Preaching vs Teaching or Singing to the Choir

[Anonymous (152.163.101.12)]

I watch a lot of Christian television, and it seems that most of these programs are primarily "teaching" or "Christian living" programs (for example, Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah, Joyce Meyer, Adrian Rogers, and so on.)

As a Christian, I am grateful for these programs. However, it seems to me that they are speaking to the already converted, and not to the lost. The most prominent evangelist of our era, Billy Graham, buys air time on secular television stations for his crusades.

While many Christian TV stations and networks are claiming to be "taking the Gospel around the world" (or use a similar slogan), Christian television, by and large, seems to be aimed at Christians - teaching them, entertaining them, raising money from them - rather than preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the unsaved.

(There are a few people who fall in the middle; I think of John Hagee, for instance, who seems to preach a mixture of Christian principles and old-fashioned fire-and-brimstone evangelism.)

While these programs may be helpful (the Biblical word would be "edifying"), are they fulfilling the Great Commission?

Any comments on this?

[Anonymous (207.43.195.13)]

Interesting mix of people for starters. While they are all on TV some in this mix I wouldn't give a second to listen to other than be aware of their methods. Now Charles Stanley, David Jeremiah, and Adrian Rogers can be compared to scripture and found as great teachers. However a quick study of Joyce Meyers would find a total opposite.

You have to remember that no everyone listening to the TV shows and many of them are on radio as well are in fact Christians. It's only logical to assume that there are going to be many they may listen in and hope to get a good laugh or other reasons only to find themselves drawn to the gospel. I tuned in to a station and heard these guys speak and was unsaved and they explained things so well and with the Holy Spirit touched me. God can move people to listen.

Also these men have ministries within their church and already reach out in many ways with the gospel.

As for preaching and teaching to the already saved we need more of it. I don't know how many Christians aren't able to "always be able to give an answer for the hope that is within you". Many are not well equipped to answer tough questions. What I get through some of this teaching is being better equipped. So to me they reach out to the lost and the saved with God's word. Well, with the exception of Joyce who perverts the gospe. But that's a whole other posting altogether.

I won't even get started on John Hagee. My father-in-law likes him or did. I haven't heard since I gave him a ton of information on Hagee.

The biggest problem I see is not these guys like Charles and Adrian getting out the message but are we as Christians doing our own part to reach our own communities. "the harvest is ripe". If every Christian did their part to get out the gospel instead of leaving it to the more prominent we wouldn't need a Billy Graham.

http://www.readcarryshare.org/
Order some gospel tracts, pass them out at Haloween and witness to people.

M or Michael

[Anonymous (69.242.21.100)]

thats the biggest question ..What ever happened to THE GREAT COMMISSION ???? GO YE...into all the world ..preach the GOSPEL to every nation ,peoples..etc.
what is the gospel ? ..the power of God unto Salvation..
salvation thru Jesus Christ

[Anonymous (64.12.112.61)]

Michael, that's a good post. All the TV preachers in the world are not a substitute for being a personal witness for Christ.

I am curious about your allusion to John Hagee. He has had one peccadillo in his past (which is pretty much public knowledge), has been criticized for what some people claim is a relatively high salary and lavish lifestyle, and has preached that Jews do not need to come to Jesus to be saved (since the Bible says "all Israel shall be saved," there has been some debate on this last point). However, I have not seen any of his teaching to be evidently false or heretical. Have I missed something?

[Anonymous (141.157.13.94)]

Hagee is theocratic, and believes in a form of Dominion theology that is coercive on unbelievers.

I.e., he is just as cultic as many sectarian, fundamentalist, and other major right-wing figures, and just as dangerous as various extreme left-wingers and various non-Christian gurus, if you look at the fruit... which is worldly preoccupation in legalism and the failings of others, and reclaiming the world/dominating it.

[Anonymous (152.163.101.12)]

Hmmm. Well, if you count all the preachers who believe that America was founded as a "Christian nation" (or at least that our laws are based on Judeo-Christian principles), and who publicly wish it to return to its "Christian heritage", you've got to throw out very nearly everybody.

There's a difference between political activism and sincere belief, which is often borne out in how you choose to live, vs. how you would like to require others to live (and whether, given the opportunity, you would force them to do so).

I don't have a problem with fundamentalism, if that word means that one should stick to the Bible and the fundamentals of the Christian faith. Today, people throw around "fundies" as an epithet, the same way they might use "neo-Nazis". I know there are some who abuse the Christian faith, but for the most part, I find the use of the epithet unwarranted. It comes from contemptuous disagreement, and perhaps from the conviction of sin.

Re: worldly preoccupation in legalism and the failings of others, from what I have seen of John Hagee, he preaches repentance from sin as it is described in the Bible. That part of it I have no problem with. If by "theocratic" you mean that Hagee would like the world to be governed by the principles of Jesus Christ, I have no real problem with that either, but would not hold a gun to anyone's head to accomplish the same. We are free moral agents. It follows that some of us will choose immorality - probably most of us.

There are many who preach "reclaiming the world for Christ". I think they overlook the Biblical admonition that Satan is "the god of this world" and that evil men will "wax worse and worse" until the end. The world is the Lord's, and everything in it (Psalm 24), but the people of the world have largely rejected the message and Person of Jesus.

It is a noble thing to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but shall we change, en masse, by our actions, what the Bible has to say about the world and the hearts of mankind? I think not. May God prove me wrong if it is otherwise.

Sorry, but I don't see John Hagee as either cultic or particularly dangerous. There are, however, a lot of people who don't like his message, which may be because he doesn't seem to mince words on controversial subjects. Incidentally, I met Hagee on one occasion, and found him to be gracious and surprisingly soft-spoken in person.

[Anonymous (69.242.21.100)]

I love pastor John Hagee hes not afraid to preach about the issues facing christians today its also helped me to awaken to live right for the Lord

[catholic_man]

The post initially mentioned Christian TV or Evangelists.

I always enjoyed watching some of the programming. However, here lately I have been disgusted in some of the advertising that seems to be way off base with God. For example, one station (TBN) spent about an hour doing nothing but promoting some beauty health products. I have no problem with promoting these products...ON HOME SHOPPING NETWORK!

Now I have no objection to advertising religious objects or books for sale on Christian TV as it befits the subject matter.

I do have a problem with commercialization infiltrating shows 'of faith'. It just doesn't seem right to me.

[hillariousharry]

I have tuned into the God channel. But now very selective....perhaps I'm becoming a grumpy old man, but the continual racket and voice crescendoes literally do my head in ( are those moments of intense shouting by the preachers meant to be "anointed preaching"?)And then there's the infectious styles....altogether, " say this after me"(every now and again during the sermon/exposition)....and the congregation swifly obey the directive as they seem spell bound by the preachers antics!! Irritating it is. lol

Perhaps being an Englishman I am not attuned to the American preacher's style!! So perhaps a cultural thing.

But then...the things which come across are in my view really bizarre......

I wonder how Rory and Wendy view all this!

And I fail to see how many of the programmes are helpful to people who do not believe the Xian faith. If they are partly intended to touch seeking hearts, then I think the opposite may be happening....perhaps parts of the God channel are responsible for stifling peoples interest and simply turn them off. It would me I think, should I be seeking the Xian faith.

CM -I take ur points, but on a comical note ( not in anyway dismissing your serious point), if I am to watch some of those programmes, it would I think, be a welcome break to see those commercials. Would at least ensure my feet remain firmly on the ground, lest I be caught up and found climbing the walls and find myself entrapped again in fanatical ways.

HH

PS Serious thoughts above but with a few doses of non maliscious chuckles.

[catholic_man]

HH
LOL!!
http://www.factnet.org/discus/clipart/rofl.gif

Yes, some of the Tele-vangelist antics are quite comical. I suppose that the infommercials would be a welcome break to all of the yelling that some of the preachers do!

Hubudah Hubudah preachers, I call 'em, especially if they break out in tongues!!

Keep the comedy coming...I love it!
http://www.factnet.org/discus/clipart/wink.gif

[ba2]

hillariousharry, refering to the hell and damnation preaching you said, <font color="0000ff">"If they are partly intended to touch seeking hearts, then I think the opposite may be happening...."</font> I have been saying this for years but, I have grown somewhat cynical. I have come to believe that most of them could care less about touching the seeking hearts. It is easier for them to touch the wallets of those who are already within the belief of the flock. It is easy to fleece the flock, all you need is to do is threaten hell and damnation unless you fork out what they claim God demands. Who wouldn’t give God what he wants?

The few that are honestly trying to win souls in that perverted manner probably have inner psychological issues with the points they stress, such as sexual orientation and/or sex outside of marriage, alcohol and other addictions. Watch the anger they preach with and maybe you can see into their inner thoughts and fears.

[hillariousharry]

Hi ba2

Thoughts valued. Good food for thought - I guess "wallet" says it all. Hard to understand how multitudes of people seem to be so dragged into it and appear to be totally "yes" people! brainwashed? Obedience out of fear? Somehow unable to think and question for themselves? Hard to fathom.

CMan - yeh agree...keep the laughing going! Should we apply for time on the God Channel and do a double act. Guess would be no problem, provided we hand over the dosh. Afterall the keyword on the Channel must be "wallet".. rofl

John - HH http://www.factnet.org/discus/clipart/biggrin.gif

(Message edited by hillariousharry on January 04, 2007)