"We have taken the glorious gospel of our blessed God and reduced it down to four spiritual laws and five things God wants you to know, with a little superstitious prayer at the end; and if someone repeats it after us with enough sincerity, we popishly declare them to be born again. We've traded regeneration for decisionism. In modern day evangelism, this precious doctrine [of regeneration] has been reduced to nothing more than a human decision to raise one's hand, walk an aisle, or pray a 'sinner's prayer.' As a result, the majority of Americans believe that they've been 'born again' even though their thoughts, words, and deeds are a continual contradiction to the nature and will of God." ~ Paul Washer
So back to this whole powerful gospel thing. I believe wholeheartedly in the power of the Gospel. I am a living testimony of how its power can change a man from enjoying the fleeting pleasure of sin to a man who delights in the eternal pleasures of righteousness.
I dont take it lightly because we are preaching Christ, heaven and hell are at stake, people are persecuted for the sake of the gospel, and it has changed my life. I never thought in all of my days that I would be the man I am today but here I am. New, regenerate, changed, and in love with Christ. I have always believed that the greatest miracle ever done by God and still being done is to take a sinful man, change his heart to hate sin and love righteousness, and keep him this way all of his days. Wouldn't you agree?
If the gospel hasn't lost it's power why are we becoming a people that looks to strategy and methods and put more hope in those things than scripture. I expressed once to someone that I did not like the repetition prayer. Repeat this prayer after me and then declare them saved. They said if i had a better method then to express it 🙁 thats the problem, there is no method yet we try and create them! Such deception and such a lie! There is no where in scripture where Christ or any of the disciples proclaim for the kingdom of God is at hand, now if you would like to ask Christ into your heart just repeat this prayer after me!
What we see is the gospel being preached and it's power causing men and women to be broken, pierced to the heart, shattered into pieces and men being radically changed. I love what scripture says about Lydia in acts. "The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul." (Acts 16:14)
We boast and we brag that souls were saved because they repeated a prayer after us yet they walk away still dead. I hate that evangelism has become such a slap in the face to the power of the gospel. I can't bear to be around it because I know that there is more and I know that there is greater. I thank god that by the grace of god some are saved but if it were not by his grace I myself would still be walking in a lie. It is sad.
People can read this and say that I'm angry etc. but I'm not I'm just passionate and burdened for souls.
Side not: Revelation 3: 19-20 "Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline, so be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."
Let us be wise in our usage of this passage. Remember that this was written to the body of Christ, to the saved, to his bride, the church of laodicea, not the unbeliever!
