Check out this repost of my blog from May 2008, then consider this: are we in danger of limiting the power of the Gospel to the personality and performance of a particular pastor…or even a worship pastor or music program? Consider the example of the advance of the Gospel in Acts, then compare our priorities and strategies to see how we measure up. My observation up front: if people are drawn to a church because of personalities, performances, and productions–componants that are primarily focused upon humans–rather than because of the Person and work of Christ in the community of believers and their corresponding witness, we shouldn’t be surprised at the lack of changed lives in in the congregation, because only Christ can change lives. We shouldn’t be surprised if our sanctuaries are filled with consumers and spectators, because we have catered to consumers and spectators. We shouldn’t be surprised if the Gospel appears to be ineffective, because we are not lifting up the Person and Power of the Gospel, Jesus Christ.
Observations on a Biblically Consistent Church, Part 5
May 21, 2008 by toknowgod |
The final observation is this: A biblically consistent church is more identified by and with the Person and work of Jesus Christ, rather than the personality and work of its pastor. I know this may seem extreme, but consider our current situation in Western evangelicalism. Stop and think of a prominent church—any church—now, can you separate that church from its identification with its pastor? Most often, when we think of a church, we automatically think of its pastor. It’s as if the church is inextricably linked to the pastor’s personality. And so much of that is related to his performance and skills—as a preacher, or a shepherd, or a counselor, or an administrator. Now, stop and think of the five most recognized and prominent churches in the nation. Can you think of those churches without thinking of each pastor?
Don’t get me wrong—I praise God for the godly men He has raised up for these times. He has used some of them in mighty ways for His purposes and to accomplish His plan. If it weren’t for the ministry of some of these men, our plight would be even worse than it is. The problem is, you don’t find this pastoral prominence in the New Testament. Again, stop and think: how many names of pastors can you identify in the New Testament? Probably not very many—and it’s not because there was a shortage of churches—by the end of Paul’s ministry, there were countless churches on the east and north sides of the Mediterranean. But starting in Jerusalem, give me the names of the pastors of any of them. Some scholars believe James was the “senior” pastor in Jerusalem, some say Timothy in Ephesus, and some say Titus in Crete. History tells us that Peter headed up the church in Rome, but Scripture doesn’t mention it.
This isn’t to suggest that there weren’t pastors in each church, it’s just that they were not prominent. One observation could be: “Just think how effective the advance of the Gospel would have been if they only had some decent pastors back then like we have now!” The more appropriate observation is that the primary focus was not on the pastors—the churches’ growth and survival was not linked to the personality and abilities of the pastor—the focus was on the Person and work of the Christ. These churches were obsessed with Him. Which makes sense—He was their King, they were seeking first His Kingdom, they were proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and the church was actually founded on this understanding (Matt. 16:16-18). Their identity, health, and growth were inextricably linked to, and dependent solely upon, Jesus.
This in no way diminishes the role of pastor—God has demonstrated in Scripture His design to specifically and strategically place pastors in position to teach and apply His Word and to be undershepherds to His sheep. But when our churches become so enamored with the pastor that they are more excited about him, his sermons, and his vision than they are about Jesus Himself, the pastor competes with Jesus for the position of prominence. And a church that is dependent upon the pastor for its health, identity, and growth—a church in which its identity is so closely linked to its pastor—is a church that borders on idolatry and should not be surprised if God removes His hand of blessings.
What a powerful post. Thanks so much for sharing this. How I pray that our church is obsessed with Christ and none other.