The job is to preach the word, not entertain people

Published 12:00 am Friday, June 30, 2006

For so long have we church people stood by and allowed many things to go by without saying anything about the church.

In today’s world there is too much going on in the churches and too many people thinking that God will accept anything that we do, just so we say we are doing it in his name.

I can no longer stay silent as when God called me to preach, he said the same to me as he said to every preacher that he called “Preach the Word,” not to entertain the people with anything but his Word.

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Cain tried to change God’s mind about what he said, but it didn’t work and it will not be accepted by anyone else, no matter how you feel that you must do to get the people in.

In the four gospels, the word that was put out to everyone who was called by God was told to “preach the word.”

We are not to present entertainment in God’s house. The scripture says this about his house: “It is a house of worship.”

In Mark 11:17, and in John 2:16, these verses state: “His house is a house of worship, not a house of merchandise or anything else. Man is the one who wants to change God to meet their pleasure. No man has ever been able to change God’s Word for his own pleasure, and have God’s approval.

In Matthew 24:35, “Heaven and Earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”

Nowhere in the scripture can it be found that we are to present entertainment just to get them in. It is said in Romans 10:14, “How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher.”

Verse 15, “And how shall they preach except they be sent?”

You can’t find it in any part of the Bible where we are to bring the entire world into the church. If the gospel isn’t enough to bring the people into the church, and they don’t come in to hear the word, but for entertainment, where is salvation in it?

Jesus did say in Luke 18:8, “Never the less, when the son of man cometh shall he find faith on the Earth. Entertainment will never save a person, for there is no spirit of God in it.

The preached word brings salvation to the lost, not entertainment.

The people who allow entertainment instead of the preached word, and those who are in charge of the church, will all stand in the presence of almighty God and give an account of what they thought was permissible, however God’s plan has never changed.

He still tells us to “preach his word.” Joining the church isn’t salvation. Attending church isn’t salvation. Being entertained isn’t salvation. You are only saved by grace through faith and you must hear the word of God in order to be drawn to Him.

What would you rather have, a crowd of unsaved who don’t hear the word? When I stand in His presence, He will not say “Why didn’t you preach?” Will He say the same to you?

Homer Campbell is pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church.