Screamin' Preachers and Honky-tonk Organs

I was recently channel surfing to see what was on a very popular religious television network, and cringed at what I saw--a grown man in a pinstriped suit storming up and down the aisles of his "sanctuary," promising miracles in sync with a honky-tonk organ that punctuated his whispering (and then YELLING!) about what an anointed man of God he was. In spite of all his gyrations, finger pointing, sweating, shouting, and Bible-waving, he insisted that he wasn't doing his thing for entertainment. But when he didn't get even one expected "Amen!" from his followers after a sweaty, stompin' "word of prophecy," he got very concerned and said, "I'd be getting nervous right now if I wasn't so anointed!"

While I can appreciate this preacher's charisma and athletic ability and the groove of a funky organ riff, I fear what awaits him on the Day of Judgment when he stands before a holy God to give an account of his false teaching. I am embarrassed by the antics of preachers like this who use manipulation tactics to emotionally control their supporters and fund their "ministries" by promising miracles for money.

No Christian is without fault, me included. But I do know that a real Christian stands in awe of the power of the gospel to transform a person's life, and certainly doesn't feel the need to twist the truth to further his own empire of popularity. As Christians who desire to share our faith, we can learn a great deal from preachers like this.

If it's true that the simple message of the gospel, clearly communicated, is the "power of God unto salvation" which makes sinners "new creations in Christ," then Christians don't need to dress it up, add anything to it, and certainly shouldn't hide any aspect of it to make it more palatable or sound more "anointed." The Apostle Paul had such confidence in the power of God to work through the simple message of the gospel that Paul didn't want to twist it, flavor it, or even allow his own personality to get in the way of it. He purposely preached without "worldly wisdom" or any "excellency of speech," speaking with "great plainness," knowing that he was made to be a temporary, weak, and replaceable "earthen vessel" which held the priceless treasure of the Word of God. Paul realized that he was not the treasure--the message was. It was not Paul, but God who saved people though the simple preaching of the gospel.

The Apostle had such respect and reverence for God's pure Word that he said, "We...have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God." In other words, as the Amplified Bible puts it, "We have renounced disgraceful ways (secret thoughts, feelings, desires and underhandedness, the methods and arts that men hide through shame); we refuse to deal craftily (to practice trickery and cunning) or to adulterate or handle dishonestly the Word of God, but we state the truth openly (clearly and candidly). And so we commend ourselves in the sight and presence of God to every man's conscience." (2 Corinthians 4:2)

So if we want to be used by God to reach the lost and build up the Church, we should enthusiastically follow the pattern in scripture and freshly commit ourselves to living our private and public lives with simplicity and a clear conscience, communicating God's word accurately and understandably. And if we truly love God and our neighbors as much as we love ourselves, we will share the simple message of the Savior who died to save people from Hell, and bring them into a right and loving relationship with God. If a person's faith is started and sustained by the real message (rather than sweaty promises of miracles, money, and a Mercedes) it will not fail, because it comes from God. And when God begins something, He finishes it. True faith doesn't rest upon the antics of a screaming preacher and a funky organ, but rather upon an understanding of sin and its consequences, and a genuine desire to surrender to Jesus as Savior and Lord.