On any given Sunday morning, a man stands before a group of people in order to share what he has studied recently. Hours of preparation are now culminating in a delivery to attentive ears—hearts desiring the pure milk of the word, hopeful of what God will be saying through his servant. For 30-45 minutes, the message continues in a crafted rhetoric with interspersed humor, anecdotes, and word pictures toward an over-arching point summarized in the conclusion. At the end one may feel invigorated by being taken the the heights of glory or joys of victory. Perhaps there is peace, knowing the comfort of certain promises. Maybe there was condemnation for not doing enough with the resulting sense of challenge and determination for more and better.
And maybe, just maybe, you heard of Christ and him crucified.
This is not to depreciate what was undoubtedly great effort to create and deliver, nor can it be said that I have no appreciation for responsibilities within and without the local church and his family in particular that must be juggled in order to bring the message. My concern is this: are you and I hearing the word of God being rightly expounded, or are we being manipulated in order to fulfill a need or adhere to the vision of the pastor or overseers. In other words, did the man make Christ known, or did he try to manipulate his listeners with a view to a particular outcome?
Why raise the issue?
Many have taken mega-churches to task for their lack of biblical teaching during their main meetings. Names like Elevation, Hillsong, Saddleback, Lakewood, and Willow Creek are regular fodder as messages from their pulpits are weighed and found wanting, they soften or eliminate what scripture specifically says concerning any number of topics. Yet these high profile groups are but the tip of the iceberg. Smaller assemblies regularly engage in similar tactics hoping to gain the same levels of success. Instead of preaching the whole counsel of God, they work on key topical areas to move the flock in a particular direction.
Topical studies are useful and should be used to draw together scripture as a cohesive unit. The messages with which I contend are those that apply psychological pressure, rather than sound exegesis, in order to manipulate the intended audience. The pulpit turns from being a place from which flowed the promises of God to a platform for casting the leaders' joint vision for the future. A series (or more) of meetings is used to adjust group thinking until all are on the same program. You will be assimilated into the collective: resistance is futile. Or those that resist are invited to leave.
Why would assembly leaders do this?
Multiple forces exert pressure on local gatherings. Externally, there are laws of the land and shifting cultural norms that attempt to tear down the fabric of the gospel. Internally, congregants see success of other groups or read of innovative ideas that might be implemented. This is not to say only those enduring difficulties fall into the mentality of manipulation. Assemblies that have remained faithful and grown through sound instruction and care may find themselves at a place where they feel a need to shift from "small thinking" to "large thinking"—church for 50 being different than church for 500 or 5,000.
What does scripture say?
Scripture does not have alternate organizational goals and models based on size. Instead, there is a unity of purpose and duties regardless of attendance, location, or other factors.
And maybe, just maybe, you heard of Christ and him crucified.
This is not to depreciate what was undoubtedly great effort to create and deliver, nor can it be said that I have no appreciation for responsibilities within and without the local church and his family in particular that must be juggled in order to bring the message. My concern is this: are you and I hearing the word of God being rightly expounded, or are we being manipulated in order to fulfill a need or adhere to the vision of the pastor or overseers. In other words, did the man make Christ known, or did he try to manipulate his listeners with a view to a particular outcome?
Why raise the issue?
Many have taken mega-churches to task for their lack of biblical teaching during their main meetings. Names like Elevation, Hillsong, Saddleback, Lakewood, and Willow Creek are regular fodder as messages from their pulpits are weighed and found wanting, they soften or eliminate what scripture specifically says concerning any number of topics. Yet these high profile groups are but the tip of the iceberg. Smaller assemblies regularly engage in similar tactics hoping to gain the same levels of success. Instead of preaching the whole counsel of God, they work on key topical areas to move the flock in a particular direction.
Topical studies are useful and should be used to draw together scripture as a cohesive unit. The messages with which I contend are those that apply psychological pressure, rather than sound exegesis, in order to manipulate the intended audience. The pulpit turns from being a place from which flowed the promises of God to a platform for casting the leaders' joint vision for the future. A series (or more) of meetings is used to adjust group thinking until all are on the same program. You will be assimilated into the collective: resistance is futile. Or those that resist are invited to leave.
Why would assembly leaders do this?
Multiple forces exert pressure on local gatherings. Externally, there are laws of the land and shifting cultural norms that attempt to tear down the fabric of the gospel. Internally, congregants see success of other groups or read of innovative ideas that might be implemented. This is not to say only those enduring difficulties fall into the mentality of manipulation. Assemblies that have remained faithful and grown through sound instruction and care may find themselves at a place where they feel a need to shift from "small thinking" to "large thinking"—church for 50 being different than church for 500 or 5,000.
What does scripture say?
Scripture does not have alternate organizational goals and models based on size. Instead, there is a unity of purpose and duties regardless of attendance, location, or other factors.
- • The duty of the elder/overseer in the local assembly is to "shepherd the flock of God that is among you" (1 Pet 5:2) and manifests itself in varying ways: instructing (Tit 1:9), rebuking (Tit 1:9, 13), overseeing (1 Tim 5:17), etc.
- • Faithful men are trained to carry on God's word (2 Tim 2:2).
- • Spiritual gifts are employed for mutual encouragement and edification (Rom 12:6-8; 1 Cor 12:4-11, 28-30).
- • The goal of the church is always to make disciples (Matt 28:19-20).
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