Front Porches and Pulpits

Just this past Sunday, a gunman walked into an Illinois church and shot the pastor while he was preaching. The pastor was killed leaving behind a wife and family. I've had several folks ask me what I thought about that. What is there to think? We live in a messed up world. Sin is more rampant than ever before. People are more vulnerable than ever before. God is rejected more than ever before.

Yesterday, in south Alabama, a gunman went on a shooting spree killing his own family and several other innocent people. Some of those he killed were sitting on their front porch. I don't know about you, but I've never felt threatened on my own front porch. In rural Alabama, the front porch is sacred ground. But things are changing. In the future, those of us who enjoy an evening on the front porch may have to do so while wearing a bullet-proof vest.

Paul said it best when writing to Timothy. "In the last days perilous times will come." Maybe these are the last days, maybe not. But one thing is for sure, perilous times have come. Economic uncertainty, terrorist threats, excessive immorality, empty churches, and socialist philosophies are driving the America I once knew, to new extremes of ridiculous and unacceptable behavior.

I want better for my children and their children. I want our pulpits and porches to be places where our peace with God and peace of mind are not threatened. I want them to be able to enjoy a sermon from the pulpit on Sunday morning and a glass of iced tea on the front porch on Sunday afternoon. Is that asking too much?

We can't hide. We can't retreat to our living rooms...our hide behind our privacy fences...or isolate ourselves from the world. Imagine if the saints of old who died for American and Christian freedoms had bowed to the enemy. Where would we be today?

This coming Sunday I will stand in the pulpit and preach the goodness and grace of God. Sunday afternoon I think I'll sit on the porch for a while. I hope you'll join me.
MM


Michael Mason Ministries
March 30-April 1st (Mon-Wed) New Center Baptist Revival, Moulton, Al.

April 3-4 (Fri-Sat) FBC Bay Minette Marriage Renewal Weekend, Bay Minette, Al.

May 3-6 (Sun-Wed) FBC Rogersville Revival, Rogersville, Al.