Pastor’s Thoughts

Being a man who likes to fish I have heard the old saying many times, “Don’t rock the boat”. The phrase certainly has a literal meaning. When in a small vessel on the water, rocking the boat can end with your boat out from under your feet. In most cases that spells disaster. Gear is lost, your motor ruined, and of course being able to swim at that point is a must. The point is “rocking the boat” brings the possibility of disrupting the whole course of events in which you are engaged. But is there ever a time when “rocking the boat” is the right thing to do?

We live in a culture that is sailing off course and in my estimation is close to being lost at sea. Unlike many who simply want to cast blame as a topic of conversation, my intention is to question our personal roll in saving the ship. It would seem to me that culturally, we have taking control of our own destiny and abandoned the council and wisdom of our God given Captain named Jesus. We are being asked to sail silently along and to never address our culture’s sins but instead trust that our present course will end with peace and prosperity for everyone. The problem with that plan of action is the Bible says the broad way (or in my mind any path other than the one Jesus leads), will end in destruction, not peace and prosperity. I would rather swim with Jesus than stay on board a ship that is carrying those on board to destruction.

Well then preacher, just walk the plank and jump. The problem with that is I love the folks that are on the ship. I don’t want them to perish. I would rather “rock the boat” and see all get wet than to simply save myself and do nothing to right the course. God’s word pinned in Ezek 3:18-19 reminds us of the consequences of our silence. “When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.” (KJV)

Church if we don’t “rock the boat” who will? God help us to stand up for Jesus and point others to him, for without Him there is no way to make a safe journey to heaven’s shore.

Pastor D. L. Goins