Finding the Right Message
Christian churches and missionaries are greatly divided. We all love Jesus, and I believe we all mean well. So, why the conflict? I am reminded of three salesmen I was working with 48 years ago in agri-business. They were always having disagreements due to their differing personalities. I nicknamed them, in my mind, after dogs. I know, not very nice! But, here is why. One guy was always running around playing tricks, constantly happy, and sometimes hard to get focused, but everyone seemed to enjoy his company. He was my 'Jack Russell'. Then the second guy would complain about everything. He was good on the hunt, but loved to sit and howl. I called him, 'Hound'. The third guy was just like an old war horse, he was steady as a rock and just always pushed on, he was my 'Golden Retriever'. All of them got their jobs done in varying degrees of success, but every time we'd have a sales meeting, there'd be a dog fight.
Churches are similar in some ways. Some see this COVID-19 as God's judgement upon a sinful world. Some just write it off as God's will, meant to teach us something, and He is sovereign. Somehow, if you just lost a loved one to this devil, you don't want to hear that; "It is God's judgement on sinful humanity, or even that God is sovereign" (which makes Him responsible). Those two answers will not draw people closer to God. Our position at FCOP is different. We believe God gave dominion over the earth to Adam and Eve, and they turned it over to the devil in the garden. Jesus, through His sovereignty, bought the authority back for us at the cross, and put His Church in charge! We need to be proactive and do something about what's going on. Many of us are 'hunkered down in our bunkers' waiting for Jesus to come back. I believe He's waiting for us to do something about it!
Now don't get mad at me! We grieve for every life lost and pray for those that are hurting, but we also need to be positive. Like Lincoln said when he stubbed his toe on a rock, "It hurts too much to laugh, but I'm too old to cry". Let me tell my story using a cartoon. Just remember, wolf = devil, bricks=the Word of God. Play Video God is good, the devil is bad; and that, in Jesus, you are a whole lot more redeemed than you ever dreamed possible.