| | 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."
The file you have just received has been forwarded to you by the
ministry of SMCIS -- Southern Maryland Christian Information Service -
BBS. We are located in California, MD, just below Hollywood.
20 Download directories, 7+ conferences, on-line-games.
Directory 17 "Teddy Bear Hollow" Recovery+
***** Visiting SYSOP Conference now available *****
GodSpeed now on line - Fasted Bible Search Program available
***** Zmodem and Zdoor now available *****
You may call SMCIS 24 Hours Daily at 301/862-3160, 300 - 2400 Baud,
N,8,1, SYSOP: Buggs Bugnon. Registration is required; usually completed
within 24 hours. May God bless all who read and use these files.
Buggs Gal.2:20
Thank you for reading me first.
If you pass this file on to another BBS or another person, please
leave the file included. Thank you and may God bless you and yours
on this wonderful day the that "The Lord hath made".
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life
through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Romans 6:23../ |