A couple of weeks ago, our church's students joined many more at Wando High School and gathered around a flag pole. They went to school on that morning to pray. They prayed for one another, their school, their friends, teachers, administration, and nation. It meant they had to get up early, stand in front of everyone that would identify them as Christian, and make their colors known. Tthey didn't do it behind the school building or behind closed doors, but they prayed in front of the whole school at the main flagpole. For our students that participated, I want them to know that I am proud to be called their pastor. Keep on living it out in front of everyone. Make your colors known that you are one of His.
With that said, I also want to say that churches in North America have it easy. I am not saying that as a large church pastor that hasn't met the budget for this fiscal year. I'm saying that as someone who takes for granted what we enjoy every single day, freedom. I'm talking about freedom of religion, freedom to assemble, freedom to dissent, freedom to speak. All of that happens in the free enterprise system that we live in and take for granted every single day. For that I am thankful. We CAN stand around a flagpole and pray and proclaim our faith openly and without fear of government reprisal.
It has not always been this way. This is something that we have enjoyed since our founding fathers, by way of Thomas Jefferson and our Baptist forebears, put into the Bill of Rights. What we now think of a standard rights were anything but in the 18th century in which He wrote. Ruling governments made the rules and the people abided by them. That was the end of that.
What I'm saying is that the church has suffered for preaching and teaching the truth for most of its existence. And, except for the fewer and fewer countries that allow for those freedoms to reign, freedom to worship and speak and assemble are greatly curtailed even in the 21st century.
Can that really be true? Even in the 21st century? Case in point, a Chinese church was recently forced to have their worship in the blizzard when the government agents forced them out of building in the middle of winter. What I find incredible is that they didn't go home, they just kept worshipping, in a blizzard, with no protection of a building.
READ MORE ABOUT BLIZZARD WORSHIP HERE
I have to wonder, if we were told, no worhsip inside, would we still worship outside? No matter the weather? Is that how committed I am to Jesus Christ and His church? I was once told by a great man of God that my character can be gauged by what it takes to stop you. That gives us an idea of what an UNSTOPPABLE Church is all about. That kind of church is not stopped by persecution, harrassment, or interference. That is what Oceanside Church must be if want to be called one of His on that day.
From the beginning, the church has been inspired to live bold and unstoppable. Peter and John were commanded... did you hear that? ...commanded not to speak in the name of Jesus anymore. That was where they drew the line early and with great conviction:
So they called for them and ordered them not to preach or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, "Whether it's right in the sight of God [for us] to listen to you rather than to God, you decide; for we are unable to stop speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:18-20 HCSB)
They chose what was right, not what was popular. They knew their choice would affect millions of Christ followers throughout history. They knew in the ealiest days that bold living in the foundation of the UNSTOPPABLE church.
Today, we must choose afresh to be bold every single moment of every single day. There must be no doubt in the minds of those around us if we are believers or not. When we live what we believe, there will be a synergy that will take over. We will become God's kind of church. that's my challenge to you: live what you believe, tell your story, make a difference.
Then His church will be UNSTOPPABLE.
Pastor Trey Rhodes
www.MyOceansideChurch.com for our website
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"...character can be gauged by what it takes to stop you.." Nice bro. Thanks.
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