The Rev Lost Soul Dd — E.A. Johnston

Vance Havner used to say his name was Mr. Tweedle before he received his honorary degree. Now he's no longer. Mr. Tweedle, but Tweedle DeeDee. The title of my message this evening friends is the Reverend Lost Soul DeeDee.

Unconverted Ministry During the Great Awakening

My message is about a unconverted ministry in the days of Whitfield and Wesley in the 18th century. It was a time of an unconverted ministry. Both Whitfield 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 Whitfield and Wesley were religious unconverted men.

Gilbert Tennent and the Danger of an Unconverted Ministry

There was a predominant unconverted ministry in England at this time and in America as well for When Whitfield came to America during the Great Awakening His co-laborer was Gilbert Tenet 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.

Religious Ignorance and Lifeless Clergy in the Eighteenth Century

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 as well were as conspicuous for drunkenness and gambling.

The Reverend Lost Soul’s Religious Appearance Without Spiritual Life

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 Reverend Lost Soul DD is a likable 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 make mega churches are his favorite environment to work from as he can immerse himself in activity and programs. The Reverend Lost Soul DD is a man often held in high esteem by his congregation.

He has a form of 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 Reverend Lost Soul DD is ignorant to his own Spiritual condition and it is in his ignorance of spiritual things which makes him dangerous to others.

The Spiritual Danger of Following an Unconverted Minister

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 a unconverted ministry can be a damning experience and if you stay there you will surely be damned to hell as a Unconverted church member who dies in his or her natural condition outside of Christ.

The Reverend Lost Soul DD 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’s Judgment on False Teachers

Jeremiah preached God's judgment upon these false teachers in Jeremiah 23 and verses 11 through 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.