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GLEANINGS FROM THE WORD
Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 179 June 25, 2001
SPOT LIGHT OR CANDLE LIGHT
I watched two different television preachers yesterday. Their topics were different, but what struck me most was the differences in their attitudes towards their ministry and the role Jesus played in it.
I’m not going to identify either person or their ministry. I’m not condemning either of them, or the work they do for the Lord, I just want to talk about how I reacted to them.
If you recognize either, and they happen to be your favourite television minister, please accept my apologies in advance. I’m speaking of my impressions of one single broadcast, which may or may not be typical of their usual styles.
Both are well known personalities. Both have done great things in the name of Jesus, even though their messages and styles are quite different.
The first one I watched preaches from a huge temple that the has built, and continues to build. He preaches (it seems to me) a message of I can do anything, with an occasional thought of Jesus helped. The message was on faith through Christ, but it was filled with references to the temple he built and how people the world over would come to see the legacy he was leaving behind.
He preached on the education his children received. He preached on humility while wearing a huge velvet robe and wearing a gold medallion that seemed to be half the size of my hand.
He made a couple of references to Scripture, but made more references to his own writing.
Everything seemed to scream - I have it all together and because I do Jesus loves me.
At the end of the message he made an appeal for funds. He offered a “free” statue, if you would promise to support “me” with a gift of $150.
The next one I watched was a well dressed lady preacher. She has a ministry headquarters, which was recently built to house their growing ministry. She speaks in venues from coast to coast, and occasionally overseas. Her message throughout was preached from the Scriptures.
Like most of those kind of ministries, she also has tapes and books to sell, but she spent very little time plugging them. She also made it clear that they were a supplement to, not a replacement for, reading Scripture.
With the appeal at the end of the message for funds, also came a discussion of several concerts they were sponsoring so that teens could come heard the truth free, their international ministries to feed the hungry and their prison ministries.
No where in her message were there glowing references to how great she is, or the legacy she plans to build in her own honour. In fact she was quite frank about the struggles in her own life and how she needed God to help her.
I believe that both these preachers are sincere and that they both know Jesus. I have to wonder though, which brings more glory to God.
If I was a non-believer and watched the programs for the first time, I would be more attracted to the second person, because they emphasized Jesus and didn’t preach a message of having to have it all together.
I was reminded of Paul’s letter to the church in Philippi
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross!
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name Philippians 1:3-2:9 NIV
When the world sees you and I, do they see the candle light of a humble heart that proclaims the need for God and points the way. Or do they see a spot light on a self serving someone who has it all together and whose God is unapproachable?
Until next time, may you shine a candle light on this world that draws people to Jesus not a spotlight that says look at how good I am.
God bless.
Kevin
© 2001 K.F. "Kevin" Corbin
All Rights Reserved