The Battle Is Not over

J. D. Greear, one of our most effective young pastors here in North Carolina, wrote a most needed article in a recent issue of SBC Life. He warns us that the "battle for the Bible" is far from over.

What is happening is somewhat like the situation in Iraq. Men like Paige Patterson, Paul Pressler, Adrian Rogers, and others brought about a real Reformation, just as our soldiers did in Iraq. But the terrorist tactics in Iraq mean the battle continues. Even so, the battle for the truth of the Bible ranges far and wide. The attacks are not massive, as was the first phase of the war in Iraq, but much more like the continuing war of the insurgents. The present day 'liberals' do not openly attack the Bible. But the new language of the "emergent" church speaks the same old lies that were the ammunition of a past generation.

The liberals like to hear it said that the battle for the Bible is over. They want conservatives to believe that the war has been won, and there is no need for any concern. But among many of the younger evangelicals the preaching of the Bible is less fashionable than ever – especially is that true with some of our super-churches. At a service in one of the largest, the Bible was not read, and the name of Jesus was mentioned only once. Yet that church has been praised for its outreach to the unreached.

We are back where we were seventy-five years ago – the social gospel is back in style. There is less open emphasis on the need for physical ministries such as housing, food, clothing, medicine. The churches are doing far more of that than ever, and rightfully so. The emphasis now is on reaching younger people with the social graces and emotional offerings which satisfy their cultural interests – contemporary music, psychological ministry, social activities. The judgment of God, sin, repentance, confession, holiness and sanctification are rarely, if ever, mentioned. The predominant message in much of the preaching today is "How You Can Be Happy", or "How To Be Successful in Your Life."

As Dr. Greear reminds us, the Gospel cannot be presented to a sinful, unbelieving generation without powerful words. Jesus Christ is the Living Word of God, and the Bible is the written Word of God. And the only way the world can know anything about either is through the preached Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit, delivered by God-called men. There is always the human need for bread. But what sinful men and women need is the Bread of Life.

[Reprinted from The Watchman, M. O. Owens, editor, Gerald Primm, co-editor. You can subscribe and contribute by writing Owens Ministries, Inc., P.O. Box 2066, Gastonia, NC 28053.]