PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: SECULARISM

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: GUNS AND GOD

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks they may open to him immediately.” Luke 12:35-36 (NKJV).

Pastor John Collins: Secularism is a failure if faith is weak
inside of a home

This world is at war. It is not only terrorism, school shootings, murder and violence at every corner. It is a war on humanity at every level. Faith is fading and with that is a loss of the value of a humanlife. People are meant to be precious, not only to God but to each other. We are meant to find compassion and a willingness to be kind to our fellow man within ourselves. How is that possible if we, as a human race, do not hold the word of God as truth? How can children learn to get on their knees and thank God for their very lives if they don’t believe?

Communities want to talk about gun control and laws. I want to talk about what makes it possible for so many to be willing to pick up a gun and kill others. That is only possible if a person does not fear the retribution of God Himself, if a person does not value what God values and if a person does not have the faith that is required to not only bring about hope for themselves but to bring about submission to the will of God. Without faith and hope in God and the work of Jesus Christ, the worth of a human life is lost. Faith in this country is frail and failing and parents are looking to schools and laws to educate their children. Unfortunately, secularism is a failure if faith is weak inside of a home. Children must be taught the priority of rights and wrongs and that will not come from anywhere but the Bible.

The Bible is not some archaic book filled with stories but is a guideline to our lives. Prayer is not something that you casually engage in when you encounter illness or misfortune in your life but it is an open line of communication with your Creator and with Jesus as your intercessor. We should not have to continuously pray for those who suffer such tragedy but should come to recognize that more needs to be done to prevent these tragedies and that will only happen when this world chooses to recognize the need for God every moment of everyday of every life. It needs to start within each home and people should not wait for the miracles to show up at their door but should begin to educate themselves and their families in preparation for the miracles to come. This world has lost the fear of God and it is the fear of God that will save souls.

“Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them.” Luke 12:37 (NKJV).

LOVE THAT CROSS PASTOR JOHN COLLINS

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: ANGER

PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: ANIMOSITY, JEALOUSY, HATRED, ANGER

Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is Abel your brother?” He said, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.” Genesis 4:8-10 (NKJV).

Cain killed Abel. Esau sold his birthright and Jacob stole Esau’s blessing which resulted in hatred and animosity that grew between Edom and Israel.  The sons of Jacob, brothers of Joseph, sold Joseph into slavery out of jealousy. The Benjamites, a tribe of Israel, were nearly destroyed by their brethren, all the other tribes of Israel.  The house of Saul and the house of David were at war a long time, Judah and Israel fought against each other.  These are only a few examples within the family of God’s chosen people. The Gentiles have their history of fighting and wars against themselves just the same as the Jews. We have our reality of wars around the world within countries that are not our own. In our country we have gangs, murders, and families at war with children fighting, parents fighting and friends fighting too.

Pastor John Collins:  Charlottesville vigil, 2017

Just because something has been done since the beginning of time does not make it okay for it to continue. What is driving the anger and lack of compassion and kindness in our time? When will we learn that the smallest seeds of bitterness and resentment as well as jealousy and envy will grow to become hatred and hurt if watered? Why do we not realize that the ground is screaming from the blood that has been shed? Why do we not stop and realize that our Lord is not served in our anger and vengeance? God has said that vengeance is His and so it is. It is not for us to take out our anger on another. It is not for us to engage in bickering and arguing that just leads to more and more anger. It is not for us to hold on to these hateful feelings and be consumed by them.

We can do better. We can become peaceful people, if we choose. We each choose our own actions and reactions and that is where our faith will lead us to choose the right and righteous path if we rely on Jesus Christ to guide us. You see, it may not be for you to solve the world’s problems but you can definitely solve your own with the help of the Lord. You can pray for those that are caught up in civil wars and you can make sure that your world is one of peace. You can encourage love and kindness in others by living a life that serves Christ.

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3-10 (NKJV)