Tomorrow Morning

Tomorrow we are in Acts 12--you should read it before tomorrow if you get a chance. The gospel is spreading along the Acts 1:8 continuum, but tomorrow the text takes us back to Jerusalem. It is interesting that the Lord protects Peter, but lets James, one of the two "sons of thunder", get run through with a sword. Some Christ followers died and some were protected, but the gospel kept advancing and unbelievers kept changing their minds about Jesus.

It's interesting that in the 21st century, the church's goal seems to be the advancement of morality (see all the preachers trying to get republicans elected so we can fix the morals of our country), but the 1st century church's goal seemed to be the advancement of the gospel. Have you ever stoped to wonder why there isn't a single recorded march by the early church against slavery or the oppression of women in the New Testament--both major social justice issues of the Roman Empire? I wonder why in America when baptisms and churches are declining that we just shout louder and louder about morality? Before you get mad at me, I'm just thinking out loud. I believe pastors should call their flocks to be values voters--we are a democracy and not a monarchy, and I do think churches should speak strongly about social justice issues--just think of what could have been if German churches had been willing to speak some Truth about racism in their country in early 20th century.

Nonetheless, I do wonder more and more if well meaning Christians are more passionate about Washington DC than reaching their lost neighbor who sleeps 30 feet away. I do wonder if we have made Christianity in America more about wanting people to become moral than wanting the dead raised to life in Christ. Of what eternal good would it be if every person in congress was pro-life, small gov't, and defined marriage in a biblically acceptable way, yet 90% of our nation was dead in their sin?

I wonder if church leaders are discipling Christians to live (and die) for a cause greater than ourselves--gospel advancement, like we see in Acts 12, or if we are teaching people that "saving America" is the purpose of the American church? I will vote in the November elections. I will urge all NEHBCers to vote. Make no mistake about it, a candidate's values will be the biggest factor in determining who will receive my vote and I will urge NEHBCers to do the same. Nonetheless, my job as pastor isn't to lead NEHBC to save America, I'm leading us to build the Kingdom of God by winning the lost and discipling the saved.

With all that said, it has nothing to do with tomorrow's sermon. I just threw that out there for grins. See yall in worship tomorrow for Acts 12 and for the commissioning out of Team Greece I.
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