This Sinner’s Testimony

God tells us to always be ready to tell another about the hope that is in us.  In 1Peter 3:15 God says, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.”  That’s what I’m going to try to do with today’s posting. 

I have to consider myself lucky because I can’t remember a time when God wasn’t at least a small part of my life. My parents sent me to Sunday school every week, and I attended regularly until I graduated from high school.   

After I went off to college, I only went to church when I was home on breaks.  In college I took a lot of Religious Studies classes along with my other courses.  I actually had enough of an academic background in theology to nearly qualify for a minor in Religious Studies.  But despite all the theological and religious book knowledge that I gained during those years, I still didn’t have a real relationship with the LORD. 

In college I found a very interesting reformed Christian radio station – and I listened occasionally.  What I heard made me think – but it was at odds with most of what I’d heard & learned through all my years of Sunday School, church attendance and college classes.  There was something about that radio station that made it different from all the others I’d heard. 

After college, I started out on my career.  I had a decent job.  I got married.  I didn’t lie, cheat, steal, smoke, or drink.  I was a decent, moral person – or, at least I thought I was.  Something was missing from my life – and intellectually I think I knew that what was missing was a relationship with Christ.  I watched all the Billy Graham Crusades on TV; even went to one in Washington.  Without fail, I’d always pray that “Sinner’s Prayer” — and I genuinely meant it every time!  And then without fail, a day or maybe a week later I’d be right back engaged in my old lifestyle.             

What about that change?  There really wasn’t any difference in my life.  I’d be more frustrated than ever that I couldn’t sustain this desire for the Lord.  I still didn’t have any sort of real relationship with God.  All around me, my life was changing – I now had a daughter and a wife to care for and that cared for me.  But within, I still hadn’t undergone any real change.  A dozen years ago my family moved to Carroll County and we  began attending a local church.  We also began regularly listening to another reformed Christian radio station.   

Then one day it finally dawned on me what set this reformed station apart from most of the others: everything they tried to say and do at that time was structured around what the BIBLE said.  What a concept?! So, I began to really read the Bible to see what “IT” had to say. I knew what my denomination said; I knew what the majority of TV Evangelists and radio stations said.  I didn’t realize it at the time, but I was listening more to what man was saying than to what God said.  Slowly I began to realize that all those years – in church, in Sunday school, in my college religious studies classes — I hadn’t been hearing or understanding the entire message of the Bible. 

The portion of the gospel usually presented in most churches – and the only part I heard in all my years in a certain denomination — was about God’s Love.  Growing up and in my church I never heard an honest, biblically based account of why I needed a Savior. As I read and listened more to the Bible, a clearer picture came into focus for me of the Bible’s Gospel — not the gospel of a specific denomination, pastor, or radio station – but the Bible’s gospel. 

It was then that I came to understand that all those years I was trying to change myself; I was trying to save myself.  Now, I didn’t think so at the time!  I was absolutely convinced I’d been doing things God’s way.  But if God truly is the author and finisher of our faith (as Scripture says) then what can I contribute?  God is the One who must circumcise my heart. He’s the One who makes me a new creation.  He’s the One who causes me to undergo the Change of rebirth. What can I contribute toward this new birth if it’s truly one from above? Nothing.

The salvation I had been seeking all through my adolescence, teen years, young adulthood and even into middle age was 99% grace, but I still had to do something myself.  God’s work wasn’t quite enough.  I had to do something.  I had to say a certain prayer or make a certain vow before I could then put myself into a position so God could save me.  No wonder I’d failed so miserably so many times. 

When I realized I wasn’t being faithful to what the Scriptures say, I was stunned.  All those years I’d considered myself reasonably well educated — almost had a minor in theology for crying out loud.  I went to church – but still I didn’t get it!  What a fool I was! The change that only God can bring about, I was trying to bring about on my own.  

So I began to check out in the Scriptures what I was hearing from these reformed sources.  I came to understand that my lifelong understanding of salvation that I had grown so accustomed to and comfortable with was incorrect.  As I delved more and more into what the Bible said, more & more I found I was 100% wrong!

And then you know what happened?  God began to open my eyes as I read the Scriptures.  Suddenly I had a desire for them I’d never had before.  I saw the gospel message of salvation through Christ alone revealed everywhere – not just in the gospels & New Testament.  But even in the Old Testament stories about the Flood, Joseph in Egypt, Joshua and Jericho, and even in the story of Jonah and the fish. For the first time in my life a relationship with the Lord began to develop.

I know I’m a filthy sinner.  I deserve an eternity in Hell paying for all my sins. What scares me is that my body still lusts after sin. There’s only one thing I’ve earned from God: His judgment for my sins.  “For the wages of sin is death” and the death God has in view is spiritual — separation from God.  That was the Bible teaches. 

My problem was I thought I needed a certain amount of personal desire and willpower before I could become saved; that I had to meet some preconditions in terms of my own will before God could or would change me. It’s only by the grace of God that I now understand this spiritual truth: that whatever desires I may have to know the Lord or to even try to do His will is a byproduct or a consequence of my salvation.  It isn’t the cause for it – it’s the result of it. 

My free will didn’t bring about The Change.  In fact, just the opposite is true: my desire to do the will of God is evidence that I’ve undergone the Change. 

By God’s grace and mercy only, today my core set of beliefs is structured around the Bible – alone and in its entirety.  Period.  Everything I see, hear and read must be weighed against what God says in His Word. 

Likewise, everything that shows up on this blog site needs to be weighed against what God says in the Bible.  Don’t trust us.  Trust only in God.   

To God Be The Glory!

The Inoffensive Gospel

The topic for this unseasonably mild Winter day is one that unfortunately too many people are familiar with.  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 “Inoffensive Gospel”.  It won’t arouse any feeling or give offense to anyone under its teachings.  It’ s a commonplace, bland, milk & water 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 “Inoffensive 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 inoffensive 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 inoffensive gospel.  If any of these situations are present in your church, then you have become a hearer or perhaps even a preacher of this inoffensive 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 inoffensive 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 inoffensive gospel is a deadly gospel.  If you’re in a church that consistently preaches this inoffensive 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 

Have you ever come under the hearing or preaching of the Inoffensive gospel?  Do you think IGs are dangerous?  Let us know. 

To God Be The Glory!