Meditation for Monday
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2:4
A local organization in Saint John was purchasing an old playhouse in the city to turn the historic building into a cultural facility. The building in recent years had been used by a large charismatic church, which was selling the property to the cultural organization. I was one of the reporters who arrived for a news conference in the building for the purchase announcement. What struck me as I made my way to the front of the ‘sanctuary’ was the magnificence of the sound systems and the band equipment. The drums and other musical instruments that were there were such an incredible contrast to what we find (and thankfully don’t find) in a Gospel Hall. While I never attended any of the services in that church, I can only imagine the tremendous volume of sound that would be generated by all that paraphernalia. Why did they need it? Presumably to please the congregation and tickle the people’s ears.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy good singing, and sometimes I think we could do a better job of that. But if we are to follow today’s text, we cannot turn to the world’s enticements to draw people to hear the Gospel. Paul speaks of being entrusted with the Gospel, which is a deeply responsible position. It means the highest responsibility in the Gospel is to God, not to the audience. It is God’s Gospel, and must never be handled in any way that would bring dishonour to His Name and to His purposes.
Paul speaks of pleasing God and not men. Sometimes we handle the Gospel as through it were our responsibility to make it palatable to people. But the Gospel is not a message that naturally appeals to unregenerate sinners. Only the striving of the Holy Spirit can draw them to it. We should never target our audience outside of the primary goal of pleasing God. Sinners must be warned of their utter ruin before a holy God, must be informed of the perfect remedy God has provided for their ruin, and must be warned of their responsibility to accept the remedy or perish.
In the Gospel that you present, and the Gospel that you listen to, who do you seek to please? – Jim MacIntosh