The Day the Lutheran Preacher Stunned His Congregation

When I was about 14, my Lutheran Pastor preached a sermon.

That is a statement because most of the time, he gave little inspirational sermonettes.  A softly spoken, feel good, 15-minute talk designed to tell me how much God loved me and how secure I was in my position in Christ.  It was a comfortable and affirming message; promptly forgotten over Sunday lunch at the Ryan's all you can eat salad bar.  This message was different; decades later his words still ring true.

Our mild-mannered servant Pastor from the Mid-West lit into his complacent suburban congregation like a sweaty tent preacher.  Stunned and wide-eyed, nobody moved.  He convicted us for leaving the work of the church to him and to him alone.  He visited the sick, he led the Bible study, he organized the food drives, he did the counseling, he did it all and we let him.  

Being 14, I felt sorry for what he was going through, but I was a kid, I was not supposed to do those things.  That was for the adults to do, then he hit me right between the eyes with this question:

"When was the last time you told someone about Christ?"

I squirmed, I shifted - I could not recall ever directly witnessing to anyone.  Apparently, I was not alone.  Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, estimates that only 2% of Christians actively share their faith.  There are a myriad of reasons why and each believer needs to examine their own heart but at 14, I was afraid of rejection by my peers.  I was afraid to be labeled as a crazy Christian, I was not brave enough.

Over the years, I began to understand that witnessing to someone is the most sacred and loving thing you can do for them.  It takes courage.  The alternative though is to leave hurting people without hope.  To let people grieve without Christ, to face an uncertain future without eternal salvation, to risk tomorrow without the protection of the cross.  How much of a coward do you have to be to let someone you love face eternal damnation in Hell and not tell them?

Praying with the Hurting

Every encounter is different, each circumstance calls for a Holy Spirit inspired approach.  Sometimes evangelism is logical and fact based, others times it may call for discussions that are reasoned and scientific.  Some simply need to hear that there is hope in Jesus Christ and hear of His love, some need to know there is a cleansing from their sin.  Others need comfort when a loved one has died, some need to be shocked by the reality of hell. 

Cowards and fools think that all Evangelism is street corner preachers screaming at people that they are going to hell.  Do not let the judgment of cowards and fools keep you from telling others about Christ.  Be the 2%.

One Evangelicals Road to Trump

Abigail and Dolley readers if you are an American, no doubt you have been drawn into the Presidential Primary Season, whether you wanted to or not!  Long term Abigail and Dolley readers will recall a time when this was a political blog.  Even the name, Abigail and Dolley, is political.  My frustration and rejection of Bush Republicanism and Obama Socialism was the impetus for creating this space.  A search of early posts reveals a feisty Tea Party Patriot but also a love of Jesus and stong Christian faith.  Thus, these are my positions and credentials.

The last political post I recall doing was in the dark days after the 2012 Presidential election, there might be others, but not many.  I gave up on politics, I gave up on trying to influence others for a political party or candidate, and decided to pour my passion into Christ.  If I am going to try to persuade others, it is going to be for Jesus.  I pray that I have been faithful to that calling.

Economically and professionally, my life since the 2008 crash has been a whirlwind.  On paper, I'm a job hopper.  In reality, I've just been trying to find a place to settle down, do a good job for my clients, and earn a decent living.  Around 2006, I stopped fitting into corporate America.  I never bought in to this Six Sigma "process map" culture, I actually wanted to accomplish something and not attend endless meetings and conference calls.  I balked at fish bone analysis, reverse process mapping, and special B-SQUAT teams.  I rolled my eyes at the "consultants" who did not have a clue about what it took to be successful in my business.  I got in trouble for criticizing beautiful power point presentations that did not say anything or address issues.  I made enemies for asking hard questions.  Twice, I was aggressively recruited to be a "new type of manager" only to be fired from both organizations because they really wanted their same old manager.  I spoke up and because I am not a man, it did not work out so well for me.

Something cool happened to me six months ago, I moved from Wall Street to Main Street.  It was amazing; to work in an environment that was void of idiocy, endless meetings, KPI's and reports, and restrictions to getting the job done.  I can now do in a day what used to take me three weeks to accomplish.  My stress level is down, my clients are so happy, and I go to work everyday eager and intellectually stimulated.  We have a unique objective, "Keep the clients happy and make money."  What a revolutionary concept!

With this backdrop, I started listening to speeches by GOP candidates.  It is inevitable, I don't live under a rock.  My kid and his friends started talking about Trump.  I rolled my eyes.  I liked Rick Perry - I thought he'd gotten a bad rap in 2012.  I also liked Bobby Jindal - he's been a great governor.  Scott Walker - what a great turn around in Wisconsin!  I was interested in Mike Pence from Indiana but he never threw his hat in the ring.  I looked at my 2012 candidate Newt Gingrich and wondered if he'd run.  Ben Carson was intriguing.  I tend to think Governors make good Presidents, Senators bore me.  The field was enormous - 17 candidates.   Trump?  No way.  I was savvy enough to realize he wasn't my kind of conservative.

Then I started listening to speeches and I'd cringe at the Senators, you see they sounded like these corporate guys with their process maps, KPI's, and endless meetings.  I'd get queasy because these types don't get anything done.  They take over successful companies, run the producers off and then ruin everything they touch.  These guys are not game changers, they are the creators of the problem.

A pivotal moment for me was watching Jerry Falwell Jr.'s endorsement speech of Donald Trump.  This endorsement gave me the motivation to take another look.  What I found was a man who had grown and evolved.  I too had changed my opinions about things in the last 20 years.  I admit as a young woman, I voted for Bill Clinton, twice.  At one point, I was pro-choice.  I was a nominal Christian.  I have a bit of a sordid past, there are many things I am not proud of.  Do these things disqualify me from being who I am now or is that just the road I took?  Do I not have any credibility because I haven't been a perfect conservative and Christian?  The God I serve changes people.

I want somebody that can make things happen, not just run reports and manage the optics.  This country is going the way of Rome and if the Lord tarries, I'd like my teenage son to have a shot at the American Dream.  No other candidate gives us that chance, none.

As for the abuse Trump voters incur?  Well, we just shake it off.  I read memes and headlines that distort and misrepresent, he can be sarcastic and joke around, so it is easy to distort!  We're accused of not being led by the Spirit, not voting for the most Christian guy, not being informed, engaged, or rational.  I've seen memes of Trump as the devil.  Frankly, I'm a bit sick of it.

Well, like Jerry Falwell, Jr. I have a Savior, we need a CEO.  I'm not voting for a Sunday School Teacher, I am voting for the President and we need a revolutionary one.  Apparently, I'm not alone although sometimes on social media it feels like it!