By Renee D.
“Courage Dear Heart!” When we enter the ministry, we enter a war, a battle, a struggle, the conflict between heaven and hell. We don’t sign up as an ordinary soldier. We sign up for the captain’s roll, a position of leadership.
I know that’s not what we thought we were signing up for. I thought I was going to help heal the broken, help bring the dead to life, minister to the hurting, and to be a friend to those church family members who wanted to walk the narrow way, and would gladly come alongside us to serve the Lord in this life. I know, I know we do, do this, and it IS amazing. But did you really think you were enlisting in the battle of the ages, for the souls of mankind? I didn’t.
I think at first, I was only signing up for the miracles, the beautiful parts, like the followers on the outskirts of Jesus’ real ministry. Is that how you felt? Is that how we feel? Christ called his disciples to follow Him, though He had no place to call home and no pillow for His head. He called His closest to love Him above all other humans, even family. He called them to suffer persecution as himself. Every disciple, except Judas, is historically known to have suffered a martyr’s death. So yes, it’s hard, it’s at times downright brutal. So here is my question: If you knew this, why are you giving up, why are you giving up so easily? Or if you didn’t know, if you really love God the way you felt you loved him when you entered Ministry, why are you running? The church has not changed. The church has been persecuted from the very beginning.
Remember the Apostle Paul, otherwise known as Saul, was hunting Christians? The Truth has not changed, it’s still the same old Gospel Truth that will prick your heart to fall on your knees and call Him Lord or turn on the one delivering the message. But for the sake of heaven, stop running! Stand on Truth and fight. You have the armor, the sword, and the Gospel that brings peace to any soul willing to humble themself. If Pastors and ministry workers keep using the revolving door every time a bully in the church starts pounding on them, will the church ever change?
This is a battle of heaven against hell, and we are running. Why don’t we stand and fight for Truth in our churches to the bitter end? Why don’t we trust God after we have delivered the Truth? Everyone says the church needs a wake-up call – well here’s our chance. I don’t believe Paul would have cut ties and run leaving the most innocent sheep in a fold exposed to the wolves that lurked within the very gates of the flock. I see the men of God in the New Testament exposing, and calling for, the exposing of the wolves. I hear in the pages of the New Testament church, many corrective instructions, exhortations to do right, and praise for those withstanding in the evil day. I hear of God’s great mercy, love, and kindness, as people are won to Christ. I even hear of a murderer, a bully, an evil person, falling on his face on the road to Damascus, and being gloriously changed.
Do we want change in our churches? Then don’t run. Stay and stand and fight for the sheep who can’t protect themselves. Even if it means starting over from the ground up with just a handful of faithful Saints. They trusted you, They called you to be their shepherd. Once we were contemplating leaving our ministry and some of the sweetest folks in our congregation came together and said, “Pastor, we understand if you feel you have to leave, but please don’t leave us here with these evil people. Do something before you go.” It was a pitiful truth-filled request. It broke our hearts, and we decided to stay and fight. This my friends, is how a church changes and is made more into the image of God’s design. “Courage dear heart.”
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