Title:- The Problem with Oracles is: ‘They’re ‘Orrible!’
2 Timothy 4:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.
“The contemporary pastorate is a mess. With hundreds of books, conferences and seminars touting the benefits of changing the traditional church into the purpose-driven, seeker-sensitive, post-modern church, there has been little honest reporting on the resulting awkward evolution of the pastor. In my lifetime, this evolution has swept over the pastorate, replacing what was a recognizable consensus with a maze of models, and an emerging template of the pastorate that would be unrecognizable in most of Christian history.” So says Michael Spencer.
In his essay, Spencer’s conclusion is even more damming; listen, “I am beginning to see a volatile mix occurring between the pragmatism of the seeker-sensitive approach and the quasi-Gnosticism of the Charismatic movement. These two streams of evangelicalism share a low regard for scripture's authority in anything other than the essential Christian message. The seeker movement's pragmatism looks to the culture while the charismatic movement increasingly looks to experience and “prophecy” for their visions of the church and their direction for pastoral ministry.”Maybe his comments are just a harsh look at what might be some terrible and temporary tendencies? In any event, Spencer’s focus call, is that the job of those called to a ministry of the Word, is clear and simple, “Preach the Word! The WHOLE Word, and nothing but the Word.” I believe that if this mandate is faithfully carried out, that this is in and of itself both a very seeker-sensitive and prophetic office of Biblical proportions! You would think that would be simple enough, unfortunately no! So now to the problem. .Do you think that any return to ‘Full Gospel Preaching’ (take that how you will) will result in peace and tranquility in the church? Do you think ‘Full Gospel Preaching’ will result in eager listeners hanging lovingly on every word? Oh No! PREACHER BEWARE! True prophets, were never liked much and never will be. Riot, revival and even personal ruin may ensue such preaching. It has in the past and it will still do so today.
In light of this, have you noticed the subtle dishonesty of a Pastoral selection committee’s searching prayers? “Send us a man of God O Lord to do Your will,” is in fact clearly heard by God from their heart as “Send us a politician O God to do our will! For whatever the cost, we don’t want to rock the boat!” These prayers have mostly been answered in the affirmative and subsequently then, the church has become a most quietly prophetic place, so much so, that we no longer even try to rock the boat! And should there arise any Prophetic Jonahs on board amongst us, we always follow the old fashioned method, tried and true and at the most opportune time, either at the next deacons meeting or future planning committee meeting, bind them up and throw them overboard! The rising storm of truthful boat-rocking always stops in local churches when that happens and after that, well, we can get back on our own merry little way. Thank goodness!
Maybe when we pray we should at least be more honest and very specific “Oh Lord, send us a suit, that suits our purpose, meets our need and fulfils our plans. No more oracles please O Lord, for they can be truly ‘orrible towards our personal kingdom expansionist planning!” Do you really want someone to come and preach God’s whole Word to you? I mean, are you really ready for it? If so, GET A HELMET!
Listen: -If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. 1 Peter 4:11
Pray: - Oh Father, reveal your Son in us that we might preach Him with power. Send us voices from The Throne, even though we might moan at the mighty messages they proclaim. In Jesus name we pray, amen.
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