Quote:
Originally Posted by John Atkinson
There is a difference between having (and even preaching) standards of morality, character, behavior and modesty, and just plain legalistic bombardment.
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I wanted to share a thought I had when I read the above Bro. Atkinson. My thought was along these lines...
Do preachers preach standards because it's easy to preach standards?
I mean, in the bully pulpit you're going to get raving Amens and shouting. I used to when I preached. If I wanted to rile the crowd up I knew all I had to do is go down a road and bash television or gay people for about five minutes. Standards and "hot button" topics were sure winners. I knew that the majority in the building were UPCI. This means that they better support the idea of no television... and if they had televisions (and some did and I know it) they shouted too because they didn't want to look like sinners. I knew that most likely there were very few homosexuals in the house, so I could bash away and get "Amen brother!"s until the cows came home. Standards were an easy thing to preach. Here's another good example, a good friend of mine preached from
Matthew 7... here was his text....
Matthew 7:24-27
24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
25And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
26And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
27And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
He read it with that slow and deliberate preacher's draw we all learned so well from the elder... and then he opened with this statement...
"I still believe that it's wrong to own a television. And I still believe it's wrong for a woman to wear pants!"
He preached about television for nearly a half hour.... and the house was filled with screaming and shouting with the preacher (he never went back and touched women's pants though). He said he wanted to set a standard and show us a rock we could build our houses upon. From a homiletic perspective, he did great. He had a great delivery, it kept our attention, and it was well structured... even better, people came to the altar. I don't doubt that his motives were sincere.
But... there is a BIG problem with the sermon. Notice the text... Jesus said,
Matthew 7:24
24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Our preacher friend never told the congregation that this was the closing of a three chapter sermon delivered by Jesus known as the Sermon on the Mount. He never touched on a single thing Jesus had just preached about. When Jesus says, "whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them" he's talking about what he'd been teaching in the previous three chapters. Notice the subjects Jesus addresses...
The Beatitudes being poor in spirit,
those who mourn,
the meek,
those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
the merciful,
the pure in heart,
the peacemakers,
those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
when people insult you and persecute you
Being Salt and Light
The Fulfillment of the Law
Murder & Slander
Adultery
Divorce
Oaths
An Eye for an Eye
Love for Enemies
Giving to the Needy
Prayer
Fasting
Treasures in Heaven
Do Not Worry
Judging Others
Ask, Seek, Knock
The Narrow and Wide Gates
A Tree and Its Fruit
Our brother (one who is now in the WWPF) was railing about television and how the church (he meant UPCI) is compromising for nearly a half hour... and never once touched single thing Christ said. The people walked away knowing the organization's position on television... but they didn't walk away knowing what Christ taught. Again, Jesus said,
Matthew 7:24
24Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
You can't build your house on a rock by doing the things Jesus taught us to do unless someone teaches the things Jesus actually taught. Instead... the preacher opted to bash television. It was an easy sermon. I assure you... if he would have gone into the Sermon on the Mount (honestly it deserves a series not one sermon) it would have been dead. By the time he got to what Jesus taught about lust and loving your enemies people would be trickling out to the bathrooms and texting in the lobby.
So I wonder...
Do so many preach traditional standards because standards are easier to preach than the actual Word of God???
Just a thought. Love you guys.
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