Smooth Talk and Flattery
"I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. For your obedience is known to all, so that I rejoice over you, but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil. The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you." (Romans 16:17-20)
"Sometimes it really gets me down when I think about how many millions of people in America today watch TV preachers like Joel Osteen, Robert Schuller, or Joyce Meyer and read their best-selling books. Meanwhile, programs like the WHI and books about sound doctrine have a mere fraction of the audience. Then there are the mega-churches were people flock to feel better about themselves while churches that faithfully proclaim God's Word and administer the Sacraments each week often struggle and their ministers often find themselves under enormous pressure to change their emphasis. How many Christians today are bathed in the great truths that Paul considered essential basics for any church? But then I remember that the mega movements come and go, it is the church Christ founded, however small and unentertaining it is, that endures from generation to generation."

- Michael Horton
Media
"SMOOTH TALK AND FLATTERY" (from White Horse Inn, courtesy of Lane Chaplin website)