Thunder from the Pulpit

That America is on the decline is hotly debated, but that America is losing ground morally and spiritually seems self evident. Don Wildman, of the American Family Association, recently wrote an article for the afa Journal in which he listed items taken from newspapers around the country showing story after story chronicling the attacks on Christianity.

Anyone who reads a newspaper for very long could compile their own list. They could add the attacks against Tim Tebow's faith and the shutting down of adoption agencies across this country for refusing to place babies with homosexual couples. They could add stories of censorship as psychiatry students are barred from their programs if they hold to Christian convictions and students who are called into the Principal's office for writing Christian themed term papers or articles. Even the members of the U.S. House of Representatives were prevented from saying "Merry Christmas" in official mailings. The attacks are everywhere evident.

In his article, Wildman said,

"I don't have to tell you what affect this unrelenting attack on the Christian faith, coupled with the bias and bigotry of the news and entertainment media, is having on the youth."

He didn't have to because George Barna already did. A recent Barna Research Group study showed that young people (16-29) today are eight times less likely to say they have positive feelings toward Evangelicals than the comparative age group a decade ago. Is it any wonder we are losing a generation of our kids? The report added that more than 75% of today's young people say present day Christianity is "judgmental," "hypocritical," "old fashioned." and "too involved in politics." I wonder where they heard that from?

It is obvious that the moral foundations of our country are crumbling, and very few people are doing anything to shore them up. Psalm 11:3 says,

"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

Quoting Don Wildman,

"Unless we Christian pastors and leaders get involved, our nation may soon have no foundation left to repair."

Is there no answer? I believe there is, and Don Wildman hit the nail on the head. Pastors and church leaders are critical to rebuilding the foundations. I believe we can see this from history.

During the Revolutionary War, the British most feared what they called the Black Regiment. It was made up of godly Presbyterian, Baptist, Congregational, and other pastors. It was so named because of the black robes the clergy wore into the pulpit. Their ranks were voluntary, consisting of young and old, quiet and boisterous, urban and rural, rich and poor, and from a wide variety of denominations. But what they had in common was the intestinal fortitude to stand against the British Empire and preach truth from their pulpits. Many even took off their black robes and donned uniforms to fight and die in the Revolution.

Chuck Baldwin, pastor and 2008 Constitution Party nominee for President, writes,

"These were not the acts of wild-eyed fanatics; they were the acts of men of deep and abiding conviction. Their understanding of principles of both Natural and Revealed Law were so proficient, so thorough, and so sagacious that their conscience would let them do nothing else."

Indeed, they provided the moral conviction that allowed an ill-equipped, rag-tag continental Army to triumph over the most powerful army in the world at that time.

Rev. Wayne Sedlak writes,

"The seeds or revolutrion were being sown in the pulpits of America. Without the outspoken, tenacious, and courageous leadership exhibited by the pastors of the Black Regiment, it is doubtful whether American Independence could ever have been achieved."

Now it seems that the voice of the prophet in America has been stilled. We no longer hear thunder from the pulpits, but rather we hear the latest psychological babble or feel good philosophy. And the results are evident. The moral and spiritual underpinnings of America are rotting away.

We need a revival in the pulpits of this land. We need the Word of God to again be preached with power and passion. If we offend, so be it. The life of a prophet was never easy anyway, but preach the Word we must!

The Apostle Paul agrees. In Second Timothy 4:2, Paul specifically commanded us to,

"Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and teaching."

That is our mandate from God. The out of season times certainly include those times when people don't want to hear, when they would rather have their ears tickled with the latest theological fluff. But those are the very times God's Word is most needed.

Founder John Adams wrote,

"It is the duty of the clergy to accommodate their discourse to the times, to preach against such sins as are most prevalent, and recommend such virtues as are most wanted."

In other words, we should address the issues of the day, giving Biblical answers for the troubles that face us. That is our mandate and duty.

The trouble is, according to Chuck Baldwin,

"America's preachers have taken off the black robes and put on yellow ones."

Baldwin also writes,

"It was the patriot-pulpit that delivered America from bondage during the Revolutionary War, and it is the timid pulpit, on the part of those who do or should know, that is helping deliver America to the brink of destruction and judgment."

We can be timid in the pulpit no longer.

The 19th Century revivalist, Charles Finney, would certainly agree. He stated,

"If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in the halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall, the pulpit is responsible for it."

If America is on the brink morally and spiritually, Finney is right: "The pulpit is responsible for it." There needs to be heard once again the thunder of God from the pulpits of this land.

I almost entitled this piece, An Open Letter to Pastors, because I wanted to make an open call to them to once again preach the Word with power and passion. So pastors, do not let the fear of man sway you from following the call of God on your life - and He has clearly called you to PREACH the WORD!
But if we again hear thunder from the pulpits, if pastors boldly again proclaim the truth of God's Word, we might just see another Great Awakening in the land. Revival can come. Pastor, will you help it come? Will you thunder the truth from your pulpit?