TRACT NO. 10
"CROWD IS NOT PROOF OF TRUTH - God Is Not In Numbers"
"Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil;
neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest
judgment:" - Exodus 23:2
THE POPULAR ERROR
Today, many Christians measure truth by crowd.
"This church is big, so it must be true! This preacher
has millions of followers, so he cannot be wrong! This doctrine is popular, so
it must be from God!"
Because of this error, many have left the narrow way that leads to life and followed the broad way that leads to destruction, simply because many are going that way.
They have forgotten that Jesus said: "Broad is
the way that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and
few there be that find it." - Matthew 7:13-14
Truth has never been in numbers. If crowd is proof of truth,
then the world is more true than the church. We must correct this dangerous
error.
THE BIBLICAL TRUTH
1. In Noah's days, the crowd was wrong.
In the days of Noah, how many were saved? Only 8 souls.
Genesis 7:13. The whole world - millions - were wrong. The small family was
right.
If Noah had said "I must follow the multitude," he
would have perished in the flood.
2. In the days of Elijah, the crowd was wrong.
Elijah thought he was the only one left serving God. There
were 850 prophets of Baal and Asherah eating at Jezebel's table. 1 Kings 18:19.
Big crowd, popular, sponsored by government.
But only one Elijah was right. Fire came down for one man,
not for 850.
3. When Jesus was crucified, the crowd was wrong.
The crowd shouted "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Luke
23:21. The majority voted that Jesus should die and Barabbas the criminal
should live.
Was the crowd right? No! The crowd crucified their own
Saviour.
If you follow crowd today, you may crucify truth again.
4. Jesus had only 12, but He had the truth.
Jesus did not have a mega church of thousands as His close
disciples. He had 12. Even among the 12, one was a devil.
But that small group turned the world upside down with
truth.
Today, we have mega crowds that turn the church upside down
with error.
5. What does God look for? Truth, not numbers.
"For the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man
looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart." -
1 Samuel 16:7
Man looks at crowd, building, cars, members. God looks at
truth, holiness, obedience.
A small church preaching truth and holiness is greater
before God than a city-wide cathedral preaching money, fornication, and lies.
WHAT SHOULD WE PREACH?
Stop preaching: "Come to our church because we are
many! Our pastor is great because millions follow him!"
Start preaching: "Come and hear the truth of God's
Word, whether we are many or few. Search the scriptures like the Berean
Christians and see if these things are true." Acts 17:11
Preach that Christians should not be moved by crowd but by
the Word. Tell them to be like Joshua and Caleb - even when 10 spies gave evil
report and the whole congregation wanted to stone them, they stood for truth.
Numbers 14:6-10. And only they entered the Promised Land.
Tell your members: If you find truth, stand on it even if
you stand alone. God and one is majority.
A CALL TO STAND FOR TRUTH
Are you following a preacher or a church just because they
are popular?
Check what they preach with the Bible. If it is error, come
out, even if the whole world remains there.
"And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free." - John 8:32
Not crowd, but truth makes free.
Are you discouraged because your ministry is small? Don't
be. If you are preaching truth and holiness, God is with you. Keep standing.
Noah was alone but God was with him.
Pray with me:
"Lord Jesus, forgive me for following crowd instead
of following truth. Open my eyes to know Your truth from Your Word. Give me
courage to stand for truth even when I am alone. I will not follow a multitude
to do evil. I will follow You, the Truth, even if it means standing alone.
Amen."
Written By:
Pst. Edward Freedom
Please look out for TRACT NO. 11 in this series:
"ONCE SAVED, ALWAYS SAVED? - The Danger Of False Security" - Hebrews
10:26-27
For copies, counselling and prayers, contact the author.
