Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Good Anger

Being mad at bad things is a good thing! I have recently noticed afresh and anew the moral toilet that we live in here in America and the way that most churches respond to our environment and culture. This is a war! And so many churches and pastors are dancing through the daises while our culture is getting flushed. We have gotten this attitude in the church today that we are to be soft and mild and we have become culture pansies instead of Jesus warriors! We need to get mad and hold up a righteous standard.

I am mad at gossip and lies! I am mad at pornography and Victoria's Secret (I wish she would have kept it a secret)! I am mad at music lyrics that belittle and tear down! I am mad at young people who wear cuss-words on T-shirts and the parents who allow it! I am mad at what is considered art today! I am mad materialism! I am mad at condescending people who think they have all the answers! I am mad at sex outside of God's design! I am mad at the American media who push relativism and liberalism down our throats. I am mad at the "Christians" who keep swallowing it and paying for more! I am mad about the way most women dress (or don't dress might be a better term)! I am mad about the way most Christians handle God's money. I am just downright mad and I sure feel good about it!

I have come to the conclusion that the Church (notice the capital C) and today's pastors had better stop dancing around trying not to offend people. It is past time to step up and radically proclaim God's trutheven when it is hard and harsh. We also need to live out God's ways in order to stand strong amidst all the filth and lies that is swirling around us.

I want so desperately to be a pastor engaged in the fight and for Crossroads Church to be a light on the hill in the darkness of our culture. I am going to strive to let my good anger drive me to a holy lifestyle and a holy stand!

Check out this quote from Martin Luther. He lived in troubled times as well and he was angry about it. "I have no better remedy than anger. If I want to write, pray, and preach well then I must be angry. Then my entire blood supply refreshes me. My mind is made keen and all temptations depart."

I'm with Luther. My life is so my better when I am filled with righteous indignation than when I am just dancing along through the daisies. I am so much more focused on God and His plan when I am focused on the nature and consequences of sin! I am so much a better man when my blood is boiling.

I know this blog entry might offend some people, but oh well, I gotta start somewhere! Actually, I started long ago, I just want to keep it up and maybe one day, my good anger will have temporal and eternal rewards!