A Pastor's Blog

Now What???

Many of you, like me, turned on your TV sets early Friday morning, only to sadly learn our Supreme Court had handed down a ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide. As I watched the news of this Supreme Court ruling flash across our TV set, as a Christian I found myself asking, ‘What has happened to our nation’ followed by the next question, ‘Now What?’

I was numb and very frustrated but then the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart. You see, this is much more than about a ruling that now allows same-sex marriages in every state of our nation. I believe this is a serious wake up call to the church of the Almighty God.

Way back in 1962 the Supreme Court ruled that official prayer had no place in public school and the question even back then was, ‘Where was the church of the Almighty God?’ 

This not about gay and lesbian people now having the right to marry but more about where has the church gone. The Lord loves the gay and lesbian people just as much as He loved you and me when we were still sinners. The sad truth is these gay and lesbian people have bought the lie of the enemy, just as we sadly do so often, and believed in their hearts and minds this is what they are supposed to be.

Sure we could throw a lot of Scriptures at these people to show them how very wrong they are, and I am not saying that shouldn’t happen, but I believe truth coming out of the mouths of Christians who have such huge planks coming out of their eyes doesn’t now, nor will it ever work.

The Apostle Paul declares in Acts 20:26-27 ESV “Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.” I am fearful that in a genuine attempt of so many in the church to reach the young people today for the Lord, we may have watered down the Gospel of the Lord so much that it has no power to overcome or convict.

The Lord is giving me His compassion for the gay and lesbians, and that must go across every denomination line of the church of the Almighty God. As Christians we must display to every gay and lesbian person,  a true representation of the cleansing, overcoming, life-giving, love filled, healing  power of the Lord that is at work and alive in our own lives.

The Lord led me to speak this past Sunday on Nehemiah 1. Nehemiah had received report that the walls of Jerusalem were still broken down; that its gates had been burned with fire. The lack of a city wall meant the Israelites were still defenseless against their enemies.We know that Nehemiah received permission from King Artaxerxes to go help rebuild these walls, but before Nehemiah did that, we read he sat down and wept for some days. He mourned and fasted and prayed such a powerful prayer to Almighty God; Nehemiah 1:5-11.

In his prayer, Nehemiah says: “I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my fathers house, have committed against You. We have acted very wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws You gave Your servant Moses.” 

I believe for the church of the Almighty God to be used in a powerful way to touch the countless lives of misled, gay and lesbians for the Lord, we must first humble ourselves and plead for the Lord to take the plank out of our own eyes first.

This will call for much prayer, much determination and a strong desire to get back to the whole counsel of God. It saddens me to think that there are some Christians today who don’t even know what the Lord says about homosexuals and I have to blame us pastors for that.

As pastors, and even as Christians, we are not supposed to be about building huge churches, with the latest technology in sound and lighting; with the finest musicians on stage playing the most current new Christians songs. Instead, we must make sure we are reaching the lost and deceived with the saving love of the Lord.

It’s not about how holy we can get or how righteous we want others to see us as. It’s about getting on our face; seeking the Lord for our nation. The Supreme Court does not speak for my heart nor can we ever expect it to for politics will always win out. Politicians will do what they always do but we the church of the Almighty God need to do what we have been called to do.

Now What??? Join me on my knees for our nation my brother; my sister. Let’s get our hearts and eyes back on the Lord for we know, The Ancient of Days is still on the throne and time is getting short.

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