Much of this has evolved from church camps where entertainment is the drawing card. Camp directors would often open up the first worship service with, "Are we having fun yet!" Prayer would come later when a sanctimonious face appeared on the same director. Attire was little different at the worship service than at the volley ball net or ball diamond.

There is little doubt a larger crowd can be attracted by entertainment than by evangelization. Take a peek at the college football stadiums this time of year. It is not just a quaint statement to say that men have become "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God." (2 Tim. 3:4) Large assemblies can be established with methods that attract the flesh.

While many mainstream denominations have been steadily losing members in recent years, some have escalated in attendance. "Church of the Harvest" in Oklahoma City has grown from 15 people to 2,500 in the last 10 years. Pastor Kirk Pandratz says he is using "the tools of modern ministry." He admits this is definitely not your grandfathers religion. People are "just looking for something that's not starchy (too rigid)," he said. Something "that's more relevant, that speaks to family and marriages."

He is at least implying that the KJV 1611 is outdated. That it doesn't deal properly with marriage, divorce, family, proper worship, and respect to God. He likely disagrees with the doctrine of separation. It is little wonder his messages seem to appeal to a large, diverse audience. Reportedly his sermons are "filled with Bible scripture," but peppered with "humor and personal illustrations." Since most pastors have heard such sermons, it is easy to determine that the pepper is more prominent that the salt of Scripture.

Older believers in their 60s, 70s, and 80s attend, he said. And it matters little if they have "hardware hanging from their face; we don't care. We want to present the gospel to them and that's what counts." It goes without saying, with this sort of setting, that facial hardware is not the only body parts adorned with hardware that is visible. Predominant evidence shows that Church of the Harvest is indeed using all means available to deliver the gospel(?).

Since the Bible is the very inspired Word of God it seems only proper to consult it concerning proper conduct in reaching non-believers. It is obvious by the context of this pastor's comments, that the main thrust is to attract the flesh. Paul presented the gospel of which he was unashamed (Rom. 1:16) as one who was called and separated unto the gospel of God. Within this message he said "put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." (Rom. 13:14) How can one deny that the "available methods" mentioned earlier appeal to the flesh? If the Gospel is indeed preached, of course "peppered with humor," how can it be ignored that the Holy Spirit will not share the stage with the lust of the flesh? (Gal 5:16,17) "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would."

This is too similar to Israel's action not to compare it. At the foot of the mount of God, in the absence of Moses in Exodus 32, Israel became weary with the old time religion. Their desire for a "new time religion" is clear in vs. 1. Moses' absence kindled a desire to call upon Aaron to "make us gods, which shall go before us." They had forgotten Moses and his message of the old time religion. That he had wrote the message from God which declared, "Thou shalt have no other gods before me" (Ex. 20:3) gave way to fleshly desires. It was not a god, singular, but gods they desired. And using "all means available," golden earrings, etc, they engaged in "contemporary" methods of satisfying their spiritual(?) needs. It drew a crowd then and the same tactics will produce identical results today. Forgetting that God was a jealous God, they bowed to a god which was no god. Unclothing themselves while worshiping in their "new time religion," they distinctly resembled the world. Their new time religion resembled the old time religion only enough to satisfy themselves. They "offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play." (Ex. 32:6) "Play:" Heb. [...laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by impl. to sport:--laugh, mock, play, make sport.] The next step downward was a fleshly display of their bodies. When Moses returned with the old time religion from God on the mount, he found "the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)" (Ex. 32:25).

It is altogether possible that God feels about this new time religion the same as He did Israel's undertaking. They had turned quickly out of the way which God had commanded them. (Ex. 32:8) Forsaking the old paths for the sake of drawing a crowd is less than pleasing to God. (Jer. 6:16) "Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." The last part of this verse reminds me of today's new time religion. "But they said, We will not walk therein."

The pastor of Church of the Harvest (there are several in OKC alone) believes the means used are "just different road maps to the same destination. A personal relationship with the Lord." Since we are not to make provision for the flesh, and it is obvious the means used in the new time religion appeals to the flesh, how does God feel about this? (1 John 2:16) "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." It is not stretching the point to say that "hardware hanging" on the face, and other body parts, is displeasing to God. Exodus 33 reveals that body ornaments are closely related to a haughty spirit. Humility before God will come about only when decorations of the flesh are discarded. Putting off the old man and his earthly relics is a must before a believer can put on Christ. (Col. 3:9,10) "Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:..."

It is dangerous to believe there are many different ways at arriving at the same destination. Especially if the desired destination is heaven. Even to use an illustration of going from one point to another on this globe will not suffice when considering the soul. Jesus is clear concerning the way to eternal life. (John 14:6) "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." Before the reader concludes this has nothing to do with the means by which this is accomplished, listen further. There is a manner in which an assembled congregation should conduct themselves. Although the "new time religion" group will not regard this, Paul teaches Timothy how the Lord's church should conduct themselves in doctrine. After much instruction to Timothy, Paul said, "But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth." (1 Tim. 3:15)

The doctrine of appearance must be dear to the heart of God. Loud sounding drums and rock music may appeal to the fleshly crowd, but not to God. It is the hidden man of the heart, which is not corruptible that is dedicated to the Lord, "even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." (1 Pet. 3:4) In the case of a man, God inspired Paul to write: (1 Cor. 11:14) "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?" Whether or not the churches had practiced this, the fact remains that God said it is unnatural and a shame. Comparing another instance when Paul uses "natural" and "nature", places strong emphasis on the above scripture. (Rom. 1:26,27) "For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet." Although these verses are extreme compared with the former verse, both are unnatural and displeasing to God.

Men are to pray lifting holy hands. Women are to dress modestly, having reverence and self control. Young men are to be sober minded exemplifying a pattern of good works. Older women are to teach the younger women how to conduct themselves so as not to blaspheme God. (1 & 2 Tim.; Titus) This is how the Lord's church is to learn how to behave themselves. The rudiments of the world bring confusion leading to disaster. (Col. 2:8) "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ."

Gimmicks abound that will draw a crowd. Only the Gospel of Christ will bring conviction. (Rom. 1:16) "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek." It is the foolishness of preaching that God has chosen to convict and save sinners, not the foolishness of planning and playing. (1 Cor. 1:21) "For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." God was angry and grieved at Israel's inventions. (Psa. 106:29) "Thus they provoked him to anger with their inventions: and the plague brake in upon them." Israel got in deep trouble with their creations of worship. (Psa. 99:8) "Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions." It is sad that many congregation cannot recognize wantonness and spiritual adultery. Yet this is the product of fleshly devices. (Psa. 106:39) "Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions."

Much more could be said concerning the trend being followed by so many. This can be expected of new sprouts of religion. But the sad fact is that some of the Lord's churches, Baptist churches, are turning to their own inventions to stimulate numerical growth. Privileged is the Lord's church that has a pastor that seeks the old paths and teaches the pure Word of God. (2 Tim. 3:16,17) "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works."

The book of Ecclesiastes 3:7 says, "...a time to keep silence and a time to speak." The Apostle Paul understood the importance of speaking at the right time. The Apostle's treatment revealed in Acts 21-28 is a direct result of his refusal to be silent when the occasion demanded the declaration of the truth. The trials, the imprisonment, and later death were all related to his speaking the truth in love and in The Power of the Holy Spirit. He did not keep silent when silence could have spared him a lot of the punishment he endured. He understood that there is a "sin of silence." The Apostle Peter understood this principle of not compromising the truth with silence. He had learned his lesson in that area and later became a voice for all of the truth. In I Peter 3:13-17, he relates this to a good conscience. In Acts 24:16, the Apostle Paul speaks of the same principle of a dear conscience. His rule of life was to keep God's law and obey man's law also. He did not want to cause anyone to stumble. He uses the statement "void of offense" because he did not want to be guilty of that which they accused him of doing. Yet because he would not be silent with the truth, those who did not understand what he was doing had falsely accused him (Acts 24:17-23). Paul understood that when he should speak the truth and he kept silent instead, it would be a sin. When Bible believing Baptists remain silent when they should speak it's probably a sign they are "yellow," for all silence is not golden but sometimes it is yellow. The Apostle Paul told Timothy to speak the truth because the time would come when men would not endure sound doctrine. The word "endure" in II Tim. 4:3 reveals a condition of the age we now live in. This age does not want the truth. It is getting worse by the hour as the apostasy deepens. In all ages men have resisted the truth and will not put up with it. This word "endure" in II Tim. 4: 3 only appears one other time in the New Testament in II Thess. 1:4, in regard to putting up with "persecutions and tribulations. " We must not keep silent when the age demands that we speak. However, the silence of most preachers these days is "deafening." The Apostle Paul was not guilty of the sin of silence. When it became time for him to face death he had a clear conscience (II Tim. 4:6-8).

The sacredness of a clear conscience is a Biblical principle. Many today are searing their conscience with their silence (1 Tim. 4:1-6). In verse six of that passage Timothy is reminded to speak to the Brethren and tell them that seducing spirits and demons are leading people to follow false doctrine. In our day many preachers have fallen into the trap of silence. This is a demonic trap. Yes, sometimes silence does give consent! Many preachers today have seared their conscience beyond repair in their churches by looking the other way and remaining silent over the evils of the day. The conscience is a valuable personal property. It is an internal valuable property. It is of the heart and mind. James Madison in the beginning of our nation's history said, "Conscience is the most sacred of all personal property." Conscience is the light by which a person lives and breathes in his service for the Lord. Many preachers today have sold their conscience for a mess of pottage and have refused to be the watchman on the wall (Isa. 58:1). There was a time when the watchman would not be silent (Isa. 62:6). Where are the watchmen of this age? We must be thankful for those we do have. Men, who by their voices on printed page, in pulpits and across this land, have refused to bow their knees to Baal, who still sound the battle cry. They cry aloud and spare not, yet with others the mood seems to be: "don't shake the boat; don't ruin your P. R. image. " Is it because they have built a ministry with compromise and if they do speak up they would see their crowds diminish and the offerings would go down? Remember, what you build it with, you will of necessity have to keep it with. Was the Apostle Paul concerned about his P. R. image? See him as he lay in the dust of a dirty road, bloody, battered and an outcast from a city where he refused to be silent. He was not guilty of the sin of silence.

When God's preachers refuse to preach the whole truth in order to get "along" they are like the dumb dogs of Isa. 56:10-11. They are producing a society that refuses to speak the truth and bear the cross (Matt. 10:32-39, Matt. 5:10-16). The biggest secular sin in our nation today is the sin of silence. Few will speak up about someone's behavior whether it's right or wrong. Yes, friend, "silence does give consent." Men do surrender their conscience with their silence. Too many Christians stand like "muted" Saints while this nation's preachers confiscate our nation's conscience. We need prophets who are more concerned about truth than they are their "ministries." When anyone agrees to go along with something, or agrees to support it, or even agrees not to oppose it when they know it is wrong, they are guilty of the sin of silence. Micaiah, the true messenger of God, spoke up when he needed to (I Kings 22:13-28). Men who refuse to speak up are false witnesses. Compromise of any doctrine must be avoided. The one who is guilty of it must be avoided (Romans 16:17).

The Trojan horse of our age is compromise with silence. Would our nation be where it is today if those who have compromised with their silence in the past had spoken up when the Spirit of God demanded a voice? Isaiah responded when God called (Isaiah 6). At the very beginning of our nation's drift away from truth and God there were too many who compromised with their silence. Where are the voices today that cry aloud and spare not against the compromise of silence. What can we do to stop this fast slide into oblivion? Is it not time to look sin in the face, name it and speak up? Could it be that the fear of man in many pulpits has replaced the Fear of God? The Apostle Peter tried to be silent and walked away, but the Spirit of God pricked his conscience and he began to speak again. Oh, yes, there are those who will call us, "too confrontational." Would they say that of the early Apostles? The ranks are thinning. It's time to fill the gap and join those of the past and be a "voice" on the wall of this age for God and truth! Sound the battle cry! Speak up and be heard!