Feeding Sheep, or Amusing Goats?
(Charles Spurgeon)
An evil is in the 'professed' camp
of the LORD, so gross in its impudence,
that the most short-sighted Christian
can hardly fail to notice it.
During the past few years this evil
has developed at an alarming rate.
It has worked like leaven, until
the whole lump ferments!
of the LORD, so gross in its impudence,
that the most short-sighted Christian
can hardly fail to notice it.
During the past few years this evil
has developed at an alarming rate.
It has worked like leaven, until
the whole lump ferments!
The devil has seldom done a more clever
thing, than hinting to the Church that
part of their mission is to provide
entertainment for the people,
with a view to winning them.
From speaking out the gospel, the Church
has gradually toned down her testimony--
then winked at and excused the frivolities
of the day. Then she tolerated them
in her borders. Now she has adopted them
under the plea of reaching the masses!
My first contention is that providing
amusement for the people is nowhere
spoken of in the Scriptures as a function
of the Church. If it is a Christian work,
then why did not CHRIST speak of it?
"Go into all the world and preach
the gospel to every creature--
and provide amusement for those
who do not relish the gospel."
No such words, however, are to be
found. It did not seem to occur to HIM.
Where do entertainers come in?
The HOLY SPIRIT is silent concerning
them. Were the prophets persecuted
because they amused the people--
or because they confronted them?
The 'concert' has no martyr roll.
Again, providing amusement is in direct
antagonism to the teaching and life of
CHRIST and all HIS apostles. What was
the attitude of the apostolic Church
to the world?
(Matthew 5:13)
not the sugar candy; something
the world will spit out--
not swallow.
Had JESUS introduced more of the bright
and pleasant elements into HIS teaching,
HE would have been more popular. When
"many of HIS disciples turned back
and no longer followed HIM,"
(John 6:66)
I do not hear Him say:
"Run after these people, Peter, and
tell them we will have a different
style of service tomorrow; something
short and attractive with little preaching.
We will have a pleasant evening for
the people. Tell them they will be
sure to enjoy it! Be quick, Peter,
we must get the people somehow!"
No!
JESUS pitied sinners, sighed
and wept over them--
but never sought to amuse them!
In vain will the epistles be searched
to find any trace of the 'gospel of
amusement.' Their message is,
separate yourselves from them...
Don't touch their filthy things..."
(2 Corinthians 6:17)
Anything approaching amusement
is conspicuous by its absence.
They had boundless confidence
in the gospel, and employed
no other weapon.
After Peter and John were locked up
for preaching, the Church had a prayer
meeting, but they did not pray,
"Lord, grant unto your servants that
by a wise and discriminating use of
innocent recreation we may show
these people how happy we are!"
No!
They did not cease from preaching
CHRIST. They had no time for
arranging entertainments. Scattered
by persecution, they went everywhere
preaching the gospel. They turned
the world upside down--
that is the only difference
from today's church.
Lastly, amusement fails to effect
the end desired. Let the heavy-
laden who found peace through
the concert not keep silent!
Let the drunkard to whom the dramatic
entertainment had been GOD'S link
in the chain of their conversion,
stand up!
There are none to answer!
The mission of amusement
produces no converts!
The need of the hour for today's
ministry is earnest spirituality
joined with Biblical doctrine,
so understood and felt,
that it sets men on fire.
LORD, clear the Church of all the rot and
rubbish the devil has imposed on her,
and bring us back to apostolic methods!
~ ~ ~ ~
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