Every other week I publish a column in the Twin Falls, Times News in the religion section. I was asked to participate in this about eight years ago with several others in the city. Today, it is myself and pastor Bear Morton from the Magic Valley Bible Church who split the pastors’ corner column. The way print media (and internet media) works is all based on readership. Today, it is easier to tract actual readership via internet activity.
(If you are ever inclined to do so, reading the Saturday religion section of the Times News and interacting with and sharing the Pastors’ Corner column helps the publishers know people are reading it.)
And, weekly on Thursday’s at 9:00 a.m. I’m on the local secular radio station with an hour segment called ‘Pastors’ Round Table’. The host, Bill Colley, has been kind in inviting me to this one hour weekly time with other pastors in the valley. Of course, I’m pleased to have Bear Morton with me on the air too. Invite someone to listen with you this Thursday at 9:00 a.m. on 1310 AM KLIX.
This is the column I submitted last week to the Times News.
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A Call To Anguish
The Old Testament evangelist, Isaiah, calls for the people of God to anguish or to weeping bitterly (Isaiah 21 – 22).
Most preaching heard in our day is more about personal goal setting, living for the moment, and enjoyment of temporal days. Where it’s true God’s people ought seek to be the most pleasant of people and filled with joy, it is not of a temporal kind of pleasure seeking.
When he was at a place to look at the city of Jerusalem, like Jesus when He wept over the city, Isaiah noticed that the people were not living with a real understanding of the coming wrath of God because of their long-standing disobedience. The city of Jerusalem took much pride in that the temple of the Almighty God was in their city and yet did not live as though He was God at all.
It is the kindness of God that He would give faithful watchmen to warn of the coming of righteousness to judge all unrighteousness.
Christian, what do you see when you look at the normal activity of your city?
When you see the infatuation with sin of many in our day who make confession of being a follower of Christ, does it bother you at all?
When the shows at the local theater are mocking God and promoting debauchery, does it cause you to weep that many claiming Christ today are as active in the sinful activity as the unconverted?
When you see the children of many churches at our church camps, on our mission trips, or attending Vacation Bible Schools this summer; will you notice any difference in them at all from unchurched children? They’re talking about the same movies, they’re singing the same songs, they’re reading the same books, they’re using the same curse words, they’re disobeying their parents just like unbelievers, or they’re wearing the same seductive, self absorbed, eye catching clothing promoted by the latest fashion seen on people who openly hate God.
If you’ll look honestly into our day, you’ll see this is really how it is.
Our day is very similar to Isaiah’s. Everywhere he looked, he saw hardly anyone walking after God.
Who’s going to pray for anyone today when hardly anyone notices there is a coming judgment of God upon the church of God. My appeal to the reader today is not to the unbelieving in the valley, it’s an appeal the house of God, to pray.
Not to pray with platitudes, self absorption, and empty concern.
No, I’m talking about praying in anguish, deep weeping, bitter tears over the lost condition of the house of God. It there will be any hope for an awakening and a real movement of the Holy Spirit in our day, it will come from a house of God who sees as God sees and lives with compassion for the lost in the valley. This will not happen when they see that those claiming to be Christians are really no different than the unbeliever.
The only real difference is that the unbeliever in pursuit of sin is at least honest in who they are.
O, dear followers of Christ, we are in a day where there are few praying in anguish over the sins of our families, neighbors, government, or churches. Let us rise to our duty once again as watchmen on the wall who are honest about what we see, then let’s be faithful to give a clear warning of what is seen and proclaim to all that there is hope in Jesus the Christ, as described by the Bible alone.
Charles Petty has pastored the Second Baptist Church in Ogden for over 30 years. I’ve known this brother and have heard him preach many times over the years. I want anyone within the region able to attend our Sunday night gathering on October 7, 2018 to join us. We begin our evening gatherings at Eastside Baptist at 6:30 p.m. We will have a snack fellowship following the time to take advantage of getting to know others better who may travel from around the region.
Here are the details:
