Blurring The Boundaries

At the heart of the demise of gospel preaching is what may have begun as a subtle shift. In the Reformation day, evangelical preachers preached for conversions. They believed the lost were truly lost and powerless to do anything about their wretched condition. The only hope was the grace of God through the gospel to convert sinners. Today we have gone from belief in conversions through gospel preaching to “decisions for Jesus.” This seemingly subtle shift is actually a major chasm that is as deep and wide as the chasm between heaven and hell.

If this shocks some people that may be what is needed. In most gospel presentations today you will not hear the gospel. You will hear stories about people who had made decisions for Jesus and how much better their lives are for it. Who Jesus is, is never explained. Why do we need Jesus? Is it to find meaning in life that we are now missing, or to make our life better and more fulfilled. Today we do not hear about the resurrection. We do not hear about the blood atonement. We do not hear about the demands of the Law or the promise of the gospel. But every one is given an opportunity to make a decision for Jesus. What does that mean to make a decision for Jesus?

My point is not to criticize the motives of those who organize such events or the many others who approach evangelism in the same way. I know many of these people believe that they are truly using Biblical methods to reach the lost. However, well-motivated or not, there is a huge difference between the gospel preached by our Lord, and His apostles, and the reformers vs the idea of “making a decision for Jesus.” With that said I know that some people are converted through these type of efforts. But it is buried under the many layers of activities, programs, and evangelical culture, those who get involved eventually may find out who Jesus is, what His claims are, their sinfulness, and their need for the blood atonement, and they may eventually be converted. But the conversion of sinners is being pushed to the background so that a user-friendly Christianity is all that is apparent, and the effect is so very dangerous as we invite the world in and re-label them Christians without giving them the basic fundamentals of the Gospel message blurring the boundaries between the wheat and tares, and in doing so a false sense of salvation has been put in place when in reality they have not been delivered from error to truth.

Romans 10:1-3 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

Excerpts taken from an audio sermon delivered by John MacArthur at Grace Community Church titled "Deliverance: From Error to Truth--Part 1" you can view the entire transcript here or order the audio GC 80-222 here.