Gospel Without Gimmicks

Gimmick [gim-ik] - noun - an ingenious or novel device, scheme, or stratagem, especially one designed to attract attention or increase appeal.

We need to throw away the gimmicks and return to simple, Bible teaching.

When Peter and John were arrested after the commotion caused in Acts 3, the accusers "saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." The word "perceive" means "to become aware of, know, or identify by means of the senses." In other words, they gathered two things about the apostles: they were not educated or trained, but they had spent time with the Lord.

There is a small church close to where I live that went through 3 name changes in as many years. The impulse to "rebrand" the church is prevalent and for good reason. People are disinterested in religion. Many have become vehemently vocal with their vitriol. Church leaders seem to be scrambling to figure out how to be "relevant" and "engage their communities." The problem is that God doesn't need our help. He isn't impressed with our skills, strategies, or schemes. What we need to remember is that He demands our obedience. Honest humility is held in high honor with the Holy.

Instead of unlearned and ignorant men speaking boldly because they personally knew and walked with the Lord, we are filled with seminary graduates who know how to form an outline, balance a budget, parse the original languages, defend their sect of Christianity but have never been taught to spend time with the Lord. Many courses on preaching are taught, but it is incredibly rare to find a college or seminary to even offer a single course on practically learning to pray.

The Apostle Paul had a lot he could offer. He had been trained in the Law his entire life. He sat under the teaching of one of the sharpest minds in Jerusalem. He was on track to becoming a member of the Sanhedrin. He could debate with the best of them. He was smart, passionate, and trusted in the Hebrew community, but when the Lord saved him, he hid himself away for three years. When he returned to the public scene it was not to flaunt his natural abilities but to give glory to God.

"And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God." - I Corinthians 2:1-5

Most church goers have placed their faith in some intellectual or emotional reasoning instead of simple, practical, Bible truth. When Peter was drawing close to his death he wrote, concerning the Scriptures, "we have also a more sure word of prophecy..." More sure than what? Peter had just described his eye witness account of the transfiguration of Christ. He had literally, visibly seen the Son of God shrouded in Glory and beauty and told these persecuted Christians in II Peter that the pages of Scripture were more trustworthy than his own personal experience. We need to return to this "more sure word of prophecy."

I don't have all the answers. I just know how easy people are to manipulate. Sing a certain song at a certain time in a certain way to get a certain response. People will walk away saying "I felt the Spirit today" and all they have actually received is a show. We need power. Real power. That only comes from God. It will be the result of devoting ourselves to the Scriptures and to prayer. We don't need another gimmick. We just need the gospel.

I'm serving as a church planter in a small town in rural Mississippi. Local politics is tough. The town is very reserved and closed off to new works. One lady told me "preachers come and go." There have been so many new works started that were all hype and no substance. I've resolved to just be consistent and simple in my teaching. Over the course of the past year, I've lost every family that started with us except one. I refuse to play games. I refuse to create a lot of noise to draw attention only for people to find that the Lord isn't there. I told the folks that are still coming "if the gospel isn't enough then it's not enough and we should just go home. But I know that it IS enough." The Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation." God honors the Gospel. He despises guile. So, please, let's return to the Gospel and leave the gimmicks behind.