Christian Living
“Gospel” is a word much used by churches. Yet the “gospel” presented from many church pulpits or platforms today bears little resemblance to the cutting truths presented by Paul, Stephen and the other Early Church apostles. Read of their exploits in the Book of Acts.
The worm of political correctness has burrowed into our thinking, so that to upset anyone is an absolute no-no. The basic words of hell, heaven, sin, repentance, the cross, the blood, baptism have all but disappeared from preachers’ vocabulary.
The much more “nice,” palatable replacement gospel now preached brings results in terms of bums on seats—but many are Sunday-only ‘Christians’ who have never really understood repentance. Why? It was never spelt out. Hence they are lacking in guts and commitment to the Lord.
We have all seen them. The ones who dash in ten minutes late, sit on the back row, then dash out again the moment the chords of the last hymn fade away. Such people won’t get involved.
Regarding newcomers. Telling that respectable-looking first-time visitor he is a sinner in God’s sight (Romans 6:23) requires courage that few pastors or ministers demonstrate today. Conveying Bible truth that says an unbeliever is bound for the lake of fire brings the reaction of a brick thrown into a bees’ nest.
Nevertheless it has to be done. Otherwise we are caressing people into a lost eternity, a Christless hellfire. The Early Church delivered the message fearlessly—and hence we read in Acts of jail terms, floggings, hardship. The outcome though was supernatural Christianity and miraculous events that the world craves to see today. If that attitude we read about in Acts is rekindled, followers of “religion” will abandon it in their millions.
Yet it will never happen as long as we maintain the status quo. Pastors and ministers must begin to present the true gospel, no matter how much it offends – and it always will. Better a congregation of 100 who are full-on than 1000 who are half-hearted.
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Amen brother! I've often maintained that the reason the church (here in the USA) is not more persecuted than it is is because it looks too much like the world. If we really preached the Biblical Gospel, we'd definately step on some toes, but the payoff would be that many more would also find eternal life. God bless...
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