This morning, there
is no question that we live in perilous times. Some of the modern thoughts and
pushes of man that seem to be gaining more and more traction seem absolutely
incomprehensible to my mind. The underpinnings of morality and common decency
are quickly fading in the rearview mirror to a large degree. Doubtless our
forefathers in this country would be shocked beyond degree to see the current
status of things in this country. Equally so, I believe many of the forefathers
in the faith would be shocked to look at the state of things in many churches
today. A while back, I remember reading an account of one of Elder C.H. Cayce's
extended preaching trips that lasted close to a month in three different
states. He lamented the coldness that had gripped Zion in many areas, and yet
all historical evidence indicates that there were more churches and more
congregants then than now. If he lamented then (less than 100 years ago), what
sorrow would accompany today's state! However, one of the tragic things that
can often coincide with these sorrowful circumstances is when misguided people
zealously try to "fix" things in the wrong way. The "fix" ends up destructive,
with the original problem all the while still remaining.
How many times today have you heard
someone lament and proclaim something to the effect, "Our churches are
declining. We are losing our children, and spirituality seems to be greatly
lacking."? Personally, I have heard it quite a lot in the last few years, and
certainly there is a plethora of data to indicate that in many places this trend
is the case. To a Bible student, this should be unsurprising though still
sorrowful. (II Thessalonians 2:3) Still, though the Bible talks of this falling
away, that does not grant permission to sit back and say "oh well," but neither
does it grant liberty to implement things that we "feel" that He has not
commanded. Interestingly, it is my experience and observation that many of
these well-meaning people not only follow a pattern for course correction in a
church sense that is non-Biblical, but they also miss the mark on the truly
biggest problems.
Before we launch into the pattern of
dealing with church problems, I would like to solidify two points that could
easily get overlooked after the previous two paragraphs. Point #1 is that the
Lord's church will remain here in the earth according to God's promise as long
as the world stands. (Matthew 16:18) Though there are declines and periods of
languishing, one should never, ever get the idea that the light of the truth
shall ever finally be extinguished from the earth. Somewhere there will always
be a people worshipping God in spirit and in truth. Point #2 is that the Lord's
church was set up in perfection, and that prescription laid out in God's word
has remained perfect throughout the ages. Though ministers talk about
correction coupled with rebuke, it is not a slap on how the Lord set it up. It
is rather a declaration of how poorly we sometimes follow the prescription.
Therefore, knowing that the Lord's church will not finally and completely die
and that He set up a perfect order, how do we deal with the problems that so
often penetrate our worship and disturb our peace and fellowship with the
Master?
A good Biblical example of dealing with
church troubles is to examine Paul's epistles to the church at Corinth,
particularly the first one. No church that I have ever encountered had the
level of trouble that Corinth did. They had morality problems, doctrinal
problems, priority problems, church order problems, and a rash of improper
attitudes. If you encountered a church that had their laundry list of issues,
what would you do? Where would you start? Would you begin with the doctrinal
issue of non-resurrectionism? Would you begin with the moral issues of a man
having his father's wife? Paul did not address either of these problems until
the 15th and 5th chapters respectively. However, his pattern for this troubled
church in his early thoughts serves as a good example and guidepost for a proper
course for us today.
In the opening chapters - 1st through 3rd
- Paul addresses two main points that serve as the foundation points that should
guide our decisions and proper order today. Without firmly establishing these
two things, the other issues will never get sorted out. Strangely, these two
points are either ignored or denigrated by those that attempt to "fix" things
today. The first point is a well-grounded and firm conviction of the Personage
and work of Jesus Christ. The second point is the uprooting and weeding out of
idolatry in whatever form it takes. Unless we firmly grasp the foundation of
Jesus Christ and exclude all other idols in our lives and churches, the other
problems will continue.
Read through the first half of chapter 1
and count the number of references to Jesus Christ and His work. Without even a
hint of the troubles at Corinth that Paul will later address, Paul firmly
establishes the point that Jesus Christ should be the focus. Period. By the
opening of chapter 2, Paul further establishes that this knowledge was all that
he wanted to know and the only perspective he wanted to preach from. By the
time he discusses foundations and buildings later in chapter 3, he has concluded
beyond any question that no other foundation can be possibly considered as the
base of the church's right course. (I Corinthians 3:11)
Have you ever heard people accuse the
household of faith for preaching too much grace? Have you ever heard a preacher
foolishly declare that we "have been rocked to sleep in the cradle of grace?"
Friends, Paul was content that grace through Jesus Christ must be first and
foremost in the minds of the members of our body. Truly, the grace of our Lord
Jesus Christ is not that which causes us to slumber, but a right placement of
that work energizes the heart of a child of God that no amount of bribery or
extortion could possibly accomplish. By bribing people with functions,
programs, and other activities, the members of the body are lulled into a sense
of progress that distracts from Christ rather than focuses on Him the way the
gospel does in power and demonstration of the Spirit. Scare tactics serve to
torture the soul of the child of God rather than build up and edify the
spiritual man as the gospel most assuredly does.
Mingled throughout Paul's opening remarks
on the foundation of Jesus Christ is a sprinkling of a discussion about preacher
worship. The Corinthians had bought into the idea that the messenger could be
more important than the message. (I Corinthians 1:10-16) Paul furthers the point
that real preaching (the power of God) should not stand in man's wisdom or man's
knowledge. (I Corinthians 2:1-4) Finally, he concludes that the men who preach
are just men who have functions and jobs they attempt to fulfill, but it is
always God that prospers if there is a blessed outcome. (I Corinthians 3:3-6)
What do these two opening points have to do with each other, and why are they
the most important to set the stage for cleaning up the rest of the mess?
Many people today give honour and glory to
Christ with their lips, and they may even heartily believe and support the
message of Christ's finished work. However, where does the honour go in their
steps, time, and service? Do they thank God more for the message or the
messenger more for delivering it? Do they devote their time to adhering to the
blessed gospel of grace through adoring service or do they seek the pleasures
and pursuits of men? Paul's real-world example of preacher worship is something
that still occurs today, but the heart of the point is more insidious than most
people consider at first glance. Preacher worship is one of many forms of
idolatry.
Many years ago, I heard a minister preach
and say these words, "People talk about what the greatest threat is to the
church today. Some say it is this doctrinal ism or that doctrinal ism. Some
say it is morality. Others say it is a lack of attendance to the youth, and
therefore we jeopardize the future of the church. The biggest problem in the
church today is the same one it's always been: idolatry." The wise minister's
words coincide beautifully with Paul's outlook. Paul understood that preacher
worship was a jangling form of idolatry that served to esteem someone or
something above Christ.
What about the moral question that plagued
the church in chapter 5? Resolution of moral issues will never be fully
realized unless someone has Christ first and everything else in its place. Paul
says that the reason this problem continued was due to a puffed up attitude
about it. Where does that stem from? Idolatry: putting our feelings above that
which is right, without seeing Christ as the most important thing. What about
misuse of the ordinances in chapter 11? Misuse of the table will not happen
when someone keeps that noble sacrifice in the right frame and does not, in
idolatrous fashion, put his own flesh above the noble remembrance of that
sacrifice. What about doctrinal errors like non-resurrectionism? Doctrinal
errors always stem from one or both of the following: 1. thinking too little of
God, 2. thinking too highly of man. The idea of clearing out idols and
elevating Christ above all will dispel the foolishness of vain jangling through
heresy.
So what is the answer to dealing with
church troubles today? How do these two main points that Paul uses set the
stage for dealing with any circumstance? When people talk about declining
numbers or spiritual stagnation today, how do we as ministers approach these
dark days? First and foremost, we proclaim with fervor and passion that Christ
is still on His throne. His hand is not slack, nor has He gone to sleep on His
people. That grounding cannot be overly stressed as we mortals forget it so
often in our daily slogs through the trenches. Secondly, we remind ourselves
first and then those that we minister to that we are not our own, and He
deserves our all. For example, when someone fails to attend service these days,
how is it generally regarded? Most today simply shrug their shoulders or
protest that they "had" to be somewhere like vacation, reunion, sporting event,
etc. To the casual observer, this common practice is a "lesser sin." How does
God view it? God sees it as nothing short of idolatry in putting self above the
sacrifice of His Son. (Hebrews 10:25-29)
Most of our problems today boil down to
idolatry, and idolatry creeps up on us when we esteem something through our
thoughts, time, and energy more than the work of Jesus Christ. The thoughts of
esteeming Christ and weeding out idolatry are so inextricable that one cannot
fully have one without the exclusion of the other. The best way to deal with
problems in the church is proper grounding of the work of Christ and casting
down of all imaginations and idols in every form. Is it preacher worship,
worldly pleasures, etc.? The "what" might change forms, but the root cause is
the same. Why do people spend time trying to "save" the children through
programs? They will tell you, "We're trying to save the future of the church."
Friends, Jesus Christ is the past, present, and future of the church. My prayer
and labour is that the children will be part of the church's future, but I
should not idolize them by placing their importance higher than anyone else's
welfare in the church.
Upon reflection, this writing is rather
lengthy, but in closing, I would like to note that no matter the troubles that
lay before us, we should not get cast down and depressed. Paul got firm with
Corinth, but he never sounds wretchedly depressed. The longer I live and the
more I labour, the more I am convinced that one of Satan's biggest tools against
the church in general and the minister in particular is worry sometimes coupled
with depression. Do we believe in the strength and Person of Christ or do we
not? Do we believe He is above all things or do we not? If we do, then our
mindset should be that of looking up to heaven for help rather than looking down
on the discouragement of this cursed globe. Looking down is a good way to fall
into idolatry, but looking up is a good way to keep Christ in view. May our
services and churches look upward toward the source of all help and cast down
anything that stands in the way.
In Hope,
Bro Philip |