In trying to make church services more
acceptable to the unsaved we create two main problems: first the sheep miss out
on a main meal. Even though we need food
and should be partaking of God’s Word daily, the ones gifted to teach/ preach
should ensure there is solid meat at service.
(Jesus to Peter) …Feed My lambs… Feed My sheep… Feed My sheep. Jh. 21:15-17
Woe to the shepherds who destroy* and scatter the
sheep of My pasture, says Jehovah. Jr. 23:1
*cause to perish, go astray
The second problem is the focus on self
as opposed to on God. Instead of knowing
who we are in Christ we really we need to know Christ for who He is. Jesus/ God isn’t our magic pill to improve us
in the way we wish. He’s our Creator,
our Lord, our Savior- the One to whom we owe everything and to whom we must
bow. He is holy, just and will judge all
men. By speaking only non-offensive
words, the unsaved do not really know, before making a decision, the true cost
of Christianity which includes repentance and submission to God’s will.
Are any
of us truly seeking, or are we just after improving our lives somehow?
there is none that understands, there is none that
seeks after God." Rm. 3:11
And He has made you alive,
who were once dead in trespasses and sins, Ep. 2:1
For the wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against
all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness… For the unseen things of
Him from the creation of the world are
clearly seen, being realized by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, for them to
be without excuse. Because, knowing
God, they did not glorify Him as God, neither were thankful. But they became
vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to
be wise, they became fools Rm.
See, it not only takes ALL the truth to bring conviction and
true repentance but the Spirit must draw the person or the words will be as
scattered on the hard, dry ground. Our
natural man is dead and does not understand the Truth or that which is revealed
by the Spirit. For the sake of the
unsaved, we must continue the pure gospel as taught by Jesus to the disciples who
were to teach others to observe all He commanded and not just the easy to hear
parts.
No one can come to Me unless the Father who has sent
Me draw him… Jh. 6:44
But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to
him; neither can he know them, because
they are spiritually discerned. 1Cr. 2:14
And they were continuing steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine, and in
fellowship and in the breaking of the loaves, and in prayers. Ac. 2:42
Therefore go and teach all nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to
observe all things, whatever I commanded you... Mt. 28:19,20
And yes, our lives do become better in
that we have His peace and joy within us when we truly surrender to His
Lordship. But our lives also become more
difficult because of trials and without proper teaching, we are no longer
prepared because we want God to intervene and save us from the trials He
promised we’d have (Jh. 16:33). Family
divisions may happen (Lk. 12:53 ); we may be looked on as fools by
the world (1Cr. 1:18 ,23); life will throw lots of curveballs at us. Still, we need to keep our eyes on Jesus the
author and finisher of our faith (Hb. 12:2)- and not so much on ourselves.
The Word of God (not just man’s thoughts
or knowledge) divides our soul and spirit, convicting us of the truth and
compelling us to faith (Hb. 4:12 ).
It is good for doctrine and correction (2Tm. 3:16 ,17), much of which is lost in the ‘seeker’
oriented church service. All who teach,
preach and spread the gospel must “contend earnestly for the faith once
delivered to the saints.” (Jude 1:3). This
‘seeker’ movement is large and well accepted, but that doesn’t make it right. And let’s not forget the first sermon after
Pentecost.
Peter basically called the
people murderers, spoke of Jesus’ death on the cross, hell, and did not speak/ focus
on God’s love for them. Imagine
that! It was what many consider very
offensive. Yet, Scripture records, “And
hearing this, they were stabbed in the
heart, and said to Peter and to the other apostles, Men, brothers, what shall
we do?” (Ac. 2:37) and thousands were saved after one sermon.
Oh Lord, help each of us to do as well…