“I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine,” 2 Timothy 4:1-2.
It was once said to me that ‘you cannot scold people into revival!’ That remark was prompted by my seeking to obey the sentiments of the text above!
‘Rebuking sin’ and those who engage in it, both privately and sometimes publicly if necessary, is an essential and integral part of preaching God’s Word.
Again I refer to the text above.
Many ministers in modern evangelicalism, seeks to provide a ‘feel good factor’ for those attending their services. Without doubt, where such a course and objective is sought, numbers will increase. I believe in these, the last days, consisting of ‘perilous times’, ( 2 Timothy 3:1) faithful preaching may well fail to fill pews where the ‘gospel of feeling good’ may succeed!
Such ‘comfort zones’ are but the product of those evangelical preachers who see their mission as that of filling the church and being popular. I believe a survey of churches where it is seen that numbers are increasing, will invariably show that such an approach has been adopted by the minister.
I am not referring to places of worship where there is outright Bible-denying sermons. No, I am referring to places which fit well within the evangelical and orthodox camp!
Such places avoid controversy like the plague! There is, to a very large degree, an avoidance of any outright, downright and unmistakable denouncing of the evils and failures of today’s professing evangelical Christians. (more…)
Seeing this letter in today’s ‘Belfast Newsletter’ I thought that I might draw your attention to it.