Preach The Word

Written by: Kathryn Gore

Recently while walking into Walmart, I saw two teenage girls around the age of 13, leaving the Walmart store. Together, they were happy as could be. Smiling, talking to one another as they walked towards the parking lot. Their beauty and joy caught my attention. As I looked closer, I noticed the girl’s holding hands. One had a big passion mark on the right side of her neck and immediately, I felt sad.  

These two beautiful young girls were unafraid and unashamed about the interest they had in one another. They were holding hands so tight; you could tell they were a couple. They were in it together. They even seemed to be walking in a little fear, needing one another. My heart went out to them.

I started praying, asking God to help them. They looked too young to carry on in such a way, yet they were not hiding anything from anyone. Not even the person who drove them to the store. They were completely free to be who they were.

I thought, this is the new generation, but does it have to be?

The vision of these two girls stayed in my mind. I knew within my heart they did not know any better. Some days had passed. I went to a wedding and saw yet again, a young girl couple who were unafraid and unashamed (same age). I thought back to the young girls at Walmart and thought God, this is happening again. I wanted to say something, but I couldn’t. Not one word came out of my mouth, even though the opportunity was there. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t prepared.  I thought about everything that could go wrong and talked myself out of it.

As I pondered on this, I came to an understanding…

The voice of the world says, “do what you want”, the voice of the church says, “I don’t care what you do, that’s on you”, but the voice of Lord is saying, “don’t do this, there’s a better way”. I couldn’t help but to think how so many people in the church close their eyes and ears to the truth because they don’t want to be the bad guy. Honestly, if you talk to people who’ve been in church for a long time, most of them say, “I love everybody, if this is what you want to do, do it,” without offering them the truth like Jesus did.

Jesus didn’t tell those who didn’t know any better that they were going to hell. He offered them truth, giving them another perspective. Today, the church is on mute. We are silent when it really matters.  I don’t believe this is what the Lord would have us to do. We are to be disciples, just like the disciples in the bible.

The disciples were brave. They were bold! Filled with the Spirit of God, speaking truth in the power and authority that Jesus gave them. When Jesus commissioned His disciples to tell everyone about the Kingdom of God, He gave them power and authority over all demons, to cure diseases, to heal the sick and raise the dead.

Matthew 28:18-20 ESV-  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

We are called to make disciples out of all nations. Many are not walking in this truth. The people of the world do not understand they need a Savior. How will they come to know the Lord if we as the church continue to keep our mouths shut?

2 Timothy 4:1-2, 5 ESV; Preach the Word

4 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: ² preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. ⁵ As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.