posted by Phil Johnson
The PyroManiacs devote some space each weekend to highlights from The Spurgeon Archive. The following excerpt is from "The Evils of the Present Time," a chapter in the book An All-Round Ministry.
n reference to ministers, many church-members are indifferent as to the personal piety of the preacher; what they want is talent or cleverness. What the man preaches does not matter now; he must draw a crowd, or please the elite, and that is enough. Cleverness is the main thing. One would think they were looking for a conjurer rather than a pastor. Whether he preaches truth or error, the man is held in admiration so long as he can talk glibly, and keep up a reputation as a speaker.If we had truer piety in members and deacons, pretenders would soon take their wares to other markets. Alas! I fear there has been great laxity in the admission of members, and the quality of our churches has become defiled and debased by "the mixed multitude," among whom all manner of evil finds a congenial dwelling-place. Unhappy leader, who has an Achan in his own camp! Better that Demas should forsake us, than that he should abide with us, and import the world into the church.
6 comments:
"Cleverness" and "please the elite" . . . if I didn't know better, I would say that C.H.S. lived . . . TODAY . . . and we would have just gotten back from
T5G, since, no doubt he would be a part of that group!
Great ending about Demas . . . as today many of the emergents and mainlines welcome him/her in and never foster an environment for change . . . biblically known as repentance.
GOOD CLIP, GUYS!! :-)
Brilliant as usual from Spurgeon
"I fear there has been great laxity in the admission of members"
That's the truth. The elders of any church need to be more discerning, more brave in questioning new members. I know this was one of my problems as an elder when I would interview someone.
I was timid. And elders can not be timid. They need to speak firmly and with compassion and grace of course. But if the firmness is not there, then Satan will come in, and the leaven will spread.
I think this is a chronic human disease which has always been and which will never go away.
“As for you, son of man, your people who talk together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, say to one another, each to his brother, Come, and hear what the word is that comes from the LORD. And they come to you as people come, and they sit before you as my people, and they hear what you say but they will not do it; for with lustful talk in their mouths they act; their heart is set on their gain. And behold, you are to them like one who sings lustful songs with a beautiful voice and plays well on an instrument, for they hear what you say, but they will not do it." (Ezekiel 33:30-32)
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Unhappy leader, who has an Achan in his own camp! Better that Demas should forsake us, than that he should abide with us, and import the world into the church.
Not if it's all about the numbers! Not if quantity is everything and quality is nothing!
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