13 Jul 2011

I Thessalonians 2:3-5

Posted by joncooper

I Thessalonians 2:3: “For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloak of covetousness; God is witness:”

I fear that we are getting away from this. I have heard reports of pastors paying people to attend church, or offering prizes to come to the altar. These things do not honor God. The Lord wants us to preach the gospel and proclaim Jesus alone; there is nothing Biblical about using covetousness or greed to reach people.

Paul’s whole point is that he came to this group with just Jesus – nothing more, nothing less, and nothing else. Yet today some churches are filled with gimmicks that use psychological tricks to draw people in. They aren’t interested in a gospel-only approach; they think it’s too old-fashioned. The Biblical approach, though, is pretty straightforward. God wants us to preach the gospel and leave it at that – not find clever tricks to trick people into attending church.

Now, I am not saying that churches should not have music, or that community outreach is bad. But I do think that when you start paying people to attend Sunday School then you have lost your way. God is not in that. The Lord wants to attract people to Himself using the gospel – not twenty-dollar bills. After all, Jesus is what people need. Nothing else can save them.

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