When Jesus came preaching the Kingdom Of God, he was opposed by the religious community; the Pharisee, and Sadducee. For those who preach the Kingdom Of God today, they are opposed likewise by the religious community.
The Pharisees opposed Jesus with a mixture of their traditions and some scripture. But it wasn't their use of scripture that made them His enemy and He theirs, indeed Jesus used scripture as well. It was their hearts that he looked at. They were comfortable with things the way they were and had no intentions of letting this prophet change anything.
Jesus, on the other hand, had compassion for the lost souls who he said were condemned unless they turned to Him, and believed on Him. (John 16:18). They were sinners and were under God's wrath. That was their state, and they desperately needed a Savior to escape that wrath.
He was not trying to win a popularity contest, nor was he being pragmatic by looking for something that "worked". He was clear to those who would follow Him, that they, the unbelievers, hated Him and the Father without cause, (Jn 15:25) and that they would hate them also... without cause. (Jn 15:18)
Below is a video. This poor soul doesn't oppose the street preacher with an appeal to scripture but rather with appeals to emotion and pragmatism. She even asks those who are heckling the preacher to support her in her opposition to the Gospel he is preaching. The enemy is crafty, and always glad to tell us how we may best be His enemy.
The preacher, on the other hand, responds to her every point with sound scripture, logic, reason, and compassion. But she is not swayed from her emotional and pragmatic positions. This woman is a product of the modern American Church. She knows no better. She has been "loved" into oblivion by our more sensible, pragmatic, and peaceful times and preachers. But these are not peaceful times. These are radical times.
The Great Commission
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We are all aware of the Great Commission, I assume. You know, "Go and
preach the gospel." Yes, yes ... except ... no. That *is* Mark's version
(Mark 16:15)...
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8 comments:
Wow! What is very sad, is that my wife and I encounter this type in our ministry. It's all about "tolerance" and "love" and we shouldn't be "forcing" our views. And guess what - many of those who do this proclaim themselves as Christians!
How sad that this is the result of the modern "church."
Another blog had a post giving a parable about warning sinners from sin. A commenter (I believe he was in agreement, and his comment was intended as irony, not disagreement) said, among other things, "Garbage like this is driving people away from the Jesus of my imagination." The "church girl" had a "broken heart" because she didn't think the street preacher was offering "the kind of god that people need". Like that commenter, "the Jesus of my imagination." "God to me." Sigh.
John 4:40-41
So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of His word;
NASU
A FANTASTIC video. Kudos to Wretched Radio for their stand for The Truth.
May we remember that living the gospel is not enough, we must proclaim the gospel; ALL OF IT.!!.
Isn't it ironic that this self-professed Christian is publicly calling on the preacher to repent from publicly calling on people to repent? Isn't it doubly ironic because "Repent and believe the Gospel" was Jesus's message?
Without realizing the need to repent, there IS not Gospel.
I guess that I identify the Pharisee by his tendency to add to scriptures. We have so many things that we make scripture. No running in church. Don't ask the pastor a question. Don't leave during the sermon. My church frowns on such things. No very young children in church.
Don't drink coffee or eat a sandwich in church.
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