Jump Start # 2203

2 Timothy 4:3 “The time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires.”

Up here in Indiana, fall has finally begun. The air is cool and in one day we’ve gone from air conditioners to furnaces. This happens every year. We expect it and we are ready for it. We’ll soon be getting out sweaters, jackets and before long, winter coats. Change is in the air. Paul’s words in our verse today speaks of another coming change. It wasn’t the weather, but it certainly was the temperature. The temperature of a congregation was changing. “The time will come,” speaks of a shift in thinking and a change in the temperature. What was changing was the heart, faith and dedication of a congregation. They were no longer putting up with sound doctrine. They had enough. They were making changes and they were going to find someone who would preach what they wanted to hear.

Several things drop out of these thoughts.

First, there was a time when they did endure sound doctrine. The expression, “The time will come,” indicates a change. It’s not that they never believed this. Nor, were they this way all along. No, there was a time when all was well. Timothy is at Ephesus when Paul writes these words. Read Ephesians. Read what is said about them in Revelation two. There was a time when they seemed to be clicking on all cylinders.

Second, something changed. We are not told how or what. But they no longer tolerated sound doctrine. Was there a discipline problem among them? A moral issue within one of the families? Not only would they not tolerate sound doctrine, but they would not tolerate those that taught sound doctrine, and in this specific setting, that meant Timothy. The days were coming when Timothy would be on the outs. He would be replaced. He would no longer be wanted, accepted or used.

Third, that change in the heart of the congregation is what is so important to catch and identify. The change from enduring to no longer enduring doesn’t happen in one sermon. Things brew for a while. People put up with things they don’t like for a while. Change is hard. Changing preachers is hard. But there comes a breaking point, and then the flood waters flow and immediately it becomes evident that they were holding all of this in for a long time. Now that it gets out and in the open, there is no holding it back. Private feelings become proclaimed publicly. Others jump on the bandwagon. Those that could go either way, go the way of the majority. And before Timothy’s eyes, is a different congregation. They don’t want commitment, faithfulness and devotion to Christ. Too much doctrine. Too much expectations. They want a softer, kinder religion that doesn’t offend any and is easy to follow.

It’s essential that elders and preachers recognize the change before it gets to the point of no return. Listen to what people are saying. Pay attention to what folks are reading. Notice what they are liking on Facebook. Timothy didn’t have any of these things. He didn’t have religious bookstores that sold every flavor of idea. He didn’t have social media as we do. It is too easy to assume that everyone is following along just fine. Changes were coming for Timothy. Paul was warning him. Paul had warned the elders of this same congregation. Changes were coming from among them. That’s where most of this started. They changed and the congregation followed the changes.

Fourth, it is also interesting that the changed congregation did not quit completely. One would think that if they were finished with sound doctrine that they would walk away from the Lord, the Gospel and just go back to the world. But they weren’t doing that. They remained as a congregation. They simply wanted things their way. They were interested in a different choice, another brand. Something less of doctrine and more pleasing to the ear.

What tickles our ears? Hearing our names in a positive way. Hearing that we are amazing. Hearing that we are doing a great job. Laughter tickles our ears. Funny stories tickles our ears. Cute stories that warm the heart tickles our ears. Hearing that everyone lives happily ever after tickles our ears. Hearing that we don’t have to change a thing, just keep doing what you’re doing, tickles our ears. Paul had told this congregation in his letter of Ephesians, to lay aside falsehood. They were not to sin when angry. No more unwholesome words. They were to forgive others. They were to walk away from the old self. Sound doctrine. Change self or change the message? They changed the message.

Fifth, Paul’s solution to this coming storm was to keep preaching the word. In season and out of season simply means when they want to hear it and when they don’t want to hear it. Hardships would come. They won’t like this. Timothy was told to endure even when the congregation no longer endured. Timothy wasn’t to make adjustments. He wasn’t to turn down the dial on sound doctrine. He wasn’t to give them a break from this form of teaching. Preach on, are Paul’s words.

The situation Timothy faced is repeated in our days. People that started off with the Lord change. They no longer accept what first brought them to the Lord. They don’t want to go entirely back to the world, so they find some who will tickle their ears. Good preachers are let go and replaced with those who have no backbone, conviction or heart. They know who butters their bread and they can preach any way the money flows. And, those kind of preachers are a dime a dozen. They love to be loved and to tickle ears. And as they and the congregation have a great time together, the faith of these people becomes more shallow and weaker. In time, any little storm will blow them over. In time, their watered down faith will be of no use to them and of little help to them. In time, this too, will be a waste of time.

How does a congregation change like this? It happens one by one. No one notices. No one tries to stop it. And it spreads like mold on a wall. Once it’s noticed, it’s almost too late because it has spread so far and so deep within the people.

So, we must hold the mirror up to ourselves. Do we still endure sound doctrine? Even when it knocks the shine off of our shoes? Even when it means we must change? Even when it calls upon us to do things that are uncomfortable to us, such as forgiving others.

The church changed because the people changed. That’s where it always begins.

Roger

Jump Start # 2202

1 Timothy 3:10 “And let these also first be tested; then let them serve as deacons if they are beyond reproach.”

A congregation looks to appoint some new deacons. There is work to be done. Within the church there are several young family men who attend regularly and seem to be nice guys. Names are submitted. The preacher presents a lesson about deacon qualifications and a couple of weeks later, more deacons are added. This is a common picture in many congregations. Most times it flows smoothly. What is sometimes overlooked is the “pre-deacon” requirement. This is our verse today.

Within our verse is a priority statement. The word “first,” tells us that there is an order. We know this word in other places. Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God.” He also said to first, remove the plank out of your eye before you help someone who has a speck in their eye. First.

Let them first be tested or proven. This is not some challenge that the elders think of and if they pass this “test” then they can be deacons. This is not like a “pre-med” or a “pre-law” entrance exam. Paul is referring to what we already know about these men that we want to be deacons. They have already shown themselves to be worthy.

This tells us that there are tasks to be done by folks who do not carry the title of elder or deacon. Help was needed, and these men proved themselves. They showed that they were faithful, dependable and capable of doing what needed to be done. It didn’t go to their heads and they thought that they could now run the place. No one runs the place other than Christ.

The test factor is important. Some get the idea that if a guy isn’t really on the ball and doesn’t come like he ought to, making him a deacon will help him step it up spiritually. The responsibility will force him to turn it up a notch. Grand idea, but it usually bombs. More often, that becomes a deacon that doesn’t show up very much. Everyone wonders why he is a deacon and no one is certain what he does. He had never proven himself before he was appointed. He wasn’t doing much before he was a deacon and now, he’s not doing much after he is a deacon. For his sake and the church, he ought to resign until he develops the heart of a servant which is the description of a deacon.

All of this filters down to how have any of us shown ourselves to each other and the Lord? Have we demonstrated that the kingdom is important to us? Have we proven that we can do something without complaining or messing things up? Can the church count on us? Do we have to have a title before we will do anything?

Although nothing here carries over to the preacher, I wonder if this would be a good idea as well. Many a man can stand behind the pulpit, and with confidence and great speaking ability, deliver a passionate sermon. But what’s he like out of the pulpit? What is his work ethic? What’s he doing the rest of the week?

The common model that most congregations use to hire a new preacher is to bring the preacher and his family over for a weekend. The preacher will preach his best sermons. At a pitch-in, everyone spends a little time basically asking the same questions, where did you go to school, how old are your children, where do you now live? It’s awkward and usually doesn’t accomplish much. Another sermon in the evening, a quick meeting with the elders about finances, time table when he could move and a couple of common doctrinal questions, his views on divorce, and whether or not his wife will work and with that the preacher and his family head home and await a phone call. By the next Sunday the elders have gotten a feel from the congregation, and a phone call is made and an offer is presented and the preacher is happy and it’s full steam ahead. That’s the typical way preachers are hired. Been there and done that. Very stressful. Very incomplete.

No one really knows what the new preacher does during the week. No one knows how hard he works of if he golfs every day. And, far too often, within five years the congregation will be going through this again because they will have become disappointed in the current preacher. He doesn’t work, some will say. He doesn’t do anything outside the pulpit, others say. And, it seems that everyone is shocked by this. No one gave this any consideration. And, worse of all, the church will repeat the same process again with the next preacher, hoping that this time they have found a “good one.”

Tested and proven. That’s essential before a man can be a deacon. Shouldn’t something similar be said concerning the preacher? Here are some ideas about finding a new preacher:

Rather than bring him over to preach, go to him and observe how he interacts with a place he is familiar with. Instead of immediately putting him in the pulpit to “try out,” bring him over for some intense meetings with the elders. Find out why he wants to move. Find out what he has accomplished. Find out what a typical week looks like, in detail. Talk about what plans, goals he has in his life. Where does he want to be in five years. Share what concepts you have for the congregation. Many meetings. Discussions. Insights. You will be able to tell if everyone is on the same page. You can see how he communicates. Does he listen. Does he have ideas. Is he motivated. Who does he look up to spiritually. Who trained him. How long has he been at each place he has preached. What challenges has he faced. Has he ever worked with elders. What was that like. Detailed discussions, before anyone else knows and before he preaches to the congregation. You are seeing and deciding if he is a good fit for the church. It may be after these intense meetings, that you decide to pass on him. Maybe he’s not what you are looking for. You have saved a lot of heartache by coming to this decision before he ever stood behind the pulpit.

I’ve heard of preachers trying out and not even using their own sermons. They used someone else’s work. That got unnoticed because no one dared to ask or checked to find out.

First, proven. Great concept. It will eliminate a lot of heartache and trouble. Unproven, untested opens the door for trouble. We test drive cars before we purchase. Drugs are tested before they come on the market. Most electronics have been inspected before they are sold. To be a pilot, doctor, nurse, teacher, lawyer there are tests that first have to be passed.

The revivalist Wesley once said that some men are so grand in the pulpit that they should never leave. But once they leave they are so wicked that they should never get back in the pulpit.

Proven. It’s a good thought to remember.

Roger