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NASB | Revelation 22:18 ¶ I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: if anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues which are written in this book; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Revelation 22:18 ¶ I testify and warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book [its predictions, consolations, and admonitions]: if anyone adds [anything] to them, God will add to him the plagues (afflictions, calamities) which are written in this book; [Deut 4:2] |
Bible Question:
Why do so many preachers exaggerate their sermons? They misquote the Bible by using trite sayings in place of actual references. For example, they say Jesus said, “where two or MORE are gathering in My Name, there I am in the midst of them”, when in fact Jesus said where two or THREE. They claim Samson was muscular and only one boar and one sow were on the ark. Does God ignore these blatant lies, or is He as upset as I get hearing such outlandish misrepresentations of truth? Have YOU noticed such in your churches too? Thank you for being honest in your responses. Gilderd |
Bible Answer: Gilderd ::: Thanks for your question and for voicing your concern about the content of some of the sermons that are being delivered in our time. While I don't mean to down play any of the specific criticisms you cited, I offer that they are trivial by comparison to other more serious things that are being preached from pulpits these days. From a multitude of examples here are a few. Congregations of worshipers are being told to name it and claim it: the infamous and heretical Word of Faith Movement. Others are being told that a woman has a right to choose: to get an abortion if she chooses, and for any reason at all. Other sermons promote and encourage unrepentent practicing homosexuals to be admitted to the fellowship of the saints and, in fact, to be ordained as bishops or allowed to serve in other positions of leadership within the church, the body of Christ. Many is the sermon today that paints God as a fuzzy old celestial elf in the sky who would not harm a fly, much less condemn any human being to hell. I've heard sermon after sermon in which terms such as hell, sin, repent, the shedding of blood, the wrath of God, and obedience to God's commands were never, never mentioned. In short, the preaching of the gospel of Jesus Christ to sinners who are dead in their sins and surely on their way to hell has given way to an alarming degree to a fuzzy wuzzy, feel-good religion that is carefully engineered to tickle the ears and entertain. It isn't a new wrinkle by any means. Charles Haddon Spurgeon fought it in his day, calling the dumbing-down of the Christian message the "down grade." Well, what began to go "down grade" in Spurgeon's time has continued steadily since. When one begins to think it has sunk as low as it can go, someone comes along with yet another trick to pull it farther into the pits. God have mercy on us and jar us back into our senses! --Hank |