Yesterday I spoke at a prayer breakfast in Marco Island Florida and after sharing my testimony was surrounded by many people. It is always sad to me to see gray haired people coming up to me with desperation in their voices and tears in their eyes as they ask me how to deal with the addictions of their children and grandchildren. They are simply ill-equipped and clueless in how to help them.
Drug trafficking is the foremost problem in the world followed closely by human trafficking. One would think that more information would be available through the media, but perhaps I am mistaken.
Yesterday a close friend and distinguished authority on sex trafficking wrote in response to my indictment of the media for underreporting the severity of this problem as follows: “Note that there is good media out there that have stated the issue well, and so it is sometimes good to say, there is good media, yes, however there is also media that blinds people to the truth and that is what upsets me . . . etc . . . As some news outlets and writers have been very good to survivors . . . ”
Okay I stand corrected. My comment remains though that the average person knows little about this subject, and most people get all their news from the media. However, in fairness, all the blame cannot be put on them. They have a short time span daily to report the most important news, and while it is true much of it is squandered on politics and power struggles in Washington D.C. there is not enough time to deal with the issues that are truly destroying society.
More is needed. In years past it came from the church. That was then, and this is now. The church is losing ground fast as more and more pastors turn from actually preaching the Gospel and openly declaring sin to be sin. Noted researcher George Barna published the results of a massive research project that showed that the five highest priorities of the pastors surveyed were as follows:
- Attendance
- Giving
- Number of staff
- Number of square footage
- Number of programs
Huh? What happened to evangelism, discipleship, Bible study, missions, and serving the community. Well, if you were one of the pastors in the survey and attendance and giving were your two highest priorities, would you call abortion a sin when 50% of the congregation supports it? Or would you preach a sermon telling the congregation that marriage should be between a man and a woman when 72% support it? Many in the congregation might get up and leave, and all those dreams of being the mega pastor of the century would go right out the door with them. Better to soothe the “itching ears” of those who want to hear what society wants rather than God almighty.
The same survey specifically asked about these two issues, (abortion/gay marriage), as to whether Scripture calls them sin. An overwhelming 93% said yes, but then Barna asked how many sermons they preached on either subject in the previous year, and a sickening 1% preached one sermon in an entire year!
No, not all pastors are like this, perhaps yours is doing a great job. I highly recommend that you tell him and support him for being courageous. If, however, he is not calling sin – SIN, then perhaps you should ask why.
I’m not pastor or a psychologist but in their desperation people turn to me for help. I have several appointments to talk with parents and their addicted loved ones over the next several weeks.
A typical example is this from a father concerning his son:
My son is 30 years old and drinks regularly and lots. He has been through numerous rehab facilities, (5). He has been Marchman Acted at least 6 times and Baker Acted a few more. He isn’t violent—just super aggressive and ANGRY!! At everything and everyone—much like you described yourself in your book.
I would really appreciate the opportunity to sit down with you and talk—maybe you have some advice and counsel for me so I can better help my son. Or if you think it is more appropriate, you could talk to my son—he is open to help—
When people turn to alcohol, drugs, sex, violence, or even obsessively pursuing power, fame, wealth, and great secular accomplishments as a way to fill the emptiness and holes in their hearts, they come up even more disillusioned and depressed. All those things are temporary and after indulging in them the exhilaration is replaced by even more pain and they are worse off than before. Trust me I’ve been there.
When Jesus is missing, there can be no peace. There is pain in this world and people cannot escape it by turning to everything but God. My recommendation is to surrender to our Lord and allow Jesus to take the lead in your life today. Make him your primary focus and life will be better for sure. He alone is our hope, our joy, our love, and our salvation!
He alone can restore the joy that you desire. Just turn to Him and make Him first in your life.
John 10:9
I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.
March 22 2017 – Click here to listen