B. C. Goodpasture
Many in this generation berate and downgrade the man who preaches the Bible. This is not altogether surprising. Naturally, those who do not believe the Bible and those who undervalue it’s authority do not think well of the
preaching of it. But, there are those within the church who have reached the point where they do “not endure sound doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:3). Paul, with inspired prophetic insight predicted that such would happen. Again, men sometimes seem to feel that, considering their vast learning (whether real or imaginary, does not greatly matter), it would be an act of intolerable
condescension on their part to preach the simple principles of New Testament Christianity. They want something that sounds scholarly and philosophical. Such were not the preachers of apostolic times.
On Pentecost, Peter, an inspired preacher, delivered a great sermon, more than a third of which was composed of quotations from the Old Testament. Paul, in his great speech in Pisidian Antioch, drew heavily upon the same source. He even told where to find one passage he quoted—“the second psalm” (Acts 13:33). Now, they say, such practice is not in “Good taste.” What a pity that Peter, Paul, and Jesus, who frequently referred to portions of the Old Testament (Luke 24:44), did not know this! They were “Bible preachers.”
Times may change; times do change; but the time will never come when the gospel of Christ will be out of date. Methods of preaching and teaching may change; means of transportation may be improved and used, but man’s need for “the truth” that makes men free will not cease. Lost men must hear the truth that saves. It is a crime against God and man not to deliver such
truth—the gospel. Preaching which does not reveal to lost men the way of salvation is not what they need. “Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread?” (Isa. 55:2).
