A disturbing thing going on in the "church" of today is the idea we don't have to preach to the lost. Does it ever occur to us this is so-called "universal salvation"? As mentioned in his book, "Regaining Our Balance," my friend and pastor, Kent Groethe, defines this as the idea people live the Christian life without repentance, and non-believers don't need to be evangelized to.

"When you read this you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that is, how the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all men see what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things; that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose which he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and confidence of access through our faith in him."

-- Ephesians 3:4-12 RSV

How can we believe this when we've been the lost, the Gentiles spoken of here? Keith Green said, "Nowhere is the Gospel so plentiful as it is in the United States." Sadly, it's also widely ignored, trashed, distorted, and mishandled here. We use it for gain, not to maintain our salvation. We use it to tear everyone down, not build each other up. We use it to justify our sins, rather than let make us uncomfortable in them.

To be the true church, let's start living the true Word.

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