Archive for the 'America' Category
The #1 Need in America is Still the #1 Need
The #1 need in America is still the #1 need in America: the next great spiritual awakening.
Some would say the emergence and election of our president has brought about a political awakening in America. Regardless of one’s opinion of the President, it would be hard to ignore that his election is nothing short of a wake-up call in American politics.
However, in this volatile environment in America, it is certain that some would choose to disagree with this. In the present generation, we have never witnessed anything like what happened and is occurring before the entire world.
What America and the World Need to See
By no means do I believe this political awakening will lead to spiritual awakening. Yet, without a doubt, the American church specifically prayed more for this past election than I can ever recall. Everywhere I went all over this nation, Christians were praying.
This is encouraging. It shows the church believes in the power of prayer and in God’s involvement in human affairs.
This is why I am deeply convicted that what America and the world need to see more than anything is the next great spiritual awakening. Without the supernatural invention of God Himself demonstrating His great mercy and grace upon us in spite of the conduct of our nation, this spiritual awakening will not occur.
The Obvious is More than Obvious
The obvious is more than obvious to everyone: America is divided and living on the ragged edge of despair and danger. Personally, this grieves me greatly.
Accusations and sarcasm have contributed to our divided nation. Fake news is often vacant of any grain of truth, believed by whichever group is accommodated in their persuasion. This is sad, very sad.
Operating in this post-truth culture, pundits and spinmeisters are awarded the prime time on networks, exaggerating their persuasions. While this is occurring, the streets of some of our cities are filled with protests, riots, violence, and hateful vitriol. In this unstable climate, the world continues to watch while hundreds are killed by ISIS, thousands are persecuted for their faith, and we all witness the greatest global humanitarian crisis of our lifetime. While all of this happens, the national security of our nation is at stake.
Regrettably, while America needs it elected officials to lead as one, many in our nation’s capital are playing political games over the future of our nation.
America, it is inescapable, even for our great nation, to ignore the words of Jesus Christ as written in Matthew 12:25:
Knowing their thoughts, He told them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and no city or house divided against itself will stand.”
I feel it is more than obvious that America is very divided and living on the ragged edge. We have never needed divine intervention like a spiritual awakening more than now.
Where is the Church?
Where is the American Church? The Church can and should do what no one else can: Stand together as one and pray for God’s leadership for ourselves as His people and for the future of our nation collectively.
The tone of the Church in this day is not very different than the tone of the world. It is amazing that the church is divided over the same things the world is divided over.
We need to push pause, get before God, listen to what God is saying to us in His Word, grab hold of our personal emotions and desires, and lead. We need to lead as one in this needed hour, becoming a voice for what God says and desires rather than just another sarcastic, critical voice that may get us the retweets of a carnal church or the world itself.
I plead with us: It is time to come together in the Church. We can come together believing the Bible is God’s authority for life, Jesus is the only Savior of the world, and the greatest need we have in America is spiritual. Let’s cease letting anyone or any source divide us.
The greatest need in the Church is a mighty spiritual revival, a moment when the manifestation of the presence of God is realized.
Yes, the #1 need in America today is still the #1 need: the next great spiritual awakening. We just cannot pray alone, but practice actions and attitudes that serve as a crying invitation for God to come upon America anew and again.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
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Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, immediate past President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
Pastor, Talk to Your Church About America
This past Sunday morning, I took the opportunity to talk to my church about America. While I do not do this weekly, I do practice it regularly. I believe it is a stewardship entrusted to me for the church I pastor.
I believe it is necessary for each pastor to talk to his church about America. If we do not choose to do it, then we are neglecting our responsibility and turning our people over to navigating through these issues alone. This is dangerous for any of us.
When I Talk to Our People About America
When it was time for me to speak on Sunday, I transitioned by talking about spending three days in Washington, DC last week. I discussed some meetings I attended, mentioned that Jeana and I attended the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday morning, and concluded by talking about watching President Donald J. Trump’s appointment of Judge Neil Gorsuch to the United States Supreme Court.
Relating to the National Prayer Breakfast, I mentioned the dynamic and powerful message given by Chaplain Barry Black, the Chaplain of the United States Senate. Then, I mentioned the speech given by President Trump, and re-emphasized his commitment to religious liberty in our nation. Relating to the President’s appointment to the Supreme Court, I reminded our people that while presidents come and go, their appointments influence generations. Finally, I challenged our people to pray for the confirmation of Neil Gorsuch to the Supreme Court as well as the remaining appointments to serve on the President’s Cabinet. I appealed to our people to pray for our nation at this time.
While my remarks this past Sunday were specific, most of the time my remarks are much more general, leading us to a time of praying for America.
Pastor, it is Not Being Political to Talk About America
Pastor, stop thinking you are being political if you talk about America. There are bloggers who are of the opinion that a pastor should never talk about America. Do not let the opinion of someone you don’t even know cause you to forfeit your stewardship responsibility entrusted to you as a pastor.
Clearly understand that your role is to give biblical light to this time in America. You are not a pundit on a night-time television show or drive time radio, you are a man of God who is helping shepherd your people through the challenges we are facing together in our nation today.
Your role is never to denounce a leader or movement publicly, but to bear light upon the issues themselves from a biblical perspective. You cross over into being political when you ooze with your personal preferences and try to sway your people into voting or thinking about something in the same way you do.
Interestingly, when you deal with the issues biblically and spiritually, you are much more convincing than you would ever be with your own preferences. Our authority is not in what we say, but only in what God says. I am convicted deeply that our people need to hear God’s perspective about the issues in our nation.
5 Points of Counsel for Every Pastor
1. The Stewardship of Leadership: God has entrusted the stewardship of leadership to each pastor. We are temporary trustees, leading the people of God in a local church. We cannot forfeit our leadership of the church or operate passively about our nation. This would be spiritual negligence.
2. The Bible and Spirituality: In all reality, we do not need to be just another voice to our people. We need to become the biblical voice that challenges the church in America to become the spiritual life of our nation. What sets our voice apart is one thing: What God says! Not what we say or think, but what God Himself says in His Word. Our call to the church is always an upward call of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Our call is to become all God wants us to be.
3. Giving Honor and Dignity to Our Leaders: Leadership in America is hard and difficult. It is unimaginable for any pastor, business leader, or educator in our nation to even comprehend what presidential candidates and the presidents themselves face when elected.
For as long as I can remember, I have never referred to a president by their last name only, which to me shows disrespect and dishonor. It has always been, for as long as I can remember, President Kennedy, President Johnson, President Nixon, President Ford, President Carter, President Reagan, President Bush, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, and President Trump. From a youngster in early elementary school when President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas to where I am today while President Trump leads our nation, I am deeply convinced that pastors and spiritual leaders do not need to do anything less than give honor to the leaders in our nation. While we may disagree with someone’s ideology or even lifestyle choices, we should always respect them by referring to them by their proper title. When we do not, it is disrespectful and a horrible example before others.
4. Praying for and Supporting our President: As men of God and pastors of local churches, we should always lead our people in praying for our nation and supporting our president in prayer and encouragement. All Americans should support and desire the success of each president in our nation. Our confidence is only found in praying for our president, entrusting him to God and His care.
5. A Future and a Hope: As a pastor of a local church, I should always lead people to have a future and a hope for their nation. Even in the worst of times, we need to be the type of prophets who, while being honest about where our nation is, also believe that we have a future and a hope in the Lord.
Therefore pastor, do your people a favor and represent Your Lord favorably by talking to your church about our nation regularly. When we speak to our people about our nation, we should also be burdened to pray for our nation fervently. Because it is in God we trust.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
Senior Pastor, Cross Church
*******
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church, immediate past President of the Southern Baptist Convention, and founder of the Cross Church School of Ministry.
To request an interview with Dr. Ronnie Floyd
contact Gayla Oldham at (479) 751-4523 or email gaylao@crosschurch.com.
Visit our website at http://ronniefloyd.com
Follow Dr. Floyd on Twitter and Instagram @ronniefloyd
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.