Dear Members and Friends,
In the midst of all the chaos and confusion in our nation right now, as the rhetoric and personal attacks escalate, as the nation becomes more and more polarized, there is now a great opportunity for the church of Christ to sound the trumpet of truth, to be the salt and the light, and proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the only one hope for lost souls.
The problem for many Christians is they have lost their saltiness, many have put a cover over their light and others are sounding an indistinct note on the trumpet and sound no different from the world in addressing the present day issues. As a result, the mission and message of the church has been compromised. People are confused, people are perishing. 1 Cor 14:7-9 If even lifeless instruments, such as the flute or the harp, do not give distinct notes, how will anyone know what is played? 8 And if the bugle gives an indistinct sound, who will get ready for battle?
The Apostle Paul was aware of how the mission and message of the church would be compromised, and he counseled his young pastor Timothy with these words:
1 Tim 6:20-21 O Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the irreverent babble and contradictions of what is falsely called “knowledge,” for by professing it some have swerved from the faith.
2 Tim 2:14-17 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. 15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene.
2 Tim 4:1-5 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
May God grant us the grace to be the salt in this decaying world, to be the light in the darkness and to sound the trumpet with one distinct note – Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.
Thank you,
Pastor Chaya