THINK ABOUT IT 11-23-24
Media Manipulation
A. W. Tozer (1897-1963) said “. . . advertising, at least in the United States, is the most powerful educational agent extant. Those who write the advertising copy probably do more to determine the way the average person thinks than the school and church combined.
The reasons for this are two. One is that men may flee from the admonitions of parents and the good counsel of the church, but where can anyone hide from the advertiser” He is as near to being ubiquitous as anything on earth except gravity.
The second reason the advertiser exercises such incredibly powerful influence is that he has learned to perfection the art of communication. He may be lying, and often is, but he does get his ideas across; and that is more than can be said for the school and the church.”
It should be easy to see that it’s worse now than when Tozer wrote those words. There is no denying that the world is getting its message out which, as Tozer said, “is more than can be said for the school and the church”.
Tozer told the truth! I’ve been preaching 58 years and I can tell you from experience and observation that Christians and churches did more to reach the lost then than they do today. So is it any wonder that things are as they are?
Jesus said, “ “Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.”Matthew 5:13 . Sadly there are too many “good for nothing” churches today.
It is a well known fact that meat will spoil without salt. Without salt the outcome is predictable – it rots! Even so, when the church fails to be salt to the society it gets worse and worse. We need to stop blaming the world for its rotten condition and put the blame where it should be – on our shoulders. We have failed to deliver the life changing message of the gospel to the world.
Be honest, when is the last time you made a sincere effort to lead someone to Christ? What ministry are you involved in that works as a witness to those who are without Christ? How often do you pray for someone specifically to be saved? How long has it been since you invited someone to church?
So, rather than spewing our disdain for this wicked world let us do our best to reach others for Christ. God help us to be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. THINK ABOUT IT!- HDS
David Stone
Lakeway Baptist Church
Humble, TX
