I come from a church where everything BUT the Gospel took center stage. The choir, music, guest singer, guest speaker, drama, and anything else that entertained was the focus of the church. For 20 years I thought I was under a true gospel centered church. My wife and I have come to see that like the rest of my dear brothers and sisters in Christ we were hoodwinked. We were being fed a man centered Gospel that removed the power of the cross and replaced it with the power of hollywood productions.

I see my need for the cross more than ever before and thank God for the simplicity of the message of the Cross. The Gospel truly is a foolish message and a stumbling block, so much so, that even the majority of American churches today refuse to preach it. In rejecting the Gospel they forfeit the Power of God for Salvation and are left with the power of man made devices which stir the emotions but never convert the soul. I have seen thousands of altar calls where the people were moved by theatrics and gifted orators but rarely moved by the soul searching, sin convicting power of the Gospel. Yet out of the thousands that come forward year after year, so little fruit remains. I believe the reason has to do with the message. “Is your life a wreck? Come to Jesus. Are you lonely and empty? Come to Jesus. Jesus loves you and is longing for you. Try Jesus, Give him a chance” So people are moved by the moment, come to the altar, give Jesus the privilege and opportunity to make them happy. When that does not happen they walk away.

But the Gospel is not suppose to make me happy, it is suppose to kill me. “I have been crucified with Christ” Gal 2:20. The true gospel preaches a Crucified Christ that demands repentance from sin and faith in Christ. Today many preachers are simply to timid to offend sinful man by showing him how sinful he really is. And that is what the Gospel does. It shows the utter sinfulness of man, and the Mighty Power of God to save sinful man and keep him in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. So many today in the church are running after signs and wonders and miracles. My pastor recently said, “Do you want to see a true miracle today? Find a church that preaches the GOSPEL. That is a Miracle!” I agree whole heartedly. What the church needs today more than ever is good old fashioned Gospel preaching that converts souls and produces fruit that remains.

Thanks for the reminder that it is all about the Gospel and my daily need of it’s power!

I am not ashamed of the Gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

Steve L.