MS Top 6 Season 4 #19

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Monday through Friday, Matt takes calls from all around the world on his radio show. We've compiled this week's best, Matt Slick's Top 6. Number 5. When you're dating a friend, you're talking about a relationship that is for you. You should never seek to steal from her what does not belong to you because you've not vowed before God, before her, and before people the vows of marriage. Sexual relationship is for that only, and it's the only context. So, I say to people when I do counseling that if you are dating someone and you're having relations with someone like that and you claim to be a Christian, well, don't call yourself a Christian for one thing because you're in fornication and dire rebellion against God. You need to repent immediately.

Number 4. I've had couples that I've married counseled, premarital counseling, and performed at weddings. I have found out, for example, that they fooled around. And I say, okay, we need to talk about this, and I say, do you realize it is a great sin against God and against each other? And I give them the theology.

I show them the scriptures of fornicators not inheriting the kingdom of God, 1 Corinthians 6, 9, and how people are succumbing to their physical desires over their honor of God. And in light of that, I say to the woman who's sitting there, so you're engaged, right? Yeah, okay. You fooled around, right? Do you want to trust this guy in your marriage? Do you want to trust him? She's willing to go to bed with you and do those things which are ungodly and unholy because it's not in the sanctified bonds of marriage, and you're willing to unite with him permanently for the rest of your life? Is this the kind of guy you want?

It's a sobering thought. And then I turn to him, and I say the same thing about her. She's willing to go to bed with you before you even get married. What kind of a woman is that?

What kind of a Christian woman is that? Number 3. Yeah, I hit him hard. And this is how it needs to happen. And I say, you will never do this again until you get married. Do you agree? And I say, if you don't agree, the counseling's over. I don't perform your wedding ceremony. And if you do agree, we can continue. And if you do fall again in that, then weddings postpone six months while you go through counseling.

It shakes people up. If you're a man, you're dating your girl, you should be opening the car door for her, opening doors for her. She's the weaker vessel, and your obligation is to protect her. And then when she's in your company, you're responsible to protect her. Now, you can't do everything all the time, but you're obligated to make sure that she's okay in your presence. And if you're going to be alone with her, which I don't recommend, I understand how things work sometimes, but even in that context, you need to make sure that she is guarded and protected, and her honor and her sanctity before God and before people. That's your obligation. And that it should not be compromised.

Number 2. I was contemplating going into the ministry, and back in 1980, I started seeing that sermons were becoming sales pitches rather than teachings, and that the pastoral position that, when I was growing up, was called a noble calling, just became a career, just like any other career. A doctor, lawyer, accountant. Oh yeah, you can be a pastor too. And the consequence of this has been that churches do not treat congregations like disciples, they treat them like customers. That they've got a product to sell and they're the ones who are supposed to buy it.

And that's the conclusion I came to. And that's why, you know, congregations want to pay money to the pastor or pay money to the staff. Let them do the job of Christianity because that's what they're paying them to do. And congregations don't want to be made disciples because they would be responsible. And pastors don't want to teach them because it's going to jeopardize the product that they're selling, which is the gospel of Christ and its idolatry from beginning to end. Okay, so Ryan, you and I have disappeared in a lot of things, but man, I'm taking notes from what you're saying.

Sales pitch, treated like customers, from a noble calling to another profession. Wow, I so agree with you. I don't think it's as bad as you said, but man, there's a lot of truth in there. Well, Matt, right now, the way people determine what is a successful ministry is whether or not they increase in membership and increase in money, nothing else. That's what I've been saying. That's how they judge it. That's how they judge it, yes. And it's being taught in seminaries in just about every denomination. The purpose-driven church is nothing more than a marketing and advertising scheme to sell the gospel. It is nothing more than that.

Man, I like what you said. It's like a sales pitch. And what I don't know if you heard me talk about it, it's like turning the scriptures into a five-point or a five-step procedure to get a better whatever it is.

And I hate that stuff. Do a Google search on this. See what the structure is of a sales pitch. See what the structure is for political speech. You know what, Ryan, I've seriously, I just got to give you some kudos. I did just what you said during the break.

So I went to constant contact. And now to start a sales pitch. A successful sales pitch starts with a captivating opener. The goal of crafting a strong opening to your sales presentation is ultimately to entice potential customers and hold their attention long enough to incite them to hear you out. And it also says provide a warm welcome, introducing yourself with a personal detail or two. Explain why your product or service is special. I'm like, dude, that really is good.

In fact, you've actually motivated me to write an article on this. Happy trails to you Until we meet again Goodbye, goodbye Whoa, goodbye I hope you had the dime of your life It's okay now Goodbye, my friend We hope you've enjoyed this episode of Matt Slick's Top 6. For more on Matt and his live syndicated call-in radio show, go to TruthNetwork.com. Got a question? Matt Slick has your answer. This is the Truth Network.