Alright, in this series we have looked at the Biblically-Deprived church and the Biblically-Influenced church. Today we will seek to understand what a Biblically-Driven church is. Putting all my cards on the table I must tell you that I want Redeemer Church to squarely fit into this third category. I want us to be driven by the message of Scripture. I don’t want us to take our cues from any one other than God Himself. So let’s look at what a church who is driven by Scripture looks like.
BIBLICALLY-DRIVEN churches
Description & Characteristics
- The Word is central. Each aspect of the church’s ministry has the Word of God as the centerpiece. The worship services are guided by the commands and principles of Scripture. The leadership structure and shepherding ministries are guided by Scriptural commands and principles. The mission of the church submits itself to the Word both in method and in message. The Bible is the litmus test whereby old practices are evaluated and new ideas or implemented.
- The Word has final authority. When ideas are being discussed and critical decisions are being made, the Bible is not set aside. The Scriptures are utilized in order to gain the necessary wisdom to make a sound decision. No matter what the issue is, the Scriptures have the ultimate authority (not tradition, not opinion, not emotion, not powerful personalities).
- The meaning of the Word is essential. This church understands that the text can never mean what the text never meant. The Bible means what it has always meant. So the church doesn’t seek to use the Bible to fit its creative agenda. Instead, church members desire to understand the Biblical text so they can know God’s message to them. They want to know what God means by what He has said, because true spiritual blessing comes from knowing and applying God’s Word.
- The pastor is a mouthpiece for the Word. The church is not looking for their pastor to be a stand-up comedian, inspirational speaker, or public psychologist. Rather, they expect the pastor to stand up and read the Bible, explain the Bible, and apply the Bible to their lives. They aren’t looking for interesting stories or cute antidotes. They want to hear from God. Consequently, they expect their pastor to feed them regular, healthy doses of Biblical truth.
- The Word is transformative to my life. The Christians in this church have experienced the life-transforming power of the Scriptures. They have found that God dramatically increases their wisdom, contentment, and joy as they increase their intake of the Scriptures. Thus, they don’t settle for a strict diet of popular Christian books, DVD lessons, and Christian music on the radio. They supplement their diet with these nutritional aides, but their meat and potatoes come from immersion in the Holy Scriptures.
- Relationships are governed by the Word. The fellowship of the church is saturated with the Word and is concerned with the day-to-day application of the Word in individual lives. Fellowship is seen not as an exchange of formalities but as an intimate union among like-minded believers who are submitted to God’s Word.
- The Gospel is clear and powerful. The Gospel is the good news of salvation through faith in the person and work of Jesus. This church focuses its message and ministry on the power of this Gospel for salvation and sanctification, because the Gospel is the melodic theme of the Bible. Church members know the message of the Gospel, believe it, and seek to apply its powerful truth to daily life.
- We exist for GOD. Church members don’t believe that ‘God exists for ME’ or that ‘God and I are a good team.’ Rather, their understanding of the Scriptures leads them to the conclusion that they primarily exist for the glory and joy of God. Genesis through Revelation sound forth one singular message: worship God!
Critique
The Biblically-driven church…
- Affirms the nature of Scripture (2 Tim. 3:15-17).
- Applies the commands of Scripture (2 Tim. 4:1-5; Titus 2:1).
- Embraces the responsibilities of the church (2 Timothy 1:13).
- Embraces the responsibilities of church leaders (1 Timothy 3:2).
- Loves the mission of God (Matt. 28:18-20).
However, it is not without its faults. If this church isn’t humble before the Lord, it sometimes…
- lacks organizational and administrative skill. Because the ministry of the Word is valued so highly, the more practical areas of ministry are undervalued and overlooked.
- lacks practical love for the community. Because of its emphasis on studying, learning, and applying the Scriptures, this church lacks the time, energy, and creativity to consistently and skillfully love people outside the fellowship.
- lacks shepherding from the leadership. Because the preacher spends so much time reading, studying and praying through the Scriptures, he doesn’t spend qualitative time with the church members. Though they have a pulpiteer, they need a pastor. They need a man who loves them and personally shepherds them through life’s issues and trials.
- possesses an arrogant spirit. The temptation for a Biblically-driven church is to think highly of its own ministry while devaluing other ministries that don’t seem to match up to a Biblical standard. Even though evaluating other ministries according to their commitment to the Scriptures is a valid and useful endeavor, it becomes invalid and destructive when it produces pride and a holier-than-thou spirit. The best thing a Biblically-driven church can do is to apply the spirit of Christ to their own personal attitude and demeanor toward others.
Effects
The Biblically-driven church…
- gives Christians a biblical vision for life, family, church, and community.
- equips Christians to live a God-glorifying life.
- helps Christians successfully fight sin and pursue holiness.
- promotes relational harmony and biblical methods for conflict resolution.
- produces deeper worship and higher exaltation of God.
- gives Christians courage and confidence in personal evangelism.
Summary
There is no perfect church. Every local body in this area, in this country, and on this planet has significant flaws. Does that mean they’re all equal? Does that mean that they’re all basically the same and accomplish the same basic goals? No! To believe that all churches are basically the same would be one of the biggest errors in judgment you could possibly make.
God has clearly spoken to us in His written Word. Therefore, we know God through His Word. And since the essence of eternal life is the knowledge of God (John 17:3), churches that promote the knowledge of God are more valid and beneficial to your spiritual life.
The church you are presently attending is either biblically-deprived, biblically-influenced, or biblically-driven. If it is biblically-deprived, I encourage you to leave your church on the basis that it is destructive to your spiritual life. Leave graciously, lovingly, and with integrity. But leave your church. If your church is biblically-influenced, you have options. You can pray for your church to improve. You can seek to be a force for change. You can seek to lead the church toward a more biblical vision of church life. But if the handwriting is on the wall and you can see that this church is not interested in a more robust application of Scripture, I encourage you to consider finding a fellowship of believers who believes, teaches, and lives out the truths of Scripture. Finally, if you are in a biblically-driven church, I encourage you to thank the Lord for His good provision in your life. I also encourage you to cultivate humility before God and genuine love for other people and other churches. Ironically, nothing is more unbiblical than spiritual arrogance and a lack of love.
But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:15-17
Summary Chart on the three kinds of churches
|
BIBLICALLY-DEPRIVED |
BIBLICALLY-INFLUENCED |
BIBLICALLY-DRIVEN |
| The Word is absent. | The Word is present. | The Word is central. |
| The Word has no authority. | The Word has competing authorities. | The Word has final authority. |
| The meaning of the Word is irrelevant. | The meaning of the Word is subjective. | The meaning of the Word is essential. |
| The pastor is a psychologist. | The pastor is a motivational speaker. | The pastor is a mouthpiece for the Word. |
| The Word is irrelevant to my life. | The Word is informative to my life. | The Word is transformative to my life. |
| Relationships trump the Word. | Relationships incorporate Biblical themes (when convenient). | Relationships are governed by the Word. |
| The Gospel is redefined. | The Gospel is unclear. | The Gospel is clear & powerful. |
| God exists for ME. | God and Me make a good team. | I exist for GOD. |
by Ryan Limbaugh