Sound teaching and preaching. Direct biblical statements. Holiness. The name of Jesus in baptism. Take your pick; they are all under assault. While the apostles preached an exclusive message, modern Christianity seeks to clarify the Bible’s intent so as to broaden it’s range of acceptance. Bible doctrines have become too narrow for the casual Christian. Yet Paul wrote that if anyone preached a different gospel than what he preached, “let him be accursed.” He said that if an angel from heaven preached something different, “let him be accursed.” (Gal 1:6-10) Paul and the rest of the apostles were serious about the Word. They did not negotiate with truth nor did they water it down to make it more palatable for those on the outer edges of commitment.
What the first century preachers delivered was unfiltered and clear. They did not skirt around the issues of salvation or godly living. Neither the apostles or the prophets minced words. They couldn’t afford to minimize these eternal issues. They were bold and fearless as they stood in the face of opposition. Paul even knew that not everyone would accept this truth: 2 Tim 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap (hire) to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”
As we preach and teach the Word of God, there is a fleshly rebuttal. I feel it almost every time I deliver such things. This current culture is pressing hard against even the most basic Bible doctrines. Mindsets range from “Live and Let Live” to total rejection of scriptural adherence, and if these things are not enough to fully push aside the preached Word, the next human-spirit is to accuse, dissect, and dismantle the messenger. It means that the preacher is under fire for invading the personal lives of the listener. In Latin it’s called Ad Hominem or “against the man.” I would speak of a demonic resistance, but there’s enough carnality present in this society that the devil doesn’t need to lift a finger. Fleshly and carnal spirits are sufficient enough to overtake families and homes without a demonic presence. The reason is simple: Worldliness never stays stagnate. It is advancing it’s ideologies and perversions.
In conjunction with these assaults comes this growing usurpation against authority. All authority is now suspect. Some churches view the speaker as “the preacher” and not as their pastor. Today, submission to spiritual authority comes with conditions instead of obedience. Eventually and inevitably, however, this rejection of natural authority will turn against the Bible’s authority to govern our lives and in time those who reject the messenger will also find fault with the Message.
Having said all these things, and knowing the time in which we live, I stand to say: However…and yet…nevertheless…we must preach the Word and let the seed fall where it may. There is a demand on us like never before to deliver sound doctrine; biblical teaching; holiness and the message of Holy Ghost, speaking in other tongues. His name is Jesus and it is still the only saving name! No one will enter those gates without His name applied to their lives and no one will make Heaven their home without His Blood, and only the unadulterated truth has the power to save our eternal souls.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole