The caption above is of an ad by a local Baptist Church expecting “up to a thousand teenagers to pack a hillside and enjoy a concert in the first annual Youth Explosion. This is your chance to be part of the biggest event ever for teenagers in this area. The explosion will start at 6:00 p.m., with all the free pizza you can eat; a talented athlete with a testimony for Christ; a high-energy and dynamic performer; and a performer with a great vocal talent.” Performance, entertainment, and showmanship are the name of the religious game today. Billy Graham started the ball rolling years ago with his special celebrity guest of athletes, movie stars, etc. Remember Mickey Cohen, West coast mobster turned ‘Christian’ whom Mr. Graham had testifying in his crusades? It turned out that his life was never completely ‘turned around.’ He went back to his old mafia business and when questioned about it he responded, “but you have converted movie stars, football players, baseball players, night-club singers, why not Christian gangsters?” He could not understand why all these other notables would ‘testify’ for Christ and return to their occupations and he not return to his. I remember well the baseball player that the church used as their honored speaker; I can’t recall him ever refusing to play a Sunday baseball game in honor of the LORD’S Day. “But preacher we live in modern times!” Yes and the Bible still says, “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Why do you suppose that modern-religious pragmatists make their bid for converts with the appeal of ‘Dynamic performances and famous celebraties?’ Do they think that people will not desire to go to heaven if there are no concerts, sports figures and celebrities there? Do you think their concept of the here-after is the land of recreation and entertainment? It shows just how mundane and carnal modern religion has become. No sir, “the LAMB (Christ) receives all the glory in Immanuel’s land!” Some ask, “Why oppose this practice; do you not want to see these young people saved?” No one desires the salvation of sinners more than I. It grieves me to see them deceived and confused. Those who promote such events are not interested in the salvation of souls; their interest is in numbers. Like the Pharisees whom Jesus rebuked, “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you compass sea and land to make one proselyte and when he is made you make him two fold more the child of hell than yourselves.” I talk to those who say they are “saved” but are deceived by these impostors. They made a profession of faith at some sort of religious event where the gospel was never preached, they are unknowledgeable on Bible doctrine; they go to church seldom if ever, never pray, care nothing for Christian fellowship, never read their Bibles, ungodly, worldly and self-seeking. They show every evidence of not knowing God or having a vital relationship with Christ, but when they die some minister will proclaim “due to a profession of Christ, rest assured that the dear soul is at rest.”
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