Let us return to the “good thought” preacher and apply his think-good-thoughts-while-rejecting-God’s-Word theology to the world of reality.  Let us see if the following scenario would work.

I want to be a Truth-preaching minister for the Lord so I set aside a couple of hours each day to think about being a Truth-preaching minister for the Lord. I THINK ABOUT obeying His commands to “Prove all things (concerning God’s will)” (1 Thes. 5:21). I THINK ABOUT His command to “Study (His Word) to show yourself approved of the Lord” (2 Tim. 2:15). With those COMMANDS in MIND, I prove all things relative to God’s will by diligently STUDYING church doctrine so as to gain man’s approval in order to be accepted into his church ministry. Then, in order to PROVE ALL THINGS  relative to God’s will, I consult the ministers who teach me the church’s perverted gospel (Gal. 1:6-9).

Serious Bible students know that by applying these rules, which are embraced by thousands of preachers daily, I could never become a Truth-preaching minister for the Lord. Conversely, as history has proven, I could become a highly successful minister for Satan. I could have a world-wide t.v. and radio ministry. I could sell books by the millions, etc. Man would hail me as a true prophet of the Lord. Though man would accept me, God would reject me. However, being either ignorant of His Word or knowing it and rejecting it, I would be oblivious to the truth concerning my spiritual condition. I would go through my ministerial life believing that I am in the center of God’s will. See Revelation 3:14-21. And I would not be alone.

Contrary to the “good thought” minister’s spiritual reasonings, thinking about God’s Holy Bible–His Rules of Ministry and Life–while preaching church theology does not place one in good standing with Him. If I think about observing His Saturday Sabbath while observing Satan’s Sunday Sabbath; if I think about God’s condemnation of Christmas and Easter while observing them; if I think about His condemnation of denominations while belonging to one; if I preach such “doctrines of devils” (1 Tim. 4:1) as original sin, salvation in this life, the rapture, the Friday death and Sunday resurrection of Jesus, entrance into heaven or hell at death, the trinity, etc., church people exalt me. However, GOD WILL REJECT ME.

But the “good thought” theology does have its positive aspects. If nothing else, obedience to it would save its adherents from persecution. For example, if Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Daniel, Stephen, the prophets and apostles, the heroes of Hebrews 11, not to mention Jesus Christ Himself had known about the “It’s the thought that counts” approach to the Christian walk their lives could have been totally stress-free. If they had simply thought about the Lord while obeying His enemies they would all have lived to ripe old ages. Unfortunately, it is too late for them. Fortunately, it is not too late for those who are prophesied to lose their heads for embracing Christ during the Great Tribulation (Rev. 20:4). According to “thinking man’s theology,” they can avoid death by simply thinking about Jesus while bowing to the Beast.  L.J.