Gospel of Conviction or Convenience?

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favourable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. 2 Timothy 4:1-3 NLT




I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.

1 Corinthians 9:22




At first glance, these passages would seem to be at odds with each other. Some might say it’s a contradiction. Some others certainly use the latter to justify almost anything that goes on in church, with the risk that the Gospel is pushed into the background. So, to reach the unchurched, we try to become more like the world, or at least provide the entertainment they would be used to. Churches have become locations for: drop in centres, musical shows, movies, and arts and crafts of many sorts. Each probably good and innocent in their own right, but at what cost to the only message that saves souls?




What is the sole purpose of the church of Jesus Christ? Paul makes it clear to his young protege pastor Timothy. It is to “preach the Word of God” whether you think the timing is right or not. And Paul gives the reason - valid 2,000 years ago, and I suggest even more so today. The wise apostle argues that “a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.” When numbers drop, with the best of intentions we use the church as a recruiting base but instead of giving the life changing gospel, we give them the same things the world gives and call it outreach and evangelism, but we don’t do it as well as the world, and invariably is compared and fails. It is worth bearing in mind that the ONLY thing that Paul tells his young protege Timothy to do is preach the gospel. No sidelines, no gimmicks, just the life changing gospel of Jesus Christ. Are we up to the challenge? After all, where else will the unsaved hear that life changing message of salvation in Jesus Christ?

Duplicity

The dictionary definition of duplicity: deceitfulness in speech or conduct, as by speaking or acting in two different ways to different people concerning the same matter; double-dealing.

Having ridden roughshod over the wishes of the majority of UK voters by introducing homosexual marriage, that same government has now dropped their plans for minimum pricing for alcohol, and also plain packaging for cigarettes.

There was a major consultation on homosexual marriage, and the results were fudged to give the answer the politicians wanted. Many thousands of responses were discounted because they were sponsored by churches. The Bill should never had made it into the statute books, but it was pushed through the Commons and the Lords, and back to the Commons to be made law. I will accept the law, even though I don’t agree with it, because we live in a democracy. However I still wonder how the law made it through, when the majority didn’t want it and made their mind known, or didn’t care?

Then there are the policies of minimum pricing of alcohol, and plain packaging for cigarettes. Both were flagship health improvements which would help the welfare of the nation in years to come. It was almost given as self evident and supported by health professionals and law enforcement officers equally . Less alcohol sold equals fewer deaths, domestic fights, and visits to A&E, plus safer homes for children. Making cigarettes look less desirable means fewer cases of lung cancer in life for many youngsters who might never start to smoke.

Why did the same sex marriage bill make it into law, and the alcohol and tobacco programs get dropped, not to even be debated? I suggest it’s down to voices which shout louder than any ordinary citizen who participates in a consultation. Those loud voices who shout that there is no evidence that tobacco or alcohol causes disease and death. They shout loudest, who can whisper in the itching ears of our law making politicians. This is undeniably the common factor in all three examples. If I was disillusioned with those in power in our nation before, I am disgusted now. I think these recent events give the best example of duplicity I could find, but the Bible was already there speaking words of truth in these verses: For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 2 Timothy 4:3,4 NIV