I just got back from a conference called Together for the Gospel. There were many big name speakers. They were all excellent. They communicated God's word with clarity and zeal. They are men whose podcasts I listen to, and who I obviously traveled and paid to hear.
I just read Jeremiah 17:5. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength..."
God has surely ordained the office of preacher for the communication of his very message to us, the Gospel, written in the pages of Scripture.
Yet - I think we may be tempted to trust the messenger at times - even more than the message. How will this preacher convict me today? What turn of phrase will he use to cut to my heart? What new knowledge will he impart to me?
And it can be easy to forget - this merely is a man who is explaining God's words in Scripture. God's word, empowered by his Spirit, is the only thing that saves us from this evil age. We must be careful lest we put our trust in a fallible man - and not in the infallible words he is charged with teaching.
There is a flipside to this - that we turn to the LORD. Read the rest of Jeremiah 17. The LORD is the lifegiver - and that life comes through his word - and his word results in prayer, faith, and worship.
i've noticed for years now that many people consider John Piper infallible. Even though he himself would not or does not want this - people flock to him.
ReplyDeletei think certain Pastors people reject b/c they are so popular. But then the same people will take as gospel what certain other pastors say, even when it is mere opinion...
We have a relatively highly celebrated pastor of teaching at our church. One thing I love about his preaching is he often says, "Now check me on this; you should be searching further at home during the week to see if what I'm saying is true and in what way," or something like that. However, he is evidently so effective that I feel I have seen that people I know in the church rarely do question the basis for his preaching. It is very good, but I don't always agree with everything, yet if I [try to tactfully] bring up any contingencies for discussion, I can get strange looks. I'm exaggerating a bit, but the work is still ours to know what word we're receiving.
ReplyDeleteIt would have been great to attend the 2010 T4G conference! I live in Australia - so it's not really feasable for me to go right now - one year perhaps....
ReplyDeleteI agree with you here and I am remindded of Is. 2:22
Bless you as you seek Him.
Well - in defense of the Piper-ites - at least Piper is a faithful expositor of Scripture - whether I agree with him or not. But yes, there is that. Some Piper-heads are annoying.
ReplyDeleteJoseph - you don't always agree with everything?
Matthew - well, if we're still in the states, let's meet up at the next T4G. In the meantime, enjoying the mp3's?
Does that seem strange? I'm sure I may be wrong even on all counts.
ReplyDelete