The Church is called by Paul "a pillar and buttress of the truth." (I Timothy 3:15 ESV) To the Church is given the task of promoting and defending the very gospel itself. This task is no small one, and should be taken very seriously by all, especially those who claim the mantle of elder or pastor. We take upon ourselves a very serious responsibility when we mount the pulpit and step behind the lectern to deliver the precious gospel to our congregations. This is why James warned: "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." (James 3:1 ESV) This sober warning is given to communicate the seriousness of the role of teacher. Paul exhorts us to preach the Word of God. We have been given this mandate to preach, not what we would preach, but what God has commanded we preach. We are to preach no more or less than what God has revealed to us in His Word. When we hear one proclaiming something as truth we are to be noble Bereans and search the Scriptures for ourselves to see if these things be so. If Scripture reveals these things to be truth we are to embrace those teachings, but if they do not stand up to Scriptural scrutiny they are to be rejected.
Our silence becomes deafening when we know something to be in error but we allow that error to continue unchallenged. As pastors-elders-teachers we must remember our calling and the serious responsibility it carries. We are not called to do the comfortable thing or to take the easy way. We are called to preach the Word of God, and without apology proclaim it's truth while decrying the error that is taught in God's name. We are called to protect the flock from wolves that would destroy them and their faith. When we allow false teaching to go unchallenged we are not fulfilling our responsibility to protect the sheep God has entrusted to us. How many shepherds have given their lives to protect their flock from attacking wolves? How many have lost everything including their flocks because they would not abide false teaching? How many have remained silent in the name of protecting their flocks? How many use the cloak of compassion to hide their cowardice? It is much easier to ignore false teaching than it is to confront it. It is easier to sit idly by hoping that it will just go away. We justify our silence with the notion that confronting false teaching may hurt some in our congregations. Or even worse, we justify our silence with the excuse that "to stand against false teaching may cost me my Church, and then what good would I be able to do?"
Where in the independent baptist movement would I start breaking this silence? How about the 'doctrine' that the King James Bible is THE Word of God for the English speaking peoples? The proponents of this false doctrine claim that all other versions of Scripture are perversions and in essence pronounce an anathema on anyone who uses them. Some even go so far as to claim that anyone who was 'saved' using a version other than the KJB is not truly 'saved'. This false teaching has been elevated to a place of doctrinal status in our movement, and that without one single verse of Scripture to support it. One could also start by confronting the perverted belief that by repeating a prayer at the end of the Romans Road one is saved no matter what fruit their life is marked by after profession day. If these two examples do nothing to stoke your fire there are plenty of other issues to choose from.
If you fear the consequences of speaking the truth so much that you keep silent then you are in the wrong business. Being a soldier of the cross may not be for you and you should ring the bell and leave the ranks of pastor/teacher.
Proclaiming the truth is a costly business and one should count the cost before taking on the mantle of preacher. We are not in a popularity contest but are involved in spiritual warfare. This warfare calls for soldiers to endure hardness, loneliness, ridicule, and scorning. We are to proclaim the truth in love, but love should never be used as an excuse for silence.
God help us!
We really paint ourselves into a corner by taking such a radical stand on the KJV. It's the only version I use (for now anyways) but I'm not so thick-headed to proclaim it as the only version we can preach or evangelize out of.
ReplyDeleteA staunch stance on the KJV issue is nothing short than the work of Satan; we're to busy swatting gnats when we should be slaying giants. May God open the minds and hearts of my fellow IFBers!
Great job Chris.
I grew up in a very conservative Church, though not officially IFB. I even considered myself one for a very long time, but the idea of KJV-Only threw me off. It didn't make sense to me.
ReplyDeleteEven now, I still use KJV fairly often as I am comfortable with it.
I'm not an IFB, but is there anything I can do to help?
What can you do to help? I would say be honest with people about what you believe. I am conservative and love the KJV but see the KJV only stand as nothing more than another attempt by the powers that be in the KJVonly brand of IFBdom at controlling every aspect of the lives of their adherents. This threat of separation keeps many who may agree that the KJVonly teaching makes no sense silent out of fear of being cast out of the fellowship. People need to know that not everyone in the independent baptist world believe this nonsense. So even if you are not in the IFB world (and I don't blame you one bit for not being) let your voice be heard any time you hear lies being preached as truths.
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