The Word of Truth

People are in need of the truth, Christians and non-Christians alike. Every person longs for the truth to guide them and to give them hope. That’s what Christ does, and that’s what His Word does. It is life to those who seek it, but likewise it is a barrier to those who chase after their own desires.

Unfortunately many churches make it a point to avoid the truth of the Word. They have resolved to put forth a message that tickles the ears and promotes worldly gain. They make those that attend feel less guilty about their pursuit of themselves, to the severe detriment of the communities that surround them.

To be clear, Jesus taught the opposite of worldly gain, and He Himself was an example of humble service, not power and position, though He possessed both of those. This is evidenced throughout the Bible, which only has to be occasionally opened and read in order to glean its elementary truths. God’s Word needs no secret decoder ring, and it is accessible to all who come to it. Storing up treasure in heaven is a basic teaching of God’s Word. So why do so many preach worldly gain, which is worse than useless to the believer?

Recently I attended a Sunday service at a church in Northern California whose pastor had never been to seminary. Afterward my friend proceeded to tell me the story of the church beginning, and how the pastor had organized a small bible study in his apartment complex some years ago. Through prayerful planning and teaching, the group grew to 50 people, and soon had to be held at another location to provide ample space for the attendees.

This pastor obviously had direction from the Lord, and upon observance I noticed that his teachings were almost verbatim from the Bible. He was preaching the truth, and people were drawn to it. Currently the church has over 3,000 members, with several services. There were people standing along the walls of the auditorium at the service I attended. People yearn to hear the truth of God.

The challenge for us is this: Are we brave enough to proclaim God’s truth to those who will listen? You don’t need a degree to teach the gospel, and the need is great. Sure, people will always come around to listen to what makes them feel better, but will we proclaim the fullness of the Word of God even if it may rub some people the wrong way? I submit that we must, and that if we muster the courage, others will be blessed with hearing God’s Word of Truth, which is never wasted, and will always have a spiritual return for those who hear.