Applying the Gospel to the Church

Why do ministers only apply the message of the Bible - if they even do that today - to outsiders and to unbelievers, but not to the church as church?  Why is the church excused from the application of the Gospel?  Does the Gospel have no message for the church?

That seems to be the case.  Presumably the reason why this is not done is because it is the church that pays a minister his salary and you don't want to lose that.  In any case, to do that would be to show yourself as not being 'a good churchman,' or a faithful and loyal "firm's man."  Churches have no place for any but "firm's men," so to risk your future ministry by applying the Gospel to everything the church does is to invite termination of your ministry.  Hence the silence from virtually every pulpit.

What has the Gospel to say to the church today?  Well, it asks if the Gospel is being preached faithfully and passionately in her and what effect the Gospel is having in the church?  It inquires whether those who hold office in the church are Gospel men?  Do church officers believe the Gospel and have they personally trusted the Gospel for their salvation?  Do church members actually believe the Gospel or is their profession simply 'from the lips out'?  Are there recognisable outward signs that their profession of faith in Christ is genuine?  Does the life of church members demonstrate that love for Christ and the Gospel are uppermost in their lives?  What has the Gospel to say about these situations?

Does the Gospel have anything to say about the shocking way churches treat their ministers?  Are there any guidelines in Scripture as to how this to be done?  Or is this merely an ecclesiastical legal matter?  Does the Gospel have anything to say about how Gospel ministers are ejected from their congregations on the whims of a few disgruntled professing Church elders who reject the Gospel and who are supported by inexperienced Presbyters?

What about church involvement in unbiblical ecumenism?  Has the Gospel a view point on this kind of thing? Is it right today for believers and unbelievers to be joined together, but not for Paul's in his day?

These are issues that are glaringly absent from many church sermons and actions.  The only explanation I can give is that many ministers are "firm's men" who will protect their establishment bodies come what may.  There are no Luthers or Calvins left in the church today.  Therefore the church is asleep, sleep-walking into perdition.

Evangelical glibness!

I think that part of the problem facing the church today is what I might call 'evangelical glibness,' especially when it comes to preaching and prayer. We utter fine words that have no personal impact on us. When did we last tremble at the thought of God? When did we last feel dread when approaching Him? When were our hearts last struck with the terror of coming to His word, or into His awesome presence?

Our churches, when praying at prayer meetings, constantly break the 3rd commandment, while at the same time, asking for God's blessing on their work. I was feeling scared at the prayer meeting this morning at church for the forthcoming mission when after every five or six words, the Lord's name was spoken by one pray-er. How glib!

I wondered, Does this person know to Whom he is talking, and is the Lord's name just a filler in an otherwise normal religious exercise? There is no sense of awe when we approach God in all His holiness. In fact, I, too, fall at this point, because I can write these awe-inspiring words without feeling their impact in my own heart. Oh, how hard and insensitive to God is my wicked heart!

We, I, need to get to know God - my current knowledge is so superficial, so theological, so correct, but not as experimental as it ought to be. This is still analysis - resolution still evades me. I suppose we need to wait upon God until we feel ourselves to be utterly dependent upon Him, feel our own loathsomeness in His sight, and grasp afresh His sovereign and wonderful grace. We need to meditate on what 'grace' means, what mercy, love, compassion mean. How fearful, yet how encouraging and welcoming these 'graces' are.

We speak of justice, but we do not feel that justice holds any fear for us, therefore we do not sense our dire need of God's grace and mercy continually. What does it mean to stand in the presence of our gracious God! What effect ought this awareness to have upon us! What fear, mixed with gratitude, ought this to instill in our souls!

 I think it was Robert Davidson in his OT textbook, The Old Testament, who spoke of the dread of YHWH, and of His other attributes. We need to get a proper balance between YHWH's dread and His grace. Both of these attributes will affect us profoundly once they grip hold of us, each doing its own special work within us. God's character must be appreciated experientially if we are to be like Him, and useful to Him.

Here, I am going to be a heretic for a moment: what if our doctrine of 'eternal security' really does cut the umbilical cord of the need for perseverance for us? Is that possible? What if our conviction about God's sovereignty causes complacency? It ought not to do so, but in effect, it does. What if we are content with the right religious words, religious symbolism, without experiencing the realities of what these precious terms include? Back to analysis again - forgive me.

Felt need of God can only come about when we see how puny our knowledge (Heb. yada') of God really is, and where we must go to get this matter sorted out. We must concentrate on getting to know God (yada') rather than just getting to know about Him. Theology is about getting to know about God - necessary to a point, no substitute for the real thing - personal, intimate, life-changing knowledge of God. Because we have not really met with God, we do not have a living and life-giving message from Him for the world or for the church, His people. Dr Ralph Davis in his commentary on 1 Samuel (p.42), says that unless YHWH gives the word, there will be none - "and turning out more graduates from theological seminaries or religious departments will do nothing to change that!" How correct.

Now sermon preparation must be disciplined, careful exegesis accurate, saying what the text says and no more (avoiding arid and at times dangerous speculation), but unless the fire falls on the preparation and delivery of the message, it will be cold and lifeless. I think the fire of heaven must be at preparation stage, as well as, and not only at, delivery stage. We ought to know (experience) God as we prepare our sermons, and while we deliver them.

At the end of the day, God does act sovereignly, deciding when and whom and how to bless. Only He can give us the hearts that really do cry out for Him, so we must sue Him for such hearts. We must get far more serious about God and with God than we have ever been before; but then the churches will not know how to handle us when such things begin to happen. Churches will only approve what they initiate. They feel the need to be IN CONTROL of everything and everyone that falls within their bounds.