The New Pulpit

Traditionally  when you say preaching , you think of a Pastor standing behind a pulpit ,open Bible and opening up the word in religious instruction. Plus it is not just to hear himself speak but to bring about change in the listeners . Hopefully he will trust in the Holy Spirit to bring about this change and just open up God's word , preaching the gospel clearly so that the Christian is instructed and blessed and the unbeliever will come to faith . repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.


Of course you also have heard people say , don't preach at me , I will live as I will. Most of these same people who make these type of statements have never darkened the door of a Church. So its funny that with the age of entertainment upon us , this same group are the most preached at group that has ever existed . With the advent of movies,TV,popular music and video games , they sit, watch and listen to sermons everyday . The majority of this indoctrination is completely passive. Unlike sitting with a Church with a open Bible were one can interact with sermon , they digest this stuff without blinking an eye.


Well they might say , they are not preaching at me . Oh really . This is one definition of preaching , "To advocate, especially to urge acceptance of or compliance with ". Any type of medium that advocates an idea or world view at its very nature is preaching. To sit in front of a TV program or movie, to play a video game or listen to a artist , you are receiving a message that is advocating a way to live. It has a platform to your mind. This is the new pulpit . 


Take for example the new sensation sweeping the world of entertainment,Lady Gaga . She is really doing nothing different than what other artist in the past have done ,but where many in the past would be subversive in the message, it has progressively gotten bolder and more in your face. Sin is promoted and anti-Christian messages dominate the landscape. Just read this from Gaga's newest song and tell me it doesn't fit into the category of preaching.


Born This Way  -   I'm beautiful in my way
'cause god makes no mistakes
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't hide yourself in regret
Just love yourself and you're set
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

[Post-chorus]
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born this way
Baby I was born this way
Ooo there ain't no other way
Baby I was born-
I'm on the right track baby
I was born this way

Don't be a drag - just be a queen
Don't be a drag - just be a queen
Don't be a drag - just be a queen
Don't be!


[Verse 2]
Give yourself prudence
And love your friends
Subway kid, rejoice your truth

In the religion of the insecure
I must be myself, respect my youth

A different lover is not a sin
Believe capital h-i-m (hey hey hey)
I love my life I love this record and
Mi amore vole fe yah (love needs faith) 


Now it is very evident what she is advocating . From her pulpit of the entertainment , she is preaching that homosexuality is God ordained. That God makes no mistakes and only the religious insecure are not embracing this message. She is trying to sway people , to influence those who will sit before her and openly promote a world view that is contrary to God's word and His truth . But here is the kicker, those who swallow this open promotion of sin will not at the same time , be willing to have a God fearing preacher like John Piper or John MacArthur open up God's word about what it says about homosexuality and sin. 


The fact that those under 35 having virtually no contact with real authentic ,intellectually stimulating Christianity, come with such a bias and have been given so much misinformation, that they come at us with presuppositions drenched in a hateful bias. The new pulpit in thriving alive and well . It even starts in school where your kids will encounter teachers with a clear bias against the Jesus Christ and the God revealed in the Bible.From science to even sociology , they will sit and hear how faith in God,trust in the Bible is foolish.But this same group have been deeply influenced by the pulpit of entertainment. They are the ones that grew up with TV,rock n roll . They are the generation as well left the Church in droves. 


We need to be prepared to deal this with open and honest dialog.It will not be easy .But we most be willing to do our homework , understand what is being said by the new preachers and combat it with the truth of God's word.  




Verse Of The Day  :    “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 
(Matthew 5:43-45 ESV)