It is very hard to get people’s attention and even harder to keep it, especially with the written word. Our attention spans are very short, even more so in this information age, with multiple social media platforms clamoring for our participation constantly. Old time preachers used to harp against the evils of TV and how it was leading people away from the straight and narrow path. In this current age, TV alone is not enough, we have interactive TV in which we can participate via the various social media platforms, even to the point of dictating the outcome of the live TV shows we watch. I frequently invite people to hear the gospel and am endlessly surprised at the excuses for not coming.

Has anything really changed?

I would have to respond with a big fat NOPE! Oh, sure the times have changed, and yes, we have a few more gadgets than people in previous ages, but people have not changed. It was always hard to get and keep people’s attention, it always will be. That is why I have been trying to keep these articles about rightly dividing the word of truth in the range of 500 to 600 words.

With all these things and gadgets contending for our attention many of us simply do not have any time for reading the Bible, little lone to read some religious articles by an unknown theologian wannabe.

Two things motivated me to entitle this article as 500 Words to Raise the Dead. One is a book about preaching which I never read, entitled “Thirty Minutes to Raise the Dead”, by Bill Bennett. My Father-in-Law told me about this book, although he recalls the title as 15-Minutes to Raise the Dead. The second is Jesus' parable about the Great Supper in Luke 14, which thoroughly proves nothing has changed regarding mankind’s attention span.

Let’s briefly look at that parable:
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God.16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many:17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.20 And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.25 And there went great multitudes with him: and he turned, and said unto them,26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.27 And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.

Could I Have Your Attention Please!