This is SUCH a good article. It is so hard to find good, biblical, level-headed pastors. I’ve been in the political “fight” for 6 years now. Yesterday woke so many up and so many want to join in, but don’t know how. This is so great & practical. Thank you for sharing!
Unity in the body of Christ is imperative right now. “yes, even Reformed ones” as written in this post… “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-15, 22-32
In the face of this chaos, the Body of Christ must respond differently. The Church can no longer afford to be divided by denominations, doctrines and political allegiances. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. If we won’t stand together now, when will we?
The world needs a united Church. Not a perfect church. Not a politically driven church. A faithful one. A courageous one. A spirit-led one like Charlie Kirk advocated for. After 911 the whole nation came together. Today, the church needs to come together to be that beacon of Light, you describe above. 🙏🏼
Please come to Singapore and plant one of those churches you mentioned above. We do not have churches that dare to confront the great moral issues of the day or criticize feminism. In Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew's doctrine of women being part of the workforce is the foundational value of every church-going family in local churches. The local churches here "thank God" for a godly government that has given the nation peace and prosperity, but fail to notice that a "godly" government will not legislate the murder of unborn babies for more than 50 years based upon social engineering and eugenics reasoning (just peruse the parliamentary speeches in 1969 on abortion in Singapore), or build casinoes, or legalize prostitution.
So please come to Singapore and plant a church here. Our SG church is lukewarm and doesn't know that she is naked and blind. Please come over and help us in "Macedonia." Thank you.
I have an observation that has been troubling me for long. I'm a South African, and here, as in many countries, the American film industry rules the TV, streaming site and so on. There are good films here and there but majority is typical Hollywood films - blasphemous, idolizing sex, feministic and just really terrible stories of people doing terrible things to one another - and making it normal. I believe you become what you watch. I have seen it in my own life.
Now what is troubling me is this - I have been listening to various American preachers (such as Timothy Keller and RC Sproul - whom I both admire) and is always slightly shocked when they refer to such worldly films in a good light. Taking examples from them. Thus, watching such material is normal for the paster and by referring to it in a sermon is encouraging the congregation to watch it too. Have the Americans Christians become blunted to the attacks hidden in films? Well, the whole world has, I suppose. But might this negligence be one of the many underlying problems of a nation this confused? It most definitely is one in South Africa...I'm just wondering if the American preachers are aware of the danger of these films?
I think the overriding concern among many preachers is appear “cool” and “with it.” So they echo popular culture, often embarrassingly so. I’ve known preachers to wear sports team jerseys in the pulpit. Then there are those execrable skinny jeans. The worst manifestation of this need to be hip is sucking up to the LQBTQOBN+++ crowd. While these ministers should know the better, the need for narcissistic supply takes over.
Amen!
“Let the exaltations of God be in their throats,
And a two-edged sword in their hand,
To execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples” (Psalm 149:6-7).
Thank you for this.
Michael, thank you, and Godspeed. RIP Charlie.
Excellent word!
This is SUCH a good article. It is so hard to find good, biblical, level-headed pastors. I’ve been in the political “fight” for 6 years now. Yesterday woke so many up and so many want to join in, but don’t know how. This is so great & practical. Thank you for sharing!
Preach preacher!
Thank you for your voice and leadership. I've appreciated you for years.
Keep that point sharp, brother! 💯
Unity in the body of Christ is imperative right now. “yes, even Reformed ones” as written in this post… “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-15, 22-32
In the face of this chaos, the Body of Christ must respond differently. The Church can no longer afford to be divided by denominations, doctrines and political allegiances. We are the hands and feet of Jesus. If we won’t stand together now, when will we?
The world needs a united Church. Not a perfect church. Not a politically driven church. A faithful one. A courageous one. A spirit-led one like Charlie Kirk advocated for. After 911 the whole nation came together. Today, the church needs to come together to be that beacon of Light, you describe above. 🙏🏼
Thank you brother!
Amen! Well said!
Thank you for your wisdom, Foster.
Please come to Singapore and plant one of those churches you mentioned above. We do not have churches that dare to confront the great moral issues of the day or criticize feminism. In Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew's doctrine of women being part of the workforce is the foundational value of every church-going family in local churches. The local churches here "thank God" for a godly government that has given the nation peace and prosperity, but fail to notice that a "godly" government will not legislate the murder of unborn babies for more than 50 years based upon social engineering and eugenics reasoning (just peruse the parliamentary speeches in 1969 on abortion in Singapore), or build casinoes, or legalize prostitution.
So please come to Singapore and plant a church here. Our SG church is lukewarm and doesn't know that she is naked and blind. Please come over and help us in "Macedonia." Thank you.
I have an observation that has been troubling me for long. I'm a South African, and here, as in many countries, the American film industry rules the TV, streaming site and so on. There are good films here and there but majority is typical Hollywood films - blasphemous, idolizing sex, feministic and just really terrible stories of people doing terrible things to one another - and making it normal. I believe you become what you watch. I have seen it in my own life.
Now what is troubling me is this - I have been listening to various American preachers (such as Timothy Keller and RC Sproul - whom I both admire) and is always slightly shocked when they refer to such worldly films in a good light. Taking examples from them. Thus, watching such material is normal for the paster and by referring to it in a sermon is encouraging the congregation to watch it too. Have the Americans Christians become blunted to the attacks hidden in films? Well, the whole world has, I suppose. But might this negligence be one of the many underlying problems of a nation this confused? It most definitely is one in South Africa...I'm just wondering if the American preachers are aware of the danger of these films?
I think the overriding concern among many preachers is appear “cool” and “with it.” So they echo popular culture, often embarrassingly so. I’ve known preachers to wear sports team jerseys in the pulpit. Then there are those execrable skinny jeans. The worst manifestation of this need to be hip is sucking up to the LQBTQOBN+++ crowd. While these ministers should know the better, the need for narcissistic supply takes over.
This is EXCELLENT! And it is the aspiration for my life!
SOLI DEO GLORIA
Thank you… excellent.
Thank you for not capitulating; for not trading "boldness" for "nuance". God bless you Pastor.