The most likely reason “non-church going people” attend a church service is because someone invited them. Most do not pass a church building (no less on Sunday) and say, “I think I will attend that church this week.”  Nor do most people comb the last pages of a newspaper to see what church services are available this weekend (Do they still have that in newspapers?).

I might also suggest that for many people, accepting the Lord as their personal Saviour has a clear connection to being invited to and attending a church service.  Over the years, I saw far more accept Christ after the presentation of a salvation message than were ever saved by my personal witness to strangers or friends — and I personally talked to a lot of people about Christ over those years.

There was something about a focused, biblical, and coherent congregational presentation about the work of Jesus on the cross for the forgiveness of our sin that resulted in a repeated response. [1]  It was a combination of God’s people knowing that they could invite a friend or family member to hear the Gospel, their prayers during the invitation, the work of the Holy Spirit with the Word, the Sunday atmosphere of music and worship, and a purposeful presentation of the Gospel story that resulted in 100s of professions of Christ,

I do recognize that inviting people to church is more and more difficult in America — for a variety of reasons.  Nevertheless, church members and friends inviting others is critical to the effectiveness of the Gospel message and church growth.

Churches need to . . . .

• use a variety of church activities and events to bring about a level of comfortability for responding to an invitation to a “Sunday church service”/ Gospel presentation [2]
• provide known & focused Gospel messages to which the members and friends of the church can invite others
• make totally sure that when a “member” of the church invites others, that the “member” is not going to be embarrassed by what is said or done in the service

Again, I was reminded this past week (Father’s Day – [3]) how important opportunities for inviting others are – – – AND how a local church & pastor can totally embarrass those who extended an invitation to others to attend church with them this Father’s Day.

I am not arguing whether or not a local church or pastor ought to preach a special Father’s Day sermon or continue the present series. [4]

I am arguing that a pastor can so embarrass the members and friends of a church by being shamelessly inappropriate as to what he says and preaches.  I am saying that pastors can confuse the offense of the Gospel with their own offensive and ignorant comments, that those members decide to never invite others to church.

The members have come to the place that they lack confidence in what will be said or done — “Who knows what our pastor might say!”  They have learned that the preacher has little to no sensitivity or even common sense once too often.

Sometimes, a “member” can only say this to their friend or invited guest — “I’m sorry!”

The preacher has so insulted or offended their friend or guest that, no surprise, members and friends of the church say, “I can’t invite others to my church.  I never know what the pastor is going to say or preach on, which will not unnecessarily offend my guest and make the Gospel less winsome.”

Some would love to invite a family member, neighbor, co-worker, or friends,
but they are saying . . . .
“I can’t invite people to my church, last time I did and . . . .

Yes,  I do recognize that in America, inviting people to church is more and more difficult — for a variety of reasons.  However,  just maybe, one of the reasons people don’t invite others isn’t their lack of love or courage!
— Titus 2:10—
. . . . . 

1. After 36 years of preaching a salvation-centered sermon on the first Sunday of every month*, on what the congregation understood as “Salvation Sunday.” There were clear and known times when a full Gospel message was preached.  There were not a dozen times when no one responded to the Gospel message.  Month after month, and on special days such as Christmas and Easter, new people who were in attendance raised their hands, professed Christ, and/or came forward during the time of invitation.

Tacking on the Gospel at the end of a message is generally ineffective and defective.  There is not enough information as to what the Gospel message is to knowingly and honestly respond.  While some come forward, it is typically because they have heard the Gospel over a period of time, understand it, and are ready to respond.

*NOTE: On Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter, “Salvation Sunday” typically changed to the Sunday on which that holiday was observed.

2. Not all plays by a football team on the gridiron are aimed at a touchdown.  While any play might result in a touchdown, some of the moves and actions are designed to position themselves on the field.  Likewise, not all activities and events conducted by a local church are designed for a “touchdown.”  Some are designed for getting positioned to invite others to a service that is on the 5-yard line!  

A golf outing, a church softball team, kid’s clubs, ESL classes, church organized soccer fields and teams, gym nights, ladies craft nights, an all-church picnic, a baby shower, food kitchens, benevolence giving, all-church trips, weddings,  outings, a swim party, a Super Bowl / March Madness get together, etc. . . . . are opportunities for others to become more comfortable with the local church.  Many activities, events, and ministries criss-cross with each other and lead to people inviting and attending a Gospel service.  Different activities and events have different aims!

3. Mother’s & Father’s Day are unusual days in American life — Those days always fall on a Sunday. No surprise, they are celebrated and promoted by the church.  Therefore, a good number of moms and dads, as well as grown children, find themselves attending church beyond “Christmas-Easter.”

It is a Gospel mistake not to take advantage of these two days as a local church.  Don’t miss it!

4. If you invited your lost father, or you, as a father, asked and invited your lost children to attend with you, your thinking might be far different than that of the pastor.  Mother’s & Father’s Day are unique opportunities for reaching family members with the Gospel!

Mother’s & Father’s Day are unusual days in American life — Those days always fall on a Sunday. No surprise, they are celebrated and promoted by the church.  Therefore, a good number of moms and dads, as well as grown children, find themselves attending church beyond “Christmas-Easter.”

It is a Gospel mistake not to take advantage of these two days as a local church.  Don’t miss it!

I well understand the demand that comes with preparing an engaging message about mothers and fathers after years of preaching on these two special days for decades.

Today, I think I would focus on the word — “Consistency.”

As a father, one of your greatest influencers is “consistency” because . . . .

#1 — What is most remembered by our children (and by you) is what took place over and over in our family life.

#2 — As children, we are quietly persuaded when what we hear and see is practiced over and over — is practiced consistently.

#3 — “Fairness” is unargued when all the children are raised by the same standards.

#4 — Children are watching their dads and easily see breaks in their consistency.

#5 — Authenticity and consistency travel together.

As an academic reader of “Vital Speeches,” I was again reminded of how words matter and how words can change the atmosphere — even a highly politically charged atmosphere!

 

Benjamin and Sara Netanyahu, over the years, we have not always agreed, but we have both sacrificed much on a personal level in order to serve our people, the people of Israel. Expressing gratitude is a fundamental principle in Judaism. This is the time for the people to say to you, thank you.”

 

1. All-Things-Church.org

2. When I read an article or a speech like this, I think more about the spiritual counter-part.  Tony Evans promoted and highlights the value of doing that in his own ministry.

“H.B. Charles, Jr.: You’re also known for very powerful illustrations — are — what is that — and at this point. The first book I’m checking — if I need an illustration or something — is your book of illustrations are is that.

Dr. Tony Evans: It is that heavy crafting? Are you — over the years — on your feet . . . . illustrating — What is your philosophy of sermon illustration?

Well it’s you use a great word, and that was the word “philosophy” because I assume something – OK – and the assumption is everything is an illustration.

And because I operate with that assumption — it’s kind of hard — sometimes I do it’s when I’m with preachers — I tell them — point to point out something in the room, and they’ll just point out anything — and I’ll immediately turn into an illustration.

And maybe some of that is personality, but it’s also philosophy

because I assume that everything created has been created by God or is in opposition to God and therefore has a spiritual, theological framework — it can illustrate something in the spiritual realm

and because I’ve operated that way I see illustrations all the time

so I have some planned, and some come on the spot

and some events happen while I’m a while I’m preaching — something happens then it becomes an illustration at the moment — but the practice of that turns it into a mental orientation that that flows out because the more you do it — the better you get at it.

3. https://prorhetoric.com/the-baton-passes-to-the-next-generation/?utm_campaign=Pro+Rhetoric&utm_source=UA-166835896-1&utm_medium=email

I just finished reading a letter by a pastor who was asked to leave his church — and an open letter to all who were interested in the events and details of what had apparently happened upon his removal.

#1 — It is a remarkable letter for a variety of reasons, but perhaps the most noteworthy is how the shepherd now understands the thinking and feelings of the sheep who sit under leaders like this pastor.  Sadly, it takes the dismissal of a pastor from his ministry before he understands how God’s people feel when leaving a church after years of investment and/or after being dismissed by a twisting of the Matthew 18 process.

Typically, ministry leaders and pastors are not removed from ministry.  They generally leave on their own and usually on their own timeline, and after the damage has been done in that ministry or local church.  For many pastors, a 3-5 year rotation is standard.  Far more long-time workers, members, and friends of a ministry or local church understand the feelings of having to leave or of being dismissed after years, and even decades, of investment.

One would hope that ministry leaders and pastors who have been dismissed would have a different empathy and understanding of the feelings that the sheep experience, all too often under their leadership.  Maybe it takes dismissal from the leadership of a ministry or one’s pastoral position to grasp how unscrupulous and disillusioning it is to the sheep who sat under their ministry, who saw leaving as the only reasonable option left, or who were marginalized or dismissed for calling out legitimate — or illegitimate — decisions and actions!

. . . . . 

#2 — A secondary conspicuous element of this “open letter” is the obvious contrast between what is said and what is done.  The pastor’s lack of self-awareness is so obvious as he speaks about a biblical truth and then addresses those who supported his dismissal.  Here is one simple example . . .

“Be assured that we are far along in forgiving all, letting the legal process hold them accountable, and still seeking behind the scenes for meetings to assist a God-honoring resolution, which we have not ceased to pursue.”

Sounds consistent to me!  Forgiving all and going to court  — Sounds like Jesus to me! — Forgiving and holding them accountable, while thinking legal action will encourage meetings aimed at resolution.

The lack of “self-awareness” is rampant in leadership positions.  It is a by-product of position and power.  The very truths and principles taught or preached in a ministry, or local church are far too often the same principles that are being violated by the leadership.  What is being taught or preached is mind-bending in light of the actions of the leadership — “Do they really hear themselves when they say . . . . . ”

To highlight this lack of self-awareness, note that this open letter about his mistreatment is on the heels of a personal attack on Julie Roys.  As an investigative reporter, she published a number of articles concerning his removal.  He calls Julie Roys is a spiritual slut.

Yesterday, he announced his intention to “expose her,” and today, he began tweeting his attacks.  Here are his own words . . . (Note: this is a mild example from his prelude yesterday.  I am certain his approach will change minds – TIC – tongue in cheek)

“For years I have refused to read the tripe from #JRgossipslut Julie Roys but of course have heard from others. She is a cancer on the body of Christ and must be excised. If you love Jesus and follow Julie Roys you share in the judgment coming upon her millstone ministry.”

As he states, I am sure that his letter will “lift your spirit, clear your mind, and move your heart” — another example of how unaware he is — “Do they really hear themselves when they say things like this?”

Full Letter:

Dear XXXX,I write to you today in the hope you are well, and that you might give me a moment of your time – 5 minutes – to lift your spirit, clear your mind, and hopefully move your heart. At some point in the past, I was blessed by our Lord to be used in your life in a small measure, through the gift given to me of preaching the Scriptures. Whatever caused you to contact me, we continued interacting and resourcing your faith, through email devotionals, teaching materials, radio/tv broadcasts, and special events – some listeners connected with us in this way for more than 25 years.

If you were fed, if you were built up in our awesome God and the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, I am blessed beyond measure in knowing – and intended for it to continue as long as the Lord gave me breath. Tragically, however, I was thrown out of the church we gave our lives to by a group of rogue leaders. To this day they have not answered for their vicious actions, including deceiving the church’s Elders and destroying Walk in the Word, which legal arbitration confirmed last year was not theirs to destroy. When we won the arbitration and regained access to our teaching ministry, it was in shambles – like a model plane that had flown so beautifully, being “returned” with report of a crash, when in reality an envious child had dashed it against the rocks just out of sight. Not until November 2020 was I able to write to you, after two long years without your contact info, and only a small number of former listeners responded positively. Candidly, those who stumbled by the public deception sent many hateful words, full of hurt and so hard to hear. Yes, the Walk in the Word family who once loved and believed in our ministry was badly fractured and hurting, too. At that time, Kathy and I determined to remain in God’s favor by not responding in our flesh. With a successful arbitration behind us, I can now say simply the financial accusations were false, the accusations of sinful conduct beyond the relational matters were false, and all were crafted to cover the looting of all Walk in the Word assets and destruction of that life-giving ministry as a pure act of vindictiveness. Most of these psuedo-Elders are still in leadership and continue to deceive the fractional congregation that remains. By withholding my pension, they forced me to settle all claims against them, passing the buck to their phony investigators (who are now answering for their criminal actions) while supposed pastors who once loved us stick their heads in the sand. It is all so heartbreaking. In fact, those who the church paid $300,000 from what they stole to manufacture their lies are even this week answering to God’s established authorities “for the punishment of wrongdoers” (Romans 13:1). For those who need it, the “Controversy” page on our website has been updated. It will now be kept current until Harvest Bible Chapel owns publicly their acts of sinful slander and removes the responsible Elders from their current roles overseeing the entire church. Be assured that we are far along in forgiving all, letting the legal process hold them accountable, and still seeking behind the scenes for meetings to assist a God-honoring resolution, which we have not ceased to pursue. Yet current leaders continue deceiving the congregation and have never initiated any effort at reconciliation or even communication with myself or my family. Further, they have not publicly acknowledged the acts of defamation and destruction that forced them to settle the arbitration and return about 25% of what they had stolen and spent from the Walk in the Word. Only a truly Spirit-filled Christ follower could begin to understand how grieved we have been for the things you heard, the hurt that would cause you, and our inability to stop or silence the mob and their shouting. “For God is my witness, how I long for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:8). More than 300 years ago, Irish cleric Jonathan Swift observed:  “As the vilest writer has his Readers, so the greatest Liar has his Believers; and it often happens, that if a Lie be believ’d only for an Hour, it has done its Work, and there is no farther occasion for it. Falsehood flies, and the Truth comes limping after it;”  Then he added, “so that when Men come to be undeceiv’d, it is too late; the Jest is over, and the Tale has had its effect.”  This sad truth is our reality. Though we have wrestled with how to move forward in faith and faithfulness to the Lord, by His grace that is what we have done…  NEW TEACHING For the past three months, I’ve taught verse-by-verse through Romans 8 on The Power to Change. I hope this series (15 messages in all) will impact you as profoundly as it has me. Change is hard, but God’s love through Jesus is transforming – and getting free from sin and becoming who you were created to be IS possible. Watch “The Power to Change” here or listen on our podcast. HOME CHURCH NETWORK In February 2020, I began 40 days of prayer and fasting, asking the Lord to continue healing our hearts and directing our next ministry steps regarding the idea of a “home church network”. By the time 40 days had passed, the world was in unprecedented lockdown, the vision was clear, and the Home Church Network (HcN) was launched. Today thousands of households around the world have subscribed to our weekly worship service, led by the HcN worship team with fresh biblical teaching from God’s Word. If you or someone you love doesn’t have a church home or needs to supplement their weekend worship, subscribe to HcN here and join us from your living room every weekend.    BETTER BIBLICAL PREACHING I am blessed to have invested in thousands of preachers and their desire to preach more biblically and with greater impact;  my desire now is to invest more deeply and personally in a few preachers who want to work hard at “better biblical preaching.” Most sermons that fail, fail in the study not in the pulpit, and I am excited about developing a platform for building into pastors with proven hearts to improve their preaching. GRAMP CAMP Also in early development is an effort I couldn’t be more excited about: Gramp Camp: An Impactful Weekend with the Littles You Love. Most grandparents want to leave a lasting impact but are very unsure how to engage them in ways that will both excite and transform them for the Lord. In reflecting on my own time with 8 grandchildren, the vision for “Gramp Camp” was born. Truly a life changing weekend-in-a-box, Gramp Camp will provide the training and tools to ensure a fun and spiritually significant overnight ‘retreat,’ built around age-appropriate Bible-teaching segments I will record with my grands. Also included will be training on how to share your testimony around a campfire, as well as games, themed shirts, invitations, a highlight video of our “Gramp Camp” and other surprises to pique your grandkids’ excitement and anticipation. The photo above is from a workday with a volunteer team helping to clear our ministry’s property for Gramp Camp and other future ministry usage. JMM STAFF In the 18 months since we relaunched as James MacDonald Ministries, we have grown into a small staff (2.5 full-time equivalents) with several dedicated volunteers who support many aspects of our communications and responses to those who contact us. Kathy and I are enjoying a slower pace at this stage of life and volunteering our own time to the ministry several days per week. Your gift at this time to JMM supports the efforts described above and says loud and clear to the “accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10) that he is underneath our feet (Romans 16:19) in Jesus’ name. Candidly, it also encourages Kathy and me very personally, and tells us you are standing with us in faith to see fulfillment of The Other Greatest Verse in the Bible (a message I recently preached – find it here). Your financial gift at this time literally assists us in continuing to build our online library of hundreds of biblical teachings as promised,  “All digital – All free – All the time.” Your gift also covers the cost we have borne personally of supporting those who work diligently to answer your questions, send out resources, and make these new ventures possible. At this time, every gift of prayer and financial support is very meaningful. LOOKING TO THE FUTURE “If we live we live to the Lord, if we die we die to the Lord, whether therefore we live or die we are the Lord’s.” – ROMANS 14:8 We have never felt so entirely surrendered to God’s purposes, whatever those might be… and by His grace, ever so slowly, the tide has been turning.  Of the more than 4000 Change Partners once faithfully supporting our efforts monthly, there are now about 150 – the remnant from which we seek to rebuild. If you have faith to see God “restore what the locusts have eaten…” (Joel 2:25), if you have a heart to see beauty rise, by the grace of God, from these ashes (Isaiah 61:3), I invite you to sign up or sign up again as a partner in seeing lives changed by the Word of God – or to send a single gift in support of our efforts to “rebuild the wall” (Nehemiah 2:17). As a thank you, I will send a link to an expository teaching series we never broadcast on radio or TV, called “Determined: Better – Stronger – Closer”. It’s a verse-by-verse study of Nehemiah and was my final series at our former church, ironically expressing, “Every time God’s messenger says ‘Arise let us build,’ the enemy says, ‘Arise let us tear down what God’s messenger is building.’” I think you will be very encouraged by this series, knowing I had no idea what was just months ahead. But God knew – He always knows – and we are hopeful that with this correspondence and your prayerful support, we can move forever to “forgetting those things which lie behind, and reaching forward to those things which lie ahead… the upward call of God” (Philippians 3:13-14). PARTNER WITH US ⇒ You matter to us. Your friendship matters to us more than ever. And your assistance at any level in helping us go forward into God’s faithfulness, means more to us than we could ever say in a letter… Just know from our hearts to yours, thank you for reading this, thank you for praying over it, and thank you for standing with us as the Lord leads. We love you dearly, Dr. James MacDonald

Let me Date This Post — June 2021
I’m not a prophet, but I did pay attention to what has been happening in 2020-2021
Proverbs 24:30

♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦

It is becoming more and more obvious as you venture out to restaurants, for goods, groceries, building materials, and even attend church, the Pandemic in America is on its last legs.

What is just beginning is the re-building of the local church.  A major sea-change has taken place, and the return of the previous members and friends to this-or-that local church is in serious question!

Why?

I believe that it is due to ONE MAJOR FACTOR — the lack of connectivity throughout the pandemic, which was unaddressed — ignorantly or self-servingly — by the pastors of the local church.

The Proof:  Just ask other church and ministry friends if they received a personal call from their Lead/Sr. Pastor.   You may be surprised how few pastors took the time and/or had an interest in the flock’s situations.  Creative engagement in keeping relationships alive and well was absent because of the lack of will!

The Results: Relationships were seen for what they were — personally shallow and hypocritically superficial.  Other pastors and/or the deacons were instructed to reach out, but not the person in the pulpit, who is the voice and the primary leader of the ministry.

The members and friends of local churches realized that they were not really part of a “family” as they were told pre-pandemic.  Far too many Lead / Sr. pastors never made one meaningful attempt to connect with the members and friends of the ministry or local church.   That decision is now going to be realized as attendance becomes the tattletale of this indifference.

The story will not end well for many a ministry or local church . . .

• Evangelism will be the emphasis, but not because that was a concern for outreach pre-pandemic.
• New visitors will be more welcomed than ever before, but not out of any more a sincere motive towards them than it was towards those who left.
• The people who ought to bear the weight are the leaders and shepherds, but it will be the sheep who are blamed!

For many “Pastors,”
“Church” Is About To Radically Change,
and to their unwarranted surprise!

“There is no greater abuse of the Bible than
to proclaim in God’s name what God is not saying.”
– Haddon W. Robinson –

It happens when Pastors go political and call it
Sunday morning worship.

It is eisegesis, not exegesis.

The events of 2021 were accelerants!

The series of crises didn’t cause the structural weaknesses in ministry.  Rather, it revealed inherent structural weakness which were already present and operating.  Given time and circumstances, the weaknesses of the structure would have slowly progressed and ultimately revealed themselves at a later date.  COVID, and the events that ensued, merely accelerated an illuminating fire!

♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦

Far too many ministry leaders failed the tests of 2020 and attendance is only the tattletale.

♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦

Crises are unexpected problems
that reveal existent problems.

♦♦♦♦♦ ♦♦♦♦♦

It’s easy to talk about caring, compassion, love, shepherding, and being a church family until you have to demonstrate it in concrete ways and in real personal terms.

Galatians 6:10
“As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

“Sensors” are prolific in today’s electronic culture because they are vital to computerized mechanization.  For example, sensors are used to continuously monitor the operations of your automobile engine, as all kinds of sensors report back to the vehicle’s “brain” and then display those results on your dashboard.  More and more, today’s factories and businesses “employ” a variety of robotic operations in place of “employees,” and they are all dependent on a variety of intricate sensors!

Unfortunately, there is little “sensor development” taking place in the world of “words.”  Yes, there are lie detectors that are designed to sense human “physiology: (1) cardiovascular activity such as heart rate and blood pressure, (2) respiratory activity, and (3) skin conductance. . . . Most polygraph examiners also have a motion sensor attached to the chair used when a person is tested. That sensor detects subtle movements in the trunk, legs, and feet.” [1]

However, there is so much disinformation, hypocrisy, plausible deniability, excuses, justifications, rationalizations, and even bald-faced lies,  that there needs to be some serious works on the development of “a fail-safe hot-air detected.”

Therefore, I propose the following biblical specifications for such a necessary device . . . .

1 – Can detect and report the most religious-sounding excuses and explanations as “hot-air.” [2]

2 – Is fail-safe when it detects and reports the most hypocritical and disingenuous statements of those who work in the field of religion and faith. [3]

3 – Can sense the difference between words that sound selfless but are actually self-serving. [4]

4 – Able to immediately detect and report the existence of “hot-air” — first to those who are self-convinced or self-deceived (before others become aware of the absurdity of such words). [5]

5 – Can detect and report heavy-handedness disguised as orthodoxy and conviction. [6]

6 – Is inexpensive enough that religious and local church ministries can buy it. [7]

1.  Link:  https://converus.com/how-lie-detector-tests-work/
2. John 12:5 — “Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?”
3. Acts 5:2 — “And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet.”
4. I Samuel 15:15 — “And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.”
5. Psalm 15:2 — “He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.” — also see — Proverbs 21:2; 12:15
6. John 8:4 — “They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.”
7.  Proverbs 23:23 — “Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding.”

That was the title of the article, and all four failed to hit the mark!  Not one of them would have been what I would have listed out as things to look for in a local church!

In fact, all four were secondary things to look for — yes, even #1 . . . .

1. Is the Church Cross-minded?
This is a church that preaches and teaches first and foremost, Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.

These were the four things listed in the article . . . .

1. Is the Church Cross-minded?

2. Is the Church Word-minded?

3. Is the Church Prayer-minded?

4. Is the Church Soul-minded?

No, nothing is more important than the Gospel, the all-sufficient substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus for sinners upon the cross of Calvary!

HOWEVER (as with all four), it is not merely that one preaches and teaches, first and foremost, that foundational truth, but that it is practiced, that it is lived out!

Mindedness is only one side of a coin, AND the coin is “counterfeit” if it lacks a life that mimics what it preaches and teaches. If you are looking at only one side of the coin — and it is the easiest side to “mint” — you will be misled in your “looking.”  Hypocrisy kills everything it touches. The Lord made that point at the very beginning of “the church” in Acts 5.

“Mindedness” only speaks to what the church believes, not what the church actually lives out!   What they really believe is what they live out, no matter what they preach and teach.

There is a big shuffle taking place in 2021 among many members and friends of local churches across America!   That “shuffle” is not because . . . .

• the Gospel is not preached
• the Word of God is not central
• prayer is not taught
• the lost are disregarded

. . . but because of what IS preached and taught, but not walked!

It is articulated but not applied

It is catechized but not caught

It dressed up, but it does not “goes out.”

It is preached but not practiced.

The proof is so obvious to any who ask a simple question . . . .

“Did your pastor, your senior pastor, call you once during the past year of the pandemic?”

As I have of people from all different churches, ask that question, and the answer will astonish you!

No . . .I am not asking . . . .

• whether he called you about business or church demands.
• did one of the other pastors call?
• did one of the deacons call?
• did you get an email or text?
• whether you were one of the ingroup members who actually got a call.

Did the senior or lead pastor personally call over the approximate 12 months of the COVID-19 pandemic?

The senior / lead pastor . . . .

you called to lead the ministry,
you listen to week after week,
who stands up front and preaches and teaches the congregation,
who most captures what your church is all about, and
who  preaches and teaches that the church is a family

. . . is the one who bears the responsibility for connectivity!

BOTTOM LINE!

Don’t shift the blame, for the shuffle which IS taking place, on the sheep!
You taught them — all too well — this past year.

“Mindedness” is not Ministry.

Your actions speak so loudly, they can’t hear what you say!

Your “mindedness” is drowned out by the practical.

A great shuffle is taking place,
and the cause is the shepherd’s heart,
not the sheep’s indifference.

Attending the movies is no longer an issue with many or even most Bible-believing churches.  The reason is obvious!  The movie industry has moved in a better direction.   There is no longer a justification for warning and avoiding the “artistic” works of the entertainment industry!  It is clear that since the previous century, Hollywood is guided by a higher moral standard.

The PROOF!

“Today, Disney’s live-action Cruella arrives in theaters and on Disney+. But if you’re looking forward to cute puppies, you might be surprised by this dark origin story of the iconic villain. While the 1996 version of 101 Dalmatians was rated G, this retelling is rated PG-13.

Nobody wants a G. Cruella is Disney’s third PG-13 release in a year, according to the WSJ. And if family-friendly Disney is leaning into “extended violence and smoking,” you know the rest of the industry is trending that direction…and has been for a while. By the 2000s, PG-13 movies were raking in most of the box office revenue. 

• • Between 2010–2019, PG-13 movies grossed $54.6 billion. In the same time span, PG movies earned $24.3 billion; R movies, $26.5 billion; and G movies, $2.7 billion, according to Comscore.

Bottom line: PG-13 has become the sweet spot for Disney to appeal to a broader audience interested in violent Marvel films, live-action remakes of its classics, and new projects like Hamilton.”

. . . . . . 

While the issue of attending movies has been tossed in the trash bin of church discernment and warning, as well as taunted as an example of the legalistic attitudes of fundamental churches, the reality of its degrading influence on society, culture, and the church is clear!  Solomon was right . . . .

• My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.
• My son, walk not thou in the way with them; refrain thy foot from their path: For their feet run to evil, and make haste to shed blood. Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.
• Discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: To deliver thee from the way of the evil man, from the man that speaketh froward things.
• The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools.
• Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.
• For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil. But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a twoedged sword.
• For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house
   
• et. al. . . . . . . . . . . . 

Read Solomon — “the legalist” — Proverbs 1-7, and then say that the church was wrong in its long-held admonitions and avoidance of the movie industry!

I know, understand, and probably have heard most all the arguments — whataboutism.  None of these arguments address the wickedness of the cinema industry or why theaters (and TV, and DVDs, and Streaming, and . . . and . . . . and . . . .) should not be seen for what they are — peddlers of filth piped with permission into homes and hearts!

Just as “Planned Parenthood” is not about family planning, but abortion.  Hollywood is not about “Bambi,” but the normalization of wicked and immoral behavior.

But that industry has repented, and it is more judicious and defensible to attend, finance, and/or watch their “artistic productions” today!

The problem is not the children, but the adults in the room.

The problem is not with the sheep, but with the shepherds!

. . . . . 

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.