The Message

If we would seek a true standard for gospel ministers we must go back to the apostolic example. Particularly, we should look at the example of the Apostle Paul. Both the writings and the practices of the Apostle to the Gentiles demonstrate the message which every gospel minister must proclaim. When this man came to Corinth, he said, "I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified'' (I Cor. 2:2).

To be sure, religious traditionalists soon tire of hearing the message of Christ crucified. They want to hear what they call practical messages which serve to increase their self-righteousness, or prophetic messages which have no heart piercing power, or church messages which exalt their denomination. I fear for men who tire of hearing Christ crucified, for God will be tired of them in the day of judgment.

Christ crucified is the message which was preached by Paul and the other apostles. This was the message that pricked the hearts of men in the apostolic day, and destroyed the vanity of self-righteous tradition, ritualistic Judaism, and superstitious paganism. And this is the message which must be preached today. This is the standard by which a minister must be judged. Does he deliver the message of God? Jesus Christ and him crucified.

Don Fortner