I am afraid the Christian ministry to a great extent is presenting a gospel that is pleasant to the adamic nature. The pastors and evangelists are not demanding that the believer give himself or herself to crucifixion and resurrection with Jesus Christ.

The reason I say this is that in several instances it has come back to me that people reading my books or listening to the tapes respond by saying, "This is too hard! This is too strict!"

I am appalled at this reaction! They do not say what is too strict or what is too hard. Their response is in general terms.

When I inquire as to what is being taught in other churches that the Christians should object that my teaching is too strict, the problem seems to be that the other ministers are saying that if we sin it is regrettable but grace covers all misbehavior, whereas I am declaring that if sin is not confessed and turned away from the results can be disastrous.

I do not think many of these believers really want to sin or intend to sin. They just want the assurance that in case they do they still will go to Heaven by grace. I cannot promise them that because it is not what the Apostles taught.

I notice also that if I stress they must lay down their life and make Jesus their Lord, they must count themselves as dead with Him and raised with Him, they must obey His will no matter what it is, they must keep His commandments, people are driven off. They can attend numerous churches in the area that do not make such demands on them. We are too hard, not "nice" like the other pastors.

They really are not being logical about this. The issue is not whether a message is too hard or too strict or how nice the pastor is. The real question is whether the truth is being preached. Looking for an easier, less demanding message is something like setting your clock back two hours so you can get more sleep. You still will be late for work!

Another issue of our day concerns doing God's will and keeping the commandments of Christ and His Apostles. Ever since I have been a Christian I have heard it said no one can do God's will, no one can keep His commandments.

Of all the lies that Satan tells mankind, the lie that no one can do God's will or keep God's commandments is the most effective in keeping Christians immature. To say such a thing is to slander God's righteous, loving nature as the Father of us all.

The statement that we cannot keep God's commandments or do His perfect will, and therefore must be kept in a blind state of automatic forgiveness, is a total, slanderous, hideous, abominable, disgusting, unreasonable, unscriptural, horrific lie.

Don't ever repeat such garbage. You put yourself on the side of Satan when you do.

To be continued.