In this series we have been examining a great need in the Church today. While there are certainly many things we could choose to discuss that fall in that category, the primary focus must start with the pulpit. Pastor do you take seriously your God-given calling to teach people the Bible? Pastor do you reject the common belief today that people simply won’t sit for a clear, systematic, and theologically rich exposition of the Scriptures and push on in your equipping God’s people.
Here is what we have covered thus far in our Pastor You Must Be a Theologian series: you must be because (1) people are perishing without hearing the lifesaving message of salvation through faith in Christ while they are simultaneously entertained with stage props and warm-fuzzy motivational speeches about being better parents, spouses, students, or employees. (2) because God has called and equipped you with His gifts to teach people His Word for the purpose of leading them to a deeper, richer, abundantly full relationship with Him. They will need this equipping when they face persecution for their faith.
Luke records for us these words of Jesus spoken to His disciples as He prepared them to go into all the land to preach, teach, and make disciples: Jesus said, “I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute” (Luke 21:15). The context of this encouragement from our Lord was that faithfully preaching, teaching, and making disciples will result in persecution.
I am convinced that the reason so many pastors will not faithfully preach the Bible is because they have abandoned belief it its ability to save. Perhaps they have forgotten Paul’s declaration that we are not to be ashamed of the gospel because it is what God uses to bring people into His Kingdom. Paul calls the gospel the power of God.
God has promised the power of the Holy Spirit to fuel the efforts of His work. It is the supreme privilege of the church to share God’s amazing love and mercy to all who will believe on Jesus Christ. This simple message has become obscured today through a religious philosophy that suggests people must be made to feel welcome and comfortable in the church so that they will consider God’s offer.
One problem with this approach is that it is not biblical. If the seeker sensitive era of church history has taught us anything it has taught us that it is bereft of the ability to make disciples of Jesus Christ. The grandmaster of the seeker sensitive movement – Bill Hybels – recently admitted this very thing and repented of the wasted years and effort that rendered very little to no fruit.
So what must be done to turn the tide? My personal view is that it is too late for the big “C” church as a whole. Many who hear this will disagree with this assessment. They hold out hope that we are not so late in God’s timeline that things can’t be turned around.
Nevertheless, we have arrived at the time of the remnant. We are past the tipping point. So Pastor, be faithful where you are planted. Pour your best into the people God has entrusted to your care. Do not follow the way of those who advocate for a Wall Street approach to church growth. The entire church growth model is corrupt, worldly, and fleshly in that it is based on appealing to the felt needs of the lost. Trust Jesus to build His church as He desires it to be built. Jesus’ keys to Kingdom success look nothing like what the church growth gurus are saying today.
Secondly Pastors, trust God and His Word. Resist the temptation to twist the Bible into some kind of self-fulfillment manual. The Bible is God’s message of His creation, redemption, sanctification, and glorification of a people who trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross. Do not lose sight of the fact that the Gospel is the power of God to save.
Finally Pastor, and this is equally applicable to every believer, focus your time and energy on making disciples. That is the last command of Jesus before He ascended to glory. Be a disciple who makes disciples.
Stay tuned for Part 4 of Pastor You Must Be A Theologian.
