It is worthy noting that the Lord Jesus describes one of the features of hypocrisy as being manifested in an inability to read the culture.
“Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?” (Luke 12:56).
A hypocrite does not know what is coming down because it does not suit him to know what is coming down. It is always handy to say, when things are comparatively calm, “well, that’s not my interpretation.”
But this simply reveals the narcissism of our age — as though our interpretations were in any way authoritative! Yes, yes, we know your interpretation, but is it correct?
When God shakes down a culture, He does it so that the things that cannot be shaken may remain (Heb. 12:27). This means that when the earthquake starts, and the bricks start to fall out of the building you are in, you have a moral responsibility to know where the shelters are.
True shelters are those congregations of God’s people that are not hypocritical, where the Word is faithfully proclaimed (not just taught), where the sacraments are faithfully administered, where discipline is faithfully practiced. In fact, it would be a good idea to start attending such shelters now.
Call it disaster preparedness.
A smug post indeed. The first bricks to fall, were the ones you listed. Though there has been somewhat of a recovery of the first two items, the last one is still firmly planted on the ground.
How about true shelters = where shepherds don’t just proclaim.
“The diseased have ye not strengthened, neither have ye healed that which was sick, neither have ye bound up that which was broken, neither have ye brought again that which driven away, neither have ye sought that which was lost … none did search or seek after them.”
Many “shepherds” — content, secure, ensconced behind that pulpit — have no clue and not much interest when sheep wander. As long as the monthly offering plate shows an average increase.
1900 years of approaching our Lord in worship with a particular priestly vestment, now discarded in modernity because, “well that’s not my interpretation.” “The key to world history is right worship. DW.”
Would you please elaborate on the distinction between a church where the Word is proclaimed and one where the Word is simply “taught.” (My evangelical background limits my understanding of what these differences might be.)
Thanks,
Dan
Hi @Dan, Would you please elaborate on the distinction between a church where the Word is proclaimed and one where the Word is simply “taught.” I am a lay person, so take the following with Lot’s* salt Pretend that Pastor Wilson teaches a course on Leninism/Marxism We could then say that he teaches Leninism/Marxism. We say that he does not ‘proclaim’ Lenninism/Marxism because… 1. He is not a Lenninst/Marxist. 2. He doesn’t believe it to be true, even though he can state the position. Pastor Wilson both teaches and proclaims Christ because… 1. He knows his stuff. 2. He is… Read more »
The contrast between teaching and proclaiming in this post could be the contrast between informing in an academic sense and an authoritative call.
Shelters formed of flesh & bone,
Shield better than with words alone.
@eric.
That is beautiful.
I had to read it twice–because I find no ‘shelter in the flesh’–but the couplet does not say that, does it?
It says that authenticity exists and has the qualities the couplet conveys.
thx for posting that.
t
Teaching: Here is what the text meant/means, includes historical-cultural background and grammatical-literary considerations.
Preaching/Proclaiming: takes those things into account but mainly takes it to the next level by authoritatively declaring what the God of the text is saying to the listeners in their current cultural and congregational setting; how it applies in the current battle between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman; tells us what Jesus has done in history and is doing and also what that means for us right here and now & what we must therefore do.
Dan G — Should any Bible teaching rely on the grammatical-historical method?
Should we assume that Paul’s understanding, clouded & sinful, matched the Spirit’s?
Thanks for the responses. I don’t want to be a jerk here, but I would like to push back just a bit. ‘Cause when you really think about it and try to make any clear distinctions between teaching versus proclaiming, it seems to be very difficult. Obviously there is a great deal of overlap between the two and trying to define each into “air tight” compartments doesn’t seem possible. @timothy, I never really considered teaching as something that someone would do when they don’t actually believe it to be the case. Your example seems like that’s the distinction. To me,… Read more »
dan,
What of those seminary boys wanting to become only expository preachers? Study 30 hours a week to teach 3. Ask them to lead service at the old folks home, what with their nodding off and such distractions — they’ll rarely take that work.
Many a “teacher,” though believing in his subject and all, want more engagement and positive response to the thought.
A proclaimer, a preacher, looks more to the magical power the Word can bring to the heart, even if the mind seems broken.
Hi Dan, @timothy, I never really considered teaching as something that someone would do when they don’t actually believe it to be the case. Lawyers do that all the time. It is an act of courtesy to be able to explain your opponent’s position better than he can. Teacher’s can attest that you don’t really know something until you can teach it. C.S. Lewis wrote ‘The ScrewTape Letters” where he knew enough about his opponent’s modus-operandi that he could imbue his characters with enough character that they proclaimed what Lewis did not believe. But I can’t imagine too many folks… Read more »