Rev. Charles Finney
A leader of the Second Great Awakening – reminded ministers in his day:
“Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. 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 our 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 away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation.”
As ministers of the faith we are to be the voice of morality as it is said in (Ezekiel 44:15-23), teaching that which is right and wrong. Unfortunately today, and I must deeply apologize for my fellow ministers, too many preachers have missed the boat. In doing so we have left the flock vulnerable to be mislead and devoured by the ways of the world.
Today I cry out to those behind the pulpit and to all Christians no longer can we stay the silent moral majority. We must take courage and stand firm in our faith knowing that the power of our Lord Jesus Christ is behind us. We must be willing to step out in our faith and let the world know we will no longer be kept silent but we will stand for that which is right before the Lord.
Since God has told us to be in the world but not of it (John 15:18-19) as His Son had been, we therefore must not fall into the traps of political correctness or the false idea of tolerance (really forced acceptance). Christ said he came to divide the sheep from the goats (Matthew 25:32), the sheep of course being His followers and the goats followers of the worldly ways of Satan.
Whom do you follow, God or mammon? Just as we must ask ourselves this question before coming to Christ, we must also apply this to our leaders (spiritual, governmental, and etc.). We must expect higher standards of all our leaders and follow those who produce good fruits, for scripture says by their fruits you shall know them (Matthew 7:16-20).
No longer do we vote for spiritual leaders or governmental leaders who deserve it, but rather we vote for those who tickle our ears (2Timothy 4:3). These leaders do not tell the truth but lead us astray by turning us towards their own glory rather than God’s. Promise after promise they make but never having the intentions of keeping them. Talking always in circular talk so as to be cleaver rather than informative. These leaders tell us what we want to hear rather than what we need to hear. And we take it hook line and sinker.
John Adams once said, “It is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand. The only foundation of a free constitution is pure virtue”. Our faith is not something we should hide but let shine (Matthew 5:14-16) as to be the light of the city upon the hill. Let it be that guiding light that leads the people to real freedom. Always remembering that with freedom, comes even greater responsibilities, which of late we have so long ignored.
Christianity is not only meant to be shone in church every Sunday, it was made to be a way of life. We cannot disconnect our life in Christ when we are at home, at work, during voting, or anywhere else for that matter. It was always meant to shine to the world, not in a holier than thou attitude, but one of humble servitude.
As a Royal Priesthood (1Peter 2:9) we must lead by example. We must be holy for He is holy. We must be the light upon the hill letting our light shine any where we go. As we change to be more like Jesus so too will the nation. We must start looking inwards to see where or heart really lies, and then let the love of God shine through. We should not settle for anything less of ourselves but we should even expect more for our leaders. Our leaders should reflect our values and principles which we get through the Spirit of Christ that lives in each and everyone of us, and not the other way around.
So let us live as an example of how Christ wants us to live. Let us seek His will for our lives and our nation. Let us raise spiritual and governmental leaders who are filled with the Spirit producing good fruits wherever they go. No longer should we let our itching ears lead our hearts, but let us through the Spirit be lead to God’s will. Let not God stand behind us but let us stand firm behind God’s will for us.
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