John Newton, former slaver trader and author of the hymn “Amazing Grace” had this to say about the effect of preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ:
“When the Gospel first comes to a place, though the people are going on in sin, they may be said to sin ignorantly; they have not yet been warned of their danger. Some are drinking down iniquity like water; others more soberly burying themselves alive in the cares and business of the world; others find a little time for what they call religious duties, which they persevere in, though they are utter strangers to the nature or the pleasure of spiritual worship; partly, as thereby they think to bargain with God and to make amends for such sins as they do not choose to relinquish; and partly because it gratifies their pride, and affords them (as they think) some ground for saying, “God, I thank thee I am not as other men.” The preached Gospel declares the vanity and danger of these several ways which sinners choose to walk in. It declares, and demonstrates, that, different as they appear from each other, they are equally remote from the path of safety and peace, and all tend to the same point, the destruction of those who persist in them. At the same time it provides against that despair into which men would be otherwise plunged, when convinced of their sins, by revealing the immense love of God, the glory and grace of Christ, and inviting all to come to him, that they may obtain pardon, life, and happiness. In a word, it (the preaching of the gospel) shows the pit of hell under men’s feet, and opens the gate and points out the way to heaven.” – John Newton (1725-1807) (Emphasis mine)
The ‘preached gospel’ described above doesn’t seem to have much in common with the ‘gospel’ heard in most churches today. Food for thought. . .
The Battle Cry 
Seems like the “old dead dude preachers” knew how to get right to the point, doesn’t it? We’ve come a long way from that kind of preaching. Sometimes that may be good, sometimes not. The Lord must lead in the approach. Though some may be turned off by that kind of message, that may be exactly what some need to see their condition and turn to the Lord. All must be done in undeniable love.
Thanks for the post,
Mark
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Hi Mark,
You hit on a good point. The sort of ‘stuff’ that is not pleasing to the human ear is what the Holy Spirit uses to convict men of their condition and point them to Christ, can be preached with love.
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