All of us have “Blind Spots”. These are places where our thinking is not correct, yet, we can’t seem to realize the error of our thinking. I am about to express an opinion I have. I ask the Lord if I am correct, or if this is a “Blind Spot”.

It seems to me, that for well over 125 years, the Christian Church in America has had the wrong focus of time, money, and energy, when it comes to moral issues. I keep seeing the phrase. “WE NEED TO WORK SMARTER, NOT HARDER”. Thousands of letters have been written to lawmakers in Congress, State Houses, and County Leaders. There have been marches, protests, and rallies. Christians opposed alcohol, and Prohibition became the law. Sunday was to be sacred, so Blue Laws were enacted. Abortion was opposed and it was banned. Yet, look at our present situation. Abortion is on shaky ground, alcohol is available almost everywhere, and businesses that are open on Sunday have proliferated. [Please don’t misunderstand me. I believe The Lord’s Day should be holy. I hate alcohol and abortion.]

But, when will we learn that we cannot legislate morality? Evil, sinful people will do what they please, no matter what the law says. Al Capone proved that truth. My thinking is this——–Would not our time, money, and energy be better spent in winning people to Jesus? I am not talking about making church members, or shallow, weak, “wishy washy” Christians. I am thinking of powerfully, radically saved, New Creations In Christ Jesus. [2 Corinthians 5:17] In Acts 19:20-41 we read that Demetrius, an idol maker, stirred a riot because Paul came, preached Jesus, lives were powerfully changed, and these new believers ceased to buy idols. Paul didn’t propose a law banning idols. Real believers no longer had a need for idols. In Acts 19:17-19, new Christians burned their collection of demonic materials. Millions of dollars’ worth of satanic literature went up in smoke. No law was needed.

I love to read Church History. One of the fascinating events was the Welsh Revival of the early 1900s.As I remember what I read, God moved powerfully. Lives were changed. As a result, the saloons closed. Why? They no longer had any customers. Jails were emptied. Why? Crime ceased. The economy flourished. Why? Theft stopped and many crooks restored their ill-gotten gains. A funny thing also happened. The mules that pulled the ore laden carts from the mines were confused. Those mules were so accustomed to hearing profanity laden commands that they did not understand a simple, Gee, Haw, Whoa, or Get Up.

When God truly saves a man or woman, lives change, No law is needed. When folks are truly born again and brought into the Family of God, they live holy lives. Am I wrong to believe that we need to WORK SMARTER AND NOT HARDER? What would happen if we focused our energy and effort on bringing the unGodly into a radical relationship with Jesus?

ADDITIONAL THOUGHTS

1. Sunday School is at 9:00 am
2. Morning Worship and Children’s Church is at 10:00 am. Also available in the parking lot at 10 on 99.1 FM and on  the website after 12:30 pm
3. Prayer and Bible Study is Wednesday at 6:30 pm in the Fellowship Hall
4. HOMECOMING—September 7—The Towers in concert
5. AUGUST 17—Called Church Conference [Deacon election, Nominating Committee report, Building and Grounds report]

Do you know someone who needs Jesus?

Pastor Ed and Deacons of Barbee’s Grove Baptist Church