I want to challenge your faith!
Section Two: "Kill the Preacher!"
"Cleanse the Church" Part Two, Application Chapter
The Function of Preaching
As the “Jeremiah Generation” pushes for change, which is the root concept of the word repentance, many in the church will resist. For many, repentance is something only required of the lost. As the saved, they view themselves above the act of repentance. They have concluded that change is bad because, in their mind, it threatens the truth.
It seems Jeremiah faced the same resistance. In Jeremiah 35:15-16 God said this, “Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, ‘Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.’ But you have not paid attention or listened to me.”
Are we any different? When God’s messengers tell us to “reform (our) actions”, do we treat them like Jeremiah? Do we punish the messenger for the truth of the message?
The truth is, the church in America is struggling to hold its own, let alone experience the growth rate of the First Century church. We have much to change. The goal of restoring New Testament Christianity goes far beyond a list of the acceptable acts of worship. Restoring New Testament Christianity requires a passion for the lost. It requires that we place a greater priority on saving souls than we do on debating issues.
As numbers dwindle and church doors close, one is forced to ask how well we are managing the business of the Lord. Has the church thrived on our watch? Has progressive thought (1 Corinthians 9:19-23) and freedom in Christ Jesus (Galatians 5:1) been the earmark of our generation? For too long we have majored in the minors, “disputable matters” (Romans 14:1). We have split and splintered over “doubtful things” (NKJV). While we have been distracted by non-salvation issues, the Lord has been shaking His head and pleading with us to get back to the great commission.
Have you ever noticed who gets blamed when church attendance slips? Did you ever notice who gets fired when change is suggested or when repentance is preached? Did you ever notice the similarity between the church of today and the people of God in Jeremiah’s day? “Kill the preacher!” seems to be our favorite approach.
To solve this problem, the “Jeremiah Generation” needs to get back to a biblical understanding of the function of preaching. Did you know that the office of a located preacher is not part of the New Testament pattern? I encourage you to employ a Bible concordance and notice each reference where the word preach is used. In almost every instance, the context addresses a function, not a position.
I Corinthians 9:1-18 is one of the few places that gives instruction on the position of a preacher. However, upon further investigation, it is discovered that the context is addressing apostles and evangelists who travel among different churches. See verses 3-6 and especially the phrase “take...along with us” in verse 5. The same is true of Romans 10:15.
Perhaps the closest thing we have to a New Testament example of a located preacher is when Paul visited Ephesus. Yet, even then we know that it was not God’s plan for him to remain there in such a capacity. Instead, he appointed elders and charged them to care for the congregation when he was gone. Ironically, Paul stayed in Ephesus approximately the same amount of time that the average preacher stays at one congregation today.
At best, the average preacher of today is only temporary help. He stays just long enough to get to know the congregation, just long enough to make close friends and outspoken enemies. Then, just as his foundation of familiarity is established, the rug is pulled out from under him and the walking papers are delivered. Because he is the paid help and has little to no pull or security within the church bureaucracy, his hand is forced and down the road he is sent. What a tragic way to operate the church!
What if preaching was viewed not so much as a position, but as a function? What if elders stopped running the church and started leading the church? What if elders became the ones who stood before their congregations every week and provided spiritual instruction through sermons and classes? What if elders accepted the responsibility of being the primary instructors of their flock rather than hiring a much younger man, who lacks life experiences, to do their job for them? What if every member believed it was their responsibility to be a soul winner? What if there was no hired help to do the jobs for them? What if each member had to function in order for the congregation to survive? For far too long the average member has pacified their conscience by telling themselves that the preacher is better trained to do the job. Besides, he is geting paid for it. Imagine what could be accomplished if every Christian would do the job God has called them to do.
And Then There Are Evangelists
The word evangelist literally means “a messenger of good news”. In the New Testament, evangelists traveled among the established churches offering encouragement and inspirational messages of hope and good news. Matthew Henry’s Commentary says they were men who “went about to plant and water churches”. (from Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright (c) 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)
Why should it not be the same today? During the most prosperous days of the Restoration Movement, the circuit-riding preacher was the modern equivalent of the First Century evangelist. Imagine the possibilities if modern restoration churches would return to this part of the New Testament pattern. What if, instead of relying on the same preacher every Sunday, the elders conducted the weekly services and then periodically brought in an evangelist to motivate the congregation and ignite a spiritual revival? Consider just a few of the problems this would solve:
1. The visiting evangelist could speak with passion and full conviction. A located preacher often feels compelled to speak half truths or to tickle the ears of his listeners in order to protect his family from another move.
2. This would force more involvement among the members. The elders would be expected to be the primary feeders of the flock and other men would be compelled to step up and study in order to present messages. The variety alone would be enough to encourage church attendance.
3. Elders would be compelled to be more than just a board of directors. By being intimately involved with each of their sheep, they would foster trust and admiration. Then, when difficult decisions had to be made, their flock would follow out of faith rather than dessert out of disgust.
4. Imagine the money that could be saved and spent on local evangelistic outreach and foreign missions.
Conclusion
For years, the attendance of a small community church had dwindled until only a handful of members were left. Desperate and discouraged, the minister of this small congregation ran an ad in the local newspaper. The headline read, “Funeral For Our Dead Church”. The article went on to announce the time and date that the funeral service would be held for the lifeless congregation.
As you can imagine, the small town gossip lines erupted with chatter. Everyone was curious about what the preacher had in mind, and everyone marked their calendar for the day of the funeral.
Finally, the day arrived. The tiny building was packed with people and many of those who came had to stand in the lobby. Onlookers waited curiously to see what the preacher would say and do. At the front of the auditorium, the minister had prepared a casket lavishly dressed in funeral flowers. Each person wondered about its contents.
After several sad songs, the preacher stepped behind the pulpit. For a few moments, he reflected on the church’s past. He told how it once had been strong and vibrant. The attendance was up and many were involved. But as time passed, apathy set in and other priorities took her place. The congregation’s health began to wane. In spite of many valiant efforts to recover, she continued to lose ground and finally was pronounced dead.
Somberly, the minister stepped to the head of the casket. After offering a brief prayer, he concluded the service and gave the audience the opportunity to pay their final respects to the dead church.
Anxious to see what was in the casket, the audience hurriedly formed a line and began filing past. As each person approached the open coffin, their face was filled with curiosity and anticipation. But after each looked inside, their expression changed to one of remorse and conviction. Inside the casket, the wise minister had placed a mirror tilted just enough so that, as each person peered into the open coffin, they saw their own reflection. The message was clear and the application unmistakable. Only the members can keep a church from dying.
It is unlikely that the solutions offered in this chapter are words that you expected or wanted to hear. For some, these measures would require radical change, and for others, they are simply unacceptable. It is hard to let go of the old familiar ways. But before closing, let me ask you to do something important. Pause right now and count the number of restoration churches you know that are going backwards in attendance. How long will it take for them to close their doors? How many elders do you know who are truly doing the work of a shepherd? How many located preachers do you know who have full freedom to speak with unbridled conviction?
How many times have you heard someone say, “I remember the day when meetings lasted for more than a week and the building couldn’t hold the crowd?” I would like to go back to those days, wouldn’t you? Perhaps the Restoration Movement is in need of some more restoration. Perhaps the Restoration Movement is in need of a “Jeremiah Generation”.
Copyright 2006 by Childs Family Publications