Ezekiel & The Shepherds of Israel

Ezekiel 34 is a frightening chapter. It records the judgment of God upon those charged with caring for God’s people, his sheep. Those Shepherds failed miserably at this task. They engaged in selfish ‘me first’ narcissism. Read the words of God’s indictment against them:

Ezekiel 34:4 The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them.

The text of Scripture is very clear and precise concerning the role of Shepherds.

James 3:1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

It has been my practice for 47 years to engage in self examination. Each week on Friday at noon I looked back over the week just completed and ahead to the week before me. I endeavored to honestly assess my leadership from God’s perspective. This was sometimes quite painful. There were failures that required repentance and God’s gracious forgiveness. There were triumphs to be celebrated. I sought to be well prepared for the challenges ahead. Ephesians 6 provides a detailed profile of how we must be clothed and equipped for the battles that are before us.

The New Year is a great opportunity to examine your effectiveness as a Shepherd of God’s people. Look at both what you did that was wrong and what you failed to do that you should have. Make the necessary modifications in your leadership.

Pastor we serve a God that is gracious and merciful beyond your wildest comprehension. Go to him. Confess. Repent. Then bask in his glorious mercy and enabling grace. He loves you and he loves his people. He blesses his people through you. What an amazing way to invest the life that he gives.

Help, LORD, to whom for help I fly,

And still my tempted soul to stand by

Throughout the evil day;

The sacred watchfulness impart,

And keep the issues of my heart,

And stir me up to pray

My soul with thy whole armor arm;

In each approach of sin alarm,

And show the danger near:

Surround, sustain, and strengthen me,

And fill with godly jealousy

And sanctifying fear.        

(Charles Wesley)

Then & Now - Circus & Football

“Already long ago, from when we sold our vote to no man, the People have abdicated our duties; for the People who once upon a time handed out military command, high civil office, legions — everything, now restrains itself and anxiously hopes for just two things: Bread and Circuses.” – Juvenal – Satire (100 A.D.)

Juvenal’s satire indicted the Roman citizenry for a total corruption of cultural and civil priorities. They wanted ‘Bread & Circuses’ over sustainable civil order. Today in Alabama we need only replace ‘Bread & Circus’ with ‘Football’. There is far greater concern for the outcome of the National Championship and who wins the ‘Iron Bowl’ than for an accurate honest assessment of the moral fiber of our community. A prime example is the condition and direction of the local church.

What is the general condition of the church in America? Thom Rainer with Life Way Research in Nashville states that 94% of American churches are declining. Other denominational leaders confirm this trend.

“The SBC is rapidly dying, and resistance to change could kill over half of the denomination’s churches by 2030. Unless something is done to reverse the downward trend, SBC churches could number only 20,000 - - down from the current total of more than 44,000 - - in fewer than 22 years.” (Frank Page as quoted in the Assoc. Baptist Press, May 6, 2008).

                          

The CFO of the United Methodist stated at their National Conference in June of 2015 that unless they implement immediate changes in the way they conduct ministry, by the year 2030 the United Methodist Denomination will be bankrupt, and, by 2050 they will no longer exist as a denomination.

What is the response of those that occupy a leadership role in these churches? DENIAL! It is no longer possible to deny the reality of decline. However, when presented with irrefutable data that validates this precipitous decline there is an overwhelming refusal to implement any ministry modifications that lead to effectiveness. The stadium in Tuscaloosa will be filled to capacity on Saturday but there is little or no interest in spiritual formation among the same people that fill church services each Sunday.

When Martin Luther led what resulted in The Reformation that changed not only Germany, Europe and ultimately the world, the German people became a driving force in that movement. The people in the American Church must do the same today. Decline is not only persistent, it is accelerating – rapidly.

Where are your priorities? Are you more concerned with Football, or, the stability and nobility of America as a ‘City on A Hill’, the beacon of Truth and Righteousness? The people in our churches must demand the modifications that evidence true spirituality as measured by Special Revelation. What are your priorities?

Sound Doctrine & Ministry Effectiveness

God is always pleased with our genuine expression of humility and dependence on him. Today as we consider the Doctrine of Bibliology, the Scriptures, listen to the words of the Prophet Jeremiah. He ministered at a time in Israel that has many parallels with our current culture in America. 

Jeremiah 23:26-32  How long shall there be lies in the heart of the prophets who prophesy lies, and who prophesy the deceit of their own heart, who think to make my people forget my name by their dreams that they tell one another, even as their fathers forgot my name for Baal? Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the LORD. Is not my word like fire, declares the LORD, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? Therefore, behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who steal my words from one another. Behold, I am against the prophets, declares the LORD, who use their tongues and declare, 'declares the LORD.' Behold, I am against those who prophesy lying dreams, declares the LORD, and who tell them and lead my people astray by their lies and their recklessness, when I did not send them or charge them. So they do not profit this people at all, declares the LORD.

Our Heavenly Father, hear our prayer. We plead with you to send Reformation & Renewal to the American church. You alone are able to change the hardness of men’s hearts. You alone are able to awaken and mobilize those who truly know you to live in obedience to your word. We trust you to do that LORD. May it be soon and may it be a powerful and lasting renewal. AMEN!

Our focus is the Reformation & Renewal of the American church. What is necessary for this to come to pass? A foundational factor is Sound Doctrine. The message of the gospel is rooted and grounded in the Special Revelation God has graciously given to man – the Bible. The mantra of ministry that I have applied for 47 years is this - - ‘What does the text say?’ 

Discovering with precision and accuracy what God’s word declares is central to knowing his blessing and the enabling power of the Holy Spirit. In the NT we find the phrase sound doctrine used in Titus 1:9 is literally ‘healthy doctrine’. ἐν τῇ διδασκαλίᾳ τῇ ὑγιαινούσῃ καὶ τοὺς ἀντιλέγοντας ἐλέγχειν. That phrase sound doctrine is used 12 times in the NT. It has the following meaning(s);

to have sound health, i.e. be well (in body); figuratively, to be true in doctrine.

Authority of Scripture

We are examining the American Church and the prospects of doctrinal corruption due to ecumenical initiatives. We stated that the church is in trouble with a capital T. Our focus today is on the Scriptures. 66 Books that are truly one Book. From Genesis to Revelation there is one theme, the incredible story of Redemption provided by the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ to purchase a people for himself. His death did not merely make salvation possible. It actually accomplished salvation for his chosen people (Rev. 5:9-10).

And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.

The OT provides the history of Israel. The NT informs us of the body of Christ, the church. It is through God’s gracious revelation to man that we have knowledge of the church, heaven, hell, and eternity.

The Nature & Authority of the Bible, is the single most critical factor in identifying Theological Orthodoxy, sound doctrine. Error on this essential virtually guarantees there will be a multitude of unorthodox and flat out false doctrines issuing from those who embrace such error. Church History confirms this fact. 

What is the Nature of our Bible? It is God’s Word. The orthodox position on the Bible for thousands of years has been it is inerrant and infallible. It is our guide for faith and practice. Many denominations have abandoned this perspective. This is a major factor in the decline of the American church. When this principle is compromised it is all downhill from there. The PCUSA as a Denomination has lost 21% of its membership in just the past 4 years as a result of abandoning the Authority of Scripture. Are you in a church that has done this? 

What is the Authority of Special Revelation, our Bible? It is the final arbiter, the ultimate source of TRUTH absolute. Jesus said straight up to Pilate that his purpose in coming was ‘to bear witness to the truth.’ (John 18:37) The culture of America has become saturated with relativism. The claim of our culture is there is no such thing as Absolute Truth. The Bible is TRUTH Absolute. All Scripture is inspired and profitable. Case Closed!!

What does the church that you are a part of believe and practice on this vital matter?

Joyful Effective Leadership

Leadership - research has revealed as the #1 cause of decline in the American Church – Leadership.

The Francis Schaeffer Leadership Institute surveyed over 1,000 pastors. This research disclosed that 75% of pastors responding stated they were not prepared to lead well by their colleges and seminaries. 81% stated they had no strategic and intentional disciple making process. These statistics lend credence to the major cause of decline is a leadership issue. Seminaries teach a man to study the Bible. They do not teach a man to pastor with effectiveness.

Further validation of this principle is this. Men who lead well serve churches that are for the most part thriving.

Metric – This brings us to the final factor we will consider. The vast majority of churches measure ministry effectiveness by mere activity. They look at numbers; how many, how much, and how often. The NT criteria for ministry effectiveness are Transformation. This principle is a clear NT objective for all believers:

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Future – Joshua issued a compelling challenge to the people he lead. Choose you this day whom you will serve. This is where the American church is positioned. The old aphorism is true - - ‘When you always do what you’ve always done, you will always get what you always got’. Poor grammar – sound logic.

The church cannot continue to engage in dysfunctional ministry practices and expect to have the blessing of the LORD. He honors his word. The text states clearly when we seek him he will be found. However, he will only be found on his terms, not some substitute that is an eclectic conglomeration of practices borrowed from the culture around us.

If the dysfunctions we have noted are present in the church you lead, address them. Do so with courtesy and dignity but with a real measure of tenacity. Failure to change leads to continued persistent decline. The rate of decline is accelerating. The time for action is NOW.

Delay is deadly. Act NOW!!