Preaching Against Sin

I just finished watching several video clips of evangelists and street preachers attacking unbelievers and exposing their sins. I am sorry but this is NOT the good news of the gospel of Jesus. They are only confusing people.

They think that laying a quilt trip upon these people will make them repent and change their lives? Wrong! If you motivate people with fear then you must keep them in fear to keep them motivated. This is not how Jesus did it.

Most Christians preach against the sin of sex, drugs, and rebellion. It is easy to preach against these sins because they are expressed openly. It is easy to judge what we see on the outward.

What is really sad….when you preach like this.... people stop and say “well I don’t do those things, I don’t smoke, drink or chew nor do I run around with boys who do!” They justify themselves and say I live a good life and then refuse to face the truth. Therefore they continue to live a life controlled by the hidden sins that run deep within the human condition.

This type of thinking promotes the idea that we can experience eternal life by following a list of “dos and don’ts.” As a result we have religious people thinking they free from sin by making an outward appearance without the power of God. The truth is sin is a condition which requires a transformation of the heart.

In Proverbs 6:16-19 it identifies several sins as a condition of the heart. The first one is to be arrogant. Next is to lie and then to kill the innocent. Next is to desire evil and destruction. Next is to speak falsely against another person. And the last one is the desire to promote disharmony and discord.

When was the last time you heard a Christian speak of these sins?

Man will avoid speaking of these sins because they cause so much pain and suffering.

But the Holy Spirit knows how to reveal and remove these sins.

How He does it is through love, it is not through preaching condemnation. To know Jesus in a personal relationship you know love.

It was God’s love for me that drew me to Him not some preacher telling me that I was a sinner. Deep down inside I knew I was a sinner. Once I knew how much God loved me and that He had a purpose for my life......I could not refuse His love nor those who would share His love with me.

I remember not wanting to sleep the night I prayed my prayer of faith. I was so overwhelmed with His love and peace and I was afraid if I went to sleep it would not be there the next morning but it was.

The Holy Spirit knew exactly how to woo me and love me until I was willing to completely open up and receive Him. There was no preacher telling me what to do only people who loved God who were willing to pray for me and love me just as I was.

Several days later the Spirit of God opened me up and filled me with the power of God, I was freed from my demons and I became a changed man.

Now that is the good news.

Steve Hart