Confidence, once destroyed, is rarely ever fully recovered.
Some of the people I meet convey feelings of helplessness. They have lost that sense of confidence in our American way of life. They see life-changing decisions made by our Federal Government for example that are contrary to their desires. They feel robbed when they are taxed to fund programs that are adverse to their moral compass. They feel betrayed, lied to and deceived. Some feel like they will never be able to make a difference with their lives. Others have lost trust in their government leaders, media and newspapers, employers and even with church leaders. That’s right, church leaders. Some tell me that church has become nothing more than a place to learn how to cope rather than a place for equipping and empowering God’s sons and daughters for victorious living. The people I meet want to change the world. They want to fight back. Why is this? What’s going on in people? I agree with this maxim, “Every thing rises and falls on leadership.” Could it be possible that people are turning to God for answers and toward His leaders to step up to the plate and lead? Obviously it’s the responsibility of leaders to lead. When they don’t, we fall into apathy, hopelessness and despair.
CHANGING TIMES
Times are changing at lightning speed. Fortunes are being lost. Think former NASDAQ stock exchange president Bernard Madoff’s 50 billion Ponzi scam, think pension funds and 401ks. Think about States like California with a massive 14.8 billion budget deficit. We see morals collapsing both inside and outside the Church, cities desperate to fund excessive budgets using creative strategies to fee, fine and tax its citizens, government sticking its proverbial nose in everything you do, experimental schooling by social engineers that graduate students that can’t think and barely able to read, and a Congress of sullied officials that won’t listen to the populace who don’t agree that every failed bank and financial institution needs a taxpayer bailout for “the common good.” We see the rise of socialism, liberal judges, a police state and big and bigger government.
As good Christians we are being drawn to some conclusions, there are some things happening in our generation that we have a duty to resist. Our leaders therefore are going to have to make some important decisions. Will they equip people to change the world throughreformation or withdraw from the world through apathy? Will they lead or be led?
It’s becoming clear that leaders have, not just a divine duty but a mandated responsibility to join the same spirit as our Founding Fathers to speak out against the unrighteous direction our nation is taking. Pastor, that’s you. Elder, that’s you. Christian, that’s you too. I am reminded of the Declaration of Independence that was in the hearts and minds of those that made our country great:
“That whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends (man’s unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness), it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness… But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security.”
The Success Strategies Kit
Learn the wisdom God gave Jonas about Kingdom Living in the Success Strategies for Life and Ministry Kit. Click to learn more.
The good news is that now is our chance to shine forth as bright lights in our nation and around the world. When things look bad people turn to God and look for leadership. Things are looking bad. They will get worse. You can provide that leadership. God has answers and solutions to the dangers ahead.
RULING AND REIGNING
God has empowered every born again believer to rule and reign with Christ right here on the earth. Some have never heard this before and only look to God for salvation from sin. This can be problematic and we must stop putting excessive focus on getting to heaven alone. It’s time to wake up the mighty men and take our nation back. We can do it. I said we can do it!
The time to stop playing church and start being the church is upon us. To those that continue to play church as usual I can tell you assuredly your ministry will not be around in ten years. Don’t think so? The largest churches of the 1980’s are no longer in existence today. What happened to them?
Today’s mega-churches may not survive either. I pray they will. We need them, the more the better. But could they survive a 50% drop in income? What is the financial condition of those churches that refinanced or built and moved into those massive buildings? Will they find a government bailout because they are “to big to fail?” Not likely. Yet without a proactive faith imparted within their congregations they may not be around to see the other side of a protractive recession caused by a government that is out of control.
I’m convinced that people will avoid seeker friendly churches in the future because they will be desperate for a genuine experience with a supernatural God. Yes, playing church is over. Entertainment models of ministry are over. It’s time for the real deal. Again, I don’t want to see any churches fail. We need them all. And we need to rekindle the spirit of our Founding Fathers. They saw the dangers approaching and prepared the people to overcome.
This is the time to empower and equip the people for victorious living. This is the time to give them swords of truth and minister to their governing spirits. Leaders must avoid pop psychology preaching and get back to faith in Christ that “overcomes the world.” It’s time for “Kingdom Living.” As leaders we need to provide information that equips and empowers God’s sons and daughters to invade, occupy and influence the world with Christian standards of righteousness. We have ignored the battles long enough. It’s time to build, restore and govern. Can we do it? You bet we can. Let us be like Caleb that said, “Let us go up at once and possess it for we are well able” (Numbers 13:30).
Your partner,
Jonas Clark
