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TRUST JESUS TODAY

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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Persuasion (not about the book) (09/01/11)
“People, people, people! Step right up and take a gander at this. Dr. Schumacher’s all-purpose tonic is good for what ails yah. This here tonic will heal upset stomachs, ulcers; clear up asthma, heart disease, arthritis and rheumatism, people, people, people.” The cry of the snake oil salesman, loud, earnest and charismatic is a product of a bygone era. But is it really bygone?

Sunday mornings all across the nation you can hear this same carnival barking coming from the pulpits of churches all across America. “People you need Jesus, He is the answer to all your problems! Come and get your Jesus anointing and we’ll throw in a dose of the Holy Ghost to go with it. ” Joel Olstein is packing stadiums all over America using the same technique.
On the surface you might say “so what’s wrong with that? Jesus is the way the truth and the life.” And I agree but too a nonbeliever listening to this “all you need is Jesus” delivery of the gospel it might sound like all you have to do is accept Jesus into your life and that’s the end of all that “ails you”. That approach does not work because people have to realize they have a problem before they can realize they need a savior. They have to realize that they are sinners, born in sin and shaped in inequity.

The expensive custom made suits and the rhythmic slick delivery are the call sign of the modern televangelist. “Get your Jesus here!” They bark without telling you the full gospel of Jesus Christ. The bible says the word of God is “alive and active and sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.”(NIV) That tells me that it is the word that is the missing ingredient in the gospel a lot of televangelist are preaching these days. People need to hear the anointed word of God because it’s the anointing that destroys the yoke of bondage to sin.

Going to a church that is not teaching and preaching the word of God is like going to a doctor and receiving and sugar pill instead of real medication. In your mind you think you’re getting what you need but in reality your sickness continues to spread. People are going to church every Sunday across this nation enjoying the “entertainment” provided by the choirs, the praise dancers and the worship teams and then when it is time for the people to receive their “medicine” The preacher comes out slips them a “sugar pill”, tells them everything is going to be alright, collects an offering and shakes everybody’s hands as they leave the building. Most people leave believing they know God but many will be hearing the words “…I know you not whence ye are, depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”(Luke 13:27 KJV) They will shake their heads in disbelief and wonder what went wrong. They never sought to know God through his word because the word of God was not presented to them by the pastors and preachers they sat under Sunday after Sunday.

When Jesus told Peter “feed my sheep” he was not talking about natural food, he was talking about spiritual food and the breakfast of champions is the word of God. If you are sitting in a church where all you hear coming from pulpit is “people! people!, people!” Ask God is this where he wants you to be, and if he says no run don’t walk to a church teaching and preaching the full council of God and his word.
The opinions expressed by authors may not necessarily reflect the opinion of FaithWriters.com.
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Member Comments
Member
Date
Shann Hall-LochmannVanBennekom 
09/09/11
This is an interesting POV. I liked your first paragraph analogy. I'm not sure everyone will agree with you but I applaud your courage for stating what you believe. I may just be fortunate in the church that I attend. It is true that we do need to hear more than Jesus Saves, but that is definitely the point of Christianity. We are not worthy of Heaven on our own. It is only through Jesus that we will enter the gates. But we do have to develop a relationship with Him and try to live a good life and truly repent of our sins. Many religions only use parts of the Bible in their teachings and as you stated it is important that we read, study and understand it all.
C D Swanson 
09/09/11
AMEN! I couldn't have written it any clearer than this...A fantastic and true message of today portraying especially, some of the preachers of today.

People should realize that the bible is the "connection and love letter from our Father" and it is through this, and learning and sharing an intimate relationship with our God is the way to connect into His heart; and the only way to go. Not piece meal of one or two lines on a sunday and that is it.

I loved this! Excellent. God bless~
Linda Goergen
09/10/11
Some of these televangelists do indeed seems as snake oil salesman, cherry picking only certain parts of the bible to harp on. That is why it is so important for us to read and study the bible ourselves, asking the Holy Spirit for understanding, so that we may not be deceived. Lots of food for thought in your presentation! Thank you!