The Preacher’s Curse

But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Commenting on Galatians 1:8, Oliver B. Greene said,

“It would be difficult to find anything from Genesis to Revelation more dreadful than that statement. The devil may transform himself into an angel of light, and his ministers may transform themselves as the ministers of righteousness; but whether it BE an angel from Heaven, or one of the devil’s emissaries transformed as an angel . . . or even if it be Paul himself . . . if that person preaches any other gospel than the Gospel of the grace of GOD which Paul had already preached to the Galatian Christians, Paul said, ‘Let that preacher drop into hell . . . let that preacher be accursed! Do not let him deliver any message except the message of the grace of GOD!’

“In Galatians 5:12, Paul thunders out, ‘I would they were even cut off which trouble you!’ That statement would not go over so well, either, in one of the meetings of the National Council of Churches of Christ in America - or The World Council of Churches, where birds of a feather flock together and demand that all ministers come under their wings.

“GOD have mercy on any two-legged human being who claims to be called of GOD, who claims to be a minister of God . . . and yet will support atheism and liberalism such as in these councils of churches around the world.”

Oliver Boyce Greene, The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the Galatians, 1962

Our mission from God

“Our mission from God is not to just do good. Our mission from God is to proclaim Christ and him crucified and resurrected… The mission that you and I have in the church is to proclaim Jesus Christ to a lost dying world drowning in darkness. Doing good does not threaten the powers and the principalities of this world. Proclaiming Jesus will shake the foundations of this world… There is no other name by which we can be saved, the name of Jesus.” 

Jeremy Bruner (sermon excerpt, September 28, 2025)

Left thy first love

Revelation 2:4 Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Preaching on the church of Ephesus in Revelation 2, Brother Ben Horn of Middle Cross Baptist Church pointed out out that the word “left” indicates that the church at Ephesus did not just depart from her first love carelessly, but departed willfully.

Sometimes we misplace things and cannot find them. That is lost, carelessly. Sometimes we place things somewhere, know where they are, and do not want to take them up again. That is left, willfully.

Free Speech in the Real World

“If you’re in the real world, you have to live the consequences of what you say. Online, you don’t. You can separate your opinions from your fate. (That’s a good way of thinking about it.) So there’s nothing really that keeps you on track. There’s no responsibility commensurate with our right to free speech. And I think that probably enables the psychopaths, because people can get away with saying anything. You might say, that’s okay because people have a right to free speech. But if you’re actually dealing with a person who is right there in front of you, no one can get away with just saying anything. There are all sorts of explicit and implicit rules governing the conversation. All of that is lifted in the virtual space, and I’m afraid that enables people who are psychopathic and narcissistic. It probably also tilts people who use those platforms toward narcissism and psychopathy.”

Jordan Peterson on “Travis Interviews the World”

The word is described in the word

2 Timothy 4:2 “…preach the word…”

“How does a serious burdened earnest Christian proclaimer of divine truth discern whether he has preached the word, or whether he has simply preached from it or about it? Did it ever occur to you that the way the word speaks of itself is an incredible help! … Let me mention three.

“The word is described in the word as a hammer. The word is described in the word as a fire. The word is described in the word as a sword. Is it not reasonable that if I have preached the word, there will be people who are hammered; who like the hard rock are smashed to pieces. Is it not reasonable to suppose that if I have preached the word there will be those who will feel pierced by the sword of the Spirit. Is it not reasonable to suppose that there are those who have been cold and without passion who are set on fire for Jesus Christ, if I have preached the word? Is it sensible to think that I have preached the word and nobody has been smashed, nobody has been pierced, nobody has been ignited? I would think it much safe to suppose that when nothing of that sort happens, you haven’t preached the word.”

Richard Owen Roberts (1931- )

The wolf cometh

The Apostle Paul did not admonish his readers to focus solely on their ethics. He also admonished them to watch their doctrine, and to understand that the two cannot be disaggregated. Kindness is a genuine Christian virtue. It is not sufficient. A kind heretic is still a heretic. A man who speaks about Jesus with warmth while denying the moral order that Christ himself affirmed is not a Christian statesman. He is a wolf in a very well-pressed suit (Matt. 7:15).

Andrew T. Walker

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Always with you

Jesus did not convey to his churches, “I’ll leave you to it. I’m sure you’ll do just fine!” No, he gave command and then promised, “I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” (Matthew 28:18-20).

The path that I feared

An excerpt from the song, “In The Valley.”

When the path that I feared
Is the way God has set
And I long to give in, and retreat;
Still to Jesus I hold
As I face every step
For the Lord, he will give me his peace.

(Credits: Tim Challies, Jonny Robinson, Rich Thompson)

Never better employed

“Poetry and music are never better employed than when they unite in the celebration of the praise of God. ‘Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs’ have accordingly constituted a prominent part in the public worship of the Church in all ages. The Israelites, when delivered from their Egyptian pursuers, expressed in this way their gratitude and joy. The daily services of the Temple at Jerusalem were replete with vocal and instrumental music. Our Lord closed the celebration of His last supper with an hymn. The Apostles frequently inculcated this devotional exercise on their converts; and it was while Paul and Silas were practising it in prison that God came to cheer and deliver them.”

Henry Francis Lyte in his “Preface” to The Spirit of the Psalms, Or, The Psalms of David Adapted to Christian Worship, 4th edition

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Note: Lyte is using “the Church” in a different sense than I would, which includes Old Testament Israel. Nevertheless, I feel the overall quote is a good one.

Biblical preaching

“[Sunday] morning millions of people around the world will gather, ostensibly, to worship God. Thousands of sermons will be preached, ostensibly ‘from the Bible.’

“Most of what is preached will be in flat contradiction of God’s word and a huge part of what is not will be meaningless sentimental drivel. There will be age old heresies repeated, stale pragmatism presented as current necessity, and new age psychology cloaked in Bible language. Some of what is preached will not even be intelligible.

“The preachers who love God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and who are led by the Holy Spirit, will simply preach the word.

“Preaching the word of God is not complicated. It is clearly defined by Ezra’s example as recorded in Nehemiah. Ezra read the Scriptures and explained the meaning of it to the people.

“This is what is often called ‘expository’ preaching, which simply means that a preacher is, by his words, to expose the meaning of the text of the Scriptures to his hearers.

“The concept of expository preaching has received much attention and approbation in recent decades. While the concept is good and legitimate, it is abused when men read the text of Scripture and then read their preconceived theology into the text.

“This practice is especially insidious because it leaves the impression in the minds of the people that the preacher is simply preaching what the Bible says, when, in reality, he is making his fake theology appear to be Biblical.”

Mark Osgatharp, Excerpt from Facebook post, August 3, 2025

My two bits

“Jesus paid it all; and he doesn’t want my two bits. He doesn’t want anything I do, and he doesn’t want my commitment – because he’s found out I lied about that two or three times! And don’t you look at me that way, because you’ve done the same thing. Thank God tonight for a Saviour who did it all.”

J. Vernon McGee, From “The Power of the Word of God,” preached at Shadow Mountain Community Church, San Diego, California

Resurrection hope in the Old Testament

The forces of death are visible and active in this fallen world.

We should allow the Bible’s depictions of death to influence how we think about the problem of death in this world. Interpreters may not see how resurrection hope is present in some passages if they haven’t noticed how death is present in other passages.

The outworking of death takes manifold forms. Whatever inhibits, harms, or destroys life is a kind of death. When the biblical authors tell of God’s power that restores, frees, heals, or raises, you are reading about the power of life overcoming the forces of death. The reason resurrection hope is more prevalent in Scripture than it may first seem is because the promises and actions of the God of life pervade the testimony of the biblical authors.

Mitchell L. Chase, Resurrection Hope Is More Prevalent in the Old Testament Than It May First Seem

Lowest common denominator theology

“‘Lowest common denominator theology’ is a rejection of the perspicuity of scripture.  It undermines the certainty and conviction of God’s Word. Someone can always excuse his behavior and even his faithlessness, because he couldn’t know. Even if he does know, he could embrace the label of ‘non-essential,’ and excuse his behavior or provide deniability to his laxity. This is now the norm.  Some even blame this on the Holy Spirit, who is the spirit of truth. The Holy Spirit didn’t provide the necessary conviction or feeling to believe or stand strongly enough.”

Kent Brandenburg

The Fishermen and the Academy

“The churches should care far more about the Bible says about them than what the Academy thinks and intimidates. Forsake any passion to be accepted by the Sanhedrin and join the ranks of Jesus’ fishermen. The Sanhedrin came to its end in AD 70 – the fishermen are still here, fishing.”

Peter Van Kleeck, Sr.

Baptists and Evangelicals

While, as you know, I am not Southern Baptist, I believe this comment below by Malcolm Yarnell is worthwhile for general instruction for all of us who are Baptists. Many Baptists seem to think they are just evangelicals, but there are reasonable reasons to understand that we actually are not.

“...Southern Baptists must never compromise those beliefs which have made us Baptists: specifically, the drive for a regenerate New Testament church membership, founded upon the biblical and historical doctrine of the divine–human covenant, evidenced at first in the ordinance of believers-only baptism by immersion, continually expressed in the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, lovingly maintained by the practice of local church discipline, and fervently expanded by the expository proclamation of the Word of God. Southern Baptists will endeavour to speak these and other non-negotiable truths in love, inviting evangelicals inter alia to join us in becoming consistent with Scripture, not only theologically but ecclesiologically.”

“Are Southern Baptists Evangelicals? A Second Decadal Reassessment,” Malcolm Yarnell III, Ecclesiology 2.2 (2005) SAGE Publications, page 212

inter alia: (adverb) among other things.

The Prayer of Cyrus Brown

Cyrus Brown and his advisers, on the posture of prayer:

THE PRAYER OF CYRUS BROWN

“The proper way for a man to pray,”
  Said Deacon Lemuel Keyes,
  “And the only proper attitude
  Is down upon his knees.”

“Nay, I should say the way to pray,”
  Said Reverend Dr. Wise,
  “Is standing straight with outstretched arms
  And rapt and upturned eyes.”

“Oh, no, no, no,” said Elder Snow;
  “Such posture is too proud.
  A man should pray with eyes fast closed
  And head contritely bowed.”

“It seems to me his hands should be
  Austerely clasped in front.
  With both thumbs pointing toward the ground,”
  Said Reverend Dr. Hunt.

“Las’ year I fell in Hodgkin’s well
  Head first,” said Cyrus Brown,
  “With both my heels a-stickin’ up,
  My head a-p’inting down;

“An’ I made a prayer right then an’ there;
  Best prayer I ever said;
  The prayingest prayer I ever prayed;
  A-standin’ on my head.”

– By Samuel Walter Foss (1858-1911)

If ye love me, keep my commandments

David M. Ramsey recalled the following words, as spoken by the Baptist preacher E. R. Carswell, before baptizing several candidates in the Rocky River, Anderson County, South Carolina.

“And then, closing the book, the preacher said something like this: ‘Our Lord must have walked some forty miles across the desert country to come down to the Jordan to be baptized by John in the river. Jesus, calm and silent and unrecognized, had been working in the carpenter’s shop in Nazareth, but now he leaves these duties to enter upon his vast labors as the World’s Redeemer. First he must be baptized in the Jordan. Here stands his baptism on the threshold of his life-work. It was a solemn hour and tender experience, for Jesus Himself said it was necessary for him to be baptized to fulfill all righteousness. I know not all the deep meaning of that utterance. By example and precept he has taught us that it is our duty to be baptized, and I think if we love him it should be pleasant to keep his commandments.”

Excerpted from Baptist Why and Why Not, pp. 399-400.

Why Become a Baptist

David M. Ramsey, brought up in a strict Presbyterian household, left his home in Greenville County, South Carolina around 1875 to attend high school at the Carswell Institute in Anderson County, South Carolina. The principal of the school was a young Baptist preacher, E. R. Carswell.

“Soon after I entered the Carswell institute, the young Baptist preacher in a spirit of pleasantry asked his Presbyterian pupil for a good text for a sermon on infant baptism which he intended to preach the following Sunday, stipulating to use the very strongest one favoring this custom which might be produced. The terms were agreed to and at once the search began in good earnest. The boy chuckled over the embarrassing predicament which the preacher and congregation would find themselves in the next Sunday.

“But soon the subject became distressingly serious. One of the first passages turned to of course was, ‘But Jesus said suffer little children and forbid them not to come unto me for of such is the kingdom of heaven.’ To my surprise there was not a word here about any kind of baptism. The Baptist minister could do all this for his own babe next Sunday at the close of his sermon, if he thinks there is nothing sacrilegious in a poor mortal man’s imitating the Divine Redeemer in bestowing a blessing. So one after another of the familiar passages were examined with similar results. The household baptisms mentioned in the New Testament failed me for they possessed no remotest hint that infants were present. On the contrary, I remember very distinctly that in every case studied in my crude way the startling fact came out prominently that there was proof that each one baptized had previously exercised faith for himself. The concordance was patiently consulted but no relief came. About Friday the preacher insisted on having his text. I think now that there was in his eye a twinkle of almost cruel pleasure over my discomfiture and awkwardness as I made my lame excuses of absence from books and counseling friends, lack of time, etc. With the assurance on my part that he should hear from me again on this subject, the preacher was left to select his own text according to his liking.”

The Baptist principal’s experiment struck its mark. Over time the Presbyterian youth gave in to the Bible’s teaching and the Spirit’s conviction, became a Baptist and surrendered to the ministry. Excerpted from Baptist Why and Why Not, pp. 395-396.

Going nowhere

“How many times we have heard a Preacher announce a text, and then immediately depart from it on an excursion over land and sea, and never come back to the text again. When the sermon is over we feel like saying what Mandy said to Sam after he had ridden the merry-go-round at the circus for one solid hour: ‘Sam, you’ve been gone an hour and spent a whole dollar, but you ain’t been nowhere!’ My father used to tell of a deacon who slipped a note on the preacher’s pulpit saying ‘Stick to your text—and some of it will stick to us.’ To advertise a text and then ignore it is fraudulent advertising!”

M. R. DeHaan, Bread For Each Day, Zondervan, 1962, June 30

Honour thy father and thy mother

“Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.”

Jehovah God, in Exodus 20:12

“Even if your parents share values and views and a world view you do not have, you are biblically obligated to honour them; which means to spend time with them and to love on them, and to go visit them.

“You will cease to have a strong country, America, if we do not have kids honouring their parents.

“The closer that you stay with your parents, even though you have disagreements, the better you will be and your nation will be.” 

Charlie Kirk