Todd Adkins said, “You can either be comfortable or courageous, but you can’t be both.” Most American Churches and Pastors have become to comfortable. I say most because thank the Lord there are some “BOLD for JESUS Churches out there, BOLD for JESUS Pastors, those who stand in the gap constantly, watchman on the wall. You want to see boldness, read about all the BOLD Pastors and Evangelists in China! They sure do not have the comforts of the American Church. I was just reading about Li De Xian who was beaten many times by Chinese authorities for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. No Church to preach in, He did it in homes and on the streets. 80% of Christians in China go to a secret home Church to worship and praise our Lord Jesus Christ. How comfortable are you? The Church in China knows no walls, the Church in America has a whole, loves it’s walls, it’s so called “safety”. American Christians have Facebook, twitter, email, websites, blogs to rant and rave about Christianity……more Church “product” than Wal-Mart, but yet only on a good Sunday some 15% of America goes to Church…..we get upset about what is taking place in our country, but look what is happening in China! Some say in 20 years China will have more Christians than any other country in the world, it’s because of no walls, courage, and passion for Jesus Christ. We here in America need to take our Christianity to a new level, the “Chinese Christian level!”
Li De Xian said to the Chinese Authorities: “I do not fear you, the fear of man brings a snare. He went on to quote Matthew 10:28, “Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.”
Count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is took close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—-give a cheer, even!—-for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. Matthew 5: 11-12 The Message Bible
Finally for American Pastors I humbly challenge us all to follow Pastor Charles Simeon, 1759-1836, Pastor Simeon said that he saw the role of Pastor as a combination of spiritual father, heavenly ambassador, and watchman on the wall. He often quoted Ezekiel 33:8 and reminded his people that the minister must warn as well as encourage.
Here is Ezekiel 33:8……When I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ and you do not speak out to dissuade him from his ways, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood.
Read these stories from FGGAM please:
Chinese Government Wants to Slow the Spread of Christianity, the Church Fights Back
” Comfort-able”
Please read the book, “Jesus Freaks” DC talk and the Voice of the Martyrs. Thanks to Sonja and Steve Haldeman for the gift of the book!
I love to say before I preach, “I have come to comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable”
