Crosstalk: October 25, 2018

Dr. Neal Jackson is the pastor of the Beulah Baptist Church in Bennett, North Carolina.  He's a third generation pastor.  His ministry is characterized as verse-by-verse exposition.  He's the speaker on the 'Truth for Today' television broadcast and is author of, 'The Coming Destruction of America:  A Biblical Examination of the Judgments of God Upon a Land'.

When you read II Timothy chapter 3, it appears to describe conditions in our day. As Dr. Jackson noted, Mark tells us that no one knows the day or the hour but you can see when a woman is close to delivering her child.

Dr. Jackson is concerned with the direction of America as well as the shape of many of our churches because the job of the church is to influence the nation and he's not seeing that happening.

So what's the responsibility of believers in such a time as this? II Timothy 3 lists individuals who are lovers of themselves, boasters, proud, blasphemers and covetous. Dr. Jackson explained that Christians are to be the opposite of that. Christians are to be self-less. Instead of being covetous, they are to be sacrificial. Instead of being boasters, they are to be humble.

In that case, what are some of the hindrances that keep believers from doing just that? What's holding Christians back from this great responsibility? Dr. Jackson pointed to Matthew 5 where it talks about believers being the salt of the earth. If the salt loses its savor, it's good for nothing. Salt holds back corruption and is a preservative. So just as a life jacket preserves someone from drowning, the church/Christians are to preserve our culture from drowning in sin. So if we're not acting as a preservative, God himself says we are good for nothing.

Dr. Jackson's prayer is that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into the harvest because revival is just a prayer away.

Jim asked if the role of the church is different compared to that of the believer. Dr. Jackson noted that when the Bible says we are to let our light so shine before men that they will see our good works, that's individually. A city that's set on a hill that cannot be hid, that's corporately. We are to act individually while partnering corporately with other believers so that we can be that city set on a hill.

Does Dr. Jackson see the church as a whole maintaining that sense of direction or is it losing its way? Although it's not happening everywhere, he believes it's losing it's way. In comparison to the book of Acts, we seem to have drifted far from the intentions of God and therefore we are currently living out the passage mentioned earlier from II Timothy. He believes we are very self-focused; we want more 'stuff' even though by the standards of the world we live in one of the richest nations. So while they had idols in the Old Testament, we have our own today and we are never satisfied or content. Unthankful? Disobedient to parents? That describes our society.

How did the church get off course? What advice does Dr. Jackson have for those who are tired of the battle? Is America and the church on the path of no-return with God having given up on us, or is there a way back? How important is it to internalize the idea of repentance? These and other critical questions were answered and Crosstalk callers communicated what was on their hearts as well.