As administrator of A Crooked Path, and much more importantly, as a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, a child of God rather than a child of disobedience and this world it is imperative I, WE, all those not merely professing Christian faith but in the LIVING OUT OF SUCH do not sit idle, silent, complacent or appeasing the sinful ways of the world.

I do not know Mr. Gary Wlkerson, who is a pastor, and calls himself “a pastor’s pastor” in the article he, I would write “penned” below, but few use pens any longer and their hands and fingers only know the rat-a-tat-tat-of a keyboard, and as God is the only one that truly knows any one of us, I hope and pray pastor Wilkerson is of 100% sound Bible doctrine.

I only mention this because as the administrator of this little place I do take liberties, which longtime visitors and subscribers already know. For instance, in every article written by someone other than myself and posted in this place, I go through each article while reading them and remove the passive, meaning to numb and dumb down, meant to remove the thinking of what it’s all really about LBGT, or LBGTQ+ 300 other letters now being attached to appease and distract removing the words and therefore the THINKING ABOUT THE WORDS, and I actually write the words. Imagine that. This is not the only thing I take liberty in as in part I know the use of letters, abbreviations rather than words, altering punctuation [which is a weakness of mine as I spent more time daydreaming and drawing in those early formative English lessons than I should have] is due to sheer laziness. Plain and simple. It’s why so few actually write out properly the U.S. and now write US. Or no longer use quotation marks because that requires pressing the shift key on all those rat-a-tat-tat-tat keyboards and who has time for that, right!?

To the point as I digress more and more…

I took the liberty of adding something to Mr. Wilkerson’s article found below. Something most important in my humble opinion and viewpoint. That ALL TRUE CHRISTIANS speak, write, acknowledge what this increasingly popular and practiced “holiday” given the innocuous name “Halloween” is really about.

Paganism. Idolatry. Lusts. Sorcery, witchcraft, worshipping the dead — PAGANISM. And yet it’s the fastest-growing “holiday” in America and the West. It is not harmless. For the children. About begging for candy. Dressing up in costumes, which become more horrific and disgusting each passing year always having to top what was done the previous year.

Halloween is an EVIL, PAGAN observation. One in which the majority of those professing to be Christian partake.

And Mr. Wilkerson wrote a very nice article found below. But he should have, as a practicing pastor, a true believer perhaps ought to have written something like this, [partaking in the totally pagan, antiGod, anti-Christ, anti-Holy Spirit, and anti-Holy Bible practice of] which I added, rather than the lack of calling Halloween what it truly is in his article.

I can’t sit idle or silent. God gave each of us a brain not only to regulate bodily functions such as our respiration, digestion, and nervous systems to keep us alive — He gave us the type of brains He did so we would actually engage them, USE THEM and not put them in neutral or reverse. To actually use the good minds the Good Lord blessed us with.

And if we’re truly His? Truly disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ? God’s and not this worlds? Then why all the silence? Why if speaking or writing there is complaining of what is taking place and permitting it rather than using that brain, becoming aware, spiritually wise and in the understanding we ought to have and speaking up? Not sitting back allowing all that is transpiring to occur?

We all have free will.

If as a people we repented? True repentance? Not mere remorse or lip service? If we had a true revival? The Lord would hear, would see, and would respond accordingly and heal our land, heal our people, heal the sick Chruch, the ailing body refusing to hear and obey the Head.

How about instead of taking time preparing and practicing Pagan rituals and practices, spending so much time in the world and its ways we all commit joyfully in our hearts and lives to spend a lot more time in prayer, meditation, study, contemplation, and reading of God’s Word?

Every day ought to be the reading of, the study of, praying over and within, contemplation of the Word of the Lord.

And every true believer has to cease all the rushing about and not appearing any different from the people in darkness, the people of the world. How are we to be the light of the world so those in darkness can see the Father in us and glorify Him if we appear no different than the darkness? We are not a peculiar and separate people? More concerned with pleasing and obeying the Lord than the opinions of those we know and making them like us, worried about how they receive us?

if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 — English Standard Version

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Isaiah 5:20 — King James Version

And, yes, pray daily, nightly, fervently, humbly for your pastor and not only your pastor but for all pastors. Especially the ones you do not know who are remaining steadfast and firmly in the preaching, the teaching of the whole Word of God, and for all those who may have the title of pastor but are in darkness. In the snare of Satan and more concerned with loving this world and speaking, writing false teachings and unsound doctrines that they would be brought low and the lies they are consumed in would be shattered and they would return to the ways of the Lord, the whole Word of the Lord. Placing their faith in the Holy Spirit to teach them; give them the words they ought to speak.

Healing the lost and sick body, healing the Chruch. Returning to obeying and believing the Head, actually being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ and preaching, teaching the whole Word!

And please, do not neglect the related articles. Thank you.

RELATED:

Do You Appreciate Your Pastor?

How badly have we lost our way?

Is Halloween Evil? Why Witches, Occultists, And Satanists Celebrate Halloween And Why You Should Not

Should We Celebrate Halloween? 

Dabbling With the Dark Side? The Bible Clearly Condemns Halloween
 
Halloween Is The Biggest Day Of The Year For The Fastest Growing Religion In America
 
The Pagan Roots Of Halloween
Ken Pullen

Monday, October 18th, 2021

ACP — A Crooked Path

Why it is important to pray for your pastor

Saturday, October 16, 2021

By Gary Wilkerson

Reprinted from The Christian Post

While many Americans are [partaking in the totally pagan, antiGod, anti-Christ, anti-Holy Spirit, and anti-Holy Bible practice of]* hanging spooky decorations and picking out costumes in preparation for Halloween, October is also Clergy Appreciation Month. It’s a time to not only celebrate church leaders but also to remember the important role they play in our society and local communities, including the significance of their mental health. Unfortunately, however, pastors and church leaders have suffered from increased mental health concerns for far too long.

While I am not a mental health professional, I consider myself to be a pastors’ pastor. Over the years, I have pastored churches in Colorado, Michigan, New York, and the United Kingdom.  Additionally, through World Challenge—the organization I lead—I have conducted pastors’ conferences in more than 60 countries around the world, speaking and ministering to well over 100,000 pastors. Through these opportunities, I have experienced firsthand and seen the struggles pastors face on a day-to-day basis.

According to a study by Lifeway Research, 23% of pastors acknowledge they have personally struggled with a mental illness. That is almost one-in-four pastors. Why are pastors uniquely positioned towards depression and anxiety?

In 2013, a study by the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke Divinity School stated, “the demands placed on clergy by themselves and others put pastors at far greater risk for depression than individuals with other occupations.”

Think about that. Expectations by themselves and others.

Pastors are exposed to the depths of human suffering, unlike any other profession. The paramedic is there following an accident, but the pastor walks alongside the family at the hospital. The funeral home director takes care of the death of a family member, but the pastor provides spiritual support. The doctor takes care of the cancer patient while the pastor prays for them. The teacher educates the student with a disability while the pastor helps support the family. It is the pastor who is expected to be present and supportive through all of life’s challenges and tragedies. They are sharing in all the suffering of their flock. The weight of this burden can be heavy.

Being a pastor is a public position. Criticism is ripe for any sermon, prayer, event and so forth. Pastors are constantly hearing if their sermon was good or not, if an event was worthwhile to attend or poorly managed. Criticism can have tremendous effects on a pastor’s self-esteem and self-worth. For pastors who are self-critical as well, this can add to the burden and uphill battle to maintain a positive outlook.

All of this leads me to ponder, what we can do about this problem?

In recent years, the topic that got the most response on my podcast was around pastors, depression and suicide. Listeners were dissatisfied with the idea that a pastor would be dealing with things like depression. Instead, listeners felt that pastors should be providing answers to life’s problems—not experiencing them. This thinking emerges when we put pastors on a pedestal. We have to remember that pastors are human just like the rest of us. While they should be “a step ahead of us” in our spiritual journey in order to lead us along, we can’t demand more of them than that. Pastors experience hardship and emotions just like the rest of us.

Pastors must learn self-care. Like the old adage says, “Put your own oxygen mask on first before helping someone else,” it is vital that pastors are emotionally, mentally and spiritually healthy in order to do their job well. However, pastors often believe the opposite and want to take care of everyone else first. While admirable, over the long haul, this approach will only leave them burnt out and empty.

Pastors need to also practice the spiritual disciplines they preach. Daily scripture reading, prayer, and time with the Lord will help encourage and equip pastors for their role in supporting and leading others. These disciplines are essential to the Christian way of life and for keeping us focused on the truth. The Lord’s promises are new every morning and we need to be reminded of the hope found in Jesus every day.

If you or someone you know is suffering from depression, don’t be afraid or ashamed to reach out for clinical help. There are many organizations available and willing to help, such as Standing Stone Ministry who specifically helps church leaders. No one should be alone in their time of pain and need.

As Christians, we should commit to praying for our pastors and church leaders each and every day. I implore you to make this a regular practice during the month of October. Our pastors do better when they live healthy, spirit-filled lives. Let’s do all that we can to help and encourage them.

~~~

* these words did not appear in Mr. Wilkerson’s original article and were added by the administrator of A Crooked Path.