I grew up in the Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church – 4th Ward, Houston, TX. My pastor was Rev. C.W. Kimble Sr. and my Sunday school teachers were some of the most knowledgable women about the Bible you could ever imagine! (my favorite was M. E. Prescott) As I was growing up, I was taught that a preacher had “preached” when he had aroused our emotions AND said something that caused real life change/impact. We should not be bored to sleep, nor should we walk away without a changed hearts. Our Sunday school teachers told us that you could judge a sermon by whether or not a preacher made it plain to you that He knew that Jesus was The Christ; AND if he presented in a way that you could not help but confess it too.
Recently I was watching Christian television with my mother – now that she is older, she loves listening to church services. I was amazed at the number of preachers & pastors &ministers on that television from around the world that preached a gospel of man. Do you know what I mean?
A gospel of man is one that says that God favors us in such a way that nothing will ever go wrong or be difficult in our lives. Really? I was called to missionary living – my colleagues and I cannot embrace that one. A gospel of man is one that says that if you don’t have an over abundance of cash, you just aren’t trusting God enough. Really? I served God in rural West Africa and some of the most devout and committed Christ followers I know have just a bit more than nothing!
These are just two – but there are many other crazy teachings out there that don’t highlight God’s desire that we be committed completely to Him; that our lives reflect His love for all people; that our hearts have concern and care for the poor. There are many who preach that the word prophet means future teller and not justice enforcer.
I’m grateful that I grew up with a Bible teaching pastor; am currently under the shepherding of a Bible teaching pastor, and that I’ve had Bible teachers all along the way! Grateful!!
My friend, I want to assure you that the Almighty God did not create you for your own benefit and your own prosperity. I can assure you that He did not send His Holy Spirit to live in you in order for you to be able to see the future or in order that you will never ever have any difficulty in life. I can assure you that He did not send His only son in order that you could “have thine own way”!
Watch what you’re listening to. Every one that cries Lord, Lord – is not a mouthpiece of our Jehovah.
1 John 4:1 My dear friends, don’t believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world.
