Hello my friends,
It has been quite a
long time since I've posted any blogs. A lot has happened and I wish
I knew where to begin. When I am on the pulpit and or when I write I
try to be as transparent as I can. People have asked me why and my
main answer is that, in all my years of being alive and also being in
ministry, I have seen many people of the church put ministers on a
pedestal. They forget that the man or woman on the pulpit is not God
but an earthly representative. They forget that they are still
fallible and are still sinners. That is very dangerous. I say that
because if they have them on that pedestal, and the minister falls
then they too will fall. They will fall because instead of putting
God on that pedestal they put a sinner on that pedestal. When the
minister falls they are so disappointed, and in disbelief that they
don't know what to do next. It is if their whole world came crashing
down, and they start to slide back into the fleshly habits. Instead
of moving forward in Christ they start to fall down. I personally
have seen many church ministries close it's doors because of it. They
decided to join a local assembly based on the charisma of the pastor
and not so much the Word of God that is being said. Now I am not
saying that it is completely their fault, oh no I also put blame on
the pastor. The pastor has not done their job in properly teaching
that they too are sinners, that they too can fall, and that no matter
what happens the congregation must push forward in the name of
Christ, and not slide back into the flesh. A lot of ministers get
upset at me because I am transparent. The ministers who get upset
with me have told me, that there must be a separation between us and
the congregation. We must be strong and unwavering, to never show
emotion. These are ministers that I can never really get along with.
I agree that we must be strong in faith, and unwavering in the Word,
but I do not agree with not having emotion. When God was on earth in
the flesh aka Jesus yes He was strong in faith, yes He was unwavering
in the Word (He is the Word), but He was never without emotion. He
laughed, He cried, He got angry, etc. So if we are to live as Christ
lived we must not be afraid to show emotion. God came to this earth
to tear the veil of separation, He sat, ate, laughed, cried, spoke
with us (mankind), so who are we to put up that separation that God
tore down.
These are the last
days, and there are many wolves in sheep clothing that are spreading
the message of Satan. There are many false prophets that are snatching
up souls left and right because of this. People that were once
righteous in the eyes of God are now condemned if they do not turn
back to the One True God and ask for forgiveness. Sometimes in my
trials and tribulations I feel as if God has abandoned me. I feel
alone, it is like I pray and it is not being heard. To be transparent
with you, I am currently going through something. In my sadness, and
in my grief I have yelled out many times, “Why aren't you
listening to me? Why aren't you answering my prayers? Why is this
happening to me?” I then remember Job, I remember Jesus Himself, I
remember that I am not alone, that if I am going through a trial that
Jesus is my peace in the storm. That in my trials there is a blessing
at the end. I remember that no matter what to stay focused on Jesus.
That His grace is sufficient for me. He is my strength when I am
weak, He is my light when I am in darkness, He is my warmth when I am
cold, and that He is with me and carrying me when I feel alone.
The hardest thing
for me is waiting. Staying focused on God and what He wants me to do
passes the time. It has been almost a year since this trial began and
it went by so fast. God has blessed me with new friends and family
who I can turn to for prayer. He has blessed me in many ways that if
I were to just mope around all day I would never see those blessings
and would push them away. When this trial began I needed to make a
change. It was not a change in my attitude or a change in direction.
It was a change in my surroundings. If I were to stay in the
surroundings, then I probably would've been moping all day and not
have seen the blessings that God was giving me. I decided that in
order for me to push through this trial with God, I needed to change
my surroundings. I asked God to lead me to where He wanted me to be
for this trial. Yes in the beginning I was sad because of what was
happening, and I still get angry at times after all I suffer just
like anyone else, but I stayed focused on Jesus. Unlike Peter I
stayed focused on Jesus and I am not drowning.
All in all I
reveal this and say this to you because even though I am a minister,
I am still a sinner. I have emotions, dreams, and goals. I laugh, I
cry, I get angry. My transparency is to show you that I am not
different from you. We are created equal. Instead of putting me on a
pedestal, lets focus on putting God and keeping God on that pedestal.
Let us keep God sitting in the throne of our hearts. Let us pray,
laugh, and cry together. If you laugh I laugh, if you cry I cry, if
you succeed I celebrate, if you fail I am there to console you, and
together we can pray for God's guidance, light, strength, and
consolation. I am your brother in Christ. I am me. May God's peace
and blessing be upon you.
Josue Mercado
