Pastor Youre Responsible

Today is Pulpit Freedom Sunday

The clip played at the offering closed with these words -

In the face of Tyranny a silent pulpit is a complicit pulpit Ezekiel 33:6

Just what exactly does Ezekiel 33:6 say

Ezekiel 33:6

6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone’s life, that person’s life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.’

Or as Acts 20:28 in the amplified would admonish pastors

Acts 20:28 Amplified Bible (AMP)

28 Take care and be on guard for yourself / and the whole flock over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you bishops and guardians, to shepherd (tend and feed and guide) the church of the Lord which He obtained for Himself [buying it and saving it for Himself] with His own blood.

God has placed on the heart of His pastors the awesome responsibility of preaching the whole counsel of His Word.

14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.

As I said - Today is Pulpit Freedom Sunday in America.

Today over 1,500 pastors will be true to God and do just that.

Despite the arguments of people like Barry Lynn it is not about politics it is about righteousness. Gods Righteousness. The right to declare all of Gods Word unchained.

Proverbs 14:34 34 Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin condemns any people.

Proverbs 29:2 when the godly are in authority, the people rejoice. But when the wicked are in power, they groan.

The church, in fact Gods people are all well to familiar with that knowledge.

In the wickedest of times, those God called have always spoken out against the injustices of human Govt when it stands in opposition to Gods Truth.

The Old Testament is full of examples – those like Elijah who stood against King Ahab and his wife Jezebel.

1. Likewise the New Testament both prior to Christ’s death and resurrection and those he called to lead his church.

2. John the Baptist wasn’t exactly on the guest list at any of King Herod’s political rally’s.

Jesus made it plain it was fine to give to Caesar what was rightfully his so long as you gave to God what was rightfully his. I dare say that includes obeying the truths in His Word.

I’ve entitled todays message “An Acts 5:29 moment”

So let’s see what Act’s 5:29 says - 27 the apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. 28 “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”

29 Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!

We have long been at an Acts 5:29 moment in our nation, but for far too long the church has been asleep, the pulpits have been silent.

Perhaps no more a glaring failure than the pulpits of Europe at the onset of the Second World War.

When Pastor Martin Niemöller said this:

First they came for the Jew - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't Jewish.

Then they came for the socialists, - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, - and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me, - and there was no one left to speak for me.

It has been said that churches along the route that the trains passed filled with Jews on their way to be executed, simply played their music louder and sang louder as the trains with screaming, crying Jews would pass their buildings.

If you will allow me to say that in our day and age we have been no less guilty. That’s right

I want you just to consider with me ABORTION

Total number of abortions in the United States 1967-2011: 54,900,000

That’s the Population of 72 largest U.S. cities: 54,899,885 (2011)

Number of babies aborted each year worldwide -- 50,000,000.

Number of babies aborted throughout the world since World War II: More than 1.5 billion.

Top 3 countries in number of abortions annually:

1. Red China -- 11,000,000.

2. Former Soviet Union -- 6,000,000.

3. The United States -- 1,250,000 (Projected 2011)