pastormikemcdowell

“The Message that points to Christ on the Cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but for those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense. This is the way God works, and most powerfully as it turns out.” (1 Corinthians 1: 18-19)

Good Morning and Blessed Lord’s Day to All!

Surely, those of you who are believers have noticed that Christianity and those who profess it and live it are increasingly the target of ridicule by an unbelieving society. Reactions against professed Christians at the recent Grammy awards ceremony are indicative of society’s growing disdain for the Christian values embraced by some in the recording industry. One, Kirk Cameron, had the ‘audacity” to voice his opinions regarding his particular stand as a Christian regarding traditional family values. One of the milder criticisms railed against him was this: “The Old Testament simply can’t be expected to explain everything.”   Another voiced her opinion of his stand even more vociferously, saying,“Kirk or kurt or whatever Cameron is an accomplice to murder with his hate speech.”  What a contradiction! The true “hate speech” is in the criticism of Cameron, accusing him of being an accomplice to murder! Grammy nominee Natalie Grant was similarly vilified for walking out of the awards ceremony early because of performances she considered to be lewd, distasteful and not reflective of her values as a Christian.  To the secular world, such viewpoints seem utterly foolish, outdated, and even offensive. This is nothing new, however. In Matthew 5: 11-12, Jesus says, “count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, Ido! And all heaven applauds.”  I would rather hear heaven’s applause than the world’s accolades. I would prefer to appear ridiculous to some than to feel embarrassed because I am a Christian. When I am praying, I regard it as a sacred privilege, not a silly act. Oswald Chambers wrote,

“Prayer is simple, prayer is supernatural, and to anyone not related to our Lord Jesus Christ, prayer is apt to look stupid.” 

Yes, there are many in this world who look upon those who pray as being silly and stupid. Go to a restaurant some time and watch the reactions of some who see a family or an individual giving thanks to God in a public place. Some smirk and shake their heads. Others look away and chuckle. Some pay little mind.  But as Paul noted, “The message that points to Christ on the cross seems like sheer silliness to those hellbent on destruction, but to those on the way of salvation it makes perfect sense.”  Let’s pray!

O Lord God; You are Holy and Righteous in all Your ways. May we never feel ashamed to be believers. may we never hesitate to stand on our convictions as believers. May we never profess you with words and deny you with our actions, but stand firm on the Solid Rock of the Lordship of Jesus Christ, this and every day of our lives. this we pray in His Holy Name. Amen!