Preface: I came across this exhortation to preachers in a sermon of Charles Spurgeon's titled....Jesus, King Of Truth...."I have sometimes, when hearing sermons, wished the preacher would come to the point, and would deal with something that really concerned our soul's welfare. What concern have dying men with the thousand trivial questions which are flitting around us? We have heaven or hell before us, and death within a stone's throw; for God's sake do not trifle with us, but tell us the truth at once!" So my advice to young pastors who lean solely on the instruction of their seminary homiletics professor who may never once in their thirty or forty years of preaching actually moved an entire congregation to conviction....to consider the advice of a man who moved the hearts of repentant sinners in London....and also America through his transmitted Lord's Day sermons....both non-Christians and Christians alike....for over forty years.
So why is it that I see Donald Trump as a genuine biblical false prophet that has come in amongst the brethren....(this through both the political support among evangelicals....and the failure of the shepherds to warn the people on greed and mixing the flag with the Gospel)....and I see him as a man with seriously debilitating mental issues on the world's stage....why is it that I....(and others)....see this while you....(generally speaking)....do not?
Let's begin by eliminating some answers. I am more than willing to admit that you are probably a better Christian than I am....for every day with me is looking forward to the day when we will be with the Lord without the temptations of greed and envy and anger and pride. I'm certainly no smarter than you. So why have most of you missed this....that we have turned our trust away from Jesus Christ....'He certainly cannot handle this socialism issue on His own without Donald Trump....and placed it in political power....which essentially is.....onto ourselves?
I'm sure that there is no single answer and no easy answers but I'd like to at least send us in a specific direction to get some help with this. The strength....(that includes discernment of which we are talking about here)....that the Christian is to get from the preaching of Christ in a weekly sermon....is no longer a sure thing in the American pulpit. We are a malnourished church....at times....all too often.....staggering around with false teachers such as Joel Osteen and misled pastors such as Robert Jeffress....and many and varied faddish and modern fake gospels.
I on the other hand.....in all my weaknesses....have made sure that I have a steady diet....three and four times a week....of preaching from men of the past.....and as I like to say.....men who preach like men of the past. An hour from now.....Lord willing.....I will be walking a treadmill.....pushing myself both physically and otherwise....as the ever-present headphones will be on....as I feed on a sermon.....today it will probably be Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
So that's what I would ask you to at least contemplate. You will never have any idea of what I'm talking about until you at least read or hear what preaching in the past was like. This is also why I often challenge pastors in these posts to do the same thing....to humbly put in the effort to glean from these men of whom God had so graciously blessed them....so that God might so bless they themselves....in such a great responsibility as they have.
Fill your week with either sermons or books on the glories of Christ....and the wonders of what He has done for us on the cross....and the joy and the hope of His appearing soon.....Maranatha....Lord Jesus Come....and see if Donald Trump.....and seeking security in our own powers....do not become evident for what they are....worthless. Would you then abandon politics altogether....along with the efforts to choose wise leaders through the political process? It shouldn't....it certainly hasn't with me....but it hopefully would help you to put politics on a proper level....far....far below....our trust and hope in our Lord and Savior and coming King....Jesus Christ.
One last thing....if the Lord's return is truly near.....at the very doorstep....(we are at least aware in detail of Revelation's description of this time are we not)....we will need discernment beyond measure....for delusion would be coming...."for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect....behold I (Jesus) have told you in advance." (Matthew 24:24)
Please consider listening to this one sermon by Charles Spurgeon.....and after the Prince of Preachers is finished....purposely bring Donald Trump to mind....and see how many seconds you might be able to continue before you have to return to thinking about your condition in standing before Jesus Christ. Simply Google....'Charles Spurgeon....a blast of the trumpet against false peace.'
Morning update: All the news outlets are reporting that Christianity Today in an editorial called for Trump's removal from office. Read the editorial. You may not agree with its conclusion but the case was made very well that there is a serious problem here.
Also: Franklin Graham tweeted just hours ago that his father voted for Donald Trump in 2016. So did I Reverend Graham....so did millions of us....but at the time we didn't know him beyond skyscrapers and casinos and his celebrity....and I doubt that your father knew him beyond the choreographed and deceptive 'art of the deal' delivered over a lunch or on the dais of some political/Christian gathering that Donald Trump odiously perfected over the previous forty years. Are you implying that your father would still hold the same opinion today? I have your dad's face on the cover of a coffee table book staring at me in my living room.....and most of his books in my home....and thank God for him often in these posts....and I do not think that you should put words in his mouth today....an opinion of which you cannot be certain. Your expertise in helping those in need is evident and wonderful.....but where is your expertise in politics.....for that is where you have gone.
And Again: President Trump responded to the Christianity Today report..."No President has done more for the Evangelical community and it's not even close." No Mr. President....you have just about destroyed what was left of the evangelical community....along with conservatism and talk radio. We have no discernment today thanks to you. You have led us into greed and power-mongering and selfishness. We have taken on your vindictiveness....and by leading us away from the gospel you are now dividing us as you divide and destroy everything that comes into your orbit.
So why is it that I see Donald Trump as a genuine biblical false prophet that has come in amongst the brethren....(this through both the political support among evangelicals....and the failure of the shepherds to warn the people on greed and mixing the flag with the Gospel)....and I see him as a man with seriously debilitating mental issues on the world's stage....why is it that I....(and others)....see this while you....(generally speaking)....do not?
Let's begin by eliminating some answers. I am more than willing to admit that you are probably a better Christian than I am....for every day with me is looking forward to the day when we will be with the Lord without the temptations of greed and envy and anger and pride. I'm certainly no smarter than you. So why have most of you missed this....that we have turned our trust away from Jesus Christ....'He certainly cannot handle this socialism issue on His own without Donald Trump....and placed it in political power....which essentially is.....onto ourselves?
I'm sure that there is no single answer and no easy answers but I'd like to at least send us in a specific direction to get some help with this. The strength....(that includes discernment of which we are talking about here)....that the Christian is to get from the preaching of Christ in a weekly sermon....is no longer a sure thing in the American pulpit. We are a malnourished church....at times....all too often.....staggering around with false teachers such as Joel Osteen and misled pastors such as Robert Jeffress....and many and varied faddish and modern fake gospels.
I on the other hand.....in all my weaknesses....have made sure that I have a steady diet....three and four times a week....of preaching from men of the past.....and as I like to say.....men who preach like men of the past. An hour from now.....Lord willing.....I will be walking a treadmill.....pushing myself both physically and otherwise....as the ever-present headphones will be on....as I feed on a sermon.....today it will probably be Charles Haddon Spurgeon.
So that's what I would ask you to at least contemplate. You will never have any idea of what I'm talking about until you at least read or hear what preaching in the past was like. This is also why I often challenge pastors in these posts to do the same thing....to humbly put in the effort to glean from these men of whom God had so graciously blessed them....so that God might so bless they themselves....in such a great responsibility as they have.
Fill your week with either sermons or books on the glories of Christ....and the wonders of what He has done for us on the cross....and the joy and the hope of His appearing soon.....Maranatha....Lord Jesus Come....and see if Donald Trump.....and seeking security in our own powers....do not become evident for what they are....worthless. Would you then abandon politics altogether....along with the efforts to choose wise leaders through the political process? It shouldn't....it certainly hasn't with me....but it hopefully would help you to put politics on a proper level....far....far below....our trust and hope in our Lord and Savior and coming King....Jesus Christ.
One last thing....if the Lord's return is truly near.....at the very doorstep....(we are at least aware in detail of Revelation's description of this time are we not)....we will need discernment beyond measure....for delusion would be coming...."for false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect....behold I (Jesus) have told you in advance." (Matthew 24:24)
Please consider listening to this one sermon by Charles Spurgeon.....and after the Prince of Preachers is finished....purposely bring Donald Trump to mind....and see how many seconds you might be able to continue before you have to return to thinking about your condition in standing before Jesus Christ. Simply Google....'Charles Spurgeon....a blast of the trumpet against false peace.'
Morning update: All the news outlets are reporting that Christianity Today in an editorial called for Trump's removal from office. Read the editorial. You may not agree with its conclusion but the case was made very well that there is a serious problem here.
Also: Franklin Graham tweeted just hours ago that his father voted for Donald Trump in 2016. So did I Reverend Graham....so did millions of us....but at the time we didn't know him beyond skyscrapers and casinos and his celebrity....and I doubt that your father knew him beyond the choreographed and deceptive 'art of the deal' delivered over a lunch or on the dais of some political/Christian gathering that Donald Trump odiously perfected over the previous forty years. Are you implying that your father would still hold the same opinion today? I have your dad's face on the cover of a coffee table book staring at me in my living room.....and most of his books in my home....and thank God for him often in these posts....and I do not think that you should put words in his mouth today....an opinion of which you cannot be certain. Your expertise in helping those in need is evident and wonderful.....but where is your expertise in politics.....for that is where you have gone.
And Again: President Trump responded to the Christianity Today report..."No President has done more for the Evangelical community and it's not even close." No Mr. President....you have just about destroyed what was left of the evangelical community....along with conservatism and talk radio. We have no discernment today thanks to you. You have led us into greed and power-mongering and selfishness. We have taken on your vindictiveness....and by leading us away from the gospel you are now dividing us as you divide and destroy everything that comes into your orbit.
