Preaching Christ

In these days of consternation in Washington D.C. and serious unrest in the country I was reminded this morning by the apostle Paul of a couple of things when I read Ephesians 3. First of all, Paul was a prisoner of Christ--imprisoned because of his commitment to Christ. When I consider that there are nearly 200 cities/municipalities in the U.S. that have currently enacted legislation that makes it a crime to speak about homosexuality as the Bible does, it is very disconcerting. It means that in ordinary conversations those who declare on the basis of their moral convictions that same-sex marriage or relationships are wrong will be held in violation of a law. The first amendment seems to be thrown out in such cases. Let alone if a pastor enters a pulpit and publicly declares what the Bible says about what has been euphemistically labeled an "alternate lifestyle". To speak ill of homosexuality in these municipalities is not considered free speech, but a 'hate crime.' Christians need to wake up to the fact that Paul was imprisoned for his faith and if we are going to be true to the teachings of the Bible we are not far behind him. Secondly, Paul got to the heart of the ills plaguing the U.S. and the world--Godlessness and rejection of Christ. Paul understood that by the grace of God he had been called to "preach the unfathomable riches of Christ" (Eph.3:8). It is the unfathomable riches of Christ that so many need today. The forces of evil at work in the world are trying to loosen us from our moral underpinnings and are at war with Christianity. The only real answer is that "people need the Lord." May we not only be faithful to proclaim the gospel, but may we become increasingly intentional and zealous in showing God's love and sharing the truth of God's Word.