“At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:10-14)
When love grows cold, my church becomes an empty shell. Without love, speaking in tongues is just a clanging cymbal and without love every religious duty is done without context and without authority. What should concern my people is not the state of the abortion laws or the make-up of the Supreme Court, or the political climate of the nation, but the steady decrease in love within my church as wickedness abounds. I am calling my people to stand firm, not on their rights or even their particular religious doctrines, but to stand firm in love and to be determined to stand in no other place. My gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, but if America is to have a part in that glorious process, there must be a radical willingness to embrace the two commands that are at the center of my kingdom: love God with all that you have, and love your neighbor as you love yourself.
— September 22, 2020