I know it is difficult to resist the carnal teachings that are running through the church today like a rogue cancer. I know you can get despondent looking at the neighborhood mega church and how their compromise has caused exponential growth but you must remember that is all carnal. Narrow is the way that leads to eternal life! Do you think 55,000 people show up at Lakewood Church every week because Joel Osteen brings then the uncompromised Gospel of Jesus Christ? Of course not! They show up because he promises them they can believe they are saved without actually repenting of anything. You plant and water but not all obey -- God draws and gives the increase. If He has given you a church of 200 people and it remains at 200 but they all go to heaven then you will hear well done my good and faithful servant. God has not asked you to do market research, cater to the goats, put on cantatas and Broadway plays or any other of the schemes and gimmicks we see the church used to lure the lost in. He has given you one thing and that is the Gospel. The Church at Corinth dealt with some of the cult of personality phenomena we see in the church today and Paul had to straighten them out:
What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.)For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. -- 1Corinthians 1: 12-17 (ESV)
Many today say they follow Joel, Joseph, or Joyce. They will swear by Rick Warren, Beth Moore or Creflo Dollar. Heck I had someone message me yesterday for daring to speak against false prophet David Taylor. This was the guy who prophesied the Broncos would beat the Raven in the Super Bowl one year and he was only off by 35 points! But this follower swore by him. Mind your position well pastor and take heed of the words of your fellow preach Paul here -- God sent you to preach the Gospel and not with seeker friendly words of purpose driven wisdom lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. It is not about you. It is not about your church.
It is about Bob.
He will be there this weekend and you might be the last chance he has to hear the only thing that has the power to save him. Please, please, do not waste this opportunity to try and make him a better parent. Yeah, maybe he does not come back to your church the following week. Maybe he obeys the call and maybe he does not. At least you can look yourself in the mirror and declare before the church that you are innocent of his blood. That is my prayer for you as you enter into the most solemn and serious weekend of the year for you. May the Lord be with you and Happy Resurrection Weekend.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- March 30, 2018
