I think it's quite clear from the Bible that no degree or special training is required for one to preach Jesus. In fact, I would say that in today's Christian circles, being an ordained minister for a certain denomination limits what one can say from the pulpit. For example, how many pastors today would dare say from the pulpit something like this, "Jesus is the only way to salvation.
If you don't believe me, go to hell," or something like this, "If you don't believe in Jesus, I just happen to have some asbestos suits I'd like to sell you."? That's really the bottom line, isn't it? If you don't believe in Jesus you will go to hell. Yet, how many preachers today would say it that boldly and bluntly? I have heard one man make the above statements to an audience of hundreds. But he wasn't an ordained preacher: He was simply a businessman who follows Jesus. As such, he wasn't constrained by any denomination regarding what he could say.
Let me put out some scenarios to consider. What would happen, say, if a Baptist preacher said to his congregation one Sunday, "Folks, I've been doing some research, and I've come to the conclusion that we can't really be sure if we're saved from day to day. I was saved when I woke up, and I think I am now, but I might do something this afternoon and lose it and have to get it back?" Or what would happen if a Seventh-Day Adventist pastor said to his flock one Sabbath, "Brothers and sisters, I no longer consider Sister Ellen to be a prophet. In fact, I think she's wrong on several points. And I think that as followers of Jesus every day is our sabbath day, not just Saturday?" Or what if an Evangelical said to his congregation some Sunday morning, "Friends, I've been doing some reading, and it turns out we are still bound by the Old Testament food laws. And we've got to start worshipping on Saturdays, because that's the true Sabbath?"
We know what would happen. These men would be fired, and possibly kicked out of their respective denominations. I have met pastors who were so blinded by the "official doctrines" that they were not even willing to listen to anything from "outside". And I remember one pastor who seemed to be putting more faith in his denomination than in Jesus when he said to a friend of mine, "Well, [name removed], when you speak to people you can speak with authority, because you are a Seventh...Day...Adventist!" He didn't say, "Because you are a child of God," or "Because you follow Jesus."
I was once asked by a man, "What are you [referring to denomination]?" To which I replied, "I'm a follower of the Way [a reference to the book of Acts]." To which he replied, "I know that, but where do you align yourself? Are you a Pentecostal, baptist, etc..." It's like he was asking what flavor I was. I am not a flavor, I am not a denomination, I am not an ...ist. I am a Christian, a follower of Jesus, born again, saved by grace through faith in the finished work of Jesus and through His blood and death and resurrection, part of the elect. What did Paul have to say on this subject? I Cor. 1:12-15 (HCSB)
What I am saying is this: each of you says, "I'm with Paul," or "I'm with Apollos," or "I'm with Cephas," or "I'm with Christ." Is Christ divided? Was it Paul who was crucified for you? Or were you baptized in Paul's name? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius,so that no one can say you had been baptized in my name.
And again in I Cor. 3:4-7 (HCSB)
For whenever someone says, "I'm with Paul," and another, "I'm with Apollos," are you not [typical] men? So, what is Apollos? And what is Paul? They are servants through whom you believed, and each has the role the Lord has given. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.
To put it another way: Is Christ divided? Did Luther die for you? Were you baptized in Ellen White's name? Was Calvin's blood shed for your sin and mine?
Brothers and sisters, let us be careful when we talk about belonging to a certain church or denomination or group. On the one hand, it feels good to us to belong to the group and we enjoy finding other people who believe as we do. We also may enjoy some of the traditions and customs we grew up with. This is all good, for man was not made to be alone. But let us be careful that the truth of God does not get second place when choosing where to congregate on Sunday (or any day). Let us be sure that wherever we meet with others who claim the name of Jesus, the Word of God is preached in truth with boldness. Let us not sacrifice the Truth for the feeling of belonging to a certain group. Time for one last example. There is in San Jose, CA, a certain congregation that claims the name Lutheran (I mean no disrespect to Lutherans in general, but that is what they call themselves). This particular congregation is, I believe, not on the conservative end of the Lutheran spectrum. There are people there who attend because of the name Lutheran, and not because of the teaching. There are people there who attend because they've always attended Lutheran churches, and that's the way it is. Let us not be this type of person, brothers and sisters. Let us not forsake the Word of God for the tradition of men. Traditions can be good, but only if they do not supersede or interfere with the Bible. If you find yourself in a congregation that preaches apostasy or our society's liberalism, get out and find a body of true believers who preach the Truth from God's Word.
Wherever you attend worship services, may Jesus Christ be praised! And may God's Word be spoken with boldness!
-Mark-
-Christian Researcher-
-February 1, 2007-
