Devotionals by Pastor Chuck Swindoll

I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he comes to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching. (2 Timothy 4:1–2)

Are we to minister as those in the world? Absolutely. That’s an answer to Jesus’ own prayer for His followers (John 17:14–16). But let‘s be very discerning here. Does this mean we must minister as those of the world? Do we have to adopt postmodern thinking in order to minister to the postmodern mind? Absolutely not. Such behavior and words are not fitting in the life of a Christian (Ephesians 5:4). They are obviously, then, not fitting in the context of worship.

Is this what grace requires of us? Since when was the nature of the atonement determined by anything other than a close, careful examination of the Scriptures? When the inerrant Word of God is not our standard for truth, erosion will creep in. It will eventually crowd out truth. Please understand, grace does not mean anything goes, which includes biblical theology.

In other words, stick with the plan God has promised to bless and use: preaching the timeless, ever-relevant, always-powerful Word. Deliver the biblical goods! Stick with Scripture. Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. It’s worth noticing that this exhortation is not addressed to the hearer; it’s for the speaker. The one who is to obey this command is the one proclaiming the message. That’s your pastor. That’s me. That’s every elder who teaches. That’s all who are called to stand and deliver. It is to be the commitment of every church. That’s a crucial part of being a place of grace . . . a contagious church. Being strong in grace always begins with the leadership.

Churches don’t need to try so hard to be so creative and cute that folks miss the truth. No need for meaningless and silly substitutes that dumb down God’s Word. These may entertain people—even encourage them—but rarely will they convict the lost or bring believers deeper in their maturity. Teaching the truth takes care of all that. Remember Paul’s words: “reprove, rebuke, exhort” (2 Timothy 4:2 NASB). Those are not politically correct terms. Why? Because God is not politically correct. He never intended to be.

Charles R. Swindoll. Copyright © 2010 by Charles R. Swindoll, Inc.

Used with permission. All rights reserved.

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