This year marks 42 years that I have been an ordained
minister. I have ministered in more churches than I can count, as a missionary
on both sides of the Atlantic, as a pastor, as interim pastor, and as pulpit
supply. To my recollection, only one church I know of actually followed
biblical standards in calling a pastor. (But it was so many years ago that I’m not sure if it really happened or if I just dreamed it!)
As a missionary, I ministered in many churches across the
country, raising support, reporting on our ministry, and participating in
conferences. After our missionary service, I pastored two churches and preached
in churches of various denominations. What I have learned – and it’s a painful
lesson – is that while churches I’ve known staunchly professed their faith in the
Bible as the Word of God and pastors preached from that Bible, they instinctively
turned to other resources when problems arose or major decisions had to be made.
For instance, I have ministered in several churches who were
seeking a pastor, and I have shared the Bible’s standards for pastoral
ministry, even providing a checklist system for evaluating a candidate based on
those standards. Yet time after time churches ignored the biblical standards in
favor of psychological profiles and church consultants. Their major concern, hardly
concealed, is “compatibility” of the prospective pastor with the congregation.
The result of such an approach is often unsatisfactory, and sometimes
disastrous. Other times, in spite of the congregation’s worldly, superficial
approach, the pastor turns out to be what the Bible says he should be. God is gracious!
Why would a church that claims to believe the Bible neglect
to meditate every day on First Timothy 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, First Peter 5:1-4,
Acts 20:28-35, and other pertinent passages before considering any candidate
for the pastorate? Or nominating an elder or deacon?
Then there are those problems that inevitably arise in
churches, because they are made up of people. There are interpersonal conflicts. There are differing views of
ministry. There are differing priorities in many areas. Personal tastes and
preferences become sources of conflict.
Time to call a “church consultant,” right? Why not first see if the
Holy Spirit would reveal the root problem through prayerful reading of God's Word?
The root of every conflict is not hard to discern: it’s sin.
Ministry involves challenges and decisions, but they do not have to result in
conflict. It’s sin that spoils great opportunities for glorifying God and turns
them into conflicts that do just the opposite!
So why don’t church members and pastors turn to Bible study
and prayer when problems[i]
threaten the peace of the church? Why don’t we follow our Lord’s instructions
for conflict resolution as given in Matthew 18:15-17?
First, it is time-consuming and requires a great deal of
effort. Agonizing in prayerful study of God’s word is not as attractive as getting a quick solution from another source. But if we’re not willing to quiet ourselves before God and listen for
His “still, small voice,” we will inevitably lean on our own understanding, an
act of pride.
Another reason, I’m convinced, is a lack of confidence that
the Bible really has the solution to our problems, that the biblical directives
will really work out best when followed. Christians – yes, even pastors – don’t
really trust the Holy Spirit to guide the church by means of His Word to a
godly resolution of every problem and challenge the church may face.
Admittedly, the Bible is not a problem-solution manual, but
the Bible deals with our most fundamental problem – sin – in all its
manifestations. Through the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit it guides us to
repentance and restoration. We need not look for specific passages that deal
with specific problems. Every book of the Bible gives insight into our nature
and how we can deepen our relationship with God and others.
David James-Morse, a missionary to Peru whom I met many
years ago, told of a personal crisis during his first term on the field, a
crisis that nearly led to his quitting and going home. He decided instead to
shut himself up in a small shack on the compound and give himself to Bible
reading and prayer until God gave him guidance. And God did give James-Morse guidance.
The result was a revival that resulted in several churches being established in
the jungles of Peru. Well, how did he go about reading the Bible? He said he
started with Genesis and just kept reading and praying until God gave him
direction.
We are far too concerned about problem-solving, and far too
little concerned about humbling ourselves before God. Yet in the presence of
the power and wisdom of God, problems turn to praise and trials turn to
triumph. The problems of every church come down to the main problem in every
individual who makes up that church – sin. And at the heart of sin is pride.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty
hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him,
for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:6-7 NKJV)
The Apostle Paul told the Colossian church how to have peace
with one another:
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts,
to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly
in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,
giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:15-17 NKJV emphasis added)
[i]
The word “issue” has become more popular than “problem” in recent decades. The
preference for “issue” actually grew out of lawsuits, particularly in the auto
industry. If company documents contained the word “problem,” that was used as
an admission of guilt! An “issue,” on the other hand, could be anything from a
real problem to what color the upholstery should be! Now we all have issues!
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