old men that had seen the first Temple wept, but the young folks that had never seen the glory come down, or where there was shouting and slinging snot! Today, we that have been around for a while have seen the old Camp Meetings and Revivals. Oh, and the old preachers that walked with God! We cant say this ain’t Campmeetings anymore. But these old Jews, by weeping, were saying, “This ain’t Jerusalem anymore. This ain’t the power of God anymore.”
Then I got to thinking about the old movie classic, the Wizard of Oz. That’s where Dorothy told her dog, Toto; “This ain’t Kansas anymore, Toto.” I think that you can remember the old story of Dorothy, after a big storm, got a knot on her head, woke up and realized that she’s not where she started out. Then says to Toto, “This ain’t Kansas anymore.”
Now, I believe that Dorothy was a Pastors wife. When she woke up she says to her dog, Toto, “People come and go so quickly.” Ha ha! Do I hear and Amen? People don’t stay in the churches long nowadays. They come and go so quickly.
Do you remember the song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow?” That’s where Dorothy is looking for the Emerald City, so she can find out how to get home. Oh, that’s what we are all looking for; that city over yonder, and Dorthy has a rough time trying to get somebody to show her how to get to that city.
So, she finds three people, and ask them how she can get to that Emerald City. She finds two Baptists and a Pentecostal. I think you will remember them:
(1) The Tin Man
A. Do you remember his problem? The Tin Man didn’t have a HEART.
If that’s not a Baptist, I will eat your dirty socks! NO HEART!
Some people say, “I don’t have the heart to tell people that they are going to Hell. And besides, that’s the preacher’s job to tell them, anyway.”
B. Not only did the Tin Man not have a HEART, he was also RUSTY.
Remember, he was so RUSTY, he was frozen up. He needed some oil. Oil is a type of the Holy Ghost. We go out as empty vessels trying to tell somebody how to get to that city. We are RUSTY, and haven’t had fresh oil in years. So not only did the Tin Man not have a HEART. He was RUSTY. There is something else:
C. The Tin Man always carried and AXE.
Now that’s a Baptist! Always got an AXE to grind against something or somebody. Nowadays, you can’t go to a Preachers Fellowship or Camp Meeeting for 5 minutes before you can tell that a preacher has an AXE to grind.
Remember the Tin Man’s problems: No HEART, RUSTY, with an AXE to grind!
I know Pastors (bless their backslid hide) that have no heart for preaching, or the church. They have not left the ministry, but the ministry has left them.
(2) The Lion
Now, Dorothy has found another one. Not only the Tin Man with no HEART, but a Lion with no COURAGE. Boy, now that’s a Baptist! Hold up that little pointed head of yours! Sissy! No COURAGE, no guts, no backbone! You probably have lace on your drawers, and paint your toenails! A lion is to be fearless! So is a Baptist preacher! But, you’re not, because your scared that you will lose that paycheck, parsonage, and pension! You are not a lion, but just a little pussy cat disguised as a lion.
God knows we need some preachers with guts to tell the truth about how to get to that city. But we are so scared that folks the in Hammond, Murfreesboro, and Pensacola won’t like us! I feel like puking up a gut!
I know some fellas in North Carolina that can’t preach something unless the clique discusses each sermon to be preached on Saturday. Then it’s decided by the good ole boys whether they can preach it in their church on Sunday. I know preachers that can’t invite and Evangelist unless the clique approves of it. You see, we have preachers in our pulpits just like Dorothy’s lion. No guts!
Remember, his problem was that he had no guts. Everything scared him. Watch out when the Wicked Witch of the East shows up in your church. Watch what your so called lion does!
(3) The Scare Crow
So far, we have met two Baptists. One with no HEART, RUSTY, and carrying an AXE to grind, and the other without any COURAGE. And now, I introduce to you, the Scarecrow. This guy is the Pentecostal. His problem was the fact that he:
A. Had NO BRAINS
He had been to so many Benny Hinn crusades, that he kept falling down. Every time you saw him, he would fall out. He spent most of his life on his back. Now you remember what the Scarecrow’s problem was that he had NO BRAINS.
To be honest with you, if you get involved in the Charismatic movement, you have NO BRAINS either! There’s no way that you can know a thimble of Bible, and stay involved in that junk. Hey, come on now, lift up that little pointed head! NO SAVED PERSON EVER FELL ON THEIR BACKS in this Bible! The only people that ever fell on their backs were murderers and thieves.
One lady said to me, “Brother Johnny, Benny Hinn blew on us, and we all fell on our backs! What do you think about that?” I said that that was the worst case of BAD BREATH that I had ever heard of. In fact, I have Benny’s proof text right here. Read it! I dare you!
Job 17:1 My breath is corrupt, my days are extinct, the graves are ready for me.
Abraham fell on his face! Nehemiah fell on his face! Jeremiah fell on his face! Jesus fell on his face! Paul fell on his face! No saved person has ever fallen on his back.
Picture this. He always had straw sticking out of his arms. So, the Scare crow had a problem falling down, because he had NO BRAINS, but he had another one.
He was scared that he was going to catch on FIRE! Glory to God!!! That’s 99% of the Church! Scared to death that they are going to catch on FIRE!
It’s very seldom that a real fire breaks out, but I have seen pastors cancel meetings AFTER they were started, because he did not want to catch on fire himself.
My friend, be honest. Look at your state, as well as your home town. I bet you can say like Dorothy, This ain’t ____________(fill in your city or state) anymore!” Just as Dorothy was trying to find someone to show her how to get to the Emerald City, I can look at my own town and say, “This ain’t Flat Creek anymore.”
I see how far we have fallen from where we were spiritually twenty years ago, and see how few there are that can show you how to get to the Emerald City. Look around your town, and you will find the Tin Man with NO HEART, RUSTY, with an AXE to grind. You will find a Cowardly Lion, and a Scarecrow with NO BRAINS, falling for false doctrine, and scared to catch FIRE!
I say, “This AIN’T THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANYMORE.” This nation has legalized the murder of unborn children, and supports men marrying men. We have leaders like Jimmy Carter claiming he was born again by the same spirit of JESUS, Buddha, and Mohammed!
I say, “This ain’t America anymore!” We used to have Presidents like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Men that knew the God of Glory.
We have a chance to REPENT! This country has given George Bush a mandate. We have heard that we have had too many Democrats to get rid of Abortion, and to have prayer put back in schools. But, now I say, “Mr. Bush, if you’re saved as you profess, make it a capital offense to murder babies, and outlaw homosexual marriages. Put liberals and sissy preachers in prison with no pardons.
So, until then, we have to say “America Ain’t America Anymore!”
Just for the record; You may be wondering who the wicked witch is? It’s Janet and Hillary.