Regular Dispatch: "Worship with a latte, check out some live turtles, and skate!"

“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching.” 1 Tim 4:13

In this verse, Paul leaves no room for doubt as he expounds on the responsibility of a Pastor. Which also indicates as to what we will constantly hear from the pulpit if Timothy was leading us. Today some Churches are indistinguishable from amusement parks (or concert venues) and so are the parishioners who are like revelers on their way to taste its delectable delights!

It is time we heed to men like Charles H. Spurgeon. His was the first mega Church. He pastored a congregation of 10,000 souls 120 years back; decades before amplification and electrical instruments.

Here are his words. I agree, the language is old and difficult. But please give it a try.

“My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. If it is a Christian work why did not Christ speak of it? ‘Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.’ That is clear enough. So it would have been if He has added, ‘and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel.’ No such words, however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to Him.

Then again, ‘He gave some apostles, some prophets, some pastors and teachers, for the work of the ministry.’ Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.

Lastly, the mission of amusement fails to affect the end desired. It works havoc among young converts. Let the careless and scoffers, who thank God because the Church met them halfway, speak and testify. Let the heavy-laden who found peace through the concert not keep silent! Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic entertainment has been God’s link in the chain of their conversion, stand up! There are none to answer. The mission of amusement produces no converts.

The need of the hour for today’s ministry is believing scholarship joined with earnest spirituality, the one springing from the other as fruit from the root. The need is biblical doctrine, so understood and felt, that it sets men on fire.” Charles Spurgeon (1887)

It is sad, but true! Even today, the devil is using the same old tricks. Spurgeon in his days had to battle this evil.

Note: The title of this dispatch are real words from a present day Church goer.


Spurgeon Preaching at Surrey Music Hall where his congregation met for sometime

Video: Beware, if your Heart Say You are Saved!!!!

Friends, don't believe your heart! Rely on the Word and His Spirit. There is no time in History where the leading of the Holy Spirit is so needed as now. So is with the Word. The world is inundated with bibles and transalations, but Christians scantly knowledgeable of it. If you think this is false, just test yourself and try answering this question. How do you know you are Saved? Watch the video and ponder!

Regular Dispatch: How One Chapter Addresses Two Scientific Persuits

The depravity of the Evolutionist ….
“Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man….” Genesis 9:6

What a shame, when we open our minds to the rubbish peddled by the evolutionist! By establishing their origin hypothesis on monkeys and primordial soup, they degrade human dignity. In them the Scriptures reveal a wisdom that is foolish. Instead, while making a covenant with humanity, God himself – “The Truth and Righteous One” bases it on the sanctity of human life. Though depraved and evil, we are created in his image.

Nevertheless out of many a womb, the muffled cry of the unborn is gathering to a crescendo, as helpless victims are sacrificed on the altar of freedom. When will we arise against the evil of abortion? While some confine it to the political realm, others see it as personal freedom. To both groups the Scriptures sends a resounding cry – No! It is the righteousness of God.

Where is the Church? A Church in slumber is that which is insensitive to the evils around. Our conscience is not pricked, because our conscience is not taught. By the time many read this dispatch, three thousand more would have been murdered!

It was a Christian monk - Telemachus who brought an end to the vile gladiatorial games in Rome. It was the tireless work of a Christian by the name of William Wilberforce that led to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire. Furthermore, it is a young black Preacher (Rev. Martin Luther King) who brought an end to slavery in America. With the Word of God as the guiding light, the Church always has been in the forefront of any reformation. So will be for abortion if we care to arise.

And the folly of the Environmentalist …
“…I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be cut off by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth." Genesis 9:11

It will not be water or ice that destroys the earth next time. Here is an “Inconvenient Truth” - the earth will be purged with fire. “…by the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” 2 Peter 3:7

God will have the final word on all mindless human pursuits!

Video: Will You be Swept Away!!!

Regular Dispatch: The Magic of God's Word!

"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Heb 4:12

His words are from eternal to eternal and everlasting. Not only does He speak, but He also makes certain that his words accomplishes its purpose [Is 55:11].

Words pre-exist humans. Words, conversation and community existed in the Trinity prior to creation. When God made Adam, and communed with him, this ability to use words and the faculties for speech were created in him. Even different languages came from God as he made poor the wisdom of man and his works in Babel [Genesis 11:1-8]. We humans borrow words, its meaning and the ability to speak from Him our Creator. Thus the admonition in the bible to clear our conversation of filth, slush and unwholesomeness.

In Hebrews, the author compares the word of God to a double edge sword. It judges thoughts and attitudes. When a message is preached, if we feel a piercing or pricking in us, it may very well be the sharp blade of this double edge sword (provided the words being preached have scriptural foundation). On the contrary, in the delivery of a message if our thoughts and attitudes are untouched it should only mean three things –

1. All our thoughts and attitudes are right, in which case we are borderline perfect
2. The words preached are not the word of God
3. Or it is time to think of a new Church!
   

In Paul’s epistles will you see an abundance of admonition or encouragement?

“… for the current thinking today is that gospel ministers instead of piercing men and women with the sword of the Spirit, only show them only its handle; they let them see the bright diamonds on the scabbard, but never let them feel the sharpness of the two-edged blade. They always comfort, and console, and cheer, but never allude to the terrors of the Lord.” Charles Spurgen, Oct 23, 1881