"John used many such warnings as he announced the Good News to the people." Luke 3:18 NLT
As I was reading Luke 3 yesterday, the Holy Spirit began to speak to my heart about the modern-day church. This Scripture in particular jumped out at me. In a culture where we do not want to "offend" anyone, where we desire to be "inclusive," we have lost the New Testament Gospel. In this passage John was not worried about offending anyone or including anyone. In verse 7 he calls the people who had come to hear him a brood of vipers. How would that go over in our pulpits today?
John's message was one of Good News - salvation has come, but it was accompanied by warnings. Many preachers, teachers, evangelists, and prophets in our modern society share the Good News that salvation has come, but there are no warnings to repent and turn from our sins. In verse 8 John tells his audience to "Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God." There is very little "proof" in today's church of repentant hearts and transformed lives. It is a "come as you are" message. While it is true, we are to come to Jesus "just as we are," no where in the Scripture is it taught that when we come, we are to "stay as we are." Throughout the Bible, we are promised that when we come to God with truly repentant hearts we will be transformed. He will renew our minds and give us new hearts. We will become new creatures. (Romans 12:2, Ezekiel 36:26, II Corinthians 5:17)
In Luke 3 John shares the Good News that the Messiah has come, but he doesn't stop there. His Good News is accompanied by warnings of the judgment that comes if one does not repent. Warnings of the chaff being separated from the wheat and of trees that fail to produce fruit being thrown in the fire. Unfortunately, many in the church today do not want to hear the message of repentance. The apostle Paul warned of those whose only desire is for the preacher to tickle their ears and make them feel good about themselves. (II Timothy 4:3)
All the great revivals of the past began when the people's eyes were opened to their sins and true repentance occurred. Instead of hiring marketing directors and using gimmicks to get people in our church doors, maybe we should try the New Testament method - sharing the Good News along with the need for repentance. Maybe then we wouldn't simply see auditoriums filled, but we would see lives transformed.
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray for the church, Your body, Your bride. I pray that we would turn from our ways of thinking and that we would get back to the basics of the New Testament - that we would share the Gospel of Jesus Christ through repentance. I pray that a great revival would sweep across this nation and all over the world and that we would prepare ourselves to be a pure bride ready for our King. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
