And yet today, if the truth be told, the vast majority of evangelical preaching
has far more in common with the philosophic psycho-babble of Robert Schuller than it does with the God-honoring Bible exposition of Charles Spurgeon. Doesn’t anyone see the incredible downhill slide we are currently experiencing in this radidly accelerating apostasy?
If Spurgeon were still here he would most certainly call it the “New Downgrade.” How much longer must the Church militant kowtow before self-righteous and self-centered sinners, literally begging them to ”accept” the glorious and majestic LORD God Almighty! The truth is, if they do not repent, they will not avoid an unalterable eternity of conscious torment in a literal place Christ Jesus called Hell.
Years ago the aforementioned Leonard Ravenhill asked the crucial question in his book Why Revival Tarries — “Where are the Elijah’s of God?” O yes, dear Lord, where are these watchmen? Please, send us the watchmen! But, you know, God has sent them before. For example, A.W. Tozer sounded an alarm; and one that the Church had best begin to heed, right now, before it’s too late:"Many tender-minded Christians fear to sin against love by daring to inquire into anything that comes wearing the cloak of Christianity and breathing the name of Jesus. They dare not examine the credentials of the latest prophet to hit their town lest they be guilty of rejecting something which may be of God… This is supposed to indicate a high degree of spirituality. But in sober fact it indicates no such thing. It may indeed be evidence of the absence of the Holy Spirit.
Gullibility is not synonymous with spirituality. Faith is not a mental habit leading its possessor to open his mouth and swallow everything that has about it the color of the supernatural. Faith keeps its heart open to whatever is of God, and rejects everything that is not of God, however wonderful it may be.
“Try the spirits” is a command of the Holy Spirit to the Church (1 John 4:1). We may sin as certainly by approving the spurious as by rejecting the genuine… To appraise things with a heart of love and then to act on the results is an obligation resting upon every Christian in the world (Tozer On The Holy Spirit, August 3)."
Indeed I see this very fear, this man-centeredness in professing Christians who dare not question their favorite author, pastor, conference speaker, singer, or professor. There is so much rubber stamping today on anyone who mouths the words "Jesus is Lord" or even "TULIP", but who's mouth is foul, doctrine is unbiblical, and look for man's applause.
Scripture is clear that when ANYONE comes with another gospel, like Baptismal Regeneration, such PERSONS are anathema (Gal. 1:7-9). It is not a matter of opinion. Its not a matter of ignoring the error and 'holding on to the good'. There IS no good in error. There is no good in a false gospel. So if a person claims a certain "theology" their error is excused or ignored? Gal. 1 is somehow not applied to their favorite theologian or character in history? Since when is that biblical? Surely this is the sin of favoritism that God hates.
I daresay today's "Christian" is too afraid and unable to truly stand for truth. They rather join the mob than be an Elijah or an Isaiah. They find comfort in the company of numbers. How utterly disloyal to Christ Jesus. He, after all, had no numbers on His side, no popularity, didn't teach tolerance of evil or "just agree to disagree" with the religious elite of the day. He didn't compromise, but was loyal to the Father and His Word. He was bold. Those who claim Him are nothing like Him. They don't even aspire to be like Him.
Gal 1:6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel--
Gal 1:7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Gal 1:8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Gal 1:11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man's gospel.
Jas 2:9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors.
Gal 4:16 Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? 17 They make much of you, but for no good purpose. They want to shut you out, that you may make much of them.
I will quote A.W. Pink from a previous post, because its worth repeating:
Few words have been used more inaccurately and loosely in recent years, than has "love." With a great many people--it is but a synonym for moral laxity, weakness of character, a taking the line of least resistance, a quiet tolerating of what is felt to be wrong.
This same evil has held sway in the churches. Leniency and weakness have overridden righteousness and faithfulness. Instead of maintaining and enforcing the discipline which God's Word enjoins--the great majority of the churches have winked at even glaring sins, refusing to deal with those who walk disorderly. This reprehensible laxity, is misnamed "love". A mushy sentimentality which shrank from "hurting the feelings" of others--has ousted all concern for the glory of Christ and the honor of His house.
This is one of the inevitable effects of the lopsided preaching of the
pulpit, where the 'love' and 'grace' of God were constantly proclaimed--while
His 'justice' and 'wrath' were studiously ignored. God is 'light' (1 John 1:5)
as well as 'love' (1 John 4:8); 'holy' as well as 'merciful'; 'severe' as well
as 'good' (Romans 11:22). Unless the balance is preserved between those two
sides of the Divine character, not only will He be grievously
misrepresented--but the most serious results will follow!
~ (Arthur Pink, "Love Reproving" 1943)
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