I love Jesus and I am not ashamed to say so. But I don’t love him in the way a lot of you reading this do.
I don’t want to sit on His lap and I don’t want to have Him wrap His arms around me and hug me.
I love him like a marine loves his drill sergeant; like a boxer loves his trainer; like a football player love his coach. I love him the way a warrior loves a warrior. I want to fight for Him. I want to defend His Name. I want to help Him expand His Kingdom.
I don’t want Him to be my buddy … or my personal wet-nurse … or my psychiatrist. I want Him to point out His enemy and lead me into war for His Name’s sake. I want Him to ‘coach” me … to prepare me … to strengthen me … to toughen me up. I love fighting for His Truth. And I can’t stand “playing church.”
I don’t want this to be an indictment of all pastors…I know many good ones … but rare is the pastor who is a leader. Most are managers. They hate conflict, are looking for compliant pew-sitters, and pleasers of men. They love their position more than they love the Lord. They lead their flock where they want the flock to go.
I know that sounds harsh, but it is the Truth. Speaking the Truth without compromise makes waves. Most pastors prefer a trip down the lazy river as opposed to white-water rafting. The Truth causes the rapids to roar and upsets the plastic inner tube in which they ride.
Very few churches will permit me to speak anymore. The Words are quick, powerful, and sharp. It scares the company CEO. The hired-hand is afraid of the sheep. He tickles ears…makes them feel good…anesthetizes them from the Truth…powders over their sin. He is afraid of “wildfire.”
They ignore their cultural obligation to be salt and light. They train their people in shades of grey…making sure to sidestep the “controversial” issues. Taking no position is the safe petition.
They avoid issues that appear “political” as if the Bible has nothing to say about cultural issues.
So the sheep follow Bill O’Reilly. Fox News “shepherds” them through the controversial issues.
Let me be blunt. America rises and falls on the power of the pulpit.
”If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discernment, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in Christianity, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it.”
-Charles Finney
Most people love their pastor. He is such a nice guy … kind … friendly … good sermons … caring. But he is negligent. He ignores “the weightier matters of the law.”
The community recognizes him as a “leader.” He loves being called “Reverend” or “Pastor” and the immediate respect that title brings. He loves praying at city events, and football games, and The National Day of Prayer.
But he doesn’t like to get his fingernails dirty. He refuses to get scrapes on his elbows; he hides from the wolf when it attacks the sheep. He publicly prays for the Devil’s workers while the wolf devours the flock.
They exhibit “bubble” leadership. They have impact inside their church/denomination safe-zone…but very little impact outside of the sanctuary. It is time someone penetrated, or popped, their bubble.
I had a conversation with a friend of mine last week. I hadn’t seen him for awhile and I was “feeling him out” to see how awake he was. He is a strong, evangelical Christian who desires nothing more than to lead people to Christ. I asked him his response to the “cultural” issues of the day and our need to impact those outside the church.
”Well, the nation is all going to pot. At least I know where I am going. That gives me peace.”
I stuck my finger-nail in the bubble. “What about your grandchildren. Aren’t you concerned with the type of nation we are leaving them? You may not be around in 30 years, but they probably will be. Doesn’t that concern you?”
It was as if he had never thought of it before. He is a good man who had never given a moment’s thought to cultural impact of the church. He lives his life inside that bubble. But he loves his pastor and his church family…and he assures me his pastor “speaks against” sin.
That, in a nutshell, is where most Christians live. America is in a moral freefall and they see no responsibility. They learn their apathy from their pastor. The liberty of the posterity is on the line and they don’t even see it. So let me ask YOU a question about YOUR pastor.
Has your pastor told the congregation about the 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition that the DHS has ordered?
Has he warned you of the 30,000 drones flying the friendly skies over America?
Has he spoken about the debate over whether or not an American citizen can be killed without a trial?
Has he mentioned FEMA camps, chem-trails, and Muslim infiltration in the government? If he hasn’t, ask him why not? If he has, ask him what he plans to do about it. Tell him your grandchildren’s future depends on what he does.
Has your pastor mentioned to the congregation the outright thievery and covetousness of the American Government? Has he mentioned that American military drones are responsible for the death of 187 innocent children in Pakistan and Yemen? Has he mentioned the 7-year old boy who was suspended from school for using his teeth to carve a cookie into an image of a gun? If he hasn’t, why not? If he has, what is he doing about it? Your grandkids are counting on him.
Has your pastor mentioned that Planned Parenthood aborted over 333,964 babies in 2011? Did he mention that they received $524 million in government tax subsidies? Did he tell you that equals one baby-murder every 94 seconds? Did he mention that all tax-payers are complicit in the murder of those innocent babies? If he hasn’t, why not? If he has, what is he doing about it? Shouldn’t a shepherd protect the innocent? Preaching is not doing.
Has your pastor mentioned the possibility of economic collapse in America? Has he mentioned that our individual children now owe $53,139.65 in debt and that debt is immoral? Has he mentioned that printing money is debasing the dollar and that your children’s inheritance is being stolen from them? Has he adjured you to store a month’s supply of food, water, bullets and cash? If he hasn’t, why? If yes, what is he doing about it? The wolf is at the door.
Has he done any sermons on the un-godly government schools? Has he mentioned that they are now considering sex-education in pre-schools? Has he spoken about Yale University’s class on acceptance of bestiality and incest? Has he explained to you why Darwinian Evolution is a lie and that it is destroying the faith of millions of Christian children? If not, why? If yes, is he telling you all to remove your children? The shepherd is feeding the sheep to the wolf.
The short answer is your pastor hasn’t said nor done a [ omitted ] thing about most of the above issues. He is too busy petting the wolf instead of exposing him. Talk is cheap Christians. Shakespeare said it was “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing.” That is your pastor’s preaching he was talking about.
He is so heavenly minded that he is no earthly good.
Do you have the courage to make a copy of this and hand it to your pastor? Ask him to give you an account of his perspective on the specific issues I raised. If he is unfamiliar with the issues ask him why? Isn’t it a shepherd’s job to protect the sheep? Shouldn’t he be better informed?
“For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one is given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely. They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace.”
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Coach Dave Daubenmire, founder and President of Pass The Salt Ministries www.ptsalt.com and Minutemen United www.minutemenunited.org, is host of the high octane Pass The Salt radio show heard in Columbus, Ohio. In 1999 Coach Daubenmire was sued by the ACLU for praying with his teams while coaching high school in Ohio. He now spends his energy fighting for Christian principles in the public domain. E-Mail:
