For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; - 1 Corinthians 1:22-23
It is the same today—men want clever preachers, not Christ preachers; reason, not revelation, their minds challenged, not their hearts pricked. The wisdom of this world says, “If you wish to reach the people of this day, you must not be dogmatic; share, discuss, exchange ideas, and counsel people; don’t preach!” I hear people say, “If you would enlist today’s youth, you must adapt to their lifestyle and their language; pick up the rock beat, use comedy, puppets, and social entertainment; don’t preach to them!” Others insist that, “If you would win the support and interest of people of education, influence, and wealth, you must curb your Calvinism, soften your stand on substitution, and don’t preach Christ to them!”
Can you imagine the Apostle Paul compromising with this so-called “wisdom of the world”? No! His reply to what men require and seek is, “We preach Christ and him crucified.” I desire to reach, enlist, and minister to young and old, wise and unwise, but not at the expense of God’s glory and truth! “It pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21); and if depravity offends men’s dignity, revelation offends their wisdom, and substitution offends their pride, so be it!
I find God’s prophets, apostles, and preachers, who have been used of God in past years, to be compassionate men but never compromisers, to be comforters, but never cowards. They were willing to take the offense out of their manners, but never out of their message. They all preached Christ and him crucified!
About Henry Mahan
Henry T. Mahan was born in Birmingham, Alabama in August 1926. He joined the United States Navy in 1944 and served as a signalman on an L.S.T. in the Pacific during World War II. In 1946, he married his wife Doris, and the Lord blessed them with four children.
At the age of 21, he entered the pastoral ministry and gained broad experience as a pastor, teacher, conference speaker, and evangelist. In 1950, through the preaching of evangelist Rolfe Barnard, God was pleased to establish Henry in sovereign free grace teaching. At that time, he was serving as an assistant pastor at Pollard Baptist Church (off of Blackburn ave.) in Ashland, Kentucky.
In 1955, Thirteenth Street Baptist Church was formed in Ashland, Kentucky, and Henry was called to be its pastor. He faithfully served that congregation for more than 50 years, continuing in the same message throughout his ministry. His preaching was centered on the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified, in full accord with the Scriptures. He consistently proclaimed God’s sovereign purpose in salvation and the glory of Christ in redeeming sinners through His blood and righteousness.
Henry T. Mahan also traveled widely, preaching in conferences and churches across the United States and beyond. His ministry was marked by a clear and unwavering emphasis on Christ, not the preacher, but the One preached. Those who heard him recognized that his sermons honored the Savior and exalted the name of the Lord Jesus Christ above all.
Henry T. Mahan served as pastor and teacher of Thirteenth Street Baptist Church in Ashland, Kentucky for over half a century. His life and ministry were devoted to proclaiming the sovereign grace of God and directing sinners to the finished work of Christ. He entered into the presence of the Lord in 2019, leaving behind a lasting testimony to the gospel he faithfully preached.
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