Sanctified Excuses - (Part 3)

March 31, 2010

Excuse #3 – If we preach it, they will come. Since they don’t they are not really interested. It’s not our fault.

Remember the Kevin Costner movie, Field Of Dreams?  Costner plays the part of an Iowa farmer, Ray Kinsella, who is down on his luck.  The farm is about to be foreclosed and the family has no way out. One day “Ray” hears a voice in his cornfield whispering, "If you build it, he will come." So, he builds a baseball field on his farm, and the ghosts of multiple baseball players show up and play a game of ball. Hundreds come from around the area, pay to watch the game, and VIOLA the farm is saved! If it were only that easy!

Yet, it seems as if many in the pulpit today have bought into that notion. In fact, it is a popular excuse for way many congregations remain small. The idea goes something like this: The Word of God is powerful and all we have to do is preach the Word. Those who live in our community know where we are located and if they really want to change they will come and hear the word. We don’t have to do any of that fancy stuff to get people in our doors. If we simply preach the Word of God faithfully, they will come. If they don’t, well then, that is their fault not ours. I don’t mean to sound so harsh, but I can’t tell you how many times I have heard those very words.

I do agree the Word of God is powerful. Hebrews 4:12 makes that very clear, “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” However, where does the Great Commission state, “STAY”! Where do we find the lackadaisical approach to ministry in the Word? Where does it tell us that ALL we need to do is preach the Word?

Any realistic look at Scripture will reveal that we have a pursuing God who asks us to follow his lead – to go out into the “Highways and byways”. We cannot allow our lazy pursuit of those caught in sin to be something we attempt to justify through God’s Word.

Posted 3/31/2010 in Stephen Gray | 0 Comments - Add Comment