Seeker Driven Sermon Topics are a Hindrance to the Gospel

It never ceases to amaze me (in a bad way) how seeker driven / purpose driven sermons can provide such a trivial cadre of practical advice and NEVER get to the primary and important subjects of scripture, namely "repentance and the forgiveness of sins in Jesus name" and sound Christ Centered doctrine. Yet, when one examines the doctrinal statements of these churches self-help centers its not as if they out right deny Christian orthodoxy, in fact most affirm orthodox Christian doctrine.  The problem is that they don't preach, teach and proclaim sound Christian doctrine from their pulpits.  Oddly enough Martin Luther nearly 500 years ago discussed this very issue when he expounded on the two primary hinderances to the Gospel.  Said Luther:

“There are two hindrances to the Gospel: the first is teaching false doctrine, driving the consciences into the Law and works. And the second is this trick of the devil: when he finds that he cannot subvert the faith by directly denying the Gospel, he sneaks in from the rear; raises useless questions and gets men to contend about them and meanwhile to forget the chief thing; .... Thus Satan comes in the back way, people gape with wide-open mouth at these things and lose the chief things. A man does not need much wit to gain the popular applause; let him but preach new and strange things, and people will say that he is more learned than others; they come in droves, with eyes and ears and mouth widely opened. They do not care to have faith and love preached to them; that is too common; they heard and know enough about that; it irks them always to hear the same thing.”

-- Martin Luther (Saint Louis Edition of the Works of Luther IX:863 f. on 1 Tim. 1:3–4)

Comments

[Bob]

Would you kindly share the source of the Luther quote?
Thank you.

[Dauidr]

Hi, Chris. I enjoyed reading your post here. I think you saw the same trend in that gal from Westboro Baptis as you do in the purpose driven crowd. The solution for both is the same: "Obey!" They approach it from different angles, to an extent. Yet, they both fail to rely on Christ Jesus whose forgiveness covers our sins and whose grace turns our heavenly Father's eye upon us in favor. As the stalwart hymn declares, "The Law is but a mirror bright to bring the inbred sin to light that lurks within our nature." Thanks be to God, He gives us the solution in His Sole-Begotten Son. "Salvation unto us has come by God's free grace and favor."

[Chris Rosebrough]

Bob,

The source for this quote is the Saint Louis Edition of the Works of Luther IX:863 f. on 1 Tim. 1:3–4.

Unfortunately, that edition is in German. However, Francis Pieper quotes this in Christian Dogmatics in Volume 1 in his discussion on Divisions of Christian Doctrine Section C on Open Questions and Theological Problems.

I hope that helps.

[j_spuds]

The one thing Luther had right, which many of Lutherans have lost today is the proper distinction between law and Gospel:

There are two hindrances to the Gospel: the first is teaching false doctrine, driving the consciences into the Law and works.

Heb 7:18 (when discussing the New Covenant)

18The former regulation is set aside because it was weak and useless 19(for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

28For the law appoints as high priests men who are weak; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.