Sideshow Evangelism

In today's churches we have gotten so far away from the true Gospel, that what we need is to return to the old paths. In our arrogance though, many churches think they need to change more; become more like the world to reach the lost. We have pastors that must really think that it is up to them to save all the lost souls out there. Where is God's Sovereignty? It's still there, always has been and always will be. Jesus told us to go forth preach the Gospel, tell men of their need of a Savior, to repent and turn from their wicked ways. Only God can bring about this change in a man, we are only told to tell them and disciple them. Of course we are to be a sounding board and to help them in their walk, but we mustn't deviate from the Gospel just to increase our numbers because a Barna poll said baptism numbers are down, and membership numbers are down.

I am not against change, but it must be done in the proper context. We mustn't allow a circus atmosphere to take the place of our true, heartfelt worship. He is worthy of our worship and praise, we don't have to put on a sideshow for people to be saved. We can't give sight to the blind, He can; we can't raise the dead, only He can. We must be careful of the backdoor evangelism approach that seems to be permeating the pulpits around the world today. We should pay close attention to Paul's words. "And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God."--1 Cor. 2:1-5

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."--Hebrews 13:8