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!!

Biblical Literacy

Dr. George Guthrie teaches at Union Univ. in Jackson TN. Each year he administers a Literacy Quiz to incoming freshman. These are young people from SB churches. Theoretically they are the ‘cream of the crop’. This quiz is very simple. An example of the questions, ‘Who preached the Sermon on The Mount?’ The average score on this quiz - 57. Stunning, absolutely stunning! You cannot obey what you do not know!

The Prophet Amos grappled with literacy in his ministry:

"Behold, the days are coming," declares the Lord GOD, "when I will send a famine on the land- not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD. (Amos 8:11)

Listen to the observations made concerning Biblical Literacy by men who teach in Christian Institutions.

In “The 9 Most Important Issues Facing the Evangelical Church,” theologian Michael Vlach cites “Biblical Illiteracy in the Church” as his final concern. George Barna’s assessment is that “the Christian body in America is immersed in a crisis of biblical illiteracy.”

New Testament scholar David Nienhuis summarizes his understanding of the situation in an article titled “The Problem of Evangelical Biblical Illiteracy: A View from the Classroom”:

For well over twenty years now, Christian leaders have been lamenting the loss of general biblical literacy in America. … Some among us may be tempted to seek odd solace in the recognition that our culture is increasingly post-Christian. … Much to our embarrassment, however, it has become increasingly clear that the situation is really no better among confessing Christians, even those who claim to hold the Bible in high regard.

In 1986, Neil Postman published an influential cultural essay titled “Amusing Ourselves to Death.” Postman wrote:

What George Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Adolphus Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. 

Turn off that phone, read, and discover what God’s word says!

Assessment

Today our focus is a Summary of the Assessment Process.

For the past three weeks we have examined the importance of and the process for the Assessment of ministry in the local church. We heard Socrates warn us concerning an unexamined life - - it is not worth living! I promise you well over 75% of American churches have no formal Assessment process. They have no objective review process for the effectiveness of ministry. 

Think with me here. Where would McDonald’s be if they had no process in place for measuring the profitability of their burger sales? Where would the Crimson Tide be if Coach Saban had no way of measuring the skill sets of his players? You get the picture? Every organization must have an objective process in place by which they can determine their effectiveness as compared to stated purpose. The purpose of every church as found in the text of Scripture is to Make Disciples. 

We have considered 12 essential aspects of local church ministry that serve as Assessment 101. Unless and until a local church knows with a high degree of accuracy the true condition of their ministry, they simply perpetuate dysfunction that leads to ongoing decline. Do you doubt the accuracy of this statement? 94% of American churches are declining. That is proof positive that the absence of a valid and consistently applied Assessment Process proves deadly. 

The Basic Assessment Process we provide is very clear and simple. It takes less than 15 minutes for a pastor or a church leader to complete. The cost is minimal. The benefits are many and vital for effective disciple making. So why do churches refuse to submit to the Assessment Process? I offer four reasons and while they may be difficult to embrace they are never-the-less true.

1.  Leadership Incompetence. We learned earlier in our series that Leadership Incompetence is the #1 reason for the decline of the American church. Are you listening pastor? This can change but until it does decline is your future.

2.  Fear of Failure. This is ironic because not engaging the Assessment Process is in and of itself failure.

3.  Cost. This is a smoke screen. Completing the Assessment Process is not an expenditure. It is in reality an investment, one of the wisest and most fruitful investments a local church can make.

4.  Tradition – we have never done this before!!! Exactly and precipitous and unrelenting decline is the obvious result. 

So pastor, church member, are you ready for Assessment?

Monergism

Monergism is a theological perspective that boldly and unapologetically declares that ‘Salvation is of the LORD!’ This perspective was dominant in American Christianity until the mid-1800’s. One of the primary architects of the transition was Charles Grandison Finney. 

Finney was a disgruntled attorney who became a preacher. He had little or no theological training. The consequences of this change have been nothing short of tragic!

Remember the phrase ‘it’s the economy stupid!’ "It's the theology, stupid." The dominant moralism of the fundamentalist/revivalistic evangelicalism of the 60's and 70's gave way to the dominant moralism of the attractional/"contemporary" evangelicalism of the 80's and 90's and we -- the American Church -- discipled our people right into this mess. When we traded in biblical exposition for self-focused how-to's, when we blended up a syrupy syncretism of Americana and "Judeo-Christian values," when we stopped prophetically proclaiming and started handing out trite inspirational slogans, when we started treating congregants like customers and church programs like consumer products, when we moved the gospel to the end of the service and then escorted it out of the sanctuary altogether, we basically asked for this. We set these wheels in motion. 

What I want for the faith perspective of the American church is more than theological agreement in the mind. I want us to experience a theological change of the heart. If we truly believe in the Doctrines of Grace, our zeal will be complemented with humility and our earnestness with compassion. Those who embrace the absolute sovereignty and unbreakable love of God, in light of our own moral inability to do good or to please him, will be struck with awe and overwhelmed with meekness. 

The Father chose us, the Son died for us, and the Holy Spirit awoke us when we were rebelling, refusing, and resisting. Salvation is truly of the Lord, leaving us no room for boasting or pride. We should be passionate about doctrine but patient with people, for apart from the working of God, how will their minds and hearts be changed? 

Before we set out to correct others with the Doctrines of Grace, be sure we apply them to our own heart. Preach to ourselves before we preach to others. Only then will doctrinal precision be accompanied by compassionate persuasion. Others will more easily see the glory of these truths when they see how they have already changed us.

Salvation is truly and only of the LORD.