Side Effects

By The Mad Preachero-prescription-drugs-facebook

You’ve heard the old expression “The cure is worse than the disease.” Take some of the side-effects put on labels of well known prescription drugs.

*Xanax is an anti-anxiety drug

These are Side-effects:

Drowsiness. Headaches. Fatigue. Dizziness. Difficulty concentrating.

Dry mouth. Changes in sex drive. Inability to perform sexually.

Increased salivation. Weight changes. Difficulty urinating. Constipation.

Skin rashes. Seizures. Depression. Shortness of breath. Memory problems.

Unusual changes in your mood.

*Ambien is for sleep disorders such as insomnia

Here are the side-effects:

Drowsiness. Headache. Light headed feelings. Trouble walking. Problems with balance. Diarrhea. Heartburn. Stomach cramps. Weak feelings. Appetite changes. Tremors. Redness of the eyes. Joint pain. Muscle pain.

Talk about the cure is worse than the disease.

Someone once said, “Sin will take you where you don’t want go, keep you longer than you want to stay and cost you more than you’re willing to pay.”

Yes, prescription drugs have side-effects but did you know that sin has side-effects, as well?

The apostle Paul writes in Romans 3:23, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23 NIV) Later, he adds in Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as through one man [Adam] sin entered the world, and death [death means separation] death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12 NIV).

If someone tells you that they don’t sin they are either lying or just blinded to the truth. 2Corinthians 4:4 says, “The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel…”The word “Sin” come from the original Greek word that is an archery term meaning to shoot an arrow at a target but it falls short. Literally, sin means to miss the mark.

These days the word “sin” has been mostly dropped from the language of our secular society. People sin so frequently that it‘s become part of their lifestyle! What was once frowned upon and regarded as shameful is perfectly acceptable in our pop culture today because everybody is doing it! [Sing song]

I like what God said in Jeremiah 6:15 about the sins of his people, “Are they ashamed of their detestable conduct? No, they have no shame at all; they do not even know how to blush.”

So, does sin have side effects? Yes, it does and if left unchecked it they will eventually destroy one’s life. Hebrews 12:1 says, “… let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” (Hebrews 12:1 NIV)

Look at what’s happening in world right now. Every evil thing that’s happening in the world is a result of people sinning by ignoring God’s will for their lives. From Isis to the wholesale murder of unborn babies is a direct result of sin. It’s missing the mark of God’s standards.

As of March 16, 2016, there have been 67,943 plus baby murdered in the US so far this year. America’s future is being snuffed out without any remorse from abortion clinics and abortion doctors. That always bothered me about abortion doctors. Aren’t doctors supposed to preserve and, at times, save lives? They endured 8 years of medical school to learn how to save lives. Now, they take the lives of incent babies who will never have a chance at this life. They will never know what it’s like to be tenderly caressed on the arm of their mother, never enjoy the simple pleasures life has to offer, like watching SpongeBob or going to school and have friends to play with and grow up with. They’ll never enjoy their first crush or that first awkward kiss. They will never know the joy of love and marriage. They will never see the wrinkled face of their first child all because their reluctant mom considered them an inconvenience.

19 The acts [the side-effects] of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [which is unrestrained self-indulgence] 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:19-21)

Now, what are the side-effects of a person committed to Jesus?

Galatians 5 goes on the say, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:23-23 NIV)

What are your side-effects? Is it sexual immorality, impurity, unrestrained self-indulgence, idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness and orgies. If you really surrendered your life to Jesus and call yourself a Christian you will crave to be free of these harmful impulses. You will not want these side-effects to be on your label.

If you ever asked for God to forgive you and then make Jesus the boss of your life, your label will read, “Side-effects include love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

What are you side-effects my friend?

The Mocker

“A non-follower of Christ mocking said to me one time, “You’re just using Jesus as a crutch!” I paused for about half a second and thought about what he said and then I replied. “No, Jesus is not my crutch. He’s my full blown life-support system. I can’t live without him!” I then added, “What’s your crutch?” —The Mad Preacher

New Book

This comes for my new book that I’m writing, “Attention Pastor! Are you a Shepherd or a Cowboy?”

 Starving to Death

Too often this happens in churches where people are drawn to personalities rather than to anointing. They flock to preachers who have dynamic speaking abilities and great charisma. They follow these “personalities” whether the man has a pastoral anointing or not. Then when they need pastoral care very little is available. Yet, people continue to blindly follow these personalities.

It’s much like going out to dinner but only for dessert. It’s sweet and pleases the taste buds but offers very little nourishment. In addition, if one continues eating nothing but dessert they’ll soon find themselves literally starving to death.

Spiritual Co-dependency

Another problem with having cowboys instead of shepherds is that it breeds spiritual co-dependency. Church members are not fed, nor are they taught how to feed themselves. Therefore, most remain hungry. So, they continue to come back to the table again and again for more dessert. They are not nourished. Nor are they satisfied and never will be with this inapt feast. Yet, they keep bellying up to the dessert counter week after week for another plate of sweets as they continue to slowly starve to death.