Over the past few weeks I have been thinking seriously about the moral climate of our county. I have been evaluating my responsibility as a pastor.
Pastors have awesome challenges in this world that seems to be going nowhere fast. As we advance in technology, it appears that we are declining in morality. We cannot help but wonder where are we going? What will things be like in the next few years?
These are questions that we would hope that the church has the answer to, but not everyone is looking to God for answers. We look to man and technology to solve the problems of our society, but we forget, ignore or refuse to believe that our problems are spiritual. Many have moved away from God.
Spiritual problems must have spiritual solutions. As a pastor, I am ordained to preach the gospel to everyone so that they might turn from their wicked ways and seek God’s face. The same responsibility is also given to every child of God.
I know some may think that we do not have a serious problem. A little gun control, a few more laws, more jails or some self-help programs will solve our problems. We need to wake up and understand that as long as we refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of our problem, we will continue to put a bandage on a wound that requires stitches. We have serious problems when our young people are joining gangs by the dozens, our young girls crave being sexy, our young men are excited about being thugs and gangsters, teachers are having sex with students, predators are targeting 13-year-olds, preachers are living immorally, violence plagues our streets and our schools are battleground rather than institutions of learning. Where are we going?
As a pastor, I can say that we are headed for destruction. The Bible is clear that we shall reap what we sow. I can sit back and watch, as many others do, or I can get involved and become part of the solution rather than the problem. Whether we believe it or not, the church, God’s people, have the answer to our problem. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” We need to restore the moral climate in our society.
There are three things I believe we need to do. First, we need to call people to repent. Repentance is being godly sorrowful for what you have done and turning away from your wrong. “Except you repent you will perish.” (Luke 13:3) Acts 17:30 says that God is calling all men to repent. We cannot repair our relationship with God without repenting our sins. Sin separates us from God. However, if we confess our faults to God, He will forgive us and clean us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Then, we need to pray. God promised to heal our land if we would return to him and seek His face. There is power in prayer. When you cannot talk to man about God, you can talk to God about man. The Bible says that the prayer of the righteous avails much. Prayer is communication with God. In prayer not only do we talk to God, but God talks to us. He gives us directions. We are in today is because we have not spent enough time talking to God.
Finally, I believe we need to preach the word of God. We need to preach more than just prosperity, but we need to talk about sin and righteousness. Men and women need to know that the wages of sins is still death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Men and women need to know that God requires righteous living. People need to know that holiness is not a denomination, but a requirement of God.
I am glad that we serve a God who allows U-turns. If we are headed in the wrong direction, we can turn around, seek directions and get back on the right track. If we are going to have a bright future, we must shine today.
Jackson is the pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church on Elam Road and president of the United Ministerial Alliance.
Pastors have awesome challenges in this world that seems to be going nowhere fast. As we advance in technology, it appears that we are declining in morality. We cannot help but wonder where are we going? What will things be like in the next few years?
These are questions that we would hope that the church has the answer to, but not everyone is looking to God for answers. We look to man and technology to solve the problems of our society, but we forget, ignore or refuse to believe that our problems are spiritual. Many have moved away from God.
Spiritual problems must have spiritual solutions. As a pastor, I am ordained to preach the gospel to everyone so that they might turn from their wicked ways and seek God’s face. The same responsibility is also given to every child of God.
I know some may think that we do not have a serious problem. A little gun control, a few more laws, more jails or some self-help programs will solve our problems. We need to wake up and understand that as long as we refuse to acknowledge the seriousness of our problem, we will continue to put a bandage on a wound that requires stitches. We have serious problems when our young people are joining gangs by the dozens, our young girls crave being sexy, our young men are excited about being thugs and gangsters, teachers are having sex with students, predators are targeting 13-year-olds, preachers are living immorally, violence plagues our streets and our schools are battleground rather than institutions of learning. Where are we going?
As a pastor, I can say that we are headed for destruction. The Bible is clear that we shall reap what we sow. I can sit back and watch, as many others do, or I can get involved and become part of the solution rather than the problem. Whether we believe it or not, the church, God’s people, have the answer to our problem. The Bible says in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” We need to restore the moral climate in our society.
There are three things I believe we need to do. First, we need to call people to repent. Repentance is being godly sorrowful for what you have done and turning away from your wrong. “Except you repent you will perish.” (Luke 13:3) Acts 17:30 says that God is calling all men to repent. We cannot repair our relationship with God without repenting our sins. Sin separates us from God. However, if we confess our faults to God, He will forgive us and clean us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)
Then, we need to pray. God promised to heal our land if we would return to him and seek His face. There is power in prayer. When you cannot talk to man about God, you can talk to God about man. The Bible says that the prayer of the righteous avails much. Prayer is communication with God. In prayer not only do we talk to God, but God talks to us. He gives us directions. We are in today is because we have not spent enough time talking to God.
Finally, I believe we need to preach the word of God. We need to preach more than just prosperity, but we need to talk about sin and righteousness. Men and women need to know that the wages of sins is still death, but the gift of God is eternal life. Men and women need to know that God requires righteous living. People need to know that holiness is not a denomination, but a requirement of God.
I am glad that we serve a God who allows U-turns. If we are headed in the wrong direction, we can turn around, seek directions and get back on the right track. If we are going to have a bright future, we must shine today.
Jackson is the pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church on Elam Road and president of the United Ministerial Alliance.