Thank You, Mr. Roberts
Earlier in May of this year, Truth Magazine had a special issue titled “Increase Our Faith.” I found the articles to be timely and full of information. An article that especially got my attention was titled “Things That Destroy One’s Faith” by Tom Roberts.
Before I get into the particulars of the article, I would like to commend Truth Magazine to those who might be interested in reading good articles on Bible subjects. While I am not impressed with all that is presented in that publication, and I recognize that the editors and writers are men with their own peculiar faults, it is a good paper with much to offer. Those who are involved in its publication are good men with a knowledge of the Bible, and I am justifiably suspicious of those who berate them or their efforts.
Now, let’s get back to that article. There is a passage under the heading Spiritual Malnutrition Can Destroy Our Faith that is worthy of our repeating.
Brother Roberts writes:
Preachers are sometimes guilty … The substitute pithy stories, entertaining tales and words of sophistry in place of the gospel. Some churches advertise entertainment activities … because they do not trust the truth to “build you up and give you an inheritance …” (Acts 20:32). The “whole counsel of God” (vs. 27) is deemed unfit for our refined ears. So much has been said about “negative” and “positive” preaching that it has become the measuring stick for every pulpit today. The fact that no such measurement is found in the Bible is irrelevant. Even the most veteran preacher is now held to this modern standard and it has eaten the heart out of Bible preaching. “Did the sermon make me feel good?” is the acid test. We have become conditioned to soft preaching so much that exposing sin is negative. “Reproving and rebuking and exhorting” (2 Tim. 4:2) is negative. Warning of hell is negative. Warning of the lust of the flesh is negative.
My friends, we have just gone through a tornado of the kind of thing that Brother Roberts speaks of, with the same results.
We are also told in the article:
Is it surprising that some have found a “new hermeneutic?” [A new rule of interpreting the Bible that ignores its principles and examples – David] We must find a new way to interpret Scripture. Now the Bible is just a “love letter” and will allow us to disagree over “important moral and doctrinal differences” and continue in fellowship with error. Unity-in-diversity is preached by some of the best known preachers of the Generation.
This is where the aforementioned attitude leads – invariably. There has been a sea change, not only in our approach to preaching, but in what we teach. This kind of teaching is more foreign and damaging to the notion that New Testament faith can be restored than all of the specific issues combined – including institutionalism, premillennialism, grace/fellowship, etc. It not only argues that we cannot understand the Bible alike, but that it doesn’t matter that we don’t understand it alike.
Roberts continues:
It is an anathema to have conviction today in the pulpit. [I was told that I gave the appearance of being angry when I preach. Sometimes a passionate expression appears as something disagreeable to those who have an agenda. – David] We should be magnanimous, ambiguous, tolerant, non-judgmental, open to alternate views, and absolutely opposed to those few radicals who try to run the brotherhood by insisting on a “thus saith the Lord” … When men who quote Scripture and hold us to that standard are criticized and ostracized, it should come as no wonder that our people lack knowledge (Hos. 4:6) The Scripture has proven true again: “For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables” (2 Tim. 4:3-4).
Criticism of preaching too much on the issues is a first symptom of this kind of ignorance. I was criticized for being too issue oriented, but I was not the only one. Nearly every preacher that we have had in for meetings came under the same criticism, and every one that we support has. I believe that one can preach too much on the issues if first principles are neglected. But the charge was a false one top to bottom. The example that was given was an issue I had mentioned only twice in sermons in the last year. I got the message. “Don’t preach on issues at all where there might arise trouble. (Unless it is my issue)”
Isaiah described Israel in his day, “For it is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear the law of Jehovah; that say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits” (Isa. 30:9-10). It is a rebellious generation today that demands of preachers they “speak unto us smooth things.” Isaiah also wrote this warning given him by God: “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and declare unto my people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins” (Isa. 58:1). Neither favoritism nor fear should be a factor in determining what should be said from the pulpit. Isaiah was told to spare not, even if those being criticized were close friends or dreaded enemies. It is the responsibility of God’s leaders to tell people about their sin. When this lesson from this passage is ignored or minimized, then we are told that Isaiah has little practical value today, I wonder no longer about those making criticisms. By their words they are made known (Matt. 12:34-37).
Roberts says in his conclusion:
We sing a song titled “Give Me The Bible.” … “Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season” (2 Tim. 4:2). Preach the word when it is popular and when it is not popular. Again, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Rom. 10:17). What has always been our distinctive plea has been watered down and soft preaching has stolen our faith. If God’s people of old were destroyed for lack of knowledge, we share the same fate today. Ignorance is the door that allows false doctrines, worldliness, materialism and spiritual malnutrition to enter. … Many other dangers exist to our faith. The answer is to turn again to the Word … so that we can be nourished, edified and perfected. Faith is the victory.
Amen, Tom Roberts. Thank you for another fine article.
