“Christians are faced with a situation that has perhaps not been seen widely in the West since the fourth century: To be both a good church member and a good citizen has become increasingly difficult. Difficult choices will have to be made in the coming years.” - Carl Trueman
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17)
Faithfulness Is the Future of the Church
Since 2005
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Discussion
NewFaithfulness must start with the Pastor
If we are going to have faithful churches, then we must have faithful pastors / elders.
That means faithfully preaching the Word. That means staying at your church for the long term, especially if it’s a difficult situation. That means not ruling over the congregation as a CEO but leading as a shepherd. That means keeping your zipper up when you’re not with your wife.
Unfortunately, the church has confused giftedness and charisma with faithfulness. We have a lot of gifted speakers, savvy leaders, and winsome glad-handers, but we have very few faithful pastors.
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I think we have more of these than is apparent. The typical faithful pastor is quietly preaching the Word and sound doctrine, encouraging the weak, admonishing the unruly, leading worship, marrying, burying, and wrapping it all in prayer. … and never getting noticed anywhere outside his congregation.
So— they’re almost invisible.
Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.