"For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who are believing.... but we preach Christ crucified, truly to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For you see your calling, brethren, that there are not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many of nobility. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are mighty; and the low-born of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should boast in His presence." (1Co1:21,23-29)

"And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased." (Ga5:11)

Whenever a person, answering God's call to proclaim "Thus says the Lord Jehovah" (Ezk2:4), does so faithfully, there are also going to be the calls to soften, tone down, not be so "hateful", to "do it in love", to be more "tolerant" of other viewpoints and people.

In addition there will be 'advice' from others claiming to be Christians and/or preachers on "how to" proclaim God's Word. And along with that, there will also be various forms of 'chiding' in terms of -how- NOT TO preach.

As you might imagine, this ministry receives such communications on a periodic basis. Many will be out-n-out nasty in their hatred of God's Message as proclaimed here. But others, pretenders, wolves in sheep's clothing will be more 'politically correct' and slide their comments in sideways, not really saying what they mean, but suggesting that if a person portrays a "conservative" image, that such conservatism, of itself, is going to turn off anybody coming along who is a "liberal". That the liberal person, as soon as they get a whiff that this ministry is conservative, that they are going to discredit anything said. Thus the advice: to not go overboard in stating anything that might betray one's conservative leanings.

In other words, a person should be careful how they address the issues of 9/11. They should not say things like: any judgments America receives due to its sin, as illustrated by its electing a philandering president (Clinton), are just and from God. One should not address the feminist agenda of the woman's "right to choose"...to kill her unborn baby. One should not get into the politics of gay rights and marriage issues.

However, forget politics...! Isn't this the sort of thing christendom has been doing for decades with Scriptural concepts?

"Sin" is too harsh a word, and "repentance" is too humiliating, especially when we are deemed to be of so much "worth" to God; instead, let's talk about "relationship". Christianity isn't a 'religion', it's a "relationship".

We don't want to "repent"; instead let's talk about "giving our heart" to God. Give your life to Jesus. During a TV program, the footer on the screen says, "To begin a relationship with Jesus call this number"

If we talk about "sin" and how a person is headed towards the Lake of Fire, that is so "negative", it will turn the person off. They will not be interested in the gospel "presentation".

Church is much too "stuffy" and uninviting. The hymns are so 'boring' and slow. It turns people away.

Don't let yourself be known as a "fundamentalist", because that is sure to turn off the person. They won't want anything to do with your "presentation" of the Gospel. You won't ever get them to "pray the prayer" and make a "commitment".

Where does the Bible say any of these things? How are we of so much worth to God? The Bible says that there is "no good" in us (Rom3:10), that even what we think is good is like a dirty rotten cloth. (Is64:6)

Where does it speak of "giving" -anything- to God? It is God who gives a new heart. (Jer24:7) How do we give God our life? In our natural state we are "DEAD in trespasses and sins" (Eph2:1) Where are we told to give a Gospel "presentation"? To get them to "pray the prayer"? Those are not Biblical concepts.

Perhaps, in working around word definitions, a person might come up with "presentation". But do not people usually -present- "gifts"? But who is the Giver of the Gift of Salvation? It is the "gift of God" (Eph2:8) Anything good that is given is given by God. (Mt7:11, Ja1:17)

The Believer is merely a 'messenger'.

"How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him bringing good tidings, proclaiming peace; bringing good news, proclaiming salvation" (Is52:7, Rom10:15)

What is sharing? A person has some cookies, and another comes along, so the first person gives the other some of their cookies. Children are taught to "share your toys". In other words, a child who 'owns' a toy lets others play with 'their' toy.

But it is NOT -our- faith -to- share. The faith that we have is God's gift to us, it does not originate from ourselves. Even once given to us, it is not even -our- faith. It is the "faith of Christ" (Ga2:16, Php3:9) So, how can we share something that is not even ours? The Believer is not -giving- their faith to another person. That is a totally unbiblical teaching.

However, the word "share" has softened the Christian mandate. It's a more loving-sounding word, than "preach". People don't like to be "preached -to-", because preaching is so condemnatory. Who do you think you are? Better than me? But when a person has been "sharing" with another, they often return to their peers rejoicing that the unbeliever left on a "positive note", 'feeling good' about the "presentation".

But what is the Believer commanded to do by God? What did Jesus command? "preach the gospel to every creature" (Mk16:15) What is preaching? It is -proclaiming-. Another word is to "prophesy". Prophesy is more an OT term. Preach is NT. They both mean the same thing. To do what...?

Someone whom God calls is a watchman. What does the watchman do?

"They shall LIFT UP THE VOICE together in a RESOUNDING CRY" (Is52:8)

"Cry aloud, do not spare; lift up your voice like a shofar, and declare to My people their transgression, and to the house of Jacob their sins." (Is58:1)

Exactly!

"There is no peace, says my God, to the wicked" (Is48:22,57:21)

"God be merciful to me a sinner" (Lk18:13)

Which sorrow then "produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted" (2Co7:10)

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to shame. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and HE WILL EXALT YOU." (Ja4:8-10)

Paul, an apostle to the gentiles, preaching that gentiles did not need to observe all the OT rituals, did still observe Jewish traditions, being Jewish himself. Since one of Timothy's parents was Jewish, he circumcized him in order to not give the Jews anything to complain about. (Ac16:3) He also engaged in Jewish vow and purification rituals. (Ac18:18,21:24) Thus, he was a Jew to Jews.

But when he proclaimed "I have become all things to all men, that I might in any way save some" (1Co9:22) he was not going contrary to his other teachings where he proclaims to "cleanse ourselves from all defilements of the flesh" (2Co7:1) In order to save people out of sexual perversity he did not have stage performers gyrating their bodies in half-naked and sexually explicit movements, in order to not turn away the sexually promiscuous. He did not wear satanic tattoos, while preaching to, well, most of what exists today in the world.

The WHOLE POINT of the Gospel Message is to draw the sinner out of darkness into God's Light. (1Pet2:9, 2Co4:6, Ac26:18) And when the light shines on sin, it exposes sin for what it is. (Eph5:11)

When we are saved, we have God's LIGHT in our hearts. Jesus said that the Believer is the "light of the world" (Mt5:14) And we shine in a dark world. The Light is not the same as darkness. There is no way for Light to -blend- with darkness so as not to seem so different. And a person whose eyes are accustomed to the dark, when the light shines in their face, they put up their hands to shield their eyes from the light. Sometimes it even hurts; and if they were sleeping, "Go away! Let me sleep!"

We are not commanded to curl up with them and sleep, but rather:

"Awake, you who sleep, stand forth out from among the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Eph5:14)

When Jesus came to the world, he was "the true Light" and came for the purpose of giving "light to every man coming into the world" (Jn1:9) But when He came, the "darkness did not lay hold of it" (vs5) he even "came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (vs11) And ultimately they crucified Him.

So, what makes us think that we, suddenly, should become "popular" to the world? We are to be something that Jesus was not?

Jesus said, "..you will be hated by everyone on account of My name" (Mt10:22)

"But he who endures to the end will be kept safe. But when they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For truly I say to you, you will not have finished going through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes. A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord." (Mt10:22-24)

"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you into the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you, even determined to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from Heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? Or do I seek to please men? For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ." (Ga1:6-10)

Whose servants are you? When Jesus preached some of His most forthright messages, it says, "From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more" (Jn6:66)

So why is it that today's [c]hurch is so busy doing a con job on the world? Being salesmen? Figuring out "what sells" and strategizing successful marketing campaigns, to get larger numbers.

That is a DIFFERENT GOSPEL! IT IS ACCURSED!

It is a given:

• the Gospel message is foolishness to the world
• the cross of Christ (the one He died on) is offensive

• "In the world you have affliction" (Jn16:33)

The [c]hurch is singing and praying, "Jesus, walk with me". Or like the Martins sang some years ago, that Jesus is "dreaming big with you"

When what it should be asking is, "Lord, what do you have in mind for me to do?" (Ac9:6) and singing...

I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord
O'er mountain or plain or sea;
I'll say what You want me to say, dear Lord
I'll be what You want me to be.

• If a messenger, claiming to be a christian, pretends to be something other than what he is, God's holy pure servant, what is the credibility of his claim to being from God? Why should the hearer pay any attention?

• If the messenger softens the message and proclaims, like the sign I saw recently in front of a local church, "Jesus believes in you"; instead of proclaiming, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ...Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under Heaven given among men that is required for us to be saved." (Ac16:31, 4:12) what sort of "salvation" is that?

• If it is true that Biblical "Salvation" saves a person from hell, taking them to Heaven; what happens to the hearer who ascribes to a backwards message? (Instead of "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" -- "Jesus believes in you") Does he not instead go to Hell?

"And you forget Jehovah your Maker, who has stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth." (Is51:13)

"Yet the house of Israel says, The way of the Lord is not fair. O house of Israel, is it not My ways which are fair, and your ways which are not fair. Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the Lord Jehovah. Repent, and turn from all your transgressions, so that iniquity shall not be a stumbling block to you. Cast away from you all the transgressions by which you have transgressed, and prepare for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit; for why will you die, O house of Israel? For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies, declares the Lord Jehovah. Therefore turn and live!" (Ezk18:29-32)

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Rom12:2)

"Whoever therefore relaxes one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of Heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of Heaven." (Mt5:19)

"But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in Heaven." (Mt10:33)