Ecclesiology #8

I see Matthew 4 and Matthew 9 giving insight into the correct priority and emphases in church dealings. Our supreme minister Jesus demonstrates his knowledge of the greatness and sufficiency of God by having intense self-control while being tempted in the wilderness. He could have attained glory “the easy way” but on terms that were contrary to the Father’s; he was, however, sensitive to the Father’s timing.

Christian minister, are you in a rush to attain ministry glory? Have you sought counsel from those further along that can speak to your readiness to engage in greater responsibilities? Btdubs, what I write in the second-person is usually a rebuke aimed towards myself and my former ways. This section was an aside hehehe.

Movinggg onnn, priority and emphases! Before doing any miracles, Jesus goes and preaches the good news in the local synagogues. The first priority of the church is the preaching and teaching of God’s word to God’s people. Any other priority, e.g., community or outreach, points to a church that is not centered on God but man’s sinful purposes. But no worries, good teaching necessitates the manifestation of good community and good outreach, etc. We see this when Jesus proclaims forgiveness of sin, and then proceeds to heal them physically. He is much more concerned about the spiritual matters over the physical.

So where do we typically see the resulting miracles of good preaching in this day and age?

Healing occurs much more profoundly in the ministry of forgiveness among congregants because a life claimed by God’s love changes a community and generations after. A physical healing is a cool topic of discussion for maybe like a day.

Therefore, when people make false dichotomies in the form of “preaching is meh but the community’s good at this church” etcetc, they are mistaken in either one of two ways:

1. They’re simply not giving their pastor enough credit, or
2. Their perception of a good community is not based on the Bible, but rather it is infected by the world’s standards of fun and friendship.

Be alarmed, then, if you find that the teaching at a church is not preaching Christ from the scriptures. Or just not preaching the scriptures but primarily basing the content off human anecdotes, huhuhu how sad. Do not take too much stock in how much a community seems to be doing well.

How about the situation where you have good preaching but subpar community? Again, the preaching could actually be more entertaining than compelling, that is, compelling one to full submission to obedience to the gospel. My using imperatives on the free gift of the gospel is not incorrect (1 Peter 4:17).

Therefore, the only appropriate dichotomy are Christ-centered churches and, well, fake churches.