State of the Church address: Grasshoppers or Giant Slayers

January 11, 2009 - State of the Church address: Grasshoppers or Giant Slayers, Numbers 13 & 14 Joshua and Caleb are men whose names have endured the test of time. Their deeds are NOT forgotten for they are men who never forgot God’s mighty deeds. These are men who, in faith, believed God’s unbelievable promises, trusted his unknowable strength, and knew His generous gifts. As such, these men became Giant Slayers – unstoppable, courageous, and remembered even until this day. However, the other ten men in this story, their names have been forgotten by the majority of people. Their story has been purged from our consciousness. Their existence is but the knowledge of but a few scholars. These men are forgotten for they forgot what God had done for them. These are men who, in fear, could not believe the unbelievable guidance, strength, and gifts of God. So and they became but grasshoppers – easily trampled, frightened, and forgotten. Today, Chestnut Street Baptist Church - as we face the two-hundred-and-first year of our incorporation - we, like the Israelites, face a relatively unknown land and future filled with giants and challenges. The question that faced them then, is the same question that faces us today: will we be Grasshoppers or Giant Slayers?