pastorrudytlc

SPEAKING IN THE LIGHT WITH PASTOR RUDY

I know the church has been getting a bad rap lately. It seems everyone has an opinion lately and not all of them are positive. This pandemic has been more about division than bringing people together and that is a shame. There are those who think that the church should meet and others who believe the wisest move is to stay apart. There are many who vote for masks on and just as many who say masks off. Some want us to meet only outside and others can’t understand why everything isn’t inside. We at the Lighthouse Church have done our best to provide entry points that cover all the bases by offering 4 Worship Services every weekend but even that has not satisfied the masses. And at a time when the church needs to be keeping it all together, there is way too much attempting to tear it all apart.

The church is not an organization. The church is a living organism. The church is not made up of a work force. The church is made up of the family of God showing the world how it is done! Because no matter what, programs will never give us what only God’s power can provide! Big budgets don’t promise the Holy Spirit has freedom to move. Flashy worship may be entertaining, but if the music showcases the band over the One we should be singing to, there will be a short circuit in the electricity department. We need to let our light shine so people can see Jesus whether they know the Pastor’s name or not. God initiated vision prevents believers from looking in the wrong direction when it comes to prioritizing their most important purpose. I believe the Bible tells us that it all has something to do with love.

In the Gospel of John 13:34-35, Jesus told us, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” Loving God will only strengthen our love for Him because we learn that He loved us long before we ever loved Him. The more we allow God’s love to invade our hearts, the more we will begin to care for those around us. This world is all about taking “selfies.” The church should be all about making “other-ies” more important than even our own desires. All humans stand on level ground before the cross of Christ.  Young and old, male and female, Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, black, white, and every other nationality that has ever walked the grounds of this planet; we are all sinners in need of salvation.  

This is not the season that we should be about barriers and barricades. Why are we constructing walls that our Lord and Savior already tore down? Only by living the love of Jesus and only by genuinely loving one another, will the world ever see the real Jesus! It is to brothers and sisters that the world is drawn. The church is the bride of Jesus. Are we attempting to be more factory than family? Actions always speak louder than words. For God so loved the World that He gave us Jesus and in Jesus we should finally discover the value of being around one another!

God made it very clear that without the church, there would be no Christianity! So much of a believer’s spiritual formation must occur primarily within the context of community, that’s where people mature in their faith. There are so many things you can’t accomplish as a solo entity. How can you do all the “one another’s” of Scripture if there is nobody around you to practice with? People who stay committed to the truths that Jesus was committed to will experience all that God has in store for His creation. We must learn to work through conflict, practice holiness partnered with hospitality, forge through forgiveness, fight the good fight of faith and stick it out when running away might be the easier option. I have always said that I would much rather have pew jumpers than church hoppers! I love when I see God’s people become the people of God!

In my 24 years here in Cape May County. I have seen many people come and go and come again and go again and so on and so forth. We all know people who are very critical of the church. Unfortunately, they are not committed enough to be part of the spiritually led solutions! Aren’t you glad that Jesus doesn’t give up on us? He wants us to bloom and blossom where we become planted, but there will be no eternal fruit if faith doesn’t dig deep roots. Like trees repeatedly transplanted from soil to soil have a challenge to establish a real root system, so are Christians who don’t dig in and make a lasting statement about who they are and what they really believe in.

You can’t ignore the importance of church! Nobody is perfect and there is no infallible place of worship this side of heaven. Wherever we go, flesh will always attempt to squash faith. The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy. God has promised that His explosion of colorful creativity would be displayed through the church. Not everything is black and white. There is unity around the truth but there is diversity in the way that faith is expressed! What a time for the watching world to see the church at its best. This is the day that God wants us to become the rock that He proclaimed the gates of hell would not be able to stand against.

I love being a Pastor because it keeps me real. Traveling speakers can preach their five best messages over and over again and come into town only to leave just as fast. But when the shepherd makes his home in the middle of the sheep, you can’t fake it because you will be exposed quite quickly. The church is God’s idea so I wouldn’t abandon it too quickly. God didn’t commission the angels to share the good news of Jesus. He gave His Holy Spirit to redeemed men and women. Instead of opting out, it is time for us to surrender all to our Savior who gave us nothing less than His best. Get all excited and let’s lift up Jesus. It is not about denominations or political parties. It is about believing on the Lord Jesus Christ and allowing Him to shine through us. It’s getting too dark in our world and now more than ever it is a season for the church to shine! Come and be part of what God is doing. It is a miraculous adventure! Let’s stop going to church and let’s be the church!