AboutDr. Ronald E. Shultz Expertise I am more of a polemicist than an apologist. I especially desire to answer questions concerning discipleship/holiness, "gray areas", etc. If all you wish is an argument then I am not your man. Sincere seekers only need e-mail me.
Experience Experience in the area I am an Associate Pastor with thirty plus years experience in ministry in eight states.
Organizations belong to
Texas Civil Defense - 2008
United States National Defense Force Support Command (Separate) since 2004
American Legion since 2002
Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels, since 1994
Life Member United Association of Christian Counselors, 1983
Life Member NCOA, 1973
Dover AFB Honor Guard, 1971-73
Publications
Poem, "Cowboy Up" published in an anthology by American Poets Society, 2004
Author, Jail House Religion, Xulon Press, 2004
Author, The Power of Holy Women, Xulon Press, 2003
Messianic Literary Corner published 45 poems, 2003
Tract "Which Way To God?" published on http://www.tracts.com/whichway.html, 1998
Several poems published on various web pages, 1997,1998,1999
Author, Metamorphosis, copyrighted, partially published collection of poetry, 1968-94
Article, "Why I Prefer Expository Preaching", published in Canyonview Bible Seminary's Expositor, 1988
Education/Credentials
Doctor of Philosophy, National Consortium Staff College, Mountain Grove, MO, 2004, Honorary
Bachelor of Specialized Training in Military Science, National Consortium Staff College, Mountain Grove, MO, 2004
Doctor of Theology, Slidell Baptist Seminary, Slidell, LA, 2001, Summa Cum Laude
Master of Theology, Christian Bible College, Rocky Mount, NC, 2000, Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Religious Education , Administration minor, Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem, NC, 1982, Cum Laude
Evangelical Teacher Training Association, Teachers Diploma, Winston-Salem, NC, 1982
Other study: Community College of the Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL - 1975-78
Upper Iowa University, Fayette, IA - 1976-77
Interim Ministry For Today's Churches - 2000
Awards and Honors
Heritage Registry of Who's Who, 2006-2007
Distinguished Service Citation, USNDFSCOM, 2004
Editor's Choice Award, International Library of Poetry, 2003
America's Registry of Outstanding Professionals 2001-2002
Stratmore Who's Who, 2001-2002
Guest Speaker Texas A&M, Commerce, 1999
Gubernatorial Commendation by Texas Veterans Commission, 1999
Dallas VA Certificate of Pride in Public Service, 1999
Guest on the Kevin Bullard radio program KPBC AM 770,1997
Who's Who in the South and Southwest, 1996
Editor's Choice Award, National Library of Poetry, 1995
Who's Who in Poetry, 1992
United States Army Achievement Medal, 1990
Personal testimony dramatized for international radio program Unshackled, 1986
Outstanding Young Men of the South, 1981
United States Air Force Commendation Medal, 1978
Two USAF suggestion awards, 1976
NCO of the Quarter, 1975
Freedom Foundation Award, 1975
Question Hi,
When I was around 9 or 10 I got saved and baptised at chruch. I went to sunday school from the age of 5 to around 10. I don't remember our household being centered around Christ. Looking back I think that it was a combination of babysitting and good moral training. At home there was no follow up. So anyways, after I was saved and baptised we moved. We no longer attened church. I think my mom tried but the drive was just to much. Well during my teenage years and early twenties I became an agnostic. I no longer believed in Jesus. I didn't understand how a man could die for our sins. I think I was searching but going about it in the wrong way. I would tell people that I didn't believe. As stupid as this sounds people tell you alot more when you tell them you don't believe then when you tell them sure I believe in Jesus but live like I don't. When you tell people that you are a Christian and you are living like you don't then they just raise their eyebrows at you. I knew that I wanted to believe but I was living with a guy who didn't and is hostle toward Christians. I agree that I was a coward. One night a friend was telling me about Jesus and I was making up the same old excuses. How could a man die for me, the Bible was written by man, bunch of fariy tales, Christians all say one thing and do another, ect. After I had told my boyfriend about this conversation he told me that we would have to break up if I became a Christian. I knew at that time I wanted to look into it after we broke up. Within the year I was with the man who is now my husband. I am afraid that I have blown it with God. I have asked Jesus to take over my life. I now know with out a doubt that Jesus is real, God is real, The cross is real. I sometimes feel this great joy but then these concernes creep up on me when I am reading the Bible. I beleive that the Bible keeps showing me that I am going to go to hell because of my youth. Proverbs 1:24-25, Jeremiah 14:10-12, Hebrews 10:26-31. 1 John 2:19, 2 Peter 2:22. and many others. I have a true desire to be a follower of God. I no longer want the things that I thought were so important, I came to see what sort of person I really was. I am nothing like I thought I was. I never thought I was that bad. But there is not a commandment that I haven't broken when you take into account that murder can come from your heart. I am so sad because I finally understand that I need a savior and when I read the Bible it shows me that I had just enough knowledge to hang myself with. I was wondering if I am understanding the message correctly. There was a time when I felt that everything was okay. That God had forgiven me. That I wouldn't have this desire to be one of his if it wasn't possible to be forgiven. I know that it sounds like I am calling God a liar because I have doubt about his promises about forgiveness of all unrightousness and Romans 10:9-10. It is not that. I believe every word of the Bible. I am afraid because I want to be a child of his so bad that I am not understanding that there are exceptions to the promises. When you were his then said you weren't could that exclude you from future hope.
Thank you.
Answer OK, Stephanie, there is a lot going on here. First of all, while many a child can be saved at an early age it is just as easy to have a head knowledge and to say a quick prayer but not truly be saved. Only you and God know if that one was real or not. If it was, you had no discipleship so you could not learn the truth nor grow in grace but at some point were exposed to the doubts and lies. If it was not genuine then it doesn't matter and we can put that profession in the past as a dry run or trial run.
You must always keep Scriptures in context or you will get into trouble. The people in Proverbs never answered his call and He will lauugh at their calamity, but as you can see in the context He was actually calling them again. You are answering His call right now so that verse cannot apply to you.
Jeremiah is speaking to a nation under judgment, not individuals. Even in that judgment there were a remnant of believers and some who repented so this passage is not to you a well as you are hearing the Word, repenting and seeking His will. The nation did not and went into captivity.
Hebrews 10 is speaking to Jews who desired to go back to the sacrifical system because they had suffered some persecution. Many or all of these folks may not have been truly saved, but there was no more sacrifice for sin as the old system was gone and Jesus was all that there is so if they reject Christ they have no hope. You are not rejecting Christ but rather seeking Him. You are not counting His blood unworthy and trampling on it. You are seeking it for redemption. See, not you in this passage.
1 John - When you were a child, you may not have been one of the saved so you did not stay in the church. If so, no matter for you are seeking to be real now.
Peter is also speaking of people who go and never come back. You are coming back. Many Christians have had struggles with various sins. Paul got angry about John Mark and split with Barnabas. Peter played the hypocrite and Paul had to call him down for it.
You understand the Gospel more now then you did at 9. You have openly confessed that you are a sinner having broken multiple points of the Law. You need only break one to be condemned so you see that you have no hope in the Law but only in the Cross of Christ and His blood. Those are not the words of an apostate nor is you desire to serve Him the desire of one. If you were truly an apostate you would not have written what you did and I would not be answering this question. Indeed, you bring tears to my eyes because of the torment that satan is giving you.
I assume that I am much older than you so as a father, I beg you my daughter in Christ to just pour out your heart to the One who loves you beyond your comprehension. Bring all your fears and doubts to Him. Just tell Him as you have told me that once you did not believe but now you do and ask Him to not only cleanse your sins but to free your mind of the fear and doubts. Accept your adoption into His family and cling to Him. He will take you into His arms and hold on to you. You need not fear holding on to Him. This time you know all you need to know and you believe all you need to be saved. Just call out to your Savior. Ignore the devil and your doubts and just receive the gifts He has for you. There is no magic formula. As a Daddy loves to hear his child come to him even when she is in tears and can't express all her heart, understands and holds her near even more so will Jesus do that and more for you!!! Go to Him for He will not cast you out. He died for you even while you were doubting and sinning against Him. He knew you from eternity past and loved you. He still does. Just accept it and be blessed!
Get into a good Independent Baptist church and keep reading but get help to keep things in contxt.
Father, reach down to this troubled child and give her assurance of your love and peace beyond understanding. Make your child strong in Your Word and Your love in the name of Jesus who died for us. Amen!!!
