How grievous is the spectacle of men who claim to serve Christ, yet crave the world! They mount the pulpit, carry the Bible, and speak much of love--but their affections are chained to the world. Their prayers are polished, their platforms are popular, and their names are praised--yet they are lost! They are enemies of the Cross, and the Apostle writes of them with tears.
Such men are not pagans.
They are professing ministers.
They do not outright deny Christ--they dilute Him.
They do not discard the Bible--they distort it.
Their god is not Jehovah--it is their belly. That is, their god is their appetite, comfort, fame, security, applause. They speak of glory, but it is their own, not His.
There is scarcely a more loathsome evil, than the perversion of the Gospel by those entrusted to preach it. The Lord does not take lightly, those who dare to trade His truth for treasure, or reduce His blood-bought Gospel into a scheme for gain.
Micah thundered in his day, "Her priests teach for a price… yet they lean on the LORD and say, 'Is not the LORD among us?'" (Micah 3:11). The same spirit pervades much of modern ministry. "God is here," they say, while their lives deny Him. Smooth sermons, wide smiles, and packed churches--cannot hide the stench of compromise. God sees the heart. He knows who serves Him--and who serves Mammon.
Jesus left no room for divided loyalty: "You cannot serve both God and Money." The servant of Christ must be crucified to this world (Galatians 6:14), emptied of self-interest, and consumed with the glory of God. He is a herald of the King, sent to preach repentance, judgment, and grace--whether men will hear or refuse.
Dear reader, do not be seduc
In his sermon "Enemies of the Cross—The Peril of Worldly Ministers," A. W. Pink addresses the dangers of ministers who claim to serve Christ while being ensnared by worldly desires. He argues that these individuals, who are often well-presented and popular, actually distort the gospel for personal gain, focusing on earthly accolades rather than glorifying God. Drawing from Philippians 3:18-19, Pink highlights the perilous fate of those whose "God is their stomach," illustrating a profound spiritual compromise among professing believers. He also references Jeremiah 45:5 and Micah 3:11 to emphasize the grave responsibility of faithful ministry and the divine judgment awaiting those who exploit the gospel. The sermon ultimately calls for a return to genuine, sacrificial ministry that prioritizes faithfulness to Scripture and radical devotion to God over worldly success.
Key Quotes
“Their God is not Jehovah, it is their belly. That is, their God is their appetite, comfort, fame, security, applause.”
“There is scarcely a more loathsome evil than the perversion of the gospel by those entrusted to preach it.”
“God sees the heart. He knows who serves Him and who serves mammon.”
“Measure a man not by his popularity, but by his faithfulness to Scripture, his fear of God, and his detachment from the world.”
The Bible warns against ministers who prioritize earthly gain over faithfulness to God.
In Philippians 3:18-19, the Apostle Paul mourns the presence of those who are enemies of the cross, identifying them as individuals whose focus lies on earthly desires rather than divine truths. These ministers may preach love but are ultimately driven by craven appetites—whether for comfort, fame, or applause. The danger is that they distort the gospel, manipulating it for their own gain while claiming to serve Christ. Moreover, Micah 3:11 echoes this sentiment, condemning priests who teach for profit while pretending to lean on the Lord. Such behaviors are not only grievous but also indicative of a heart far from God, as they represent a profound betrayal of the gospel they claim to uphold.
The Bible provides clear warnings about ministers who serve their own interests instead of God.
The text underlines the peril of false ministers who, under the guise of serving Christ, are primarily concerned with their own glory and satisfaction. Philippians 3:18-19 highlights that these individuals are spiritually doomed, as their 'God is their stomach,' reflecting a servitude to worldly desires rather than fidelity to God's commandments. True ministers must adhere to scripture and demonstrate a lifestyle detached from earthly ambitions, as clearly indicated in Galatians 6:14. The presence of such false ministers not only threatens their own souls but endangers the purity of the church, making it imperative for believers to discern their teachings through the lens of Scripture rather than popularity.
Rejecting worldly ambitions aligns ministry with God’s glory rather than self-serving desires.
For Christians, especially those in ministry, rejecting worldly ambitions is vital because it demonstrates a commitment to the authority of Scripture and a deeper loyalty to God. The sermon warns that those who chase personal accolades corrupt the gospel and lose sight of their true calling. Philippians 3 stresses the importance of boasting only in the cross, while Jeremiah 45:5 cautions against seeking personal greatness. Ministers must be crucified to the world and prioritize God’s glory in their service. This commitment protects the integrity of the church and fosters spiritual growth within the community, setting a powerful example for believers to follow.
Enemies of the Cross The Peril of Worldly Ministers by Arthur Pink As I have often told you before, and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their destiny is destruction. Their God is their stomach. and their glory is their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. Philippians 3, 18 and 19.
How grievous is the spectacle of men who claim to serve Christ, yet crave the world. They mount the pulpit, carry the Bible, and speak much of love, but their affections are chained to the world. Their prayers are polished. Their platforms are popular, and their names are praised, yet they are lost. They are enemies of the cross, and the apostle writes of them with tears.
Such men are not pagans. They are professing ministers. They do not outright deny Christ. They dilute Him. They do not discard the Bible. They distort it. Their God is not Jehovah, it is their belly. That is, their God is their appetite, comfort, fame, security, applause. They speak of glory, but it is their own, not His.
There is scarcely a more loathsome evil than the perversion of the gospel by those entrusted to preach it. The Lord does not take lightly those who dare to trade His truth for treasure, or reduce His blood-bought gospel into a scheme for gain. Micah thundered in his day. Her priests teach for a price. Yet they lean on the Lord and say, Is not the Lord among us? Micah 3, 11. The same spirit pervades much of modern ministry. God is here, they say, while their lives deny Him. Smooth sermons, wide smiles, and packed churches cannot hide the stench of compromise.
God sees the heart. He knows who serves Him and who serves mammon. Jesus left no room for divided loyalty. You cannot serve both God and money. The servant of Christ must be crucified to this world, Galatians 6, 14, emptied of self-interest, and consumed with the glory of God. He is a herald of the King, sent to preach repentance, judgment, and grace, whether men will hear or refuse.
Dear reader, do not be seduced by outward success in ministry. Measure a man not by his popularity, but by his faithfulness to Scripture, his fear of God, and his detachment from the world. And if you are in ministry yourself, tremble before these words. In their greed, these teachers will exploit you. their condemnation has long been hanging over them. 2 Peter 2. 3.
Oh, that God would purge His church of hirelings, and raise up faithful, God-fearing men! Are you seeking great things for yourself? Do not seek them. Jeremiah 45. 5.
O Holy Father, deliver us from every snare of worldly ambition. Cleanse Your Church of those who traffic in truth for gain. Raise up a remnant of God-centered, Christ-exalting, Spirit-filled men, who will preach the Word in season and out, with no concern for fame or fortune. Let the cross be our only boast, and heaven our only reward. Amen.
About Arthur W. Pink
Arthur Walkington Pink (1856-1952) was an English Bible teacher who sparked a renewed interest in the exposition of the doctrines of Grace otherwise known as "Calvinism" or "Reformed Theology" in the twentieth century.
Pristine Grace functions as a digital library of preaching and teaching from many different men and ministries. I maintain a broad collection for research, study, and listening, and the presence of any preacher or message here should not be taken as a blanket endorsement of every doctrinal position expressed.
I publish my own convictions openly and without hesitation throughout this site and in my own preaching and writing. This archive is not a denominational clearinghouse. My aim in maintaining it is to preserve historic and contemporary preaching, encourage careful study, and above all direct readers and listeners to the person and work of Christ.
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