Tho'ts On Ministry Philosophy

I've been thinking about the challenges facing the spread of the Biblical faith of Christianity.  The news headlines are packed with assaults on  Christianity and the defense of all other faiths.  Christians are ridiculed, belittled, and not even considered worthy opponents to the modern world view of relativism - especially in the media.

 

Agape Press reports that the Southern Baptist Convention (the national level of cooperating Southern Baptists) at its annual convention in Nashville is trying to encourage pastors to "Stick to the Scriptures."  It is a worthy call - but it is also worthy of something else - the task of convincing not only the Christians in the churches, but the world outside of the churches that the Bible, the Holy Scriptures, are indeed the Word of God, not the mistake of man.  I fully agree that pastors should "stick to the Scriptures."  We need to model a high view of the Scriptures.  The consequences of not doing so can be eternally damnable for the rejection of the Bible's authority is the rejection of God's authority - a sin that is inexcusable by a Holy God.

 

Having said all that, I would encourage our Christian brothers and sisters, whether or not in leadership, to prayerfully consider Adrian Rogers' reminder in the latest issue (May-June 2005) Southern Baptist Convention's magazine, "Faith and Family Values" that we are not fighting flesh and blood; that the enemy is not the unbeliever (he is the victim of the enemy); that we are fighting a spiritual war where the enemy is Satan and his cronies.  As we realize that the reason so few are trusting the Scriptures is because so many have bought the lie from Satan that they are untrustworthy, we can fight the battle where it is - in the spiritual realm.  Who shines spiritual light and reveals truth?  The Lord, the Holy Spirit.  We should pray that the Holy Spirit will show those we minister to that the Scriptures are trustworthy, that we won't lose confidence in them, and that we would grow in our understanding of them.  We should fight the culture war by diligently and faithfully praying for the Holy Spirit to show the ones we are ministering to the truths we are proclaiming, living, and sometimes dying for.  Only as He shines His Holy Light in the hearts of others will their eyes be opened to the truth.  Reason will not convince them.  War will not change them.  Only the power of God will accomplish this in their lives.

 

So I conclude this submission with this:  We need to return to prayer AND stick to Scripture in our lives and our ministries.