Nearly

Having been around churches of various denominations throughout my life, I can usually recognise the differences, and even appreciate the things that separate us in theology and practice. I’m not going to argue that we have more in common, than that which separates us, but make another observation which has been growing in my mind over the recent past.

The one thing we all share, is the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Or it should be a
common thread running through all evangelicals to some degree.

It concerns me that we are becoming ever better at talking about what the gospel is,
than we are at preaching it. We have become clever and intelligent as we learn more
about Bible times, and how the early disciples changed the world. Armed with this great
knowledge, why do we not preach the gospel instead of talking about it? I see a real
and fundamental difference, and in this case ‘nearly’ is not good enough for all and
any of the mainstream church denomination family.

I well remember the induction service of a new pastor, and an old saintly pastor,
close to retirement after many good years in the pulpit say to the new minister, “The
pulpit is not here to have a conversation with your congregation, it is here to preach
the Gospel”. The words were spoken many years ago, are true today, and nearly
is still not good enough.