ILLUSIONS OF MINISTY: When "a form of godliness" fills the Pulpit

2 Timothy 3 (NKJV)

1 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 Now as Jannes and Jambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, disapproved concerning the faith; 9 but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all, as theirs also was. 10 But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, 11 persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra--what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, 15 and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When the MESSAGE of our MINISTRY exists to promote our MINISTRY, then our MINISTRY ceases to actually MINISTER. Thus, the spreading of the GOSPEL ceases, and finances are no longer supporting the GOSPEL...they are simply financing a SELF-ADVERTISING RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATION.

How often we hear the call, saying "Help me spread the Gospel"...yet, the Gospel is CONSPICUOUSLY ABSENT in the presentation!

As I watch Christian programming, I am overwhelmed at the ILLUSION of MINISTRY as the claim of "Spreading the Gospel" is made...yet the only mention of the Gospel is as a word in a ministry advertisement! In place of the Gospel, they have offered every possible doctrine and teaching which always seems to circle around one theme: "God wants you to sow a seed into this ministry...and if you obey God, He will bless you with earthly riches, fulfilling your every desire."

Many years ago, a man traveled from town to town promoting his attempt to lift a car over his head with one hand. Around town, posters depicted the man in a triumphant pose, his right hand firmly planted on his hip, as his left hand held aloft a large Chevy coupe. The townspeople were all talking...skeptic and believer alike. Excitement was in the air...and NO ONE was going to miss this event! As the time drew near, the crowd began to gather. One by one, the townspeople eagerly paid the price of admission, entering into the hidden arena and finding a seat. The anticipation was visibly evident in the crowd. Soon, the announcer entered the large circle as a microphone slowly lowered directly into the center. With a drum roll and the blast of trumpets, the announcer shouted, "Ladies and gentleman, tonight we will witness an attempt of a GREAT FEAT! The Great Strong Man will attempt to lift this car..."as a huge tarp was lifted, revealing the Chevy coupe..."not with TWO hands...but with only ONE hand! It is a dangerous test of superhuman strength! Now...I present to you...THE GREAT STRONG MAN!"

With that, The Great Strong Man ran into the circle, waving to the crowd and bowing repeatedly. Then...he held his hand up as if asking for silence. He turned and nodded toward the lone drummer...and the drum roll began! Bending slowly down, The Great Strong Man placed his hand on the support brackets specifically made to give balance during this amazing attempt. The drum roll grew louder, the crowd joining in with rhythmic clapping. Soon...the crowd was chanting together "Lift it! Lift it! Lift it!" Then...suddenly...The Great Strong Man strained with all his might, as his muscles bulged with the appearance that they would BURST at the slightest poke! Seconds passed...then minutes...yet, only one tire appeared to leave the ground...if only for one very brief moment. Within minutes, The Great Strong Man ceased his straining, shaking his head in disappointment as he looked in the direction of the announcer. The announcer sadly proclaimed, "Ladies and gentleman, tonight we have witnessed a noble attempt...yet, there are times when the body is weak, and the feat is just not possible. But...let's give The Great Strong Man a rousing applause for his grand attempt!" With that...the crowd left, a bit dejected and unfulfilled.

This scenario would be repeated in town after town...until, one day, a reporter sat down to interview The Great Strong Man. "How many times have you SUCCESSFULLY accomplished this great feat, sir?" Calmly, The Great Strong Man replied, "Never. I not once have claimed that I have ever actually LIFTED the car over my head with one hand: I have only said that I would ATTEMPT to accomplish so great a feat!"

This is a picture of many ministries today...as they ask you to invest your finances into the "Spreading of the Gospel". With great advertising and with much "pomp and circumstance", the fanfare surrounding this coming "attempt at so great a feat" is proclaimed to all who will hear! As the excitement builds, the people are enthralled by the presentation...and they are eager to be a part of something so great! But...it is here that reality should set in...if only the throngs of eager followers would look with discerning eyes! The futile attempt at the "great feat" is more powerful in its ADVERTISING than it is in its PERFORMANCE! Day in and day out...the fanfare surrounding the "coming attempt" FAR OUTWEIGHS any actual accomplishment of the advertised ACT. Actually...the financial resources are almost EXCLUSIVELY invested in the ADVERTISING of the ATTEMPT...while any ACTUAL attempt is FLIMSY and FUTILE in its execution. You see...in most cases...the feat has never truly been done! The TRUE Gospel has been replaced by the FUND RAISING GOSPEL...as the "Spreading of the Gospel" has become the great HOOK LINE which draws in donors. Yet, the reality is this: the MESSAGE of these ministries is not TRULY the GOSPEL...the MESSAGE is the PRESENTATION OF A FUTILE EFFORT at some FUTURE ATTEMPT! The claim becomes "We need your financial support to fund our next attempt!"

In truth, the focus of the ministry has shifted from one of actually "Spreading the Gospel" to one of "Sow a seed into our ministry to allow God to prosper you as we make very few actual attempts at spreading the Gospel, focusing our attention almost EXCLUSIVELY on pleas for support, sprinkled with excerpts from our CRUSADES in which you can witness claims of physical healings of no visible sickness or disease, financial returns on 'sown seed', and a complete listing of our scheduled appearances for the upcoming months and year."

... OR...

"Sow a seed into our ministry as we offer you an encouraging, non-judgmental, non-sin-confronting, totally positive, favor-speaking, blessing-declaring, sin-accepting, obedience-denying, Bible-distorting, lie-filled, Satan-inspired, self-seeking, power-lacking, entertainment-filled church service! Join the masses as they flock to our church! Our large membership and huge attendance is PROOF that Jesus is on our side...as we affirm that homosexuals can go to heaven...because we will ALL go to heaven with SOME type of sin! And...we affirm our Islamic brothers and sisters...as we enter into ministry together (promising NOT to try to evangelize/steal each other's faithful believers!) to meet the societal needs of our community, setting aside Biblical truth in a religious unity in an effort to stamp out in INTOLERANCE in our hearts! We firmly renounce any LAW which demands OBEDIENCE to the TRUTHS of the Word of God, choosing EXTREME GRACE which covers our disobedience...as we call people to 'COME TO JESUS AS YOU ARE...TRUE CHANGE IS NOT NEEDED: freely LEAVE the Cross the same way you CAME to the Cross!' Come join our MEGA-MINISTRY...as we seek to welcome you into our exciting presence...and under our impressive influence!"

Yes...we live in a day when the ILLUSION of ministry is greater than the TRUE spreading of the Gospel...and a day when defending the faith is called "being judgmental" and/or "legalism" and/or "negative thinking"...while false doctrine is held up as "new revelation" and/or "spiritual insight"...with declarations of "I got a word!" and/or "God wants Christians wealthy!" and/or "There are many paths to God!" and/or "Gold dust appeared in our service!" and/or "This is your year!" and/or "Favor! Favor! Favor! Blessing! Blessing! Blessing!"

Yes...The Great Strong Man has become an ORDAINED MINISTER...and his MINISTRY is EXPANDING and EXPLODING...right in our very faces! And...trust me...it isn't "Coming to a church near you!": it is "Now at a church near you!" And it MAY BE appearing at your church next Sunday!