Man naturally is impressed by great displays as the Philistines were when all Israel shouted until the earth rang again, but Israel’s religious excitement on that occasion was hollow and vain, and soon they were defeated by the Philistines. Even Elijah was moved by a great wind and earthquake and fire, but the Lord’s power was in the still small voice. Elaborate preparations and great publicity are no substitute for the work of the Spirit of God.
Modern Evangelism
Modern evangelism is mixing with the world it pretends to convert, and the net result will inevitably be a greatly lowered spiritual tone throughout Christendom. It will foster and breed worldliness among true believers and open the floodgates for error. In order to attract the crowds and get what are deemed results, there has to be much that appeals to the flesh. It is not a rejected and despised Christ who is preached, but a popular and world-adorned Christ that is preached. It is not the cross which Paul said crucified him to the world and the world to him, but a cross which has suddenly become honorable and great in the world. Paul never preached a popular gospel in his day. The popular gospel of that time was one which could mix circumcision and Judaism with the truth of God. Judaism was a religion adapted to man in the flesh and that accommodated itself to the world in its politics and schemes, but Paul preached Christ crucified — a Man cast out by the world — which was foolishness to the cultured Greek and a stumbling-block to the religious Jew.
Glamorizing the Gospel
When Paul went to Rome, he went there as a prisoner. The great of the world were there, and God had decreed that they should hear the gospel, but not in a way that would flatter them — they were to hear it from a man in chains. Some in Cæsar’s household were saved, but they were not paraded as “Christian celebrities” to glamorize the gospel. Some might say that times have changed since then; so they have, but a rejected Christ is no more wanted now than he was then. Constantine was the Roman emperor who popularized Christianity, and thousands upon thousands were added to the church; instead of Christians being persecuted, they were honored. The church rapidly sank down to the level of the world. Such will always be the result of a popular, glamorized gospel.
Christian Celebrities
People prominent in the world’s affairs — even in the entertainment field — are sought because of their influence. Now we do not say that the entertainment world of Hollywood has greater sinners than there are elsewhere, nor do we think that the gospel of the grace of God cannot reach them —thank God, it can and perhaps does. But does that make them “Christian celebrities” who should be displayed, while many of them continue in their work of entertaining men, women and children who are on the road to hell? Such fare is what the god of this world serves to delude his victims. A statement of a celebrity justifying singing religious songs after the manner of the world was: “The youth of the country needs impetus. If they can know that religion can be fun and happy, then they’ll be interested.” And to make religion fun, people are given to feel that they can accept Christ and go right on with their worldly occupations and pastimes; in other words, they can have Christ and the world too. Such carnal Christianity can only have a demoralizing effect on the profession as a whole, and on so-called fundamentalism in particular.
The Gospel and the Conscience
People who profess to be saved under the influence of present-day evangelism with its expertly planned histrionics are apt to be mere “stony ground” hearers which have no root. The consciences of such have never been plowed, and they have never felt themselves lost sinners in the sight of God, nor been before Him about their sins. They have never had to count the cost of confessing Christ before a hostile world, for they have been led to believe it is a popular thing to do. “Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned?” (Luke 14:3434Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his savor, wherewith shall it be seasoned? (Luke 14:34)). Christianity without repentance, and without its separating effect from the world, is like salt which is no longer salty — it is worthless.
We are mindful of the fact that God is sovereign and can use such carnal presentations of the gospel to save souls if He chooses to do so, but even where it is real it is bound to be shallow and superficial except as God may deepen the work through other means. The Christianity of the Bible is a deep, vital, throbbing thing which is to influence lives day by day — to separate believers in heart from a condemned world. Oh for more depth in conversions of souls! Oh for more holy separation from the world — from its religion, its philosophies, its pleasures, its spirit of wealth, its politics, and all!
From these movements which link worldly methods with a gospel effort, and in which many dear children of God participate, there are many gradations of worldly Christianity down to a vulgarized travesty. Think of a godless, Christ-rejecting world, intoxicated by the pleasure of sin, going down to hell while enjoying a burlesque representation of solemn lessons from the Word of God. Where is Christendom going? How true a description has been given us of these days: “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof” (2 Tim. 3:5).
A Word of Exhortation
And now, fellow-Christian, let us not be discouraged. Let us seek to walk in holy separation from the world and to hold forth the word of life in whatever sphere we occupy. Let us live Christ before the world and seek, as we may have opportunity, to speak a word from Him or to give a good gospel tract to a weary soul. May we keep a clear perspective of the present trend, and yet press on unobtrusively testifying to the true grace of God.
If the reader happens to be one who has been called to preach the gospel, then he should do it as of the ability which God gives: “He that hath My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord” (Jer. 23:2828The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the Lord. (Jeremiah 23:28)). The Lord is your master, and He takes careful notice of what you do and how you do it. He will not reward you for disobeying His Word. It is faithfulness that He values — faithfulness to Him and to His Word. You may have little of what men call success to show for your labors, but in the coming day may He say to you, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matt. 25:21,2321His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:21)
23His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (Matthew 25:23)).
P. Wilson, adapted from
Christian Truth, Vol. 7, p. 303