I don’t want to be misunderstood in my blog this morning, but I just feel like sharing some frustrations I have within the church today. I pastor in a large city and I’m sure the needs of homeless and hurting people are much greater than in smaller towns. Nevertheless, the enemy is working so hard in these last days to destroy the body of Christ. I’ve never seen people so broken and in need of God like they are today. The job is literally overwhelming and the weight of responsibility I feel in my own community, seems like an impossible task at times.
My frustration is what I’m hearing many of our brothers and sisters talking about. I see posts of “Why I don’t like this” and “Why I don’t like that”. Sometimes I find myself shaking my head and wondering, what does this have to do with salvation and healing the brokenhearted? While some are debating over whether to use wine or grape juice during communion, the depressed and oppressed are suffering like never before.
Don’t get me wrong, if you have a personal conviction about something, I would never disrespect your views whatsoever. My point is, let’s make sure we’re saying and doing what is going to matter the most while we still have time on this earth. It’s time we preach the gospel like we never have before. Let’s share it with anointing and with the love of God. The gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ…can’t we just keep it that simple? I still believe that when people are filled with the Holy Spirit, they will begin to change things in their own life.
I’ve been criticized because I choose to show mercy and love to all people. Imagine that. I even heard a pastor say one time, that all Christians want to do these days is preach love, and he said it with extreme sarcasm. I’m amazed and appalled at such narrow minded statements. The Bible tells us that a Pharisee came to Jesus one day and asked Him, “What is the greatest commandment of all?” Here’s how Jesus responded.
Matthew 22:37-40 (NKJV)
37 Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
38 This is the first and great commandment.
39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.
Jesus message was simple and powerful. You must love God and you must love others as well. As for me, I’m going to follow the example Jesus set that day by loving Him with all my heart, soul and mind and I’m going to love others too. I tell the church members where I pastor, “How can I go wrong by loving people?” Does that mean we are not suppose to preach any kind of separation or take a stand against sin? Absolutely not!!! For a sinner to become a disciple, it requires teaching and developing convictions. My point is…tell the disciples those things and not the world. Tell the world how to come to Jesus and teach your disciples how to grow in Jesus.
All I’m saying is…”TALK ABOUT WHAT MATTERS”!!! Meet people where they are, not where you are spiritually. The hurting need love and why would we minimize doing that? Jesus didn’t say love who you agree with, He just commanded us to love. Nothing will work better in the life of someone broken hearted than love…just try it.
I choose to talk about what matters. Even though I have a core doctrine that I believe and have preached it for more than 30 years, I’ve realized that sinners are not drawn to Jesus because of doctrine, but they are drawn to where there is healing for their broken life. Once they’re pierced in their heart and feel the love of God, they will ask, “Men and Brethren, what must we do to be saved?” Acts 2:37
Here’s what matters. There is a God that loves everyone and He specializes in healing those who are broken. It doesn’t matter how terribly you’ve messed things up, He can make something beautiful out of your chaos and trouble. He will care for you, show you mercy and save you with His grace and wash your sins away with His blood. All you have to do is come to Him and He will change your life forever.
For those that need a Savior…THAT’S WHAT MATTERS!!!
So true!
So true!! and at the right time. I have been talking to a family member about Jesus and how much He loves her and wants to come to Him. Reading your message, I feel that I have been talking to about from where I am as a Christian and may have not shared the Gospel with her as well as it needs to be shared. Your blog will help me to continue talking to her but with a new approach. Thank you… I am praying for God’s guidance on my continued talk with this person who I love so much.
WOW!!! Thank you for the kind word and for sharing this with me. I will be praying for you as the Lord leads you in witnessing to her. God bless you!