More than thirty years ago, Christian author, W. Phillip Keller, in his book, Predators in our Pulpits, wrote an indictment of most preachers today. He declared:
“Pastors, ministers, evangelists, and teachers are so eager to be liked by their congregation, so keen to be popular with their parishioners, so determined to be accepted by their society that they refuse to cry out against its evils as did the prophets of old. They live in abject fear of being despised or rejected of men as was the Master. They will go instead to great lengths to insinuate themselves into society in order to be ‘one of the good old boys,’ hail, well-met, and having achieved a rapport with the world around them.”
Then there are those faithful few who understand their calling, who know as Vance Havner said, “A true servant of God is best measured not by how many bouquets have been pinned on him, but how many bricks have been hurled at him.” These clergies are keenly aware that when they appear before the Almighty, he’ll not look for medals but scars.
Just such a preacher stood before the Kansas State Senate in 1996 and gave the opening prayer – a prayer that caused a furor – a prayer that departed from the usual spiritual pleasantries – a prayer that caused several legislators to walk out in protest. On that fateful day, Pastor Joe Wright, filled with the Spirit of God, courageously stood before those who governed and prayed:
“Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know your Word says, ‘Woe to those who call evil good,’ but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We confess:
“We have ridiculed the absolute truth of Your Word and called it pluralism.
“We have worshipped other gods and called it multiculturalism.
“We have endorsed perversion and called it an alternative lifestyle.
“We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery.
“We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare.
“We have killed our unborn and called it choice.
“We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable.
“We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self-esteem.
“We have abused power and called it politics.
“We have coveted our neighbor’s possessions and called it ambition.
“We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression.
“We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
“Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
“Guide and bless these men and women who have been sent to direct us to the center of your will. I ask it in the name of your Son, the living Savior, Jesus Christ.
“Amen.”
Wright’s prayer wasn’t heard merely in the Kansas Senate Chamber that day, but around the country. And it’s been more than thirty years since we’ve heard anything quite like it since.
That is, until a couple of weeks ago, when another good soldier of the Cross stood before the Virginia legislature, and like his predecessor, Joe Wright, better still like the prophets of old, called out that body.
With the very unction of God, Rev. Robert M. Grant, Jr, prayed:
“I pray that both sides [Democrat and Republican] will put down their own selfish ambitions and need for importance and do their job and stand for what is right in the sight of God… These are crucial times that we are living in. The average citizen of our great state wants our elected officials to look beyond their personal ambitions and create bills and laws that are sensible, equitable, and sustainable. Real common-sense laws.
SOURCE: Christian Post, Rev. Mark H. Creech
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