by: Dr. Bruce Goddard
Throughout my ministry, I have seen much evil and good accomplished through influences.
I remember being warned by my pastor about who we read, to whom we listened and what conferences we attended. Watching more than three decades of preachers come and go, I am more in agreement with those exhortations than ever.
Recently I was forwarded an email on technology and youth. Nothing special, things any dozen tech-savvy men in my church could have written. But the bad thing is that it was from a church leadership website. There were all kinds of links and catchy titles to everything from, “Why our churches can’t get over 200” to, “Things that hinder church growth.” Now the big issue here is that we become readers of information without knowing from whence that information came. We SHOP for truth. Truth is not a golf club you pick up, swing a few times to see how it feels, then put it down and grab another one. Remember “he that walketh with wise men…” Or “walk not in the counsel of the ungodly.”
The apostle wrote, ”We cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” As we browse theological and church leadership information, we fail to search out the garden from which it was picked. “WE CAN NOT BUT SPEAK THE THINGS WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD!” What we read will influence us! “Mine eye affecteth mine heart.” We read doctrine and church philosophy like we walk through the hardware store, randomly shopping for something that catches our eye. Now that kind of shopping is not the most prudent at Lowe’s, but it is deadly when it comes to doctrine.
I looked at this article long enough to find the website sponsor, and it was amazing. Folks writing and linked to this website are a diverse group. They come from Wheaton, Trinity, a Wesleyan seminary, and one is an Anglican priest. Honestly, are you going to sit at the feet of an Anglican and let him teach you Bible philosophy and church ministry? One is the pastor of, Conexus Church, another, New Springs Church. Now every man will give an account of himself to God. I’m no man’s judge, but I do believe you ought to know who you read, who they are, what they are and where they will lead you. I think it is good to know very clearly where they are going. These guys don’t know where they are going. They drift with culture, change with society, modify their belief system with the changing times of society. I STAND FOR THE UNCHANGING TRUTH OF GOD, and culture is not about to change my ministry. Titles on the website were things like: “Things you need to change to reach people”, “Churches that are really reaching the next generation”, and how about this one, “Getting connected with your emotions” obviously written by a lady teaching you about connecting with your emotions and those of your audience. (Are you as tired as I am of the word “connect?”)
I’m sure I’d love these folks as neighbors. I probably would enjoy car pooling with them to my secular job, but BAPTIST PREACHER… We don’t believe the same as these folks on anything! They don’t believe the Bible to be literally true, they do not believe in soul winning, they do not believe in eternal security, they do not believe in separation from the world, they probably do not even believe the Gospel as we do. Several writers on this website hold psychology degrees from secular universities! What are we doing? What are we doing reading this junk! Anglican priests? Do you research who you read?
I ordered a new book this week on the doctrine of the church written by Harold Sightler. He was a 42-year veteran independent Baptist preacher. He’s so independent; I recently heard him say in a sermon that he was “independent, not Southern Baptist, not BBF, but truly independent.” Now I can safely read that book on the church. I know his spiritual genealogy. His spiritual DNA is clearly seen.
Who in the world are you reading as you wander through the spiritual marketplace reading everything that catches your eye. Remember, “…Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”
I’m not sure who sent me this article, so don’t take this personally if it was you, but as for me and my house, we are Baptists. If I’m not mistaken, it was a Baptist church that reached you. So, why read Anglicans, rock and rollers, contemporary or community church folks, and that Wesleyan trained writer who I’m sure you would not even let teach a child’s Sunday school class in your church. So, perhaps the pastor should not read him either.
If you want something on internet safety and tech training, ask a few of your Baptist men to write up their ideas, shop through them and send it to all of us. At least that way we will know the genealogy of the information we are getting. The church (your church) has everything we need to be perfected, effective and productive.
Smarten up men! Don’t find your spiritual meals in the garbage cans behind the restaurant. (Oh, brother, I bet I was not connecting with the emotional needs of my audience there was I?)
Dr. Bruce Goddard
Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA
http://thepreachersfriend.com