Often in the life of a family or a church we reach a point in time where we are forced to look at what we do and why we do it. If this examination is to be fruitful then we must test our traditions and our accepted practices against the Scripture. What does the Word of God say? Just as often, when we are faced with such a situation we seem rather quick to test our doctrine and practice against experience instead.
We see that things are not working as we think that they should and we see needs and places where in our beliefs and our living we are lacking in godliness, holiness, or effectiveness. Usually it is when we think we have been ineffective that we are challenged to think about these things. At heart we are all very pragmatic. We want to know what works. What brings success?
Even if our motives are right - a desire to see the lost saved and the church sanctified and grown - too often we allow this pragmatic spirit to drive us toward the things that are perceived to be effective, no matter the doctrinal underpinning for the programs. That is why books by Rick Warren and Joel Olsteen are best sellers. People want results. People want success. And people by and large do not care what the Bible says about it. After all, Warren and Osteen both quote the Bible in many versions often and abundantly. (Don't let little things like context and proper interpretation get in the way though, for these kinds of teachers seem to be able to make the Bible say whatever they want it to say to make their point and sell their books.)
Pastors are no exception to this desire for success. Our ministry is always under scrutiny. The congregation, the church association, the community, and other pastors look to see if our efforts are bearing fruit. If they are seen to be effective, then we are interviewed, grilled even, and we are emulated and imitated. Good or bad, right or wrong, in this environment results mean success.
We are taught how to dress, speak, act, walk, and interact with others so that we are the model of Christian maturity, deference, and success. We learn to be professionals. We learn to do our job. And sadly, we often learn how to hide the truth about whom and what we are and we do our job whether we are qualified or not.
That is why men like Ted Haggard can hold the highest positions within evangelicalism all the while living the life of disqualified depravity. And this is why Jimmy Swaggert can still raise money for the "ministry." Because they know how to look successful whether or not their lives are bearing fruit or just blowing fluff.
But what about the little men? The unknowns? Those who are pastoring without the fanfare and the fame. What about their ministry? How can we know if it is fruit or fluff? We can know by seeing how pastors define a few terms. These things are critical, indeed crucial to being a pastor. What are these terms? We need to know how our pastors define success, fruit, growth, and failure. We also need to know how they define their own jobs - what is it to be a pastor?
Biblically, let us define these terms.
Success
Biblically success is not measured by money, approval, influence, or by numbers. Success is measured in terms of faithfulness. The Bible tells us that wisdom brings success (Eccl 10:10). To be wise is to see things from the right perspective. And what is it that can change our perspective when it is wrong? It is the Word of God. No wonder then that we are told in Joshua 1:8 that it is when we meditate on the Word of God that we are guaranteed success.
The trap and the deceit are found in those who would define success in worldly terms. Why in the world would we think that worldly measures of success mean anything to God? But this is what we tend to believe. We think that money, approval, influence, or numbers mean success. We think in terms of Wall Street and seek to make a profit on our "investments" yet all the while the Bible teaches success through death! It is through the mortification of the flesh, it is through crucifying the flesh, and it is through self denial that we find true success.
To put an end to this ludicrous idea that worldly fame and success can be equated with pleasing God let us look at one verse. 1 Corinthians 3:19 tells us, "For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God." That sums it up. The things that are taken as successful in worldly terms are foolishness to God. Want an illustration? Here are two:
Noah preached 120 years without one convert. Jeremiah went his whole ministry being mocked, scorned, and persecuted. Think about these things. There was nothing in these ministries that can be taken as success from a worldly standpoint. And yet these men were faithful to God and pleased Him. That is the measure of success.
Another way to look at it is found in asking a pastor a simple question. Ask him, "How is your church?" Nine times out of ten the answer will deal with the number of people attending! We really do equate numbers with success. Yet how many would answer and talk about fruit, or about holiness, or about maturity? Success is not about the number of people we reach - it is about being faithful.
When we do what we are supposed to do in obedience to Christ then He will build His church. And when the saints are equipped and serving, then the church is succeeding - no matter the numbers, the money, the fame, or the accolades of the world. Face it, when the world loves the gospel we preach then we have failed to preach the true gospel!
Fruit
What is it to bear fruit? The answer is so simple and so overlooked! The Bible tells us what fruit we are to bear. However, we are told that to bear fruit is to have numbers, to have a list of converts, baptisms, rededications, accompanied by pledges for giving to fund our latest "kingdom endeavors." We equate fruit with the number of people, the amount of money, and the level of commitment to our programs.
But the Bible tells us that fruit is nothing short of godly living. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." (Gal 5:22-23). In fact, a proof of false teaching and bad doctrine is ungodly living. What does that say about our churches and our families? When we claim to hold to sound doctrine and yet live like the world we prove that either we are liars and do not believe the truth, or we are holding to false doctrine. Sound doctrine accords with godliness - that is, it produces good fruit.
Jesus told us plainly that we would know a man, and by extension a church, by their fruit (Matt 7:20). What is the lasting fruit being produced? Think about it in the context of dealing with sin. When a man is confronted with sin, rebuked Biblically, and encouraged to repent, what does he do? Does he get defensive? Does he lash out? Does he try to justify his behavior or his words? Or does he do what John the Baptist said was necessary - does he bear fruit worthy of repentance? (Matt 3:8).
In truth, if we are bearing fruit, when we are rebuked we will do several things. We will humble ourselves. We will admit our sin (confession). We will not make excuses or try to defend ourselves; instead we will beg for forgiveness from all we have wronged. These are fruits worthy of repentance.
Think of Zacchaeus. When he met the Lord and was converted he immediately confessed his sin and made restitution, paying back what he had stolen. He was glad to do this. He had to do this. For when we repent, we bear fruit.
We see then that fruit is not counted in terms of things, but in terms of obedience and godliness, and holiness.
Older
Top
