"SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM"
PART 3
Anytime you read about Daniel Sommer the subject of "located preachers" will arise. By this he meant a congregation paying a preacher to work with the local church. He taught that only the elders could feed the flock. (1 Peter 5:2) He argued that the man who preached the gospel in one locality and was paid by the church was a "hireling." (John 10:12-13) He was most concerned that this man would be an "imported pastor" and assume the responsibly and authority of the elders in that congregation. (1 Peter 5:1-3)
Instead
of the "pastor system" his position was that preachers were to be paid by the
congregations to "go and preach."
If they stayed and worked in one community then it was unscriptural. In fact in
Sommer's sermon at Sand Creek he condemned Paul and Barnabas for staying too
long at Antioch and said they had to be kicked out by the elders so they would
go and do what God commanded. (Acts13: 1-3) So far I have used the past tense
in discussing this doctrine. However in some parts of the country it is as
popular today as it was at the turn of the twentieth century.
In
practice this evangelist only
doctrine became more like the bishop system of the Catholic Church. First of
all Sommer's paper "The Octographic Review" answered to no one except Sommer
and this included any eldership. Second his work as an "evangelist" molded the
doctrine and practice not of one but hundreds of congregations. Third the Sand
Creek "Address and Declaration" proved that his respect for congregational
autonomy under their own elders applied only as long as they followed what he
preached to them. Truth and faithfulness was determined by bro. Sommer and
there were consequences to be paid if his teaching was not followed. "We
will no longer consider them brethren."
In simple terms "Cardinal" Sommer replaced an "imported pastor"!
I do not agree with bro. Sommer's prohibition against
located preachers but I believe it was based on some fundamental truths. Often
we refuse to admit that the other side has any truth so it has been our history to take the extreme
opposite position in opposing a false doctrine. This can be seen in every
controversy we have ever had. Do you need some examples? Instrumental music in
worship led to it being a sin to learn a new hymn using a piano. Calvinism led
to a Disciple having to die with a prayer on his lips if he hoped to go to
heaven. Church sponsored recreation led to the end of "all day singings and
dinner on the ground." Situation ethics led to mercy (if it involves sin) being
only an action of God so the church can't obey the command of Jesus in Matt.12:
1-8, Luke 6:1-5 and James 2:13.
Instead let us admit that there was an underlying
truth in bro. Sommer's position i.e. the way we use a located fulltime preacher might not be what God
intended. We should also admit that it might not be the most effective use of
his talents or the Lord's money. I often intentionally say things to upset my
readers so they will think and study for themselves and this is true with this
series. I desire that elders and preachers will consider my concerns. If you
find some truth in my humble efforts I pray you will make the proper
application.
1)
While the Lord
instructed the elders to "feed the flock of God which is among you" in most congregations
this job is given to the preacher. In two sermons and classes each week the
flock is fed. I'm not saying that it is a sin to have a preacher but did the
Holy Spirit say anywhere that this responsibility of elders can be hired out?
Again if the elders meet the qualifications in 1 Tim. 3:1-7 why can't they or
shouldn't they be feeding the flock? Not only does the preacher feed the flock
but he also visits the sick, encourages the weak and admonishes the unfaithful.
Every one of these is the job of the elders. If he is doing their job then what
are they doing? Again if he busy with shepherding when does he have time to teach the lost? The truth
is he does not!!!
2)
Look at your financial
statement. Most of the contribution goes for two things, the building and the
preacher. In fact if a few dollars are left over each month to send to a
missionary we brag about our evangelistic efforts. It is scriptural to provide
a place to meet and to support men who preach (I thank God that brethren no
longer force the preacher to prove his dedication by starving him and his
family) but are we using the Lord's money wisely? I believe it is time we took
a look at the results because this
is the only way to measure our faithfulness. If a congregation were a business
most preachers and the elders would be fired!
3)
Since the Lord intended
that the world would know "by the church the manifold wisdom of God" (Eph.
3:10) what results should we be looking at? That is simple. How many sinners
did your preacher convert last year? How many immersions have you had in the
last 5 or 10 years? Please, the children of the members don't count. (Anyone
who argues that we shouldn't talk about numbers hasn't read the book of Acts!)
Also you shouldn't measure growth by those you proselyte or that came on their
own from other congregations. I'm talking about the class of people Jesus came
to seek and save. The sinners. If
it is the preacher's job to preach the gospel why is he not producing results?
Are you getting your moneys worth? I sincerely doubt it. If he is ineffective
get someone better qualified. If he is too busy doing the elders job then set
him free!
4)
What if his priority was
saving the lost? What if the elders took over all their own duties? What if they kicked him out of his
office and told him to start knocking on doors? What if his future with your congregation was tied to his results?
What if you made him the example for the entire congregation to follow so they
too would go preach the word?
(Acts 8:4) What if evangelism was your congregation's number one goal? Would
you start to see results? Romans 1:16 answers that last question.
5)
Is having a fulltime
preacher feeding the flock making your members stronger spiritually? I wonder:
Would they assemble and worship with you if elders or other members did the
preaching and teaching? Are they with you to worship God or to hear the good
preaching? Would they go somewhere else if your preacher was too busy preaching
the Gospel to visit them in the hospital? If you send your preacher out as an evangelist,
pay him seek the lost and preach on Sunday's for small congregations that don't
have elders to do the feeding you will find out! Maybe this is taking it too far but you get the
idea. If my concerns about today's Christians are true most churches would not
be able to make the building payment without a fulltime preacher to take care
of the members!
I believe it is time for elders and preachers to
take a hard look at themselves. You see I have heard all the excuses: "No one
wants the truth anymore." "People are not spiritual like they used to be." I
won't waste your time with others. The truth is that independent, fundamental
churches are having explosive growth. They have services that go on for hours and hours. They require
all their members to devote many hours a
week to evangelism. They demand
strict adherence to their moral and doctrinal teachings. Their buildings can't
hold the people that are being converted
to their churches. Our lack of conversions is not a problem with "them" or "truth" it is with "us"!
I doubt if even bro. Sommer could have forseen how far we have gone. Today our preachers are proud that their job is preaching to the choir.
Today evangelism is preaching a Sunday morning sermon on the plan of
salvation. Today we violate the purpose of the assembly
which the Bible says belongs only to those already saved. (see Acts 20:7 and 1 Cor. chapters 11-14) Today our
members believe evangelism is to "invite" sinnners to our services
which, I repeat, is the time for the saints and saints only to worship
their Father. Today we bemoan that "they won't come" instead of mourning because "we won't go." Today, if we truly were following the N.T. pattern, we would go to the lost, preach Christ and Him crucified, immerse the believers into the body of Christ and then, and only then, invite them to worship WITH us!!! Do I Hear An AMEN?
If we learn anything from the preachers of the past it is that their focus, their preaching, their work, their entire life was to bring sinners to the Savior. This is not true in our generation of preachers. It is not entirely their fault; there is enough blame to go around including our members who need to be coddled. All Christians will someday be required to answer for their stewardship of the Gospel. I fear many will be made ashamed when it is too late to repent.
P.S.
Last Sunday an elder who had read the first two
lessons in this series said something like, "I also remember when preachers
were not supported as they should have been. I remember giving a preacher
50cents to buy enough gas so he could get to his meeting. I'm glad we are now paying
our preachers fairly but I wonder if we are better off?" What did I say? "Wait till you read my next
article!" I believe what we have just discussed are the things this elder was
concerned about.
Our last lesson in this series will again take a look
at old time preachers and their preaching. I trust we will learn some things from the lives of those
preachers that will revive our evangelistic zeal.
To be continued.