Published on 9/9/2008 - Pr. Ron Riffe - http://www.espada.eti.br/
Are you really proclaiming "all the counsel of God", or just speaking pleasant words in sweetened sermons based on the theme "feel good about yourself" to get to build your mega-church?
The problem is not recent; it has existed since the emergence of the church. However, in these latter days, the blind leading another blind (Matthew 15:14) has become a pandemic and of great influence for spiritual apostasy in the Christian world. The apostle Paul identified this sad reality and made the following statement:
"And I hope in the Lord Jesus that I will send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be of good cheer, knowing of your business. For I have no one of equal sentiment to you, who sincerely cares for your state; for all seek what is theirs, and not what is of Christ Jesus." [Philippians 2:19-21]
Who were these "all others" to whom Paul was referring? Both he and Timothy were ministers of the gospel - spiritual pastors, from whom interest in the welfare of believers was expected. Likewise, it is clear that at least some of the "others" were declared ministers. One of them - Demas - was a collaborator of Paul (Philemon 1:24; Colossians 4:14), but later he forsook him, "loving this present world" (2 Timothy 4:10).
To put things in context, Paul said this referring to the believers who were with him in Rome.
"And many of the brothers in the Lord, taking courage from my imprisonment, dare to speak the word more confidently, without fear. It is true that some also preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others of good will; some, indeed, announce Christ out of contention, not purely, thinking to add affliction to my imprisonment. But others, out of love, knowing that I was set for the defense of the gospel." [Philippians 1:14-17]
Some of those who preached did so for good reasons, but others did not. The sad thing was that only Timothy, no one else, was in a position to help Paul administer the needs in Philippi. Epaphroditus, a friend and companion of Paul (verse 25), was sent along with Timothy, so I do not believe he was included in the statement about those who sought their own interests.
Does your pastor really care for the sheep? Or do you admit that, even though he (or "she" in many cases today) has many qualities, deep down you have the impression that there is an interest in building an empire? Well, if that is your case, you are not alone!
The mega-church is, indisputably, the fashion nowadays and many assistant pastors are employed to care for the sheep - because the "lead pastor" could not do it alone. My friends, shepherd dogs are not shepherds! (Wait - I'm not calling them dogs - I'm just making an illustration).
At some point the congregations lost sight of the fact that pastoring people and herding them are two different things.
My second question is this: Are you really being instructed in "all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27), or just having your ears tickled?
"For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers according to their own desires." [2 Timothy 4:3; emphasis mine]
Human nature loves entertainment and satisfaction. And many individuals who possess charisma can read the Yellow Pages and still captivate people. Add carefully selected music to stir emotions, mixing familiar rhythms with a superficial message - and there you have a powerful combination!
Adolf Hitler did not declare himself to be a minister of the gospel, but he used similar tactics to ensure the acceptance of most of the Christian population of Germany before World War II. Therefore, if you think you cannot be deceived and deluded in this regard, history shows the opposite!
Preachers are using sermons (if they can be called sermons) to touch human emotions and enchant the multitudes. Peace, love and a sense of belonging are basic needs rooted in the human soul.
And many unscrupulous individuals are exploiting these needs in order to manipulate the masses. If you doubt this statement, just carefully observe the content of TV news when they, for some reason, show crowds in churches as part of their programming.
Almost without exception they show people in situations close to a trance, swaying their bodies according to the music and "raising their holy hands in worship". These crowds find themselves emotionally energized by a package of sermon and music carefully prepared to achieve an expected result.
The effect is persuasive, because people want more and more of this sensation and feel a void when they do not receive their weekly emotional charge.
And speaking of that, the following passage comes to my mind:
"Who say to the seers: Do not see; and to the prophets: Do not prophesy to us what is right; tell us pleasant things, and see deceptions for us." [Isaiah 30:10, emphasis mine]
Allow me to present a hypothetical situation to illustrate what I mean.
What would happen if a general used this kind of rhetoric pleasing to the ears when speaking to his troops before sending them to battle? Do you believe that a feeling of "enthusiasm and tranquility" would keep the soldiers' spirits balanced when they observe the horrors of war? Reality is often unpleasant, but always necessary to believers, for we must face the spiritual battles of daily life. And preaching that fails to "rebuke, reprove and exhort" (2 Timothy 4:2) because the pastor is too busy making people feel good about themselves is dangerous.
When the Devil walks about, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8) and is about to break down the door - then, my friends, it is not time to speak pleasant words to the ears!
A preacher who fails to "break some eggs" regularly because he aims to be popular is not qualified for the ministry. If he does his job correctly, he will not be popular with most of the lost who fill the churches today.
So the obvious temptation is to keep a low profile and give them what they ask for, hoping they will return next Sunday. Then, if you are really good at this kind of compromise, their friends will join them and, shortly, you will be quite famous. But social clubs built on the name of Jesus Christ are not the church of the New Testament.
As I mentioned in previous articles, the purpose of worship is to recognize the infinite value of God and direct our prayer and praise to Him.
Everything revolves around giving and not receiving, but, somehow, this principle has been inverted over the years. So now many see the church as a spiritual refueling station where they fill up the tank for another week. They feel totally disappointed if the "entertainment" does not meet their expectations.
Doctrinal sermons have become as rare as saber-toothed tigers, because everyone knows that biblical doctrine divides people. Preach it, emphasize it and shortly you will have to hold the meetings in the pastor's living room, because the crowd will disappear. But I ask - is that something bad? I speak for myself, for I would prefer to have the opportunity to pastor a small group of genuine believers than ten thousand hypocrites!
The Lord's command to the disciples for evangelization is "Go..." (Matthew 28:19; Luke 16:15), and it does not tell the lost "Come"! Have you ever stopped to think about that? There is no teaching in the New Testament that says we should invite unbelievers to come to our churches "so that they can experience the vibration of the Gospel".
Sincerely, would you invite the Devil to sit beside you in church? I know I will be criticized for saying this, but it is basically what you do when you convince one of the Devil's children to make a visit. Moreover, the ecclesia, or "church", being a gathering of believers filled with the Holy Spirit, this unbeliever will feel totally out of place. And, if they do not feel constrained, the church is at fault! The explosive apostasy that is currently happening is undeniable proof that this custom has contributed greatly to the proliferation of tares among the wheat.
Worldly methods and good intentions have allowed these individuals not only to feel comfortable, but totally accommodated to the situation! So they end up becoming members and, like weeds, choke the spiritual life of the church.
What we should do is go to the lost and give them the message of the gospel. Then, receive in our midst all who respond and show evidence that they have been born again; help them grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. This involves evangelism at a personal level. Due to lack of commitment and laziness, it has become easier "to let the preacher do the service".
Just invite the unbelievers to come to church, where the preacher will be able to complete the work so they are saved. Add to the mix exalted preachers, who apply psychological pressure, and bingo! The Devil has a breach to enter and accumulate more tares.
Apparent zeal for God, but without understanding (Romans 10:2 - where the Greek word for understanding is epignosis, denoting complete discernment) is, unfortunately, characteristic of most ministers today. The fixation on numbers to improve the image of spiritual success is the rule and not the exception. Every trick known in the world of advertising is being used (and very effectively) to "build ministries".
However, are these ministries really churches, according to the acceptance of the New Testament? Do they equip believers to live for Jesus Christ in a hostile world and to face persecution peculiar to Christian life? Or should we recognize that the great majority is being led by the Pied Pipers of Hamelin whose main interest is that people return the following Sunday?
No pastor who truly loves his sheep wants to see them without direction. However, if he fails to "rebuke, reprove and exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine", in an effort to avoid being unpleasant - he will be greatly harming them! The preaching of the Word of God involves an element of discipline and when "comforts" are admitted, the inevitable result is spiritual anemia among worshippers and apostasy among mere admirers.
Therefore, if you look around next Sunday and realize you are in the midst of a large congregation that gravitates around the personality of a pastor who preaches messages based on the theme "feel good about yourself", my advice is: leave while you can!
"Therefore come out from among them, and be separate, says the Lord; And do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." [2 Corinthians 6:17]
Translation: Luciano M. Tsuda