As ministers and other exponents of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, do we share what we think, what we feel will not offend, and what we believe people want to hear, or do we give people what God says?  Few sermons are about sin.  Almost no one preaches about hell. Many churchgoing folks no longer even believe in hell. They believe everybody, regardless of lifestyle, will be welcomed into the Kingdom of God.

“Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves” (1 Cor. 6:9a).

“Sin is Sin, Don’t Care Who it’s in!”

Mother Pettiford was a mother in our church in North Carolina when I was growing up. She was an elementary school teacher—a very strict and by-the-book type. She was also a serious altar worker who wanted everybody to be saved. Her methods were a bit unsettling though. This was before you only had to repeat the sinner’s prayer to be saved. You had to spend time, on your knees, until you knew you were saved. If you were at the altar and Mother Pettiford thought you were not being serious, she would approach you, praying, calling out the devil, and strike your forehead with her open palm, startling you into a more serious posture!

She always sang a song when she stood to testify and often it was one she composed in the moment. One song was ‘titled, “Ain’t No Ice Water Down in Hell!” Another was, “Sin is Sin, Don’t Care Who it’s in!” Mother spent her life praising God, warning people about the penalty of sin, and working the altar in her own somewhat unorthodox manner. She passed away in church, the place she loved so dearly.

Mother Pettiford simply didn’t care what people thought about her message, methods, or made-up songs. Talking about getting to the place where men don’t matter! That’s where she lived! She served an audience of One, God alone.

Not many of us are like that today. How often do we preach 1 Corinthians 6:9-10?  How often do we tell people, “Don’t fool yourselves? Those who indulge in sexual sin, who worship idols, commit adultery, are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God”?

Are we afraid of being less popular with people? We should be more concerned with what God thinks about us. If we love Him, we will tell people what He says, not what they want to hear. If we love people, we will tell them that sin is sin, don’t care who it’s in. Oh, and tell them also, don’t fool yourself. Ain’t no ice water down in hell! 

I know this message will not get much response, but I’m feeling a little bit like Mother Pettiford at this point in my life. Does anyone feel like I do? What are your thoughts about this simple, old-fashioned word?

Focus Quote: “Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.” (Acts 5:29 KJV).