We who preach the gospel must not think of ourselves as public relations agents sent to establish good will between Christ and the world. We must not imagine ourselves commissioned to make Christ acceptable to big business, the press, the world of sports or modern education. We are not diplomats but prophets, and our message is not a compromise but an ultimatum. A.W. Tozer
Therefore let God-inspired Scripture decide between us; and on whichever side be found doctrines in harmony with the word of God, in favor of that side will be cast the vote of truth. --Basil of Caesarea
Once you learn to discern, there's no going back. You will begin to spot the lie everywhere it appears.

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service. 1 Timothy 1:12

Saturday, December 13, 2014

What Is Successful?


On an ecclesiastical level the churches and parachurch organizations that are most likely to be successful, if you define success as “nickels and noses,” are the very ones who are giving people what they want to hear rather than what God wants them to hear.  People want to hear about how to be successful, how to have a happier marriage, and how to feel good about themselves as opposed to biblical concepts of how to glorify God, how to have a godly marriage, how to deny self, how to take up one’s cross and follow Him.


Gary E. Gilley, “It Works For Me…, Pragmatism and the Twenty-First Century Church,” PFO’s “The Quarterly Journal,” Jan-Mar 2015, p.8-9

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1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi Glenn,

Oh yes, my husband and I have had the "nickels and noses" (we call it "bucks and backsides" - bucks in the plate, backsides in the pews) discussion with more than one pastor, informing them that the world's definition of success is not the Lord's way of building His church. Sadly, most of the time our words were in vain.

-Carolyn

December 15, 2014 at 7:00 AM

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