I was blessed to have parents who cared whether or not I made it to church on Sunday. I grew up enjoying Sunday School. I learned that Jonah disobeyed God and ended up being swallowed by a whale, thanks to my teacher who would show us all the Bible stories play out on an old school flannel graph. In addition, I saw a life devoted to Jesus lived out by my parents. When I was old enough to understand the weight of my sin, I realized my need for Jesus. Following Jesus leads to a life of loving the church.
Fast forward to today, I have served as a Youth Pastor for 15 years, and am now a part of a prayer movement impacting 92 nations around the world. Many churches have benefited from our training. In addition, I enjoy being involved in our local church along with my family. We love our church! We drive by several churches on the way to ours because it has become our family.
Church is a place to grow. Church is a place to worship. Church is a place to serve. Church is a place to join with other people who are on the same journey of following Jesus.
Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". In recent years, here in the United States, we have seen an onslaught come against the church. The government is continually reaching beyond their responsibility in trying to govern the church. This pandemic, we have experienced this year, has certainly affected the church.
In many places in America, the government has made rulings on churches that are not consistent with the rest of society gatherings. The government should not tell religious organizations what healthcare they must provide when that healthcare goes against the church's convictions. The government should not control what the church is able to say and what it is not able to say. We are slowly seeing our religious rights being taken away.
The government cannot take away the church's freedom when the church simply speaks to the truth of God’s Word. The church is divinely ordained by God. The government goes beyond its responsibility when they try to keep the church from doing what God has called the church to do.
Jesus said, as recorded in Matthew 16:18, "I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it". In recent years, here in the United States, we have seen an onslaught come against the church. The government is continually reaching beyond their responsibility in trying to govern the church. This pandemic, we have experienced this year, has certainly affected the church.
In many places in America, the government has made rulings on churches that are not consistent with the rest of society gatherings. The government should not tell religious organizations what healthcare they must provide when that healthcare goes against the church's convictions. The government should not control what the church is able to say and what it is not able to say. We are slowly seeing our religious rights being taken away.
The government cannot take away the church's freedom when the church simply speaks to the truth of God’s Word. The church is divinely ordained by God. The government goes beyond its responsibility when they try to keep the church from doing what God has called the church to do.
This is one of the freedoms that sets the United States a part from much of the world. I have been to several countries that do not share the same freedom of religion that we enjoy. I have heard stories of pastors being beaten. I have heard stories of churches being burnt down. This stems from the law of the land that keep people from religious freedom. Friends, we are close to seeing this happen in our country.
As followers of Christ, we must take a stand for the church. We need to vote for the church and religious rights. If we don't, we will see our freedom taken from us. We will see our churches locked. We must vote to preserve our freedom to worship.
Hebrews 10:25 says, " Do not neglect meeting together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near".
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