The Rev Lost Soul Dd

Fats Havner used to say his name was Mr. Tweedle before he received his honorary degree. Now he's no longer Mr. Tweedle, but Tweedle D.D. The title of my message this evening, friends, is The Reverend Lost Soul, D.D. My message is about unconverted ministry. In the days of Whitefield and Wesley, in the 18th century, it was a time of an unconverted ministry.

Both Whitefield and Wesley were members of the Holy Club at Oxford, of whose young student members would have nights of fastings and prayer. And at this time, both Whitefield and Wesley were religious unconverted men. There was a predominant unconverted ministry in England at this time, and in America as well, for when Whitefield came to America during the Great Awakening, his co-laborer was Gilbert Tannet, who went up and down New England preaching his sermon entitled The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry.

It was published in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin and widely circulated. And I want to read you the following excerpt, friends, which will give us an idea of this time. Most of the clergy had received no theological training.

Bishops reported that many candidates for holy orders knew little, or practically nothing, of the Bible. The preaching was largely confined to essays, often on non-religious subjects. In the absence of Sunday schools, the children received little religious training, except catechism instructions for confirmation.

The eminent jurist, Sir William Blackstone, claimed that he had visited all the London churches and remarked that he heard not one discourse which had more Christianity in it than the writings of Cicero. Green, in his short history of the English people, declares the English clergy were the idlest and most lifeless in the world. There is no question that the clergy, both of the established church and of the dissenters at will, were as conspicuous for drunkenness and gambling.

Well, I read that to you, friends, because I fear the same is true in our day as well. Many pulpits across this country are in an unconverted ministry. The Rev. Lost Soul, D.D., is a likeable man who knows how to lead a church body in its organization.

He knows how to grow a church and expand his campus through new membership. Mega-churches are his favorite environment to work from, as he can immerse himself in activity and programs. The Rev. Lost Soul, D.D., is a man often held in high esteem by his congregation.

He has a former religion, but he has no spiritual life. He is merely ordained, but not born again. He is often a man of letters and has several academic degrees.

He can converse with you about church history and theology and can impress with his knowledge, but he has no knowledge of God. He has no personal knowledge of repentance or regeneration, as he is a stranger to these. He may talk about the Holy Spirit, but is void of the Spirit.

The Rev. Lost Soul, D.D., is ignorant to his own spiritual condition, and it is in his ignorance of spiritual things which makes him dangerous to others. Rather than pointing folks to Christ and to heaven, he is a blind guide leading multitudes to hell in his religious trail. To be a member in a church under an unconverted ministry can be a damning experience, and if you stay there, you will surely be damned to hell as an unconverted church member who dies in his or her natural condition outside of Christ.

The Rev. Lost Soul, D.D., is a religious man who has never gotten to Christ for salvation, and he cannot point others to heaven because he doesn't know the way there himself. The Prophet Jeremiah preached against the unconverted ministry of his day. Jeremiah preached God's judgment upon these false teachers.

In Jeremiah 23 and verses 11-12, we read about God's indictments against them. For both prophet and priest are profane. Yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord.

Wherefore their way shall be unto them as slippery ways in the darkness. They shall be driven on and fall therein. For I will bring evil upon them, even the year of their visitation, saith the Lord.

If you are sitting under an unconverted ministry friend, get out while you still can.