I once had no idea!!! As I encounter things that differ from what I believe to be true, I try to remember that I too did not know the truth. Whatever truth you might think of, often it is believed to be not true any longer. I have to be careful the way I write this post. For, I believe truth is truth–it does not change. However, things that were once true are now believed to be false. In fact, there is a new truth that has taken its place.
That does not mean the truth has changed. It simply means that truth is no longer believed and something false has taken its place.
I think an example will help (in this post I am not attempting to prove the following–yet). Many believe today that the local church is to have only one pastor (not elder or bishop). Yet the New Testament pattern plainly shows the pattern is to be a plurality of pastors. The New Testament also teaches that pastor, bishop, and elder are speaking of the same office in the church. So, when someone teaches the Scriptures and this topic arises many may think it is false because they have a different belief in its place. Therefore, the truth is now thought to be false and what is false is believed to be true.
In response to this teaching, some counter with, ” We can barely afford to pay one pastor, much less two.” Or, that part of Scripture is “for the Presbyterian or some other denomination that believes that way.” “We are a Baptist Church.” These are merely pragmatic excuses for not believing truth.
Now, I will go along way with those who do not believe things the way I do IF they give me biblical evidence. I think the former complaints to be pathetic.
I do not know exactly how truth gets distorted. I would not be surprised that due to such reasons given for not believing now resulted in the abandoning of it in history. Nevertheless, truth is truth. We must embrace what is true whether we have believed what is false for decades.
If you find yourself in this position what should you do? Well, the many times I encountered similar situations through seminary I would talk it out with my brothers in Christ. I would pray over the word and read it carefully. I would listen to sermons on the verses dealing with a particular issue. And I would move slow but remain teachable. We all have blind spots…which really bothers me. I hope I remember my own history.
Also, no matter which side you are on the delivery of truth is painful. It is painful to receive and painful to deliver. Imagine someone believing a superstition that ended the life of their child. Not only is it hard for that parent to hear the truth but it is also hard to tell that truth when it reveals an unnecessary deaf. Truth delivered and received with compassion is the proper way–God’s way!

Last week a man came in the workplace. He asked me if we had any receptacles. I actually did not know if we did, so I went to look. Unfortunately, we did not. I knew this man would be hanging around for awhile as he replaced our security system. So, by the providence of God my boss asked me to make a run to the bank and post office. I needed a few items from our local hardware store, so I stopped in and picked up the things I needed and a receptacle. When I returned to the workplace the man was still there. So, I gave him the item he so desperately needed. He tried to pay me the 60 cents I paid for it, but I refused. We were both busy with our work, so we went back to work.
However, I as mused over the turn of events I realized (as it stood) I would receive the glory from this man. Therefore, I made my way back to the front of the store so that I could turn the glory from me to God. I began by telling him the receptacle was a gift from God and that his salvation was bearing fruits of kindness towards him. I then explained how I was not a good person but that Christ was good and this salvation was reflecting the kindness of God to him. He stood there dumbfounded.
Be intentional about sharing the gospel. Don’t miss any opportunities that might present themselves. Praise be to God for his steadfast love endures forever!

As I ponder the last four and half years, I have learned a ton at seminary, yet I have found myself in some extremely difficult places while studying. I am grateful for the men God has placed in my life to teach me how to rightly divide the Word! His Word is the bread of life by which I live. It has not been easy, but it has been a joy.
Here are a few desires for upcoming students:

1. Be a churchman not merely a seminarian!
2. Be in a growing relationship with your pastors…at the church that sent you to seminary and at the church you are currently serving in.
3. Do not study for a grade…the bar is much higher than that.
4. Encourage your pastors to ask you hard questions about your life…how are you paying for school, how are your relationships (wife, children, family, friends, etc.), and how are you growing in Christ-likeness through the Word and prayer?
5. Ask your pastors to look over the Syllabus for your classes…they can suggest a schedule and warn or encourage (whatever the case may be) concerning the books you are required to read.
6. Encourage your pastors to read your papers…this will help as you wrestle with difficult issues.
7. Do not waste your time but do not be in a hurry to finish…finishing is not the priority but remaining faithful to the Lord everyday…not four years from now!

These suggestions are an attempt to bring the church and the academy to a proper relationship. The academy should be a servant of the church and the student/churchman must work hard to stand firm in this.

I have realized something today much more clearly than ever before. I have been preparing myself for future ministry. In fact, I am constantly wrestling with issues that arise within the local church. My brothers and I discuss them quite often. You can imagine the issues that may come up around a theological seminary. For example, we have discussed the issue of divorce and remarriage numerous times. Some of us have come to conclusions on the issue. However, some of the conclusions differ even among my group of brothers at work. The issue of divorce is not the topic of this post, but the process of coming to conclusions.

In a pastoral setting (and professors need to make this aware to their students), people do not need your conclusions only. They need for you to “show your work.” Any math student knows that you cannot merely write the answers done for the homework; you must show your work. Too often, pastors arrive at the church with most of their conclusions and when faced with the issue simply state their position without working through the issue within the church body. How can this be? What is the biblical way to state our positions?

I Peter 5: The pastor should lead the sheep. He should build fences for the sheep with the sheep and give them reasons for building fences. He should not send the sheep to build the fence until they know how. Thus, the shepherd should be showing the sheep how to build a fence. This fence is for their protection and the process of building a fence is necessary for the sheep to know why they are in need of protection. Remember pastor, you are a sheep too. Therefore, all conclusions to the issues that arise in the local church should be sought in the Word of God. This will take time and much prayer with the church.

The fence is not an option. You will have to work through issues such as divorce within the church. The fence makes a clear statement of the conclusions wrought from Scripture. This will make clear where someone will stand–inside the fence or outside the fence. There will be times when a wolf in sheep’s clothing makes his way inside the fence. This wolf must be removed and placed outside the fence. If you do not have a fence you will have no place to put the wolf. If you do not have the process of building the fence you will have angry sheep who cannot understand why the wolf was placed outside the fence. Therefore, the biblical pastor will lead the sheep through a study and discussion possibly for a few years before the fence is built. Then the biblical pastor and the biblical church will stand within the fence together on a foundation.

The other side of this thought is necessary too. When you (anyone in the church) encounter a sheep outside the fence, then you can explain the fence and maybe rescue the wandering sheep. If you encounter a wolf outside the fence, then you will know how to defend yourself. STAY INSIDE THE FENCE! Now, do you believe the fence is important? Let me know what you think.