Christ Crucified

 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.  I Corinthians 2:2

I'm heartsick. Beyond heartsick really. As I watch our nation, society, and culture continue to disintegrate, I grieve. It is clear that no matter where you might stand in the political spectrum, there will never be any kind of accord between the two views. We are past the point of "agreeing to disagree, agreeably." Our enemy, Satan, is gleefully at work on both sides, mixing in vast amounts of hate. Hate that begets violence. Violence the leads to death. I see no end to it.

There is only one hope for us. He's the only hope we've ever had, though most, even in the church, have been blind to it. Jesus Christ. The true and real Jesus Christ. The crucified Jesus Christ. The risen and alive Jesus Christ. In the midst of all the chaos, His church has been sleeping. Obsessed with comfort and pleasure, we have watched the disintegration with varying degrees of concern, but mostly, so long as it didn't affect us, we were not overly bothered. What has been needed, what we've neglected, is to be a church alive unto Christ. A church that has the message that Paul brought to the Corinthians. A church that doesn't claim to know anything but Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.....and risen....and alive...and victorious. A church that takes this message of blazing light into the darkness and puts the darkness to flight. A church that does not fear to arouse the power of the darkness because it knows and experiences the infinite power of Christ.  A church that has ceased to argue about non-essential issues and has centered on the Good News of Christ the King. A church that hasn't chosen to stand on the right or the left, but on the side of Christ alone. On the side of the Kingdom of God.

I believe the Lord has already kindled the fire. The media that has managed to captivate so many will only show us scenes of mayhem and violence, will not show us the scenes of renewal and revival that are taking place everywhere. Let us, as real believers in and followers of Jesus Christ, commit ourselves to being those who claim to not be experts at anything but the knowledge of the crucified, risen and alive Jesus Christ. Jesus. Shepherd. Warrior. King. He is still the Savior of the world. Of our world. Let's lift high the name of Jesus and let's take Him with us wherever we go. Boldy, without apology, and in confidence. The church is waking up. Let us awaken with it.

Blessings,
Pastor O