A Texas pastor who has faced criticism on social media over a recent sermon says he has taken solace in Psalm 37 and in the outpouring at Asbury University.
Jonathan Pokluda, the lead pastor at Harris Creek Baptist Church in Waco, Texas, received backlash on social media over a sermon illustration about resisting temptation. In that illustration, Pokluda said a “beautiful” woman at a restaurant wanted to buy him a drink and “didn’t care” that he was married. Pokluda said he fought off temptation by realizing that the woman didn’t truly love him and only wanted “a few minutes of ecstasy.” The woman, he said, wanted to ruin his family. “She wants to take my life and burn it to the ground.”
The video of the sermon illustration received 2.4 million views.
Pokluda addressed the social media controversy during a Sunday sermon, saying he had read comments from individuals who “hate Christianity and hate pastors.”
“I’d love to say that stuff doesn’t bother me one bit, but it does, because I’m human, and it just feeds all of those insecurities,” he said, describing himself as “defeated.”
Pokluda, though, said he received encouragement at the Asbury University outpouring and sensed God speaking to him. He waited two hours to enter the chapel, he said.
“They’re singing and sharing stories … and the Lord just says, ‘Get in the Word, get in the Word.'”
The pastor said he sensed God guiding him to Psalm 37.
Psalm 37 says, “Do not fret because of those who are evil, or be envious of those who do wrong. For like the grass, they will soon wither. Like green plants, they will soon die away. Trust in the Lord and do good. Dwell in the land, and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.'”
Pokluda said he sensed God was telling him, “You’re not smart enough, good enough, fast enough, strong enough, compelling enough, eloquent enough, educated enough. … [But] I got you. … I’m doing a work. Be faithful. Stay humble. Let me do my thing.”
The pastor added, “I just was thankful that He had created that pasture that Psalm 37 talked about – that space to find His goodness.”
Related:
Texas Pastor Jonathan Pokluda Faces Backlash after Sermon Clip about Temptation Goes Viral
Photo courtesy: ©Ben White/Unsplash
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.