21 Therefore what benefit were you then having from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. Romans 6:21 (LSB)
Back in 2006 thru 2008 or so we were vociferously debating what was going on in the seeker sensitive churches all around us as they abandoned expository preaching, replacing it with topical sermons, entertainment, drama, dance, videos, et cetera. In fact, that was how this ministry began, that is, in ministering to those dear brethren who had lost their churches to hostile takeovers by the Purpose Driven paradigm….
I remember how we struggled to come up with the “core” reason they seemed to be so successful. Things sure have progressed, or is it actually the opposite with the gospel contextualization having replaced all of that with the goal of church globalization within the framework of Dominonism and/or “the New Evangelism?” I remember some of the debates from that time and as I look back on it now, I see what was actually happening. Of course, at the time, as the Hegelian Dialectic is in play and diaprax is in one of its incremental changes, it is difficult to see the “big picture.” As we look back at what was done and how it was accomplished by those devoted to their globalization agenda we can see clearly that we were dealing with the forces of our enemy who were dedicated to “ministry” via the practice of cunning in disgraceful, underhanded ways as they tampered with God’s Word for their own ends (2 Corinthians 4:1-2). My brethren, those who truly belong to Christ cannot minster in such a way.
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 2 Corinthians 4:1-2 (NASB)
This is the Apostle Paul’s statement of the integrity of his ministry and it should be ours as well. What does it mean that he renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God? Sounds complex, but it really is not. Paul’s ministry, including all who worked with him was centered in God’s Word as absolute truth. He taught it that way. There was no “wider” view of God’s truth. God said it, therefore, that settled it. That is why he appealed to the people’s conscience. That is how the conscience works. It is a yes or no part of the human heart. It knows nothing about the pollution of “relationship language” in the context of biblical truth. God’s Word is Truth. It kills. It divides.