The headline of a recent YouTube interview of Eric Metaxis by Seth Gruber read,
“WHAT IF ANDY STANLEY, RICK WARREN, AND TIM KILLER WERE HITLER'S FAVORITE KIND OF PREACHERS?”
This interview was about Eric's latest book, Letter To The American Church. The reason for the statement was that these preachers have focused their preaching on the Gospel rather than politics. In the interview, they talked about Martin Niemoller telling Hitler he was concerned about The Third Reich, and Hitler saying “You take care of your church, I will take care of The Third Reich.”
I need to object to the headline of this interview on two points. First, it is only partly true. And it is not entirely relevant. I also listened to a sermon Eric preached at Second Baptist Church of Huston on the same subject. I need to say that it struck me for Eric to say that he had a strong sense that God was telling him to write this book. I do not take that lightly or cynically. I have a great deal of respect for Eric Metaxis. And for him to say that, gives me pause. The message was that We are in the same place as the German church in the 1930s. And we had better wake up. I certainly agree with the crux of Eric's message.
But let me defend my responses to the headline of the interview. The statement is only partly true. When we speak of preaching the gospel, we are talking about evangelizing. These men and others of similar heart are trying to reach their cities. Starting churches, evangelizing neighborhoods. They are not simply preaching to the people inside their doors.
And it is not relevant because what Hitler would have liked is not as important as what God wants. God has called us to preach the gospel because no politics will ever be as effective in changing society as the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I agree that the American Church needs to wake up. We have gone to sleep on the threshold of the destruction of our nation. I pray that it is not too late for us to wake up. We must repent of our careless mindset. We need to pray as we have never prayed. I pray that we will stand against ungodly politics and godless attitudes in society. And I pray that we will preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ as never before.
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