"Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law." - Proverbs 29:18
It used to be understood that the Christian Church is God’s prophetic voice to inform the surrounding culture about His will. The Church declared to society what was right and what was wrong, and whether society agreed or not, “they knew that a prophet was among them."
A few years ago something changed. Theologians, churches and pastors began to allow the pagan culture around us to tell the Church what should be considered right and wrong, good and bad. Churches began to issue “position statements” explaining the latest changes to their teaching based on opinion polls instead of on the Bible. The World began to dictate doctrine to the Church instead of the other way around.
Way back in the Book of Proverbs, God explained what happens when God’s people fail at their prophetic ministry. “The people cast off restraint.” Moral chaos results.
Paul, writing to his disciple Titus, told him what the requirements should be for any man who was being considered as a candidate for Pastor of a Christian church.
He must hold firm to the trustworthy Word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
Titus 1:9
When we call Pastors who fail at this most basic requirement of faithfulness to God’s Word, the Church will fail to be that prophetic voice that speaks on God’s behalf to the World. We are living today with the moral chaos that results from that failure.
What’s the solution? Get back to the Bible! Dump unfaithful pastors and teachers who fail to preach and teach it faithfully. Build our lives and our churches on faith in His promises and obedience to His commands.
Lord God, we have failed to stand for Your eternal, revealed Truth and now we see the chaos that has resulted. Forgive us. In Your mercy, help us to call Pastors who believe, teach, and live by Your Word, and give us the courage to stand with them. Help us to be the prophetic voice that this World needs to hear, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles