A Sacred Cow on the Chopping Block:
Preaching is not Ministry. (Can be but mostly isn't in the western church)
Imagine yourself in a First Century Church. Corinth perhaps. One Sunday Morning (yes Sunday) a letter arrives from Paul, the one in authority as an Apostle. Someone, perhaps the one left in charge by the Apostle, gets up and reads out loud the letter Paul sent. Perhaps there is some discussion. Maybe he makes a few comments (careful there). Then he sits down. He did what a lot of people do on Sunday, PREACHED.
Now to be clear sometimes Preaching is ministry, but much less than most people would believe. Ministry is Apostolic, Prophetic, Teaching, Pastoral or Evangelistic.
One only need to look at the results of a Ministry gift to see if what the leader of a church that gets up on Sunday and speaks to the congregation to figure out if his or her preaching is indeed ministry.
If it is Teaching (as many would say) then the result should be well discipled (taught) congregants. This is not the case in most churches in the west. Our congregants are poorly discipled. Therefore what is happening from the pulpit is not really ministry gift teaching.
If it is Evangelistic (as some would say) then the result should be souls called to repentance and conversion. Most churches where I live have almost no conversions, lots of transfers. Sheep Swaps. Therefore what is happening from the pulpit is not really Evangelistic ministry.
If it is Pastoral (the title many church leaders carry) then the result should be people who are secure in the Love of God. They should be able to related to one another in Love and Compassion as an overflow from the Pulpit... therefore I think it's safe to say not much preaching is really Pastoral.
If it is Prophetic (not much is) the people would have a perspective of how God sees them and situations. They would begin to hear the word of God for themselves. There would be allowance for utterance of all kinds from people in the congregation. There would be people convicted of their sins by the gift flowing. There would be an awe of the presence of God and the potential that all secrets will be revealed. That never happens in churches in my area. Therefore almost no preaching is truly prophetic... unless it is a prophet bringing the word.
If it is Apostolic (very few are) then the people under this leader will be captivated by the vision and the direction spoken of by the Apostle. They will see clearly what must be done, what must happen, how it will all come to pass. They will be empowered and by the other ministry gifts equipped to do the works of the ministry. There will be correction, direction, commission and release. Not much Apostolic is flowing from most pulpits in my area... they don't know how and are not yet equipped.
I don't post this as a prophet to condemn, but to encourage people in Authority in congregations to get out of the "letter reader" mode and begin to flow in the fullness of the ministry grace assigned to you. If you don't yet know what that is, then sit down until you grasp it.
AND to those lost souls who say they are all five, they possess in fullness all five ministry gifts... you are deceived. Only JESUS did. Do less better. Be what you are. This doesn't mean you aren't allowed to preach, just allow true ministry to take place. Much of the foolishness coming from the pulpits of the American Church is so milky weak as to be useless. This is dishonoring the Power of the Gospel. (Oh, one other small sacred cow) The Gospel is NOT 4 books of the new testament, it is a message, good news. The 4 books contain the Gospel, but reading them or expounding on them is not Gospel preaching).
Ok, time to clean up the butcher floor.
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Part 1
While we all no in part. their are entire doctrines missing from the American church perataing to these things. 1 cor 11 30For this cause many [are] weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. For a few an act of mercy and judgment. hence lay hands speedily on no man lest ye share in his sin.As with anything we must look to Gods Word for direction. As it is written we do know in part. Contrary to what many think. There are at least a few answers in scripture. No sin or curse caused it ! 1As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2And His disciples asked Him,
"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born
blind?" 3Jesus answered, "It was neither that this man sinned, nor
his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.…Exodus 4 11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who
gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
The Job of the ministries is to equip and mature the saints to judge themselves and respond to God. not blindly believe and ignore Gods council and direction neglecting the whole council of His Word.
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