Pastor's Circle - Rick Scarborough, Vision America

Dr. Rick Scarborough, Founder and President of Vision America

How can people deal with sin?

This is the generation that needs a little more teaching of the Old Testament.

There's a lot wrong, but there's no fear of God in the land.

When I grew up, hellfire and brimstone was standard preaching across America. But preachers these days have stopped that.

I had a professor, walked into one of our classes in a black robe, and read Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"...by the end of it, we were quaking in our chairs.

What in America is sinful that we're not viewing as dangerous?

I would say it would be the salacious nature of our media entertainment.

We've taken a very casual view of the amount of sex and sexual innuendo in the movies we go to and the television we watch.

Are movies and shows like that an addiction?

Let's not make it complicated. It's a sin that we all struggle with to some way.

We do not impact the culture we live in anymore, because we're like the culture we live in.

New figures today on how denominations are faring...Southern Baptist down, mainline denominations way down...how can the Church grow?

It goes back to whose church it is...

Some say you're Jeremiah. That tells use Jesus was a weeping prophet.

Some say you're Elijah. That means Jesus was calling people to repentance.

Some say you're John the Baptist. That means Jesus was bold like John the Baptist.

We just need to leave it up to God.

But why are these denominations are facing declines in membership. Reaction?

"You are the Salt of the earth..."

We have ceased to be the Salt and the Light.

Jehovah's witness are growing.

They aggressively approach people to find someone who is concerned about eternity.

We believe inherently that following Jesus requires sacrifice. When mainline denominations try to make everything people-pleasing we turn people off.

Ted Haggard asks why church leaders can't be restored.

This man merits very little comment in public.

His HBO special was a shameful trip into self-indulgence.

In his desperation, he's parlayed his sin into another ministry.

Reaching out means tough-love, correct?

Absolutely.

My wife and I grieved over Ted.

I sat right next to Ted Haggard in many a meeting in Evangelical leaders meetings.

This was a case of a man with much light who parlayed it into a way of serving himself completely. God's not going to let that stand in any of our lives.

How are people restored?

A depth of humility and a burst of compassion for others are the trademarks for people who are truly restored.