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.

Athanasius - The Cost of Knowing God

Jesus warned us, there is great cost involved for those who would know God. He said they hated him and they will hate us. When we seek to follow and obey him with uncompromised fidelity there is a price to be paid. Athanasius is a leading figure in church history. He paid a high price for defending theological orthodoxy.

Athanasius lived from 295 – 373 AD. He led the doctrinal struggle to define God as a Trinitarian being, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Athanasius spent his life defending and articulating the Doctrine of the Trinity. Once he assumed leadership of his church, Athanasius was exiled five times for his stance on the Trinity. While in prison for the third time he was viciously tortured. The members of his congregation were executed because they refused to deny the Trinity.

We benefit from the loyalty of Athanasius to the TRUTH by drawing these lessons from his life and ministry:

1. Defending and explaining doctrine is for the sake of the gospel and our everlasting joy.

2. Joyful courage is the calling of a faithful shepherd and faithful people.

3. Loving Christ includes loving true propositions about Christ.

4. A widespread and long-held doctrinal difference among Christians does not mean that the difference is insignificant or that we should not seek to persuade toward the truth and seek agreement.

5. Pastors should not aim to preach only in categories of thought that can be readily understood by this generation. Rather, we should also aim at creating biblical categories of thought that are not present.

The struggle that Athanasius engaged is known in church history as the Arian Controversy. Arius taught that Jesus Christ was a created being rather than being co-equal with the Father, having no beginning and no end as the writer of the book of Hebrews declares (Heb. 7:17). Jesus Christ is a Priest after the order of Melchizedek, had no beginning and has no end. 

Here is a warning for all pastors. Do not adapt doctrine “to the seekers,”. Do not dumb down biblical language for the sake of contextualization. Be committed to “the pilgrim principle of confrontation”. In many obvious ways, the lessons of the 4th century have not been learned by pastors today. Stand and declare Sound Doctrine!

What price are you willing to pay for the glorious privilege of Knowing God?

Conflict Resolution

Christians are redeemed by the finished work of Christ. However, they are still sinners. That sin, when not mortified, produces selfish conduct. That selfish conduct leads to conflict. A study completed by the Hartford Seminary revealed that 85% of church conflict is driven by control issues. The issue may be finances, types of music, or any number of other factors. But, mark it down, the issue is seldom the real issue. The issue is almost never one of doctrinal significance. The real issue is inordinate CONTROL which always produces conflict.

An article titled 7 reasons People Leave Their Church reveals that relational conflict plays a major role.

Marginal church members tend to drop out at the first hint of even minor interpersonal conflict. Very active members are more resilient, recognizing that church members are not perfect. But, if the conflict becomes severe, some of the very active church members will leave as well.

People seldom if ever disclose the true reason for their departure. There should always be an Exit Interview conducted when people leave. Much valuable insight is gained through this process.

So how should a church deal with conflict? Apply the ‘Barney Fife Principle – nip it in the bud!’ Here are the steps for addressing church conflict.

1. Pray for wisdom and much grace in dealing with all parties.

2. Get the facts, the real story and validate their accuracy before addressing the issue.

3. Address the participants individually before bringing them together. Their accounts of the issue will differ.

4. Bring the parties together face to face and present the issue objectively.

5. Apply the appropriate biblical texts to the situation and get genuine consensus from all parties that they will abide by what the Scripture declares.

6. Follow up and monitor the conduct and relationship of the parties involved.

7. Conflict will always get worse not better if permitted to go unresolved – deal with it in a timely, biblical, and comprehensive manner.

Churches split, the gospel is maligned and the Name of Christ suffers because of unresolved conflict.

There are approximately 19,000 church splits each year in the American church. That is 50/day! This figure is supplied by Peacemakers.net. This is an organization focused on equipping churches to avoid church splits. 

So, are the relationships healthy in the church where you serve?