Case in point

Our pastor gave a heartfelt sermon today entitled "Ending Compromise" from Revelation 2, the church in Pergamos. You know, there's just times when you know it's coming from deep w/in, that the Holy Spirit has burdened someone with something; this seemed to be one of those occasions. There was a heaviness to the message, with times of admonition bordering on a pleading...to seek doctrine, to abandon the concept of "freedom" in the context of freeing us to do what we want...in today's terms to get "real". My mind wandered at times as it usually unfortunately does, but I nonetheless left with the message on my heart.

As I was exiting, I overheard someone entering the sanctuary with complaints of how long the message went and my heart sank. Com'on people wake up! It's ironic that the sermon was in Revelation, only 1 chapter from Revelation 3:16 about lukewarm Christianity.

In the face of being challenged about sin in our lives, it amazes me how fickle we can be. Even in the context of the church, there's that cultural desire to keep the peace. God bless you pastor for aiming at the heart. I ended the day reading about Cain in Genesis with my kids. Cain was angry that God wasn't pleased with his offering; he didn't humbly acknowledge his sin; in fact he went on to commit the first murder. As much as things change, it's amazing how they stay the same.