Complimentary Story
May 2026Pastors...you know the stories. You’ve probably preached on them a hundred times over the years. You just didn’t learn anything from them.
Daniel & the Lion’s Den, David & Goliath, Abraham & Isaac, Meshach, Shadrach & Abednego. These stories teach us about courage, faith and obedience. But today’s Church has little of any of these virtues. If it did, it would have loudly condemned abortion way back in 1973 when it was first legalized. The Church would be “leading the charge” today in every state in the nation to stop abortion and the slaughter of the most innocent of lives, starting by condemning it within the walls of its own church buildings.
But pastors have cowered and stood in silence as millions have been sacrificed.
Pastors then reason with themselves, stating abortion is a “political issue,” not a spiritual one. For those of you who stand behind this excuse, I’m sure one day the Lord will correct you.
Pastors have remained silent out of fear and pride. They would rather offend the Lord than offend those sitting amongst the pews. If it came down to it — if the American Church had to face the same fiery furnace as Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, would it fearlessly, obediently and confidently walk in knowing the Lord would protect it?
I think we all know the answer to that question. The Church doesn’t even have the courage to risk a few empty seats — or lose its 501-c tax status. The COVID pandemic proved that. How many pastors shut their churches down, then accepted PPP money from the government for doing so?
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9).
Do you think the American Church today would courageously and confidently enter into the “lion’s den” — trusting the Lord would protect it from any harm? It doesn’t even have the confidence God would provide for it, no matter who or how many they offend. As a result, pastors remain quiet as church mice.
So, would the American Church courageously, obediently walk into the “lion’s den” today? Not in a million years … it would rather remain silent and perpetuate a lie than offend someone.
In Genesis 22, God said to Abraham, “Take your son, your only son whom you love, Isaac and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
God promised Abraham and Sarah a child but it wasn’t until 25 years later when Abraham was 99 years old that his son, Isaac, was born.
And now the Lord, after all those years of waiting for a child...God now wants Abraham to go offer that child as a burnt offering sacrifice … at the hands of his own father! Can you imagine?
Did Abraham argue? Nope!
Did Abraham protest? Nope!
Did Abraham hesitate? Nope!
Early the next morning, he rose and began his journey. Upon reaching the top, he built an altar, bound his own son and put a knife to his throat. But at the very last moment, an angel appeared and stopped Abraham.
Is such obedience still within the Church today?
Once again, I don’t believe so. The pitiful state of the Church today is proof of that. If it did have such courage and obedience it wouldn’t accept and promote homosexuality, officiate same-sex “marriages,” have pride flags planted on its church lawns or install “trans” bathrooms perpetuating a lie — making a mockery of God’s creation of man and woman.
Do you not know — light can’t have anything to do with darkness — truth can’t have anything to do with lies?
Unfortunately, apostate pastors fill the pulpits of American churches today. But there still stand many faithful, many obedient pastors today, to set the example for the apostate.
There are also many “Goliaths” out there today for the Church to obediently and faithfully stand against. There are plenty of “fiery furnaces” for the Church to faithfully and confidently walk into.
If you need to muster up some courage before Sunday’s sermon, sit down and read some of these stories of faith, courage and obedience that the Bible offers you. Read them with your eyes and hearts wide open and become a David, a Daniel, an Abraham, or Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
The Church today is in great need of such leaders — of such faithful men.
Are you one?
Are you ready to confidently, obediently and faithfully stand behind and defend every written word of Scripture? No compromise … no fear?
The Lord is looking for His next Daniel or David. He just can’t find one!
Email:
mrorabeckc21@yahoo.com
