What the Church Needs Today

23May07

I’m sure if I were to take a poll among church leaders throughout the country, each person would have their own take on what is needed for the church to become all God intends for it to be today. Some would say the church needs a reinvigorated passion for the lost and to revitalize its evangelistic effort. Some would say the church needs to reword its message and remove its archaic, offensive, exclusivist and politically incorrect language because it’s falling on deaf ears. Some would say the church needs to reevaluate its programs and reinvent itself because it has lost touch with the culture.

To prove my point, here’s a quote from the guru of what has been called the Emergent Church Movement.

A church entering reinvention feels it is a mess. It feels it has lost its way. It is ready to go back to the drawing board and first principles and start all over again. It’s saying, “We think we need a do-over. We need a new beginning. We aren’t even sure what’s wrong with us … so we’re going to put everything up for grabs, everything, of course, except our identity as Christians, as followers of Jesus. Whatever he wants from us, we’ll do.” This seems to me to be not only a quantitative difference, but also a qualitative difference. Perhaps that’s why this process is so rare — it’s really quite radical(Brian McLaren, www.graceawakening.faithsite. com; May 28, 2002).

The idea that the church needs to be changed is prevalent, but, as you can tell, what some deem to be the remedy is frightening. For Dr. McLaren and many others, “Everything must be up for grabs”. That “everything” includes orthodox Christian doctrine (And though he says otherwise in this quote, it also includes our identity as Christians. His book “A New Kind of Christian” betrays him.).

But God has a different plan. His plan involves restoration and renewal not reinvention. And it’s not as complicated as some might think. You see, there was one important element in the restoration and renewal of God’s people throughout the Old Testament. It was the same element used in the restoration and renewal of God’s people in the New Testament. And it’s the same element I believe God is going to use today. The restoration and renewal of God’s people has been, is and will be accomplished through AUTHORITATIVE, BOLD, CHRIST-EXALTING PREACHING.

AUTHORITATIVE. Congregations throughout our country no longer believe in the God-given authority of the office of pastor or elder because pastors or elders have ceased preaching authoritatively. On any given Sunday, most sermons are nothing more than personal soap box rants, or op-ed pieces that belong in the local paper not the pulpit. Why? Well, I believe there are three reasons.

#1 Our culture frowns at that kind of authority. People today don’t consider the Bible to be authoritative. The words, “Declares the Lord” or “Thus saith the Lord” are phrases of the past. No one is expected to speak with that kind of authority because that kind of authority is considered non-existent. The predominant belief is that we are autonomous, free-will creatures whose moral authority is found within ourselves and there is therefore no such thing as absolute truth or authority that is for all people, of all times or in all places.

#2 Pastors are afraid to speak with that kind of authority. They are afraid of what others will say. They are more concerned with pleasing men than they are pleasing God. They are more concerned with worldly success than they are biblical faithfulness.

#3 Pastors themselves are unfamiliar with that kind of authority. That means, most pastors today aren’t in the Word enough and don’t pray enough to recognize that kind of authority and therefore haven’t placed themselves under that authority. So why should they, or better yet, how could they speak with that kind of authority if they themselves aren’t submitting to that authority?

Well, this must change. Pulpits must be filled with men who are willing to speak out regardless of cultural beliefs, regardless of what others might say or do. Pulpits must be filled by preachers who are willing to preach authoritatively even if people don’t accept that authority. Preachers must be willing to preach authoritatively regardless of the names they are called, the accusations that are levied, and the attacks they may experience. That will only come about if pastors begin placing themselves under the authority of God and His Word. They must come to a place where they understand that they will incur a stricter judgment because they are teachers.

BOLD- Sermons today are filled with humor, silly anecdotes, moralistic platitudes and the 1-2-3’s of life. It’s getting harder and harder to tell the difference between a sermon and a motivational speech. Pastors are more concerned with being trendy “life coaches” than they are shepherds. They’re not interested in stepping on toes. They would rather dumb down the standard so the self-esteem of their people isn’t damaged than hold the standard high and inspire others to meet it. And if you think I’m being too harsh listen to this.

“I don’t think anything has been done in the name of Christ and under the banner of Christianity that has proven more destructive to human personality and, hence, counterproductive to the evangelism enterprise than the often crude, uncouth, and unchristian strategy of attempting to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition.” (Time, March 18, 1985)

“The most serious sin is the one that causes me to say, ‘I am unworthy. I may have no claim to divine sonship if you examine me at my worst.’ For once a person believes he is an ‘unworthy sinner,’ it is doubtful if he can really honestly accept the saving grace God offers in Jesus Christ.” (Self-Esteem, p. 98)

Both of those quotes were made 20 years ago by Robert Schuller, the pastor of the Crystal Cathedral and the host of the Hour of Power. But this isn’t just a tele-evangelist problem. This sort of thing goes on in countless numbers pulpits around the country. Our only hope of restoring and renewing the church is for it to stop. Preaching must be BOLD. It must be willing to rebuke and call people to repent. It must tell it like it is. It must call sin, sin. It must boldly proclaim the truths of God. It must not shy away from the truth. It doesn’t have to be offensive but at times it will and must offend.

CHRIST-CENTERED- Nothing else will do. Salvation is not found within ourselves. Our hope is not found in positive-thinking. We are not winners who have simply lost our way and have forgotten the potential that lies within all of us. We are sinners in need of a Savior. Jesus Christ is the answer. God is a Holy God. He is a just God. He is a wrathful God. But He is also a loving God. He is a gracious God. He is a merciful God. He sent Jesus Christ to pay the price for sin that was owed. He came to absorb the wrath that was deserved. He was a suffering Substitute. We must preach in such a way that people know that He is the one and only Substitute. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one will come and no one can come to the Father but through Him. Salvation comes as we look upon Him not within ourselves. The righteousness we need must come from Him. It must be imputed to us for ours is but filthy rags. There is no other answer. There is no other name on which we can call to be saved. Our preaching must cease being man-centered. It must be Christ-centered or we have no hope of being restored and renewed as a people.

There are things that happen in each of our lives that are so memorable we replay them over and over in our minds. When it comes to my role as a pastor, there are two such events that I will never forget. The first happened in March of 2003 as I sat among 1500 other pastors at the Shepherd’s Conference at Grace Community Church in California. It was there that God impressed upon me the shear magnitude of my responsibility that I have to Him to make sure my preaching is authoritative, bold and Christ-centered. The second event happened in my living room back in February. It was there that God impressed upon me the magnitude of my responsibility I have to those God has given me to shepherd. It was there that a gentleman desiring to join our church took my hand into his, gripped it firmly, looked me sternly in the eye, and said, “If you ever stop preaching the Word of God, I will hunt you down.” I appreciated his candor. I appreciate that accountability. I will remember his words and his face forever. May God grant every pastor experiences like that.

Chris Taylor
Legacy Baptist Church

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