Pastor's Column 7/6/2025

PASTOR’S COLUMN

 ³ “So Jesus told them this story: ⁴ “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it? ⁵ And when he has found it, he will carry it home on his shoulders. ⁶ When he arrives, he will call together his friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.’ ⁷ In the same way, there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away! Luke 15:3-7, NLT

“The One, Who Shakes Heaven!”

As the only entity on earth that really matters when it comes to the genuine transformation of life, the Church – visible, breathing body of Christ followers – must take seriously this great task. There is no greater time than now for the Church to reclaim its mission to reach the lost. We must not become “nativist” as our nation is becoming and think of our world as one of exclusion of others who are different from what an old majority of people believe they are. This point is not lost with Jesus when He approached the “religious” leaders of His day. They, like some people today, tethered their religious beliefs to a sense of national pride which excluded and demeaned others who did not follow their beliefs and views of life. The Scriptures were stretched and contorted to such a degree that they went beyond what was intended by God. Jesus called the rules, regulations, and human contrived commands, “grievous burdens.” As a result, people became lost in a maze of life’s confusion. Their thoughts and behavior were overtaken by actions, which were contrary to God’s teachings. Many found themselves abandoned and consigned to a life of misery and miscreant behavior. It was for this group; Jesus displayed a passion for seeing them come into His care and protection. When “one” person is changed all of heaven rejoices. We need to reach the lost, one at a time!