THE GIMMICK GOSPEL

BY

W.F. BELL

"WORLD'S LARGEST CHURCH" - "WORLD'S FASTEST GROWING CHURCH" -

"AMERICA'S FASTEST GROWING SUNDAY SCHOOL" - "FASTEST GROWING CHURCH IN

THE STATE."

These are frequently heard and frequently seen slogans in these

modern days. Isn't it silly to brag about numbers (either large or

small)? Where in God's Word does it tell us to gimmick people into

attending church services or Sunday School...? The answers to these

questions are obvious to all Bible readers. The modern "gimmick

gospel" is a FAKERY, FAULTY in its desired results, and FOOLISH in the

light of Scripture.

What a perversion of the one true gospel is the modern "gimmick

gospel." Give-aways, gadgets, and games are weekly emphasized, to keep

the crowds coming! It's "Balloon Sunday" one week, "Ice cream Sunday"

another week, and "Clown Sunday" the next week. On and on the "gimmick

gospel" goes, going so far as to have "karate preachers" performing

their stunts, and "cut-off- your-tie" days. Some churches have a

carnival like atmosphere about them. Where such a fleshly show is

carried on, the Lord Jesus Christ is not being honored and it is

easily proved. Where are all those Sunday morning throngs on Sunday

night? Where are they on prayer meeting night? Has there ever been one

new church building built yet, that was built to house the Sunday

night and Wednesday night crowds? Where are the genuine results and

the truly changed lives brought about by the "gimmick gospel?" The

answer is simple: there are none. There cannot be anyone truly changed

by the tactics and techniques of men, that is, changed from sinners

into loyal subjects of King Jesus. Only God can change and truly

convert poor sinners! How little this is believed in our day.

After getting thousands to attend Sunday School, what is taught to

them after getting them there? This is the crucial question. We are

not against churches bussing children and adults to Sunday School and

church services, if they give them the pure gospel after getting them

to come, and didn't have to gimmick them to get them there.

We urge you to weigh carefully these solemn words: "Every plant

which My heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up" (Matt.

15:13). Do we believe this? Men can get "decisions" and men can

persuade folks to "come forward," but does that mean that God the Holy

Spirit has done a real work in their hearts? Some think so, but not

this writer. We "fear and tremble" when we think of being called of

God to preach and teach His Word! We take it seriously and care

nothing if our name is never recorded in the religious journals of our

day. We never want to preach a faulty gospel, but always proclaim that

true gospel that honors CHRIST and exalts the sovereignty of God in

salvation.

If the "gimmick gospel" is the answer to all of America's ills and

problems today, why is there more deadness and unconcern for God and

His glory than ever before? The medicine is not working and it is not

working because it is faulty!

We cannot ever believe that Jesus Christ once engaged in anything

foolish. Neither can we imagine the apostles of our Lord doing the

things that are being done today in the name of Christianity. We

cannot bring ourselves to see in the Scriptures that Almighty God is

engaged in a crash program to "hurry up and get people saved before

it's too late. God is on His throne. What need has He to worry and

fret? What need has God to rush and hurry up?

"For vain man would be wise, though man be born like a wild ass's

colt" (Job 11:12). What a humbling word is this! We are vain and yet

we would be wise! We are depraved and yet we want to help out "little

Jesus." Who is this Jesus? Is He "the beggar?" We declare to you that

modern preachers and modern churches are proving themselves to be

fools indeed, when instead of doing things Biblically, they take on

the world's ways and habits of doing things. The world sells their

merchandise and sells their sports, but the true gospel is not for

sale; it never has been and never will be. The gospel of grace is not

a bargain or something we merely try to get people to accept, but

rather a glorious message of good news, the good news of CHRIST and

what He has already done for poor, perishing sinners.

Are you a sinner? Have you been laid low by God's convicting power?

Are you guilty and undeserving? If so, there is good news for you:

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ

Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

Let us rid this country of the "gimmick gospel," for it is fakery,

faulty, and foolish. And in the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon: "We

can do without modern learning, but we cannot do without the ancient

gospel. We can do without oratory and eloquence, but we cannot do

without Christ crucified. Lord, revive Thy work by giving us the

old-fashioned gospel back again in our pulpits."

 

 

 

ying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ

Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

Let us rid this country of the "gimmick gospel," for it is fakery,

faulty, and foolish. And in the words of Charles Haddon Spurgeon: "We

can do without modern learning, but we cannot do without the ancient

gospel. We can do without oratory and eloquence, but we cannot do

without Christ crucified. Lord, revive Thy work by giving us the

old-fashioned gospel back again in our pulpits."

 

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