First published in December 1993
By Dave Hunt
God’s holiness and justice require that sinners be eternally
separated from Him. To be cut off completely and eternally from that
Love for which one was created will be to burn with a thirst that will
only grow ever more unbearable. God, however, graciously and freely
offers salvation from that most dreadful condemnation. “The gospel of
God’s grace” declares that God became a man through virgin birth, that
this sinless God-man died for our sins, satisfying His own justice by
suffering the eternal punishment we deserve, resurrected the third day,
and that all who believe in Him are forgiven and receive eternal life as
a free gift. Salvation is that simple—and wonderful—and must be
preached in that simplicity.
It is not the academic credentials, brilliant oratory, or
persuasiveness of the preacher, but the pure gospel that convinces
hearers. We must not attempt in human wisdom and zeal to embellish,
improve, or in any way make the gospel more appealing to the unsaved.
The gospel, presented in its unchanging purity, is the message that the
Holy Spirit honors by convincing and convicting those who hear it (
Jn:16:8-11). This truth must grip evangelicals once again!
Contrary to popular belief, expertise in preaching (the “homiletics”
taught in seminary) cannot help but hinders communication of the
gospel. Proficiency in public speaking or in the latest salesmanship
techniques may be helpful in a secular profession but not in “the
foolishness of preaching.” Unless such methodologies and capabilities
are laid aside to proclaim God’s truth, they obscure the gospel.
Though the above may sound like an extreme and anti-intellectual
view, such was the teaching and practice of the Apostle Paul. A learned
rabbi, Paul was no doubt an eloquent orator who could sway any audience.
In preaching the gospel, however, he deliberately laid aside
“excellency of speech” (
1 Cor:2:1)
and carefully avoided “the words which man’s wisdom teacheth” (v 13).
Knowing that his own ideas, embellishments, and persuasive abilities
were hindrances rather than helps, the great apostle stood before his
audience “in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling” (v 3). So
must we.
Paul declared that the “wisdom of words” made Christ’s cross “of none effect” (
1 Cor:1:17).
Therefore, he determined that his preaching would not be “with enticing
words of man’s wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power”
so that his converts’ faith “should not stand in the wisdom of men but
in the power of God” (
1 Cor:2:4-5). Many well-meaning Christians, however, do exactly what Paul
avoided, convinced that the gospel and the Holy Spirit need the help of
scholarship, psychological persuasion, and modern promotional packaging.
Consequently, the faith of many believers today stands upon the wisdom
of men instead of in the power of God—and can thus be undermined by
human argument as well.
The gospel is being compromised and even denied by many professing
Christians. President Clinton, who claimed to be a Christian, said when
his number two legal aide, Vincent Foster, Jr., committed suicide, “My
deepest hope is that...[his] soul will receive the grace and salvation
that
his good life and good works earned ” (emphasis added). At a prayer breakfast in which Clinton participated, Senator Kerry read
John:3:1-21 (
skipping verse 16 ), said Christ was speaking of
“spiritual renewal,” and that “in the spirit of Christ...Hindu,
Buddhist, Muslim, Jew, Christian” were meeting and “there is
renewal...with a new President and Vice President....” Billy Graham
added, “I do not know a time when we had a more spiritual time than
we’ve had today.”
The terms “spiritual” or “spirituality” legitimize much error.
“Spirituality” is now evidenced by ecumenism and enhanced by New Age
techniques.
Christianity Today (
CT ) (11/8/93)
favorably reports upon an apparent widespread movement toward spiritual
maturity. Unfortunately, in its promotion of modern “spirituality,”
CT
touts Richard Foster and his “contemplative prayer” techniques, which
involve passivity and visualization taught by such occultists as
Ignatius of Loyola (founder of the Jesuits) and Agnes Sanford. (See
The Seduction of Christianity and
Beyond Seduction .) Several articles uphold Roman Catholicism as sound Christianity. Introducing a major article,
CT
’s executive editor praises Roman Catholic mystic Thomas Merton as
having led the way into a deeper relationship with God, even though
Merton, a New Ager, rejected the gospel, without the acceptance of which
one cannot know God.
It is not methodologies or techniques but truth and love that
establish and mature spiritual life in the believer. Nor can genuine
love of God and others spring from anything but acceptance and
appreciation of the gospel (
1 Jn:4:19). That “old, old story” reveals God’s love. Those who preach it in truth must be motivated and empowered by that same love.
Well, you might say, I’m not a pastor or preacher, so advice about
preaching the gospel doesn’t apply to me. “The foolishness of preaching”
includes sharing Christ with a neighbor over a fence or with a friend
on the phone. Christ’s command to “preach the gospel” and to “make
disciples”—the so-called Great Commission of
Mark:16:15 and
Matthew:28:18-20—applies equally to every Christian, past, present, and future.
That fact is clear from Christ’s words, “teaching [converts] to observe
all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Mt 28:20). Christ’s
original disciples were to teach their converts to obey every command He
had given them—including preaching the gospel and teaching their
converts as well to obey Christ’s every command. And so down to us
today. We also must obey all He commanded the original twelve.
These words of Christ correct a number of popular errors, such as
the idea that His teachings in the four Gospels are only for Israel, or
only to be obeyed in the Millennium, and thus are not for the church
today. Also eliminated is the idea that “the gospel of the kingdom” that
Christ and the disciples preached prior to the Cross is somehow
different from the gospel we are to preach today. And a major source of
Roman Catholic error—that the pope is Peter’s successor and that only
the hierarchy of priests, bishops, cardinals, et al., are the successors
of the other apostles—is also proved false. Every convert to Christ is
both commanded and empowered by the Holy Spirit to obey everything
Christ commanded the original twelve and thus to act in every capacity
for which He trained and commissioned them.
The gospel is the only solution to sin’s destructive effect in daily
life. Yet even many evangelicals have lost their faith in the power of
the gospel and imagine that something else is needed, be it enticing
programs, psychological counseling, or new revelations from modern
prophets. Paul referred to “the foolishness of preaching” because the
simple gospel he preached was despised. So it is in our day.
In contrast to the simplicity and purity of the gospel presented in
Scripture, new methods and innovations are being employed today. The
gospel is no longer thought to be sufficient in itself. It is now taught
that believing the gospel may leave a host of demons hiding within,
left over from past sins or even prior generations. The Bible calls the
one who believes the gospel “a new creature” in Christ for whom “old
things are passed away [and] all things are become new” (
2 Cor:5:17;
Gal:6:15). In denial of this clear truth, “deliverance” ministries have sprung up to cast demons out of Christians.
The simple gospel was all the apostles needed and used. Yet today so
much else is added. Take, for example, the new belief that many
Christians (especially returning missionaries) through “stress” or
“burnout” develop multiple personalities––another heresy from
psychology. “Deliverance” allegedly comes by leading each “personality”
to saving faith in Christ! Closely related is “Spiritual Mapping,”
another new fad, which
Christianity Today (11/8/93) calls “a
complicated and controversial technique developed by missiologist C.
Peter Wagner, that claims to identify satanic strongholds in a city....”
Last July saw the first ever “North American Spiritual Mapping
Consultation,” offering “a methodology for discovering specific barriers
to soul-winning in North American locales.” According to
National & International Religion Report (NIRR),
The consultation was sponsored by the Sentinel Group (SG) of
Lynnwood, Wash., and drew 130 invited pastors, lay leaders, and
missionaries from 30 states and provinces....The ‘growing influence of
new and powerful spiritual forces on the continent’ necessitates such
research, said SG President George Otis, Jr., who is also co-coordinator
for the United Prayer Track of the AD 2000 and Beyond Movement.... A
Spiritual Mapping Field Guide distributed at the conference outlined
ways participants could prayerfully research the social bondages,
allegiances, and spiritual barriers of their respective communities. It
included 200 discovery questions, methodological cautions, and
networking recommendations. SG’s Lisa Otis told NIRR that the research
methods include interviews, observation, library backgrounding, and
prayer logs. The group has planned seven regional meetings in hopes that
results will help develop effective prayer and evangelism strategies.
Questions immediately arise.
New spiritual forces? Is
there a new breed of demons more clever or powerful than those faced by
the early church? If the gospel needs such help, why doesn’t the Bible
say so? Why weren’t these methods taught and practiced by Christ and the
apostles? How could Paul have “turned the world upside down” (
Acts:17:6)
through evangelism of the pagan Roman Empire without employing these
techniques? Would Paul have been even more effective had he used
“spiritual mapping” and employed the new “methodology for discovering
specific barriers to soul-winning”?
Surely Corinth, Greece’s most splendid and prosperous city, the
mecca of trade between East and West, was as enslaved by Satan as any
city today. The cult of Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, whose
mythic example encouraged sexual promiscuity and perversion, had long
flourished there. When Paul arrived in Corinth about A.D. 50, the
massive, columned Temple of Apollo had for 600 years dominated the
commercial center of the city (where much of the meat sold for
consumption was first offered to idols). Yet we find no hint that Paul
engaged in “spiritual mapping” of Corinth’s demonic powers. He relied
solely and entirely upon the gospel to rescue pagans from Satan’s
clutches: “I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus
Christ, and him crucified” (
1 Cor:2:2).
Or take the city of Ephesus, whose wealth came in large part from
the sale of images of the goddess Diana. Her temple was the center of
Ephesian life and, as was always the case with idolatry, involved
prostitution, sexual orgies, and every depravity. If ever a people were
bound by Satan and his minions it was the Ephesians. Yet without
“spiritual mapping” or other “deliverance” techniques touted today,
multitudes came to Christ, and the church formed there was among the
strongest and truest. Yes, Paul reminded them that their battle was not
against flesh and blood but with principalities and powers and spiritual
wickedness in high places (
Eph:6:10-12). He gave no hint, however, that these demonic powers should be
mapped or tracked or that psychological techniques for dealing with
multiple personalities should be employed. The believers were to stand
fast in the faith, clothed in the armor of God, their sole weapon “the
sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (v 17).
The “old, old story of Jesus and His love,” as the classic hymn
says, “is ever new” and best loved by “those who know it best.” We will
never advance, even in eternity, to a higher spiritual experience or
understanding than that produced by faith in the simple gospel that
saves us. That God loved us so much as to become a man and, though
hated, rejected, despised, and crucified, died in our place to reconcile
sinners to Himself will ever be, for ransomed souls, the wellspring of
love, joy, and worship in heaven. In all eternity we will never have a
newer or better song than the “old, old story,” which is ever new.
“Thou art worthy...for Thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God
by thy blood” is the highest praise possible for the redeemed in God’s
presence (Rv 5:9). Herein lies the secret of joy for those who inhabit
heaven! Why are some Christians depressed, insecure, selfish, earthly
minded, and lacking love, joy, peace, and victory in Christ? The “old,
old story of Jesus and His love” has become old indeed to them,
neglected and forgotten. They don’t need psychological counseling but a
return to their “first love” (Rv 2:4). We need to meditate unceasingly
upon this most wonderful truth, the simple gospel, which alone ignites
the genuine love and sincere gratitude that we ought to continually
express to our Lord.
It is commendable if someone, concerned to know God better, studies
Greek. However, if proficiency in that language were essential for
knowing God’s Word and living a more fruitful Christian life, then one
would expect the Greeks to be the most Christlike and fruitful of all
people, and God would have had us all speak Greek. Surely the Greeks in
Christ’s and Paul’s day knew their native tongue much better than
today’s Greek scholars, yet they had as much difficulty living for
Christ as anyone else. The love relationship God desires needs only a
sincere, believing heart in which to grow.
“Oh, the wonder of it all” said the hymn-writer, “that God loves
me!” It is so simple that a child can believe it, yet so profound that
it will take eternity to begin to fathom the depths of that love! God’s
love is revealed in Christ’s dying in our place. Surely those who have
tasted that love must be impelled by that love to tell others of the
salvation available by God’s grace. Only that appreciation of God’s love
and grace aroused by the gospel transforms sinners into joyful,
victorious saints—and continues to keep the saints in joy and victory
now, and eternally.
TBC
