Dear GENESIS, and when I say, ‘Dear GENESIS,” that would be the 1,548 men and women opening this email.
On April 1st, 1997, I began working full-time for a church in Columbus, Ohio. My job description was super simple… help the Middle School and High School students of the church to love Jesus and do whatever I could to help introduce all of their friends to Jesus. In short, I loved that job and I loved the students that I was able to meet along the way.
In 1997… ‘I think’ there was an internet, but nothing like what we have today. There was no such thing as social media. There were no smartphones. And certainly, no one had the job title of ‘influencer.’
In 1997, we did not have anything remotely close to the technology or connectivity that we all have today, but we certainly had our share of sin, evil, and darkness.
I’m guessing some of you will remember all too well one of the first school shootings that took place in April of 1999 in Columbine, Colorado. At the time, I was working with students, and I remember all too well counseling countless numbers of students and parents who were living in a new state of fear.
Point being… it certainly feels like there has been an increase of ‘evil’ in recent days, but in all reality, evil in its many shapes and forms has been around long before humanity arrived on planet earth.
Prior to Adam and Eve’s rebellion against God in the garden, there was a ‘Cosmic War’ that took place where an angel named Lucifer rebelled against God. And Lucifer, along with a third of the angelic realm lost that war and were kicked out of the heavenlies. And since that departure, the Enemy, Satan, the Devil, or the Great Red Dragon has been waging a war against those that bear the image of God… you and me.
Jesus made very clear in the Gospel of John the singular game-plan of the Enemy. See that with me in John 10:10…
“The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.”
I’m not of the mindset that we are to ‘blame’ the Enemy for all the evil that exists in our world. A lot, but not all. As we all know, sin and sinful actions have consequences and often, those consequences can be devastating.
That being said, when I see the amount of death and division happening today… and let’s be honest, there is a lot, I see the handiwork of Lucifer and his plans to steal, kill and destroy.
Today, is September 17th, 2025. In more ways the one, the world has changed since I began ‘vocational ministry.’ Over the past three decades, I’ve had to learn how to do things that I never thought in a million years would be part of my ‘job description.’ I’m a ‘learner’ so I LOVE learning new things and I am super thankful for ALL that I have had the opportunity to learn along the way.
But that being said, I never thought it would be part of my job or role as pastor to serve also as a cultural commentator. Whether that be giving commentary on a political figure, or speaking into the assassination of Charlie Kirk, or a school shooting, or the murder of a young woman riding home on a train.
Whether self-imposed or imposed by others (probably both), the pressure that I have felt over the years to add my voice into the mix of what feels like countless numbers of voices has been at times overwhelming. I’m not sure I’ve ever navigated ‘cultural moments’ well and to be honest with you, and I’m not sure I’ll do it well here.
Maybe to state the obvious, before I am a pastor, I am a Christian… a disciple of Jesus. And just so you know, whatever title or role you have, if you are a Christian, then before you are anything, you too are a disciple of Jesus.
I share that with you to say this… BEFORE you say, or text, or post anything, as a Christian, ask yourself the question…
WILL THIS HONOR GOD.
And if the answer to that question is, ‘NO’ - then do not say it, text it, post it, or re-post it. As Christians, on the forefront of our minds and hearts must be seeking to HONOR God above all else. Why do I say that? Well, it’s rather simple… we do not belong to ourselves.
Consider what the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20…
“You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God…”
Maybe the obvious question becomes, ‘How would I know if what I’m going to say, text or post is honoring to God?’
The simplest answer I can give you would be this…
WILL IT HELP PEOPLE EXPERIENCE & ENCOUNTER THE LOVE OF JESUS?
I might be accused of being too simplistic with my thinking here, but regardless of how complex the culture might be, and regardless of how evil the evil is, the GOSPEL has been and always will be the answer.
Jesus met evil with the cross, and as way of reminder, the cross is the greatest demonstration of God’s love for us… see Romans 5:8.
It might not be the culture commentary people want from their pastor, but the commentary that I will give is this…
LET’S HONOR GOD IN ALL WE DO…
LET’S HELP ALL PEOPLE EXPERIENCE & ENCOUNTER JESUS.
I realize that my job as pastor is multi-faceted… I joyfully embrace that!
But I will never forget that my primary job description has not changed since April 1st, 1997. I will continue to do ALL I can to help you love Jesus and I will do whatever it takes to help introduce all of your friends to Jesus as well.
If I, or any of the elders, deacons or staff at GENESIS can be of service to you in this season, please do not hesitate to let us know how we might better serve and love you.
