The Gospel…the Gospel…the Gospel…Evangelicals, Charismatics, Catholics, and young, restless “Fundamentalists” are beating in unison the same doctrinal drum…the Gospel.
The meeting of that mixed multitude on the “Kumbaya” Gospel bridge has required a minimization of distinctive doctrinal differences, accepting as taboo standards that once defined practical sanctification, and accepting music of every genre as amoral. At the risk of raising the ire of the loving and tolerant, I believe the Gospel pendulum is so out of balance the pulpit has lost its power to persuade sinners and saints of sin (2 Corinthians 5:10-11).
As I am working down the homestretch of my preparation for this Sunday morning’s sermon from 1 Timothy 2:1-8, I am pondering some comparisons between the heresies Timothy confronted in the church at Ephesus and our 21st century churches, Bible colleges and seminaries.
Among the many challenges Timothy faced were those presented by false teachers who desired to be “teachers of the law” (1 Timothy 1:7a). Preaching a lot of Law, the false teachers were guilty of minimizing God’s grace and mercy through Christ’s sacrifice (Titus 3:5-7).
Today, there are pastors, teachers, and evangelists who are guilty of preaching the Gospel to the exclusion of teaching God’s Law and Commandments. Calling for unity around the Gospel message and preaching almost exclusively Grace and Mercy, these teachers and preachers have diminished the role of the Law and Commandments to convict sinners and saints of sin (1 Timothy 1:9b-10).
Do you wonder why a spirit of carnality has taken hold of our homes, churches, Bible colleges and seminaries? I believe an exclusive emphasis on the Gospel, Grace, and Liberty to the neglect of the Law and Commandments has fostered a desensitized, lawless, and unholy church.
1 Peter 1:15-16 – “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
Copyright 2017 – Travis D. Smith
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