Charles Haddon Spurgeon Says, "Don't Debate, Just Preach the Gospel!"

It's a terrible mistake for many Christians to get stuck in debates. When I was newly saved Christian after I learned Catholicism couldn't save and only Jesus could, certain people would get angry or they are ready to cover their ears whenever they see me with my black King James Bible. Some of them would say something like, "Oh boy, here comes the Bible thumping guy, oh sweet Mary, Mother of God help us!" or they would form a cross with their fingers when I am near. I would say, "Sorry but Mary can't hear you.. why don't you listen?" then it ends up becoming hours and hours of useless debate of yelling and cussing where the Gospel is not magnified, only sinful pride is ever magnified in debating with the unsaved.

The Prince of Preachers if he were alive would have told me saying, "Preach Christ or nothing; don't dispute or discuss except with your eye on the cross." The problem with debating with unbelievers as I learned the hard way is that it does not soften their hearts, it only encourages more debates which leads nowhere. It's no wonder 2 Timothy 2:16 has Paul saying to Timothy, "But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." The more debates are done, the more the heart of the unbeliever is hardened.

While Christians need to confront evildoers but to do so without love, it profits nothing at all. Do Christians need to preach about sin? Absolutely. Do Christians need to show their hatred for sin and that they won't put up for it? Absolutely. But should Christians should show an angry spirit, yell, curse and quarrel unsaved sinners? Then the answer is no. While it's possible to preach against sin without any love or concern for unsaved sinners but it's impossible to love without preaching against sin but it's done out of concern for unsaved sinners. When Spurgeon preached, it was out of his desire to win as many people to Christ as true converts and not for the sake of heckling lost sinners who need the Lord Jesus Christ.

That reminded me of somebody telling me, "That's why a lot of people hate you Baptists because you always argue about religion. Why can't you just accept us all as brothers and sisters in Christ? Look, the Pope is even receiving certain Baptist preachers as part of his audience and you remain a stubborn, old fashioned Baptist extremist you Osama bin Ladin." While accepting other religions is something I wouldn't do but becoming a quarrelsome preacher is not called for. If preaching a watered down and non-confrontational Gospel is misguided; then so is being cheesy and offensive as much as possible just as equally misguided.

See also:

Reflecting on Charles Spurgeon on Preaching the Wrath of God the Wrong Way!