PASTOR’S CORNER, Chuck Scroggs, Central Christian Church, Liberal

I am one of the oldest full-time ministers in Liberal. I shared that distinction with my friend Rex Petty until his retirement recently. I have been sharing Jesus for more than 50 years! Rex had pastored the same church for more than 40 years!

The passing of time does several things to our spiritual hearts and physical bodies. I think every minister who is worth their salt (old saying) hopes and prays they have made an eternal difference in the lives they have touched. After five-plus decades, there have been many folks who found Jesus and gave their heart to Him. More people than I can remember found healing in their bodies, followed the Lord in baptism and received answers to prayer. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing many miracles in the lives of people around me.

But, as I write this Pastor’s Corner, I am asking myself “What do I want to say to you readers?” The past is over. Whatever time we have in this life is before us. What will we do with it? What is the role our churches should play in these coming days?

It’s fair to say that many things that worked when I began my ministry back in the 1970s are not working today! I realize some churches still hold to the old ways, but look around at many congregations – they are gray-haired and many of our children have moved on to other horizons and left us locally.

So, how do we make a difference in a changing world while still holding true to scripture? It’s important to understand what people need and may even be looking for. If we keep doing the same things over and over, we will get the same results! And the results may not be what we wish they were.

We need to ask ourselves what we are hanging on to. Man’s ideas? Tradition? Or the biblically solid words of Jesus?

In my personal devotion and prayer time, the Lord reminded me of Jesus’ words in Matthew 16:18. “…and on this rock I will build my church.” Jesus said HE would build the church. The Great Commission tells us that “we are supposed to be telling others and making disciples.” I wonder how all of us are doing at that.

We need to strive to let Jesus be the center of our worship, not traditions. When people walk through the doors of our buildings, they need to feel welcome. The church is the hope for the future. May we once again hear the scripture, “I was glad when they said to me, let us go into the house of the Lord.”