HOW PASTORS DEVIATE FROM THE GOSPEL

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Abeiku Okai

 

Preaching the Gospel is a noble calling but also one fraught with challenges. Staying faithful to the Gospel of Christ requires diligence, humility, and a constant dependence on the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, many preachers, though they may start well, sometimes deviate from the truth, either by corrupting the Gospel or drifting into other doctrines and excesses.

 

Below are five key reasons for this deviation:

 

1. The Desire for Greatness

 

The desire to achieve greatness often causes preachers to redefine success in ministry, prioritizing material wealth, fame, or external validation over faithfulness to the Gospel. Yet, Jesus redefined greatness in Matthew 23:11, saying, “The greatest among you will be your servant.” True greatness in the Kingdom comes through humility and self-sacrifice, not through worldly measures of success.

 

Many begin with pure intentions but grow impatient when ministry becomes a long and difficult journey. In seeking shortcuts to “greatness,” they abandon the sacrificial path of Christ. Paul warned against this in 1 Timothy 6:10, “For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.”

 

2. Itching Ears of the Congregation

 

In a world that values comfort over conviction, many congregations develop “itching ears,” desiring messages that please rather than convict. Paul foresaw this and wrote in 2 Timothy 4:3-4, “For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine; but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander into myths.”

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To satisfy the crowd, some preachers dilute the Gospel, prioritizing motivational speeches or prosperity messages over the transformative truth of Christ. This compromises their ability to speak the hard truths necessary for spiritual growth.

 

3. The Pressure of Return Invitations

 

Preachers often face the temptation to tailor their messages to gain favor with hosts or congregations, especially when return invitations are seen as a measure of success. This can lead to compromising the truth. Paul resisted such pressures, declaring in Galatians 1:10, “Am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

 

The preacher must remember that faithfulness to God’s calling is more important than human validation, even if it means rejection or fewer opportunities to preach.

 

4. The Trap of Legalism

 

Legalism emphasizes human effort over divine grace and often fosters a harsh, condemning attitude toward sinners. This approach distorts the Gospel, which is rooted in God’s grace. Ephesians 2:8-9 reminds us, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

 

Jesus exemplified how to preach the truth with grace, offering redemption rather than condemnation. In John 8:11, He said to the woman caught in adultery, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.” A legalistic preacher struggles to extend this grace, forgetting the redemptive heart of the Gospel.

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5. The Trap of Moralism

 

While morality is important, it is not the Gospel. Preachers can become trapped in focusing on outward moral standards or cultural expectations, mistaking them for righteousness. Isaiah 64:6 reminds us, “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.” True righteousness is found in Christ alone (2 Corinthians 5:21).

 

The danger of moralism is that it shifts the focus from salvation through Christ to human effort. Instead of pointing people to the cross, preachers may unknowingly burden their listeners with cultural or societal norms that do not reflect the transformative power of the Gospel.

 

Staying true to the Gospel requires vigilance, humility, and an unwavering commitment to Christ. Paul admonished Timothy in 2 Timothy 1:14, “By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” Preachers must guard the Gospel message from corruption and remain focused on proclaiming the truth, regardless of the pressures they face.

 

Let us pray for ministers to resist these traps and preach the Gospel with integrity, remembering Paul’s charge in Romans 1:16: “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.” May all who preach do so with this unwavering conviction.

 

Anathallo Grace Chapel

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