Johnny has just accepted Jesus as his personal Savior. Excited about his newfound faith following the revival, he runs out to Lifeway, finds a Bible that he likes, begins listening to Christian radio and decides that he likes the music, as well as the commentary by Dr. James Dobson, Tony Evans and Charles Stanley. He also discovers Dawson McAlister and Promisekeepers. Did I mention that Bible he bought is an NIV?
In the disciple-making process, what is your next step? Do you frantically proclaim to him that the NIV, contemporary Christian radio, Dawson McAlister and Promisekeepers are of the devil? Does NIV mean "Non-Inspired Verson?" Or do you teach and preach from the KJV, highlight what Landmarkism and what true New Testament churches are, and give him time to grow.
There are those who feel that if they haven't offended anyone or upset anybody, they haven't preached. It is true that when you preach the Gospel according to the scriptures, some will be offended that their lifestyle (of adultery, anger, theft, blasphemy and covetousness) is called sin and try to justify their actions. Others will feel convicted by the Gospel message and come to Christ. Still, others will miss the point all together.
If your goal in preaching is to root out that last bit of something in a person's life that you don't agree with, then preach against it so they'll be offended, you've missed the point. Our job as ministers is to preach the Gospel and make disciples. (Actually the church is supposed to make disciples, but much of that comes from the preaching and efforts of the pastor these days).
Some feel like they must "defend the faith" against this poor new believer who showed up with an NIV Bible. Keep in mind that "defending the faith" in the scriptures took place against people who actively perverted the Gospel of God's grace... not those who didn't know any better.
So, let's get back on track. Let our preaching and teaching be targeted toward making disciples and perfecting the saints for the ministry of the Gospel, and not targeted toward stirring controversy and strife. Remember, this great work that God has entrusted us with is not about us, but it's about Glorifying Him.
5 comments:
While I agree that you should be more patient with a new believer, if Promise Keepers, ministerial alliances, and the Word of God are generally not things that should be defended, then God help us! We should be both reaching the lost AND defending the faith!
I didn't say we shouldn't defend the faith... I just think that we've forgotten who we should defend the faith against.
When you confront a new believer about promisekeepers, ministerial alliances and Bible translations, you better have your explanations well calculated and deliver them very carefully. If that new believer feels under attack, they will build a wall that will prevent any further discipleship.
For example, The gift of tongues has passed, but I do not think the best way to teach a teenage girl that tongues are no longer a Spiritual gift is by screaming at her... yelling that tongues is of the devil. (This has happened on several occasions that I know of).
Our first and foremost responsibility of the Great Commission is to make disciples. As those disciples grow, and as you teach them in the scriptures, they'll put away those things that should be put away.
"When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things." -I Corinthians 13:11
"So, let's get back on track. Let our preaching and teaching be targeted toward making disciples and perfecting the saints for the ministry of the Gospel, and not targeted toward stirring controversy and strife."
So you think we should have less preaching and teaching about doctrine? Are those issues you specifically mentioned just divisive?
Quite the opposite... I think more preaching and teaching should be done on our doctrine, why our doctrine is what it is and where it says so in scripture. If this approach were taken more effectively, then we wouldn't be offending new believers. Of course, this means that we need to be spiritually and scripturally fit. We need to be studied up and know what we are talking about.
All too often, our text is Jude 3 that we should earnestly contend for the faith, then we go off and say "The promisekeepers are unscriptural." Why are they unscriptural? Is it their fallacy in the ecumenical nature of their organization? If so, then the text should be "How can two walk togethr except they be agreed." Then highlight what seperates us from other religions (salvation by grace apart from works, the nature of the church, etc.)
I like the approach of one Baptist preacher on the radio. He doesn't call out groups or individuals, he just teaches his doctrine then calls out the error of other positions, not other groups.
My problem isn't what's being said, it's how it's being said.
Just one more thing... Our doctrinal statement is very simple, straight forward, and totally non-controversial in and of itself. It's basic Christianity. The controversy comes when new enlightenment ideas propose change to the doctrinal statement, or when people put things in the doctrinal statement that aren't there.
Many people try to take certain controversial positions, and hang them on the doctrinal statement and claim if you disagree, then you are compromising. If it's not in the doctrinal statement, then it shouldn't be a point of fellowship.
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