I spend a good number of my weekends preaching in churches across America. Since I feel compelled by God to call American Christians to repentance, I have on numerous occasions in the last six months preached a message entitled, “Understanding The Times”. (To listen to a version of this sermon click the link at the bottom of this post) This sermon points out that we are living in perilous times, morally and spiritually. Ever since 911 God seems to be shaking America through natural disasters, political unrest, unsuccessful wars and the threat of financial collapse to warn us that it’s time to wake up and repent before it’s too late. Even now the turbulence in the Middle East should alert us that it’s time for us to lift up our heads for our redemption is drawing near.
While most worshippers resonate with the message there are those who object that it’s too “political”. In their minds, no issue that is even remotely political should ever be discussed in the pulpit. For example I received a letter recently from an elderly woman who belongs to a denomination that has been traditionally quite liberal.
She wrote, “I could not believe what I was hearing from a church pulpit. I have never before heard a minister use a church pulpit to give his political views to a captive congregation one month before elections. It is a topic that is inappropriate and in very poor taste….”
The rest of the letter revealed the reason for her concern. I had dared suggest that abortion and gay marriage were sinful. In her letter she mentioned the number of abused children in America and added, “There is a saying, “a child has the right to not be born” and quoted a Cambridge professor, reportedly the most brilliant person in the world, who suggested, the biggest problem in the world was over-population…. She added, “Our officials in Washington have no right to make laws regarding women’s bodies.” She went on to explain that she had been a member of her church and had held official offices there for 48 years.
How sad! How can someone attend church, claim to be a follower of Christ for nearly half a century and still endorse the corrupt practices of this world? What has been going on in mainline denominations for the past fifty years? Preachers where are you?
Below is a portion of the letter I wrote in response:
Dear ______,
I received your letter concerning the sermon I preached at your church recently. Although I’m naturally disappointed that you didn’t think the sermon appropriate, I appreciate you writing and I appreciate the tone of your letter.
I acknowledge that the sermon, “Understanding the Times” was a strong, prophetic message. But I’m commissioned in Scripture to preach God’s Word, “in season and out of season” and not just to say what pleases people. (2 Timothy 4:1-5) I never mentioned a political party, the upcoming election or told anyone how to vote. However, you suggest I used the pulpit to, “give my political views”, apparently because I spoke about the sanctity of life and the sacredness of marriage.
Perhaps the following Scriptures will help explain where I am coming from and will help you understand that, according to Scripture, abortion and gay marriage are not, “political issues”. They are deeply spiritual issues. The preacher’s job is to proclaim ‘the whole counsel of God”, even though some may not want to hear it.
Psalm 139:2, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb”. A baby forming in the mother’s womb is a creation of God, not something we are free to tear apart at our convenience.
Genesis 2:24, “For this reason a man will leave father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh”. Marriage is a sacred covenant, ordained by God, not a man-made institution that can be disregarded, dissolved or redefined by man.
A critical question each of us who claim to follow Christ must answer is, what determines truth for us? Majority opinion? Leading experts? Popular culture? Personal feelings? For Christians, right and wrong are determined by God’s Word, the Bible. Jesus prayed in Gethsemane, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17)
Does a woman have a right to terminate a pregnancy if the developing baby is in her own womb? No, not if right and wrong are determined by the Scripture which says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)
Do two men or two women have a right to marry one another if it’s proclaimed permissible by the government? No, not if right and wrong are determined by God’s Word which says, “Do not lie with a man as one lies with a woman; that is detestable.” (Leviticus 18:22)
Aren’t we going to heaven if we live good lives and belong to a church? No, not if truth is determined by the Bible. Just being good and being a church member aren’t sufficient. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith –and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
I pray you have trusted Jesus as your Savior and God’s Word is a, “lamp unto your feet and a light ‘unto your path.” I hope you’ll encourage your minister to be strong and courageous and preach the truth in love.
Sincerely,
Bob Russell
