In Love, I Stand for Truth.

It is a dark day when the created begin to tell the Creator, "We know better than you." I am not political. I do not boycott secular companies who do not stand for Biblical principle. I do not, quite frankly, care for Republican or Democrat leaders. My job, as a pastor, is not to spread conservative political agenda, but rather to preach the truth in love. Today is a crucial day in our country as the leaders gather to define marriage. Then they will go to a vote to solidify what they define as marriage. The problem is that marriage is not something that is up for a vote. Marriage is not something that was instituted by a government. In Genesis, GOD instituted marriage. God is the one that spoke and said, "a man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife." It was God who defined marriage. It was God who labeled sexual immorality a sin. That is not merely homosexuals, but anyone engaged in sexual immorality outside of the confines of God-defined marriage. When someone stands for truth, it does not mean that they are a bigot or a hater. True, there are times that people are filled with rage and hate for people for no reason, but as a Christian--if we are true followers--we should not be filled with rage and hate, but rather, filled with love and peace, and we should proclaim the truth of Scripture in all gentleness and love. Gentleness, however, does not mean coddling. Gentleness is applying the right amount of force to one's words at the proper time. Hear me again, "IT IS A DARK DAY WHEN THE CREATED BEGIN TO REMOVE THE CREATOR AND STAND IN HIS PLACE." It is out of love and concern that I write these things...still some will lash out and call me a bigot. I am not a bigot. I just know what Scripture says and I believe it. No one should be surprised when a Christian stands for Biblical truth. If they stand for things opposed to truth, then they need to investigate what they are calling their faith. For those who are enraged by this, I would be very open to talking and discussing the truths on which I stand. Here is my personal email: pastorheathwalton@gmail.com . I love you all...there is no hate in my heart. In love, I stand for truth.

The Church: What Have We Become? What Are We To Be?

    

     I was reading Scripture this morning, and I was reflecting on what it means to be the Church. Then I began reading another book by Jim Cymbala [I just finished 'Fresh Faith'] entitled, "Fresh Power," and he began to talk about how people in the church are today. This brought to the point of blogging on what we, the Church, have become and, Biblically, what we are to be.

     Here is what we have become:
1.) The Hiding Church
2.) The Judgmental Church
3.) The Conforming Church

NONE of these please the Lord!
     The 'Hiding' Church is the one that has it's doors closed to any outsiders that are different than them. For example, I have grown up Southern Baptist, and I remain Southern Baptist. Let's be honest, however, historically speaking, we have a bad reputation for not accepting people who look different or are, in a few cases, a different race than the predominant race within the four walls. Sadly, in many churches, if a man came in with tattoos and piercings...people would, possibly unintentionally, avoid him because he looks different. So, how does the hiding church react to things that are not comfortable to them? They shut people out. There is no outreach (except of course for VBS...gotta suffer for Jesus). That was sarcastic, by the way. No one in Scripture are we told to shut people out or hide in cliche' 'holy huddles.'  What should we be? Instead of being a hiding church, we should be a seeking church! The Bible says that the "gates of hell" will not prevail against the Gospel and the Church. No one screams, "CHARGE!" and then closes their gates! That means that we are on the offensive. We are to seek he lost and lead them to the one who saves! Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost! Don't hide your light under a basket! [Matthew 5:14-16]
     The Judgmental Church is your typical legalist churches. They see nonbelievers and, rather than addressing their heart issues, they try to clean them up so that they look good enough to come to Jesus. Problem is...this is totally ludicrous and unbiblical. Legalists live as if they are God. The Church was never called to judge nonbelievers. They are called to rebuke and encourage those in the faith, but not outside of the faith. That means we should quit preaching "Get right," and start preaching the Gospel that Christ died and rose again to seek and save the lost...not the righteous. There is no room for judgmental churches in the body of Christ. [1 Corinthians 5:12] So what should we be? The GRACIOUS Church! Our God is overflowing with grace toward us...so we should be. It was by grace we were saved through faith! People's sin problems will be addressed if Christ captivates their hearts...stop trying to be God, and start serving the Lord His way.
    The third type of church is the conforming church. These are those that live like there is no God. They think Jesus died simply to be an example of how we should tolerate everything within the Church. They scream, "Don't Judge!" They take this as an immunity for not living up to standards that GOD HAS SET for His children. They walk by the flesh while claiming they walk in the Spirit. [Galatians 5 & 6] These are those that often say things like, "I worship at home--just me and Jesus." This really means, "I do what I want and I do not want anyone holding me accountable." They will also say, "I am saved by grace...so I can do what I want." I must respond with, "Should we continue in sin so that grace may abound? BY NO MEANS!" The Apostle Paul said this. These are the ones that if you stood them next to a drunk and a sexually promiscuous person--you couldn't tell a difference. Romans 12:2 tells us to no longer conform to the patterns of this world, but to be transformed by the renewal of our minds. We have to stop letting Jesus simply influence us and let Him transform us. So what should we be? The Identifiable Church. We should be IN the world not OF the world. That means we are on the move in the world seeking the lost, but we live contrary to the world, so that our actions back up our words.
    The churches that please God are Seeking the Lost, Gracious to the Nonbelievers, and Set Apart from the ways of the world.
-Heath
    

Words of Encouragement Pt. 2

     I have been really struggling to write something of value to our faith family. I have typed so many opening sentences in the hope that I had finally stumbled upon something to say, only to have these hopes dashed with each click of the backspace button. Then I realized...I don't have to say anything. Why not let the Word speak for itself?

     The LORD is my light and my salvation;
  whom shall I fear?
 The LORD is the stronghold of my life;
  of whom shall I be afraid?
 When evildoers assail me
  to eat up my flesh,
 my adversaries and foes,
  it is they who stumble and fall.
 Though an army encamp against me,
  my heart shall not fear;
 though war arise against me,
  yet I will be confident.
 One thing have I asked of the LORD,
  that will I seek after:
 that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
  all the days of my life,
 to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
  and to inquire in his temple.
 For he will hide me in his shelter
  in the day of trouble;
 he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
  he will lift me high upon a rock.
 And now my head shall be lifted up
  above my enemies all around me,
 and I will offer in his tent
  sacrifices with shouts of joy;
 I will sing and make melody to the LORD.
 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud;
  be gracious to me and answer me!
 You have said, “Seek my face.”
 My heart says to you,
  “Your face, LORD, do I seek.”
  Hide not your face from me.
 Turn not your servant away in anger,
  O you who have been my help.
 Cast me not off; forsake me not,
  O God of my salvation!
 For my father and my mother have forsaken me,
  but the LORD will take me in.
 Teach me your way, O LORD,
  and lead me on a level path
  because of my enemies.
 Give me not up to the will of my adversaries;
  for false witnesses have risen against me,
  and they breathe out violence.
 I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD
  in the land of the living!
 Wait for the LORD;
  be strong, and let your heart take courage;
  wait for the LORD!
(Psalm 27 ESV)

A Disciple of Christ

    

 The trend in the American Church is to boast in our respective churches, worship centers, pastors, financial stability, numerical growth, etc...the problem is that this is not Biblical. We are not to boast in our strengths, but our weaknesses. We are not to boast in ourselves, but in Christ. Christ is the only one worthy of praise and adoration. We, the Church, are called to be Disciples of Christ. We are not called to be disciples of our pastor. We are not called to be disciples of our faith families, but of Christ. Christ said, "Follow ME." My prayer for our particular faith family is that we abandon our faith in anything other than Christ. Pastors come and go. Buildings eventually crumble. Finances are fleeting. Scores of people go from church to church as the wave of trends carry them. The grass withers, and the flowers fall away, but the Word of the Lord endures forever.  Let's follow HIM.

Here is My God



I saw a post on twitter that made me think about our church. We should not say, "God, here are my problems." We should say, "Problems, here is my God." Likewise, we should not ask, "God, have you seen my fears...my insecurities..my trials...my tribulations?" We should ask, "Fears...insecurities...trials....tribulations....have you seen my God?" Our faith should be without doubt. What do I mean by doubt? In concept, it's like you have two lists...a "Things God can do" list and a "Impossibilities" list. To summarize an idea out of scripture, God basically says, "Crumble up and throw out the 'impossibilities' list...nothing is impossible with me." This is why I am not fearful of our future. In the words of Chris Tomlin, "I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind. The God of angel armies is always by my side. The one who reigns forever--he is a friend of mine. The God of angel armies is always by my side."



After mourning comes the morning

Within scripture, 'the morning' is symbolically used in significant ways. The morning represents newness, refreshment, revival, renewed zeal, and a renewed sense of joy. Yet, often times, morning is mentioned after the night. The Night or Darkness is often representative of trial, tribulation, sorrow, or a time of mourning. In my life, the morning has come. The past few days, I have felt (figuratively and literally) like an insomniac who waits impatiently for sleep. I felt like I have been stumbling about in the dark. In my head, I feel like--a few times-- that I walked outside and gazed at the night sky, and screamed at the heavens, "Hurry up already!" Yesterday-- in a spiritual, emotional, and physical way-- God finally gave me rest. Better yet, the rest was probably always there...I just decided to finally go to the one who gives us rest. I was awakened to his mercies that are new every morning. I saw His glory revealed as visible as a sun rising above the trees. I felt a divine peace cover me. The joy came with the morning. Psalm 30 says,

 "I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up
  and have not let my foes rejoice over me.
 O LORD my God, I cried to you for help,
  and you have healed me.
 O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol;
  you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.
 Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints,
  and give thanks to his holy name.
 For his anger is but for a moment,
  and his favor is for a lifetime.
 Weeping may tarry for the night,
  but joy comes with the morning.
 As for me, I said in my prosperity,
  “I shall never be moved.”
 By your favor, O LORD,
  you made my mountain stand strong;
 you hid your face;
  I was dismayed.
 To you, O LORD, I cry,
  and to the Lord I plead for mercy:
 “What profit is there in my death,
  if I go down to the pit?
 Will the dust praise you?
  Will it tell of your faithfulness?
 Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me!
  O LORD, be my helper!”
 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
  you have loosed my sackcloth
  and clothed me with gladness,
 that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
  O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!"

I hope that this becomes a source of comfort and encouragement for you...to know that after mourning comes the morning.

The Source of Revival

Contrary to what some may think...the revival that we have seen in our faith family does not leave with the pastor. Countless churches see decline and separation after a pastor leaves. Maybe it is the lack of the normal leadership. Maybe it is because of the wound that is caused when a pastor leaves. Honestly, I think it may be because our hope is placed in the pastor, rather than the one calls and sends the pastor. At our church, we have been experiencing the awesome power of a natural revival that is born of God. Therein lies the truth that I want to point out and encourage our family to remember...revival is BORN OF GOD not Man. A pastor can't cause revival. Only God initiates revival. Our pastor was used in our particular church as an instrument of the Lord that sounded the call to repent of selfish ways and to seek the face of God through prayer and Bible study. Now, I believe, God is saying, "He's done what he was called to do...let's see if you place your trust in him or in Me."
     For those who are angry--who has known the mind of the Lord, and who has been His counsel? I trust that God has called our pastor to a new endeavor for the advancement of His kingdom.

     For those who (understandably) upset--Deuteronomy 31:8- "It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”

    For those who are fearful of our future--Isaiah 41:10- fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Let us continue seeking the face of God. Let us continue crying out to Him in prayer. Let us not lose heart.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.