Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols (Acts 17:16).

At the end of the service Sunday, I expressed some frustration. A few of you mentioned it to me, and I’m glad you did. I am frustrated. But I think it’s a good frustrated.

I’m not frustrated at you, church. I’m thankful for many things about you. But at the same time, I’m not content with where we are as a church. I want us to be better.

I’m not content with empty pews.

Those empty pews represent people who have an opportunity to hear the Word of God but either don’t care or don’t know they can hear it in our church. The empty seats represent relationships I know you would love to have to help people know Jesus.

I’m not content with the name of God being defamed by what I see as half-hearted Christianity in our nation.

I see people who treat their relationship with Jesus as a convenience. That is, if it’s convenient, then yeah, they’ll give their due to Jesus, but if Jesus and what He says come into conflict with their plans, their hobbies, their family, then Jesus loses. This is not just something happening in Southeast Michigan. It’s rampant in America. And I’m not content with it because why would anyone want to stand before God in judgment offering up to Him a half-hearted devotion?

I’m not content with people going to hell.

It really happens every day. How do we know someone won’t open up an automatic rifle on a rooftop during the next Arts Beats and Eats in downtown Royal Oak like happened in Las Vegas? It could happen in our community. That doesn’t make me scared to lose my life. It makes me scared for the souls of those who might lose theirs.

These are my frustrations that I was feeling Sunday. I’m sorry if they came across as being frustrated at you. I am not giving up on our church. I know God is working and will work in His time. But we’re not where we need to be yet. We have work to do. Spiritual work and physical work.

Lost people are dying friends, and I’m not content with that.

And yet I know God is drawing people even now, and I want us to be a part of that.

Praying for you always,
Pastor Jacob