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Are Gospel Meetings Out-dated?
Joe R. Price
Are gospel
meetings advantageous in today’s world? Some brethren say gospel meetings
are not useful in today’s world. The basic reason for a gospel meeting is
to arrange meetings where the gospel can be heard. Is it no longer
beneficial to make such arrangements? Is it no longer helpful to attend
such meetings and invite others to come? The lost can hear the saving
gospel and Christians can be edified in the truth (2 Tim. 4:1-5; Eph.
4:11-16; 2 Tim. 2:15). Still, some Christians complain against having
gospel meetings. As you consider these typical criticisms of gospel
meetings see if you detect the common thread running through each one.
1. Gospel
meetings are outdated and ineffective in the modern world.
This attitude leaves the impression that the gospel must be dressed up in
some new way if it is to have any impact upon the lives of sinners today.
This simply is not true. God's word is powerful and persuasive and able to
convert the lost and strengthen the saved – today (Rom. 1:16; Heb. 4:12;
Psa. 19:7-11). Some suggest the only way to reach souls for Christ today is
to first develop personal friendships (so-called “friendship evangelism”);
gospel preaching is not enough. Certainly friends need the gospel, and a
friend is more likely to talk with you about the gospel than is a complete
stranger. Still, it was not friendship that persuaded about 3,000 souls on
the day of Pentecost to believe and be saved. It was the power of the word
of God (Acts 2:40-41). The gospel, when preached, continues to save those
who believe and obey it (1 Cor. 1:21).
2. A week is too
long and too tiring.
This is usually said by the Christian who has already decided he will not
come to every worship service. Yes, to participate in any week-long
activity requires a certain amount of dedication and energy. That usually
means we will get tired. But, is this the best attitude we can develop when
it comes to gospel preaching? Can you imagine Cornelius saying to Peter,
“Now therefore, we are all present before God, to hear all the things
commanded you by God” – just make it quick (Acts 10:33)?
If this had been Jesus’ attitude toward His work of redeeming sinners would
He have endured the cross or said, “That’s too demanding!”?
3. Only brethren
come to gospel meetings.
This is not true. The lost are saved as a result of gospel meetings. I
have seen it and perhaps you have, too. Maybe this criticism hides a more
troubling picture: perhaps the lost do not come because we do not invite
them and bring them to hear the gospel (cf. Jno. 1:46). But, what if only
Christians come? That does not nullify the good that is done when saints
assemble (Heb. 10:24-25).
4. Meetings are
just another way for preachers to make money.
This sort of motive judging is sad but true of some Christians. The gospel
preacher should not be made to feel ashamed for receiving financial support
for preaching the gospel, but it happens. Jesus said, “The laborer is
worthy of his wages” (Lk. 10:7), and the apostle Paul said, “Even so
the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the
gospel” (1 Cor. 9:14). Could it be that some brethren do not wish to
support gospel preaching by their presence as well as not supporting it with
their giving, even though God has commanded both (1 Cor. 16:2; Heb. 10:25)?
Did you discover
the thread running through these objections to gospel meetings? These
complaints show a lack of faith in the power of the word of God to
save the lost and convert souls into the image of Christ. They reflect
attitudes of selfishness and excuse-making, not faith in the power of Christ
and His gospel. Gospel meetings are not the only scriptural arrangement we
can use to teach the lost and encourage the saved. We understand that.
But, we ought to realize that no scriptural arrangement of spreading
the gospel will succeed unless and until we diligently commit ourselves to
it, including gospel meetings.
We should examine
our commitment to gospel preaching as our gospel meeting approaches. Let us
use our opportunity to hear the gospel and to help others hear it, too.
Invite your friends, family and strangers. Invite your brethren in Christ.
Plan to be present, to grow in faithfulness and in service. Trust the power
God’s word has on the lives of good and honest hearts (Lk. 8:15). God’s
word will accomplish His purposes (Isa. 55:11). Good can and will be done
through gospel meetings.
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Will a Man Rob God?
Scott S. Finley
Most everyone
knows without being told that when a man withholds a possession from its
rightful owner, it is considered theft. However, when we think of robbery,
we always seem to think in terms of men stealing from men…this is not always
the case. There is a very real sense in which men steal from God by
withholding things from God which rightfully belong to Him. In the Book of
Malachi, the prophet posed a question before the Jews which we need to ask
ourselves… “Will a man rob God?” (3:8)
One can rob God
in the same sense that the Jews did in Malachi. When Malachi asked the
question, “Will a man rob God?”, the Israelites responded by asking,
“Wherein have we robbed thee?” (v. 8) Malachi answered them, “In tithes and
offerings” (v.8). One way we can rob God is materially. The Jews were
commanded to tithe; Christians are commanded to give with liberality. When
we fail to fulfill this New Testament standard for giving we rob God just
like the Jews robbed God when they failed to fulfill their Old Testament
standard for giving. (Read Romans 12:8) No doubt, there are many who rob
God every first day of the week when the collection plate is passed (1 Cor.
16:2).
We can also rob
God when we refuse to give Him our lives. Our bodies, our souls, and our
lives were given to us by God Almighty. We belong to Him. When we
refuse to give God our lives, we rob Him, keeping back that which rightfully
belongs to Him. We also rob Him of the pleasure He gets from seeing His
children live in accordance with His Holy and Divine Will. We can give God
a great deal of pleasure by giving to Him our lives by living the way He has
outlined for us to live in the New Testament. Let us not be found guilty of
robbing God. Let us give to Him what is rightfully His in the first place.
(Caprock
Church Bulletin, Sept. 9, 1992)
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NOTEWORTHY NEWS
(Current events in the
light of Scripture)
Polls
and Preaching
Joe R. Price
The
Tuesday headline says “Polls show support for Iraq war at new low” (Washingtonpost.com,
Feb. 28, 2006). Opinion polls are big business in America. One is made to
wonder whether news agencies use polls to report the news or to make the
news. Opinion polls measure popularity and preference, as in the
aforementioned headline. The popularity of food, people, activities,
political positions, etc. – the list is endless. Opinion polls often shape
the public discourse; the reliable ones attempt to bring context to that
discourse. Polls mark out the ground for discussion. Polls have a great
deal of influence. And, how pollsters frame a question can greatly affect
the poll results.
Polls
can have a variety of useful applications. But not when it comes to
deciding the word of God. The man of God does not preach based on the
latest opinion poll. He does not put his finger in the air to see which way
the wind of popularity is blowing. He respects the word as being from God,
not man, so he keeps the divine charge to readily preach it “in season
and out of season” to preach it (2 Tim. 3:16-4:2). He does not change
it to soothe itching ears (2 Tim. 4:3-4). When the gospel needs to be
heard, he cannot be silent (2 Tim. 4:5; Rom. 10:13-14; cf. Jer. 20:9).
The easy
way would be to say nothing. It is the coward’s way; the faithless way.
But it is not God’s way. We preach the gospel because men are lost without
it (Rom. 1:14-16).
Polls do
not determine truth. Men-pleasers poll the church before taking their
stand. Wishing never to “rock the boat,” these “pollsters” never risk
affliction while trying to save some (Jude 22-23; 2 Tim. 4:5). But, men of
God take their stand upon the revealed truth of God and with watchfulness,
preach it so that some may be saved (Acts 20:24-27).
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