The message of Jesus Christ crucified for sinners was proclaimed in the centre of Uxbridge on September 13th by Pastors John Sherwood and Peter Simpson. It was encouraging to see passers-by stopping to read the various Scripture texts on display.
A young woman listened to Pastor Sherwood preaching for a good 10 minutes and certainly heard a full explanation of the gospel. She did not stay to ask any further question and Pastor Simpson did not go up to her, because he did not want to interrupt her listening to Pastor Sherwood, but may the holy Spirit speak powerfully to her heart.
A homeless man also listened for a lengthy time to the preaching. Later Pastor Sherwood approached him and engaged him in conversation. He was offered a tract, but declined it, and so he was told about the urgency of the message, leading him to take the leaflet, albeit reluctantly, but may the Lord speak to his heart through it and be pleased to show him his great need of the Saviour.
Someone who had spent many years on the mission field overseas came up to the two preachers and said how pleased she was that there was no poster on display about the nationals sins of abortion and the promotion of the LGBT agenda in schools. This was because one such poster is often used in Uxbridge, but was not so on this occasion. That the Christian message is all about love and should not be negative and highlight sins was the missionary’s clear message.
Pastor Simpson responded that to just focus on a love message (whatever that means) was not the manner of the preaching of either the Lord Himself or the apostles. Indeed, a nebulous ‘all we need is love’ message is more akin to the philosophy of the Beatles and of fashionable secular thinking in the 1960s, rather than what the Bible teaches. Moreover, it is necessary at times to refer to the prevailing sins of our generation (our Lord did this to His generation) such as the destruction of human life in the womb by means of abortion and society’s fawning accepting of all things LGBT.
The missionary went on to argue along the lines of the preachers need to get alongside ordinary people, not stand on some steps shouting at people. The approach being employed by the two pastors was all wrong. She also criticised Pastor Simpson for being formally dressed and for looking ‘very English’. If he wished to reach the people of Uxbridge, he should be wearing a pair of jeans!
The minister responded by asserting that God employs the foolishness of preaching as the primary means of making His truth known : “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). The message of the Cross, which the world regards as foolish, must be publicly proclaimed to all. It must be shouted from the housetops (Matthew 10:27).
The former missionary asserted that the message of God’s love was far more important than the preachers’ emphasis on the seriousness of sin and the need for repentance. Pastor Simpson replied that the call to repentance was at the heart of true gospel preaching. Indeed, one of the texts that he preached from on that very day was Acts 17:30-31 – “(God) now commandeth all men every where to repent, Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness”.
The minister explained to the missionary that repentance was at the heart of the Lord’s own ministry. At the beginning of Mark’s Gospel, after the death of John the Baptist, we are told that Jesus went into Galilee and proclaimed, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). In Luke 13:3, the Lord declares, “Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3).
Pastor Simpson also cited Acts 2 to the lady and Peter’s sermon which led to the conversion of 3,000 souls. Peter did not preach to the people, “God loves you just as your are”, but declared,
“Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know … ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain … “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:22-23,38)”.
Yes of course, we speak of the wonderful love and mercy of God, but this is enjoyed only as the result of repentance. Those without Christ are definitely not basking in God’s love (see John 3:18). Tell non-believers that God loves them just as they are, and they will never be “pricked in their hearts” about their sin and cry out,”What must I do?”, as was the experience and response of those 3,000 converts in Acts chapter 2. Sadly, the lady did not attempt to deal with any of these Biblical arguments being put to her.
Regarding the attire of preachers, let each individual preacher make up his own mind according to his own conscience before the Lord, but the conviction of Pastor Simpson on this matter is that smart, formal dress is essential for the following three reasons :
1) The preacher is an ambassador of the King of kings. Would we expect an earthly ambassador to go about his official duties in casual clothes? Also, to dress smartly is also to show respect for those with whom one seeks to engage.
2) The preacher is at his work, fulfilling His calling before God, which is the most serious work imaginable. The gospel is not some casual matter of personal preference, but the most urgent message which anyone must ever consider. All people are under an obligation to come to the Saviour because of their sins, and the time is short.
3) 3,000 precious souls were converted on the Day of Pentecost, not because Peter was trying to ingratiate himself with them by means of his mode of dress, but because they were mightily convicted by the Holy Spirit of the enormity of their sin.
Prayer is now being offered up that many who heard the gospel in Uxbridge will indeed be pricked in their hearts and come in repentance and faith to the only Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, before it is too late.