No Child's Play!

Spurgeon, A BLAST OF THE TRUMPET AGAINST FALSE PEACE

"Peace, peace, when there is no peace." -- Jeremiah 6:14.

MINISTERS are fearfully guilty if they intentionally build up men in a false peace. I cannot imagine any man more greatly guilty of blood than he who plays jackal to the lion of hell, by pandering to the depraved tastes of vain, rebellious man.

The physician who should pamper a man in his disease, who should feed his cancer, or inject continual poison into the system, while at the same time he promised sound health and long life--such a physician would not be one half so hideous a monster of cruelty, as the professed minister of Christ who should bid his people take comfort, when, instead thereof, he ought to be crying, "Woe unto those that are at ease in Zion: be troubled, you careless ones."

The work of the ministry is no child's play!

Much prayer we need that we may be kept honest, and much grace that we may not mislead the souls whom we are bound to guide.

The pilot who should pretend to steer a ship toward its proper haven, but who should meanwhile occupy himself below with boring holes in her keel that she might sink, would not be a worse traitor than the man who takes the helm of a church, and professes to be steering it towards Christ, while all the while he is ruining it by diluting the truth as it is in Jesus, concealing unpalatable truths, and lulling men into security with soft and flattering words.

We might sooner pardon the assassin who stretches forth his hand under the guise of friendship, and then stabs us to the heart, than we could forgive the man who comes towards us with smooth words, telling us that he is God's ambassador, but all the while foments rebellion in ours hearts, and pacifies us while we are living in revolt against the majesty of heaven.

In the great day when Jehovah shall launch his thunderbolts, I think he will reserve one more dreadful and terrible than the rest, for some arch-traitor to the cross of Christ, who has not only destroyed himself, but led others into hell.

Preaching is not child's play--
It is not a thing to be done without labor and anxiety; it is solemn work;
It is awful work, if you view it in its relation to eternity.

When we think that when we speak to you, your salvation or damnation, in some measure, depends upon what we say- when we reflect that if we are unfaithful watchmen, your blood will God require at our hands- O, good God!

When I reflect that I have preached to thousands in my lifetime, and have perhaps said many things I ought not to have said, it startles me, it makes me shake and tremble.

Spurgeon

NEXT ARTICLE

PREVIOUS ARTICLE