Minister's Corner

Recently, a lady in our church gave me a Doonesbury cartoon from a newspaper dated November 1995. I think it is prophetic (uh-oh, Pastor Briscoe is getting theology from the funny papers; just kidding, but almost!). The cartoon shows a pastor before his congregation saying, “OK, flock, here are this week’s activities: This Monday we have a lecture on nutrition by our personal chef … Tuesday and Thursday will be our 12-step night… .”
• (Someone lifts a hand and asks a question) “Pastor Scot, is that about drugs or sex addiction?”
• Pastor Scot replies, “No, drugs and sex addiction have been cut down to nine steps and meets on Fridays at 6:30 p.m. — right after organic gardening.”
• (Pastor continues) “Also, we have a special treat. Saturday will be aerobic male bonding night! So bring your sneakers! Any questions?”
• A parishioner asks: “Yes, pastor, is there a church service this week?”
• Pastor Scot replies: “No, we had to cancel it. There was a conflict with the self-esteem workshop.”
Pretty funny stuff, huh? However, there is a sad ring of truth to this. The church in America is so preoccupied with itself that it has, in many instances, left God out.
People are growing dissatisfied with a church that says it loves God yet leaves very little room for God. The church of Jesus Christ is to have the power of God.
John the Baptist said Jesus would baptize people “with the Holy Ghost and fire … whose fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly purge his floor … and gather the wheat … and burn the chaff…” (Luke 3:16-17).
What brings this horrible judgment of fire? Those who refuse Holy Ghost fire and power will receive this judgment. Jesus is not messing around. He is offering the very spirit of the living God. He is offering the very presence of God and people are starving for it. People do not need self-help; they need God help.
We are seeing this in our outreach to kids on Friday nights. It is called “The Rock.” From 8 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. every Friday, about 200 kids show up. They are white, black, Hispanic, Native American and people of every kind. Some of them have deep needs. However, what is happening to many of them is that they are meeting Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit. Some are so powerfully touched they literally begin to weep and shake when the tremendous presence of God comes in the room. You might think these kids are mimicking something they have seen. I do not think so. Most have never been in church in their whole life and do not even know about such things.
What is happening to them? They are experiencing the baptism of the Holy Ghost and fire. The spirit of God can do in a moment what all of our self-help groups may never do. Why? It is because the fundamental need of humanity is not just to meet a nice human but to meet the life-changing presence of God in Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost.