October 13, 2024
Often I feel led to do or to write something that proves most appropriate and even fruitful. Recently, I came to realize how often I do things unaware that it is the result of the Holy Spirit’s leadership. I have even come to depend on His guidance in many of the things I do. And I preach that we should always seek and request God’s guidance whenever we propose to do anything.
I recently picked up the most recent copy of the magazine published by my seminary, Midwestern Baptist, which comes out biannually. This one is dedicated to Charles H. Spurgeon, the late great “Prince of Preachers,” who pastored the largest church in England in the 19th century. It suddenly occurred to me how God directs what I read in order to provide me the ideas I use as illustrations in the sermons I deliver and in the articles I write for this column. My desire is to always honor Christ and, hopefully, to influence others with the truth of God’s Word.
One article in the magazine told of how Spurgeon fell out of favor with the British Baptist Union because he disagreed with their adoption of a compromise doctrinal statement. Obviously, Satan had already begun to succeed after decades of secular attacks on Spurgeon through the press. Spurgeon wrote something very true and memorable: “Doctrinal decay always brings spiritual death.” How very true! This unfortunate event demonstrates how the devil can twist the truth and consequently the minds of men. The Apostle Paul declared, “If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which accords with godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing, but is obsessed with disputes and arguments over words, from which come envy, strife, reviling, evil suspicions, useless wranglings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth, who suppose that godliness is a means of gain. From such withdraw yourself.” (1 Timothy 6:3-5).
Paul also warned us, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Romans 2:2). Spurgeon was adamant about the truth. He said, “There is no soul-winning by untruthful preaching.” Today we are seeing just that in a significant number of men and women who preach for profit. Many of them are on television, and they are always soliciting money. Many of them live in luxury off the money people, some very poor, provide them.
These so-called Christian preachers hurt the cause of Christ and His Gospel. Instead of serving the Lord, these “preachers” are serving themselves. Some of them may be like the Pharisees, whom Jesus rebuked. He told them, “You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do…” (John 8:44).
If you attend a church which has such a pastor as this, leave it immediately and look for a church with a godly pastor who preaches God’s Word. You may have to give up the luxury, beauty, comfort, and entertainment of a megachurch, but you do not go to church for such things. You should be assembling with others to worship the Living God. True worship of Christ is so much more important than entertainment!
And remember that, if you are sincere and genuine in your Christianity, the Holy Spirit is constantly advising and directing you, though you may be quite unaware of it. Let us thank and praise God for always wanting to help us.
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Ralph Fudge is the pastor of Big Ochlocknee Baptist Church in Coolidge, Ga., and has a Master’s degree in theology from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
