A "Country Meeting" had gone exceedingly well, and elders from another community asked the preacher to work with them in a meeting the following year. He came at the appointed time, and found his reputation had spread, and the building was packed. The elders met him at the car, told him they had never had such a gathering of Methodists, Baptists, and no-church folk, so he must be very careful lest he offend someone with his forthright teaching.
Being young and brash, and having no more tact than to tell the truth, he reminded them of the undiluted lessons that had been given at the neighboring church the previous year. He said that since he had not been in that section of the state before, the previous year's work must have drawn this year's crowd; and certainly was the reason he had been asked to come. He concluded, "if you expect to hold and convert these people with something other than the kind of preaching that brought them together, in the first place, I'm afraid you have the wrong man. I'll get back into my car and go home."
With much confusion -- "Oh no, you must have misunderstood us" etc., the preacher was persuaded to stay, and the meeting began. The preaching was strong, and seemed to get a little stronger; but the people continued to come, and several were converted.
I do not now believe, nor did I then, that "skinning the sects" is good preaching. Some folk will turn away from straight, plain truth, no matter how fairly we seek to present it. But we are dead wrong in thinking we can convert people to Christ with anything other than the Bible message. It will convict the world respecting sin, righteousness, and judgment; and many won't like that. But we are looking for the "few" who will like it, and will genuinely turn to God.
"Toning It Down" will produce only "toned down" members of a "toned down" church. You may keep the money, the politicians, and silk-stocking crowd; but you will lose the backbone and fiber that is necessary for a church to prevail and please the Lord. And if "members" are not interested in pleasing the Lord and saving souls, why bother with any preaching at all?
---Robert Turner via Gospel Power,
Vol. 15, No. 49, Dec. 14, 2008
Page 1
It's Just Not in the Bible!
Men say: "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me."
But the Bible says: "And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell" (James 3:6).
The uncontrolled tongue can inflict a great deal of hurt.
Men say: "If you can't say anything nice about someone, don't say anything at all."
But the Bible says: "Remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother's eye. Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine" (Matthew 7:5_6).
Sometimes courteous silence must give way to helpful words.
Men say: "Love means never having to say you're sorry."
But the Bible says: "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not arrogant; does not behave itself rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth." (1 Cor. 13:4-6)
Love means always having to say you're sorry when something has been done to be sorry about.
Men say: "Time heals all wounds."
But the Bible says: "If you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift." "If your brother sins against you go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother" (Matthew 5:23_24, 18:15).
Loving action is what heals wounds.
Men say: "It can't be wrong when it feels so right."
But the Bible says: "0 Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps" (Jeremiah 10:23). "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord" (Isaiah 55:8). "There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death" (Proverbs 14:12).
Feelings are never enough to make right decisions.
Men say: "Only believe in Jesus and you will be saved."
But the Bible says: (Jesus said) "But why do you call Me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46). "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven" (Matthew 7:21).
Belief in Jesus was never meant to stand alone or apart from obeying His will.
---Robert Hines