We hop, we shop, we pick, we choose … all in an effort to find the perfect church. By perfect, we mean, ‘just enough of this, but not too much of that. Service just an hour long—oh, and if it could end under an hour? So much the better! The flow of things must hold our attention, including great music—but don’t make me sing too much. Just a few announcements, and I hate that ‘meet and greet’ thing and holding hands, so don’t do it every week! ‘And the message? Well, I want it to be interesting, relevant and nothing that makes me feel too uncomfortable—just enough scripture, but not too deep … you know, just keep it real.’
Consumer mentality that pervades much of our lives has crept into how we worship and meet together in God’s name, and also how we read and study God’s Word. We read the stuff we easily get, that seems pertinent to our daily lives, and are oft content to let the rest go. But wait! Paul said in Acts 20.27,
‘I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.’
Whole counsel. All of it -- though it is popular today to teach to the felt needs of individuals. We like the guy with the big grin who keeps it light, and talks about how its all good in the family of God. But in fact, many of these people-pleasing churches are leaving out central traditional Christian doctrines so as to be attractive to the contemporary listener. That is a good approach if the goal is to have the church seats full of satisfied people, but unfortunately their theology will have gaping holes in it, and their spiritual growth and maturity will be stunted; many times, when push comes to shove in personal lives, depth of faith and godly wisdom is lacking.
Oh, I get it--I have wrestled with the same thing, as I have taught through Paul’s letters. ‘God, you want me to teach about thiiiiis? Seriously, what possible relevance could teaching about food offered to idols have to Kim in South Orange County, California, in 2014?’ Then as I sit quiet and seek God’s mind on the matter, I hear in my head what I think the Lord might say back to me, “Oh, I see, Child, so because some of my Word bores you, you are inclined to skip over it?”
Don’t get me wrong—in my heart I know it is correct to read all of the scripture as it comes, rather than to skip over parts; so I ask myself why I am inclined to do so. Honestly seeking to discover the reason, it becomes clear: fear. I am afraid I will lose people—that if I can’t keep it obviously applicable, current, and contemporary, people will tune out.
BUT the value in teaching all of what’s included in Paul’s letters to the churches is quite considerable: we see the doctrine of God’s grace when grappling with the historical roots of the Law in Galatians; we learn from his teaching on the second coming of Christ in First Thessalonians; we see his correction of abhorrent behaviors, and his redirection of misplaced energies, such as suing other believers. We see Paul fully develop the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, including the gifts of the Spirit . . . and how can we leave out his treatise on true love in First Corinthians chapter Thirteen? Ah, so much we learn from Paul’s teaching . . . so much that applies to living out the Christian life, though understanding the historical context of his writing is of utmost importance as well.
Preach the Word, Paul wrote; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.1 Why? Because “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”2
So, let’s read it all. Let’s ask God for wisdom in being able to understand what he is saying to us, and what he has in mind for us to learn from all of the Scripture. Indeed, let us ‘Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.’3
If I am quiet, if I am listening, I can hear him saying, ‘just teach my word…go ahead, do it.’
Christine
PastorWoman.com
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