October 2009 Newsletter


“Spiritual Abortion”

By: Craig Rippy

What do you get when you have Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Angelina Jolie? Answer- a lot of acting. Not a surprising answer, is it?

Acting is a profession. In Biblical Greek, the word is “hypokrites.” We transliterate the word as “hypocrite.” So, a hypocrite is an actor. Yet, when Jesus uses the word, He makes it seem different than a movie star.

Matthew 23:13, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.” (NIV)

Seven times Jesus uses the word “Hypocrites” in chapter 23 of Matthew. Each time it is in reference to religious leaders, the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees. These were the conservative, religious leaders of Israel of Jesus’ day.

I am amazed at what we “conservative Christians” put up with. We allow “Christian” leaders to preach just about anything and get away with it. You may think I’m hammering a long beaten topic, but I think it hasn’t been nailed to the heart of the church yet, and it should be.

Jerry Kilson, Executive Director of Missouri Operation for Vigorous Evangelism (M.O.V.E.), has told me that many pulpits and their pundits are committing spiritual abortion daily. I agree whole- heartedly.

People are told to believe the Gospel about Jesus Christ. Hooray! They are told to confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. Hooray! They are told to call upon the name of the Lord for salvation. Hooray! Then, they are told to pray the “Sinner’s Prayer.” Double Boo!

As long as this is happening, souls aren’t being born again. Thus, this type of acting is causing spiritual abortion. People are given a portion of the Gospel appeal. They become converted to the idea of Jesus Christ and lead to confess Jesus as Savior and Lord. Then, they are aborted by the doctors of theology behind thousands of pulpits and multitudes of parishioners . People convinced by a partial Gospel appeal never receive a genuine new birth into the Kingdom of God.

Nowhere does the Bible ever tell anyone to pray for Jesus to come into their heart. The Bible is clear. We are to include repentance and baptism in the Gospel appeal (Acts 2:38). After one accepts the message of salvation, they are to repent of their sinful attitudes and behaviors, confess that Jesus is God’s Son risen from the grave, call upon Jesus for the salvation He died to give us, and be baptized for the forgiveness of sins- being born again into a life giving relationship with God.

Let us never give up the fight against spiritual abortion. So, many have been blinded by the deceit of Satan and have become hypocrites, acting as if they are genuine Gospel preachers.

Matthew 23:13, "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. (NIV)

Don’t be fooled as you listen to the smooth orator on the radio or television, or read the newest literary work of some “Hypokrites.” Yes, they may say much that is very accurate to Scripture, but a simple reading will grant anyone that ability. So, why don’t these “Hypokrites” accept the simple Gospel appeal as it is stated?

God will judge the motives of all people. We must be careful that we aren’t fooled by the excellent acting job, whether by those who intend well, but are mistaken, or by the genuinely crafty who knowingly follow the “father of lies.”

Apollos was taught the Word more adequately and went on to teach a real new birth. He was seeking the truth. (Acts 18:24-26 & 2nd Thessalonians 2:9-12)