By Jim Miller
Gray, Maine
If the Gospel call to salvation through the death of Christ on the cross and the shedding of His blood that cleanses us is not enough to bring men to repentance then what make you think that appealing to the carnal lusts of men will?
If the perfect word of God as we have it today will not bring folks to Christ how is that it is believed that appealing to mans social desires will?
There is an old saying that if you give a man a fish he will eat for a day but, if you teach a man to fish he will eat everyday. I believe we have been giving away too many fish. It has become standard operating procedure to say we are doing this or that because it is a good thing and therefore it should be acceptable to God.
To many people over the years have been taught to appeal to the carnal needs of others and not the true spiritual needs. "Hey come get your free stuff" oh and by the way come visit us at services Sunday. Or "Hey we have game night each week come play and enjoy your time with us" oh, and by the way come visit with us for Bible study. The list goes on and on.
The appeal is never really to call these folks to the Gospel that will save their soul. But wait Jim we get them here for these activities then we can share the Gospel with them. That my friends is a fantasy if the people are not coming because they see the need for salvation then they are not coming for the right reason. I have seen it to many times.
I once attended a church where each month they would give the needy things they needed like cleaning supplies and the like. Each month the same people showed up and got their free stuff they were invited to attend services and Bible study yet not a one of them ever poked their head in the door until it was time for more free stuff. It was even heard by my wife one fellow saying as he walked out the door with his bag of free stuff "Hey you all follow me to the Baptist church they are giving away can goods".
This same thing goes on in different forms every day. I find no where in the Bible where it says call men to get free stuff or play games with them or have a movie night so you can tell others about salvation in Christ.
What I do see is a call to action on the part of every Christian. Mat_28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
When Peter stood up with the eleven he did not preach that men were to go setup game night and food banks and appeal to the social and carnal mind of men. Act 2:14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words:
Paul did not go out and teach that men should setup movie nights and coffee clubs. He said 1Co 2:1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:
1Co 2:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
Oh how far we have fallen. Let us get back to preaching and teaching Christ and him crucified, Let us go back to doing Bible things in Bible ways. Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
2Ti_1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
