Candid Advice to God's Ministers

Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his, And, Let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

                                                                          2 Timothy 2:19

God’s candid advice to ministers or as many that declare Christ is that they should depart from iniquity. Iniquity is a reducing agent. It makes the great small. Samson was no doubt a great man of God but iniquity turned him to a ‘stand up comedian’ (Judges 16:25). When I see churches/men of God invite stand up comedians to perform in church programs I perceive that something has gone wrong somewhere just as it went wrong with Samson. Yes, it is good to be excited and joyful in church and that is God’s own idea too but not a mechanical thing. It is meant to be orchestrated by the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Thou wilt shew me the path of life in THY PRESENCE IS FULNESS OF JOY; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

                                                                           Psalms 16:11

The passage above says IN GOD’S PRESENCE THERE IS FULNESS OF JOY. It means that His presence alone releases joy. The difference between the joy of His presence and that engineered by men of God through invitations of comedians is that inner strength comes from that of God (Nehemiah 8:10) while that of stand up comedians is superficial. Jesus never sought to use stand up comedians before preaching the gospel, so where are we getting it from? In the beginning it was not so. This is not to say making people to laugh is wrong but it is vital to draw lines between church activities and entertainment. Church activities must be kept spiritual rather than being reduced to mundane activities.  God is counting on us as ministers to put things right. We should not adopt any strange method to draw people into the church. Let us keep the standard of the Holy Apostles and Prophets of old (Ephesians 2:20). God is watching our activities and church programs. Let us be more attentive to the Holy Spirit. May the Lord find His ministers and church worthy of the call in Jesus’ name. Amen.