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Sound Bible preaching is being pushed to the wayside by liberal thinking. It is a disturbing trend that continues to bear fruit since the first occurrence of divisions within the church during the apostolic era (Galatians 1:10-17). The change in preaching today is due not only to the acceptance of ideas such as the unity-in-diversity movement and the new hermeneutics, but also to preachers hearkening to the pleas of those who demand unscriptural change. Also, a number of churches are employing women as preachers, bidding "God speed" to false teachers (2 John 10-11), and preaching sermons that are entertaining and encourages the listener to remain comfortable in his sinful state teaching that God's grace will cover his error on the day of judgment. Sadly, some churches of Christ have bought into the idea of soft preaching and have influenced others to follow in their footsteps into further apostasy.
Why is there so much emphasis on sound preaching? Sound preaching is simply preaching absolute truth, whether it be about salvation, unity, or the church. Solomon instructs us to,
Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding (Proverbs 23:23).In 2 Timothy 4:2-4, Paul says,
Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.There will be some who will be receptive to the teaching of the word, while others will reject it because of sin.
There were some people in the first century who were troubled over the fact that the apostles were preaching sound doctrine, thereby exposing their life of sin. Some of them resorted to threatening the apostles with persecution (Acts 4:13-22), while others simply spread false accusations (Acts 17:5-6) in order to put them into prison. Other examples include Demetrius the silversmith (Acts 19:23-41) and the masters of "a certain damsel possessed with a spirit of divination," (Acts 16:16-24). Likewise, a number of Christians are persecuted today for preaching the truth. For example, some liberal brethren have accused many in the Lord's body of "pattern theology:" adhering to the belief that the New Testament is the pattern for the church; and being "legalists:" strict obedience to the Scriptures. Paul said,
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution (2 Timothy 3:12).
Furthermore, there are some who are limiting the definition of the gospel to only being the doctrine about Christ. In other words, they are preaching what they consider to be the "core gospel," consisting only about the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ, thus leaving other matters of teaching in the realm of opinion. While it is certainly true that the word "gospel" means good news, it is not limited in that sense. The gospel encompasses both the Old and New Testaments. Peter says,
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you, (1 Peter. 1:25).
The saving of souls demands sound Bible preaching. As ministers of the gospel, let us be encouraged to be more like Paul who said,
For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
Ira Mikell
ira@thechristianexaminer.com
In the Christian world today, the term "Pharisee" is thrown around concerning those who would hold fast to the truth (1 Corinthians 15:2), and it is used rather loosely. Is the church truly full of Pharisees?
The Pharisees were a sect of the Jews beginning around 135 BC under John Hyrcanus. They were experts in the Oral Law, and gained much prestige and power by the time of Christ. They were very zealous for their faith, yet as Christ showed, it was misplaced.
In Matthew 25, we see the errors of the Pharisees, and why the term is used so negatively:
Therefore, a modern day Pharisee would say things yet not do them, reject the truth of Christ, holding to only a portion of the Law, invalidating the Word of God for their traditions, and only go through the motions of religion.
Ironically, we see much Phariseeism coming from those who condemn us for the same! The Pharisees added their traditions (of the Sabbath, Matthew 12, among others) to their faith, and held fast to them, although God had never authorized such things. People today do so with instrumental music and other things: they invalidate the word of God for the sake of their traditions!
If we are to be called Pharisees, those who would accuse us must provide evidence of how we neglect portions of the law of Christ, or how we say and yet not do, or how we have bound where Christ did not bind, or loose where He did not loose. As long as we "study to show ourselves approved" (2 Timothy 2:15), and "worship in Spirit and in truth" (John 4:24), there can be no evidence of Phariseeism.
Christ never condemned anyone for holding to the whole Law as given to the Jews by Moses, and so He shall not condemn any of His children who hold fast to the Word and the Word alone. Phariseeism is kept at bay as long as one is as a Berean, constantly searching the Scriptures to see if things are so (Acts 17:11), in Spirit and in truth. We exhort you to study the Word of God and to see what things are true.
Ethan R. Longhenry
ethan@thechristianexaminer.com
www.deusvitae.com
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