Be Careful
Guest of a missionary family some 10,000 miles away, I quickly became part of the family. An older daughter beginning college was having frustrations with her parents’ dating and curfew guidelines.
One evening I listened to the daughter’s insistence about her privileges as a young adult. She loved her parents but insisted that they should not impose childish restrictions on a college student.
“May I tell you a story?” I asked her. She nodded. “I am pastor of a church, a businessman, a post-graduate of college, married, and have three children that are adults. As often as possible I drive or fly 300 miles to visit my parents. While there, friends may call and invite me to visit them. What do you think my parents say to me as I am preparing to walk out of the door of their home?” I asked.
Ten thousand miles away the young college student without hesitation said: “Be careful!”
“Exactly,” I responded. It is not an American patent. Parents who love their children want them to leave and return safely, in one piece, whole, not robbed, not beaten, not victim of a wreck, not kidnapped. Parents who love their children care about their well-being, their happiness, and their success.
My role as a pastor is not a parent role. It is a shepherd role. More specifically, it is the role of an under-shepherd. My assigned responsibility is to encourage all whom the Lord Jesus puts under my care to follow Jesus. Though shepherding is not a parental role, I find that much of the life of the pastoral staff of Covenant Church is given to warning sheep to “be careful.”
The Bible is clear that in the last days there will be wolves in sheep’s clothing. (Matthew 7:14) Satan will be roaming and roaring like a lion seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8). There will be anti-Christs, and many will be deceived (Matthew 24:5). The righteous will scarcely be saved (1 Peter 4:18).
It is important to remember that polytheism is not new. There were so many gods in the time of Jesus that people were confused, thus producing a lot of self-serving religion. We laugh at gods like Zeus, Thor, and Mars. Yet, our times produce gods far more trivial and foolish.
As in Roman times many are frustrated with religion. Recently, a man said to me: “I am fed up with religion!” My answer to him was that I too am fed up with religion. But the more I become disgusted with religion the more I become fascinated with salvation. Jesus is not a religion. He is life, liberty, hope, and victory over sin!
Please don’t think of me as a parent putting you on restriction. I know that you are all grown up. I understand that you have rights and privileges. You are not a child.
Yet, with gentleness may I say, “Be Careful!” Be careful to read your Bible. Be careful to worship regularly with the same congregation. Be careful not to listen to negative talk. Be careful to vote in conscience that is consistent with scripture. Be careful to socialize, keep curfew, and budget your time and finances to honor the Lord. Be careful to think ahead. Be careful to obey the simple rules of God first, loving yourself, and loving your neighbor as yourself.
As a boy I had occasion to gather with other boys and do mischief. Oh, it was fun enough while we were all excited. Time would pass. It would be time to go home. Then it was time to check our clothes, check the smell of our breath, and check anything else that we thought would tell Mother about our mischief. Each step nearer home increased anxiety, often with a most repentant heart. The fun was gone. Check-in and check-up time was coming.
There were many times we kept secrets from Dad. Fewer times we kept our mischief from Mom. But nothing will escape examination when we check in with our Heavenly Father on Judgment Day!
Be Careful!
Pastor Bare
Romans 14:11