If you are anything like me, you have probably sat in a blue upholstered chair thinking, “if only my friend who is unfamiliar with drab church furnishings had heard my pastor preach, they would have believed.” We feel that our words are poorly prepared and lacking influence. Once in high school I remember conjuring up the idea of having a pocket pastor who would pop out and be, “Well, actually the answer to your question is in John 14; let’s turn there and see….” But the beautiful truth is that power of salvation is not tied one’s personality. To be effective, we simply have to speak the gospel.
A little while ago, a few friends of mine were talking to another mutual friend who is a new Christian. As we carried on our conversation, John Piper, David Platt, and a virtual who’s who of the evangelical world walked passed. Although the two of us slid into a nervous, startled posture, the new Christian was oblivious to these men’s evangelical prestige. He continued his conversation with my friend who had faithfully declared the glories of Christ to him. The new Christian was more interested in the person who introduced him to Christ than the faithful men of God who were strangers to him.
Through this brief little picture, God drove home to me the words of Romans 10:15b, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news.” We are tempted to fall in love with personalities and to assume that saving power lies within persuasive sermons. Though I greatly value these men’s contributions to the kingdom, the power and beauty of Christ is found in taking the gospel to the unredeemed. If we are faithful to declare the truth of the gospel, we will have done just as much as John Piper could ever do for a lost soul. Let’s be witnesses for Christ! “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher?” (Rom. 10:14)
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