Preaching to those who suffer
Published March 3, 2009 | 
I was encouaraged by this quote. In the book Feed My Sheep: A Passionate Plea for Preaching, Pastor John Piper writes,
It is true that we must be bold in the pulpit and afraid of no man but courageous as we contend for the truth. But it is just as true that our boldness must be a brokenhearted boldness, that our courage must be a contrite and lowly courage, and that we must be tender contenders for the truth. If we are brash and harsh and cocky and clever, we may win a hearing with angry and pugnacious people, but we will drive away those who suffer (2 Cor 1:4).
Having preached a couple of sermons recently about different kinds of suffering (Psalms 4 and 73), this was a good reminder to me. I saw it on a friend’s website (Expository Thoughts). Our suffering is aimed at producing Christlike character in us, and it is true that we often sin in the midst of our suffering. A shepherd can’t overlook how we often “sin in our suffering,” but we aren’t to break off the battered reed, or snuff out the smoldering wick either (Matthew 12:20). Christlike ministry to the hurting is a challenging task indeed. We love you, and hope the Word and Spirit are ministering to your hearts.
How and why to have a godly controversy with a fellow believer
Published August 30, 2008 | A while back I read a book by John Piper called The Future of Justification (available online), in which he thoroughly, lovingly and systematically showed why a fellow brother’s (N. T. Wright) understanding of the doctrine of justification is biblically incorrect. In this book he begins with a chapter discussing the biblical necessity of engaging in controversy and the attitudes that should characterize believers as they engage one another in these discussions of truth.
On our cafebiblia blog you can read the text of the entire chapter from this book (and I encourage you to read the entire post there). I wanted to include just brief excerpts here to clarify why it is that pastors must engage in godly but careful analysis, and even disagreement, with fellow Christians on matters of truth. These statements are quotes from Piper’s chapter, which discusses the particular controversy he is addressing, as well as the general need to engage in controversy from time to time.
The reason I take up controversy with N. T. Wright . . . Wright is a popular and compelling writer as well as a rigorous scholar. Therefore, he exerts significant influence . . . [yet] Wright loves the apostle Paul and reverences the Christian Scriptures. That gives me hope that engaging with him will be fruitful . . .
When we are arguing about the meaning of the gospel, it is important to do it “in step with the truth of the gospel” (Gal. 2:14). If Bible-believers are going to disagree about the meaning of the Bible, we should try to do so biblically [he means in a godly fashion]. To that end, I offer the following encouragements . . .
But is it really necessary? Must we contend? Cannot we not simply be positive, rather than trying to show that others are wrong? . . . [in response he quotes J. Gresham Machen, who said,] . . . Men tell us that our preaching should be positive and not negative, that we can preach the truth without attacking error. But if we follow that advice we shall have to close our Bible and desert its teachings. The New Testament is a polemic book almost from beginning to end . . .
Piper longs for unity, and considers it “heart-wrenching” that controversy and disagreement exists in the church. In light of that he offers this objective and realistic observation.
. . . one of the groanings of this fallen age is controversy, and most painful of all, controversy with brothers and sisters in Christ. We resonate with the apostle Paul–our joy would be full if we could all be “of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Phil. 2:2). But for all his love of harmony and unity and peace, it is remarkable how many of Paul’s letters were written to correct fellow Christians.
The assumption of the entire New Testament is that we should strive for peace . . . [however] The unity we strive for in the church is a unity in knowledge and truth and righteousness. We grow up into the one body “joined and held together” as we “attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Eph. 4:13, 16). “Grace and peace” are multiplied to us “in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Pet. 1:2). And paradoxically, the weaponry with which we wage war for “the gospel of peace” begins with “the belt of truth” (Eph. 6:14-15) and ends with “the sword of the Spirit,” the Word of God (6:17).
Piper also observes with frankness and clarity that the Apostle Paul’s controversies involved issues that transcended just “damning heresy,” but included matters of “secondary importance” (I use quotes to make sure you understand that I mean all truth is important, but not all errors will damn the souls of those who embrace it).
For the sake of unity and peace, therefore, Paul labors to set the churches straight on numerous issues–-including quite a few that do not in themselves involve heresy. He does not exclude controversy from his pastoral writing. And he does not limit his engagement in controversy to first-order doctrines, where heresy threatens. He is like a parent to his churches. Parents do not correct and discipline their children only for felonies. Good parents long for their children to grow up into all the kindness and courtesy of mature adulthood. And since the fabric of truth is seamless, Paul knows that letting minor strands continue to unravel can eventually rend the whole garment.
Indeed, he is right. The adoption of every wrong teaching will lead to a “rending of the garment of truth” to some degree, and this is something that careful, loving shepherds cannot avoid if they are to care for the flock of God among them.
At the same time, Piper graciously reminds us that shepherds, and all those who engage in controversy, must always display godly character as they engage in the discussion or disagreement itself. He says,
Paul teaches that elders serve the church, on the one hand, by caring for the church without being pugnacious (1 Tim. 3:3, 5), and, on the other hand, by rebuking and correcting false teaching.
In our postmodern society where truth is considered unclear, uncertain or relative, and in a day when ecumenical cries for unity in the church are incessant, it is difficult to even speak definitively without “rocking the boat” and inviting criticisms of some kind. Piper encourages the people of God to be uncompromising in both their commitment to truth, and in their commitment to exhibiting character in the presentation of truth.
Faithful Christians do not love controversy; they love peace. They love their brothers and sisters who disagree with them. They long for a common mind for the cause of Christ. But for this very reason they are bound by their conscience and by the Word of God to try to persuade the church concerning the fullness of the truth and beauty of God’s word.
We live in a day of politicized discourse that puts no premium on clear assertions. Some use language to conceal where they stand rather than to make clear where they stand. One reason this happens is that clear and open statements usually result in more criticism than ambiguous statements do. Vagueness will win more approval in a hostile atmosphere than forthrightness will.
May God help us all to love the church by enabling us to lovingly, graciously and humbly express “clear assertions” of the truth and “persuade the church concerning the fulness of the truth and beauty of God’s word.”
Your servant,
Brian Sayers
What to do when you think a shepherd is messing up?
Published March 21, 2008 | 
God tells His sheep to submit to the undershepherds of His flock. He wants His people to submit to “creatures,” or “human institutions” as the NASB render is in 1 Peter 2:13. He wants us to obey and submit to our leaders (Hebrews 13:17).
What do you do when your shepherd is “messing up” in some way? What is God’s will in that situation? What does “submission” look like in that situation?
Let’s say a person believes one of the elders is not fulfilling one of his responsibilities as a shepherd.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors doesn’t pray enough.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors tries to control too much.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors doesn’t visit people in their homes enough.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors visits people in their homes too much.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors doesn’t study enough or put enough time into sermon preparation.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors studies too much and puts too much time into sermon preparation.
- Maybe he thinks one of the pastors doesn’t make himself available enough.
How should he submit to the elders (place himself under) in such a situation?
The church member should not express his concerns to other people in the church. That would not be “living in peace” with his leaders (1 Thess. 2:13). Expressing his concerns to others in the church will cause strife and division. In fact, you should “turn away” from those that cause dissensions (Romans 16:17). God wants unity in His church (1 Cor. 1:10; 12:25)! Sometimes concerns are expressed subtly.
- “I like our former leaders because they really believed in the power of prayer.” The implication is the current leaders don’t really believe in the power of prayer.
- “You know, studying the Bible is important. We need knowledge. However, loving people is good too. People don’t just want to be taught; they want to be loved.” Obviously, the implication is that the current leader(s) don’t love people as they ought.
Comments such as these, cause people to be critical of the leadership. People start evaluating how much the leaders emphasize prayer. They hear a pastor say he spent 20 hours preparing for a sermon, and they are saddened because…it’s true – “he doesn’t love the people.” Such comments can be very destructive. However, even if the destruction can’t be seen or identified, God is not pleased. He died so His people would experience unity.
This means, as well, that he should not call a meeting with the elders to voice his concern about the perceived fault of one of the elders. Gossip isn’t okay just because more people are involved or because another elder, or elders, are present.
The church member should determine to the best of his ability whether he thinks the fault of the elder is a sin. All of the scenarios above pertain to “spiritual things.” It can be difficult to sort these things out until we are able to identify “sins.”
First, in many cases church members simply do not know enough to determine if the elder is sinning. How can one know how much an elder prays? How can one know how much an elder studies? On occasion the elder may tell people, but most times he doesn’t. How can one know how much an elder visits people in the church? No doubt there are many occasions when a church member is disappointed with one of his pastors for years only to find out later that he has been visiting and praying more than he would have imagined!
1 Corinthians 4:5
Therefore do not go on passing judgment before the time, but wait until the Lord comes who will both bring to light the things hidden in the darkness and disclose the motives of men’s hearts; and then each man’s praise will come to him from God.
Many facts are “hidden in the darkness.” As well, church members should be careful to not judge the motives of their leaders. The Apostle Paul encourages us to reserve judgment of such matters for the Lord.
Second, in many cases church members want their shepherd to do something that is not specifically stated in Scripture. Church shepherds should be devoted to prayer (Acts 6:4), but the Bible does not specific exactly how much time should be spent in prayer. He is to study diligently, but the Bible doesn’t specify how much time he should devote to sermon preparation. The same could be said for the other scenarios.
If the church member thinks it is a sin, he needs to talk to the elder privately. The church member should not look for a supernatural sign from God to know God’s will in this situation. He does not need to wait for mystical promptings (nor does he ever need to) from God to talk to the elder about his sin. The church member only needs to read and listen to God’s will revealed in Scripture. Matthew 18:15 says, “If your brother [this includes elders] sins, go and show him his fault in private” (emphasis mine).
What if the elder doesn’t listen? Matthew 18:16 says, “if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed.” (I won’t say much more here about what that should look like; I’ll simply refer you to Pastor Brian’s booklet in Church Discipline which can be found on the back table in the church lobby.)
If the church member doesn’t think the elder is “sinning,” he needs to apply other biblical principles. Many people at this point – frustrated with the shepherd about something that isn’t sin – let the matter stew in their heart. They become embittered. They erect an immaterial wall between them and their shepherd. Sometimes they can even begin to despise their shepherd all together. This is not God’s will!
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiledColossians 3:8
But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth.Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
First, the church member needs to refrain from judging his brother (the elder) in the matter. If he hold his shepherd to a non-biblical standard, pride is at the root of it. Look at the insightful words of James.
James 4:10-12
(10) Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
(11) Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it.
(12) There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?
Who are we to judge? We should not try to play God. It’s prideful.
Second, the church member should examine the motives of his heart. If a church member wants his shepherd to visit more people in the church, it’s not necessarily sinful. It is, in most cases, good for a pastor to visit in the homes of church family members. However, it’s possible that the church member’s desire could become sinful – when it is an idolatrous desire. As you know, most of our idols are immaterial (Colossians 3:5). They are inordinate desires. How can we identify sinfully idolatrous desires? Here are 3 questions to help us.
- Are we desiring something forbidden in Scripture? A church member may want his pastor to stop preaching on “sin,” which the pastor is required to preach on. He may not want his pastors to carry out “church discipline” as described in Matthew 18:15ff even when God requires it.
- Are we willing to sin in order to get what we want? A church member may use gossip as a tool to manipulate his pastor to visit more. Or, he may avoid attendance at important meetings in order to manipulate his pastor to do things his way. This type of action indicates an idolatrous desire.
- Do we sin if we don’t get what we want? Do we complain, gossip, slander, curse instead of bless, etc.?
Third, the church member could talk to the elder after he is sure his desires are not idolatrous. If he goes to the elder with idolatrous desires, he will no doubt see “disorder and every evil thing.”
James 3:15-17
(15) This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic.
(16) For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing.
(17) But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy.
If his desires are not idolatrious and motivated by selfish ambition, he could express them to his shepherd. His helpful and encouraging communication could help the shepherd be more faithful or more careful in carrying out the work of the ministry. Perhaps the elder has been discouraged about things; the church member could be used by God to help him lift his gaze to the Lord. Perhaps the church member can help the shepherd be more effective in some way.
Fourth, the church member should be persuadable. Perhaps the elder has well-thought out reasons for the way he has been doing things. The church member should be open to persuasion. Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them.” “Obey” in this verse means, “Be persuadable.” The church member is to place himself under his shepherd, but he is also to try to understand his shepherd. Of course, the shepherd, should be eager to listen to the concerns of the member of his flock. He should genuinely listen. His desire to be effective for Christ should motivate him to genuinely consider the suggestions of others.