Problems In The Pulpit

 PROBLEMS IN THE PULPIT

“But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.” - Galatians 1:8

I am thankful for the wonderful preachers who faithfully proclaim the truth of God's Word on a regular basis. Some are highly educated and trained to fulfill their calling, while others have little or no formal training, but simply stand and preach with great power. I am thankful for such men of God, who take their calling seriously. They lovingly shepherd their congregation and lead people to Jesus.

While some of these preachers may have regional, national or even international acclaim for their ministries, most are virtually unknown. They simply do God's will in the obscurity of a small church in a community or small town. Many of these obscure preachers are bi-vocational, holding down a regular job while leading a small congregation. Such men deserve our respect.

While I am thankful for such men, I must also confess that there are some in the ministry who give the rest a bad name. They are known for their shady fund-raising schemes, wild extremes of ministry and false doctrine. Some are nothing more than slick snake-oil salesmen, using the pulpit for selfish gain and public notoriety. They bring shame and reproach to the Lord Jesus, misrepresent the Gospel and lead many astray.

When I write about “Problems In the Pulpit,” you're probably thinking about these notorious preachers who make a mockery of the Gospel ministry. While this could be a topic for another message, I wish to dwell on the public pulpits that we tend to overlook.

First of all, there are problems with the classroom pulpit. Over the past century or so, we have transferred the responsibility of teaching children from the parents to the government. Schools and colleges have a strong influence on the worldview your child will have. In spite of the teaching they hear at home and church, most of their views will be formed at a government-funded educational facility.

Yet many young people are enticed to leave the faith after being taught in college. The college lectern has become a pulpit to spread heresy, blasphemy and lies. There is a problem in this pulpit. Rather than teaching young people and preparing them for a professional career, instead they are being molded into thinking like the ungodly world around them. Information has been replaced with indoctrination. Rather than encouraging young people to think, they are training them to be robots of new age ideas. There is a problem in this pulpit. Godly parents need to pray carefully before sending their kids to a secular college. The young person they send off may not resemble the one who returns.

Secondly, there is the political pulpit. A politician will stand behind his or her “pulpit,” and preach a doctrine that is often contrary to the teaching of Scripture. Sometimes these politicians will quote Scripture, then twist the verse to mean something that is absurd or even blasphemous. They are responsible for what they believe, how they live and the doctrine they publicize. They are also accountable for the people who were led astray by their teaching. There is a problem in the political pulpit.

Finally, there is a problem with the newsroom pulpit. When I was growing up, newscasters simply reported the news. Now they gave “analysis,” which is a fancy way of saying that they are going to give you their opinion on the subject. Americans should be fed up with this kind of “reporting.” Newscasters seem to think that the average American is too ignorant to know what a news headline means. They think we can't understand the news of the day without their commentary. In many cases, the news desk has become a pulpit. I am not opposed to newscasters who will honestly “fact check” a politician. However, it is time for people to “fact check,” the newscasters, too. They often have a hidden agenda. They wish to persuade their viewers to share their views and biases. There is a problem in the newscaster's pulpit.

Let me close by reminding you to “fact check,” everything you hear. We need to listen carefully to everything that is said and examine the merits by searching the Scriptures. The Bereans were called “noble,” for “fact checking” the Apostle Paul. Paul actually encouraged people to fact check him. In Galatians 1:9, Paul wrote, “As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”

By the way, it is important for us to “fact check,” ourselves. The Word of God probes our minds and hearts and discerns our motives. Open your Bible and read it daily. Let the Word reveal the truth to you.

One day, each one of us will stand before God. On that day, we will be judged by the truth. If you are unsaved, be aware that your issue is not a problem in the pulpit, but a problem in your heart. The new birth is the only solution. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.

Bad Love

BAD LOVE

“...I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house ...because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.” - 1 Samuel 3:12-13

Last week, I wrote about “Good Fear.” Those two words typically don't go together. Yet the fear of the Lord is a good fear. It is a fear that all of us should have. As the Scripture teaches, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

Today, I am writing about “Bad Love.” Again, these two words don't seem to go together. We think of “love” as a positive word. Certainly, you'd think that love is always a positive emotion, producing positive results. But that simply isn't so.

Eli and his sons served as priests over the people. Yet Eli's sons were evil men. They abused the priesthood with their selfishness and wickedness. Those in authority can be very wicked indeed. Even those in spiritual leadership can be evil. Yet like Eli's sons, the wicked will meet their doom. Judgment lies ahead for such men. Sinful men will reap what they have sown.

Eli also faced God's judgment along with his sons, because “he restrained them not.” Eli was not wicked like his sons, but he refused to restrain them. There's an old staying, “Blood is thicker than water.” That was true in this situation. Eli knew his sons were out of hand, but he permitted them to get that way.

Eli knew better. It is true that he verbally rebuked his sons for their wickedness, but it was too little, too late. Eli probably wouldn't have tolerated such behavior from others, but his sons were a different story. He refused to restrain them. This is “bad love.”

“Bad love,” exists when a parent refuses to correct, discipline and train a child because of sentimental “love.” When a parent says, “I love my child too much to discipline him,” this parent is practicing, “bad love.” Both the child and the parent will pay the price for such “love.” Eventually, the uncontrolled child may end up behind bars, dying from an overdose of drugs or endure a life of alcoholism.

Let's consider Eli and his sons. In our text, the problem was that Eli's sons were now adults. It is obvious that they lacked the proper discipline and direction they needed when they were growing up. “Bad love,” produced unruly children that eventually became wicked adults.

“Tough love,” is the antithesis of “bad love.” We consider “tough love,” to be the stern response of a parent toward a son or daughter that is doing wrong. When parents discipline their children, it is an act of “tough love.” I admit that “tough love,” is unpopular and politically incorrect these days, but it is Biblically correct --- which is all that matters.

Nearly twenty-five years ago, then-Governor Bob Wise signed legislation that made corporal punishment illegal in public schools here in my home state of West Virginia. There are still strong opinions about both sides of this issue. Many, including some teachers, think that the paddle should be brought back to the classroom. Others think that such punishment is barbaric, harmful and unnecessary.

Proverbs 13:24 states, “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.” This is tough love. “Bad love,” spares the child the discipline he or she desperately needs. It isn't the lack of discipline in the classroom that is ruining the lives of young people, it is the lack of discipline at home that is the cause.

Look at the end result. Eli and his sons died tragically because Eli refused to restrain his sons. His “bad love,” cost them their lives. Today, we wonder why there are riots and increased crime. Children backtalk their parents and show disrespect to elders. Parents allow their little children to decide what gender they are. In America, we are reaping what we have sown. We have sown to the wind, now we are reaping the whirlwind.

Be assured, God uses “tough love.” He takes His children out to the woodshed when they need it. He does not tolerate unruly behavior and rebellion. He can be stern at times. He wants to save His children from future pain and heartache. Because of this, He provides “tough love,” when needed. He disciplines His children because He loves them. We should do the same with our children.

I strongly condemn child abuse. Yet I also object to parents allowing their children to act disrespectful and unruly. The pain of discipline is far less severe than the ultimate heartache that comes from an undisciplined life. When required, love can be tough.

“Bad love,” is not really love at all.