The Crux

Terry Johnson in his book on the parables says the following:

"I'll never forget one of my important mentors, the Rev. William Still of Aberdeen, saying that his trouble began at the Gilcomston South Church when he quit preaching to the unconverted and began to apply Scripture to allegedly converted church members. He said they nearly went 'mad with rage.' They are willing to hear a good sermon. But they didn't want anyone implying that they had sins from which they needed to repent. This is the great rub. This is the crux. This is perhaps the biggest problem in the church. We have too many connoisseurs of sermons who fail to ever apply the teaching of Scripture to their lives. They have no guilt. They never change. They are unteachable. Tragically, unless we act upon Jesus' words, unless we actually put them into action, unless we believe and obey them, then certain destruction awaits us."