Introduction: This morning I had the privilege of reading The Danger of an Unconverted Ministry by Gilbert Tennant. Though Tennant was dealing with a different situation than I shall describe below, as I read this 250+ year old sermon, my thoughts immediately turned to those pastors in our own day who are eager to proclaim "peace, peace" when there is no peace (Ezek. 13:10).For years, I wondered why so few pastors clearly teach and preach the Bible and fail to contend earnestly for the faith in their own churches and religious organizations (Jude 3). Its as if most of them simply don't care about doctrinal apostasy and sin in their own congregations. They have no problem conveniently looking the other way when things that are immediately spiritually damaging to their own congregations are running rampant. Many also appear to be more concerned about their own well being than the spiritual well being of their own congregations. They seem to be afraid to preach the truth for fear that they will empty out their church buildings, lose all material support, and lose favor with their denominational peers. They seem to be so shackled tight to their desire to have the praise, favor, and acclaim of men, that they cannot imagine doing or preaching anything that is true that would possibly offend a large majority of their congregation or those in their religious associations. Indeed, "the fear of man is a snare" (Pro. 29:25 HCSB).
A Major Problem: Unconverted Pastors
After interacting with many evangelical pastors through the years, I have come to the conclusion that many of them are simply unconverted. They have a fear of man rather than a fear of God (Matt. 10:28). I was speaking with a pastor-friend this past Sunday morning and he told me story after story about pastors, preachers, and Bible teachers he knew of who were living double lives of adultery, homosexuality, and other grievous sins when all the while getting up and preaching twice every Lord's Day. When these men were confronted, all of them denied any wrongdoing and one even said, "You people have no right to judge me." Its important to note that I am not talking about men who are pastors of churches associated with apostate mainline, liberal denominations, but churches that pride themselves in being in theologically conservative. When "pastors" respond to sin this way, they are showing that they possess a perverted mind that is destitute of the grace of God.
Unconverted Pastors = Grade-A Myth Makers
So many professing Christians are concerned that gospel preaching and direct, clear, Bible teaching will drive people away instead of reaching them. This was evident in my outreach at UNCG last week and it has been evident in the responses that I have received from professing Christians who have objected to our regularly preaching the gospel outside of a local abortion clinic. I have often asked them, "Since you think the message is driving people away, what do you think I should say to get these people to think about the judgment that awaits them should they fail to repent?" They usually say something like, "Just tell them that God really loves them and that they need to give their lives to Him." I then ask the following: (1) "Why do they need to give their lives to Him?" and (2) "Where in the pages of the New Testament do you find Jesus or the Apostles telling people that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives?" At this point the person usually tries to shift the conversation away from what the Bible says about the gospel being the God-ordained means by which He saves the lost to something like "We live in a different time and culture; people today aren't going to listen to you if you're always harping on about God's wrath, God's hatred of sin, and the only way of salvation being through Christ." When the conversation comes to this point, they are telling me that either they simply don't understand the message of the New Testament, or, they do, yet they think that we need to apologize for God being so harsh and exclusivistic. The way that we typically "apologize" for God is by purposefully avoiding telling people what the Bible says about sin, righteousness, and judgment and pandering to society's standards of holiness (i.e., political correctness) rather than God's. As I've said many times before, evangelical churches are confusing Biblical meekness with political correctness and removing the offense of the cross in the process. Hirelings that do this will not only attract a huge following, but they will also become grade A "myth-makers". As I noted last week. remember what Paul says in 2 Tim. 2:2-5,
Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, 4 and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths. 5 But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.Many modern congregations are filled with preachers that tell the people what they want to hear instead of what they really need to hear. This isn't just a problem in theologically liberal, mainline denominations. Conservative churches have produced scads of false converts through their altar call invitational system and by simply watering down the precious apostolic deposit and mixing it with pop-psychology. Then, when the false convert is produced and starts showing signs of going back to the mire, the hireling comforts them in their sin and gives them false assurance. Congratulations hireling, you just made your proselyte twice as much a son of Hell as yourself! (Matt. 23:15)
Wherever the pastors are spiritually determines to a large extent where the parishioners are spiritually. If he is hungry for truth, they will be too since hungry people attract more hungry people. If he loves myths, they will too, since myth-makers attract myth-mongerers. Either way, it's a like a fly to the ointment. Which type of ointment do you want to be? The one that burns upon initial contact yet heals forever, or the kind that goes on warm and smooth but seeps fatal poison into the skin until you finally croak and are cast into a devil's Hell? Sadly, many so-called "evangelicals" are swimming in an ocean of mythology, evangellyfish mythology.
Please understand that I'm not advocating hateful, nasty, and mean-spirited behavior from angry pastors. Quite the contrary, I want men to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15) and warn people of their peril with tears in their eyes if necessary. I want pastors to seek the salvation of their people and their communities for the blessing of those people to the glory of God. I want to see pastors who pour over the Scriptures night and day mining out the gems of the Biblical text from the original languages so as to equip their people to do the work of the ministry (Eph. 4:11-12).
IN CONCLUSION, may God grant us thousands of young preachers that are willing to go homeless and be mistreated for the sake of the truth. May they love their people and patiently preach Biblical grace rather than worldly rubbish and may their hearts be set aflame by the Spirit's power rather than the endless myths that come from the idol factories of men's minds.
This post should be required reading for all first-day seminary students, for all seminary professors and seminary leadership, for the first day, first meeting of annual denominational meetings and pow-wows.
ReplyDeleteWormwood is worming his way into the pulpit!!!
Strike the shepherd, scatter the sheep!
A Good Word, pastor Dusman.
I would agree that it is a good word.
ReplyDeleteMy question as a minister of the gospel for 20 + years now is and remains: how many of those who are in church are willing to also suffer for the sake of the calling of Christ in their lives?
It has been my observation that they are quite happy to have the minister suffer but not themselves.
"...handling accurately the word of Truth (2 Tim.2:15) begins in Genesis 1. How many pastors have acquiesced and compromised on the clear teaching of the doctrine of Creation in six days, and the exegetical and theological problems for Christian theology that results in holding to 'Scriptura sub scientia'?
ReplyDeleteHi Grev,
ReplyDelete" how many of those who are in church are willing to also suffer for the sake of the calling of Christ in their lives?
It has been my observation that they are quite happy to have the minister suffer but not themselves."
Very true. However, it is my view that many of those folks aren't really saved to begin with. I'm not saying that this is the case with all of them, but certainly most of them. True Christians will bear their cross by the power of the Spirit. Those who don't were never in Christ to begin with and they need to be lovingly told the truth thereof.
Regenerate people are pretty easy to pastor. Unregenerate false professors will wear you down with their mind games and "scarecrow christianity" (i.e., looks like the real thing from a distance, but upon closer inspection the truth comes forth). I've found that the "scarecrows" eventually get disciplined because they simply can't repent. I pray for them, am patient with them, yet they'd rather hold to their sins than repent and cling to Jesus. Those folks *will* wear you down.
Steve Drake,
I couldn't agree with you more. What's interesting is that even though they attempt to argue that the Holy Spirit via Moses was trying to teach that each day = billions of years, when Moses wouldn't even have had the conception of "million" to begin with. The concept of million wasn't even present in ancient Hebrew culture. Oh how many pastors will answer on that great day for their stupid errors!
Dusman said,
ReplyDelete“Very true. However, it is my view that many of those folks aren't really saved to begin with. I'm not saying that this is the case with all of them, but certainly most of them.”
I think we need to be careful with saying most are not saved. The terrifying warnings in Matthew 7:21-23 must be put alongside I Corinthians 3:1-3.
However, the state of their salvation is strictly speaking beyond our scope here.
I have been on the Examining Council of my denomination for 6 years and have observed many things about the ministerial candidates that have come before us.
And yes, the warnings in this classic old sermon do ring true. Many ministers make it their habit to please people and not God. They know that what people want is numbers and they do their utmost to place BIP's (Bums in Pews) in the pews. So, theological correctness goes out the window.
One of the best Hebrew linguists of the late 1800's offered an alternative to understanding the Creation Narrative as an Analogy. Some in Reformed circles still believe it is a correct way of understanding things. Many problems have arisen from a denial of the historicity of the Creation Narrative. That God created and that Adam and Eve were both real and representative – in Adam all sinned and in the second Adam all shall be made alive. Note in Adam and not Eve.
There are other denials of theology that have created as many problems. Chief among them is the denial of substitutionary atonement. I believe Mark Dever said it well on that matter. You may believe in Substitutionary Atonement and also .... other ways of understanding the work of Christ on the Christ. His problem and mine begins with if you believe in less than Substitutionary Atonement.
I believe Roger Nicolle, in an essay, shows quite convincingly that most of the other theories of the Atonement are to a certain extent Substitutionary in Nature.
Pastor Grev,
ReplyDeleteOkay, I'll bite. Who are you referring to as being one of the best Hebrew linguists of the late 1800's?
Also, Pastor, what do you mean by your reference, 'note in Adam not Eve'?
To the question regarding Adam and Eve and who sinned, please note:
ReplyDeleteRomans 5:12-18.
To the question regarding the Hebrew linguist -- Franz Delitzsch. I would hope anyone concerned with doing serious word study of Hebrew would attempt to reckon with what he wrote. Not asking that you accept everything, rather that we make the attempt to reckon with what he wrote.
ReplyDeleteYes, Pastor, Romans 5:12-18 speaks to Adam as representative of all who follow as humans, correct? That in Adam we all sin. Total depravity, born in sin, and not as Pelagius, born 'tabula rosa', in the same sense as Adam with the ability 'not' to sin. The councils of Carthage rightly denounced Pelagius as a heretic. But I'm confused as to why you chose to say, 'note in Adam, and not Eve'. What were you trying to reference or countenance by that comment?
ReplyDeleteAlso, who is the one of the best Hebrew linguists of the late 1800's? Can you provide a name please?
Pastor Grev,
ReplyDeleteSorry, didn't see your follow on comment to Franz Delitzsch. Delitzsch, of Keil and Delitzsch I presume. Excellent OT commentators, IMHO.
Steve Drake -- “What were you trying to reference or countenance by that comment?”
ReplyDeleteMy comment is simply to remind myself and others that too often many in the Church put all of our problems regarding the Fall upon Eve. And then use such reasoning as tragic points of departure for treating women in ways that I don't believe can be justified.
Pastor Grev,
ReplyDeleteAgreed. Although I typically find today that in the spirit of feminism, Adam is seen as typically standing there with Eve while Satan tempted her, dumbfounded as to what to say, allowing this tempter to seduce his wife in error, yet saying nothing in return, and feeling emasculated in the process. Whereas, in fidelity to Scripture, Adam was not there in proximity and part of the conversation when Eve was tempted (I Tim.2:14, 2 Cor.11:3).
(off topic)
ReplyDeleteSteve Drake,
Please e-mail me at truthunites@hotmail.com.
I'd like to discuss with you some of the interlocutors that you interact with over at the Evangel blog.
"When 'pastors' respond to sin this way, they are showing that they possess a perverted mind that is destitute of the grace of God."
ReplyDeleteTo use systematic theology categories, how much progressive sanctification is guaranteed by regeneration?
The Danger of an Unconverted Minister
ReplyDeleteA very serious danger. Not only to himself, but to the flock!
Hi Timeline,
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I understand what your question about progressive sanctification and regeneration has to do with the context of my statement which had to do with pastors practicing grievous, high-handed sin for extended periods of time and then denying it when they are caught red-handed. Perhaps you could help me to better understand what you're asking.
Hi GREV,
ReplyDeleteYou noted,
"I think we need to be careful with saying most are not saved. The terrifying warnings in Matthew 7:21-23 must be put alongside I Corinthians 3:1-3."
True indeed. I didn't mean to come off as if they were all lost. I was thinking in the context of my own fellowship where we have had to discipline several people who have sat under sound Biblical teaching for years yet they are practicing unrepentant sin of the Gal. 5:19-21 sort. That is what I had in mind with using the phrase "scarecrow christian".
Dusman wrote:
ReplyDeleteTrue indeed. I didn't mean to come off as if they were all lost. I was thinking in the context of my own fellowship where we have had to discipline several people who have sat under sound Biblical teaching for years yet they are practicing unrepentant sin of the Gal. 5:19-21 sort. That is what I had in mind with using the phrase "scarecrow christian".
Oh, be assured I never took you to mean that all were lost. The problem of people who profess to believe and live lives contrary to what they profess is indeed heart rending. They sit in our pews and will not be accountable. I remember well a lady saying to a Pastor and Deacons, sure call a church meeting, I will get you lot voted out. She and another church member were having an affair.
A recent survey suggests that only 1 in 5 American church goers report that their churches implement any sort of accountability. So, it is something sadly lost today. And it has been lost since about the late 1800,s, when you survey the history of the North American Church. Let me narrow that to say, a survey of Discipline in the churches in the American South (from 1795 - 1900) suggests this.
I hold the issue of Church Discipline alongside the other issue of an Isaiah ministry. Are you familiar with that? I got that concept from Matt Chandler. Go to a church and preach but hardly anyone will listen. So, how do you juggle repentance, discipline and the Isaiah ministry? It certainly means you do not leave aside the issue of Discipline, but in a church that refuses to listen I think it becomes part of the Word that is preached that serves then as part of the judgement upon that church for refusing to listen.
Oh, I did like the phrase – scarecrow christian. May I borrow that? With proper citation of course.
In the Article these words:
ReplyDelete“Its as if most of them simply don't care about doctrinal apostasy and sin in their own congregations.”
David Wells, in his wonderful book Above All Earthly Powers, makes the salient point that many are so concerned to be relevant that they are willing to embrace almost anything in their desire to be relevant. He was talking I believe of Christians in general but the point remains as applicable to ministers.
Case in Point. The denomination that I serve posted their plans to bring in Brian McLaren several years ago to an Evangelism Conference. So, 2 years prior to the Conference, I undertook a project of reading everything I could get my hands on concerning the Emergent Church. Philosophy and Theology.
The more I read, the more red flags kept popping up. The more I kept reading the more i KEPT warning my Denominational Leaders that they were really setting themselves up for trouble. Trouble we did get! At our Assembly last summer, a former supporter of McLaren's admitted his sense of betrayal and that he didn't know where McLaren was going.
I told him I knew where McLaren was going when I read the material years ago so I had no sense of betrayal when McLaren's apostasy became increasingly clear since the Conference several years ago.
So, I think some do care and others don't. The ministers are so seduced by the notion of being relevant that they cannot see what is going on. Now when they do see, what they do about it is another matter. When people say to me Oh I wish I could do what you do .... I say NO YOU DON'T! The judgement faced by leaders is more severe. I met a young minister years ago in a shopping mall and when he told me that being a minister was easy, my wife had to lead me out of the mall because I had quite a desire to execute some JUDGEMENT on him for such a statement.
TUAD,
ReplyDelete(off topic).
Email me at steve@altanova1.com. I have sent two emails to your address at truthunites@hotmail.com but don't know if they have gotten through.
blessings.
You can disregard the question. Thanks for your time.
ReplyDelete