FEEDING SHEEP OR AMUSING
GOATS By C.H. Spurgeon (1834 - 1892)
An evil is in the professed camp of the Lord, so gross in its impudence, that
the most short-sighted can hardly fail to notice it. During the past few years
it has developed at an abnormal rate, even for evil. It has worked like leaven
until the whole lump ferments. The devil has seldom done a cleverer thing than
hinting to the Church that part of their mission is to provide entertainment for
the people, with a view of winning them. From speaking out as the Puritans did,
the Church has gradually toned down her testimony, then winked at and excused
the frivolities of the day. Then she tolerated them in her borders. Now she has
adopted them under the plea of reaching the masses.
My first contention is that providing amusement for the people is nowhere spoken
of in the Scriptures as a function of the Church. If it is a Christian work, why
did not Christ speak of it? "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to
every creature". That is clear enough. So it would have been if he had added,
"and provide amusement for those who do not relish the gospel". No such words,
however, are to be found. It did not seem to occur to Him. Then again, "He gave
some apostles, some prophets, some pastors and teachers, for the work of the
ministry." Where do entertainers come in? The Holy Spirit is silent concerning
them. Were the prophets persecuted because they amused the people or because
they refused? The concert has no martyr roll.
Again, providing amusement is in direct antagonism to the teaching and life of
Christ and all His apostles. What was the attitude of the Church to the world?
"Ye are the salt", not the sugar candy - something the world will spit out, not
swallow. Short and sharp was the utterance. "let the dead bury their dead". He
was in awful earnestness! Let us be faithful: "Preach the Word."
What is a Biblical Christian?
