Why does this teaching matter?
This is one of Wilkerson's most famous and widely quoted statements. It encapsulates his entire stance against entertainment Christianity: the idea that the church should compete with Hollywood, that sermons should be short and painless, and that people need to be entertained into the kingdom. He trembled at the thought — not because he was afraid of being unpopular, but because he feared God. He knew that souls were at stake and that replacing the gospel with comedy sketches and self-help sermonettes was a form of spiritual murder. While seeker-friendly churches fill stadiums with thousands who have never heard a call to repentance, Wilkerson stood in a pulpit in Times Square and preached the cross — the whole cross — with its demands of death to self, separation from sin, and total surrender to Christ.
What did David Wilkerson teach?
"I'm not about to put up a silly skit and preach a 15-minute message on 'how to cope' to a multitude of people who are dying and going to hell. I tremble at the thought."
Speaker: David Wilkerson
Source: David Wilkerson, Times Square Church — quoted in multiple sermons and newsletters. Related sermon: 'The Dangers of the Gospel of Accommodation' (1998)
What does Scripture confirm?
Romans 1:16
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek."
— NKJV
Paul was NOT ashamed of the gospel — but today's church is. They are ashamed of talk about sin, judgment, hell, repentance. They exchange the power of the gospel for the power of entertainment. Wilkerson refused to be ashamed. He refused to water down the message. The gospel IS God's power for salvation — not a skit, not a drama, not a 15-minute 'coping' sermon. If the gospel isn't enough, what can a comedy sketch do?
1 Corinthians 1:17-18
"For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect. For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God."
— NKJV
Paul did NOT preach with 'wisdom and eloquence' — because if he did, the power of the cross would be emptied! Skits, drama, light shows, fog machines, short sermons without sin — all of this is 'wisdom and eloquence' that EMPTIES the cross of its power. Wilkerson understood this: the cross needs no marketing. It needs no entertainment. It only needs to be preached — straight, honest, complete.
2 Timothy 4:2
"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching."
— NKJV
Paul's command to Timothy is clear: PREACH THE WORD. Not 'put up a skit.' Not 'make a funny video.' Not 'talk about how to handle stress for 15 minutes.' PREACH THE WORD — and reprove, rebuke, exhort. Wilkerson obeyed this. He often preached for an hour or more, with tears, with zeal, with the power of the Holy Spirit. And people were saved, delivered, transformed — not entertained.