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October 18, 2004
A Cry for the Pure Gospel
Just recently I discovered yet another priceless gem of wisdom from that shining Prince of Preachers, Charles Haddon Spurgeon. Although one concedes that Spurgeon was an excellent preacher, it takes his very writing to show one just how noble and brilliant he was, for his writing truly speaks loudest of all.
In a day when massive churches have so many entertainment options, this message is sorely needed. We Christians must cry out for the pure and unadulterated Word, without allowance for the things that take away it's lovely and awe-inspiring message.
"An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its
impudence, that the most short-sighted can hardly fail to notice it.
During the past few years it has developed at an abnormal rate, even
for evil it has worked like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The
devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than hinting to the Church
that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for the
people, with a view to winning them. From speaking out as the
Puritans did, the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then
winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated
them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea of
reaching the masses.
My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is
nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. If
it is a Christian work why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into
all the world and preach the gospel to every creature." That is clear
enough. So it would have been if he had added, 'and provide amusement
for those who do not relish the gospel.' No such words, however, are
to be found. It did not seem to occur to him. Then again, "He gave
some apostles, some prophets, some pastors and teachers, for the work
of the ministry." Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is
silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they
amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr
roll.
Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching
and life of Christ and all His apostles. What was the attitude of the
Church to the world? "Ye are the salt," not the sugar candy -
something the world will spit out, not swallow. Short and sharp was
the utterance, "Let the dead bury their dead." He was in awful
earnestness!
Had Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into
his mission, he would have been more popular when they went back,
because of the searching nature of his teaching. I do not hear him
say, 'Run after these people, Peter, and tell them we will have a
different style of service tomorrow, something short and attractive
with little preaching. We will have a pleasant evening for the
people. Tell them they will be sure to enjoy it. Be quick, Peter, we
must get the people somehow?' Jesus pitied sinners, sighed and wept
over them, but never sought to amuse them. In vain will the Epistles
be searched to find any trace of the gospel of amusement. Their
message is, 'Come out, keep out, keep clean out!' Anything
approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence. They had boundless
confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon. After Peter
and John were locked up for preaching, the Church had a prayer
meeting, but they did not pray, 'Lord grant unto thy servants that by
a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show
these people how happy we are.' If they ceased not for preaching
Christ, they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by
persecution, they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They 'turned
the world upside down'. That is the only difference! Lord, clear the
Church of all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her and
bring us back to apostolic methods.
Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It
works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who
thank God because the Church met them half-way, speak and testify.
Let the heavy laden who found peace through the concert not keep
silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment had been
God's link in the chain of the conversion, stand up! There are none
to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts. The need of
the hour for today's ministry is believing scholarship joined with
earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from
the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that
it sets men on fire."
Posted by Grant at October 18, 2004 11:09 AM
Comments
Wow- Awesome! Thanks 4 that! Confirms the stand I took 2nite at the men's Bible study! Praise the LORD!!!
Posted by: Jesse at October 18, 2004 10:02 PM
Praise the Lord for using me for encouragement! :-)
Posted by: Grant at October 19, 2004 11:20 AM
Amen and amen!
Posted by: Sarah at October 19, 2004 12:08 PM