*Opinions expressed in Letters to the Editor are not necessarily those of The Messenger.
According to most biblical scholars, the church in Laodicea will represent the church on earth at the time of the Rapture. It will be a time just prior to the seven year Tribulation; a time when there will be a great falling away of the churches when it comes to the infallible Word of God. Sadly, what the Apostle John shared in his seven letters to the seven churches in the Book of Revelation (i.e., only Smyrna and Philadelphia were not condemned by Christ) has, in all likelihood, found its way into a church near you. With few exceptions, the word evangelical Christian no longer applies to what is being taught from the pulpit.
As you look at the seven churches of Asia Minor, you will see that Jesus always started His letters to the angels of the churches. Sadly, in today's apostasy, the in-depth study of the Word of God starts in seminaries where perspective pastors are oftentimes taught false doctrine to the detriment of what will one day be taught to their congregations. In Laodicea's case, Jesus said, “Because thou are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will vomit thee out of my mouth” (Revelation 3:16). “It was a time when the Lord had been pushed to the outside of the churches and He was seeking to reenter. Only the churches' repentance would open the door before it was too late” (Revelation 3: 20 and the KJV Bible Concordance).
One of the reasons I continue to write articles for various newspapers in the Kenyon area is to draw the attention of people who find themselves in positions of authority. After fighting a losing battle over the issue of prayer at a Veterans' Day Program when I was a middle school principal, I continue to hope that I can catch the attention of people who could have made a difference in my case: Pastors. Sadly, and after a quarter of a century, I am still waiting for them to step out of the pulpit and go to work on an issue that can negatively impact the nuclear family. In this case, I am talking about the Kenyon City Council who opened the door for a lifetime of heartache and uncertainty when they made cannabis available for our school aged children. (See Colorado for Updates)
When I wrote my recent article in the Kenyon-Wanamingo Messenger, it was my sincere hope that our local churches might respond to it. Even when I showed it to a local pastor; even when I made it clear that the issue at hand was the sale of cannabis in Kenyon; even when I left no doubt that my primary issue was our children, the word that best describes the response I received was: Silence. It reminded me of another time, in another place, when a critical issue that could have been won was lost because the churches and their pastors chose to remain silent. Shame on them!
Finally, let me say that while I appreciate the fact that we are not saved by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9), the Letter of James says, “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works” (2:18). Perhaps it is time for our local churches to add the cannabis issue to their list of things worth fighting against; perhaps it is time to find a way for our local pastors to join hands and make a stand for our children by their own good works. Once they have taken the lead on such a worthy cause as this, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Colossians 3:16) This is what I would expect from someone who is the pastor of an evangelical Christian Church.
Dr. James Russell Lehman
Kenyon MN 55946
