The Christbearers Mission: Preach the Word
What is the Christbearers most important duty? Paul wrote young Timothy:2 Timothy 4
1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: 2Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. 5But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.
Sadly this has been utterly disregarded in the contemporary church. Here is some advice from the most influential and effective evangelist and pastor of the 19th century, who saw the same thing in his generation that we can see in ours:
You are not getting distrustful of preaching are you? Go on with your preaching. Cobler stick to your last; preacher stick to your preaching. In the great day, when the muster-roll shall be read, of all those who are converted through fine music, and church decoration, and religious exhibitions and entertainments, they will amount to the tenth part of nothing; but it will always please God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. Keep to your preaching; and if you do anything else beside do not let it throw your preaching in to the background. In the first place preach, and in the second place preach, and in the third place preach.
-C.H. Spurgeon 1887 (Open air Sermon) p. 289 Drummond
We live in a world that desperately needs its Christbearers to be true to their calling:
There are the evils, brethren… But we have only one remedy for them; preach Jesus Christ, and let us do it more and more. By the roadside, in the little room, in the theatre, anywhere, everywhere, let us preach Christ. Write books if you like, and do anything else within your power; but whatever else you cannot do, preach Christ. If you do not always visit your people (though I pray God you may not be blameworthy there), yet be sure to preach the gospel… Preaching is our great weapon, so use it perpetually. Preaching is the Lord's battering-ram , wherewith the walls of Babylon are being shaken to their foundations. Work on with it, brothers, work on. Preach, preach, preach, preach, preach, preach, till you can preach no more, and then go above to sing the praises of God in Heaven, and to make known the wonders of redeeming love.
-C.H. Spurgeon 1887 (Lecturing his students at the preachers's college) p. 290 Drummond
A true Church is a Church that is following this pattern for ministry. If your Church isn't preach the word of God faithfully, get out of there and support a Church that is honouring God and under the power of the Holy Spirit. For you're soul's sake and for your joy, get under the word.
For those of us who have the privilege of leading, let us never get away from the mission at hand. We are Christ's ambassador's and need to proclaim Him till He comes.
posted by Chad @ 10:59 AM
1 Comments:
At least in North America I know that this is true... we need to preach Jesus more. I found it interesting and convicting that Spurgeon, in his open air sermon, exhorted those that were listening to preach Jesus... regardless if they were a "preacher" or not. It seems he was speaking even to me, a student and soon to be doctor. What a great reminder for the church universal to take Jesus to the ends of the earth, and not just make "fine music, and church decoration, and religious exhibitions and entertainments" (ie programs).
Chad, I enjoy reading your blog. It is an encouragement or a well needed kick-in-the-pants.
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