|
In many of today’s churches there’s a gospel being
preached which couldn't stir the wind in a tornado. That gospel is what I’ll call the
“Innocuous Gospel”. It won’t arouse any feeling or
give offense to anyone under its teachings. It’ s a commonplace, bland, milk & water type
gospel which produces no fruit.
A person can sit under its teachings and never be offended or
provoked in their spirit.
Let me
clarify the difference between this “Innocuous
Gospel” and the true Gospel of the Bible. The true Gospel of the Bible produces fruit because it
delivers the entire counsel of God.
The innocuous gospel so muddies and clouds the true Gospel message
that it is all but absent from today’s congregations. The unsaved members might as well
walk around carrying their tombstones about their necks because the
message they’re hearing is a dead one that won’t lead anyone to
salvation.
In the early NT church the true gospel spread throughout the
Roman Empire with such fury that it seemed wherever the early Christians
went the town went into an uproar:
Acts 17:6 --
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren
unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world
upside down are come hither also
Acts 19:29 -- And the whole city was filled with
confusion: and having caught Gaius and Aristarchus, men of Macedonia,
Paul's companions in travel, they rushed with one accord into the
theatre.
Acts 16:20 -- And brought them to the
magistrates, saying, These men, being Jews, do exceedingly trouble our
city,
1 Th 2:2 -- But even after that we had suffered before,
and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in
our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
Unfortunately, today we’re never sure what type of gospel
we’re going to hear. The
reality is that Satan is loose and he’s infecting our churches and
turning them upside down.
Below are some ways in which you might identify this so-called
innocuous gospel. If any of
these situations are present in your church, then you have become a
hearer or perhaps even a preacher of this innocuous gospel (IG).
1.
Very Little Scripture
One of the tenets of the IG is that the sermon contains a very
low amount of Scripture and typically when Scripture is quoted it is on a
subject like love. Of
course, the type of love generally taught is “Don't offend the unbeliever.” A church embracing the IG will always have a minimal
amount of Scripture expounded or even mentioned.
2.
Twisted Scripture
Pastors preaching the IG will use a verse and then twist it
to skew its meaning toward their sermon -- whether it is correct or
not! Those who are good at
twisting Scriptures normally have no idea what the verses mean so they
turn it into a social cause.
Scripture twisting changes the nature of the gospel from a
salvific gospel to a worldly one.
3.
Story Time in the Sanctuary
Everybody loves a good story. But when the sermon is nothing more than an
entertaining story, then it is a failure. Stories are good if they are illustrations; however,
when that story is used for the whole sermon, it shows the pastor's
inability to apply Scripture to life.
4.
No Challenge in the Message
The IG message is worthless dribble. Today's IG pastors refuse to
challenge their flock and the result is a church full of spiritual
dolts. The message is
supposed to challenge our spiritual lives, not be a verbal message
lulling us to sleep.
5.
You’re Hearing the same Message you did a year ago
Does your pastor's message ever change? How many different subjects does
he preach about in a year?
Many preachers have a fixation on a particular subject (like love) and never leave its track to
edify the congregation on other equally important topics (like judgement
or Hell).
6.
You Haven't Grown
Are you spiritually stagnant? Are you still at the same spiritual plateau you were a
year ago? If you’re in a church
which embraces an innocuous gospel, you’ll never grow in the faith. But remember: as a Christian you
have the responsibility to study the Bible outside of church. Unfortunately, if you’re
receiving spiritual pabulum from the pulpit, it won’t spark any further
interest in your spiritual growth.
7.
The Congregants Agree with the Pastor
Here’s how you can tell whether you’re in a church with an
insipid gospel: the preacher
teaches a dead gospel and yet everyone in the congregation agrees with him. Of course, if you raise a
question or challenge him, you’re the one who will be berated for
Christian convictions.
8.
The Sermons are Always Positive
Acts 20:27 --
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
IG sermons are always positive and only geared toward the
positive. Let us never
mention Hell, damnation, judgment or other terms which could upset the
good people in the pews.
After all, aren't they doing little league or PTA -- how much more
does God expect? There is nothing positive about the world system. The IG preacher keeps his flock
in the dark about truth.
Their goal seems to be to have a congregation full of smiles. Later, when a member of their
flock is rolled down the aisle in his casket, the pastor can assure the
people that the deceased is in heaven because of all the good he did.
Final Comments
The innocuous gospel is a deadly gospel. If you’re in a church that
consistently preaches this innocuous gospel, then you cannot and will not
grow. Don’t stay there under
the mistaken impression that you can make a difference. You belong with other believers
of like mind so you can begin to grow. God does not want to hear things like, "Well, my
Grandfather went here and my Father went here." We are commanded to separate
ourselves.
2 Cor 6:17 -- Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing; and I will receive you
HOME
|
