Mark 16:15 And he said to them, Go you into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. When we ask in these days what does this injunction mean, the answers which come to us, from within and from without the Church, are many and discordant. As in the earliest times of Christianity there were pseudo-gospels, counterfeits, and forgeries, so it is now. I. AMONG THESE PSEUDO-GOSPELS OUTSIDE THE PALE OF THE CHURCH WE HAVE — 1. The gospel of reason; the idea that man, by his own mental power, is rapidly acquiring a newer and truer wisdom, which is to make the world happier and better than it has ever been. It is a religion of the head, not the heart; it cannot therefore apprehend spiritual verities. 2. The easy, plausible gospel of universal toleration and philanthropy, which assumes and abuses the sacred name of love. Indifferent altogether for truth, caring only for expediency. Anything for peace. 3. The gospel of sentiment — the religion which very much resembles those pictures in which the cross is almost hidden by gay coloured flowers — satisfying itself with music, sensational preaching, controversial reading, and much speaking, but shirking the plain uninteresting duties of daily life, and doing no real work for others, for the soul, and for God. 4. The gospel of wealth, pleasure, honour, authority, believing (so falsely) that a man's life consists in the abundance of the things he possesses. II. AND THEN, WITHIN THE CHURCH, HOW MANY GOSPELS? Alas, what sore surprise and sorrow would vex the righteous soul of one of those who lived in the earlier, happier days of our faith could he re-visit this world and witness our unhappy divisions! "What has become," he would say, "of the apostles' doctrine and fellowship? How the seamless robe of our crucified Lord is rent and torn; and that, not by declared enemies, but by professed friends!" III. WHAT, THEN, ARE WE TO PREACH? We must appeal to two friends, whom we shall find in every heart; two allies who will help us; two witnesses who will come into court. (1) Love and (2) fear.Let all seek Christ as their Saviour, lest they tremble when He comes to be their Judge. (S. R. Hole, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.WEB: He said to them, "Go into all the world, and preach the Good News to the whole creation. |
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