The "cheap grace" messages we hear today leaves us shuttling between our homes, job sites, the church and supermarkets, end of story. It doesn't instill in us the courage to undertake missions to hellholes since we are taught that ours is to enjoy, after all, what else when "Christ did it all."
Missionaries and apostolic pioneers who are reaching the hinterlands under challenging circumstances are looked upon as "graceless individuals since they don't have the fancy and flashy things to also showoff."
Where are the young men and women who made missions to the dying world famous? Where are the men and women who lived on 40% of their earnings and gave out 60% to support mission efforts in the hellholes of the world? They are scarce and rare to find, our cheap grace messages have made normal Christian experiences to be abnormal in the eyes of today’s generation.
Everything about ministry today is Pastoral. Stay in the urban centers, rent or build a house called church, get some folks inside and teach them for ages without ever graduating them. Live a soft and risk-free life and surround yourself with the best of comfort and convenience. That's grace to this spoiled generation!
What's the consequence? We are losing this generation of boys and girls and men and women despite the technology we have; they are perishing in record numbers. Our churches are full of people who worship themselves and use God as "Father Christmas" to achieve their carnal ambitions. Once they are blessed with the things of this life, they become arrogant, boastful and proud. You can't teach them anything anymore since they have made money. They come to fellowship the days they choose and leave when they want; after all, "it is the church that needs their money." I laugh!
Brethren, Christ didn't face the cross because he lacked grace, but because he had the grace to endure for the salvation of humankind. Grace is not grease for an easy life, but the ability to stay strong despite challenges in the pursuit of purpose. Paul the Apostle was not beaten and jailed several times because he lacked the grace to escape those hurdles to live a more comfortable life, but because he had the grace to go all out for the Lord no matter the matter. Something is definitely wrong with our version of the gospel today! We are losing this generation, God help us! I love the hymn below; it resonates with what I know the Bible teaches.
Hymn
Far, far away, in heathen darkness dwelling,
Millions of souls forever may be lost;
Who, who will go, salvation’s story telling,
Looking to Jesus, counting not the cost?
“All pow’r is given unto me,
All pow’r is given unto me,
Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel,
And lo, I am with you always.”
See o’er the world, wide open doors inviting:
Soldiers of Christ, arise and enter in!
Christians, awake! your forces all uniting,
Send forth the Gospel, break the chains of sin.
“Why will ye die?” the voice of God is calling,
“Why will ye die?” re-echo in His name:
Jesus hath died to save from death appalling,
Life and salvation therefore go proclaim.
May God send another awakening to the church, we pray in Jesus name! Share! Share! Share! Spread the fire!
DrBenard Etta
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