Phraseology That Elevates Man and Diminishes the Glory of God

Have you noticed the incredible push in society today to boost the self-esteem of all?  If you were to apply for a part time job at Subway you wouldn't be known as a simple "sandwich maker" you would be a "Sandwich Artist".  If you go for the same job down the street at Jimmy John's you are applying to be a "Rock Star"!  While these titles are laughable, the phraseology adopted by the modern church to make sinners feel more important is not!

Much of the lingo in modern churchianity has elevated deprived man, fed on his pride and presented Almighty God as little more than a lonely school boy, pleading on bended knee that the sinner will "pretty please with a cherry on top" just "give Him a try".   If you don't believe that to be the case, please take a closer look at the language used in many modern churches on any given Sunday. Unbiblical terms and phrases used have spread like a cancer throughout evangelicalism. Sadly, few have taken notice! Common examples being, "Make Jesus Lord and Savior" and "Accept Jesus". Let's think about what is being said there.  No one makes Jesus Lord and Savior, He is Lord and Savior.  The fact that someone is an unregenerate sinner doesn't change the truth of Jesus' Lordship.  Furthermore, Jesus doesn't need our acceptance, we need HIS!  Unfortunately these phrases and countless others have been spoken so frequently in evangelical circles that they have now become as gospel to many.  

I'd urge you, my brothers and sisters in Christ, take a moment to think about the way you speak when presenting the Gospel to the lost.  Do you soften and sweeten it up just a little (or a lot) to make it more palatable?  Do you put them in a position above God Himself, elevating the sinner above the Savior?  The sinner must see his or her truly desperate and deprived state before the good news of the Gospel can be rightly understood and appreciated.  In elevating man in such a way that he believes he is able to make Jesus Lord we depreciate the glory of our Awesome God, cheapening the work of Christ!

If a blind man were about to walk past a stop sign into a busy intersection would you tenderly whisper, "Oh sir, won't you please give yielding a try?" Of course not! You'd boldly shout at the top of your lungs, "STOP!"  You wouldn't care if it sounded "too harsh". You would promptly and clearly articulate the necessary, crucial message!  You would not take the risk that this simple, yet vital instruction could somehow be misinterpreted or misunderstood.

My friends, how much more important is the message of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ!  Is it not the most vital truth you could possibly share with those who aren't promised even one more heartbeat?  How cruel must we be to withhold the seriousness of that which will impact a soul for all of eternity?

I plead with you to examine the language you use.  While other Christians may understand what you are trying to convey, the unregenerate will not.  Please stick to Biblically solid terms when presenting the gospel to the lost.  The glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ is not our own to edit. We were commanded to call all to repentance, that they would turn from their sins and put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Be faithful to God's Word! Only the Truth of the Gospel has the power to deliver sinners from the just wrath of God.

If your child were gravely ill you wouldn't water down the medication capable of restoring his health, regardless of how hard it was to swallow.  How much more careful we must be in avoiding watering down the only Truth that can save a precious soul from hell!