May 28, 2003 Reading: Gal 1:6-10

 

“You almost persuade me to become a Christian" Acts 26:28.

 

I am greatly disturbed when I compare the message many churches are propagating today with that of the apostles and the early church fathers. We do not have to go back very far to read the works of the Reformers and the preaching of the puritans to realize another message is being presented from many of our pulpits today. Is it the same gospel? Is it producing the same results, or are our youth and others agreeing to a doctrine that fails to establish them in the faith? Does the message they hear plant within their soul that burning desire for the Word of God and the knowledge of Him Who is Holy and whose name is Jealous? - Josh 24:19, Exod 34:14.

Three hundred and fifty years ago, Matthew Mead, a London preacher, preached a sermon that is still in print today – “The Almost Christian Discovered.” This man did not shy away from addressing a problem he saw developing in the church – the same problem we are facing today – an increase in the concept of “easy or convenient salvation,” resulting in thousands of spurious conversions. I have recently cancelled my subscription to a popular Christian magazine because it carried (and supported) an article that said, “The problem with the church today is that we scare young people away. We need to make the gospel as close to that which the world offers so as to attract them into membership. Then, when we have them coming to our meetings, we can convert them to Christianity.” A church in Ohio was cited as saying, “We want them to feel no different when they attend our meetings as they felt when they spent their evenings in night clubs.”

The last time I read the scriptures, it taught we were to be different from the world. I read that, when we are Born Again we become new creatures in Christ, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” 2 Cor 5:17. A true Christian is a new creature. A true Christian has a new heart – there is a noticeable difference in his behavior, desires and language. A true Christian wants to please God, read His Word and get to know Him. Why? Because He is a new man or woman. Salvation means that God has put His law in our minds, and written it on our hearts - Jer 31:33. The Holy Spirit now lives in us and He makes a difference.

Many churches today are guilty of preaching a false gospel, one where carnality, worldliness and compromise are taught as being the normal Christian life. A gospel that does not call for repentance, change and perseverance will not produce the fruit by which Christ’s disciples are to be known (Matt 15:17-20). When churches become little more than entertainment centers, duplicating the world as much as possible in their music, behavior and attitude, they will produce few true disciples of Christ who know little of the fear of God and reverence and commitment to Him who is Holy, and who calls His followers to be holy.

I call upon all preachers, teachers, missionaries, evangelists, and all who witness to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, to present to the world that salvation is an act of God upon the heart of man, an act that makes a difference and that demands separation from the world. The heart is deceitful, and the devil uses it to deceive some into thinking they are saved when they are not. Let us preach the gospel of the Bible, and rely on the Holy Spirit to do His convicting work in the hearts of unbelievers. He will make a difference, one that is evident to all that a person is saved and indwelt by the only True God.