Anyone who makes the ridiculous statement that the Bible is merely a human book, and nothing more than a collection of inspiring stories has let others do their thinking for them, mimicking someone else's skepticism, or have claimed to have read it to end up condemning what it says about the true nature of people. Scripture plainly says that people are totally wicked and hate the one true God. The Bible teaches that our sinful nature prevents any possibility on our part to redeem ourselves (Isaiah 64:6). God Himself provides salvation, which irritates and digs into depraved minds and consciences like a sharp thorn in tender flesh. What does man really desire? The idea today is to wrap oneself in a cocoon of self-love and righteousness and be coddled by inspirational speakers and preachers with shiny teeth and expensive suits yet grossly unqualified to occupy a pulpit.
Any so-called "sermon" coming from these religious hucksters are never based on the whole counsel of God found in Scripture. Naive and gullible people are duped by horrendous and unchallenged false teaching. Nefarious examples would be on how our advice is sought and requested by God, who is at our beck and call, wanting us to be "blessed and highly favored", immune from troubles, hardships, or suffering. If these devils use Scripture at all, it is molded and twisted into fitting their frame of reference, ignoring or downplaying the message of salvation through Christ alone and the eternal consequences of rejecting Him (Luke 12:13-21; Hebrews 9:27). I have heard "messages" from self-appointed, so-called "anointed" preachers who rely on experience, emotion, "revelations" from God, and for some, a free tour of heaven and return to tell us all about it. This heresy was in a collection of DVDs I received from a "prophecy" conference not that long ago, where one of the featured speakers was to talk about "prayer-walking" and how it was used to strengthen missions around the world.
I briefly watched what turned out to be an unoriginal, tired, predictable, rambling collection of "experiences", "personal revelations", with the all-important prize of a "trip to heaven" that a lot of "Christians" tend to receive from "Jesus" to remind His people that He is coming back soon (as if the Scriptures didn't already inform us). After twenty minutes, I gave up any attempt to watch it and declared it a waste of time. What is so tragic is that gullible audiences and "spirit-filled" individuals set aside their Bibles for a so-called "new move of God" and eat this up like chicken at a church potluck dinner. If I had been in the audience that day, I would have stood up and asked this guy to either get to the point or rebuke him as a liar to his face in light of Paul's vision of heaven (2 Corinthians 12:1-10) of which he was not allowed to speak of to anyone, receiving a "thorn in his flesh" to keep him humble about it. This excuse for a "preacher" had a lot of pride, self-centeredness and stories, but no true Gospel.
The unfortunate fact is this type of "preaching" is nothing but heavy doses of "junk food" that fill you up but has no nutritional value. This is what far too many churches are enduring from their "pastors" who wish to be trendy instead of preaching the whole counsel of God. Many of the clergy have gotten the idea that no one wants to sit through long sermons, or be taught essential doctrine, Biblical exposition, or messages that bring sinners to the foot of the cross. Instead, they will rely on topics, stories, current events, social problems, and items of personal interest to compose what they consider a sermon. To the remnant pastors who still adhere to Scripture, this is what we were told to expect when the churches become like the world (1John 2:15-17) and the loss of influence, authority, and righteousness which come as a result. False teaching and its rotten harvest have been a problem for Christ's church militant since the beginning, and you have your head in the sand if you believe that it has not worsened.
Paul told Timothy to expect trouble and difficulty in his pastoral work, effectively describing the real picture of men and nations (3:1-5). It is a mirror that the Gospel of Jesus Christ turns on fallen humanity to make them see their wicked reflection with all of the ugliness, corrosion, decay, and blackness of their sins, spiritually dead and stinking like a decaying body. The Gospel's message of redemption through Jesus Christ is the only way of being freed from the decay of sin and the eternal punishment that all we deserve. No one is exempt from the curse of sin and death, but the Good News is that no one is exempt from the offer of salvation (Romans 5:6-11, 6:23). True men of God are to boldly proclaim that in spite of the social cesspool we have to endure and that there is still breath in one's body, it is never too late to call upon Him and receive by His promises the forgiveness of sin and the new life He freely offers to anyone (Mattthew 11:28-30). We are also commissioned by the LORD to tell the truth without apology or any fear of intimidation or threats from anyone who rejects the Gospel and the reality of an eternity in hell for the punishment of sin. No one is exempt from this fact, and there is no hope or promise of a second chance once you take your last breath (Luke 16:19-31; Hebrews 9:27; Revelation 14:9-11, 20:11-15).
We know that the message we are told by Jesus to preach (Matt.28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:44-49; John 20:30-31; Acts 1:8, 4:12, Romans 10:9-10) will not resound with everybody and will be considered either intolerant, fanatical, narrow-minded, or seen as "hate speech". It will be ridiculed, mocked, and blasphemed, with increasing public outcries and demands for it to be eliminated along with everyone who believes it. The persecution that is promised in the Scriptures is not only happening in countries where Christians are in the minority but is spreading rapidly in the United States. Those of us who live by the words and promises of the Lord Jesus Christ may end up having to pay the ultimate price for the truth. I knew as a young believer that these times would come, but not as such a rapid rate as what I have witnessed in just this past year alone. Then again, with everything becoming legal and relative (Judges 21:25) and with every type of wicked behavior and perversion being accepted and welcomed (Romans 1;18-32), it should not have surprised me as it did. The degenerate and evil world that we see should put to death any notion of evolution and the gradual betterment of humanity.
I need to burst some of your bubbles and make you realize that there never was such a time as the "good old days" in terms of evangelism, crusades, revivals, camp meetings, full pews, and powerful preaching. Every era of history has had its share of problems, evil people, sinful behaviors, attacks on Christ and the Bible, immoral literature and writings that blasphemed God and His Word, and rebellion against societal expectations. What Solomon said in his later years still holds true for every moment this world has turned (Ecclesiastes 1:9-11) and no age, era, or nation has ever been exempted. It matters not how much nostalgia we want to keep alive; sin and its consequences have placed corroding touches on everyone and everything, and it was thriving then as it is now. We cannot go back to the way things were anymore, and it is for this very reason that men of God in this day and age need to keep eyes open to the here and now, and have the Bible in our hands and the message it proclaims in our hearts, ready to tell people the truth about sin, death, and the saving grace and mercy that the Lord Jesus Christ still willingly and lovingly gives to anyone, anywhere, and any time while they are still among us. However, the time is getting short, and the harvest is ready. Stand tall, brethren. Preach boldly, preach well, and preach Jesus. No other message matters.
donaldwhitchard@outlook.com
www.realitycityreverend.com
www.youtube.com/@realitycityreview
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