Identity Crisis

Take you through the fire again. You know what

that literally means, don't you? That the last

time you went through, you didn't get burned

alive. Hallelujah. If you're going through again,

it means you survived the last round. And he's

not going to fail you in this round either. Amen.

He's not going to forsake you. He's going to

keep you. So just keep on keeping on. Amen. Give

the Lord another praise for his ability to keep

us. Well, hallelujah. If you have your Bibles

this morning, be turning with me to 2 Timothy.

Bit of a quandary this morning. I'm just depending

on the Lord to straighten it out when we get

there. Amen. I have two colliding thoughts this

morning. I can't differentiate between the two,

so we'll just see where it lands. Amen. God's

faithful. 2 Timothy, the third chapter. I'm going

to read verses 13 probably to 17 most likely.

Paul writing to his son in the faith. Verse 13.

But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and

worse, deceiving and being deceived. But continue

thou in the things which thou hast learned and

hast been assured of. Knowing of whom thou hast

learned them. And that from a child thou hast

known the holy scriptures. Which are able to

make thee wise unto salvation through faith which

is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by

inspiration of God. And is profitable for doctrine,

reproof, for correction, for instruction. In

righteousness, that the man of God or the woman

of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto

all good works. With the help of the Lord, I'm

going to attempt to preach on identity crisis

this morning. Identity crisis. I desperately

need your prayer as we need to hear what... Thus

saith the Lord this morning. Amen. Father, I

love you. I thank you for your goodness and your

mercy and the abundance of your grace. I thank

you for your presence that's in this atmosphere.

And as one would say, may your sweet divine anointing

permeate this house. I ask God that you would

touch the ears of the hearers today. That they

may hear what the Spirit of the Lord would say

to the church. But Lord. I ask that you would

touch the lip of the deliverer this morning.

Lord, my heart is yielded. My mind is open. My

spirit willing. Speak to us today. That when

we leave this house, we will know that your spirit

has stirred the depths of our soul. In Jesus'

name, the church said, amen, amen. You can be

seated. Identity crisis. We live in a day and

time where labels, many labels are enlisted and

demanded, prescribed. Once upon a time when you

identified yourself as a Christian, today it's...

Pronoun identification. But there was a time

when you identified yourself as a Christian.

Most people had a basic idea of what you meant

by that. Some of the latest studies and information

reveal. 2023, 67 .2 % of all Americans identified

as Christian. But like many words, the word Christian

has morphed and evolved in its definition. I

can't say that that's a positive thing, because

some things that evolve... go the opposite direction

from the original intent. They become more diminished

than they do edified. And I think in our world

today that Christian is one of those words. But

like had been put a few years ago, inquiring

minds want to know, will the real Christian please

stand up? The ambiguity in Christianity today

and the identity of a Christian got to a point

that in the 70s that the term born again had

to be added. I'm a born again Christian. Why?

Because too many Christians were living the same

lifestyle as the world. So we had to add born

again. Today, Christians have geopolitical labels

such as the extreme right. Come on. Conservative.

Even now, today, the term evangelical Christian

is a geopolitical phrase. The faith of a true

Christian as a mental illness. So who in their

right mind could truly trust and believe something

which they cannot see? Right? Tony Campalo tells

a story and uses an illustration of a town similar

to Whoville, but all of the residents in this

little town are ducks. Every Sunday the ducks

waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main

Street to their little duck church. They waddle

into the sanctuary and they squat in their proper

pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes its

place. And then the duck preacher comes forward

and opens the duck Bible. And he reads to them,

ducks, God has given you wings. With wings you

can fly. With wings you can mount up and soar

like the eagle. No walls can confine you. No

fences can hold you. You have wings. God has

given you wings and you can fly like other birds.

And all the ducks shout, amen. And then they

waddle out the door, waddle back down Main Street,

or waddle back into their homes. Unfortunately,

that's the way it is with many believers. We

hear and we agree with what the Scripture has

to say, but live beneath the privilege and the

promise that it affords and forfeit the blessings

which are provided through them by Christ. 67

.2 % of 330 -something million Americans. That

leaves 224 million in the count that identify

as a Christian. But are they a duck Christian

or what kind of Christian are they? There was

a survey a few years ago co -sponsored by a leadership.

The author, Helen Lee, and in this survey, she

identified five different kinds of Christians.

Now hold on, buckle your seatbelt, keep hands

and feet in at all times until this ride comes

to a complete stop. Understanding the disparity

of those who call themselves Christian in America,

an identification has been attempted. I don't

know that this is exactly the way it is, but

it kind of triggered my thought process in reading

it. 19 % of the 67 % identify themselves as active

Christians. An active Christian is identified

as a person who believes salvation comes through

Jesus Christ. They are committed church goers.

They are Bible readers. They accept leadership

positions in their church. They invest in personal

faith development through the church in discipleship.

They invest in their giving and they are committed

to the church. And they feel obligated to share

their faith. And 79 % of the 19 % actually share

their faith. The second identifier was a professing

Christian. They believe salvation comes through

20 % of that 67. Believe salvation comes through

Jesus Christ, and they're focused on personal

relationship with Jesus. They have similar beliefs

as to the active Christian, but different actions.

Less involved in church, both attending and serving.

Less commitment to... Bible reading or sharing

their faith. Which moves on down to the next

category, which is 16%, which are liturgical

Christians, which make up largely predominantly

by the Catholic Church and the Lutheran Church

and other churches that predominantly follow

through the liturgical actions of the church.

Regular churchgoers, high level of spiritual

activity, mostly expressed by serving in church

or the community. recognizes the authority of

the church. Notice no identifier as Christ fully

as Savior. The next category, 24%, represents

what's labeled private Christians. It's the largest

group. And in that group, it's the youngest segment.

They believe in God and do good things. They

own a Bible, but don't read it. Spiritual interests

but not within church context. Only about a third

attend church at all and almost none are in leadership

in their local church. And then 21%, the last

category that they had, was what was called and

identified as a cultural Christian. Little outward

religious behavior or attitudes. God aware, but

little personal involvement with God. Do not

view Jesus as essential to salvation. Affirm

many ways to God. Favor universality in their

theology. Which means God is love and everybody's

going to get to heaven. I call it the buffet

church. God is love, but he's also holy. God

is love, but he's also righteous. God is love,

but he's also very jealous. And that we have

no other gods before him. And he loved this world

that he gave his only begotten son not to be

shunned, but to be accepted. And so just any

old way is not going to cut it with God. Right?

There is only one way. Anybody care to tell me

the way? Thank you. Before any labels were put

on, we were simply known as disciples. Before

the labeling begins, and what a disciple is,

this is very slow today, probably ain't going

to have a whole lot to shout about. It's just

eye -opening, very pastoral, and a reminder that

the church needs today. Because the society and

the world in which you and I are living are looking

for the authentic. and the authenticity of what

a true Christian is and what it means to be one.

They're not interested in your cultural acceptance.

They're not interested in your private interpretation.

They want the real deal to stand before them.

They want somebody, when the fire's heaved up

around them, to be able to say, let me tell you

how I came through my situation. Let me tell

you how I'm standing before you today. It's by

the precious blood of Jesus Christ. I am not

ashamed of the God. The others are ashamed. It's

not liturgical. It's not by the letter. It's

not by the rite. It's not by the act. It's by

faith that we are saved. Through grace, by faith,

we are saved and we are redeemed. And a world

that is stark and growing, growing darker every

day at the dimming of the light needs of people

who have the light of the glorious Christ living

in them to arise and to stand and come to attention

and get over the identity crisis of our culture

and begin to declare Jesus is the way, the truth,

and the life. No man coming to the Father but

by him. Hallelujah. They need you. They need

your faith. They need my faith. They need our

witness as we're on the job, in the marketplace,

at the ball field, wherever we have to find ourselves.

That's the reason we have the command that as

you are going into all of the world, make disciples,

not Christians. Make disciples. Because it's

obvious from the world's definition of what a

Christian is, it can be anything, but a disciple

can only be one thing. Well, hallelujah. I'm

about to preach myself happy. A disciple means

student or follower. Matthew 4, 19, Jesus said,

follow me and I will make you fishers of men.

Matthew 11, 29 is a learner described. Take my

yoke upon you and learn of me. Acts 11, 26, we

see the identifier as an imitator. And it came

to pass that a whole year they assembled themselves

with the church and taught much people. And the

disciples were first called Christians in Antioch.

My little grandson, Grayson, he's in preschool.

He's a pretty sharp little fella. Not head, but

he's a pretty sharp little fella. So at least

three days a week, they call on their way to

school and daycare every morning. About 8 .30,

and we have a conversation when they're in the

mood to talk. Some days they're not. They're

just cross. But on one particular ride to school

the day before, he had learned what compound

words were. And man, he was loaded. Poppy, Poppy,

you know what a compound word is? Well, I do,

but you tell me what one is. And here he goes

on compound words. I really blew his mind the

other morning. I said, Grayson, I got you a three

-word compound. Really? So. He goes in to the

daycare. Mama takes him in. She comes back out

and gets on the phone and says, well, you just

made his day. First thing he did was hit the

teacher up. I know a three -word compound, so

it's on. Christian is a compound Greek word.

The first is Christ. And that word means anointed.

Right? It means anointed. That second little

word carries power and connotation. And I had

it and just lost it. I was thinking about the

two words past it, and I just lost that same

word. Oh, it means little ones. T -I -N. It means

little ones. So when you put the two together,

you've got an anointed little one. An anointed

little one. A little one what? A little believer.

You've got an anointed little disciple. You've

got one who is following and trying to imitate

the actions of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. You've

got an anointed little person. That's you and

me. We are anointed, and we are in no way in

comparison to the enormity of who God and who

his son Jesus Christ, our Lord, Redeemer, and

Savior is. So we are little anointed ones, and

we are walking forth as imitators. Can I tell

you today, the world sees enough fake in their

imitation. They need to see the authentic imitator

of Jesus Christ. They need to see a follower

and a learner, and not only that, but one who

applies what they are learning. The one who applies

and releases the anointing upon which they possess.

And you and I have been given some authority.

We've been given authority over some spiritual

things in this world. But we can't exercise that

authority if we are beneath the privilege and

the promise. And we are not illuminating the

light that is growing in us. But I think that

may be the problem. It's the light that we are

illuminating. It's not the light of Christ. But

it is the light of this world. And it's time

that there be a renewal and a refreshing. so

that while we illuminate this dark world, that

we are the authentic little anointed ones walking

into a dark world who needs the power which you

and I have been entrusted with. Your friends,

your neighbors, your family, they need what you

have. But are you a cultural? Are you a private?

A lot of people say, well, I'm just real private

about my faith. Well, that's not good enough.

I'm sorry. Scripture says that the Bible is of

no personal or private interpretation. You can't

just get your own little revelation. How shall

they hear without a preacher? Wasn't that the

question that was posed? How shall they hear?

Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word

of God. And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Well, I'm not a preacher. Oh, yes, you are. You

may not be my type in this formality of a preacher,

but yes, you are. You are an anointed little

one. And everywhere Christ went, he went declaring

who he was and the authority of the power. So

that's what you and I, we do so in love and let

the honey of the rock that lives within us flow

out. And those who are thirsty and hurting and

starving, who are simply thriving and surviving

on the bitterness of this world. The bitterness

that they have to take in every day. They need

the sweetness of the love of Christ that's in

you. Sometimes the honey in my comb comes from

sour clover. I need to work on the honey in my

comb. Hello? Where's some more of you sour clover

people? You know you're not as sweet as what

you're supposed to be. Hello? hateful, ornery.

What time is it? I got a minute. Yesterday, I'm

in line at the tractor supply, and it's taking

a little while, and there's this older gentleman

in front of me, and he's just carrying on the

in -line conversation, because it's kind of slow,

and it's backed up about halfway down the aisle,

you know. I'm standing there with a little...

A little sack of hummingbird feed, and he's got

some stuff. There was a little altercation with

the lady at the register, and the old fellow

kind of just let his frustration out there just

a little bit. He said something to her. She said

something. He said, well, you better. Pardon

me. This is the way I talk. This old gal stood

up and said, I what? And she tried to find the

sweet honey in her cone, you know. And before

they go back and forth a little bit, it calmed

down just a little bit. And the old fellow looked

at her and said, well, as he's paying, he said,

well, he said, I'm sorry if I offended you. And

then she lied. She said, oh, you didn't. I said,

you lie. I thought, if you liar, I'd have seen

you cross up. You know, and the old man didn't

let it go either. He said, well, he said, I think

I did. He said, I seen you back up there just

a little bit. Ah, Lord, I'm like, whoo, yeah.

And that's how quick sour clover can come out.

crossed up at the register to try to get out,

you know. And I thought, my Lord, either she's

having a bad day and he's just plum crossed,

but here I am right in the middle of all this.

Oh, Lord, I just told that lady, I said, have

a great day. And he's gone out the door. This

world needs to see, they need to see a little

bit more, amen. But I think on the wrong day,

I sat there and thought to myself, well, that

would have been you on another particular day.

I'd have had her backed up too. But we've got

to be more mindful, don't we? We have to be more

mindful of who we are and whose we are and whom

we represent in a dark world because she may

have needed the honey, not the sour clover. She

may have needed a little grace. Oh, I'm sorry,

you know. Well, he realized he offended her,

and then when she lied to him, he just put on

the gas, you know, and went right home because

he knew what he had done. We, disciples, students,

followers, learners, and we have to become what

we are called. Christ called Jesus, labeled disciples

everywhere he traveled. Disciple or disciple

is used 295 times in the New Testament alone.

Characteristics of a disciple do represent dynamic

changes to one's life. The authenticity. Look,

the worst of sinners know that you're not supposed

to be like them. Hello. They know we're supposed

to sound different. They know we're supposed

to look different. They know we're supposed to

talk different. Hello? And then when we don't

and we have that bad day and we get somebody

backed up in a corner because we've misspoken.

I really think she just misunderstood what the

old fellow was trying to say. It's just one of

those things that gets all crossed up in a hurry.

But we need to be quick to repent if we find

ourselves and let the Spirit be willing to quicken

us and to convict us real quick. And fall down.

And I am so sorry. I should not have said that.

I apologize. I did not mean it the way that it

sounded. So please forgive me. Put a little more

honey in it and it will get sweeter as the day

goes by. And then they may actually see that

what you are proclaiming, what I am proclaiming

as we walk through a dark world, I'm telling

you the force of evil is intensifying the darkness

daily. Amen. It's getting darker, darker, darker,

darker. As every day comes and goes until the

heavens will split and the Christ shall appear.

And amen, us little anointed ones rise to meet

him. It's going to get worse and worse. Paul

actually even tells Timothy that in his third

chapter. He says it, doesn't he? This know also

that in the last days perilous times shall come.

Men will be lovers of their own selves, covetous,

boasters, blasphemers, proud, disobedient to

their parents. My Lord, have you ever seen a

generation where kids smart off more than their

mom and daddy in the age in which you and I are

living? Can I give you a little pastoral parenting

advice? Risk the jail time. Risk the jail time.

I said risk the jail time, but do not. Do not

devoid your children of a godly upbringing that

they need. Spare the rod. Spoil the child. There's

a reason that it pleases the father that chasteneth

his son. I'm talking about the heavenly father

and us. Because he's not just going to leave

us to our own devices. So don't leave them. to

their own devices. Tear that hiney up. That's

a little weak, you know, and as years go by,

that type of preaching will get a boo and not

a clap. Not even a good golf clap. Well, I want

to be their friend. Look, I didn't bring the...

I'm your daddy. I am not your friend. How do

we get there? Let's move on. Somebody say, move

on, preacher. I think I will. Characteristics

of a disciple. First of all, Luke 9, 23, there

is a great element of self -denial. And he said

unto them, if any man will come after me, let

him deny himself. Take up his cross daily. We

leave that daily out a lot of times. We'll quote

that. Take up your cross and follow me. No, we've

got to get it all in there. Take up your cross

daily and follow me. An element of self -denial.

Now, we live in the most selfish age I think

that's ever been known to humanity. Right? Such

selfishness. But in order to be a follower, a

disciple, a little anointed Christian, we have

to deny ourselves. Because in order to put Christ

first, you will find that it will cost you your

pride. That alone will bring your haughty spirit

down. Your spirit and your pride cannot be here

where he is elevated. And when you recognize

who Christ is and what he has done for you, it's

not hard then to submit yourself under the mighty

hand of God so that he may exalt you in due season.

That's why we do not grow weary in well -doing

for in that same due season. There is an appointed

and an applied time in all of our lives. Luke

14, 26, another characteristic is that there's

this supreme love for Christ. Look, you cannot,

well, let's look. If any man come to me and hate

not his father and mother and wife and children

and brethren and sisters, yea, and his own life

also, he cannot be my disciple. Now, folks, that's

pretty direct, right? And that's from the lips

of the master. Now, we have to take great care

in how we elevate the loving relationships that

we have horizontally in this life. So that we

do not elevate those horizontal relationships

and love above the vertical love that is required.

Now what does all that mean, Pastor? It means

you can't love your wife, your children, your

mama, your daddy, any of your family, yourself,

more than you love him. That's why it's called

idolatry. If you love yourself, and there's so

many that love their self more than any other

earthly relationship, there's no room for a heavenly

relationship. Because there's denial, and that

overwhelming sense of narcissism will not permit

a person to love anything better than themselves,

let alone anyone. But to be a disciple, you cannot

be a disciple if you love yourself and any other

human relationship more than you love Christ.

That's pretty plain. I mean, there's just no

way around it. If you love anything or anyone

more than you love him, you can't be a disciple.

Well, I just don't know about that. Well, you

just kind of work that out. That's why there

was those five different labels of Christianity.

Which one are you? That sounds like that private

cultural Christian, doesn't it? A little combo

there. Don't love anything but themselves and

their possession and there may be room for a

little admiration of the Christ. Next characteristic.

Man, y 'all will be wishing I didn't get the

pulpit so early today. There must be a submission

to the authority of the scripture. Then said

Jesus to those Jews which believed on him in

John 8, 31 and 2. If you continue in my word,

then are ye my disciples indeed. And you shall

know the truth, and the truth shall make you

free. Now, it's hard to keep his word if you

don't read the word. And there's a little phrase

out there about... One says ignorance is bliss,

and there's another one that something about

ignorance not being an excuse. No, you're not

going to be able to claim ignorance when it comes

to, well, I didn't know that. He's going to say,

well, why didn't you read it? I left the instructions.

And I know for a fact on the fourth day of May

in the year of our Lord, my son, 2025, he told

you. So you've lost your defense before God Almighty.

If you continue, you folks have just got a little

ways and have quit doing what the Word says.

Are we a disciple if we stop? If we're not continuing

in His Word? Let's read it again. I mean, I don't

want you to misunderstand that I'm saying something

to you. I want you to know what the Word says

to us. Because that's what matters, right? Then

said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him,

If you continue in my word, then are you my disciples

indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the

truth shall make you free. I'm going to get on

off of that. Move to the next characteristic.

There has to be a genuine love for others. By

a show of hands, if you're brave enough. How

many of you know people that you just don't want

to love? We've all got them. But can I share

something with you? Christ loves them. I think

that's where we have a little bit of leeway when

the Apostle Paul says, where it is all possible.

Be at peace with all men. He gives us a little

grace, but let's see what the Lord says. A new

commandment, not a suggestion. A new commandment

I give unto you that you love one another as

I have loved you. See, he always has to put that

in there, right? Paul even had to repeat it when

he talked to husbands about how they ought to

love their wives. Love your wives as Christ loved

the church. As I have loved you, that you also

love one another. By this shall all men know

that you are my disciples, if you have love one

to another. I know it's hard. He didn't say it

was easy. Right? And some folks, now I don't

know if this is biblical, but this is the way

I've tried to work it out in my faith. There's

some folks I have to love at great distance.

And I'm still trying to be his disciple. I'm

trying to love them like he loved them. And he

loved some of them from the other side of the

world. From eternity. While we were yet sinners,

Christ. You know what I'm saying? He loved us

from heaven. And that's where I like to love

some people from. I'm trying here. You're alive

because you got those heavenly people you like

to love too. And my potential to sin is a lot

less when I love them from a heavenly distance.

Oh, come on. It is. My sanctification is in less

jeopardy when I avoid Paul Huff Parkway. You've

heard me. You know that. The other day, Sister

Kathy, I was coming through there, and I thought,

for the love of the Lord, what is the problem?

There's four lanes here. Why does everyone in

Bradley County have to try to go down this road?

And on the busiest hour of the day, they've got

barrels lined up and only one lane. that you

can get through. And 40 minutes it takes you

to get. I thought, I said, I mean, we're being

just clear, so let me go ahead. I'm sitting here

fussing at myself. Cliff, you idiot. Calling

myself that. Why would you call yourself that?

For being there. Just for being in that mess.

I told Sister Kathy, I know better than to go

this way. And I turned right anyway. Thinking,

well, at this time of day, maybe. Sitting down

there at Home Depot and could see plumb to the

top of the hill, nearly to the interstate, red

taillights. Tried to take a picture, but there

was a cop sitting beside me. I was going to send

it. I send it to the staff sometimes. Pray, saints.

I need prayer. And you say nothing but tell -outs.

Oh, Pastor, you're on Paul Huff. Look, we will

drive 10 minutes out of the way just to keep

going down that road. I'll go straight through,

go over the ridge, and come way out down there

somewhere. Go down, and I hate driving Mouse

Creek. Go all the way over there. Go down Mouse

Creek. Let's go over to North Lee. So we're all

endeavoring. So sometimes it's just better to

love over on North Lee so that your sanctification

isn't tested right in the middle of Paul. You

know what? I've got to worry. Sometimes I'll

just go to Athens to go to Lowe's. That's the

truth. Can't say where we're going. I've got

to run up to Lowe's. Well, why are we going to

Athens? Because I don't want to go down Paul

Love Parkway. And I know what you're thinking.

Well, Pastor, you ought to be better than that.

And you're right. I ought to be. But I'm not.

I'm sorry. I know I should be more. Well, I'm

under conviction, so let me move on. Identity

crisis. This culture and society grows more Antichrist

every day. And as believers and Christians, we

need to make a stand. I've got to make a stand.

I have to stand firm in my faith and not let

something as non -sequential as a stretch of

highway. Push me to that edge. To where I'll

drive to the next city. Just to avoid it. I have

to make a stand in my discipleship, in my faith.

There's no greater example on how we can stand

than if you go read the story of those Hebrew

children. Knowing that we need God's grace to

live day in and day out. Amen. To make it through

every day. To survive every moment of every day.

We have to have power to stand. In our text this

morning, that's what Paul was telling young Timothy.

I want you to continue in your faith. Learn to

apply what you have learned, Timothy. Those two

little letters are powerful little letters, personal

letters that Paul writes to the young evangelist.

He reminds him of the faith that he sees in him.

Remember? I recall to my mind and I have you

to stir up your mind and remember the faith that

is instilled on you. I laid my hands on you.

I've seen God impart that faith into your life.

I've seen your grandmother and I've seen your

mama. And the same faith is in you, Timothy.

I see that. Know that perilous times are coming.

Know that hardships are coming. Know that, young

Timothy. But what I want you to do is continue

in the faith, in the situation when identity

crisis is all around you. I want you to reassure

and to reaffirm your faith in Christ. I'm here

to tell us this morning, in a condition of Christianity

and identity crisis all around the world, will

the true Christians, the true leaders, little

anointed ones, please stand and let's make a

difference. When we've done all to stand, Paul

would tell the Ephesian church, when you haven't

done all to stand, stand therefore. Then he tells

them to equip themselves with the whole armor

of God. Let us be equipped in an age of darkness

and warfare. In an age of identity crisis. Christians

don't even know what it means to be a Christian.

And how that it's not suggested, it's commanded.

A new commandment I give you. Pastor Cliff, you

can't get around it. I know. Love others. Sometimes

it must be at a distance. He said, love your

enemies. He didn't say go to supper with them.

He did say feed them though. Feed them. He loves

them. So we are to love them through the love

of Christ. Oh, there's some enemies in this world

that you need to go look up and read the stats

on how many Christians were killed on Easter

Sunday around the world. Check that little stat

out. On Easter, while we're here celebrating,

others took the same step of faith. To worship

the risen Savior and today are with Him in His

presence. Simply because of no other reason than

they were an authentic, illuminating, anointed

little one. Showed up to worship on Easter Sunday.

Identity crisis? I think maybe it's just the

Western church that has the crisis. Many of our

brothers and sisters, stand with me, I'm quitting.

Many of our brothers and sisters around the world,

they know the price of faith. They know the cost.

And every opportunity that we forfeit to gather

to worship for just whatever, We should be reminded,

we should remind ourselves of our fellow brothers

and sisters and the peril that they put themselves

in every Sunday to worship. Identity crisis?

I don't care how they label it, how they try

to break it down. There's really only one Christian.

Doesn't matter any other adjectives you put along

with it. A Christian is a Christ follower. All

that other, hypocrite. I'm sorry. Sometimes we

need a little personal evaluation about our own

faith. Our own practices. I'm not real proud

of the way I let some things get to me. I know

it's comical when it comes across this way. I

have to do that or I'm just going to break down

and cry in front of you. It shames me. It really

does. When finally the traffic clears and I get

beyond. Whatever it is. Conviction sits in my

heart. The Holy Spirit says, really? You weren't

going anywhere in a great hurry anyway. So I

have to repent. Same goes with those people that

I have to love at a distance. That little song

we used to sing was... He's still working on

me to make me what I ought to be. What was that

like? Took him just a week to make the moon and

the stars, Jupiter and Earth. You know how it

goes. Oh, how loving and patient he must be.

Because he's still working on me. If he's still

working on you, would you just come join me down

here? If he's still working on you, you're still

working out some stuff. Come on down here and

stand with me so I don't feel all alone in this

dilemma of life. I know it hurts and I know it

stings. I know they're aggravating. I know they're

hateful. I know they're mean. But do you know

what a good dose of Jesus will do for those hateful,

mean people? It'll turn them into little anointed

ones. Because what were we? Paul told those Corinthians,

he went through a list of sins and what people

were committing. And he said, and such were some

of you. You used to be that, but you're not that

anymore. So, Lord, help us to love. Amen.