Simplicity In Christ

Years ago while attending Bible College, a wise professor exhorted me and a room full of other ministry-hopefuls. He warned us, “A lot of fads and trends come down the pike of popular Christianity. They come and they go. They always do.”He continued, “As ministers of the Gospel, you have to be wise. You have to be discerning. You have to avoid the temptation to do something just because it’s popular. And most of all, never forget that the main tools God has given you for ministry are His Holy Word and prayer. If you focus on those basics, you may not please Man. But you will please God, and your flock will be fed and cared for.”I’m not sure how many of us would-be pastors were listening but that was very sound advice! “They devoted themselves to the Apostles’ teaching, to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread, and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

 That sounds so simple. But why is it so hard for us to get it right? Whatever happened to a commitment to these basics? For that matter, whatever happened to the Bible?

The preaching of God’s Word today is quickly being replaced by brief self-help messages with a couple of proof texts. The focus is Man and his “felt needs” rather than Christ and His cross. And the aim is to help people feel good about themselves rather than to declare the Gospel. Undiscerning Christians soak it in believing the doctrine to be sound just because the terminology seems familiar enough.

When talking this over with another pastor, his remark to me was, “Kirk, there’s just not room in our society for a direct spiritual message. It’s just not effective anymore.”

But my question is this: from Genesis to Revelation, when has God ever prescribed anything but a direct spiritual message to address the condition of Mankind? Who are we to change the plan? Who are we to assume responsibility for “effectiveness” or even determine what that means?

For nearly a hundred years Noah was a preacher of righteousness, warning of things to come. During that time not a single person, except for those in his own family, received the message of God through His servant. Yet, in Hebrews 11, Noah is commended for his great faith - not because he was effective, but because he obeyed God.

Paul put it this way to his young protege, Timothy. “In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of His appearing and His kingdom, I give you this charge. Preach the Word, be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.”
(2 Timothy 4:1-5)

May God fill His pulpits again with preachers who heed those timeless words!