The Truth in Print Vol. 24 Issue 7, Aug. 2018
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ,
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364 (928-782-5058)
Website
Address ~ http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Disparaging the “Pulpit” Preacher
Some don’t like the idea of preachers being
supported by local churches and label preachers as “pulpit preachers.” You
don’t suppose at times such criticism is especially towards those who teach the
truth and expose others’ false teaching do you? Even among some members of the
Church of Christ you will find those of the “mutual edification” / “no located
preacher” belief. One brother’s statement of problems stemming from this belief
included this brief description of when he attended a “mutual
ministry/edification” church:
“Some of my personal friends and brethren
were affected in two splits (one in Ocean Springs, MS and the other at West
Ave. in San Antonio) by their false doctrines. In Ocean Springs, a man carried
"The Examiner" to the pulpit and preached right out of it. Of
course, when the split came, he and those with him kept the property (you would
have to know the doctrines to appreciate the irony in that!). Another
interesting thing which I observed, when I attended an old
"mutual ministry/edification" church, happened in Kansas
City. In the Bible Class, the teacher got up, announced the passage
and opened the floor to all comers. It was the most pointless hour of
rabbit-chasing and off the cuff and, I might add, off the point babble I have
ever heard.”
Compare the above description with one
proponent’s use of what she called “get togethers”:
“Let me say that when there are get
togethers by Christians there will be some who are more scriptural literate and
they can be a great help in the interaction as experienced in/among the early
Christians. I say "get togethers" because that is what the early
Christians had as they encouraged and edified one another. There is not even a
hint (nor an inkling) of the formal worship service that goes on today in the
Church of Christ...and other groups in the religious world. That ALL came about after the death of the
inspired writers.”
Compare the above with I Cor. 11, I Cor.
14:1-40 (*note vs. 40), and Acts 20:7 where the items of worship done when
assembling were to be structured i.e. decently and in order. F. LaGard Smith’s
teaching among the Liberals years ago suggested that in partaking of the
emblems of the Lord’s Supper members divide up into little groups, sop some
bread and talk about how their week went! Without scriptural authority sheer
talk and tomfoolery replaced true edification (I Cor. 11:24, 25 “in remembrance
of Me”, I Cor. 11:26 “proclaim the Lord’s death”). Some love the very suggestion
of informality and a loosening of that things be done decently and in order as
Paul stated (I Cor. 11:33; I Cor. 14:40).
Besides, “teaching” means to impart
instruction, instill doctrine that edifies.
I talked briefly years ago with some of
these brethren and they told me they believed that it was Ok for a church to
have a preacher, but when the church got elders the preacher had to go i.e.
could no longer be located there. I have also heard of situations where the
preacher lived in the next town and drove to where he preached so he could be
considered an evangelist i.e. one who is not located. There is nothing in the
word “evangelist” that remotely indicates such is necessary! He’s located
alright — lives in the next town and preaches where he drives to! The word
“evangelist” doesn’t just apply to one who is traveling; nor does it just apply
to one who preaches to the lost. The definition: “evangelist” [G2099
euaggelistēs] Strong’s definition: -
a preacher of the gospel: - evangelist. Some even think that you “teach”
Christians but “preach” to the lost world.
The Apostles were teaching and preaching
daily (Acts 5:42). They “stayed” in Jerusalem when others were scattered (Acts
8:1). Do you read of a time when there were no apostles in Jerusalem?
Philip the evangelist is introduced first in
Jerusalem (Acts 6:5), then when the apostles stayed we find him in city of
Samaria (Acts 8:5), and from there he is on road to Gaza preaching to the
eunuch (Acts 8:26-39), and then at Azotus and other cities preaching until he
came to Caesarea circa 34 A.D. (Acts 8:39-40). Years later on Paul’s 3rd
journey he is still in Caesarea and has a house there (circa 56 A.D.). He’s
located in Caesarea and still an evangelist.
Barnabas and Paul were at Antioch an entire
year teaching (Acts 11:26). Then in Acts 13:1 we read “Now in the church that
was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon…,
Lucius…, Manaen…, and Saul.” Barnabas is not an apostle like Paul but he is an
evangelist. Could prophets preach? Did teachers preach? Did preachers teach?
There only Barnabas and Paul left. Was it Ok for the others to stay? Were they
ministering the Word? Would anyone like to tell me how long the others stayed
as if they think they really know!
We know Barnabas as well as Paul was worthy
of support, 1Co 9:14 “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the
gospel should live from the gospel.” Paul said to Corinth “others share that
right over you” (I Cor. 9:12). Acts
14:26-28 records the “end” of the first journey and Paul and Barnabas are back
in Antioch where “they spent a long time there” (Acts 14:28).
Acts 15:34-36 records the end of the 2nd
Journey in Antioch again. Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch, having returned
there from Jerusalem, “teaching and preaching with many others” (Acts 15:35).
Silas stays there too. (It does not give the time period; the 2nd J. is
believed to have ended 51 A.D. and the 3rd to have begun in 52 A.D.)
But it does say “teaching and preaching with
many others.” Only four left: Barnabas and Mark, Paul and Silas. Was it Ok for
the others of the “many” to remain there? I mean get real! Those who were left
were “teaching and preaching” -- the definition of “evangelist” is one who
preaches the Word. Are those who stayed worthy of support? If they taught were
they worthy of support? You tell me when the others got there, or if some were
there from the beginning of the church there, or that they had left. So where is the Mutual Edification doctrine
that members must teach one another without the presence of a preacher?
Some “length of stays” can be defined. Paul
was at Corinth a year and six month plus many days (Acts 18:11, 18). We know
that Paul taught Barnabas and others were worthy of support (I Cor. 9). 1Co
9:14 “Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should
live from the gospel” is given to a local church! That statement is not
dependent upon how long one stays. It does not have the limitations that some
put on it -- can't be supported if located, if have elders etc. At Corinth Paul
said right then when he wrote to them that “others” shared that right (I Cor.
9:12). How many shared that right and how long were they there or had they been
there? Paul used the same illustration for elders (I Tim. 5:17-18) he used for
his right to support and for others receiving support in Corinth saying the
laborer is worthy of his wages (I Cor. 9:1-15). He received “wages” from other
churches while there (2 Cor. 11:8). He
didn’t exercise that right for his own reasons in the regions of Achaia (2 Cor.
11:10). Perhaps wisely so considering the false charges of false teachers
against Paul and what they were prone to say (2 Cor. 11:12).
Paul was at Ephesus 3 months and then 2 more
years (Acts 19:8, 10). This is during the 3rd Journey of which the beginning is
dated 52 A.D.
The church at Ephesus had elders when Paul
called them, the elders, to come to Miletus and instructed them in Acts 20:17f
(dated 52-56 A.D.). When Timothy was at Ephesus he was given the charge to
instruct men not to teach different or strange doctrines (I Tim. 1:3). I Tim.
is generally dated 62 A.D. Churches with elders can have preachers preaching. 2
Tim. is generally dated 64 A.D. In 2 Tim. 4:1-5 Timothy is charged with
preaching to Christians, and not just to the lost in the world. Paul tells him
the time will come when “they” will not endure sound doctrine, but will turn
away “their” ears from the truth, and turn aside to fables. The reference is to
the church. There is no such thing as “preaching” being instruction that is
only given to the lost in the world. Paul wrote to the saints in Rome and said
he was eager to get there and preach the gospel to them (Rom. 1:6, 7, 8, and
14). The church at Jerusalem in Acts 15 had both Apostles and elders for the
purpose of edifying and building up in the faith. Of course elders must be apt
to teach, for that is one of their qualifications (I Tim. 3:2); so must preachers
(2 Tim. 2:24).
Wrongful motives and actions of preachers
and members have been among reason offered to uphold “mutual edification” and
not supporting a local preacher. But false motives and sin are exposed and are
to be dealt with (2 Cor. 2:17).
Abuses by both preachers and members don’t
change the work of preaching the word with support (1 Tim. 1: 3; 2 Cor. 9). A
collective treasury for the work of the church was established from the
beginning (Acts 4:35).
Here are mutual duties, I Thess. 5:14 “Now
we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted,
uphold the weak, be patient with all.” All brethren in a local church best be
doing their part in all of these, and not just leaving the rebukes and more
unpleasant work for just the elders and preachers!
Valley Church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 782-5058 ~
http://yumavalleychurchofchrist.com
Sunday Services – Classes ~10:00;
Assembly 10:50 am; Evening: 6:00 pm.
Wednesday evening – 7:00 pm
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