Friday, January 13, 2006
Jeremiah 23:28 Let the one who has My Word speak it faithfully.
THE WHOLE TRUTH
When we go to the grocery store the labels jump out at us: Half the calories. Diet pop. Diet this and diet that. Reduced fat. Non-fat. Low fat. Zero carbs. Good carbs. Marketers keep their finger in the air and are quick to accommodate the latest diet fad.
The temptation to give people what they want is the same for churches and pastors. People want church services fat on entertainment, but with half the truth. They want sermons that will make them feel good about themselves, a sort of "Diet Truth", where the message of sin, and the hell sin deserves, is reduced or completely removed.
Jesus wants preaching which leads the hearers to understand that nothing in their personal lives can be hidden from God. Preaching which says, "Don't try to cover it up, just be honest and confess your sin without making excuses." He wants preaching that strikes the heart with honest truth.
But Jesus also wants His preachers to declare His message of certain hope -- the guarantee of life eternal for all who trust in Him as their crucified and risen Savior. The full truth of man's sin must be preached, but so must the full truth of God's wonderful grace in Christ.
A member recently commented on a favorite hymn verse:
Who can condemn me now? For surely The Lord is nigh, who justifies.
No hell I fear, and thus securely With Jesus I to heaven rise (TLH 315:3).
Thank God for preachers who proclaim the sweet truth of that hymn verse. Thank God for men who lead their people to the foot of the cross Sunday after Sunday. Thank the Lord for pastors who speak God's Word faithfully. Faithful preaching exposes sin, but then covers it up with Jesus' blood and righteousness.
