” When the world patronizes the Church, the Church will need tenfold grace to maintain her spirituality, just as on an ocean steamer any speed beyond a certain limit is only attained by an expenditure of power altogether out of proportion to the increase of the distance traveled. ‘Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you!’ (Luke 6:26). Such praise is not for good soldiers of Jesus Christ! If the enemy begins to love one of the king’s generals, that king may half suspect that his general is turning traitor. God save us from such treachery! ‘Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.’ (1 John 2:15).”
~ Charles Spurgeon, 1891, Sermon 2225
” For centuries the Church stood solidly against every form of worldly entertainment, recognizing it for what it was – a device for wasting time, a refuge from the disturbing voice of conscience, a scheme to divert attention from moral accountability. For this she got herself abused roundly by the sons of this world. But of late she has become tired of the abuse and has given over the struggle. She appears to have decided that if she cannot conquer the great god Entertainment she may as well join forces with him and make what use she can of his powers. So today we have an astonishing spectacle of millions of dollars being poured into the in holy job of providing earthly entertainment for the so-called sons of heaven. Religious entertainment is in many places rapidly crowding out the serious things of God. Many churches these days have become little more than poor theaters where fifth-rate “producers” peddle their shoddy wares with the full approval of evangelical leaders who can even quote holy text in defense of their delinquency. And hardly a man dares raise his voice against it.”
~ A. W. Tozer, “The Root Of The Righteous”, (Harrisburg, PA, Christian Publications, 1955), pg.32-33
While Tozer was speaking of the influences of the world in the church in 1955, it may seem difficult to see his concerns in light of today’s so-called “seeker-sensitive” churches or “missional churches” who have so “engaged” the culture, that it is difficult to separate the world from the church.
In the end, the deadly seriousness of the Gospel has been trivialized, and minimalized, as we have become more interested in meeting the felt needs of the audience. The audience is now sovereign, not the Lord Jesus Christ and propositional truth born from the Scriptures. Tozer saw entertainment becoming the primary tool used for outreach. He rightly feared that the evangelical church was replacing the frivolous and the carnal for the supremacy of the clear preaching of the Word of God and the worship of the saints of God was becoming a spectator sport. Like Spurgeon, Tozer feared the “down grading” of the church which would leave us with only a shell, devoid of sound doctrine and lofty worship where Christ would be seen and worshiped as supremely holy and the only sovereign of our lives.
Sadly, worldly pragmatism for the sake of church growth and perceived ministry success has replaced our reliance upon the ministry of the convincing and convicting power of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8). It is easier for us to manufacture counterfeit growth than to wait on the movement of the regenerating ministry of the Spirit of God (Titus 3:5; John 3:5-6) as the church supplicates in fervent prayer and as separated witnesses ( I Peter 3:15) in obedient reliance as planters and sowers ( 1 Corinthians 3:7-8). The latter requires a church of faith while the former looks to that which man, can and likes to do.
- Michael Holtzinger
On “Sola Scriptura”
“Whereas speculative metaphysics obscured Scripture in the medieval church, today it is often the speculative behavioral and social sciences that claim priority in contemporary discussion. Thus, even where a high doctrine of inspiration is maintained, the biblical categories of sin and grace are often replaced with therapeutic categories, such as dysfunction and recovery, or the ‘is’ of statistical averages defining the ‘ought’ of ecclesial health. In an effort to be relevant, ‘contextualization’ often becomes an excuse for compromise, realized or not, and this is due not only to a lack of serious theological reflection, but also to the numbing effects of modernity. Few actually declare that they are going to march to a different drummer, but the theological shallowness of evangelicalism is hardly a match for the incessant stream of consciousness that gushes from the broken cisterns of modern and postmodern society.”
~ Michael S. Horton, “Here We Stand”, Ed. James Montgomery Boice and Benjamin E. Sasse, R&R Publishing, 2004, pg.104
“The man who talks about his experience as a Christian, who never does anything for Christ, is , I am afraid, only and idle dreamer.”
~ Charles Spurgeon, 1893, Sermon 2315
The last several days, I have either been preparing for the Shepherd’s Conference or as is true at the moment, I am here absorbing. What a blessing.
The first day John MacArthur preached on Biblical separation. It has been a long time since I have heard a solid Biblical view on Christian separation. It was encouraging and refreshing! This was followed up that evening on integrity.
Tom Pennington and Rick Holland were equally engaging and encouraging.
This morning in the Q&A we got a goot look at the heart of John. There is a heart for ministry and a heart to minister in clear humility to pastor, hence, The Shepherd’s Conference.
I know there will be those that will say I am bordering on hero worship. Nothing could be further form the truth. I am here for two reasons:
1. The content of Biblical theology especially the implications of soteriology in ministry.
2. The fellowship of pastors who have the same heart of the Gospel message.
I just thought of a third reason and perhaps the most important; that God would do a greater work in my heart for the cause and glory of Christ.
- Michael Holtzinger
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