THE GIMMICK GOSPEL
by
W.F. BELL
"WORLD'S LARGEST CHURCH" - "WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING CHURCH" -
"AMERICA'S FASTEST GROWING SUNDAY SCHOOL" - "FASTEST GROWING CHURCH IN
THE STATE."
. These are frequently heard and frequently seen slogans in these
modern days. Isn't it silly to brag about numbers (either large or
small)? Where in God's Word does it tell us to gimmick people into
attending church services or Sunday School...? The answers to these
questions are obvious to all Bible readers. The modern "gimmick
gospel" is a FAKERY, FAULTY in its desired results, and FOOLISH in the
light of Scripture.
. What a perversion of the one true gospel is the modern "gimmick
gospel." Give-aways, gadgets, and games are weekly emphasized, to
keep the crowds coming! It's "Balloon Sunday" one week, "Ice cream
Sunday" another week, and "Clown Sunday" the next week. On and on the
"gimmick gospel" goes, going so far as to have "karate preachers"
performing their stunts, and "cut-off-your-tie" days. Some churches
have a carnival like atmosphere about them. Where such a fleshly show
is carried on, the Lord Jesus Christ is not being honored and it is
easily proved. Where are all those Sunday morning throngs on Sunday
night? Where are they on prayer meeting night? Has there ever been
one new church building built yet, that was built to house the Sunday
night and Wednesday night crowds? Where are the genuine results and
the truly changed lives brought about by the "gimmick gospel?" The
answer is simple: there are none. There cannot be anyone truly
changed by the tactics and techniques of men, that is, changed from
sinners into loyal subjects of King Jesus. Only God can change and
truly convert poor sinners! How little this is believed in our day.
. After getting thousands to attend Sunday School, what is taught
to them after getting them there? This is the crucial question. We
are not against churches bussing children and adults to Sunday School
and church services, if they give them the pure gospel after getting
them to come, and didn't have to gimmick them to get them there.
. We urge you to weigh carefully these solemn words: "Every plant
which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matt.
15:13). Do we believe this? Men can get "decisions" and men can
persuade folks to "come forward," but does that mean that God the Holy
Spirit has done a real work in their hearts? Some think so, but not
this writer. We "fear and tremble" when we think of being called of
God to preach and teach His Word! We take it seriously and care
nothing if our name is never recorded in the religious journals of our
day. We never want to preach a faulty gospel, but always proclaim that
true gospel that honors CHRIST and exalts the sovereignty of God in
salvation.
. If the "gimmick gospel" is the answer to all of America's ills
and problems today, why is there more deadness and unconcern for God
and His glory than ever before? The medicine is not working and it is
not working because it is faulty!
. We cannot ever believe that Jesus Christ once engaged in anything
foolish. Neither can we imagine the apostles of our Lord doing the
things that are being done today in the name of Christianity. We
cannot bring ourselves to see in the Scriptures that Almighty God is
engaged in a crash program to "hurry up and get people saved before
it's too late. God is on His throne. What need has He to worry and
fret? What need has God to rush and hurry up?
. "For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's
colt" (Job 11:12). What a humbling word is this! We are vain and yet
we would be wise! We are depraved and yet we want to help out "little
Jesus." Who is this Jesus? Is He "the beggar?" We declare to you
that modern preachers and modern churches are proving themselves to be
fools indeed, when instead of doing things Biblically, they take on
the world's ways and habits of doing things. The world sells their
merchandise and sells their sports, but the true gospel is not for
sale; it never has been and never will be. The gospel of grace is not
a bargain or something we merely try to get people to accept, but
rather a glorious message of good news, the good news of CHRIST and
what He has already done for poor, perishing sinners.
. Are you a sinner? Have you been laid low by God's convicting
power? Are you guilty and undeserving? If so, there is good news for
you: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that
Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).
. Let us rid this country of the "gimmick gospel," for it is
fakery, faulty, and foolish. And in the words of Charles Haddon
Spurgeon: "We can do without modern learning, but we cannot do without
the ancient gospel. We can do without oratory and eloquence, but we
cannot do without Christ crucified. Lord, revive Thy work by giving
us the old-fashioned gospel back again in our pulpits."
Computers for Christ - Chicago