Council Grove Christian Church

5/20/26

Servants of God,
 
“Don’t assume that your good theology will prevent you from falling. Theological commitment does not immunize you from being the next public scandal. Theology matters to the degree that it leads to whole life doxology and a dependence on his grace daily as we face temptations of our own. May God’s grace preserve us all.”
-Casey McCall
“This ain’t no playground and this ain’t home”
-From John Prine’s song Unwed Fathers
 
The quotation above from Casey McCall was in response to one of the latest scandals involving a high-profile evangelical mega-church pastor. It was written as a warning to us all. No one is past being tempted to sin—to put our desire to think, feel, do our own will above God’s. It has been noted that the difference between the first man Adam and Jesus Christ, the “last Adam” is the first Adam chose his own will be done and Christ, the “last Adam” chose to do the Father’s will (See Romans 5 and 1 Corinthians 15). Every day brings a time for choosing. The failure of another believer is tragic and should be grieved. These tragedies should be a warning to us all.
Warnings are important. There is a story about paratroop training in the American Army during World War II. One class of paratroopers who were graduating from jump school marched past a new class as they were marching into the training area. From the ranks of the graduating class  a playful, anonymous voice sang out a satirical and humorous warning to the incoming class. The words were simple and direct: “You’ll be sorry…” Those who have been through parachute training or any other supremely challenging physical and mental event can identify with that poignant scene. Sometimes, words of warning can come too late to be helpful.
Spiritual warnings properly timed and dutifully heeded, can save us a lot of pain and sorrow. Such warnings lovingly given and humbly heeded can bring great blessing. Biblical warnings are not statements of hate and bigotry; they are words of life because they point us to the safe space of God’s will.
The John Prine quote is from a song about the tragic realities of teen-age men and women believing lies about human sexuality. Written during a time when polite society stigmatized unwed teen-age mothers and sent them away to deliver the baby, it tells of some of the harsh, unintended consequences of sexual sin. The young woman had been shipped away to have a baby far from home because the shame was considered too much to bear for her Appalachian family. Public embarrassment once was a reality. Increasingly, it is hard to find a sin that our culture deems worthy of sanction.
For the Christian, the importance of biblical warnings is huge. We know that we all sin and fall short of God’s glorious ideal for us. We also know that Christ’s substitutionary death for us has taken our sins away. This is one reason the Lord’s Supper is a beautiful time. We pause, having completed a week when we sinned, repented and tried to live better. We reflect on our ongoing need to abide in Christ and to be guided by God’s word and be led by the Holy Spirit.
We are truly sorry for not heeding God’s clear warnings. Rather than despair, we pause in hope to take the small memorial meal of bread and the fruit of the vine. We lament that Jesus’ body had to be broken and his blood shed. We know that we are the reason. On the other hand, we sense the powerful spiritual connection with our precious savior. We determine that the week ahead will be a time when we do not irresponsibly condemn others for their sins or deny our own. We pray in our quiet reflections and thanksgivings that true healing will flow into our souls. And we humbly acknowledge our need for the strength and wisdom to daily hear and heed the biblical warnings not to do our own will but the will of our gracious Heavenly Father.
Blessings,
Pastor John
Coram Deo