I haven’t written in a while, but I feel that God is placing this burden on my heart. And like my bride reminds me,
“if God is speaking, don’t keep YOUR mouth shut!”
So, here it goes. Accused of being silent in the whole abortion topic because we should be using our platforms to advocate for murdered babies. Well, yes and no. We need to be calling out Christians, and bringing Jesus to the WORLD!!
I am disappointed in the Church as a whole.
Before you get your drawers in a tizzy, hear me out. Everyone is up in arms about Roe v Wade, Pride month, Gun control and all the things.
I have opinions on ALL of these things because I am a critical thinker. Others prefer to call me a conspiracy theorist and I guess I’m okay with that too.
Let’s first look at what the purpose of “The Church” on earth is.
First thing I see is that Acts 2:42 could very well be the “mission statement” for the church BODY: “They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.”
So: We should be 1) teaching biblical doctrine, 2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, 3) observing the Lord’s supper, and 4) praying.
The second one is proclaiming the gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus says to go into all the world and preach the good news, making disciples, baptizing in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8). Add to that: The church is to both promote the gospel and prepare and EQUIP its members to proclaim the gospel (1 Peter 3:15).
3rd: In Matthew 5, we read the Beatitudes and how to be the Salt and Light.
The church is called to be faithful in sharing the gospel through word and deed. The church is to be a LIGHT ON THE HILL in the community, pointing people toward our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Being the SALT NOT THE PEPPER!
4th: James 1:27: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”
That last one is a tough one. Because when we show the world what we are against and not what we are for, we are essentially sharing the same cup with the prince of this world!
I searched hard and long at the works of Jesus on this earth to see how to handle world topics.
Jesus didn’t get on a soapbox on how crooked this world is. He just warned about how crooked it is and will be. The other thing I saw was he called out the Religious people.
You know, the ones that are publicly religious but had hard hearts.
We can stand against sin. We can advocate for a world of righteousness and purity. But until we live like Jesus and treat the world as he did, we will be spinning our wheels and the lost will still be lost and I guess we will be right about all the different things that are hotboxes in today’s culture.
Jesus said in Matthew 5 that we will be persecuted because of HIM! Not because we stood against abortion, pedophilia, alcoholism, homosexuality or drug addiction. Although we want to wear that badge don’t we? We want to be known for what we’re against, don’t we?
There are lost people everywhere that don’t know Jesus and don’t know the repercussion of their sin in their lives. But how could they? Oh, the lost know what “Christians” stand for, they have for years! Even our gatherings MAYBE give Jesus honorable mention in their sermons.
The ship (the world) is sinking fast (going to hell) The lifeboats are all over the place (JESUS). The stewards (Christians) know where those lifeboats are. But sadly, the stewards are too busy making sure their cabins are clean, or the occupants are doing what they’re supposed to be doing… meanwhile, the ship sinks (the lifeboats with it)
Our job is to show the occupants where the lifeboats are! Get them in those lifeboats, and if necessary, sacrifice our lives for those getting in.
There is homelessness, addiction, pain, mental illness, and many things that are happening that we need to address. In Matthew 25 Jesus even said: For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” Don’t you think that, THAT was an example of what the Church was to be doing while Jesus was away preparing a place??
The church is to be about the business of ministering to those in need. This includes not only sharing the gospel, but also providing for physical needs (food, clothing, shelter) as necessary and appropriate. The church is also to equip believers in Christ with the tools they need to overcome sin and remain free from the pollution of the world.
The church is to be “Christian,” “Christ-like,” and Christ-following. Not submersed in the problems of the world. Advocate but don’t instigate. Love, don’t hate. Let God be God and let Him avenge the deaths of the little ones. Let Him judge the world. Let Him dole out the punishment. Let us be the salt and light and show the world a better way!
"Walking the Walk" ~ Blog by Michael Grimm~ 