Jake passes on a news piece announcing that Smokey Bear is being updated to make him more appealing to this generation. The article is helpful because it leads us to understand why pastors now preach and write haltingly, suggestively, and wonderingly rather than authoritatively and soberly, proclaiming the Gospel of God's Law, Judgment, and the penal substitutionary Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ.
(The new ads) give Smokey’s role and persona a makeover. ...Smokey is changing from a teacher or authority figure into a paragon of positive reinforcement...
To underscore the shift, Smokey will now hug people...
The hugs are part of the decision to turn Smokey into a character who is depicted as “rewarding people,” Mr. Bramwell said, rather than “entreating them or admonishing them to take personal responsibility.”
“It’s moving the tone away from sober, which doesn’t resonate with young people,” he added, “while maintaining the seriousness of the issue.”
Pastors, we must not give in to this seduction. The whole world hates authority and does everything it can to remove it from life. But authority is inescapable for the man set apart by the laying on of hands and prayer to guard the good deposit and to pass on to reliable men the truths—the dogmas, even—of our Most Holy Faith.
And truth be told, young men and women who are decadent seek teachers and preachers who flatter them, but there are many who have not bowed the knee to Baal and pray for God to send them a pastor who will call them to repentance and faith, authoritatively. Pastors, elders, and older women of the Church who will teach and admonish them.
I tell you the truth, there are many young women in university communities pursuing excellence in a certain socioeconomic direction who, hearing the Word of God proclaimed with authority, will, by the grace of God, believe and return to the wonders and privileges of their sex thereby confessing their faith in Jesus Christ.
So off we go to our work; and cheerfully, knowing those faithful to proclaim the love and mercy and authority of God the Father Almighty to men and women of this evil age have few competitors.
With faith in the power of God to give men and women new birth in Christ, and
Love
Tim serves Clearnote Church, Bloomington, Indiana. He and Mary Lee have five children and big lots of grandchildren.
Want to get in touch? Send Tim an email!
