People trust in what is offered in order to bring them into the church. If it is the message of Christ, that message will inspire faith and faithfulness (same word in the Greek New Testament). If it is the fancy style of a preacher, or attractions of a program, those are the things that will hold them — until a more glib preacher appears elsewhere or a better organized program comes along in another place.
My conversation and my preaching were not with persuasive words of wisdom, but with a demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not be based on human wisdom but on the power of God.
1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NET
Ah, but we must keep people in the church with programs for youth and for others, so it is said. Otherwise, they will go somewhere else.
Let them go! For they are not in the church because of Christ. They will not contribute to the kingdom, but detract from it.
If their loyalties cannot be turned to Christ through the plain message of the gospel, they do not belong to him.
You speak the words of truth and reason, brother!
Dude, good little article. That could be turned into a whole sermon!
Amen.
I’m going to borrow this for our bulletin. Don’t worry, I’ll bring it back when I’m done.
Thanks, guys. Eugene, I might rename it “The basis of faith”. If you want to do that, feel free, or use the original title above.
Saw your tweet over to the side. Where do you plan on going from Nashville?
Alabama and Missipp to start with. Then Tex., Ark., Tenn., Ill., and parts beyond. 🙂
That is so right