BP, The Gulf and Your Congregation
As the tragedy of the BP Oil Rig explosion still lingers, our country seems to begin to become immune to the 11 workers lost to the explosion as well as the countless gallons of oil leaking into the Gulf. From the beginning, little was shown to the workers families as all cameras began a steady focus on the oil leaking into the Gulf waters. Since that day, cameras have been showing the stream of oil, having forgot the people who died that day. Have people been forgotten for oil?
Battles rage over who caused the problem instead of raging battles to solve the problem. Just as battled rage over a host of other problems, people are still pointing fingers trying to figure out who to blame instead of what to do. Granted, it does seem like BP is reaching out to fix the problem, but they are at a loss as well. With that pressure of oil as well as the distance to the busted pipe, the situation is difficult.
The greater question may be what should Christians do about the leakage? The answer is simple (sort of) – Pray! Prayer does amazing things.
How about this? Consider your own congregation and ask yourself this question, “How many Christians have been lost to the world this year?” How many solutions are being sought to bring them back into the flock of God?
Just as oil leaks into the Gulf, the world leaks into the lives of Christians. Everyone, including preachers, want to point a finger at the problem, but very few make the decision of solution. For example:
- “Television is corrupting our young people’s minds” –> Then turn off the TV!
- “Facebook is causing problems in families” –> Then stop Facebook!
- “The Music today is hideous and immoral” –> Then stop listening to it!
- “The Preacher’s Pen website steps on my toes” –> Tough! Move your feet!
The solutions are simple right? “Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5.22; ESV) Paul was blunt but very clear. Get away! If something is evil, MOVE! If something is going to destroy your family, your friends and most importantly your relationship with God…MOVE!!
Simply putting the problem a little farther away does not help. Moving it from in front of you to beside you still has it near you. Paul says “MOVE!”
What do you need to move today? Is the world callusing you to the tragedy that some will not make it to heaven? Like the Gulf, have we been bombarded with so many horror stories we have become callused to the problems as well as the solutions?
Just some thoughts,
Chris
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good article. I shared it on Facebook.
btw, I’m David Templeton’s son, back in WV. If it’s okay with you, i’d also like to share this in our bulletin at Merritt’s Creek.
Marc