For some time I have been preaching that we have many cowards in pulpits across the country. It is shameful how many pastors allow the fear of man to cause them to make compromises in their preaching. If you take a stand for the truths of God’s Word, you will be ridiculed and attacked, not only by those without, but also by those within. If you stand against same-sex marriage and homosexuality, and call them an abomination as God does, if you stand against this trans-gender stuff, you will be attacked.

We call those who oppose godly principles the left, progressives, etc., While not all Democrats are for all of the ungodly things happening in our country, this attitude has taken over the Democrat Party. For those of you in Canada, it is the Liberal Party. They are promoting the lude and lascivious behavior that is going on in our nations. Too many pastors are afraid to stand against these things.

An organization called the American Culture and Faith Institute hired Barna to do a two year study and in August of this year they came out with their findings. One of the questions asked was “Does the Bible speak to the controversial political issues of our day?” Nine out of ten of the pastors answered yes to the question. The next question asked, “How many of you take these things to your pulpit and preach about them?” Only 10% said that they addressed them from the pulpit. Isn’t it a sad situation when 90% of the pastors know the Bible speaks about these issues and only 10% of them preach on the issues? This is a display of a lack of courage in the leadership in our churches. They gave their reason why they don’t preach against these things.  Here are the main ones:

• Denominational constraints – Our denomination won’t allow it.
• Church leadership won’t allow it.
• The Johnson Amendment – Fear of losing tax exempt status. The President has signed an executive order protecting any church from prosecution for political statements, including endorsing a candidate from the pulpit
• Fear of the people in the pew

The fact is, 90% of the pastors in America fear man, or fear losing the almighty dollar more than they fear God. Too many preachers have the backbone of a banana. They are mushy, they won’t take a stand, they bend and fold under pressure.

One of the major reasons we have cowards in the pulpit is, we have cowards in the pew. They are the ones who put the cowards in the pulpits. They don’t want a preacher who will stir things up, rock the boat, or step on their toes.  The message of the Bible is not always smooth, sometimes it is offensive. Preachers who take a stand have always found themselves in hot water.

Psalm 64 is a prayer. I want you to join me in this prayer. I am excited about the latter part of it. I can also relate to the first part. Over the last few weeks, we have been having a rocky time. The reason is that a couple of years ago, the Southern Poverty Law Center put us on their list of hate groups. The did so to smear us and try to shut us up. In a sense, this is a badge of honor because it tells us that this small ministry is having an effect. They see us as dangerous to their left wing agenda. They see us as a threat to their anti-God, rebellious purpose. We stand against Islam, but we are not a hate group. Opposing an ideology doesn’t make you a hate group.

Those who lead in standing against evil will have things thrown at them, they will face opposition.

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: Who whet their tongue like a sword, [and] bend [their bows to shoot] their arrows, [even] bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. They encourage themselves [in] an evil matter: they commune of laying snares privily; they say, Who shall see them? They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search: both the inward [thought] of every one [of them], and the heart, [is] deep.

But God shall shoot at them [with] an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded. So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves: all that see them shall flee away. And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. (Psalms 64:1-10)

In verse 3 it says “who whet their tongue like a sword.” Whet means to sharpen on a stone. They throw bitter words at those who oppose them. Verse 4 tells us they used to do it in secret, but now they do in openly. In verse 5 they lay snares in secret and bate us with questions,  Verse 6 says they search out iniquities, they search to find a skeleton in our closet so they can accuse us of being hypocrites.

In verse 7 everything changes. At this point God steps in and turns the tables on them. Verse 8 tells us that God will use their own tongues, their own words, against them.

The Southern Poverty Law Center calls us a hate group, but they will not call Black Lives Matter a hate group, they will not call Antifa a hate group. Why is this so? It is because they are part of the liberal leftist agenda. The SPLC has no credibility. Anyone with an open mind can see that these two groups are hate groups, and possibly even domestic terrorists. Only those who are standing for righteousness can make it onto the SPKC hate group list.

The best part of Psalm 64 is found in verse 9. This has been a real encouragement to me. It says: “And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God.” Remember, this is a prayer. David is not praying this so that his enemies will be destroyed. He prayed this so all men would fear and declare the work of God.

We live in a time where there is very little fear of God, even among professing Christians. How can we expect the unbelievers to fear God when the saints don’t.

What if God’s  people began praying to God; “Bring down the enemy that is fighting against You, but do in in a way that our nation can see that it is an act of God. O God, that fear would come upon all men, and they would see that there is a God in Heaven who is righteous, and will judge those who stand against him.” People need to know that they don’t want to mess with God’s people, because destruction will fall upon them.

I am praying just such a thing will happen. I am not praying this for my benefit, but that the God of Heaven would be honored and revered once again.

May God’s people stand firmly and boldly at the corner of truth and courage. May courageous leaders rise up and stand for the God of Heaven.