This month we are hosting the Western Slope Seminar on Biblical Evangelism with the theme, “What Is The Gospel?”. Why now and why this topic?

There is a great deal of so-called evangelism going on today that bears little or no resemblance to the Gospel of the Bible. In the late 1800′s and early 1900′s many of the main-line denominations embraced a diminished view of the authority and veracity of the Bible in favor of a more inclusive and socially conscious appoach. Unity became more important than doctrine and, as a result, those groups began a long downhill slide to the point that now the Bible is ignored and morality is decided by prevailing culture. Sad to say, much of Evangelicalism is following this same “down-grade” that Spurgeon warned against. Pick up any popular Christian periodical today and you will see a great deal about various “community outreaches”, “social justice” and “transforming societies”. You will see less and less about the bold proclamation of the Gospel, a Gospel that tells men that they are dead in trespasses and sins. A Gospel that calls them to new life by the power of God will be based upon the conviction of the Holy Spirit and the miraculous calling of God through the preaching of the Word.

For too long we have tried to “market” the Gospel by targeting various affinity groups or demographic populations. We are commanded to “preach the Gospel to every creature”. Many of our church members have been lulled to sleep into thinking that if we give liberally to missions, we have obeyed His command. It is time for church members to repent of disobedience to Christ’s command and begin proclaiming the Gospel to our neighbors. It is time for pastors and leaders to repent of the watered-down Gospel we’ve been preaching and to return to the doctrine of our fore-fathers, men like Whitefield, Spurgeon and Mell. I am so encouraged by the movement of God taking place through groups like “Together for the Gospel”. I believe that God has laid upon our hearts the need and has provided the means to call men of God to a “Muster of the Faith”. Pray for our churches and leaders that we will be open to this call for revival.

There’s still room, just go to the above link and sign up, don’t worry about deadlines, just come!