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Feeding
Sheep or Amusing Goats?
by
C. H. Spurgeon 1834-1892
An
evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that
the most shortsighted can hardly fail to notice it during the past few
years. It has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked
like leaven until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a
cleverer thing than hinting to the church that part of their mission is to
provide entertainment for the people, with a view to winning them.
From
speaking out as the Puritans did, the church has gradually toned down her
testimony, then winked at and excused the frivolities of the day. Then she
tolerated them in her borders. Now she has adopted them under the plea
of reaching the masses.
My
first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere
spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the church. If it is a
Christian work, why did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the
world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15). That is
clear enough So it would have been if He had added, "and
provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel." No such
words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to him.
Then
again, "He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some
evangelists; and some pastors and teachers .., for the work of the
ministry" (Eph. 4:11-12). Where do entertainers come in? The Holy
Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because
they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr
roll.
Again,
providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of
Christ and all his apostles. What was the attitude of the church to the
world? Ye are the salt" (Matt. 5:13), not the sugar candy---something
the world will spit out not swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance,
"Let the dead bury their dead" (Matt. 8:22) He was in awful
earnestness.
Had
Christ introduced more of the bright and pleasant elements into his
mission, he would have been more popular when they went back, because of
the searching nature of His teaching. I do not hear him say, "Run
after these people Peter and tell them we will have a different style of
service tomorrow, something short and attractive with little preaching. We
will have a pleasant evening for the people. Tell them they will be sure
to enjoy it. Be quick Peter, we must get the people somehow." Jesus
pitied sinners, sighed and wept over them, but never sought to amuse them.
In
vain will the Epistles be searched to find any trace of this gospel of
amusement! Their message is, "Come out, keep out, keep clean
out!" Anything approaching fooling is conspicuous by its absence.
They had boundless confidence in the gospel and employed no other weapon.
After
Peter and John were locked up for preaching, the church had a prayer
meeting but they did not pray, "Lord grant unto thy servants that by
a wise and discriminating use of innocent recreation we may show these
people how happy we are." If they ceased not from preaching Christ,
they had not time for arranging entertainments. Scattered by persecution,
they went everywhere preaching the gospel. They turned the world upside
down (Acts 17:6). That is the only difference! Lord, clear the church of
all the rot and rubbish the devil has imposed on her, and bring us back to
apostolic methods.
Lastly,
the mission of amusement fails to effect the end desired. It works havoc
among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because
the church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy laden who
found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom
the dramatic entertainment has been God's link in the chain of the
conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement
produces no converts. The need of the hour for today's ministry is
believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing
from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so
understood and felt, that it sets men on fire. |
Pray for the Churches
In California
by W. L. Brown 10-30-07
To be honest, I have not done a
serious study of churches I would consider scriptural in the entire state
of California. But I do know of only about fifteen churches across the
entire state that are churches I would consider to be sound in the faith
as to church truth and sovereign grace. There are many many churches that
are straight on the church but antagonistic to sovereign grace. There are
several that are sovereign grace but antagonistic to church truth. Please
pray for us in this land of selfish absorption. Satan seeks to destroy
anything that is designed to give glory and honor to the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords. Pray that we will continue to stand fast, and contend for
the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. Pray that we will not
be guilty of calling down fire from heaven upon our own brethren. And pray
that we will not devour our sister churches with the teeth of man made
laws.
Do You Have A Heart For
Missions?
by W. L. Brown 10-30-07
Missions is evangelizing the lost
whether it be on the foreign field, our country, or on our own block, in
our town or city. It is giving the answer of the reason for the hope that
dwells in us. It is preaching how that Christ died for our sins. according
to the Scriptures. It is preaching how Christ was buried and rose again
from the grave, according to the Scriptures. It is preaching the gospel.
We are praying that God will raise men up right here or call some to come
serve God here in California. We want to be used of the Lord. Perhaps the
Lord might burden you to serve him according to the pattern of the New
Testament. We are praying that God will send us someone who would like to
help in seeing strict particular Baptist churches formed from a biblical
material. Are you interested? |
