The Proclamation from the Pulpit

There is an enormous responsibility for spiritual leaders, and as congregation members, we can be careful to affirm whom we have chosen to lead us. 1st Timothy 5 states:
17 Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
18 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer is worthy of his wages."
19 Do not receive an accusation against an elder except from two or three witnesses.
20 Those who are sinning rebuke in the presence of all, that the rest also may fear.
21 I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality.

We see in this passage of Scripture a sense of accountability for those who are called to spiritual leadership. Spiritual leaders should be devoted to adhering to God's truth, proclaiming and living out the Scriptures; and those under that authority should also be growing in the Lord and in a position to hold them accountable.  There are many ideological winds that are swirling around these days, and it is important that the Church hold fast to a Biblical worldview.

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The apostle Paul wrote about the role of spiritual leaders and issued a challenge that we find in 1st Peter chapter 5:
1 The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
2 Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;
3 nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;
4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.
5 Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."

While we should certainly not exalt to celebrity status our preachers and teachers of God's Word, we should show them respect and honor, for they occupy a critical position in the Church. And, they are accountable to God for the actions - and their proclamations.

So, it can be troubling when you consider that just over a-third of self-identified Christian pastors in America do not possess a Biblical worldview, according to recent release from the 2022 American Worldview Inventory, from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University.

George Barna is director of research at the Center, and, according to The Christian Post, "just 37% of Christian pastors bring a biblical worldview with them to their pulpits." It goes on to say:

The nationwide study of about 1,000 Christian pastors conducted between February and March found that 57% of pastors leading nondenominational and independent churches held a biblical worldview, which researchers called “Biblical Theism.” Nondenominational and independent churches were even more likely to subscribe to a biblical worldview than leaders of Evangelical churches, 51% of whom abide by biblical theism in their daily lives.

Barna noted, "With barely half of Evangelical pastors possessing a biblical worldview — and that number continuing to decline — attending what may be considered an ‘Evangelical’ church no longer ensures a pastoral staff that has a high view of the scriptures.”

The article also noted:

The research also examined the worldviews of pastors based on the size of the congregation they serve. In churches with an average of 100 or fewer adults attending weekend services, 41% of the pastors were designated as “Integrated Disciples,” meaning that they have a biblical worldview that has been successfully translated into their daily behavior.

Larger fellowships with 101 to 250 adults fared even better, with 45% of their pastors holding a biblical worldview. However, just 14% of pastors leading mid-sized churches of between 250 and 600 people possessed a biblical worldview, while 15% of pastors of congregations with more than 600 adults were considered integrated disciples.

Barna is quoted as saying: "You cannot give what you do not have, so it is plausible that pastors of some large churches attract people by teaching a cultural standard rather than a biblical standard,” adding, “There are obviously some great Bible teaching churches and pastors among the nation’s largest congregations, but the data suggest it is more common to find pastors with a biblical worldview in smaller churches.”

It's a sobering look at the state of the American pastorate - and let me just say that I appreciate the diligence of pastors throughout our listening area who love Jesus, are dedicated to their congregations, and devoted to truth.  And, that is the key determinant of a church's effectiveness: its desire to glorify God by adhering to Biblical truth and acting accordingly - not the size nor the ethnicity, not the label, not the demographics that are most important.

The challenge is there for all us - we should make it our aim to be those "Integrated Disciples" about which Barna speaks: seeking out and incorporating the truth, as well as living it out daily.  We can also be discerning about our spiritual intake. Faith Radio is dedicated to offering you a lineup of Bible teachers who have a track record of proclaiming the truth of God, and we want to be a complement to the local church and your own walk with the Lord.  We should submit ourselves to trusted sources for truth, including our submission to pastors who faithfully proclaim the Scriptures in a bold and accurate manner.