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I observe with disdain the widespread hatred of Christi-centered messages in the world in this generation. Messages about Christ Jesus are not only disliked in the world but also in many churches which are supposed to be the propagators of such messages.
Surprisingly, we proudly say we are Christians, followers of Jesus Christ, and that we love Him. We earnestly pray in His name to the Father, hoping to grant us our requests.
Apostles, prophets, bishops and other ministers claim to be the Lord’s servants, and boast of chains of theological degrees, wear so-called sacerdotal garments, wear lofty titles of nobility. Those who wear these things and those who do not call ourselves men of God because we claim to do God’s work.
However, many of us do not preach about Jesus (the gospel) and teach His commands for people to observe them in obedience to the Lord’s instruction (Matthew 28:18-20). One pastor even told a congregation he shepherds one Sunday in 2015 that “if you preach about Jesus Christ your church will not grow.”
The pastor’s word shows clear hatred against the propagation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It tells that neither he and his ilk know Jesus Christ nor have a relationship with Him. They have denied Him, and, therefore, they do not have God the Father (1 John 2:23). It also means that they worship a different god.
It is no wonder that in many churches the gospel of Jesus is only preached during Easter celebrations. This shows the level of disregard for the gospel of Jesus in this generation. However, the pulpits are dominated by messages of motivation and success designed to deceive and exploit ignorant believers.
The result is the emergence of Christians who cannot bear to hear teachings and preaching about Jesus Christ. They loathe them. Make a post of a message about Jesus and another one about prosperity or money on social media, and see for yourself how the latter will trend within hours.
When people show greater interest in motivational messages than the gospel of Jesus Christ, they prove that they have not genuinely encountered the Lord. It means that they are not sincerely born again to have a love relationship with God. Thus, they are mere church goers who worship a god they do not know.
Now, we should remember the words of our Lord Jesus Christ: “For whoever is ASHAMED OF ME AND MY WORDS in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels” (Mark 8:38).
In the next article, I will discuss with scriptural references the centrality of Christ Jesus in the preaching and teachings of the early apostles, leading to the formation of Christ in believers.
By James Quansah
