In pondering the contrast between modern ministry methodologies and the actual Word of God:
1. Would God have preserved Sodom, if only they had a “be a better you” book?
2. Was Nineveh spared, because Jonah preached, “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life?”
3. Were the early churches in shambles, at Paul’s death, because he was not purpose-driven?
4. Was God threatening the churches of Asia Minor, because their leadership principles were lacking?
Asinine! The depth of meaning from each of the above reveals weightier matters nearly lost in preaching today. The lessons contain not the accomplishments made by the schemes of man, but by the Hand of the Lord.
“…’Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit’, says the LORD Almighty.” Zec 4:6
1. God knew Sodom as a city of brazen wickedness (Gen 13:13). “The people were guilty of the most notorious crimes and addicted to the most scandalous and unnatural lusts” (John Gill). Their sin was most glaring and grievous before the Lord God (Gen 18:20). No matter the greatness of the city’s sin, God was still willing to spare it with as little as 10 righteous God-fearing citizens. The city failed to produce even 10. God did not grant them principles to better their life or a means to improve their nature. Though he spared Lot’s family, God simply destroyed the city with no message, no hope, and no warning.
Lost Message – God abhors sin and will destroy, without mercy, all that violate their conscience by ardently persisting in it (Rom 1:16-32). In the same way, the earth, and all creation, will be one day violently destroyed with fire and therefore by, through, and because of the Grace of God Christians should love holy and godly in this present evil age (2 Pet 3:10-11, Titus 2:11-12).
2. God told Jonah go to Nineveh and “cry against the city” for “their wickedness has come up before me” (Jon 1:2). The city was a violent place. Jonah’s message, “Because of your great wickedness, you have 40 days until your great city will be overthrown” (Jon 3:4). Though His mercy is clearly seen, there was no message of His love. God did not comfort or encourage the Ninevites nor did He articulate their worth, but His anger. They were struck by the blunt edge of a solemn admonition. The God of all creation was personally displeased (Jon 3:9). They repented and turned to God in humility. God spared the city from His judgment by granting them a warning against their great sin, which they heeded (Jon 3:10).
Lost Message – God will speak strong words of correction and rebuke when he is displeased (Heb 12:5-6). These reprimands are intended to bring repentance, a turning or returning to Him (2 Cor 7:10-11, 2 Tim 3:16) and correction for our souls (Prov 3:11, Heb 12:9). God rebukes those He loves (Rev 3:19).
3. Paul preached an offensive (Gal 5:11) and illogical message (1 Cor 1:18) that stirred disdain from his culture and violent anger from the religious community (Acts 13:50). God established his purpose with the revelation he received from no man (Gal 1:11-16). In addition, the fledgling church struggled to survive as Christians were attacked with gruesome Roman persecution. That which remained, in times of peace, was picked over by false ministers (2 Cor 11:13) who crept in to subvert the Truth (2 Pet 2:1).
Lost Message – All who live Godly will suffer persecution (2 Tim 3:12). There is no escaping the true costly selfless Biblical Christianity seen in the lives of Stephen, Peter, James, Paul and all others “who loved not their lives unto death” (John 12:25, Rev 12:11).
4. The churches of Asia Minor were strongly chastised by the Lord for forsaking their first love (Rev 2:4-5), possessing a lax attitude that tolerated preaching that led His people into sexual sin and idolatry (Rev 2:14 & 20) and maintaining religious practice, but remaining indifferent to it (Rev 3:15-16).
Lost Message – The Lord Jesus was neither impressed nor concerned with the organizational savvy of church leadership. He was not aroused to remove the source of spiritual light from their midst (Rev 2:5), because of a lack of influence. He was sovereignly disturbed by the passivity; which allowed the teaching that led His people into whoredom with the world (Rev 2:14, 15 & 20). He becomes fiercely displeased with the general unfaithfulness of His bride and will repay all according to their deeds (Rev 2:23).
God is a jealous God (2 Cor 11:2) for we are his purchased possession (Eph 1:14) and therefore tempting the Lord God ultimately brings strong retribution (1 Cor 10:9).
The absence of these pivotal and basic doctrinal messages has left Christ’s church impotent against the devastation of sin and the spirit of the world. The incessant and unbalanced heralding of God’s love has created a society of rebels with no fear of God. The profuse delivery of self-centered, man-centered, non-challenging, flesh-friendly, superficial and baseless lectures lay partially to blame for the masses of religious consumers possessing “itchy-ears” (2 Tim 4:3).
In coping with the loss of Divine power, the carnal and apostate have developed clever devices to overcome the lack of Christian influence in the post-modern world. While one may argue, “Observe our numbers, see our leadership and judge our success”, the proper defense should rather be, “Observe our devotion, see our passion and judge our fruit.”
Those who will not heed these warnings will grow weary of this Cry For Repentance, but there is only one answer for the gross error of this Laodicean age:
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” 2 Chron 7:14
