The "Useful" Church

Hello Friends!

Many clergy have been used and abused by politicians and made as props for as long as there have been politics. For example, well-known in the political world – shared and confirmed by the late Chuck Colson – is how Richard Nixon would "wine and dine" key pastors, give them the red carpet treatment and send them home to be good "mouthpieces" for the cause. Not to mention Hitler's Jesuitical co-opting tactics of the German church...

The "Useful" Church

Pastor Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Church in Illinois is one of the driving forces behind the "seeker friendly" phenomena that essentially neutralized the evangelical church as a moral force over the last 30 years. I personally know many pastors who believe him to be a decent man who loves God and is sincere. However, his own admittance of the failure of the "Willow Creek Model" to create true biblical disciples did not undo the massive damage this "Christianity light" has done to the church. And as a result, has been slowly destroying the strong godly influence in our nation.

Hybels willingness to use failed leaders like Jimmy Carter in his annual "Leadership Summit" as a model of such also reveals either no discernment or lack of consistent biblical standards in that widely viewed conference. My point? When highly influential pastors like Bill Hybels, Rick Warren (e.g., his support of Tony Blair's "one-world religion" Faith Foundation) and Joel Osteen (e.g., his giving thanks to God for "raising up" activist lesbian mayor of Houston, Annise Parker) give cover to reprobate politicians, they yield not only their own moral high ground and influence, but that of pastors all over the nation whom they are perceived to represent.

The other concern is that pastors bitten with the market-driven, seeker-friendly, church-growth bug spread by Hybels and his progeny have established large churches, big budgets and big visibility but are so far removed from political decision making, they are a joke when they step to the microphone in this manner. Do you not think that Obama and his Chicago squad know very well that Hybels is never likely to risk any disfavor by exerting confrontational leadership on what we would define to be conservative issues and values?

Politicians often use the same strategy employed by tyrants and regimes throughout world history who routinely parade as puppets representing the "opposition" to prove how benevolent and inclusive they are. That, of course, occurs after they have imprisoned, intimidated or killed those who are any threat. Obama's anti-Christian, anti-life, anti-marriage, anti-constitutional and anti-American policies, in my opinion, prove he has no legitimate interest in hearing from pastors like Hybels. He in fact would use the church in the same way as a previous leader on a different continent.

As Erwin Lutzer illustrates magnificently in his must-read book, "Hitler's Cross," the theologically shallow and nationalistic nature of the German clergy proved easy pickings for Hitler. Lutzer states:

"The swastika was, in effect, adopted as the new cross in the very cathedral where Luther has preached the cross of Christ four hundred years before!"

The legitimate and proper role of the pulpits in relation to our governing leaders is as the prophetic voice of God's absolute truth upon which their authority rests. As a nation, we should heed the words uttered by the "Father of the American Revolution," Samuel Adams:

"We have this day restored the Sovereign, to Whom all men ought to be obedient. He reigns in heaven and from the rising to the setting of the sun, let His kingdom come."

Lest any be confused about to which Sovereign Adams was referring, read his statement to the state legislature as governor of Massachusetts:

"I conceive we cannot better express ourselves than by humbly supplicating the Supreme Ruler of the world… that the confusions that are and have been among the nations may be overruled by the promoting and speedily bringing in the holy and happy period when the kingdoms of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ may be everywhere established, and the people bow to the scepter of Him who is the Prince of Peace."

I believe it right, appropriate and vital that the voice of pastors be heard on all issues of our day, serving as godly influences first to our congregants/citizens, then to our public servants. However, the words of Solomon must be heeded to avoid evil snares:

When you sit down to dine with a ruler, consider carefully what is before you, and put a knife to your throat if you are a man of great appetite. Do not desire his delicacies, for it is deceptive food - Proverbs 23:1-3

We need patriot pastors holding elected officials accountable to God's standards, not serving as pawns by enemies of our faith and our country. May God bless America!

Blessings on your studies and involvement in understanding and sharing the Truth!

If you have been blessed by this message or have a specific question, prayer request or testimony, please send me a note to: encouragingconcepts@live.com

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Blessings!
Shane K. Morin <><

 

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