ecy is neglected, the church invari ably turns to an ethical interpreta tion of Christianity and begins to stress morality instead of regenera tion. The preaching of morals doesn’t automatically bring about morality. We have had that kind of message in our country for half a century. The plane of morality today, according to even secular estimates, is lower than BLAME THE PASTOR When things go wrong, it’s rather tame To find we are ourselves to blame It gets the trouble over faster To go and blame things on the pastor. The pastor, after all, is paid To keep us bright and undismayed. The pastor is more virtuous, too Than lay folks such as me and you. He never swears, he never drinks. He never “should” say what he thinks. His theology is sound, And that is why he’s simply bound To be the sort of person who Has nothing much to do, But take the blame for what goes wrong And sing in tune at even song. For what’s a pastor really for Except to cheer us up? What's more. We see him tired and wonder why When we in the pews never try. ever. Christ’s coming and kingdom rejected will result in a social gospel. Men put their energies into world reform. Preaching comes more from the Sermon on the Mount and not on the fact and accomplishment of the cross. When Calvary is preached, society never fails to feel the effect of it. If the church had kept in view the authority and coming of Christ, we wouldn’t hear of theologians say
ing, “Democracy demands a God with whom men can co-operate, not to whom they must submit.’’ A further loss in failing to place a right estimate on prophecy is a diminishing interest in and zeal for missions. Where prophetic truth is soft-pedaled, foreign outreach suf fers. Soon we hear of attempts for world conferences and world amalga mations of all religions. A Christian leader from China, visiting in this country, was asked by a young, un thinking, college student, following a morning message, “Why should we export Christianity to China when you have Confucianism in your own country already?” The faithful na tive servant came back without hesi tation, “There are three reasons why we should have Christianity in China. First of all, Confucius was a teacher; Christ is a Saviour. China needs a Saviour more than she needs a teacher. In the second place, Con fucius is dead, and Christ is alive. China needs a living Saviour. In the third place, Confucius some day is going to stand before Christ to be judged by Him. China needs to know Christ as Saviour before she meets Him as Judge.” How true! Forsaking prophecy will see the church embracing a worldly system, even as was true with a dead church- ianity in the Middle Ages which is still with us. This system empha sized form, externalities, and rituals. Prophecy naturally results in purity (I John 3:3). When the church is lulled to sleep in matters of the Sec ond Coming, it is disastrous. This is a standing reproach to the Word of God. The Church is suffering this hour from neglect of prophetic truth. Believe it; preach it; teach it; live it; and go on in the light of it. In the light of prophecy, unsaved Jews and Gentiles dare not delay decision. If you who are reading this are with out Christ, trust Him. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved!” (Acts 16:31). 9
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