Someone asked me the other day, "Why do you say so much controversial stuff?"
She said that like that was a bad thing, like I was not being a man of God, a pastor, a citizen of America, and a person agreeing with the 72% of Americans who believe this nation is headed the wrong direction.
The truth is, I don't mean to be controversial. I'm not looking for ratings, for blogs to go viral, or to attract a huge following.
I'm just someone who isn't content with the status quo.
This week, a study came out by the Family Research Council showing that 61% of Americans (not just Christians, mind you, but Americans in general) think that pastors should challenge Obama on religious liberty issues. That's almost 2/3 of the population. Pastors, are we missing an opportunity here?
It's no secret that the church in America is in trouble. It really is. We are not effectively engaging the culture and not effectively winning people to Christ. I have found in my interaction with non-Christian people that the vast majority don't really have anything against God. They are not rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth militant atheists marching off on a crusade to eradicate all things Christian. The vast majority of people simply see faith as irrelevant. Not important. Not really making much of a difference in life.
And 2/3 of all Americans want pastors to be bolder in speaking up for religious liberty.
Well, pastors, here is a chance to show the entire nation that you are serious about what you believe. 61% of the people in your community wish that you were a bold voice confronting encroachments on religious liberty in this nation. 61% of your neighbors, Christian and non-Christian, wish that they heard more from the pastors in the community about issues regarding freedom.
However, the article also speaks to why pastors don't speak up more.
Most pastors I know are very good men. They are very godly, very kind, and very concerned about their congregations and communities. They really are. It's not a character issue.
What happens is that pastors are afraid of controversial statements because they are afraid it will make people leave their churches. Whenever people leave your church, it hurts. It really hurts. Most pastors take these things personally. I know I do. So when it comes time to take a stand on an issue, especially one that is controversial, the pastors of the churches make a quick mental list of who will not be there next Sunday if they take a stand.
So they don't say anything.
However, if a person is in your church simply because they can't stand to hear anything they don't want to hear, they are probably going to leave soon anyway.
That's why I'm calling pastors to stand up. I'm calling pastors to start fighting for religious liberty here in America. I am so encouraged by the pastor of First Baptist Church in Morristown (the pastor of the church where the German homeschool family, the Romeikes, attend) and his stand on their deportation hearings. He called for civil disobedience if they were deported. The mayor and the state representative of the area joined in. He took a stand for religious liberty, defending the family that was facing deportation and persecution for wanting to homeschool their children.
I loved it.
I loved the fact that the pastor openly called for civil disobedience in standing up for what he believed. He was willing to go to jail if necessary to stand up for religious liberty. Well done, good sir. The federal government backed off and allowed them to stay- a stunning reversal of the previous day's decision.
If the church was known as courageous- using civil disobedience if necessary- in standing up for religious liberty, it would have a huge effect on the state of Christianity in America. Americans believe in liberty, and we generally believe in leaving people alone to live their own lives. I believe Americans are getting sick of an ever-encroaching federal government and there is already a backlash going on in response. The church should be at the head of the column, calling for liberty and freedom, calling for people to be left alone to live their lives in peace and prosperity.
Pastors, if the church is to lead the way, you must be the leaders. You have the pulpit and the influence.
Pastors, today, I challenge you to band together in your communities and organize yourselves for action in defending religious liberty. Non-pastors, tell your pastor about your concern for the erosion of religious liberty here in America and encourage him to speak up. He's probably worried about what you think on this issue, and he needs to hear your encouragement.
I believe that there is nothing more important than our freedom and liberty. If we can't worship as we please, if we aren't free to exercise our faith, we will no longer be the United States of America.
Pastors, 61% of the people in your communities are waiting for you to be the voice of religious freedom, challenging the encroachments and intrusions on the First Amendment. Be that voice. Show our country that the church is the leader- the church is willing to take up the banner and lead the charge.
Pastors, it's time to stand up and be counted.
She said that like that was a bad thing, like I was not being a man of God, a pastor, a citizen of America, and a person agreeing with the 72% of Americans who believe this nation is headed the wrong direction.
The truth is, I don't mean to be controversial. I'm not looking for ratings, for blogs to go viral, or to attract a huge following.
I'm just someone who isn't content with the status quo.
This week, a study came out by the Family Research Council showing that 61% of Americans (not just Christians, mind you, but Americans in general) think that pastors should challenge Obama on religious liberty issues. That's almost 2/3 of the population. Pastors, are we missing an opportunity here?
It's no secret that the church in America is in trouble. It really is. We are not effectively engaging the culture and not effectively winning people to Christ. I have found in my interaction with non-Christian people that the vast majority don't really have anything against God. They are not rabid, foaming-at-the-mouth militant atheists marching off on a crusade to eradicate all things Christian. The vast majority of people simply see faith as irrelevant. Not important. Not really making much of a difference in life.
And 2/3 of all Americans want pastors to be bolder in speaking up for religious liberty.
Well, pastors, here is a chance to show the entire nation that you are serious about what you believe. 61% of the people in your community wish that you were a bold voice confronting encroachments on religious liberty in this nation. 61% of your neighbors, Christian and non-Christian, wish that they heard more from the pastors in the community about issues regarding freedom.
However, the article also speaks to why pastors don't speak up more.
Most pastors I know are very good men. They are very godly, very kind, and very concerned about their congregations and communities. They really are. It's not a character issue.
What happens is that pastors are afraid of controversial statements because they are afraid it will make people leave their churches. Whenever people leave your church, it hurts. It really hurts. Most pastors take these things personally. I know I do. So when it comes time to take a stand on an issue, especially one that is controversial, the pastors of the churches make a quick mental list of who will not be there next Sunday if they take a stand.
So they don't say anything.
However, if a person is in your church simply because they can't stand to hear anything they don't want to hear, they are probably going to leave soon anyway.
That's why I'm calling pastors to stand up. I'm calling pastors to start fighting for religious liberty here in America. I am so encouraged by the pastor of First Baptist Church in Morristown (the pastor of the church where the German homeschool family, the Romeikes, attend) and his stand on their deportation hearings. He called for civil disobedience if they were deported. The mayor and the state representative of the area joined in. He took a stand for religious liberty, defending the family that was facing deportation and persecution for wanting to homeschool their children.
I loved it.
I loved the fact that the pastor openly called for civil disobedience in standing up for what he believed. He was willing to go to jail if necessary to stand up for religious liberty. Well done, good sir. The federal government backed off and allowed them to stay- a stunning reversal of the previous day's decision.
If the church was known as courageous- using civil disobedience if necessary- in standing up for religious liberty, it would have a huge effect on the state of Christianity in America. Americans believe in liberty, and we generally believe in leaving people alone to live their own lives. I believe Americans are getting sick of an ever-encroaching federal government and there is already a backlash going on in response. The church should be at the head of the column, calling for liberty and freedom, calling for people to be left alone to live their lives in peace and prosperity.
Pastors, if the church is to lead the way, you must be the leaders. You have the pulpit and the influence.
Pastors, today, I challenge you to band together in your communities and organize yourselves for action in defending religious liberty. Non-pastors, tell your pastor about your concern for the erosion of religious liberty here in America and encourage him to speak up. He's probably worried about what you think on this issue, and he needs to hear your encouragement.
I believe that there is nothing more important than our freedom and liberty. If we can't worship as we please, if we aren't free to exercise our faith, we will no longer be the United States of America.
Pastors, 61% of the people in your communities are waiting for you to be the voice of religious freedom, challenging the encroachments and intrusions on the First Amendment. Be that voice. Show our country that the church is the leader- the church is willing to take up the banner and lead the charge.
Pastors, it's time to stand up and be counted.
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