I've been examining my church with quite a bit of scrutiny as of late. This analysis has expanded to include pop-evangelicalism as a whole and even further, the Reformation and the proper form of Protestantism. Some of my friends and my pastor and others have been made aware of this scrutiny, but some may not be, so let me explain before feelings are hurt. I've personally become very thirsty for Biblical teaching and preaching. I have also become aware that the philosophy of ministry and Church in my local church are very different from what I've come to accept as correct. This awareness has been slowly building for the last year and a half. At this point, there's not much to report other than the fact that I have these issues. I'm still in discussion with the pastor and will not delve into details in public, but it was important for me to state why this topic has become important to me before moving on.
Today, I'm considering the fact that Christians aren't any different from non-Christians. We are not salt and light to the world. (For the non-Christian, that's the Christian way of saying we are making a difference.) Looking at just my own church, I see very little evidence that Christ is the focus of the lives of our membership. Rather, I see business and friendships and family being the primary orientation of believers. Now, I'm not saying these aren't important, but to place Christ into the back seat is to be an idolator. I just finished reading an essay by D. G. Hart, "Taking Every Though Captive: The Ministry of the Word and the Limits of Christian Scholarship." (Whatever Happened to the Reformation?, ed. Gary L. W. Johnson and R. Fowler White, 2001) In this essay, Hart argues that the problem with the Church today is that it has fallen into the worldly trap that states that scholarship and learning are Christian efforts for their own sake. He argues against thinkers like Kuyper, Machen, Noll, and Guiness who state that scholarship is important to Christians because it helps Christians "take every thought captive" and helps Christians change their culture.
Interestingly, I have been planning on blogging my study of the verse that was used for the title of this brief for the past few days. I stumbled upon this essay while researching a different study. My reading of 2 Corinthians 10:3 ("Take every thought captive and test it according to the words of Christ," my paraphrase), was very similar to Hart's, but not as refined and studied. My conclusion is that every Christian should be searching the word for the truth and that, as Hank Haanegraaf often remarks, we should know the truth so intimately that the fraud becomes immediately apparent. Hart's conclusion is that the Church has thrived during times when literacy was measured by the percentage of men who could write their name on a marriage license and when the percentage of that "literacy" was far lower than today. Paul's writing to the Corinthians would have been received by a largely illiterate group (where perhaps 2 in 10 were able to read at all). Hart believes that the importance, then, is instead that Christianity is strengthened by powerful preaching.
I would say that in this age where literacy is as close to 100% as has been seen in history that the onus for Biblical learning becomes an imperative on all. However, I think Hart is right, that the power of Biblical preaching cannot be underestimated and that the Church's current desire to avoid strong preaching altogether is a dangerous dance next to a deep precipice. I believe, however, that even though the vast majority of Christians can pick up a Bible and read it, most do not. Most rarely do. I have been one of those "most Christians" until recently. I've deterrmined that, as Paul, I want to know nothing but Christ and him crucified. (1 Corinthians 2:2) This isn't to say I'm going to stop my studies in computers, stop developing relationships, etc. On the contrary, I plan to do these things as well, but I want to be certain that my first love is always Christ.
I believe God has placed the current Church crisis before me in this way as a bur to bother me. I believe God has placed godly men around me to inspire me to yearn, search, and reach for a better way. I don't think I can stand idly much longer and watch the Church doing this to itself. Therefore, I am making a commitment to be different and to place Christ and His word in the highest position in my life, in my work, in my friendships, and in my family. I haven't the strength to do this on my own and I pray that God will give me the strength I need and admonishment when I choose my own path. Amen.
Finally, I must finish by admitting frustration and impatience with God. I yearn for everything to change for the better right now. Every aspect of my life, but perhaps for my joyous marriage, seems to have become a trial and I frustrate quickly. I must be patient and wait in hope knowing that God will do the best for me and my wife. (Romans 8:28) I do not know the nature of the change that is coming or if a change is coming, just that I am now unsettled and yearning. I pray that God will, in his time, lead me and my wife in the direction he wills, even if it is a direction we do not want to go, and that He will restrain me in my impatience, teaching me patience, until then. Amen.
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