The Proper Perspective

I’ve been obsessed with keeping current, via the Internet, on the events occurring in our denomination this past week at the General Assembly in San Jose. On our way to church this morning I asked my wife, "how many people sitting in the pews this morning do you think have a clue about what our denomination just did this week?" She said, "probably not many, maybe you and Dan!"

The sermon was delivered by our Associate Pastor. In the spirit of the 4th of July he preached a scathing sermon from Jeremiah 2:4-13 against the direction that our country has taken for the past 30 years. He mentioned Edwards’ great sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and the horrible descriptions of how precarious is our sinful position in relation to an awful eternity in Hell. He reminded us of how Oprah has now become the spiritual leader of our country and how her New Age philosophy and teaching is so pervasive in the land. As he kept pointing the finger at the ills of our country, I kept waiting for mention of the "thumb" that was pointing back to us as a denomination and how Jer 6:10 must apply to us now.." To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." But there was NO accusing thumb. No mention whatsoever of the historic events of this past week in San Jose.

After the service I happened to see our Associate Pastor standing briefly alone and I rushed to him before anyone could divert his attention and asked if he was aware of what had taken place in our denomination this week at the 218th General Assembly. He stated that he hadn’t kept up on it but that we did send a representative and he will come back with a report...probably on Monday or Tuesday.

Now, I know our Associate Pastor and I know of his reputation for giving his all to our Lord and what an exemplary self-sacrificing person he truly is. As I was writing this and thinking about this subject and wondering what our Associate Pastor has been doing all week, the Lord impressed upon me this thought about him, "he’s probably been out feeding the hungry and ministering to the sick." Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And the Lord said (inaudibly) to me..."What have you been doing all week?"