"What Shall We Say Then?”
Glendol McClure

A gospel preacher who was invited to hold a gospel meeting was asked by the preacher of the congregation inviting him what he thought about having the meeting in a neutral place and not mentioning the name of the church due to prejudice on the part of some denominational people. Question: Does the attitude this preacher exemplified by asking such a question share any likeness with the bold nature of Christ and His Apostles as they preached the gospel of Christ to a lost and dying world during the first-century church? Not at all! Consider the following questions:

“What shall we say then?” If a Jew is in the audience, shall we avoid preaching “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” because of the prejudice of Jews (1 Cor. 2:2)? “God forbid”– Mk. 8:38; Rom. 1:16; 9:33; 2 Tim. 1:12.

“What shall we say then?” If a Muslim is in the audience, shall we avoid teaching on the Deity of Christ because of the prejudice of Muslims? “God forbid”– Matt. 10:32, 33; Acts 8:37; Rom. 10:17; 1 Jn. 4:2, 3, 15; 5:1.

“What shall we say then?” If members of denominations are in the audience, shall we expect the preacher to avoid preaching on the identity and purpose of the Lord’s church because the denominational world teaches, “one church is good as another,” or for fear of “embarrassing our visitors” or being accused of “blasting denominations”? “God forbid”– Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 2:21, 22; 4:1-16; 5:22-33.

“What shall we say then?” If we have evolutionists or atheists in the audience, shall we avoid teaching that God exists and that He is the Creator of all things, because of the prejudice of evolutionists and atheist? “God forbid”– Gen. 1-2; Ps. 8:3, 4; 40:5; 74:17; 95:5; 100:3; 104:24, 30; Isa. 40:28; 43:7; Jn. 1:3; Acts 17:24-29; Rom. 1:19, 20: Col. 1:16.

“What shall we say then?” If immoral folks are in the audience, shall we avoid preaching “repentance for the remission of sins” because they may be prejudiced regarding certain moral issues as adultery, fornication, homosexuality and same-sex “marriages,” polygamy, pornography, use of tobacco, gambling (including playing the lottery), abortion, immodest dress (including wearing shorts that expose the thigh), drinking alcohol, stealing, lying, etc.? “God forbid”– Matt. 5:32; 19:9; Rom. 1:21-32; 1 Cor. 6:9-20; 7:1, 2; Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 4:28 Col. 3:1-10; 1 Pet. 4:1-4.

Well, “What shall we say then?” We must declare “ALL the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27). We must “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke and exhort with all long suffering and doctrine” (2 Tim. 4:2). If we seek to please men, we will not be the servants of Christ (Gal. 1:10). We must “speak the TRUTH in love” and teach all things commanded by God for man to do (Acts 10:33; Eph. 4:15; Matt. 28:19, 20; Jn 14:15, 21; 15:10;1 Jn. 5:1-3; Rev. 22:14). Now, what will YOU say then?