By Shane Kastler
Churches sometimes “shoot themselves in the foot” when they try to get too clever. Many churches today assume that gimmicks, games, and endless programs will win people to the Lord. While God can certainly use whatever He wishes; He is not dependent on the clever schemes of man. In truth, God has chosen to save sinners by the truthful preaching of the word of God. The Apostle Paul said it best, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not in cleverness of speech, so that the cross of Christ would not be made void.” (1 Corinthians 1:17)
Notice carefully what Paul said. He COULD have gotten clever in his presentation. He COULD have used gimmicks to draw a crowd. But he PURPOSELY CHOSE to rely upon the gospel, and nothing else, to save sinners. Even going so far as to say that a preacher’s “cleverness” might make the cross “void.” In other words, some preachers try so hard to impress the crowds that they actually distract from the gospel message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Some of them are no-doubt well intentioned. They genuinely want to see people saved, but ironically; the one thing that saves them is also the one thing their ministry downplays, which is the gospel.
If the gospel is not enough to grow a church, then be content to attend a smaller one. Lots of tricks might be used to draw a crowd. But if the gospel is not preached, with clarity and power, the crowds will not be saved anyway. They don’t need gamesmanship, they need Jesus.
It is only through shunning sin in repentance and embracing Christ by faith that one can be saved. This is not a message that the church should shy away from. But rather it is a message the church should thunder from the hill tops! Jesus saves, and no other! Let this be the battle cry of every faithful Christian church.
Leave the gimmicks at the circus, and avoid playing games when people’s eternal souls are at stake. Give them Jesus; and if that doesn’t satisfy the spiritually searching sinner, then tell them you have nothing else to offer them. Some churches make you feel good for a while. Some keep you entertained on a regular basis. And some tell you how to have a relationship with the very God of the universe. Choose door number 3 and seek the Lord while He may be found. Gimmicks might draw a crowd, but only God can truly build a church.
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