This message complements my recent blog, “It’s Shocking that Sin No Longer Shocks.” Among other things, it deals with a decades-long trend toward wimpy messages from the pulpit.
GOD IS LOVE
(Source: http://www.anaheller.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/58860011.jpg)
It is not the loveable person that needs to be loved. It is the unlovable person, the clamoring child, the rebellious adult, the nasty friend, the raging parent, in a nutshell, it is the SINNER that needs to be healed. If we react to misbehavior by speaking mere words only, they might be able to bring across what we mean, but without love they will never touch the heart of someone who has gone wild. Well, “words” alone are based on knowledge… what we think we know or what we feel. But if our words are not tempered with grace, they can kill and wound. For it is written,
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.
(Proverbs 15:18 RSVA)
Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…
View original post 390 more words
Dr. Lloyd Stebbins 
Thank you very much for the reblog, Lloyd. I am glad to hear that you see our common article as complementary of your recent blog post “It’s Shocking that Sin No Longer Shocks” which can be read here: https://lloydstebbins.com/2015/07/27/its-shocking-that-sin-no-longer-shocks/.
LikeLike
Lloyd,
Your excellent wording “a decades-long trend toward wimpy messages from the pulpit” struck a chord with me and I was just reminded of an older blog post I would write about proper preaching, as it should be. I dare to post a poetic excerpt from that article here: 😉
PLEASE PRAY AND PREACH
A preacher who did never pray
Would surely not have much to say
But platitudes and human stuff
Of such bullshit we had enough
No yes-man and no moralist
No self-made man evangelist
No loveless grumpy chatterbox
No faceless coward and no ox
Who’s drawn by selfishness and fame
To play that ugly demon’s game
A man who thinks that dark is light
And trusts in reason’s fooling might
With these tin soldiers, we’re fed up
Up to the brim they filled the cup
For all those hungry, thirsting souls
Who do not know what are their goals
If all those preachers don’t repent
Their preaching will come to an end
God doesn’t need such lifeless talk
He needs a man who shares His walk
Down on his knees he’ll hear His voice
That softly shuts out all that noise
Which springs from human worrying
And fear, and pain, and earthly thing
The Lord alone knows how to preach
And that our hearts are out of reach
Whenever shallow talk comes up
In churchly social gospel club
Please, pray, and preach as you are led
After your soul by God was fed
With divine wisdom and His sword
That lifts men up who know the Lord
Discernment and compassionateness
Will help you bring to end all mess
And finally all men will see
This is a man with Heaven’s key
Read more if you like here https://enteringthepromisedland.wordpress.com/2014/06/27/prayer-preaching-and-love-do-they-belong-together/.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great poem! Consider this excerpt from my blog. George Barna reported:
“What we’re finding is that when we ask them (pastors) about all the key issues of the day [90 percent of them are] telling us, ‘Yes, the Bible speaks to every one of these issues.’ Then we ask them: ‘Well, are you teaching your people what the Bible says about those issues?’ – and the numbers drop … to less than 10 percent of pastors who say they will speak to it.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Lloyd. Yes, this a striking quote indeed! ⭐
LikeLike
This was very well said. We need more love in the world. Lots of people have forgotten how to love others. It is like some forget that others have feelings too. It seems that people think mostly about themselves these days. When a random act of kindness is displayed it is posted on FB and shared thousands of times. That just goes to show you how little random acts of kindness are displayed these days.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Hi Jamie,
Thanks so much for your encouraging words on here. 🙂 What you said about FB, alas, is so true! I wonder why it is necessary, at all, to display one’s good works publicly although it is written,
“But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Mt 6:3-4 ESV)
Either there is a remarkable lack of (self-)forgetfulness in what we call Christianity today, or Christians have not yet come to know the above mentioned immediate reward by God for having done the right thing, i.e., His comfort and peace, a peace this world cannot give – ever.
Ha!! I just saw that your comment caused a lot of interesting thoughts to pop up in my mind. Thanks again, Jamie! 🙂
Every blessing to you,
Susanne from Bavaria
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with your comments, Susanne. The flip side is that when a random act of kindness is shared thousands of times on Facebook, it blesses a lot more people. I really don’t know very many people who would “advertise” their good deeds. Many of those FB postings may have been from third parties who saw something unique and worth sharing. What do you think?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with you too, Lloyd.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Susanne.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Interesting thoughts, Jamie,
Love by definition is other-centered, i.e. serving the needs of others. True love must be learned in a self-centered culture, where love is often confused with emotional feelings. What do you think?
LikeLike