TORNADOES - TRANSGENDERISM - TRUMP - TRUTH

 

“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” James 1:19-20

 

The words that you are about to read have been constantly swimming in my mind during the past few weeks. Each time that I sat down to write, there was a spiritual roadblock that seemed to prevent me from typing my thoughts. A fellow minister that I follow on social media posted the verse above and stated how that it is always wise to prayerfully consider what you desire to say, especially when you are emotionally charged. I heeded his wise counsel and continued praying how I might address what I am seeing, hearing, and feeling. I sincerely pray that you will read this with an open mind and a tender heart. And may God be glorified in and through His church.

• TORNADOES - So far this spring, we have been ravaged by tornado outbreaks. In my home state of Mississippi, extreme storms have decimated entire communities. The loss of homes, businesses, and other private property is unbelievable. Yet those losses pale in comparison to those who have lost family members, neighbors, and friends. And this great suffering is not limited to the Magnolia State. Places in Arkansas, Tennessee, and Alabama, as well as in other states have also been hit savagely. The normalcy of life will never return for countless individuals and families as they seek to adjust to incredible devastation and tremendous personal loss. My heart breaks for them all as they seek to navigate strange pathways through unchartered waters.

• TRANSGENDERISM - It is emotionally difficult to even consider how evil can rise up once again in another mass shooting involving children. The video showing the shooter firing upon the glass doors to gain entrance in the elementary school operated by the Covenant Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tenn., was horrific. Three adults and three nine-year-old children were killed before heroic teachers led their students out of the building. In a matter of a few minutes, the bravery of Nashville police officers was in plain view as their body cameras revealed their actions of rushing to encounter and eliminate the shooter. In a mad world that seems to be bowing down to all types of sexual perversion on a global scale, Tucker Carlson of Fox News seems to be the only media voice brave enough to call this a "deranged and demonic ideology." The dirt hasn't even settled on the graves of those killed by this mentally ill and spiritually dead woman and corporate America is fawning over another transgender person and making him the face of their latest marketing campaigns. Bud Light is paying a reprobate man, Dylan Mulvaney, who likes to pretend he's a six-year-old girl, huge sums of money so that his face is on a beer can, while Nike hired him to advertise their sports bras and women's leggings. I wish that was a joke, but it's not. We truly are living in a clown world. Not only do some folks need shock therapy, others need it also for embracing, applauding, supporting, and forcing this sinful nonsense into the norm of our culture. (And please don't get me started on the Drag Queen controversy!)

• TRUMP - I got up from the computer to prayer walk before typing this section. Do not seek to put me into some political camp. I am neither a devoted follower of Donald Trump, nor am I a never-Trumper. When he secured the Republican ticket and faced Hillary Clinton for the presidency in 2016, I prayerfully voted for him, as I soberly considered the alternative. With very little support from established politicians within his own party, he surprisingly set out to fulfill his campaign promises. Was he crude? Yes. Was he arrogant? Yes. Did he say and do things that could have been said and done in a much nicer way? Yes. But I didn't vote for him to be my pastor, I voted for him to be my President. His policies set our economy ablaze, with record low unemployment and energy independence reflected by extremely low fuel prices. His nominations to hold key judicial positions, including the Supreme Court, were constitutional jurists that we desperately needed, instead of rogue individuals desiring to legalize extreme political and social agendas via court rulings. His aim of reversing Roe v. Wade was eventually realized, ending the legal massacre of the unborn. Praise the Lord! (All of this success came crashing down, however, and you can read about that here: Pulpit Truth: COVID, Culture, and the Church) Now that he has publicly stated his intention to seek reelection in 2024, he has been indicted on charges concerning hush money being paid to a porn star, as well as a former Playboy playmate. Is he an embarrassment? In a lot of ways, YES! But he has already admitted that he paid these two women for their silence. So why is he facing these charges now when dope-smoking, whore-jumping, and international deal-making Hunter Biden walks around as free as a mangy, filthy dog? Why? Because our political processes, like our country as a whole, is going to Hell in a hand basket! That's why.

• TRUTH - Jesus said, "If you continue in my word, then you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:31-32) Okay, do you agree with what Jesus said? Then let's think together for a moment. While all of this has been happening as of late, I've been on the road, driving primarily through rural communities and small towns. Now please read carefully, I cannot say what the heart condition and mindset is of many churches across our land, but I can report what I have seen with my own eyes. Whether through countless social media posts, or with colorful banners placed prominently in church yards, I can report that most of our attention, time, and energy has been focused lately upon having a quality Easter egg hunt! WHAT? Are you kidding me? Is this the best we can do when circumstances involving life and death are smothering us? Can we not see that we are living in perilous times and that the fabric and future of our once great nation is hanging in the balance? With the reality of what I have written above happening right now, could we not forgo the frivolous activities of our carnal schedules and start seeking the Lord, as so many young people did just a couple of months ago at Asbury University?

The prophet Isaiah said: "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, and He will abundantly pardon!" In the Book of Joel, we find these powerful words: "Blow the trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, call a sacred assembly; Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children and nursing babes; Let the bridegroom go out from his chamber, and the bride from her dressing room. Let the priests, who minister to the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar; Let them say, “Spare Your people, O Lord, and do not give Your heritage to reproach, that the nations should rule over them. Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’" And in the New Testament, the Apostle James said: "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up."

Pastor, what about it? Will you have the courage to stand up and say to your people enough is enough of our focus being upon temporal activities? I believe that it's high time that we put away our egg hunts, and harvest festivals, and Christmas parties complete with a few rounds of Dirty Santa games; and genuinely, humbly, and sincerely begin to SEEK THE LORD! But someone might say, "Wait a minute! There's nothing wrong with our church having food, fun, and fellowship." Oh, I agree, especially if you desire your church to become more of a social club than the living, breathing, empowered by the Holy Ghost body of Christ that changes the world!

Now, one last word. Please don't be so foolish as to think I pondered deeply about one particular church, perhaps your church, to write this message. If this is you, then you are like the mysterious subject of Carly Simon's fifty-year-old hit song; "You're So Vain." Do you remember the lyrics?

            You're so vain. 
            You probably think this song is about you.
            You're so vain (you're so vain)
            I'll bet you think this song is about you.
            Don't you? Don't you? Don't you?

Will you be so arrogant as to think this "song" is about you or your church? No, friend, this word from the Lord is rooted in a broken-hearted servant of Christ who is deeply concerned about the spiritual condition that is around him. This message was not based upon my observation of one particular congregation, but multitudes of congregations that are becoming too much like the church of the Laodiceans. God help us - WAKE UP CHURCH!