Polluting The God Of Heaven

Within the churches of our Lord, more frequently than I could wish, I have heard sermons presented that were ever so carefully crafted to draw the admiration of those who listen, but when examined for how these same sermons honour the Risen Saviour, I was unable to find evidence that the Spirit of Christ was motivating the Speaker. On multiple occasions I have listened as preachers delivered a sermon that never once compelled the listeners to lift their eyes to the Saviour. On one occasion, I was seated with a large audience as the guest preacher invested most of his time in the pulpit delivering a political polemic. He lambasted the President of the United States and failed to mention the Saviour until the very end of his performance. As he closed his presentation, he suddenly spoke of the Father’s anguish as the Son of God gave His life as a sacrifice. The preacher than delivered a tearful, impassioned plea for his listeners to give their lives to serve the Saviour Who sacrificed so much for us.

As I left the service that evening, a prominent businesswoman walked alongside of me as she said, “Doctor Stark, wasn’t that a moving sermon!”

I paused as I turned to this dear lady and said, “Mary, I don’t know what you heard tonight, but I heard a Baptist bully. It takes no particular courage to demean the President of the United States in a community that is composed heavily with members of a political party other than the one to which the President belongs. Moreover, I’m uncertain how I am to reconcile the words of this preacher with the charge delivered by the Apostle to the Gentiles when he commanded, ‘I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way’” [1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2].

I could have pointed to Paul’s response when he reacted to the unjust slap delivered at the behest of the High Priest. Recall how the Apostle apologised, saying, “I did not know, brothers, that he was the high priest, for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people’” [ACTS 23:5].

The lady with whom I was speaking that evening was clearly taken aback, and she responded, “Well, I hadn’t thought of that. I suppose you are right.”

The methodology I observed that night has been repeated far too often in services where I was present. It is bad enough that there are preachers who speak without saying anything, but even more disappointing in my view is the fact that there exists congregations that want it to be thus. They don’t want to hear the voice of the prophet; they want smooth things.

As I wrote those words, my mind turned to the dark words given to Jeremiah, who wrote,

“An appalling and horrible thing

has happened in the land:

the prophets prophesy falsely,

and the priests rule at their direction;

my people love to have it so,

but what will you do when the end comes?”

[JEREMIAH 5:30-31]

Indeed, the people loved to have it so; and too often in this day the people only want to hear those things that make them feel good about themselves. Nor should anyone imagine that Jeremiah alone observed this drift into polluting the God of Heaven. Listen to Isaiah as he spoke against the same drift among the people of God.