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Becoming a Christian?
Where Am I Going? Heaven or Hell?
These are serious questions that every human asks themselves during the course of their life, especially during the years of our youth upon till adulthood. Questions like:
1. Where did I come from?
2. What is my purpose here?
3. Where am I going?
Here are those answers with the Bible references added:
1. Where did I come from? You were created by the Creator of the universe.
Psa 139:13-18 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them. 17 How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! 18 If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You.
2. What is my purpose here? Your purposes are to; fear God, keep His commands, Love Him supremely, and love your neighbor as yourself.
Ecc 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, For this is man’s all. 14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
Mat 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?” 37 Jesus said to him, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ 40 On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”
3. Where am I going? You are going to one of two places that Jesus taught and warned about in the Holy Bible; either the Kingdom of God, or the Lake of Fire. Regarding the Kingdom of God, Jesus taught few would enter and most would be damned.
Mat 7:13-14 “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. 14 Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.
Mark 9:43-48 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 44 where ‘THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’ 45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched— 46 where ‘THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’ 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire— 48 where ‘THEIR WORM DOES NOT DIE AND THE FIRE IS NOT QUENCHED.’
Please take the following state of your soul test:
1. God forbid, if you died today and stood before Jesus Christ in judgment, would you be guilty or innocent?
ANSWERS: a. guilty b. innocent
c. unsure
2. If you are guilty where would the good and just Judge Jesus Christ, send you?
3. If you are guilty does that concern you?
4. If you are innocent, why?
5. Since you are unsure, can I share with you how I am sure I will be saved and how you can be?
6. What is the Gospel according to the Holy Bible?
7. Are you willing to surrender your life; heart, mind, strength, and soul to Jesus Christ today?
Please contact me if you would like more answers to these questions from the Bible. Thank you!
Mat_6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Mat_12:28 But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Mat_19:24 And again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mat_21:31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.
Mat_21:43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
Mar_1:14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
Mar_1:15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
Mar_4:11 And He said to them, “To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables,
Mar_4:26 And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground,
Mar_4:30 Then He said, “To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? Or with what parable shall we picture it?
Mar_9:1 And He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power.”
Mar_9:47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—
Mar_10:14 But when Jesus saw it, He was greatly displeased and said to them, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Mar_10:15 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Mar_10:23 Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!”
Mar_10:24 And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Mar_10:25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Mar_12:34 Now when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, He said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” But after that no one dared question Him.
Mar_14:25 Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Mar_15:43 Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent council member, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, coming and taking courage, went in to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
Luk_4:43 but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.”
Luk_6:20 Then He lifted up His eyes toward His disciples, and said: “Blessed are you poor, For yours is the kingdom of God.
Luk_7:28 For I say to you, among those born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”
Luk_8:1 Now it came to pass, afterward, that He went through every city and village, preaching and bringing the glad tidings of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with Him,
Luk_8:10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘SEEING THEY MAY NOT SEE, AND HEARING THEY MAY NOT UNDERSTAND.’
Luk_9:2 He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
Luk_9:11 But when the multitudes knew it, they followed Him; and He received them and spoke to them about the kingdom of God, and healed those who had need of healing.
Luk_9:27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who shall not taste death till they see the kingdom of God.”
Luk_9:60 Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.”
Luk_9:62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
Luk_10:9 And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’
Luk_10:11 ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you.’
Luk_11:20 But if I cast out demons with the finger of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you.
Luk_12:31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.
Luk_13:18 Then He said, “What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it?
Luk_13:20 And again He said, “To what shall I liken the kingdom of God?
Luk_13:28 There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and yourselves thrust out.
Luk_13:29 They will come from the east and the west, from the north and the south, and sit down in the kingdom of God.
Luk_14:15 Now when one of those who sat at the table with Him heard these things, he said to Him, “Blessed is he who shall eat bread in the kingdom of God!”
Luk_16:16 “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.
Luk_17:20 Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation;
Luk_17:21 nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
Luk_18:16 But Jesus called them to Him and said, “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of God.
Luk_18:17 Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.”
Luk_18:24 And when Jesus saw that he became very sorrowful, He said, “How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!
Luk_18:25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”
Luk_18:29 So He said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or parents or brothers or wife or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
Luk_19:11 Now as they heard these things, He spoke another parable, because He was near Jerusalem and because they thought the kingdom of God would appear immediately.
Luk_21:31 So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.
Luk_22:16 for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
Luk_22:18 for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
Luk_23:51 He had not consented to their decision and deed. He was from Arimathea, a city of the Jews, who himself was also waiting for the kingdom of God.
Joh_3:3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Joh_3:5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.
Act_1:3 to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God.
Act_8:12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.
Act_14:22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.”
Act_19:8 And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading concerning the things of the kingdom of God.
Act_20:25 “And indeed, now I know that you all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, will see my face no more.
Act_28:23 So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
Act_28:31 preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ with all confidence, no one forbidding him.
Islamic Invasion of Terror!
Once you have watched the above video you should be very concerned for your family’s security as we press further with this immigration madness that President Obama has foisted upon the American people.
When I speak on University campuses about the Gospel of Jesus I find they are not intellectually honest or scholarly about Islam. The students feign not knowing about prolific ISIS beheadings, shootings, maimings, and killings of people even innocent children which are easily found on YouTube. I will speak to the wicked cruelty of the religion of Islam instructing that ISIS members are just being consistent with their religion. They of course will try to half heartedly defend the ‘religion of peace’. But, their hearts show them differently.
Matt 7:15-19 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. 16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
Is it racist or unrighteous to attack such an ideology as Islam? Absolutely not, because the religion of Islam is so obviously evil and wicked. This of course, leaves it open to criticism by logic, moral reasoning, and other worldviews. When that happens then the demonic doctrines of Islam really bare their teeth.
Qur’an (5:33) – “The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides…”
Qur’an (8:12) – “Remember thy Lord inspired the angels (with the message): “I am with you: give firmness to the Believers: I will instill terror into the hearts of the Unbelievers: smite ye above their necks and smite all their fingertips off them.”
Qur’an (24:2) – “The woman and the man guilty of adultery or fornication,- flog each of them with a hundred stripes: Let not compassion move you.” Not only is physical torture prescribed as punishment for moral crime between consenting adults, but believers are told to suppress their natural urge for human compassion.
Torture in the next:
Qur’an (22:19-22) – “These twain (the believers and the disbelievers) are two opponents who contend concerning their Lord. But as for those who disbelieve, garments of fire will be cut out for them; boiling fluid will be poured down on their heads. Whereby that which is in their bellies, and their skins too, will be melted; And for them are hooked rods of iron. Whenever, in their anguish, they would go forth from thence they are driven back therein and (it is said unto them): Taste the doom of burning.”
The punishment of those who merely disbelieve in Muhammad’s claims about himself is described as being horrifically brutal in many other places as well, such as Qur’an 4:56, which says that they will face a continuous cycle of torture in which their skin will be burned off only to be replaced by new skin.
How Allah feels about non-Muslims naturally determines the attitude of devout Muslims. In the Qur’an, Muhammad explicitly uses Allah’s hatred of unbelievers to motivate his people to Jihad:
Qur’an (9:73): “O Prophet! Strive against the disbelievers and the hypocrites! Be harsh with them. Their ultimate abode is hell, a hapless journey’s end.”
Why is it the 10,000 refugees that just arrived in New Orleans are all strapping males 18-45 years old? Do Muslims not care for their women and children first? Within days of the waves of Muslim immigrants into Europe, Paris comes under terrorist attack by ISIS in a coordinated heinous act which is just the tip of the iceberg.
There is a population demographic that we must concern ourselves with here in this situation. With Americans averaging a bit less than 2 children per family we are barely able to sustain our population. But, the Muslims have over 8 children per family or marriage. They are allowed four wives by the way. In only a few generations the Muslim population will overwhelm every western culture. What’s wrong with that, you may ask? I refer to what I just wrote a few paragraphs back, “…the religion of Islam is so obviously evil and wicked.” These horribly destructive behaviors associated with this false religion means that we will become a culture of fear, intimidation, and slavery. Can you imagine that in our country? I can and believe it will come if we are not spiritual watchmen on the wall and modern day Paul Revere’s crying out, “Repent America is under God’s judgment.” The Muslims will be used by God against America, as He used the Chaldeans, Assyrians, and other gentile peoples as instruments of justice against Jerusalem repeatedly.
Since the 1960s, immigrants from Muslim countries started to appear in numbers in Western Europe, especially in Germany, France and Belgium. Although large Muslim communities existed on the continent long before this, especially in the Balkans, this was the first major wave of immigration of Muslims to northwestern Europe.[3]
Muslims in Europe are not a homogeneous group. They are of various national, ethnic and racial identities. The top countries of origin of Muslims in Western Europe are Pakistan, Turkey and the Maghreb countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia).[4] Muslims also vary in terms of their religious commitment: some adhere very strictly to the tenets of Islam while others have largely assimilated into secular European culture.
In Western Europe, Muslims generally live in major urban areas, often concentrated in poor neighborhoods of large cities.[5]
According to the Pew Forum, the total number of Muslims in Europe in 2010 was about 44 million (6%).[6] The total number of Muslims in the European Union in 2010 was about 19 million (3.8%).[6] The French capital of Paris and its metropolitan area has the largest number (up to 1.7 million according to The Economist)[7] of Muslims than any other city in the European Union. London also has a substantial community of Muslim origin, numbering about 1 million within the limits of Greater London and exceeding this figure when the entire metropolitan area is taken into account.
If the current rate of migration of Muslims to Europe and the Muslim fertility rate remains constant, by 2030, people of Muslim faith or origin are predicted to form about 10% of the French populationand 8% of the European population.
The table below lists large cities of the European Union with significant Muslim populations.
Eurabia is a political neologism. The concept was coined by Bat Ye’Or in the early 2000s. Bat Ye’Or (pen name of Gisele Littman) claims a conspiracy of Europe, allegedly led by France and Arab powers, to Islamise and Arabise Europe, thereby weakening its existing culture and undermining an alleged previous alignment with the U.S. and Israel.[3][4]
The causes and characteristics of Islamophobia are still debated. Some scholars have defined it as a type of racism. Some commentators have posited an increase in Islamophobia resulting from the September 11 attacks, while others have associated it with the increased presence of Muslims in the United States, the European Union and other secular nations.
IF there are 6,200,000 Muslims in the US and only 1% of them are radical terrorists, then we now have 62,000 murdering jihadists among us. If only 5% are radical terrorists, then we now have 310,000 pedo raping, murderous head severing monsters in our midst. If there are only 10% are radical terrorists, then we have 620,000 radically irreligious nut cases that have no problem blowing themselves to hell, while tormenting as many infidels as they can on the way. That long legged mac daddy Barack Barry Hussein Soetoro Obama has invited another 200,000 muslims over the next two years into our country.
MUSLIM POPULATION EXPLOSION IN THE US
Not done with this post yet, just wanted to get some information out there!
Free Gospel Tracts Downloads
PLEASE GO TO LOWER LEFT CORNER FOR .PDF DOWNLOAD OF IMAGE FILES FOR TRACTS, THANK YOU!
Some of the great features of these Gospel tracts are that they have two sides which are filled with God’s Holy Word in English and Spanish! No nonsense with pictures or gimmicks. Yet it uses great colors on a black background which makes it very readable even on the dark streets of America. It also has larger paragraph headers which contain the Gospel in and of themselves for those that are elderly or don’t have their glasses with them. Lastly, it has in very large print, “FEAR GOD”, which of course is the Gospel in Rev 14:6-7.
Spanish Tracts are Here!
As the Latino, Muslim, Cartel, and all manners of tribes cross our borders on both the North and the South sides we can reach them with this great Spanish language tract. Hey we no longer have to travel to them, they are coming to us by the unlawful migration courtesy of the White House. Jesus sees what you’re doing Obama and Obiden. See Psalm 2 for details! You can even practice and preach open air from this tract with a little practice!
Hebrew Cosmos aka Flat Earth Tracts are Here!
The great thing about these controversial creation view tracts are the YT playlists attached in the Qcode. These videos are great resources readily available for research, refutation, and consideration at the leisure of the recipient. No longer do we have to be afraid to share our creation view with atheists, Buddhists, Muslims, lukewarm and Holy Ghost filled Christians! Why share this biblical creation view? People get saved, return to the Lord, and others are challenged in the way they think about all aspects of our faith. God bless you as you consider downloading them for yourself! You can even download the Qcode from the screen of your device!
Freely we have received the Gospel and freely we offer you the opportunity to print out your own excellent and easily distributed Gospel tracts.
Follow these easy steps:
1. Pop out the image
2. download these two files
3. Recommend printer below for bulk two sided print job. We usually do 5000 at a time. We recommend 12-14 pt paper.
4. We recommend the 3.5″ X 5.5″ size which the image is sized for both English and Spanish. We have found this company to give the best deal online, even local printers can not match these prices! For the FE b&w tracts you will need to use the postcard size 3 X 4″ and for the disk/ball standard business card size of 2″ X 3.5″
Cards & Banners Bulk Printer
Banner Images Free Downloads Here:
Simple Gospel Banner Construction
This involves using the following website to print your own banner design.
1. www.BannersOnTheCheap.com printed the vinyl. The website that prints tracts charges too much for banners. And, I used a promotion code to get free shipping and 25% off, which caused me to get it for $27.
2. The 12×3 foot vinyl is what I used. It is actually cheaper than the 10×3, as strange as that is. Plus, the 12×3 give you extra space for handles and extra vinyl for the rain flap at the top. My banner is technically 5.5×3 foot, due to the “huge” handles :-).
3. The vinyl cement I used (HH-66) is not two part and is not epoxy.
4. No wood used. Vinyl, PVC pipe, PVC fittings, PVC cement, HH-66 vinyl cement, and minor hardware (one small bolt, 2 washers, 1 nut) are the only parts.
The vinyl print price can be as low as $18 per 5×3 if you purchase the 30×3 foot size.
We print the text vertically on it’s side along the length of a 10′ X 3′ vinyl. We then fold it over the top to make a two sided 5′ X 3′ banner. We use this free online drawing program to make our designs: https://inkscape.org/en/download/
NOTE: If you plan on using any images they must meet strict dpi requirements or your image will pixilate on your banner. See instructions on the banner printers website or give them a call. This is very heavy duty and we use a two part vinyl epoxy to cement the edges and key areas on the banner construction. We were able to make this banner for $27 dollars for the printed banner and about $12 worth of framing pvc and about $20 for the pole. It takes about 4-5 hours to construct the first one, but we all should get faster after we figure out all the details. If you decide to make your own banner please share a testimonial how God worked this out for you and we may feature any video that you may have. Thanks and God bless you!
Multi Bullhorn Mount
What We Believe Page Download
Open Air Preaching Defense Download
The Foolishness of Preaching By Bruce Evan Murch
This is perhaps one of the best defenses of Biblical open air preaching I have ever read. Please study it carefully and completely. You have been given this link because you most likely have expressed a disdain for this practice. Any objections to this thesis should be commented below with Scripture to support your claims against it. Thank you for your patience as you examine this very important topic! I will be doing a Gr. Word study at the end of this to show how much this important word preach is used and how. God bless you!
John McGlone, founder Jesus Preacher Ministries
Used with kind permission
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
-1 Corinthians 1:21
In all the world’s wisdom, it still didn’t know God…so he sent PREACHERS!
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? – Romans 10:14
What was God thinking? At first blush it doesn’t seem like a terribly effective method of getting the Word to people. At least not in this day and time. “Preaching” has changed a lot over the years, especially over the last 100 years. I wonder if we really know what the Scriptural model for preaching is any more. I am truly convinced that if preachers followed the Biblical model for preaching, it would be far more effective.
To start let me make a distinction between preaching and witnessing. Witnessing is how you interact with sinners on a daily basis. Jesus had many commands on how to show kindness and love to those who don’t know Him. He ate with them and showed compassion on them. He lived an example. Preaching is a specific function that God uses to warn sinners of His impending judgment and it’s results, and to offer the gift of salvation through repentance and belief in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
Let me also make a distinction between preaching and teaching. Preaching is primarily what is done for the benefit of the lost whom we are attempting to reach with the Gospel. Teaching is primarily the Word as it is given to those who are saved and are being edified and matured by it. While those may not be hard-and-fast definitions, they are generally accurate and will suffice for the sake of my points on preaching. I am discussing the way that God’s Word is preached to the lost.
The most popular method of preaching is the type popularized by Billy Graham. Those of us who are street preachers call it the “God Loves You and Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Life” preaching. Sinners are told that “Jesus loves you. He accepts you just the way you are. Invite him into your heart right now. That’s all you have to do. Believe and profess His name right now and you will be born again.” This of course is followed by “With every head bowed and every eye closed…Come down to the front right now. Your friends will wait. Don’t worry, the buses will not leave”. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of people stream to the front of the auditorium as “Just As I Am” plays over the sound system.
What becomes of these thousands and thousands of “converts” over the years? You might think that after all these thousands coming forward, we would have had a major revival in the U.S. by now. What gives? The answer may surprise you.
According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, only about 10% of those making a profession of faith at a Billy Graham crusade are regularly attending church members one year later. That’s right. Just ten percent. What’s the problem? Is it the messenger, or is it the message? Or did the Holy Spirit goof up somehow?
The Bible has a pretty basic model for preaching. It can be summed up in two words, REPENT and BELIEVE. Now you might think that this smacks of old-timey fire and brimstone preaching that is outdated and, well, FOOLISH. Guess again.
Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
But aren’t we supposed to preach the Love of Christ? Aren’t we supposed to be “non-judgmental”? Haven’t we been taught that the Holy Spirit “woos” sinners to Himself in love? Well, not according to Scripture:
John 16:8 And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
But, you might say, doesn’t God love everyone? That’s why He sent Jesus, to redeem the whole world. We all know that God hates the sin but loves the sinner, right? Not really.
Actually, the Word clearly says that God HATES some people. That’s right. HATES. And furthermore it is acceptable to hate the enemies of God (not YOUR enemies). This is not an emotional hatred, but a strenuous opposition. I know this sounds radical according to modern Christian teaching, but when in doubt, let’s go back to the Holy Word.
Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalm 5:5,6 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
Proverbs 6:16-17 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Psalm 139:21, 22 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
So we find that God loved “mankind” (His creation) so much that He wanted to redeem us, but He hates individual sinners. Preaching should reflect this. In other words, preaching should be the warning of the wicked from his way; letting him know that he is a disgusting and filthy sinner in the eyes of God. But that in spite of that, God is giving him the opportunity to REPENT and turn to God if he believes in His death, burial and resurrection-His redemptive work on the cross. But be it known that He requires holiness (be ye holy even as I am holy). He is a “jealous God that will have no other Gods before Him”. And if you continue to “willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is NO MORE sacrifice for sins, just a fearful looking forward to of the fiery indignation that God has reserved for his enemies” (Hebrews 10:26).
Instead of this, people are being told that they need only “believe and confess the name of Jesus”; that Jesus loves you so much He made it that simple. Folks converted under this preaching are looking for what God will do for them next, not what God REQUIRES of them. They want Jesus to be their best friend and lover, they don’t want to be His sold-out slave. It truly is a fundamental difference. In truth, He wants us to be ALL of that.
Most of the sermons in the Bible are in the Book of Acts. NOT ONCE is the love of Jesus mentioned in any of those sermons. But repentance is mentioned in virtually all of them.
What about “name-calling?” Is it right for preachers to get on the corner and call people “wicked sinners, fornicators, sodomites, adulterers”, etc.? The apostles did. “And God added to the church such as should be saved.”
For those of you who think that the Old Testament verses I quoted are not relevant to New Testament preaching, we’ll clear that up now.
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The Scripture Paul is referring to of course is the Old Testament. It was the only Scripture they had.
2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Here, Paul goes into specifics about HOW one should preach: REPROVE, REBUKE and EXHORT. Most of us only understand in a general sense what these words mean. Let’s take a look at the word “reprove” in the Greek. It is an extremely strong word.
Strongs: #1651 elegcho
1) to convict, refute, confute
1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted
1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose
2) to find fault with, correct
2a) by word
2a1) to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove
2a2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation
2b) by deed
2b1) to chasten, to punish
Paul is basically saying that when you preach, “find fault with them, reprehend them severely, warn (admonish) them, chide them, show them their faults, bring shame on them”. Obviously this is done along with the message that if the sinner DOES repent and turn to God he will be saved and experience the “times of refreshing”. But there are no instructions about the “love of Jesus”. He is also saying that ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for reproof as well.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Many modern translations say “expose” rather than reprove, but the Greek word is the same, with the same strong meaning. We should not only avoid fellowship with these works, but should warn, bring shame on, reprehend severely, chide, call them to account and show them their faults”.
Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
But doesn’t that kind of preaching just bring ridicule and arguments? Sometimes. But it also gets people’s attention. Nobody thinks of himself or herself as evil. Very few think of themselves as God-haters. They will almost always stop to defend themselves against this kind of preaching. You have a captive audience for a time anyway. Is it wrong to argue with the wicked? Nah.
Prov. 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law CONTEND with them.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Many preachers want to be “nicer than God” when they preach. I feel no such responsibility. Preaching in the open air is really the only way to reach those that will not walk into church to hear the gospel. And in 99 churches out of 100, they wouldn’t hear what they needed to hear in church anyway. The Apostles are recorded in Acts as ARGUING with people as a method of preaching.
Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed he (Paul) in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Acts 19:8 And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
In the first verse above, we see that Paul not only preached to the Jews this way in the synagogue, but also “in the marketplace”. This is the chief concourse, the place where the largest possible audience could be found. They used the same method of preaching in the synagogues, in the marketplace and in the schools.
I have been accused of “name-calling” when I preach. I will sometimes call people fornicators, sodomites, etc. This is not name-calling in the sense of being hateful or derogatory. It is an effective and Biblical way of making the sinner understand that they are being identified by the sins they commit. I preach on the street. I’m called a street preacher. If I were boastful, some would call me a braggart or an egomaniac. We are identified by our attributes. When I preach at the sodomite marches, I refer to those I’m preaching to as sodomites. That’s what the Bible calls them I have no problem with that.
Here is a list of some of the names that people are called in the New Testament. Some of these were spoken of religious leaders, some were spoken of ordinary folks.
* “DOGS” Matt. 7:6 Jesus said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs” (see also 2 Peter 2:20-22, Rev. 22:15)
* “SWINE” Matt. 7:6 “…neither cast your pearls before swine”
* “VIPERS” Matt. 3:7 “O generation of vipers…” (see also Matt. 12:34, 23:33 and Luke 3:7)
* “HYPOCRITES” Matt.6:2 “…as the hypocrites in the synagogues…” (see also Matt.6:5, 16, 15:7, 16:3, 22:18, 23:13-15, 29, 24:51, Mark 7:6, Luke 11:44, 12:56)
* “CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL” John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil…” (see also Acts 13:10)
* “PERVERSE” Mat. 17:17″…O faithless and perverse generation” (see also Luke 9:41, Acts 20:30, Phil. 2:15, 1Tim. 6:5)
* “REPROBATE” 2Cor 13:5-7 “…except ye be reprobates” (see also Rom 1:28, 2Tim. 3:8, Tit. 1:16)
* “HEATHEN” Mat. 6:7 “…as the heathen do” (see also Mat.18:17, Act 4:25, 2Cor. 11:26, Gal. 1:16, 2:9, 3:8)
* “FOOLS” Mat. 23:17 “…Ye fools and blind” (see also Luke 12:20, 1Cor.15:36, Mat.23:19, Luke 11:40, 24:25, Eph. 5:15)
* “WICKED AND ADULTEROUS” Mat. 16:4 “A wicked and adulterous generation” (see also Mat. 12:45, 13:49, 18:32, 21:41, 25:26, Luke 19:22, 1Cor. 5:13, 2Thes. 3:2, 2Pet. 2:7, 3:17)
* “O YE OF LITTLE FAITH” (Christ’s favorite name for His apostles!) Mat.6:30, 8:26, 14:31, etc., etc., etc.
* “STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED” Acts7:53 “…stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart”
* “LIARS, EVIL BEASTS, SLOW BELLIES” Titus 1:12 (see also 2Peter 2:12, Jude 10)
* “ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES” Hebrews 13:4 “…whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses…” (see also Rom 7:3, Mat. 12:39, 16:4, Mark 8:38)
* “WHITED WALL” Acts 23:3 Paul to the high priest .
Again, the purpose for this type of approach is for the sinner’s benefit. He must be told that God requires him to REPENT and believe in Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross to be saved and escape the fires of hell. In the verses in the Gospels there is a persistent theme: If you do not REPENT, you will perish. It doesn’t say you will perish if you don’t believe (although you will obviously), the emphasis is on the repentance.
Now I realize that all this goes contrary to what most of us have been taught about preaching. We all know how embarrassing it is to hear a street preacher out on the corner telling folks to “Turn or Burn”, “Get Right or Get Left”. But is that embarrassment because the method is wrong, or is it a problem with our own pride in our own hearts?
I have laid out a case for it from Scripture. But let’s also look at the witness of history. As I mentioned earlier, the Apostles NEVER preached about the “love of Jesus” or any such thing when they preached. Let’s look at the Reformers and the Revivalists.
Martin Luther preached vehemently against the notion that God “hates the sin but loves the sinner”. Of the Revivalists of the Great Awakenings, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and later Charles Finney all denounced the notion as well. They all taught that you cannot separate the sin from the sinner. God doesn’t send the sin to hell, but the sinner to heaven. God “hates the hands that shed innocent blood.” Does He just hate that part of the sinner’s anatomy? Of course not.
“So what?”, you might say. They could have gotten it wrong. After all, they’re just a bunch of dead white guys. Maybe. Except for one thing. The Holy Spirit visited their preaching with REVIVAL! Massive, widespread, nation-changing, intercontinental REVIVAL. The fact is that there has NEVER been that kind of vindication from the Holy Spirit for the “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” preaching.
Jonathan Edwards’ sermons were all very much as I have described preaching as I believe it should be. He preached many of his Revival sermons in New England in 1738-1741. He is most famous for his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Here is an excerpt from the sermon that the Holy Spirit visited with revival:
“The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment.
It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you were suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God’s hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell. O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in!”
Yikes! Doesn’t sound like the “love of Christ” to me! How could you get revival from THIS? But the effect of that preaching was astonishing, and literally changed the spiritual makeup of America and ushered in sweeping reforms in law and culture.
This is a photo of me preaching in front of the Liberty Bell on July 4th. The crowd was less than enthusiastic. People didn’t want to hear about God’s Holy Word and Law on their vacation.
This sort of preaching is opposed by Christians more vehemently than anyone else. I have had Christians routinely stop to rebuke and chastise me for being “judgmental” and “un-Christlike” and “unloving.”
They listen to God being blasphemed by some of the onlookers. Instead of defending God against the heathen, they defend the heathen against me! The world (and the police) view it as “hate speech”. In America, you cannot be assured that you have the freedom to preach the unvarnished Word of God any more. But we must.
Open-air preaching is not fun. Like the U.S. Army ads used to say, “It’s not a job, it’s an adventure!” I am routinely cursed and screamed at; I have had sodomites expose themselves at me and spit in my face; I’ve been assaulted. I hear God blasphemed. Some respond with interest and some with just anger. This is a ministry of seed-planting. But the measure of the success of this preaching isn’t necessarily found on the day that it is preached.
They hear the Word from me. They have been warned. They have been offered the knowledge of His saving grace. In the quiet of the evening when they lie in bed and ponder the thoughts of the day, they will consider that what they heard about themselves and God may be true.
I don’t see a large harvest. But that’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to show the TRUE love of God. It is not love to preach to sinners that they need only believe and come to Jesus (“for even the devils believe, and tremble”). The LOVING thing is to tell them the truth about how God actually sees them, and to show them what it takes for that to change; to show them what God expects in return for His eternal salvation. Many say that salvation is a “free gift” from God. It is free in the sense that there is nothing WE can do to obtain it; we only get it by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. But it costs us EVERYTHING. We are bought with a price and belong to Him to do His bidding and not our own. THIS IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
Unfortunately, there is so little church discipline and proper teaching about holiness and sin, that sin runs amok in the camp! And preachers who have hidden sins cannot effectively preach against it, because their heart condemns them as they preach. So they stay with the “grace, mercy and compassion” message instead of the “holiness, justice and judgment” message. They are both aspects of God’s nature, but those who continue to practice sin and tolerate it within the church concentrate on one to the exclusion of the other. I believe that is why the American Christian Church is in the condition it’s in.
In American churches, we are not called upon to live holy lives, we are offered “counseling” for our “problems”. We are not called to account for our sins. We offer cliches for our sin, such as “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet”. This is Bumper Sticker Christianity. We are NOT told that if we fail to conform to God’s Holy Word and Law that we will be denied communion, or even the fellowship of other believers. This is what Paul demanded of the Corinthians, and of us as well. In failing to do so, we have let sin run rampant within the church, making her totally ineffective in calling the world to repentance.
This won’t change until we repent of our own sin, demand the same within the church and the church leadership and begin to preach boldly in the marketplace the true message of salvation.
Let me say with the Psalmist:
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Psalm 40:9-10
Here is another great note on this important subject! http://officialstreetpreachers.com/History/History%20of%20Street%20Preaching.pdf
The Study of the Greek Words:
The KJV translates Strong’s G2784 PREACH kēryssō in the following manner:
preach (51x), publish (5x), proclaim (2x), preached (with G2258) (2x), preacher (1x).
Note that this following definition is listed fifty one times in the NT! This makes ‘preach’, herald, etc to be the primary meaning for the activity we should be doing as Christians!
κηρύσσω kērýssō, kay-roos’-so; of uncertain affinity; to herald (as a public crier), especially divine truth (the gospel):—preacher(-er), proclaim, publish.
STRONGS NT 2099: EVANGELIST εὐαγγελιστής εὐαγγελιστής, εὐαγγελιστοῦ, ὁ (εὐαγγελίζω), a Biblical and ecclesiastical word, a bringer of good tidings, an evangelist (Vulg.evangelista). This name is given in the N. T. to those heralds of salvation through Christ who are not apostles: Acts 21:8; Ephesians 4:11; 2 Timothy 4:5. (B. D. under the word .)
The KJV translates Strong’s G3144 WITNESS in the following manner: witness (29x), martyr (3x), record (2x).
μάρτυς mártys, mar’-toos; of uncertain affinity; a witness (literally (judicially) or figuratively (genitive case)); by analogy, a “martyr”:—martyr, record, witness.
Biblical Usage a witness, think of a courtroom
1. in a legal sense
2. an historical sense
3. one who is a spectator of anything, e.g. of a contest
4. in an ethical sense
5. those who after his example have proved the strength and genuineness of their faith in Christ by undergoing a violent death
| Strong’s Concordance euaggelion: good news Original Word: εὐαγγέλιον, ου, τό Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter Transliteration: euaggelion Phonetic Spelling: (yoo-ang-ghel’-ee-on) Definition: good news Usage: the good news of the coming of the Messiah, the gospel; the gen. after it expresses sometimes the giver (God), sometimes the subject (the Messiah, etc.), sometimes the human transmitter (an apostle).HELPS Word-studiesCognate: 2098 euaggélion – the Gospel – literally, “God’s good news.”See 2097 (euangelizō). The Gospel (2098 /euaggélion) includes the entire Bible, i.e. it is not limited to how a person becomes a Christian.NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from the same as euaggelizó Definition good news NASB Translation good news (1), gospel (73), gospel’s (2).Thayer’s Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2098: εὐαγγέλιον εὐαγγέλιον, εὐαγγελίου, τό (εὐάγγελος (cf. εὐαγγελίζω)), Hebrew בְּשׂורָה and בְּשֹׂרָה;1. a reward for good tidings (cf. τά διδασκαλία, the fees given the διδάσκαλος), Homer, Odyssey 14, 152; Cicero, ad Att. 2, 3 and 12; 13, 40; Plutarch, Demetr. 17; Ages. 33; the Sept. 2 Samuel 4:10.2. good tidings: Lucian, asin. 26; Appendix,b. civ. 4, 20; Plutarch; others; plural the Sept. 2 Samuel 18:22, 25, common text; but in each place εὐαγγελία should apparently be restored, on account of 2 Samuel 18:20 ἀνήρ εὐαγγελίας. In the N. T., specifically,a. the glad tidings of the kingdom of God soon to be set up, and subsequently also of Jesus, the Messiah, the founder of this kingdom: Mark 1:15; Mark 8:35; Mark 10:29; Mark 13:10; Mark 14:9; Mark 16:15; Matthew 26:13; with a genitive of the object added: τῆς βασιλείας, Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 24:14; Mark 1:14 R L brackets After the death of Christ the term τό εὐαγγέλιον comprises also the preaching of (concerning) Jesus Christ as having suffered death on the cross to procure eternal salvation for men in the kingdom of God, but as restored to life and exalted to the right hand of God in heaven, thence to return in majesty to consummate the kingdom of God; so that it may be more briefly defined as “the glad tidings of salvation through Christ; the proclamation of the grace of God manifested and pledged in Christ; the gospel” (A-S. god-spell (see Skeat, Etymological Dictionary, under the word)): Acts 15:7; Romans 1:16 G L T Tr WH; ; 1 Corinthians 4:15; 1 Corinthians 9:14, 18 (G L T Tr WH), ; ; 2 Corinthians 8:18; Galatians 2:2; Ephesians 3:6; Ephesians 6:19 (L WH brackets ἐυαγελιον); Philippians 1:5, 7, 12, 17 (); (, cf. εἰς, B. II. 2 d.); Philippians 4:3 (, cf. Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 47, 2 [ET]); 1 Thessalonians 2:4; 2 Timothy 1:8, 10; with a genitive of the object, the gospel concerning etc.: τοῦ Χριστοῦ (cf. Winer’s Grammar, 186f (175f)), Romans 1:16 Rec.; Rec.; 1 Corinthians 9:12, 18 (Rec.); 2 Corinthians 2:12; 2 Corinthians 9:13; 2 Corinthians 10:14; Galatians 1:7; Philippians 1:27; 1 Thessalonians 3:2; τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν ἸησοῦΧριστοῦ, 2 Thessalonians 1:8 (T Tr WH omit; L brackets Χριστοῦ); τοῦ υἱοῦ τοῦ Θεοῦ, Romans 1:9 cf. Mark 1:1; τῆς σωτηρίας ὑμῶν, Ephesians 1:13; τῆς εἰρήνης, Ephesians 6:15; τῆς χάριτος τοῦ Θεοῦ, Acts 20:24; τῆς δόξης τοῦ μακαρίου Θεοῦ, 1 Timothy 1:11; τῆςδόξης τοῦ Χριστοῦ, 2 Corinthians 4:4. ἡ ἀλήθεια τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, the truth contained in the gospel (cf. Winer’s Grammar, 236 (221f)), Galatians 2:5, 14; Colossians 1:5; ἡ ἐλπίς τοῦ εὐαγγελίου, the hope which the gospel awakens and strengthens, Colossians 1:23; ἡ πίστιςτοῦ εὐαγγελίου the faith given the gospel, Philippians 1:27; οἱδεσμοί τοῦ εὐαγγελίου (see δεσμός, at the end), Philemon 1:13; ἕτερον εὐαγγέλιον of another sort, i. e. different from the true doctrine concerning Christian salvation, Galatians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 11:4; αἰώνιον εὐαγγέλιον, the contents of which were decreed by God from eternity, Revelation 14:6. with the genitive of the author; and that α. of the author of the subject-matter or facts on which the glad tidings of man’s salvation rest, and who wished these glad tidings to be conveyed to men: τό εὐαγγέλιον τοῦ Θεοῦ, Romans 15:16; 2 Corinthians 11:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:2, 8; 1 Peter 4:17; more fully τοῦΘεοῦ περί τοῦ υἱοῦ αὐτοῦ, Romans 1:1-3. β. of the author of the particular mode in which the subject-matter of the gospel is understood (conception of the gospel) and taught to others; thus Paul calls his exposition of the gospel (and that of the teachers who agree with him), in opposition to that of those teaching differently, τόεὐαγγέλιον ἡμῶν: 2 Corinthians 4:3 (cf. τό εὐαγγέλιον τόεὐαγγελισθέν ὑπ’ ἐμοῦ, Galatians 1:11); κατά τό εὐαγγέλιον μου, as I expound it, Romans 2:16; Romans 16:25; 2 Timothy 2:8. γ. of him who preaches the gospel: ἡμῶν, 1 Thessalonians 1:5; 2 Thessalonians 2:14. with the genitive of those to whom it is announced: τῆς περιτομῆς (i. e. τῶν περιτετμημενων), to be preached to the circumcised or Jews; and τό εὐαγγέλιον τῆςἀκροβυστίας, to be carried to the Gentiles, Galatians 2:7.b. As the Messianic rank of Jesus was proved by his words, his deeds, and his death, the narrative of the sayings, deeds, and death of Jesus Christ came to be called εὐαγγέλιον: so perhaps in Mark 1:1; for the passage may also mean, ‘glad tidings concerning Jesus Christ began to be proclaimed even as it is written,’ viz. by John the Baptist; cf. DeWette at the passage At length the name was given to a written narrative of the glad tidings; so in the titles of the Gospels, on which see κατά, II. 3 c. α. (On the ecclesiastical senses of the word, see Sophocles’ Lexicon, under the word.) |
Pretty Lights Music of Helloween at Descend Amphitheater
Preaching to Wicked Sinners
Nashville, TN Oct 31,2015
Praise the Lord we were able to preach at the new Ascend Amphitheater for the Pretty Lights Show on Halloween 2015.
We first preached this at the Old Nashville Auditorium about four years ago. This time we had my sons Daniel and Seth, Jimmy Miller, the Heiman family, the Kowalski family, Tim the Baptist and his son. Praise the Lord what a crew!
The weather was rainy initially but as the daylight dimmed the rain stopped! The crowds were slow but steady for the first hour. But, as the evening progressed we had thousands stuck in a cattle security gate which was taking lots of time for us to preach Bible truths to them, it was fantastic!
We had intended to preach for a few hours, but ended up staying until about 8:30 pm almost four hours! The crowds of people would not let up. Praise Jesus!
Imagine having people flowing past you hundreds at a time. They mocked, blasphemed, and hated the preaching and you. Then 50 feet from you they fell off an invisible cliff, you hear the screams, you see the flames and smoke shoot up. Then the next group of sinners come by and do the very same thing! Then once in a while someone steps off the broad path to destruction and asks good questions, gets prayers, and few even repent!
This is what we are called to do saints, REACH OUT! The time is short, the night draws near, when our King will come back on very dark clouds, with lightning announcing His arrival to destroy the inhabitants of the earth! Do you believe this???
Memorial to Nick Kowalski, Faithful Soldier of Christ Gone Home
The Gentleness and Severity of the Christian Witness
I was invited by a group of godly young men from EKU who wanted to sit down and speak with me about my faith. I met with them after three – 5 hour days of preaching on their campus. We spoke for about two hours and one of the questions that came up was the harsh words and severity of our preaching. This article which I have now moved from my old website gives some insight to what the Bible says our hearts should be about evangelism and how to do it.
The question has often been asked about our methods of biblical evangelism when we rebuke and reprove hard sinners is, “Shouldn’t we be gentle in our dealings with the lost? The question begged then becomes, “How can we be gentle and rebuke as the Scriptures obviously require us to do?” The truth is knowable if we seek it. Someone is wrong in this moral dilemma of gentleness and hardness of communication with the sinner.
2 Tim 4:2-5
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. 5 But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Tim 2:24-26
And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, 25 in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, 26 and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will.
This question arises within the same letter from Paul to Timothy. Here is the answer in simplest terms. In regards to rebuking and gentleness of our Christian witness, it is a both/and not an either or depending on the condition of the soil of the heart of the listener/s.
James 4:5-7
5 Or do you think that the Scripture says in vain, “The Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously”? 6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:“God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” 7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.
Prov 3:33-35
The curse of the Lord is on the house of the wicked, But He blesses the home of the just. Surely He scorns the scornful, But gives grace to the humble. 35 The wise shall inherit glory, But shame shall be the legacy of fools
1 Pet 5:4-6
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
So, the Holy Spirit who dwells in us gives the law/rebukes/warnings of hell/etc to the proud sinners, but His grace is given to those who humble themselves during or after our witness of Christ to them. If you read the writeup for my Grandmother’s funeral preach video you would find out a lot of information about how long I have been witnessing to this group of people called my earthly family. One2one, small groups, tracts, emails, etc I have been witnessing to my family over sixteen years, My first witness to them was Aug 3, 1996 when I was born again I called everyone in my family and asked them if they knew of or had been saved by Jesus Christ.
Now I want to parallel my experiences of my witness to my family to the witnesses we give to strangers to see if there is any correlation between the two. In trying to reach my family most of them were haughty and resistant from the beginning of my testimonies to them. Only my ‘saved’ sister and my maternal grandmother were interested at all in the things I desired to say of Jesus and His great salvation offered to the world. So, over the years as I learned that when speaking of the love of Jesus demonstrated at the cross for them, they neglected and even mocked it. To this, I would tell them they were headed to hell. This of course, is very offensive to the carnal person still living in sin. I learned about ten years ago that I needed to show them the law which is written upon the conscience and that it would bear witness as I did. Well, glory hallelujah this did make some inroads with some of my family but most still hardened their hearts. But, the law is not all we need to use as our witness. We need to use: 1. Creation which points to a Creator 2. The Judgments of God which points out the horrors of dying in a sinful state. 3. Sin which everyone is guilty of to point to the need for forgiveness. 4. His Righteousness which means He won’t neglect what He has threatened and or promised against and for all of humanity. 5. His love which was demonstrated on the cross in suffering and dying for all sinners and sin. 6. His Word which is an eternal testimony of Himself to a lost and dying world. 7. His Spirit which indwells every believer as we walk according to His directions in our communications with the lost.
If you think about it, our earthly family are just family members that are closer than the rest of our family which is the human race. Why do we make special provision, excuses, or justifications for those that we know better or have more worldly experiences with, than the rest of our family? I prove that point with one Scripture which I love to cite especially when people are racist in their thinking.
Acts 17:26-31
And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, 27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; 28 for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ 29 Therefore, since we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold or silver or stone, something shaped by art and man’s devising. 30 Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent, 31 because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.”
In summary, we should not treat our close family members differently than the rest of our human family in our testimony of Jesus. We should be consistent across the board not being preferential in the way we witness to them. If we are, we need to repent of this arbitrary thinking and behavior. One danger we have is to lose sight of the fact that Jesus will condemn them no matter what we say or do, if they do not repent, seek forgiveness, and become born again of the Holy Spirit. Let us comfort no sinner in sin, whether they be a stranger on the street, or the closest brother, cousin, mother or father we have many fond carnal memories with….
1 Pet 1:13-19
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all yourconduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
We should consider both God’s goodness and severity as well!
Rom 11:22-23
Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. 23 And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again.
Friends, let us make sure we represent Him properly to a lost world which is in rebellion to Him and His Holy authority. I had a friend of mine recently say,
A sinner asked, “Why should we fear God?” I said, “Because He is HORRIFYINGLY HOLY! He burns people! Alive! Forever!” ”
Filed under Teaching
13 responses to “The Gentleness and Severity of the Christian Witness”
EKU Student Requests Proof for Open Air!
Comment: Hi John. My name is Brady XXXXX. I am a student atEKU where you are preaching as I type this actually. I didn't have time to stay and ask but Idid want to ask you a question. Do you really think that the way you are approaching evangelism is the best way? Is the way you are sharing your faith the model that Jesus gives us in scripture?
Here is the answer I offered this seeker from EKU
The Foolishness of Preaching
By Bruce Evan Murch
Used with kind permission
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. -1Corinthians 1:21
In all the world’s wisdom, it still didn’t know God…so he sent PREACHERS!
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? – Romans 10:14
What was God thinking? At first blush it doesn’t seem like a terribly effective method of getting the Word to people. At least not in this day and time. “Preaching” has changed a lot over the years, especially over the last 100 years. I wonder if we really know what the Scriptural model for preaching is any more. I am truly convinced that if preachers followed the Biblical model for preaching, it would be far more effective.
To start let me make a distinction between preaching and witnessing. Witnessing is how you interact with sinners on a daily basis. Jesus had many commands on how to show kindness and love to those who don’t know Him. He ate with them and showed compassion on them. He lived an example. Preaching is a specific function that God uses to warn sinners of His impending judgment and it’s results, and to offer the gift of salvation through repentance and belief in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross.
Let me also make a distinction between preaching and teaching. Preaching is primarily what is done for the benefit of the lost whom we are attempting to reach with the Gospel. Teaching is primarily the Word as it is given to those who are saved and are being edified and matured by it. While those may not be hard-and-fast definitions, they are generally accurate and will suffice for the sake of my points on preaching. I am discussing the way that God’s Word is preached to the lost.
The most popular method of preaching is the type popularized by Billy Graham. Those of us who are street preachers call it the “God Loves You and Has a Wonderful Plan For Your Life” preaching. Sinners are told that “Jesus loves you. He accepts you just the way you are. Invite him into your heart right now. That’s all you have to do. Believe and profess His name right now and you will be born again.” This of course is followed by “With every head bowed and every eye closed…Come down to the front right now. Your friends will wait. Don’t worry, the buses will not leave”. Hundreds, sometimes thousands of people stream to the front of the auditorium as “Just As I Am” plays over the sound system.
What becomes of these thousands and thousands of “converts” over the years? You might think that after all these thousands coming forward, we would have had a major revival in the U.S. by now. What gives? The answer may surprise you.
According to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, only about 10% of those making a profession of faith at a Billy Graham crusade are regularly attending church members one year later. That’s right. Just ten percent. What’s the problem? Is it the messenger, or is it the message? Or did the Holy Spirit goof up somehow?
The Bible has a pretty basic model for preaching. It can be summed up in two words, REPENT and BELIEVE. Now you might think that this smacks of old-timey fire and brimstone preaching that is outdated and, well, FOOLISH. Guess again.
Matt 3:2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Matt 4:17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Mark 1:15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
Mark 6:12 And they went out, and preached that men should repent.
Luke 13:3 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Luke 13:5 I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.
Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.
Acts 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:
Acts 26:20 But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and [then] to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
But aren’t we supposed to preach the Love of Christ? Aren’t we supposed to be “non-judgmental”? Haven’t we been taught that the Holy Spirit “woos” sinners to Himself in love? Well, not according to Scripture:
John 16:8 And when he (the Holy Spirit) is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
But, you might say, doesn’t God love everyone? That’s why He sent Jesus, to redeem the whole world. We all know that God hates the sin but loves the sinner, right? Not really.
Actually, the Word clearly says that God HATES some people. That’s right. HATES. And furthermore it is acceptable to hate the enemies of God (not YOUR enemies). This is not an emotional hatred, but a strenuous opposition. I know this sounds radical according to modern Christian teaching, but when in doubt, let’s go back to the Holy Word.
Psalm 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
Psalm 5:5,6 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
Proverbs 6:16-17 These six [things] doth the LORD hate: yea, seven [are] an abomination unto him A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,
Psalm 139:21, 22 Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
So we find that God loved “mankind” (His creation) so much that He wanted to redeem us, but He hates individual sinners. Preaching should reflect this. In other words, preaching should be the warning of the wicked from his way; letting him know that he is a disgusting and filthy sinner in the eyes of God. But that in spite of that, God is giving him the opportunity to REPENT and turn to God if he believes in His death, burial and resurrection-His redemptive work on the cross. But be it known that He requires holiness (be ye holy even as I am holy). He is a “jealous God that will have no other Gods before Him”. And if you continue to “willfully sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there is NO MORE sacrifice for sins, just a fearful looking forward to of the fiery indignation that God has reserved for his enemies” (Hebrews 10:26).
Instead of this, people are being told that they need only “believe and confess the name of Jesus”; that Jesus loves you so much He made it that simple. Folks converted under this preaching are looking for what God will do for them next, not what God REQUIRES of them. They want Jesus to be their best friend and lover, they don’t want to be His sold-out slave. It truly is a fundamental difference. In truth, He wants us to be ALL of that.
Most of the sermons in the Bible are in the Book of Acts. NOT ONCE is the love of Jesus mentioned in any of those sermons. But repentance is mentioned in virtually all of them.
What about “name-calling?” Is it right for preachers to get on the corner and call people “wicked sinners, fornicators, sodomites, adulterers”, etc.? The apostles did. “And God added to the church such as should be saved.”
For those of you who think that the Old Testament verses I quoted are not relevant to New Testament preaching, we’ll clear that up now.
2Timothy 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
The Scripture Paul is referring to of course is the Old Testament. It was the only Scripture they had.
2Timothy 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
Here, Paul goes into specifics about HOW one should preach: REPROVE, REBUKE and EXHORT. Most of us only understand in a general sense what these words mean. Let’s take a look at the word “reprove” in the Greek. It is an extremely strong word.
Strongs: #1651 elegcho
1) to convict, refute, confute
1a) generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted
1b) by conviction to bring to the light, to expose
2) to find fault with, correct
2a) by word
2a1) to reprehend severely, chide, admonish, reprove
2a2) to call to account, show one his fault, demand an explanation
2b) by deed
2b1) to chasten, to punish
Paul is basically saying that when you preach, “find fault with them, reprehend them severely, warn (admonish) them, chide them, show them their faults, bring shame on them”. Obviously this is done along with the message that if the sinner DOES repent and turn to God he will be saved and experience the “times of refreshing”. But there are no instructions about the “love of Jesus”. He is also saying that ALL SCRIPTURE is profitable for reproof as well.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].
Many modern translations say “expose” rather than reprove, but the Greek word is the same, with the same strong meaning. We should not only avoid fellowship with these works, but should warn, bring shame on, reprehend severely, chide, call them to account and show them their faults”.
Isaiah 58:1 Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.
But doesn’t that kind of preaching just bring ridicule and arguments? Sometimes. But it also gets people’s attention. Nobody thinks of himself or herself as evil. Very few think of themselves as God-haters. They will almost always stop to defend themselves against this kind of preaching. You have a captive audience for a time anyway. Is it wrong to argue with the wicked? Nah.
Prov. 28:4 They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law CONTEND with them.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort [you] that ye should earnestly CONTEND for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Many preachers want to be “nicer than God” when they preach. I feel no such responsibility. Preaching in the open air is really the only way to reach those that will not walk into church to hear the gospel. And in 99 churches out of 100, they wouldn’t hear what they needed to hear in church anyway. The Apostles are recorded in Acts as ARGUING with people as a method of preaching.
Acts 17:17 Therefore disputed he (Paul) in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him.
Acts 19:8 And he (Paul) went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus.
In the first verse above, we see that Paul not only preached to the Jews this way in the synagogue, but also “in the marketplace”. This is the chief concourse, the place where the largest possible audience could be found. They used the same method of preaching in the synagogues, in the marketplace and in the schools.
I have been accused of “name-calling” when I preach. I will sometimes call people fornicators, sodomites, etc. This is not name-calling in the sense of being hateful or derogatory. It is an effective and Biblical way of making the sinner understand that they are being identified by the sins they commit. I preach on the street. I’m called a street preacher. If I were boastful, some would call me a braggart or an egomaniac. We are identified by our attributes. When I preach at the sodomite marches, I refer to those I’m preaching to as sodomites. That’s what the Bible calls them I have no problem with that.
Here is a list of some of the names that people are called in the New Testament. Some of these were spoken of religious leaders, some were spoken of ordinary folks.
* “DOGS” Matt. 7:6 Jesus said, “Give not that which is holy unto the dogs” (see also 2 Peter 2:20-22, Rev. 22:15)
* “SWINE” Matt. 7:6 “…neither cast your pearls before swine”
* “VIPERS” Matt. 3:7 “O generation of vipers…” (see also Matt. 12:34, 23:33 and Luke 3:7)
* “HYPOCRITES” Matt.6:2 “…as the hypocrites in the synagogues…” (see also Matt.6:5, 16, 15:7, 16:3, 22:18, 23:13-15, 29, 24:51, Mark 7:6, Luke 11:44, 12:56)
* “CHILDREN OF THE DEVIL” John 8:44 “You are of your father the devil…” (see also Acts 13:10)
* “PERVERSE” Mat. 17:17″…O faithless and perverse generation” (see also Luke 9:41, Acts 20:30, Phil. 2:15, 1Tim. 6:5)
* “REPROBATE” 2Cor 13:5-7 “…except ye be reprobates” (see also Rom 1:28, 2Tim. 3:8, Tit. 1:16)
* “HEATHEN” Mat. 6:7 “…as the heathen do” (see also Mat.18:17, Act 4:25, 2Cor. 11:26, Gal. 1:16, 2:9, 3:8)
* “FOOLS” Mat. 23:17 “…Ye fools and blind” (see also Luke 12:20, 1Cor.15:36, Mat.23:19, Luke 11:40, 24:25, Eph. 5:15)
* “WICKED AND ADULTEROUS” Mat. 16:4 “A wicked and adulterous generation” (see also Mat. 12:45, 13:49, 18:32, 21:41, 25:26, Luke 19:22, 1Cor. 5:13, 2Thes. 3:2, 2Pet. 2:7, 3:17)
* “O YE OF LITTLE FAITH” (Christ’s favorite name for His apostles!) Mat.6:30, 8:26, 14:31, etc., etc., etc.
* “STIFFNECKED AND UNCIRCUMCISED” Acts7:53 “…stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart”
* “LIARS, EVIL BEASTS, SLOW BELLIES” Titus 1:12 (see also 2Peter 2:12, Jude 10)
* “ADULTERERS AND ADULTERESSES” Hebrews 13:4 “…whoremongers and adulterers God will judge” James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses…” (see also Rom 7:3, Mat. 12:39, 16:4, Mark 8:38)
* “WHITED WALL” Acts 23:3 Paul to the high priest .
Again, the purpose for this type of approach is for the sinner’s benefit. He must be told that God requires him to REPENT and believe in Jesus Christ’s redemptive work on the cross to be saved and escape the fires of hell. In the verses in the Gospels there is a persistent theme: If you do not REPENT, you will perish. It doesn’t say you will perish if you don’t believe (although you will obviously), the emphasis is on the repentance.
Now I realize that all this goes contrary to what most of us have been taught about preaching. We all know how embarrassing it is to hear a street preacher out on the corner telling folks to “Turn or Burn”, “Get Right or Get Left”. But is that embarrassment because the method is wrong, or is it a problem with our own pride in our own hearts?
I have laid out a case for it from Scripture. But let’s also look at the witness of history. As I mentioned earlier, the Apostles NEVER preached about the “love of Jesus” or any such thing when they preached. Let’s look at the Reformers and the Revivalists.
Martin Luther preached vehemently against the notion that God “hates the sin but loves the sinner”. Of the Revivalists of the Great Awakenings, Jonathan Edwards, George Whitefield, and later Charles Finney all denounced the notion as well. They all taught that you cannot separate the sin from the sinner. God doesn’t send the sin to hell, but the sinner to heaven. God “hates the hands that shed innocent blood.” Does He just hate that part of the sinner’s anatomy? Of course not.
“So what?”, you might say. They could have gotten it wrong. After all, they’re just a bunch of dead white guys. Maybe. Except for one thing. The Holy Spirit visited their preaching with REVIVAL! Massive, widespread, nation-changing, intercontinental REVIVAL. The fact is that there has NEVER been that kind of vindication from the Holy Spirit for the “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life” preaching.
Jonathan Edwards’ sermons were all very much as I have described preaching as I believe it should be. He preached many of his Revival sermons in New England in 1738-1741. He is most famous for his sermon, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Here is an excerpt from the sermon that the Holy Spirit visited with revival:
“The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment.
It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you were suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God’s hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell. O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in!”
Yikes! Doesn’t sound like the “love of Christ” to me! How could you get revival from THIS? But the effect of that preaching was astonishing, and literally changed the spiritual makeup of America and ushered in sweeping reforms in law and culture.
This is a photo of me preaching in front of the Liberty Bell on July 4th. The crowd was less than enthusiastic. People didn’t want to hear about God’s Holy Word and Law on their vacation.
This sort of preaching is opposed by Christians more vehemently than anyone else. I have had Christians routinely stop to rebuke and chastise me for being “judgmental” and “un-Christlike” and “unloving.”
They listen to God being blasphemed by some of the onlookers. Instead of defending God against the heathen, they defend the heathen against me! The world (and the police) view it as “hate speech”. In America, you cannot be assured that you have the freedom to preach the unvarnished Word of God any more. But we must.
Open-air preaching is not fun. Like the U.S. Army ads used to say, “It’s not a job, it’s an adventure!” I am routinely cursed and screamed at; I have had sodomites expose themselves at me and spit in my face; I’ve been assaulted. I hear God blasphemed. Some respond with interest and some with just anger. This is a ministry of seed-planting. But the measure of the success of this preaching isn’t necessarily found on the day that it is preached.
They hear the Word from me. They have been warned. They have been offered the knowledge of His saving grace. In the quiet of the evening when they lie in bed and ponder the thoughts of the day, they will consider that what they heard about themselves and God may be true.
I don’t see a large harvest. But that’s not my responsibility. My responsibility is to show the TRUE love of God. It is not love to preach to sinners that they need only believe and come to Jesus (“for even the devils believe, and tremble”). The LOVING thing is to tell them the truth about how God actually sees them, and to show them what it takes for that to change; to show them what God expects in return for His eternal salvation. Many say that salvation is a “free gift” from God. It is free in the sense that there is nothing WE can do to obtain it; we only get it by God’s grace, His unmerited favor. But it costs us EVERYTHING. We are bought with a price and belong to Him to do His bidding and not our own. THIS IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST.
Unfortunately, there is so little church discipline and proper teaching about holiness and sin, that sin runs amok in the camp! And preachers who have hidden sins cannot effectively preach against it, because their heart condemns them as they preach. So they stay with the “grace, mercy and compassion” message instead of the “holiness, justice and judgment” message. They are both aspects of God’s nature, but those who continue to practice sin and tolerate it within the church concentrate on one to the exclusion of the other. I believe that is why the American Christian Church is in the condition it’s in.
In American churches, we are not called upon to live holy lives, we are offered “counseling” for our “problems”. We are not called to account for our sins. We offer cliches for our sin, such as “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven” or “Be patient, God isn’t finished with me yet”. This is Bumper Sticker Christianity. We are NOT told that if we fail to conform to God’s Holy Word and Law that we will be denied communion, or even the fellowship of other believers. This is what Paul demanded of the Corinthians, and of us as well. In failing to do so, we have let sin run rampant within the church, making her totally ineffective in calling the world to repentance.
This won’t change until we repent of our own sin, demand the same within the church and the church leadership and begin to preach boldly in the marketplace the true message of salvation.
Let me say with the Psalmist:
I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Psalm 40:9-10
Here is another great note on this important subject! http://officialstreetpreachers.com/History/History%20of%20Street%20Preaching.pdf
Tenn Tech Has Some Ears to Hear!
….However, not all students believe his motives are bad. Patrick Kent, a graduate student at Tech studying chemical engineering, said he’s been able to talk to McGlone before, and that McGlone doesn’t really seem to be doing anything wrong.
“I really like that he is actually trying to tell people about the gospel of Christ,” said Kent. “The way he is doing it is actually an effective way of getting the message out. I think sometimes people just hear what they want to hear as they walk away from him. If nothing else, it at least makes people think about Christ.”
Kent also said that McGlone’s presence on campus makes it easier for Christians to generate conversation about Christ.
McGlone also brought a new preacher with him to speak on campus. Ross Jackson, founder of Revival Mission Ministries, was with McGlone for this visit to Tech. Jackson was primarily the preacher who preached in the circle on Centennial Plaza, while McGlone spoke to students on the outside of the circle.
SOAPA Conference Atlanta, GA Oct 7th-11th
Great to see all the old timers again and many new guys and gals as well.
Street and Open Air Preachers of America Conference
Here are some of our adventures!
Here are some of the great teachings:
Amen brother. The law is given to the proud, and grace and mercy to the humble.
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Amen Br. Jason!
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“Let us comfort no sinner in sin, whether they be a stranger on the street, or the closest brother, cousin, mother or father we have many fond carnal memories with….” Very well said, brother. I have recently had this experience in my immediate family as well.
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Thank you!
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This is a great word, thank you Brother for sharing this, may God richly bless you, all glory to God!
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Amen bro! Thank you, please share with your family and friends!
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Amen brother! Great article! You encourage me in my faith and witness to my family and towards those outside. God bless you
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Thank you dear brother, you encourage me as well!
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Amen, the Lord is convicting me to push forward this year speaking to my family more. I don’t think rebuke ever comes across gentle it hurts, it breaks down the hardness of the heart.
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Amen sister! The righteous are as bold as lions.
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Praise Jesus dear brother John! Wisdom is certainly from above and you speak it so very well! AMEN
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Yes, praise Jesus dear brother!
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Amen, thank you dear brother!
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