So often we hear those comforting words, “Smile, God loves you!” And so often do they go unchallenged. So often do they go unquestioned. But God is love (John 4:8). And, yes, that is true and we should all be thankful for that. He did not have to love any of us. But when the “Smile, God loves you!” statement is being flippantly thrown around like free candy at a parade, how does one know that one of the recipients is not an Esau of the world (Romans 9:13)? How does one know that the other recipient is in the group that is described in Psalm 5:5, “…thou (God) hatest the workers of iniquity” (205, wickedness, unrighteous)? How can anyone biblically go around telling people that God loves them just as they are while sticking that same decal on their car bumper? Does that give someone a false sense of security? Is that telling someone that it does not matter what you do or how you live that God has got you covered? Why is the American church intentionally dumbing down the American people through improper Bible interpretations? Is this just another fulfillment of end time prophecy? Paul warned us in I Timothy 4:1, 2, “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter days some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscious seared with a hot iron…” Are we there, yet?
When people drift into church out of habit only to hear comforting words without repentant hearts, why should they worry about a God of wrath (John 3:36)? Why are so many pulpits silent on this biblical truth? The dumbing down of scriptures and the people who attend church is an insult to a Holy, Sovereign God. The Bible is without contradiction. There are only contradictions between the ears of man. The Bible is straightforward on so many issues.
So often do we hear people claim that God is sovereign. But in the next breath, they boast that man can “make a decision” in his own salvation. They tell others that they must “accept Jesus.” People hear this and believe this without being good Bereans (Acts 17:11). Is this saying that those who hold to such terms and phrases are lost? Absolutely not. But some may be holding onto. their own “goodness” while subtly rejecting God’s true, regenerative offer of the entire gospel. Pulpits should not be dumbing down salvation. Pulpits should not be promoting a watered-down gospel of “free will”, which is an Old testament term that has nothing to do with salvation.
Paul writes to the Corinthian Church as recorded in I Corinthians 3:3, “I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hither you were able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.” We all need to start off with the milk of the Word, but we cannot stay there. I Peter 2:2 tells us, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow.” We need milk early, as a baby does, but eventually we need to get on solid foods (meat) to grow.
Paul encourages in II Timothy 4:2, 3, “Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering, and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teaches having itching ears…” The word “sound”, 5198, means wholesome, healthy. In other words, healthy doctrines should taught. People should be fed “meat” that is healthy and encourages growth.
To continually feed a church body with milk can dumb down those who are more spiritually advanced. The preacher/teacher should not continually repeat elementary levels of scripture. They should be teaching “up” (meat) and allowing for growth. And “up” can mean the deeper things of God’s Word. They should not “dumb down” some but should teach “up” to all. Then maybe some can really “Smile.”
