Secondly, there is a decision making process each person must go through. Our job is not to make this choice easier. Our job is not to trick someone into believing they have chosen Jesus when they really haven't. I see it all the time from well intended pastors, claiming 20 people "made a decision for Christ." What Christ did they decide on? The one that requires nothing from them? The Christ that is puppies and rainbows? You cannot claim to have made a decision for Christ if there has been no discussion of sin and repentance because that was why Christ died. He did not climb Calvary's hill with a 100 pound cross on His shoulders so that you could have your best life now and keep sinning. He did not allow the Roman soldiers to then nail Him to that cross so that you can have all the prosperity avarice will allow. He endured the mockery, scorn, beatings, and death so that we would not have to. So that our sins would be covered by His blood. Taking the blood out of Christianity leaves you with a social club for people on the broad path to destruction who fancies themselves as saved. But note in the key verses that they have to make their own choice. If we deliver the message and they ignore it or we fail to deliver the message altogether, they will die in their sins.
The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. -- 2Peter 3: 9 (NLT)
It is not God's desire that anyone be destroyed. He does not wish any to have the penalty of death hanging around their neck. That leads us to the final point; which is the presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is serious business beloved. It isn't something to be tweaked and marketed. It isn't something that needs a focus group or a leadership conference. It needs to be preached. In its entirety. Uncompromised. Because as the key verses clearly illustrate -- there is blood on the line. If the Gospel is presented correctly and rejected then God holds the hearer responsible for their own blood. But if the man of God does not deliver the warning then the blood is also on his hands. We continue to see the reverent awe of God disappear in the modern church. Even within how we are to look at our own salvation:
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, - Philippians 2: 12 (ESV)
How much more should this apply for those who are charged with preaching the keys to that salvation? Yet what do we see more and more? Six flags over Jesus. Entertainment in lieu of the Gospel. The best singers will not get you into heaven. The best musicians and most prolific speakers will not get you into heaven. This watered down, sugar coated, spoon fed, feel-good, pseudo-gospel is really no gospel at all. How did Paul take his responsibility?
And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God's power. -- 1Corinthians 2: 1-5 (NIV)
No eloquence or human wisdom. The Gospel delivered with great fear and trembling; with much weakness. No wise and persuasive words. Just Jesus Christ and Him crucified as told through the Holy Spirit of the Living God. That doesn't sound very seeker friendly according to human logic. It isn't very purpose driven according to carnal insight. But it is all that one needs to be delivered from darkness and brought into the light. It is all one needs. It is a very serious business. The product does not need to be enhanced. It just needs to be preached.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- May 28, 2013
