We have recently been seeking ways to raise the income of the Challenger account, which is the printing ministry of Tabernacle Baptist Church. Because of greatly increased expenses over the past two years, this account has been overburdened to keep up.
Some of you are aware that we have placed the Plains Baptist Challenger on the web site of Tabernacle Baptist Church for a number of years now. The complete Challenger could be read, downloaded, copied, or anything else a person wanted to do with it free of charge from the web site. We have now decided, because of the financial condition of our printing ministry, to sell an email subscription of the Challenger beginning in September 2007. We will no longer place the new edition of the Challenger on our web site, but a person can buy an email subscription for $4.00 per year and receive a complete Challenger every month sent to his email address. The Challenger will be sent in the html format, and this will allow you to print any portion of the paper, or all of the paper at your discretion. The email subscription cost is less than the yearly printed subscription cost of $7.00, so there is a savings to you over the printed and posted edition of the paper. Of course, it will cost us much less to send a Challenger through email than to print and post it.
We are not going to discontinue the printed and posted version of the Challenger, but we are going to discontinue posting any new Challenger editions on our web site. We do not desire to keep the truth that is printed in the Plains Baptist Challenger out of anyone's hands. However, we must continue to seek ways to increase the income of the Challenger account and to find ways to decrease the expenses. If you are interested in subscribing to the email edition of the Plains Baptist Challenger, please contact us.
By the late Dr. L. K. Landis
Edited by Bob Jackson
We are printing a portion of this booklet this month with the permission of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Liberal, Kansas, Bro. Bill Prater, Pastor. This is the church where Bro. Landis was the Pastor at the time he wrote this booklet.
One Pastor (at a time)!
“And I will set up one shepherd over them, and he shall feed them...” (Ezekiel 34:23). The Scriptural principle involved is one that is both a divine mandate and a common-sense situation. God’s people have always had the man whom God ordained, to lead them. This is God’s way! This is God’s perfect plan for the governing of His people. And this is the plan that works best. Man cannot improve upon God’s plan. It was Moses, and Joshua, and David; God governing His people through one man. It is my contention that, if a church is directly in the will of God, He will give to that church the pastor He desires it to have. “And I will give you pastors according to my heart...” (Jeremiah 3:15).
God has supplied everything His people have ever needed. He provided them deliverance from bondage (in Egypt), (Exodus 3:7–8), and He provides deliverance to His people today (Romans 6:17–18). He made provision for food (Exodus 16:12), as He provides for both our spiritual and physical food today (Job 23:12; 1 Peter 2:2). God promised His people that He would provide all their needs (Matthew 6:25–34). He provided them a place to worship as He likewise does today (Hebrews 10:25; Ephesians 3:21). And He provided His people a leader the pastor (Jeremiah 3:15).
Now, believing as I do that God knows what He is doing, I must assume then that He intended there to be only one pastor, or shepherd, per flock. If this were not the case, then there would be “too many chiefs and not enough Indians.” If there were more than one pastor at a time for any given church, it would allow confusion among God’s people in whom to follow (1 Corinthians 1:11–13; 14:33 ). Do we follow the Pastor, the Youth Pastor, the Senior Pastor, the Bus Pastor, the Radio Pastor, or whom do we follow? If there were more than one person responsible for the leadership, guidance, and spiritual well-being of a congregation, there would develop a situation much like that in the Corinthian church. Because the people were divided and “owed their allegiance” to different ones, contention came as to whom they should follow. “For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:11–13). Perhaps it was the fact that their pastor and his God-given authority were usurped by well-meaning, but wrong “other ministers.” And what about those who claimed, in pseudo-spirituality, to be “of Christ?” That is just not so! Christ would do nothing to harm the church for which He died. And if those who claimed to be “of Christ” really were of Christ, they would surely have followed their pastor; the one God gave them. All of these problems and sins of carnality, contentions, and divisions perhaps could have been avoided if this church had just listened to its pastor. Not that these other men led folks astray, they simply were not there to see people’s every day needs. And they were not the ones to whom God had given the oversight of the local church.
Often well-meaning ministers cause grave problems in the church by seeking to win the affection of church members to themselves rather than instructing these members to stand behind their pastor. If God’s people ever learn that no other minister should hold more sway over them than the Pastor of the local church where they are members, they will certainly be better off, and so will that church. No former pastor, nor a missionary of long-standing, nor a visiting evangelist, nor a TV or radio “pastor” in a distant community, nor another local minister, not even another minister in the same church should ever hold more influence in our lives than the Pastor whom God, in His infinite wisdom, has given us.
There are certain rights and responsibilities that God has given the Pastor. These are rights and responsibilities that belong to no one other than the local Pastor. The word “rights” has certainly been overworked in our society, and yet these privileges or benefits are awarded to the Pastor by the Almighty Himself.
1. He is deserving of the love of the people. God said, “And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake...” (1 Thessalonians 5:13). Again, I say that the Pastor, whom God has given His people, is worthy and deserving of the love of the people he pastors. So often people live in the past and hold more affection for a former Pastor than for the present Pastor. Usually they have forgotten that they did not like the former Pastor, either. Nevertheless, the devotion of God’s people belongs to the Pastor that presently serves. I know of an instance where a Pastor had served his church a good number of years, and in all the years of his pastorate, one old man had never attended a men’s meeting. Then a former Pastor was invited to speak at a Father-Son affair, and who showed up but that disgruntled old man who never came. He had openly shown his disrespect and disdain for his present Pastor. I say to you that God cannot bless that kind of attitude of such spiritual immaturity and childishness. I know of another instance when a “long-tongued” old sister, who had never had one kind word to say to her Pastor, walked by a visiting evangelist and said to him when her Pastor could hear, “Now that is what I call preachin’, brother. I wish we could have that kind more and what we have now, less.” The only purpose she had in making such a statement was deliberately trying to hurt God’s man, her Pastor. She was using a guest to vent her wrath and disdain for the man who had faithfully served that church for several years. I say again, that the Pastor is deserving of the highest degree of love that God’s people can give. No other preacher or minister should usurp that love due the Pastor. Not one place in the Scriptures give credibility to a philosophy where another minister, no matter who he is, should have the degree of love God reserved for the Pastor.
2. God’s people are to express their affection for their Pastor. I have heard it over and over. Someone will laud and praise some other minister to high heaven, and yet sooner die than speak kindness to their Pastor. Often churches want to do something great for some evangelist or missionary, and I am for that. But all too often, churches care for other preachers and demonstrate their affection for them while their own Pastor (whom God gave them) goes wanting. Several years ago in a church in Texas, an Associate Pastor prepared to leave the church where he was and go to work for a former pastor of his. This associate had not been loyal to the man for whom he now worked and indeed had caused some problems and hurt feelings. However, in his ministry there, he had so endeared himself to the people that at the announcement of his resignation, the people jumped at the opportunity to demonstrate their affection for him and bought him a new set of tires for his car. This was a fine gesture of affection, but a real slap at the Pastor who was struggling to barely make it. The tires on his worn-out old car were far worse than the departing associate’s tires. The church had the money to buy the Pastor a set of tires, but he finally bought some with money he earned in secular employment, doing odd jobs on his day off. That church has been judged of God for its calloused treatment of God’s man. This is not an isolated case though; it happens time and again in churches where people have not been taught the Scriptural doctrine of Pastoral Authority.
The whole purpose of this book is to help people see themselves and recognize their responsibility toward their Pastor. This condition of mistreating God’s man did not spring up overnight. It has come gradually as church members have accepted “for doctrines the commandments of men.” (Mark 7:7). Speaking of affection shown to the Pastor, the Apostle Paul commanded church members to “Salute all them that have the rule over you...” (Hebrews 13:24). This salutation was an affectionate greeting and was first to be shown to the Pastor, then to others. In a Missions Conference where I was several years back, I was preaching when I noticed a man come into the services just as I was beginning the invitation. After service I saw this man and a visiting missionary embracing, and literally making a spectacle of themselves at the back of the auditorium. I thought to myself that surely the man must have been converted to Christ under the missionary. Later that evening a heart-broken Pastor confided to me that he had spent night after sleepless night at the bedside of that man’s mother, and later, hour upon hour at the hospital with that family as they watched their little girl suffer and finally die with leukemia. And after all his love for that family, they had gotten mad at him and left the church. And what great sacrifice had this missionary made for this family, NONE! He had stayed in the family’s home for two nights many years previous. He had never wept sore in compassion for the family’s grief. He had never stood at the grave side with those heart-broken parents seeking to comfort them, and yet he was the recipient of their undying affection. God alone knows the heartbreak of that Pastor who loved that family and grieved over their spiritual condition.
3. God has also commanded His people to provide amply for His servants (1 Timothy 5:17–18). In the foyer of a church in Eastern Kansas, there is a picture of the church’s Pastor and his wife with the inscription, “Our Missionaries.” Certainly it should be said that the Pastor and his family are indeed the first and primary concern and responsibility. I could report case after case and cite instance after instance where local church pastors have been “short-changed” financially by the people they served. I know of one church that raised a $1,200. love offering for a guest evangelist, and yet collected only $300, in a love offering received for the Pastor’s Christmas “bonus.” There is nothing Scriptural, ethical, or godly about a situation such as that! It is wrong! I knew of another church that gave their Pastor $125.00 for Christmas and their associate $150.00 because “he needed it more.” It is wrong that the Pastor of a local church should be treated so shabbily.
Or how many times have churches given liberally, or taken up special offerings to come to the aid of a missionary thousands of miles away, while they let their Pastor nearly starve to death? I am not against helping other ministers in their needs. Fellowship Baptist Church has a tremendous testimony of being liberal in its giving. I know of several preachers who have received their largest love offerings here in Liberal, Kansas. We sent out over $100,000 annually for the cause of Christ and worldwide missions. I believe in giving liberally to others. But I am totally opposed to doing more for another preacher, no matter who he is, than for the local Pastor. I do not believe I am selfish; it is a matter of principle. How can we genuinely be concerned about others in distant communities and lands, if we are not willing to take care of those who labor and minister among us on a daily basis? Paul said, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1 Timothy 5:8). Certainly this applies to our physical family, but if you will look carefully at this entire passage, he is speaking of the church’s responsibility to its own. And it is a sin in the vilest sort to refuse to take care of the shepherd that God has placed over His flock.
A certain disgruntled man whom I know is always first to suggest sending huge sums to missionaries across the seas, but nearly came “unglued” when someone in the church suggested that the church pay for the Pastor’s insurance. How sad that he exhibits an attitude that denies the faith and makes him worse than an infidel. And yet, these are not isolated instances; they are common occurrences. But they are wrong! Would that members of our churches would be willing to treat their Pastor as God desires and take care of him first. Truly, as far as ministers of the gospel are concerned, the church’s first obligation is take care of her Pastor!
Not only are there benefits awarded to the Pastor, but there are also responsibilities demanded of him.
1. It is the Pastor’s responsibility to oversee the ministry of the local church. Peter wrote to the local church pastor, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind,” (1 Peter 5:2). Paul said to this same group, “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood,” (Acts 20:28). Now, logic and common sense tells us that, if it is the Pastor’s responsibility to oversee the church, then it is not some other preacher’s responsibility. When a problem arises, therefore, it is wrong for church members to call old “Bro. So-and-So” to check and see if the Pastor is “doin’ right.” To call former pastors to seek their advice in church matters is to side-step God’s appointed authority (the present Pastor) and to ignore God’s plan, that the present Pastor have the oversight.
I have a letter in my files where a famed radio “Bible-Scholar” advised a church member to leave the church he was attending. The church member that wrote to him was wrong, but not nearly so wrong as the radio minister was for meddling in affairs that were none of his business. If only that church member had believed as much of the Scriptures as he said he did. He would have realized that his local Pastor, not his radio “pastor,” was responsible for the oversight of that local church.
2. It is the responsibility of the local Pastor to feed the flock of God (Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2). It is not the responsibility of former pastors, evangelists, TV and radio preachers, missionaries, editors of religious periodicals, etc., but it is the responsibility of the Pastor who shepherds the flock of God. To rely on any other minister than the Pastor for spiritual food is to rob the Pastor of this awesome mandate from God, “Feed my sheep.”
As I have stated on previous works on the Pastor, the Pastor is the earthly shepherd of God’s people. It is ridiculous for us to think that one shepherd can dictate to another shepherd’s sheep the pasture on which they are to graze. By the same token God admonishes His people to follow the faith of this Pastor (Hebrews 13:7). The Greek word for this word “faith” is the word pistis . According to James Strong’s Greek Dictionary of the New Testament, pg. 58, this word faith means “persuasion, moral conviction of religious truth.” If there is one thing, more than any other in church life, that really “gets” me, it is for a church member to say, “Well, that’s not the way my former pastor believed.” Church members, if God meant what He said to Paul in the book of Hebrews, are to follow their present Pastor’s convictions.
3. The third responsibility that I want to consider is the Pastor’s responsibility to minister to the people’s needs (Acts 6:1–4). If for no other reason than this, church members should realize that God gave them a local Pastor. He is there to weep with you in your sorrow and heartache. He is there to console you in the death of loved ones. He is there to pray for your recovery from illness. He is there to share your joy when your babies are born. The Pastor is God’s man, His servant to you, His flock. This is the primary reason that there are local churches, so that the ministry is not something abstract, but real. There is no way that some preacher hundreds of miles away can minister to your needs. God gave His people pastors for this reason. A radio, TV, or newspaper preacher cannot be a minister, for he cannot be there in the middle of the night when you have just taken a child to the emergency room. A radio, TV, or newspaper preacher cannot be your “radio pastor” or “TV pastor”; he cannot be a shepherd to you. He cannot lead you by remote control. A Pastor is the one to whom God gave the responsibility of ministering to His people. If a person would just look at this objectively, a former pastor cannot still be your pastor. God has given him a different flock to shepherd and to which to minister. Even other preachers in the same town cannot minister properly to folks who are not members of the congregation he pastors.
Several years back, tragedy struck one of our families, and an accident claimed the life of “dad.” Another preacher in town heard of the accident via a police scanner and immediately made his way to the bereaved family. However, it was not he that this family needed or wanted. When I arrived, one of the sons in that family ran and threw his arms around my neck, placed his head on my shoulder, and sobbed. Try as he might, that other local minister simply could not take the place of “Preacher.” And that is as it should be. A pastor, your Pastor, should be the one that ministers to your specific needs.
Not only this, but there is no other minister on the face of the earth that can discern your spiritual needs as your local Pastor can. God directs him to preach messages that He has specifically planned for you. The Pastor knows when you are living for Christ and giving Him your all. The Pastor knows when you are backslidden and out of God’s will. He alone has the opportunity to view your life on a daily or a weekly basis. Perhaps this is the reason church members are so quick to go to “the other minister.” He does not know you like the Pastor does. Church members can put up a good front and usually fool the missionary who is there for one service or the evangelist who is there for a week. But it is hard to fool the Pastor who knows what you do the other 364 days or the other 51 weeks of the year. And it is certainly a simple task to write glowing letters, oozing with spiritual honey, to evangelists and radio preachers and “pull the wool over their eyes.” But it is almost impossible to deceive the Pastor. Nevertheless, it is not the evangelist or the TV preacher that will preach the messages needed to get you out of a backslidden condition. It is a very difficult task for a Pastor to preach messages condemning sin, but God said to His minister, “Cry aloud, spare not, lift up the voice like a trumpet, and shew my people their transgression...” (Isaiah 58:1).
Certainly the Pastor desires to be as popular with his people as “Smilin’ Jack” on TV with his “Cheshire cat grin” and syrupy words. As the Apostle Paul testified, “For do I now persuade men or God? or I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” (Galatians 1:10). It is the local church Pastor that should be the chief officer, leader, minister, sheep feeder, and overseer of the local church. No other minister, be he a former Pastor, evangelist, missionary, TV or radio preacher, some other local minister, or even another minister in the church we attend should ever take the place in our lives or in our hearts that God has reserved for the Pastor.
(Continued Next Issue)
By E. L. Bynum
One of the greatest hindrances to the cause of Christ has always been those who are on the fence. Call it what you may, but it amounts to the same thing whether you call them fence straddlers, middle of the roaders, compromisers, or any other name. They hinder the spread of the truth by being unwilling to take an out and out stand for the truth.
One writer said that in the Old Testament period Israel’s greatest danger was not the Hittites or the Ammonites, but the in-between-ites. This was evident in Israel’s predicament in the exodus from Egypt. They did not want to stay in Egyptian slavery, neither did they want to face the giants and walled cities when they were at Kadeshbarnea. The result was forty years of wandering and death in the wilderness, and that is a long time to stay on the fence.
When the twelve tribes were about to enter the promised land, the tribes of Reuben and Gad did not want to cross over Jordan and claim their inheritance in the land of Canaan. They were content to dwell on the other side of Jordan. They did not want to dwell in the wilderness, neither were they willing to cross over Jordan. The result was that they were a discouragement to the other tribes. (Numbers 32:1–15) Another tragic result was that they were the first to be carried into captivity. There are many Christians that have the same problem today, they are glad to be saved, but unwilling to cross over Jordan and have a life of victory.
The church of the Laodiceans had similar problems. They were neither cold nor hot, but were lukewarm, which was distasteful to God. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15–16) It is so easy for a Christian to end up neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm which is a great hindrance to any Christian or Church.
On the Fence
I grew up on the farm, and we sometimes would sit on the fence. Small children would sometimes straddle the fence and pretend they were riding a horse. Even if it was a wooden fence or a pole fence, it was not a very comfortable place to be, so we did not sit on the fence very long. Most of the fences were made of barbed wire, so it would have been very foolish to try to sit on that kind of fence.
People who wanted to compromise on some things were often called fence-straddlers. They were unwilling to take a stand on important issues, so they were on the fence.
Fence-Straddling Issues Today
Preachers, churches, and people seem willing to straddle the fence, instead of taking a stand on some of the burning issues of our day. We are talking about important issues that can often be easily settled by consulting the Scriptures.
On the Fence Over Bible Versions
If we believe the Bible at all, we must believe that it is inspired and God breathed and therefore infallible. That should be evident from reading and believing 2 Timothy 3:16. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”
This is evident from many other Scriptures as well. “ We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.” (2 Peter 1:19–21) Peter said “WE HAVE a more sure word,” and he did not say “we once had.” He spoke in the present tense, yet much of the Bible was 1,500 years old and they did not have the original manuscripts in his day. In the previous verses Peter is telling us about his wonderful experience on the mount of transfiguration. (Matt. 17:1–8). However, he now tells us that the Bible is a more sure word of prophecy. On the mount, Peter had an experience, but in the Bible he had a divinely inspired, God-breathed revelation from God.
Some will say, “yes we believe that, but we don’t have the original manuscripts.” If that is the test, then no one, living or dead, had on this earth an infallible, inspired Bible. No man ever had all the original manuscripts. According to this theory, they were all polluted and contained errors the first time they were copied or translated. Why would God carefully give an inspired and infallible Bible book, if it would only be available for the immediate writer and the few that might be able to read it. You may serve that kind of God, but I do not.
The proposition is simple, either God gave His perfect word and kept it pure, or we have no Bible today. If our Bible is filled with errors as the modern translators tell us, then we have no dependable Bible in the first place. If that be so, we are as bad off as the modernists who believe that a lot of the Bible is the ideas of man, and some of it may have come from God. Brother, get off the fence and stand for the total trustworthiness of our KJV Bible.
On the Fence about Creation
Either we believe the biblical account of creation, or we believe the contradictory and often changing theories of evolutionary scientists. Their beliefs are based upon the atheistic views of those who start out with the false idea that God does not exist. Bible notes and commentaries often occupy the fence, by believing that sometime, somewhere, God created a speck of something, then retired to His retirement center to let evolution take over and, by accident, end up with the wonderful creation by blind chance. Of course there are variations of this, but it all boils down the same thing. Theistic evolution is the bridge between infidelity and faith, and between biblical truth and rank unbelief.
Some Bible students and scholars could no longer stand the scorn and ridicule of evolutionists, and so they concocted the theory of theistic evolution. It filtered its way into Bible Colleges, Seminaries and Churches. These bright men put it in the notes of the Scofield Bible, and numerous commentaries and scholarly papers. Why not get off the fence and believe the Bible? “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) Why not believe what the Bible teaches about God finishing His work of creation in six literal and brief days? (Genesis 1–3) John 1, and numerous other Scriptures teach this.
It is an insult to Jesus Christ when you doubt the biblical account of creation. “For by him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” (Colossians 1:16)
Get off the fence and believe what the Bible teaches. Don’t be deceived into believing in evolution, theistic evolution, and the day-age theory.
On the Fence About the Church
There are three basic ideas about the nature of the church. The Catholics believe in a universal visible church, and they claim to be it. The Protestants believe in the universal invisible church made up all saved people all over the world. The invisible church never assembles, has two baptisms, no offerings, no missionaries, and has never been seen by mortal man. It has no doctrinal statement or anything else that would make it an actual church. Their two baptisms consist of water and Holy Spirit baptisms, which are a contradiction of the word of God. “One Lord, one faith, one baptism.” (Ephesians 4:5)
The true church is local, visible and assembles on a regular basis. It has a doctrinal statement, offerings, teaching ministry, preaching services, pastors, missionaries, water baptismal services. This is what Jesus organized, and this is the only kind found in the New Testament. There is no invisible church in the N.T., nor is there a worldwide universal visible church. These last two are man made and never authorized by God.
Brother, if you claim to be a Baptist, get off the fence and take a stand for truth.
On the Fence Over Fellowships and Conventions
A lot of people know that the Conventions and Associations are unscriptural and wrong. Slowly they have come to the realization that the organized Fellowships such as the BBFI, WBF, and others are wrong. Some came out, but they then want to organize something different that will be better. Their little Fellowship will be nice and gentle, but like baby tigers soon grow up to be the same thing. They just have to send their missionaries through mission boards, clearing houses, etc.
They claim to be independent, but they are straddling the fence, with one leg on one side of the issue and the other leg on the other side. Then they can claim whichever side of the issue seems most convenient at the time. They claim to be out of the organized Fellowship, but they may still go to their meetings, support their missionaries, or send their students to their colleges.
At my age, I sit as an observer over the history and progress of the organized Fellowships. Good brethren did not like the rise of modernism and unbelief that grew in the Northern Baptist Convention (now ABC), and Southern Baptist Convention. So they organized the World Baptist Fellowship, the Baptist Bible Fellowship, and the other Fellowships. They did not want to call them Conventions and Associations, because of past experiences.
Little did they know that their baby Fellowships would grow up to develop the same characteristics that they despised in the first place. Oh yes, there were good men that fought to keep their Fellowship from going that way, but little by little they lost the battle. So they pull out and organize something else never authorized in the Scriptures. This goes for the Global Independent Baptist Fellowship, which is only seven years old, and they already have a missionary sending organization and agency to handle the missionary funds. Sure, they have put in a lot of safeguards to make people think they are truly independent, and that they are not going the way of the other Fellowships. Sure, they mean well, but just give the baby time to grow and become a danger. Some of their brethren claim they are not in it, but they support it and speak there.
Brother, get off the fence and stand for what the Bible teaches.
On the Fence Over Separation
Baptists and all true believers once believed in the doctrine of separation or sanctification. Little by little the world has come into the churches, as well as the hearts and homes of believers. The doctrine of holiness has left as the world has come in. Godly standards of dress, conversation, and way of life is out the window. The Scriptures on separation are still in the Bible, but they are simply ignored.
“Be ye holy; for I am holy,” (1 Peter 1:16) and “come out from among them, and be ye separate...” (2 Corinthians 6:17) are still in the Bible, but not many pay much attention to them. We are independent to do as God pleases, not as we please. Christian women dress like men and the immodest, near-naked way that Hollywood teaches them. Men don’t care, for they like to look at other men’s wives and daughters for their own delight. Pastors and churches say nothing because they don’t want to lose noses to count, along with their tithes and offerings.
The music of the world has been brought into many churches in order to attract the worldly minded. The contemporary music with its rock beat is highly effective. If the old timers object, they have two services, one traditional and the other contemporary. Then later on they can mix the two. Here come the choruses with no real Bible message. Out go the hymn books and in come the projectors. Sermons become shorter and spiced with psychology and Rick Warrenism.
Why not come back to the Bible and real preaching, singing, and worship again? In these days we need a real housecleaning in the house of God and in the homes of the members.
Why not get off the fence before it is too late? You cannot improve on the Bible way.
There are many other chapters that could be written within this article, but time and space forbids going any further now. Just remember what God said. “I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.” (Revelation 3:15–16)
New Date: March 10–12, 2008
We listed our 47th annual Missions Bible Conference here at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas as scheduled for March 17–19 in 2008. We did receive some negative response to those dates because Sunday, March 23 is Resurrection Sunday in 2008. Therefore, we have rescheduled our 47th annual Conference to March 10–12, 2008. We were unaware of the date of Resurrection Sunday when we chose the initial dates for the 2008 conference. We realize that some of our preacher brethren would be adversely affected by our initial conference dates, and they could not be with us. We do not want to discourage anyone from being able to attend the 2008 conference, so we will plan now to have the conference the week earlier than originally scheduled. We were not so far along in our planning to cause a serious problem with rescheduling.
The 75th anniversary of Tabernacle Baptist Church is actually March 15, 2008. We will plan to have a special day on Sunday, March 16 to celebrate this anniversary. Perhaps we will have some other special things to remember this church anniversary during the conference as well.
By Jerry Jackson
According to the Barna Research Group, “the average pastor lasts only five years at a church.” Their research also found that “the typical pastor has his or her greatest ministry impact at a church in years five through fourteen of their pastorate.” Of course, these are the averages among all so-called “Christian” denominations, Barna Research Group not confining their research to true independent Baptists. This means that there may be some difference among our ranks than what this research reports to us. However, this research is not too far from reality, it seems.
One problem for the missionary is returning for furlough and finding that most of his supporting churches have changed pastors. Of course, he has been unaware of this change, since he has been out of the country, yet some pastors take great offence to the lack of knowledge on the part of the missionary.
One problem for the church member is really trusting the man of God. When a church has had a parade of pastors over a short period of time, church members will have a difficult time trusting that the current pastor will be around long. This causes church members to seek for someone they can trust: radio or TV evangelists, some home Bible study group, a Christian at work, etc. This, of course, is not how God intended things to be, and it is the source of many problems in churches.
Pastors and churches also have problems with the missionary who is always on the move; he is never in one place long enough to do any real good. After years of “service” this missionary has no real fruit to show for his labors, no established churches with trained local leadership. There are also those missionaries who get to the field, but soon return home to more familiar surroundings, never to return to the field again.
There is a great need for stability in the ministry, both at home and abroad. Our churches need this stability if they are to grow spiritually, and if they are to continue to see souls saved. Our mission fields need this stability if they are to become “hotbeds” of the Gospel, and if we truly seek for world evangelism.
The Cause of Instability
In order to find a solution to this instability that we see in our midst, we must first find the cause. We cannot merely treat the symptoms and hope to have achieved a real change. As I see it, there are three causes of instability, not all of them negative.
The first cause for instability is immaturity, either emotionally or spiritually. The ministry is no place for the immature Christian. The ministry is no place for children. It takes a man, both spiritually and emotionally. Paul warns Timothy about appointing a pastor who is immature spiritually. Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil (1 Timothy 3:6). The word “novice” means “newly planted,” which is obviously speaking of a new, untried, babe in Christ. We all know that someone can be saved many years and still be a babe in Christ. The writer of the book of Hebrews laments the immaturity of those believers, and we see that the result of their immaturity was a lack of ability to teach others. For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat (Hebrews 5:12). The man who is immature spiritually is of no benefit to a church, as her pastor. How can he teach others when he is in so much need of teaching? How can he stand for the truth when he is unsure of what the truth is? This is not to say that we must know all before we are fit to be in the ministry, otherwise, no one would qualify. However, there must be some spiritual maturity to build upon.
There are also those who are emotionally immature. I am not saying that anyone below a specific age is automatically disqualified from the ministry, because immaturity is to be found in young and old alike, while examples of maturity can also be found among young and old. Consider Daniel and the three Hebrew children. They were young men when they were carried away to Babylon, yet their maturity is displayed from the very beginning, when Daniel purposed in his heart not to eat of the king’s meat (Daniel 1:8). King Ahab, on the other hand was quite childish in his attitude, when Naboth refused to sell or exchange his vineyard. The man who is emotionally immature will lash out at others when trials come, rather than seeking God’s wisdom and direction. He will quickly tire of the work of the ministry and take off for greener pastures, as John Mark did (Acts 13:13 CF Acts 15:37–38).
Another cause for instability is the fact that so many hirelings are running around our country. Many pastors are seeking to climb the ladder from a smaller church to a larger church, and so on. They are constantly on the look out for a church which offers a nicer parsonage, higher salary, more vacation days, and better benefits. I was recently told of a pastor who had just moved to another church. The basis of this move was that he was really wasting his talents in the small church he had left, and he was so much more suited to the larger church of which he had just accepted the pastorate. This sounds like a hireling to me. Jesus warned us of the hirelings that would come and try to lead the flock of God. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep (John 10:12–13). This hireling does not care for the sheep because the Lord never made him an overseer over the flock (Acts 20:28). He came along for the pay, the recognition, or whatever else he could find.
Having said all this, there is another cause for instability, and that is the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Look at the ministry of the Apostle Paul. Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. And they passing by Mysia came down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them (Acts 16:6–10). We see here six different Roman provinces that Paul in which either preached the Gospel, or attempted to enter, and one city (Troas) where he received the Macedonian vision. Today we would call Paul unstable because of all this moving around, but he was only moving around because of the leadership of the Holy Spirit. Paul was really the only one who knew how the Spirit was leading him, and the same is true today. The Lord may be leading someone to do a certain thing, or to change locations after short durations of time, and no one else will know that the Lord is leading him so. Many will lump this man in with one of the previous negative causes of instability in the ministry, but he will go on, unheeding of his reputation before others, because he is seeking to please the Lord.
The Consequences of Instability
When there is instability in the ministry because of negative reasons mentioned, souls are not saved. Certain people just “hit it off” with other people. Pastors and missionaries are no different in this area. One pastor may have an open door into the home of a lost person, while another pastor may have the door slammed in his face. One pastor may be able to reach a lost man, but if he leaves due to instability, the next pastor may not be able to get on the right footing with the same lost man, and so he remains lost. This is indeed a serious consequence to instability.
When there is instability in the ministry, the wolf is free to catch and scatter the sheep. When there is a constant turnover of pastors, no pastor stays long enough to identify the areas of attack by the enemy. He is gone before any positive change can be implemented. As a result, God’s people are grievously wounded by the enemy, with no help to find restoration or protection. Some of these sheep will carry on, but not to the capacity they once did. Other sheep will become bitter and simply give up the fight, siding in with the enemy.
When there is instability in the ministry, churches do not reach their full potential for God. When there is a constant change in leadership and direction, churches can easily become confused or misguided. There are many different ways to accomplish the work of God without compromise, but when there is a constant change in programs and plans, no fruit can be seen from any of the avenues tried. There must be a continuation and consistency, a faithfulness to the task, before fruit can be seen. When there is instability in the ministry, this fruitfulness is hindered.
When there is instability in the ministry, churches are not established. When a missionary goes into an area with the purpose of beginning a work for God, he must determine to stay until the job has been completed. That is not always easy, but it is far better than the other option. The other option is leaving people disillusioned and doubting the truth of the Gospel message. The hearts of the lost will be hardened, and the new converts, if any, will be abandoned to the enemy. There are some areas of the world which have been called the “missionary graveyard” because so many missionaries have unsuccessfully attempted to do God’s work in those areas. Eventually, the people of these areas turn a deaf ear to the next missionary to come along, because he will not be there long.
In the case of the Apostle Paul’s instability, the lost were saved, churches were established, and God’s people were grounded in the truth. One of the great things that happened because of Paul’s activities was that these churches established under his ministry had to trust the Lord. They could not rely on Paul to be their guide and helper always, because he was gone to establish another church in another place. This is a positive consequence simply because Paul was led by the Spirit to do all the moving around that he did.
Consistency in Stability
I have seen a great disparity between how pastors and missionaries are treated in the area of stability. Missionaries are expected to remain on the same field of service for 20–30 years, while the pastor may be in 4–6 churches in that same period of time. Truthfully, most independent Baptist churches would not have continued supporting the Apostle Paul, because he changed fields too often. I believe that the result of his ministry speaks for itself, and I believe that we could do with more missionaries like the Apostle Paul. Therefore, every pastor who wishes to reserve the leadership of the Lord for his move from one church to another should also extend that same courtesy to every missionary he supports.
Conquering Instability
There are several things which, in my opinion, will aid in slowing this instability in God’s work.
First, the uncalled must be culled from our ranks. We can identify these men who are not called into the ministry by mapping their moves. The moves of the hireling will be obvious. Also, the moves of one who is immature will be clear. He will have moved often, and no church he has pastored will have received any benefit from his leadership. When we see these sorts of men, we should not seek to help them get into another church and cause more harm to the name of Christ. Instead, we should fail to recommend these men to positions of leadership. Either the immature will mature and the hireling will look to his task, or they will both be removed from the ministry, which would be the best for the Lord and His churches.
Also, we must be consecrated to our calling. If indeed we have been called of God into the ministry, we must remain where God has placed us, until He clearly leads otherwise. Being consecrated to the work of the ministry disallows any option of climbing the ladder or avoiding trouble and confrontation. Instead, when we are truly consecrated to God, we begin to glory in our sufferings, so that the power of Christ may rest upon us (2 Corinthians 12:10).
Lastly, we must be available to follow the Lord’s leadership. That means that if the Lord leads to an inconvenient place at an inconvenient time, we will go wherever He leads. This is how Philip responded to the Spirit’s leadership (Acts 8:5–40). He was busily establishing a church in Samaria when the Spirit led him to leave there and go off into the desert, for the sake of one Ethiopian man. Once that man had trusted Christ, Philip was then sent to Caesarea. He was not stable in one place for long, but he was greatly used of God because he was available. Let us be available so as to be used of God to a greater extent than we are today.
Matthew 20:16 “So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen.” God calls out to many, but how many really ever respond? How many respond but quit when the going gets tough, so they cannot be chosen to go all the way? Where do you and I stand in the light of our “calling?”
To be called by God is an honor, to be called and to respond to that call in absolute obedience that results in undying loyalty to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is to step into the special realm of the chosen!
The called one who has been chosen of God sees not the toil, sweat, blood, and tears, but sees the challenges, the change, the charge, the crown, and most of all his Christ.
The “called and chosen” one does not cower and cringe at the sight of the mountains, but places his confidence in the Creator of the mountains to guide him over the mountains.
The “called and chosen” one stays on his knees before his Maker when it is dark until the light begins to be revealed.
The “called and chosen” one calls upon the Master of the storm to calm the waves instead of giving up on the ship.
The “called and chosen” one in crisis throws out the lifeline of God’s Word in compassion and not in condemnation.
The “called and chosen” one leads the sheep tenderly into the fold, rather than driving them out into the field.
The “called and chosen” one trembles not at the enemy’s attacks, but bravely leads in the battle at the voice of his Commander.
The “called and chosen” one plays not on the edge of sin during temptation, but flees to the Rock that is higher than he, and lets the Keeper of his soul handle the Tempter.
The “called and chosen” one experiences peace when there is no peace around him because he knows the Prince of Peace.
The “called and chosen” one sees change around him because he is willing to pay the price to see THAT change take place.
The “called and chosen” one trusts God for all his needs, not men, driving him to his knees to petition He Who hears and answers.
The “called and the chosen” one takes up his cross and follows the Master without looking back.
The “called and chosen” one is not driven or motivated by power, position, prestige, or peer pressure, but by the love of God that is shed abroad in his heart. He fights the devil, defends the faith, feeds the flock, fears the Lord his God, and serves willingly where God has put him with a broken heart, spirit of humility, and genuine love for those who are lost, are weak, or are deceived.
Are you “called” or “called and chosen?”
II Thess. 1:11–12, “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Lovingly Yours in the Faith,
Brother Wayne Walley, Missionary to Mindanao, Philippines
Edited by E. L. Bynum
(Editor’s Note: In our News & Views column we quote from many different sources. Please understand that this does not necessarily mean that we approve of all of the publications from which we quote.)
Lovers of Pleasure — There is little doubt that hedonism is sharply on the rise in America. Far more time is submitted to playing than praying. This is becoming evident in many churches. The promise of entertainment is the primary drawing point for some churches. It cannot be truthfully said this never is the case among so-called Independent Baptists. Some spend money on movies that should go to missions. The preaching of Christ’s gospel was the drawing power for the early church. It should be so with us. “Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word.” (Acts 8:4) —WWM
Have They Asked You? — The annual Gallup Values and Belief survey shows Americans are evenly divided along “pro-life” and “pro-choice” lines, although a majority supports restrictions on abortion in most or all cases . (LifeSiteNews, 5/24/07) No poll group has ever contacted me about my feelings on any matter. Likely the numbers are growing nearly even on such matters as this. It is difficult to believe that in an area where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is preached the numbers would even be close. —WWM
The Bare Truth — The world G8 Summit Conference of world leaders (6/07), held in Germany, faced new attractions. Near the hotel where the conference convenes is a nude beach on the Baltic coast. This summit is attended by 8 countries which boast 65% of the world’s economy. It would be an advantage to the world population if the outcome of this meeting were as openly revealed as those on this beach. Both groups would do well by reading God’s Word concerning their activities. (1 Tim. 2:8,9) —WWM
Sin Is Rampant — One blog survey claims half of Christian men are ‘hooked on porn.’ There would have to be more proof of this than from a group of people, many of whom despise God and His Son, and who hate true Christianity. Very likely there are some who claim Christ as Savior yet have never added to their faith virtue. (2 Pet. 1:5ff) The ‘old man’ must be put off and the ‘new man’ put on before any spiritual battle can be successfully fought and won. (Col. 3:9,10) Christianity is ill defined ‘as those who attend church(?).’ They were first called Christians at Antioch because they followed Christ. (Acts 11:26) Suffering as a Christian is less than popular today. Living for Christ should be the believer’s goal. —WWM
Luster Of Sin Fades — Following an early rush to city hall, the number of “gay marriages” in Massachusetts has plunged dramatically, and continues to decline, since such unions were legalized three years ago. (Baptist Press, 5/24/07) In fact, the number seeking to be legally married dropped to one third of those illegally married, or living together in sodomy. When sin is legalized, flaunting it seems to fade. This is not an endorsement of sin’s legalization. It will fade even more at the White Throne Judgment. The sin of sodomy will flare again as soon as God’s angels come to town. (Gen. 19:1–5) —WWM
Jewish Views On Abortion — The following statement from a Jewish rabbi in JewishWorldReview, 4/13/07 upon the U.S. Supreme Court’s upholding of the federal Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act. “Even more troubling to me, as a Jew, than the misunderstandings of the facts is that a number of rabbis and Jewish organizational spokespeople have asserted that Jewish religious tradition is somehow offended by the recently upheld law. The president of Hadassah, to take one example, has baldly stated that the law ‘undermines Jewish values.’” God is very clear on His stand concerning a mother losing the fruit of the womb at the hand of men. (Exo. 21:22) This was written to Israel. —WWM
Scot Cardinal Draws Line — “Scottish Cardinal Keith O’Brien had strong words today for Catholic MPs that support abortion, saying Catholic politicians who are pro-abortion should not expect to remain in full communion with the Church.” (LSN, 5/31/07) The horror of school shootings fills hearts with sorrow. Yet millions of little people only 4 or 5 years short of entering our country’s school rooms are deprived of ever drawing their first taste of oxygen or further education. Pray God will give us leaders who recognize abortion as murder. —WWM
European Parliament Condemns ‘Homophobia’ — A. “...whereas Parliament has monitored a proliferation of hate speech targeting the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community in a number of European countries, B. whereas statements and actions by political and religious leaders have a major impact on public opinion, so that they have an important responsibility in contributing positively to a climate of tolerance and equality,..” (LSN, 4/28/07) These are the first two rulings by the European Parliament on statements made concerning homosexuality. This parliament may have to put out a new version of the Bible just to coincide with their ruling. The KJV relates a different view of sodomy. Pray for pastors/preachers who do have “a major impact on public opinion” concerning the sin of sodomy. —WWM
Financing Homosexuality — One pro-family activist “is warning Maryland taxpayers that they may soon be forced to support the homosexual lifestyle with their pocketbooks. [The] policy director for cultural issues for Concerned Women for America, says Maryland appears on the fast track to becoming the 15th state to grant domestic partner benefits to homosexual state employees.” (OneNewsNow, 6/1/07) Powerful union organizations are sure to capitalize on this move in many states. Don’t be surprised if soon there will be a workers union specifically for the homosexual workforce. “Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.” (Psa. 50:22) —WWM
“Gender-Bender” — This is a portion of an article title in OneNewsNow, 5/31/07. “The United Methodist bishop of the Baltimore-Washington Conference has reappointed a female minister who underwent a sex-change operation and now goes by the name of ‘Drew Phoenix.’ Ann Gordon, aka ‘Drew Phoenix,’ is the first openly transsexual minister in the United Methodist Church and one of the very few publicly transsexual clergy in the U.S. Her reappointment to St. John’s UMC in Baltimore is effective July 1.” ‘Drew Ann’ says she/he made this decision “after a lifelong spiritual journey and years of prayer and discernment.” Seems this was of the wrong spirit and very little, if any, discernment. She/he would have spent her/his time more profitably by reading the Bible. —WWM
Muslim Leader’s Opinion — “Osama bin Laden has told his followers, all ‘Americans, Jews, and infidels’ of both genders, including the very old and the very young, are enemies and therefore legitimate targets at all times and places.” (Institute on Religion & Democracy ) This enemy of freedom hates the Lord who sets men free. He despises those who have been set free to serve the true and living God. “But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” (Rom. 6:22) —WWM
‘Peace’ Worship Service? — Ecumenical News reports on a “peace worship service” held in the National Cathedral March 16. Jim Wallis, noted for his activity in civil rights, was one of the leaders. The NCC, United Methodists, Presbyterians, etc. were involved. Later, in a protest at the White House, some “200 of them were arrested for performing civil disobedience.” They obviously do not mind breaking the law, yet condemn those who fight for our freedom . “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.” (Psa. 1:1) —WWM
Supporting Those Who Support Homosexuality — Ford Motor Company is the top pro-homosexual sponsor on network television. That is the result of a 12-week monitoring project by American Family Association. Other companies listed in the top ten pro-homosexual sponsors include Toyota, AT&T, Procter & Gamble, Revlon, Glaxo Smith Kline, Unilever, Daimler Chrysler, Verizon, and Quaker Oats. (American Family Asso., 5/17/07) Paul warned the Corinthian church not to company with fornicators. Yet this would be difficult to separate in every instance. To do this, believers would need to leave this world. (1 Cor. 5:9,10) This is not an approval of any company above or their sensual involvement. —WWM
No Prayer To God — “More than 30,000 funerals in Britain last year were nonreligious, as families turn increasingly to ‘celebration-of-life’ ceremonies rather than church services, according to new figures.” According to the article this is “attributed to people’s growing willingness to admit that they are non-believers, and to their desire to avoid ‘hypocrisy’.” It was only ten years ago that “a funeral without a minister of religion and reference to God was virtually unheard of but increasingly, services are presided over by a ‘celebrant’ and involve poems instead of psalms, while mourners are often asked to wear something bright rather than black.” (Australian Ind. Bapt. Newsletter, 3/07)
More On Burials — “Many cemeteries will run out of space within 10 years, forcing councils to consider unpopular solutions such as ‘double-decker’ graves, with coffins buried on top of one another. However, cremation also poses problems. The fumes from vaporised dental fillings make up 16 per cent of mercury emissions, according to government figures.” (Telegraph, 4/3/07) If one of our presidential wannabes hears about this, he will add it to his list of global catastrophes. It is true that man has not treated fairly the globe under his care. Yet it is often forgotten by Whom all things consist. (Col. 1:17) —WWM
Leaving in Style — The Church of England carried out 207,300 funerals in 2005, down from 228,000 in 2001, and there have been calls for all churches to modernize services to boost numbers. The Rev. Paul Sinclair, the founder of Motorcycle Funerals, which uses side-car hearses in place of traditional vehicles, said it was already happening. “Most church ministers I know will happily have music the deceased liked and will not insist on hymns,” said the Pentecostal minister. “We need to get the message out to people that the church has come a long way.” (Telegraph, 4/3/07) Modernization has many faces. To say this is the direction of advancement for the church misses the church’s commission in Matthew & Mark. Although Sardis may have needed more hearses than hymn books, the manner in which funerals are conducted fall short of displaying any church’s coming “a long way.” —WWM
Learning to Forget — “Since 1967 the Americana Leadership College and its community programs of Inner Peace Movement, Astro Soul, Peace Community Church, Profound Mystical Meditation for the Western Society, and Growing Executives of Tomorrow have been helping people find answers to life’s mysteries that always seemed elusive.” (From ALC web) There is nothing “elusive” about the Lord. Jesus is the truth that makes us free. (John 8:32,36) These students may have to spend most of their four years remembering the names of such programs. Then the rest of their life getting rid of their teaching. How fortunate Timothy had a Christian Mother and Grandmother. —WWM