Pilgrim’s

Protest

-3-

what has the church done with the truth?

 

Everyone loves Prophets, until they open their mouths. In that second between the parting of their lips, the sharp intake of their breath & the voice of their words, a thousand things may pass through the minds of those listening. This isn’t restricted to those God may have chosen to stand in that office of ministry. It’s open to all those who claim to hold onto & proclaim the exclusive truth, within the context of The Church at large. These individuals have reputations. When they speak, what they say happens. Just ask them! These guys can bring on sudden flashes of lightning when there isn’t so much as a cloud in the sky! I’m not talking about that solitary, idiosyncratic bloke in your neighbourhood who always seems to know exactly what time it’s going to rain. Neither am I referring to the stereotypical guy wearing rags, with a long white beard, carrying a verbal flame thrower, who is always pointing his finger while constantly thus-saith-the-lord-ing. These extremes are tongue in cheek, I know. However, in recent years we have seen a resurgence in both types of prophetic trend. So my question to lovers of the prophets & the prophetic is this; between the parting of their lips, the sharp intake of their breath & the voice of their words; what goes through your mind? This is quite a thing.

My opinion isn’t definitive. I often want it to be, but it isn’t. When it comes to truth, just like every other believer, I have to seek it out of God’s Word for myself. Yes, I listen to my Pastor preach & teach. Yes, I obey my elders. Yes, I pay attention to trusted guest speakers. Yes, I hear the messages of those who are faithful in their exposition. But between the parting of their lips, the sharp intake of their breath & the voice of their words, something goes through my mind. I desperately want & need the truth.

The Lord Jesus said that we would know the truth & that it would set us free (John 8:32). He said that He is the truth (John 14:6). He sent us The Spirit of truth, to lead us into all truth (John 16:13). The Lord prayed that we would be sanctified through God’s truth. His Word is truth (John 17:17). With all that is available to, has been committed to & is being taught to The Church at large; where is the truth? All too often, it is nowhere to be seen or heard. Have we simply become used to cheap imitation?

Don’t misunderstand me. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God’s Word is an inexhaustible treasure of edification, exhortation & comfort. It is a Word fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11), for millions of believers worldwide. I’m one of them. However once again, the eternal relevancy of what God has to say has been subjected to abuse beyond all reasonableness. Do we even care about the truth any longer? For some, if it sounds good & feels great we’ll go along with it, with no questions asked.

There are more & more & more folks who believe that they are free to play fast & loose with the truth, without any consequences. But after the dust has settled, the music stops & the bright lights are turned off, what is left? No lives changed. No problems solved. No questions answered. We all drift off home to cry ourselves to sleep, because we have had no encounter with the truth. Neither are we inclined to take the noble Berean approach & search The Scriptures daily (Acts 17:11). This activity keeps us safe, if we will engage in it. Please indulge me for a moment, while I give you an example. Bear with me.

Some of you may remember an old advert from the 1970s, for a beverage called Martini. It was pitched as an exclusive & exotic experience. There were beautiful people. They were doing beautiful things. They were in beautiful settings. A yacht. A plane. A fast car. An island. Skiing. Dancing. All while enjoying Martini. The tag line was ‘..any time, any place, anywhere. There’s a wonderful world you can share. It’s the right one, the bright one; that’s Martini.’. Partake of it & you too could easily slip into that dreamlike world of sophisticated refinement. At the same time, there was another drink being peddled with equal zeal, called Cinzano Bianco. In their adverts one character made a pretence of being an enthusiastic connoisseur, while the other character was systematically embarrassed & humiliated by having the drink spilt over them. You know where I’m going with this, don’t you?

The Church at large has been promised an unrealistic & unobtainable Martini fantasy, but is instead living in an undignified & disappointing Cinzano Bianco reality. It is not about whether what is preached & taught is true, but more about how the rain makers & thus-saith-the-lorders make us feel. When truth no longer matters but emotions do, we are in trouble, y’all.

¹⁹ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: ²⁰ Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. ²¹ For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost (2^nd Peter 2:19-21).

¹⁴ But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; ¹⁵ And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: ¹⁷ That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works (2^nd Timothy 3:14-17). 

I love these verses; don’t you? When I ask about the thoughts that go through our minds when the teachers teach, the preachers preach & the prophets prophesy, it’s passages like these that immediately spring to the forefront of mine. This has little or nothing to do with feeling & everything  to do with the truth. While it is evident that there may be nothing emotionally exciting about the fundamental doctrines of our faith, or a proper approach to the biblical text, it is most certainly a much safer alternative to the dangerous dog & pony shows on offer elsewhere. Believe me, I’ve known many.

²⁰ To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them (Isaiah 8:20).

¹⁹ The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment (Proverbs 12:19).

This only matters & makes sense if those of us listening pass what is said, preached, taught or prophesied, through a biblical filter. What happens if there is no light in us; when we don’t know Scripture; when we live in our feelings? The litmus test for biblical truth is not emotional. It is theological. However, on any given day I can guarantee that there will be no shortage of those who will choose man’s fiction over God’s facts. Well, what’s the problem with that as long as people are helped, blessed & encouraged? I’ll tell you what the problem is.

Have you ever heard of Charles Taze Russel? What about William Miller or Joseph Smith? How about Ellen Gould White or Mary Baker Eddy? They began within orthodoxy & then went off into error. Between these individuals & the movements they started, fundamental truth was an early casualty. Listen to what they said about The Lord, between them. Jesus is not truly God & truly man. He is God’s first created being. He is Michael the Archangel. He is the half-brother of lucifer, who paid for our sins in Gethsemane, not at the cross. The wedding at Cana was His, where He married Mary Magdelane because Jesus was a polygamous man. But what’s the problem with that, as long as people are helped, blessed & encouraged? The truth matters brethren; but does it matter to The Church. Does it matter to you?

I said earlier that my opinion isn’t definitive. By definition, it isn’t authoritative; final or conclusive. However, God’s Word is. It is the standard we adhere to & by which we judge. ‘For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ’. (John 1:17). Paul says, ‘Now I say that Jesus Christ was a minister of the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made unto the fathers.’ (Romans 15:8) & ‘If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus’. (Ephesians 4:21). 

⁷ For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. ⁸ And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: ⁹ Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, ¹⁰ And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. ¹¹ And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: ¹² That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. ¹³ But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: ¹⁴ Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ (2^nd Thessalonians 2:7-14).

²¹ I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth (1^st John 2:21).

⁶ For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ⁷ Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁸ Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. ⁹ But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was (2^nd Timothy 3:6-9).

The truth matters, it really does. We who claim to have the truth, must believe it, champion it & protect it. Paul speaks of those who will turn away their ears from the truth, choosing fables instead (2^nd Timothy 4:4); we must guard against that. In this month of October, The Church commemorates the mighty Reformation. While the world overshadows this & celebrates Halloween, the saints can rejoice in the truth of The Gospel; grace alone; faith alone; Christ alone. Logic dictates that we should never commit to an absolute, because that is to assume that we are in possession of all of the facts. However, God’s truth is superior to logic & we, The Church, serve & follow He Who possesses all things. Knowing this then brethren, I have to ask; what has The Church done with the truth?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

copyright © by david Samuel Parkins mmxxv all rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is presented & without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

 

 

Pilgrim’s

Protest

-2-

what has the church done with the cross?

 

I honestly couldn’t tell you when I last heard a solid message or had a fruitful discussion dedicated to the cross of Christ. I don’t mean lip service over tea & biscuits, or the honourary mentions slipped in whenever there is an appeal for people to come forward for salvation in meetings. Neither am I referring to the annual offerings that some squeeze out during easter. I’m not referring to crucifixes that bear an emaciated, sad & anorexic looking figure, or the highly decorated & bejewelled bling that hangs casually from our necks. I mean that awful time when Jesus Christ hung there in our stead. I mean the dreadful place where our Saviour bled & died for our sins. I mean that frightful event that caused The King of Kings to be murdered as a common criminal, for us, His creation. The preaching of the cross is essential. So then, why is it that so many forget, neglect or ignore it, as though it were optional? Some have cried in their milk, with their thumbs in their mouths & swerved away from the cross & it’s purpose altogether. They sob into their hankies like professional mourners, crying; Penal Substitution isn’t nice; Penal Substitution isn’t fair; Penal Substitution isn’t right. Others remove the cross because they are embarrassed by it. It’s bad for public relations. It tarnishes the image. It’s a hard sell to the outside world. This is to say nothing of what the cults have said of the cross; some of which has seeped into The Church. This, is this Pilgrim’s Protest!

¹⁸ (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: ¹⁹ Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.) (Philippians 3:18-19).

God’s act of pouring out His wrath upon His Son, on our behalf, is not an act of spiritual child abuse inconsistent with His love, as some have stated or otherwise intimated in their theology. This view is ill informed at best. The cross is a vital element of Redemption’s whole. The cross of The Lord Jesus Christ satisfies every one of God’s attributes. Every single one. We cannot preach The Gospel without preaching the cross. Paul said, ‘But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him’ (Romans 5:8-9) & ‘He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?’ (Romans 8:32). Whatever the naysayers believe; Penal Substitution is biblical & it is just.

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: ²⁵ Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; ²⁶ To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus (Romans 3:24-26).

The event of the cross is not something that God arbitrarily did to Christ, but rather, it was a supreme action that He accomplished with Him. Do not forget, that in this we see the majesty of The Trinity, because God Himself became a man in order to take the force of Divine judgement at Calvary; so why do so many shy away from it? They reduce God to their poor & petty level, missing the magnitude of that moment at the cross. This, is this Pilgrim’s Protest!

³ Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father (Galatians 1:3-4).

⁵ For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; ⁶ Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time (1^st Timothy 2:5-6).

¹³ Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works (Titus 2:13-14).

It bothers me that there are so many who are willing to drop kick the cross out of their vocabulary, their sermons & out of their church buildings, because of its inconvenience. They are ashamed of it. They cannot explain it. They hate it. This isn’t the way that they would put it, but it’s plain enough for all to see & hear. I’m not talking about those outside The Church, but those who are within it. If The Lord had not gone to the cross, suffered & then died there, we would have no salvation. The cross of Christ is as essential as His resurrection. It is because of His cross that we have The Great Exchange (2^nd Corinthians 5:21).

There are others who teach that the cross is a place of defeat, claiming that The Lord Jesus had to endure the sure death of Adam & spend time tormented, abused & tortured in hell before rising from the dead & emerging victorious. One would have to be totally blind, a blithering idiot or otherwise completely biblically illiterate, to come to this conclusion. Perhaps all of the above. The only defeat at the cross, was that of the devil (1^st Corinthians 2:8).

¹⁹ For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19).

⁸ And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross (Philippians 2:8).

¹⁷ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. ¹⁸ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. ²³ But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; (1^st Corinthians 1:17-18 & 23).

Taking into consideration everything that The Lord has done, what He promised in the garden, what He prophesied in The Scriptures, what He Himself performed; please tell me, why is the cross of The Lord Jesus Christ so despised? Not from without, but from within. The cross still has enemies. Do not be one of them. this, is this Pilgrim’s Protest.

Hebrews says, ‘But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man (Hebrews 2:9) & ‘Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrews 12:2). Satan hates the cross & what The Lord accomplished there. Not in hell, as some foolishly teach, but at Calvary. That is error. That is heresy. That is a lie. Trust this, brethren; when Jesus Christ said it is finished; it was finished!

¹⁴ In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:.. ²⁰ And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven. ²¹ And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled ²² In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight (Colossians 1:14 & 20-22).

¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ¹⁴ Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; ¹⁵ And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it (Colossians 2:13-15).

Without the preaching of the cross we do not have a full picture of The Gospel. If we remove it because we’re ashamed of it, because we’re embarrassed by it or because we cannot adequately explain it, it becomes nigh impossible for us to countenance picking up our own cross. Search The Scriptures. Look at what Jesus said about it & then look at God has done for us. This causes a huge problem for those who have made themselves enemies of the cross. This, is this Pilgrim’s Protest!

Paul said, ‘To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace’ (Ephesians 1:6-7). No wonder he wept when he was at Ephesus.

¹³ But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. ¹⁴ For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; ¹⁵ Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; ¹⁶ And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby (Ephesians 2:13-16).

The Lord Jesus Christ is the suffering servant of Isaiah 53 & His death on a cross, although horrific, paved the way for our salvation. His body was broken & His precious blood was shed. I cannot imagine what it must been like to behold, but He did it for us & it pleased The Lord to bruise Him (Isaiah 53:10). Teach it. Preach it. Believe it. Embrace it.

He also calls us to take up our cross. Paul says, ‘For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.’ (Romans 6:5-6) & ‘And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.’ (Galatians 5:24).

¹⁴ But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world (Galatians 6:14).

²⁰ I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20).

Even though there are those who balk at the cross of Christ & denigrate it, let me remind you that what was achieved there is regularly commemorated by The Church at the communion table (1^st Corinthians 11:26). Are we celebrating spiritual abuse? No. Are we honouring defeat? No. Eternity will not be long enough for us to pour out our gratitude to The One who bled, died & obtained salvation for us. He is the Captain of our salvation. So please tell me; what has The Church done with the cross?

 

 

 

copyright © by david Samuel Parkins mmxxv all rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author, nor be otherwise circulated in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is presented & without a similar condition including this condition being imposed on the subsequent purchaser

 

Pilgrim’s

Protest

-1-

what has the church done with the gospel?

 

We are living in an age of huge interactive engagement, global communication & twenty four hour entertainment. There has never been a time like it. But is it a double edged sword? This global, interactive monster, that never sleeps, has to be fed with time & money, in order for it to continue producing all of the little things that we like. Hundreds of channels; but nothing to watch. Wardrobes bursting with clothing; but nothing to wear. Cupboards crammed with food; but nothing to eat. The house isn’t big enough. The television screen isn’t wide enough. The broadband isn’t fast enough. The mobile phone isn’t modern enough. Boredom sets in. We constantly want something new. This is by design. This is  deliberate. This is quite a thing.

The Church also has a global, interactive, entertainment entity. It too never sleeps. It too has to be fed with time & money. It too churns out content for the consumption of believers as an alternative to or accompaniment for whatever exists in the world. It too encourages us to crave more. ‘Love not the world..’ said The Apostle John, ‘..neither the things that are in the world..’ he continues. ‘..if any man love the world, the love of The Father is not in him’ (1^st John 2:15). The Lord Jesus said, ‘If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you’. (John 15:19).

Now before I go any further, I need to tell you what I’m avoiding here. I am not having a moan & groan about the recontextualisation of The Gospel. We’re not in the 1^st century. We’re in the 21^st. Any innovation that enables the spreading of The Gospel, without interfering with its fundamentals, isn’t all bad. I’m throwing my hands up, because I have no complaints about that. So then, what am I objecting to? What is the pilgrim’s protest?

Some have succumbed to the myth that they have to be popular & prominent in order to be effective. This is not true. But it is a misconception that drives many. What is it that comes after believing The Gospel, repentance, new birth & water baptism? Are we left hanging in the wind to dry out & become crispy christians? No. We have work to do.

¹³ Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: ¹⁵ But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; ¹⁶ Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. ¹⁷ And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear (1^st Peter 1:13-17).

¹¹ Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul (1^st Peter 2:11).

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13).

Is this the journey that we are on, or have we been distracted? Have we been side tracked by a global, interactive, entertainment entity, that never sleeps & has to be fed with our time & money? This world is not our home & yet we often live in a way that would give the impression that it is. It is not. We don’t live as strangers; we live in an over familiarity. We don’t live as pilgrims; we live as permanent residents. Moreover, we are systematically encouraged to do so by the world & often by parts of The Church. Just look at the proliferation of the prosperity gospel, so called. This, is this pilgrim’s protest.. Please don’t think that I am advocating hermitage. I am not. Being comfortable in this life is not the same as being conformed to this life. We are in the world, but not of it (John 17:14-17).

Yet the global, interactive monster that has been identified, is oh so attractive & some have mistakenly utilised this systematically flawed model as a template. Not only has it become a benchmark to solidify & maintain The Church’s relevance in modernity, but its entertainment value has also become a means to reach those who are lost. Whatever means you use to attract people will have to be sustained in order to hold their attention. Has our message become little more than  method? Has our praise become little more than  performance? Have our ministries become little more than industries? Have we traded our spiritual lives for social media likes? Is nothing sacred? This, is this pilgrim’s protest.

Be nice, just like the world. Turn the lights down. Turn the music up. People like that. Soften the corners of the stumbling block. Take the edge off the offence. People like that. Shorten the sermons. Widen the gate. People like that. Let’s be Mimics of the world’s gimmicks. People like that. However, in our efforts to reach the world for Christ, we may have sacrificed something that is dignified & embraced something that is disneyfied. Why? Because people like that? This, is this pilgrim’s protest.

⁶ Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. ⁷ Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, ⁸ And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed (1^st Peter 2:6-8).

⁴² Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?..⁴⁴ And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder (Matthew 21:42 & 44). 

We cannot honestly circumnavigate the brutal reality of the cross. not in all good conscience. to do this is to fail to brace people to take the weight of carrying their own.

The Gospel became seeker sensitive, when in reality it is sinner sensitive. This is why we all need to hear it. The Lord Jesus said, ‘..They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance’ (Matthew 9:12-13). He is still doing this if we are faithful to preach His Gospel. I say if because there are some who have felt it necessary to tone certain aspects of The Gospel down & tune certain aspects The Gospel out. Their message is a softened mixture of child friendly cosplay & an adult nursery. Remove the sharp edges. Cushion the landings. Discourage running through the corridors with open scissors. This, is this pilgrim’s protest.

Realise this, brethren; when we evade the stumbling block, when we avoid the offence, we remove Christ. We cannot recontextualise a Gospel that we do not even preach. No real Gospel; no real conviction. No real Gospel; no real conversion. No real Gospel; no real salvation. The global, interactive monster will fail to deliver, despite its concert lighting & loud music. Preaching on sin & hell are old hat these days. It isn’t good news to warn people of the eternal death sentence that accompanies dying without Christ. Instead, why don’t we just declare God’s love, grace & mercy?

Didn’t Jesus say, ‘For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:17)? Didn’t Paul say, ‘..God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation (2^nd Corinthians 5:19)? Yes & yes. But I would exhort you to keep on reading through those verses. We cannot simply paint a picture of puppies, ponies & rainbows. This, is this pilgrim’s protest..

Deny myself? Take up my cross? Stop having sex until I’m married? Follow Him? Become a disciple? Submit to leadership? Die? No thanks. Where is the good news in any of that? If we are not careful, we will become embroiled in a deceitful game of bait & switch. Men must once again be cut to the quick & pricked in their heart. Convicted. Converted. Discipled. It is not & must never be about the numbers.

¹³ Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: ¹⁴ Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it (Matthew 7:13-14). 

⁶¹ When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? ⁶² What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? ⁶³ It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him. ⁶⁵ And he said, Therefore said I unto you, that no man can come unto me, except it were given unto him of my Father. ⁶⁶ From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him (John 6:61-66).

As I’ve said before, some have succumbed to the myth that they have to be popular & prominent in order to be effective. Well, tourist attractions are popular & prominent! If The Church continues to slide much further from its mandate, that is exactly what it will become; a dead monument to a bygone era, that costs a fortune to maintain. The world will offer clowns & candyfloss & comedians. Lions & Tigers & Bears, oh my. There will be jugglers, acrobats, fire breathers & all manner of curiosities. I have seen some of these things with my own eyes. What I’ve described is a circus; 6 letters, beginning with ‘C’. A place where you pay some money & can be entertained to your heart’s delight. Need I say more? If this is the blueprint that The Church thinks will draw unbelievers through its open doors, we are in big trouble. The modern tendency is to give people a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down, in the most delightful way. This, is this pilgrim’s protest..

I have seen many people go forward in meetings to receive Christ as Savior, because they liked the church’s music. Some enjoyed the preaching because it was funny. Others were attracted by the prospect of health or wealth. Then there were those who were convicted of their lost condition, because they had heard The Gospel; it identifies sin & objectifies the Saviour. This is not a game. So please tell me; what in the world has The Church done with The Gospel?

 

 

 

 

 

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