A Minister of the GospelI believe that as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ we are to herald the Word of God boldly with all authority. This is what Paul tells young Pastor Timothy and Titus to do:
1 Timothy 4:13 13 Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching.
Titus 2:15 15 These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you.
I believe that a minister of the Gospel is to be one whose basis for everything that is said is sourced from the Word of God. This, however is not in unison with what many contemporary evangelicals are advocating today. Listen to what John MacArthur writes in The Truth War:
This is not what we see in many contemporary movements rising up in the mega-churches and on Christian T.V. In contrast to our basis coming from the Bible alone, listen to what John Armstrong, who is a key proponent in the Emerging Church, said:
May this be our message as ministers of the Gospel.
I believe that a minister of the Gospel is to be one whose basis for everything that is said is sourced from the Word of God. This, however is not in unison with what many contemporary evangelicals are advocating today. Listen to what John MacArthur writes in The Truth War:
“To be an effective warrior in the battle for truth today, several
old-fashioned, Christlike virtues are absolutely essential: biblical
discernment, wisdom, fortitude, determination, endurance, skill in handling the
Scripture, strong convictions, the ability to speak candidly without waffling,
and a willingness to enter into conflict” (146).
This is not what we see in many contemporary movements rising up in the mega-churches and on Christian T.V. In contrast to our basis coming from the Bible alone, listen to what John Armstrong, who is a key proponent in the Emerging Church, said:
“Theology must be a humble attempt to ‘hear him’ [God] – never about rationalIt is sad to say but this is the pervading thought among the average American Churchgoer in today’s culture. Along the same lines, Art Azurdia hits the nail on the head when he notes regarding the sad state of preaching in today’s evangelical church:
approaches to texts.”
“I am convinced that preaching is held in such low esteem today because a greatIt is true that Mr. Charles Spurgeon as he would mount the fifteen steps leading up to his pulpit at the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London he would mutter to himself on each step, “I believe in the Holy Ghost… I believe in the Holy Ghost…I believe in the Holy Ghost.” This is where the power comes when the Word of God is preached by the minister of God. We are not to give cleverly devised fables. We are not to give our human subjective existential opinions. Rather, we are to declare “Thus saith the LORD” for we, as ministers of the Gospel, are the mouthpiece for God Himself to His people. They don’t need to hear a few stories to make them feel good. That will damn their soul. They need to hear the truth of God’s Word that can convict a soul of their deadness in sin and subsequently reveal the hope and forgiveness in Jesus Christ and His cleansing blood atoned at Calvary some two thousand years ago.
many preachers are so utterly inept at the task.” (Spirit Empowered Preaching,
86).
May this be our message as ministers of the Gospel.
