As a Christian, it is fascinating for me to read through the myriad postings on the Christian message boards and to sift through the many homepages of the "online" Church. Some of these independent websites are a whole other story. Most decry and condemn the rampant corruption and moral rot of America, laying the blame at the feet of their fellow Christians who are so much more misled then they. Others eloquently and thoroughly condemn the macabre, vicious practice of abortion. Still others cry and moan about the confusion and lack of unity that they perceive to wrack the Church. It's an absolutely endless array of writing and text; a vast amount of web server space and Bible verses dedicated to pointing out the already obvious, to whoever will read, and fixing the blame on everybody else. Very interesting indeed.

        But you know what? The number of websites I have been on that make even half an effort to present the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a clear and simple way, have been almost nonexistent! Very few! The only link I could give you, right now, is to the church I attend! How do we expect to impact the current social/political/religious environment (that is, the world), without the Gospel being presented in even the smallest way? How will individuals who, being unbelievers, should by chance access one of these sights that is nothing more than a bombastic harangue against, abortion for example, even have an opportunity to obtain the antidote? That is, the only thing that can change their heart--the Gospel. The only thing that will overcome the corrupt heart of man.

       "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" Jeremiah 17:9

       "For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes." Luke 7:43-44

       Abortion is just a symptom of that corruption and the multiple problems this great nation faces (political corruption, robbery, murder, alcoholism, drug abuse, corporate greed, racism, homosexuality, child abuse, divorce, immorality and adultery--oh, gosh, pick any social blight!). People need to be BORN AGAIN; people, not only in this nation, but all over the world, need their hearts changed by the regeneration and power of the Holy Spirit! Apart from you, apart from me, outside of us as Ambassadors of Jesus Christ presenting them with the clear, Holy Spirit inspired Good News. I don't understand how the people of the Kingdom of Heaven, the members of His Church, think they can impact and change the direction and condition of this nation, how they can bring people into a life changing relationship with the Lord, without primarily preaching the Gospel. It is still, after two thousand years, our main directive and order!

       "And he said unto them, go into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth not shall be damned." Mark 16:15-16

       Minute dispensationalism and programs aside, the basic tactics and offensive directives of the Church, as the Army of Heaven, have not changed since the very beginning. Heaven is geared toward salvation. The early Church had nothing! Yet they "turned the world upside down." By simply preaching the Gospel, in faith, relying on nothing else but the leading and power of the Lord and His Holy Spirit.

       "And with many other words did he (Peter) testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many signs and wonders were done by the apostles." Acts 2: 40-43

       But today, we have the Internet, and two thousand years of Church history and research, and resources that have no end, and churches and churches and churches on every corner, with the unfettered freedom to attend any one. Yet today, America, as we have now become the reigning super power in the world, is at a very precarious crossroads, with bombings and riots, and people pushed to the very edge of despair. Hmmmm. Let me share with you a very profound event that took place at our church, an event that had a very deep impact on me.

       At our church ( Harvest Christian Fellowship ~ Riverside, Calif. ) recently, before the big summer Harvest Crusades started, The Senior Pastor was giving a service, and in the middle of the service, he stopped and said a prayer before all the great congregation (this was a very irregular thing!), asking God to impact every hearer there before he continued. He then very plainly stated that if the truth be known, most of us--really--don't care about the lost, having our own destiny already sealed in Heaven. It was a very heavy, profound moment that kind of stopped everybody in their tracks. . . and forced us to re-evaluate our priorities. Then at another service that was conducted the weekend before the same crusades, an associate Pastor led the congregation in a prayer of repentance and contrition that also was a very serious attention getter. Needless to say, the crusades were very successful, and many people came into a new and real relationship with Him.

       The officer corps. at my church are a bunch of heavy-hitters. Repentance, truth, faith, the Gospel preached in simplicity and clarity--the old ways. This church is now one of the eight biggest in America, and the Lord's influence through this one body of believers is even now reaching world wide. And it's going to keep on going.

       In closing, I think what we need to remember, on a daily basis, is that our Lord has graciously brought the nation of America into a position of absolute world influence (and that on the backs of the Veterans), and that today, we need to seize every opportunity, and exploit every available resource to bring the Gospel, the Truth, to a needy and dying world.

       ". . . .For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they shall ask the more." Luke 12:48

       We live free in America, and as Christians enjoy many things that our brethren in other parts of the world do not. We are surely in His debt. God is gracious. Remember what our primary mission statement is--and objectives are. We are Ambassadors of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven, we are Soldiers in the Army of Heaven (and some, clearly Special Forces fighters), and we have access to everything that pertains to life and Godliness. II Peter 1:3 And living in this nation, at this particular point in time, we have an open door to impact the world in a manner that the church has not seen, or had the opportunity to do, EVER, in the recorded history of the Church.

       God help us to employ our time, resources, and talents in this critical direction at all times. Man, these are wild times!

       "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts." Zechariah 4:6

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