Three Reasons Why People Quit on the Man of God

 As you already know, Pastor Roger Jimenez has gotten negative attention from the media regarding his sermon on the Orlando shooting. When the Sodomites and their sympathizers scheduled protests at the church, Verity’s attendance was stronger than ever, but what you may not have noticed is that not all of Verity’s regular attenders showed up. Not only that, but some have said that they won’t be coming back. Why did a few people decide to leave Verity over this? Did they disagree with the sermon when it was preached in its entirety on that fateful Sunday night? No. In fact, they enjoyed every minute of it.

What these fair weather friends did not like were the consequences of the stand their pastor took. They loved his boldness until they heard the reaction of the liberal media, the homosexual community and perhaps some of their namby-pamby friends. Sadly, a few of Verity’s active members bailed on the man of God at a time when he needed them most. There are a few main reasons why people quit during times when their pastor is particularly unpopular with the world.

Money

The love of money is the root of all evil, so it’s not surprising that the first reasons people cite for not staying faithful to church during a controversy is that they are worried about losing their jobs. They need to reread these famous verses in Matthew 6:

“24 No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

26 Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?

27 Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”

Fear

Fear is definitely a factor when people faint in the day of adversity, but it’s not just the fear of losing their jobs. Often, people will shelter their children to the point of selfishness. When conflicts arise, we still want our kids to come to church with us. They need to be in church, and we want them to see us taking a stand against these freaks. Yes, we will arm ourselves and be ready to protect our families, but we will also trust the Lord to protect us.

“The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31

Worldly Viewpoint

Some of the same people who are quick to condemn others as worldly for not having the exact same personal standards that they have, are by definition worldly themselves.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.” 1 John 2:15-16

Prioritizing money and the praise of men over supporting the man of God is extremely worldly. Not only is it worldly to lust after earthly riches, but worldly Christians are surprisingly susceptible to being brainwashed by the media, with its falsified numbers and chopped up interviews.

Hopefully, these few deserters will have a change of heart when they see how quickly this thing blows over. Verity had a record breaking turnout on Sunday in spite of those few flakes not showing up, but their absence was still disappointing. Even as Verity Baptist Church continues to grow and thrive, the shepherd will still mourn the loss of a few of his sheep.

Here is a sermon to go along with this article...