Let Us Not Be Ashamed of the Word of Truth

For a Bible teacher, there is no clearer purpose statement or higher calling than the apostle Paul's words in Romans: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes." That same conviction ought to be the heartbeat of every man who steps into a pulpit, every time he opens the Word of God. It's an absolute confidence in the supreme power and sufficiency of biblical truth alone to transform lives.

Sadly, confidence in the sufficiency of Scripture has been steadily declining for several decades. Today, too many pastors and church leaders spend their time strategizing ways to adjust or adapt God's Word to worldly tastes rather than simply communicating it. In an effort to make the gospel more user-friendly, they soften or altogether skirt the hard and offensive biblical truths. They've transformed the worship service into a crass sideshow, substituting spiritural junk food for the meat of God's Word.

But we don't need to adorn, amend, or adjust the truth of Scripture for it to make an impact in lives, nor can we soften or reshape the gospel message so it appeals to more people. We simply need to preach it clearly and accurately. Multiple generations of believers are in a perpetual state of arrested spiritual developement because so many pastors majored on entertainment and technique and minored on biblical content. Let me say this plainly: if a pastor doesn't believe that God's Word is enough on its own, he has no business teaching it in the first place.

- John MacArthur

We need to stand against the seeker-sensitive, entertainment-oriented, people pleaser methods of preaching that permeate the church today. The Holy Spirit works through the Word of God only when it is not watered down or tampered with. It stands on its own. It even very clearly states that we should not add to or take anything away from it.

How can they hear if we say nothing?

Romans 10:14 (New International Version)

¹⁴How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?