Today's post is by guest writer Lucas Ward.
Deut. 1:3 "And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that Jehovah had given him in commandment unto them"
In our last discussion of how Moses taught, we showed how Moses only taught the people what the Lord had told him to say. In new situations, Moses went to the Lord to learn what needed to be done. He never took it upon himself to speak for the Lord. He only commanded as the Lord commanded him. In the above verse, we see a difference of emphasis. As Moses began his last series of addresses to the people we are told that he spoke all that the Lord had commanded. He didn't pick and choose. He didn't only tell them the stuff that sounded pleasant or that would build their egos. He didn't cater to those with "itching ears" who would "turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to fables." (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
All too often, modern preachers -- catering to modern audiences -- only preach the nice things in the New Testament. They preach on salvation, heaven, and the blessings of God. They preach about the ability to do "all things through Him that strengthens me" and all things "working together for the good of them that love the Lord". While these things are Biblical principles that should be taught, the same supposed "Gospel Preachers" never seem to mention the harder truths of the New Testament. Too many preachers ignore the passages calling for sacrifice, for putting to death who we were and striving to grow in Christian qualities, no matter how difficult that is. We don't hear about being in submission one to another, in humility putting others before ourselves or that we should consider our needs of least concern in the face of the needs of the brethren. We are rarely warned anymore of Hell or of the immediacy of the need to repent. "While it is called Today," the writer of Hebrews implores.
Moses spent long passages extolling the blessings of God and the wonders of the Promised Land to which the people were going. He prophesied that the other nations of the world would bow down to Israel as the chosen of God if Israel would keep the covenant. Moses spent longer passages, however, warning of the curses that would come upon the people if they sinned and the ultimate results of breaking the covenant they had made with God. Most everyone is more motivated by avoiding the bad than they are by attaining the good. God knows this and so instructed Moses to teach, yet modern preachers far too often leave out any hint of consequences in their so-called "Gospel" sermons. Ironic, since we know more about the Hell from the teachings of Jesus than from all other sources combined.
Preachers: do better. Be sure to present the whole word of God. Audiences: demand better. If all you want is your ego to be stroked, then you won't find that in a Biblical church. If you want to be challenged unto salvation, however, that is what the Gospel does. Demand Gospel preaching!
One final thought: Moses taught all. He didn't set up a system of secret knowledge available only to the initiated so that a select few could lord it over the rest of the people. Moses taught all. If you are part of some group that has a system of levels that one must climb to attain the true, hidden knowledge then you are not a part of a group that follows the Biblical example. The lowliest Christian has full access to the revelation of God through His word. That, in fact, is a major theme of 1 John. Seek out the truth!
Acts 20:26-27 "Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God."
Lucas Ward
Deut. 1:3 "And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that Jehovah had given him in commandment unto them"
In our last discussion of how Moses taught, we showed how Moses only taught the people what the Lord had told him to say. In new situations, Moses went to the Lord to learn what needed to be done. He never took it upon himself to speak for the Lord. He only commanded as the Lord commanded him. In the above verse, we see a difference of emphasis. As Moses began his last series of addresses to the people we are told that he spoke all that the Lord had commanded. He didn't pick and choose. He didn't only tell them the stuff that sounded pleasant or that would build their egos. He didn't cater to those with "itching ears" who would "turn away their ears from the truth and turn aside to fables." (2 Tim. 4:3-4)
All too often, modern preachers -- catering to modern audiences -- only preach the nice things in the New Testament. They preach on salvation, heaven, and the blessings of God. They preach about the ability to do "all things through Him that strengthens me" and all things "working together for the good of them that love the Lord". While these things are Biblical principles that should be taught, the same supposed "Gospel Preachers" never seem to mention the harder truths of the New Testament. Too many preachers ignore the passages calling for sacrifice, for putting to death who we were and striving to grow in Christian qualities, no matter how difficult that is. We don't hear about being in submission one to another, in humility putting others before ourselves or that we should consider our needs of least concern in the face of the needs of the brethren. We are rarely warned anymore of Hell or of the immediacy of the need to repent. "While it is called Today," the writer of Hebrews implores.
Moses spent long passages extolling the blessings of God and the wonders of the Promised Land to which the people were going. He prophesied that the other nations of the world would bow down to Israel as the chosen of God if Israel would keep the covenant. Moses spent longer passages, however, warning of the curses that would come upon the people if they sinned and the ultimate results of breaking the covenant they had made with God. Most everyone is more motivated by avoiding the bad than they are by attaining the good. God knows this and so instructed Moses to teach, yet modern preachers far too often leave out any hint of consequences in their so-called "Gospel" sermons. Ironic, since we know more about the Hell from the teachings of Jesus than from all other sources combined.
Preachers: do better. Be sure to present the whole word of God. Audiences: demand better. If all you want is your ego to be stroked, then you won't find that in a Biblical church. If you want to be challenged unto salvation, however, that is what the Gospel does. Demand Gospel preaching!
One final thought: Moses taught all. He didn't set up a system of secret knowledge available only to the initiated so that a select few could lord it over the rest of the people. Moses taught all. If you are part of some group that has a system of levels that one must climb to attain the true, hidden knowledge then you are not a part of a group that follows the Biblical example. The lowliest Christian has full access to the revelation of God through His word. That, in fact, is a major theme of 1 John. Seek out the truth!
Acts 20:26-27 "Wherefore I testify unto you this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God."
Lucas Ward
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