For the leaders of this people cause them to err... --Isaiah 9:16

Christmas morning I visited a random church in my hometown. I flipped open my Bible and was surprised to read the above verse, which I thought the bulletin said would be that morning's sermon text. I thought it said verse 16; it actually said verse 6, "For unto us a Child is born... and His name will be called... Prince of peace." This, of course, made much more sense. However, as the service concluded, I understood that verse 16 may have been just as appropriate.

Focusing on Christ as the Prince of peace, the sermon's three main points were: "The Promise of Peace" (a promise made by God to all who respond), "The Provision of Peace" (this peace is made possible by Christ), and "The Protection of Peace" (Christians do certain things to maintain the peace of God, such as loving God, loving others, etc). Though this "gospel" presentation was devoid of any mention of the wrath of God against sin or the purpose of salvation, (personal holiness and the glory of God,) what struck me the most was the way the pastor called- or didn't call- the congregation to respond. I was listening quite intently for a single word, a word which is most necessary to the Gospel, a word that never came: "repent."

Neither repentance nor confession were mentioned, but peace was promised and all were invited to walk down the aisle to receive it. No one did, and I can't say I wish they had. Countless others have been sweet-talked into "making a decision for Jesus," without any idea that what they were told is but a fraction of the truth, and the whole truth is much harder to swallow. If our churches dared to preach the Gospel that the Word teaches, our numbers would be less impressive, but I believe what remains would be much more gold and less wood, hay, and stubble. (1 Corinthians 3:10-15) But even though no one came forward that morning, the largest church crowd of the year still saw a representative of the Almighty stand and offer peace without pain, contentment without contrition, and salvation without sacrifice. And probably only one or two people would have agreed that anything was wrong--that's me being optimistic.

Therefore thus says the Lord God: ??Because you have spoken nonsense and envisioned lies, therefore I am indeed against you,?? says the Lord God. ??My hand will be ?against the prophets who envision futility and who ?divine lies... Because, indeed, because they have seduced My people, saying, ???Peace!?? when there is no peace." --Ezekiel 13:8-10 (c.f. Jeremiah 6:14; 8:11)

Have we forgotten that the message of John the Baptist, who was to prepare the hearts of the people to receive their Messiah, was "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand?" (Matthew 3:1-2) He even had the audacity to command that his converts "bear fruits worthy of repentance." (Matthew 3:8) Jesus Himself opened His public ministry with the same harsh, unpopular cry: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!" (Matthew 4:17) The apostle Paul likewise said that he called people to "repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ." (Acts 20:21)

But far be it from me to stand in the way of the experienced peddlers of the quick and painless drive-thru gospel. They've been at this for a long time. What do I know? I'm just a kid with a Bible.

To be continued...