A PASTORS CONCERN  

 by  Rev. Shirley J. Cunningham    June 2, 2008

As a pastor and minister I am concerned about the lifestyles and actions of our world and the people that follow it.  Even if I was not a pastor or preacher, as a Christian I would still be concerned.  I do wonder why I am concerned when a large part of the church seems to drift on and follow the crowd.  Is it because I am too old?  Is it because I am not smart enough in the new things and trends of the World?  Or could it be because I truly believe the Word of God and what it says?  Could it be that I desire to be a REAL Christian?  Do you think that God is concerned?   Do you ever think about these things?  If not, please take time to examine this subject and then look deep inside yourself and locate where you stand and where you should stand. 

As I read the Scriptures from the Holy Word of God, I find much direction for my life.  I began to find the reality of this direction when I was 32 years old, at which time I invited Jesus Christ into my life.  I am now 70 and the only thing I can say is, I wish that I had found the salvation of Christ sooner.   

Some people think that God is a loving God and that He will send them to heaven when they die no matter what.  Some think that because they are good person  they will go to heaven.  Some don’t believe that there is a heaven.  Some think that they will have another kind of life after this one. 

Let’s look at some of these issues and see if we can determine what the Word of God, The Holy Bible says about them.

First let us look at just trying to live a good life and be good.  The Bible says in Romans 3:10 “As it is written,  That there is none righteous, no not one;.  Right here the Bible tells us that we cannot be good enough on our own.  That is why we need a Savior, and there is only one that can forgive sins.  His name is Jesus Christ.  No other person died, shed sinless blood and arose from the dead.  Only Jesus did this and that is why he can forgive our sins.    Romans 3:23 says, “ For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”.  That means we all need this savior, Jesus. 

Next let’s look at the people, Christians,  that have accepted Jesus.  Do they have the right to do what they want and just live apart from the Holy Word of God?  No, they do not and this is where I get really concerned.  After becoming a Christian and asking Jesus to forgive all our sins, we must then study His Word, the Bible,  in order to know how to live and act.   The very first thing to do is find a church that teaches the Word of God.   Even though you do not see everyone act right, you may still study and apply the Word to your life.  This is a walk that is now between you and the Lord.  You need to get a good Bible and read it everyday.  I like the King James Version because I know it has not been changed  so much like some of the new versions have.  It is not hard to read or study after you have accepted Christ into you life.   If you are sincere, he will reveal his Word to you and help you to find the pure meanings.  You may need to get a good concordance to help you, but that is just a part of you studying to show yourself approved unto God.

Now we are ready to look at some questions.  These are some of my concerns about the church of today.

 What does the Bible say about sex and marriage?  I see many people living together and they are not married.  It seems to be acceptable in our society and world today.  Is it acceptable with God?  That should be the question that concerns us.   Let the scriptures speak.   I Cor.  6:13 says this, “ Meats for the belly and the belly for meats; but God shall destroy both it and them.  Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.”  What is fornication according to the dictionary?  It is  consensual sexual intercourse between two persons  (continued from page 1)  not married to each other — compare adultery.   Adultery means  voluntary sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than his or her lawful spouse.

Is this happening in the churches of today?  Is it against the teachings of the Bible?  If you are living in a wrong relationship and do not realize it, will you be honest with yourself and God?   It is never too late to change your lifestyle.  

1.       Galatians 5:19.  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,

 20.  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,

 21.  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.Galatians 5:19 

If you do not understand all of these words, then find a dictionary and look the rest of them up.  

 

2.       What does the scripture say about our emotional being? We can walk in the sins of the flesh and take a chance on dying and going into an eternal hell or we can believe what the Word of God says and walk in the Fruit of the Sprit, live a Godly life and enter and eternal heaven when we leave the earth.    Look at Gal 5: 22.   But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 23.  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

 24.  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

 25.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

To  walk and live with the love, joy and peace are is much better than giving into the sins of fornication, adultery, anger, bitterness, jealousy, etc.  Those sins are destructive to you here on this earth, they destroy your physical body and damage you in your emotions and bring you into depressions, fear and hopelessness, and it may even cut you life short.   People have been known to commit suicide when in that state of mind and it is so unnecessary.  Jesus will cleanse you, save you, and restore you to full peace of mind and put joy in your life. 

3.        Is it hopeless then if you have fallen into these sins?   No it is not.  God has made a way out, but when you come out, you need to stay out of them.  Gal 5:1.  Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

4.       How do you get out?  I John  1:9.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

 Just like you confess your sins when you first come to Jesus, so you can again repent and ask him to restore you back into fellowship with him.  I John 1: 7. Tells us,  “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin”.

These are just a few of the things that concern me, but I wanted to address these issues  at this time as these issues destroy lives, families, churches, cities and yes, even nations.  Let us return to the Word of God and apply it to our personal lives.  You will see, it does make a difference.  God loves you and waits for you to respond to his truth.  Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh to the father but by me.  There is no other way to be saved, except through Jesus Christ.  PLEASE BOW YOUR HEAD AND PRAY TO JESUS NOW!!!