Go Ahead; Dump Your Brain!
- by Bill Koonce
- Nov 14, 2017
- 4 min read
I admit that I’m suspicious of church leaders. More precisely, any hesitation on my part might be akin to an abhorrence of any practice that blindly follows church pastors and Sunday school leaders. Certainly, as believers we should NOT dump our brains at the church entrance.
I am not one who exudes pedantic attention to church sermons. Still, I don’t switch off my ability to analyze and assess when I enter a church. I believe Christians who carry their brains into the church strengthen the body of Christ and avoid understating the deficiency of a man or woman proclaiming themselves as teachers.
“Christians, like slaves and soldiers, ask no questions” (Falwell, n.d.).
Need it be that way?
Possibly, my aspiration to be part of a vigorous church learning environment is akin to learning scuba diving in a thimble—such a program doesn’t exist. Perhaps my yearning for a robust Christian teaching environment within the church is archaic and contrary to the Western church business model. Regardless, I can’t help but draw back when church leaders offer a sermon or tutorial based on one scriptural reference. Rarely is such a strategy possible without performing eisegesis (imposing personal interpretation into the text) and delivering the message with fanatical emotion alone, void of pragmatic intelligence.
Certainly, I do not propose disunity or advocate individual hostility to church leaders. I only ask for accountability and the strengthening of the church body.
I have been kicked out of Sunday school by a preacher who refused too even open his Bible to address verses that contradicted him. In another class at a different church, I stood, told the class leader that I refused to participate in a study series whose main research material was a denominational magazine. That week’s lesson! Christians are like smartphones—make sure you press the proper buttons to get where you want to go! (I was asked by the preacher to return and “shake up the class.” I did so reluctantly. Six months later, a lovely lady in the class cornered me, hugged me, and thanked me for getting the class off “milk” and into the “meat” of the Word. I was grateful for her comment. No Christian man striving to improve church curriculum likes being the brunt of church gossip that labels him an ass).
Recently, I was accused of being disruptive to the body of Christ by a pastor leading a church of perhaps eight to ten members. This accusation occurred after roughly ten minutes of discussion. Since no one had arrived to worship at this church, the pastor and I had an opportunity to sit down and talk. Soon, she became visibly upset with me. Ultimately, I apologized to her for being over analytical in the hopes of calming her down. Unfortunately, I eventually asked her if she understood the meaning of relational communication (her communication technique was to practice insistent interruption). She asked me to leave the church building. I respectfully thanked her and then left.
Some church leaders believe that they are anointed; God’s Holy Spirit guides them, and thus, they are qualified to lead and teach, and are above reproach. At times, they use 1 John 2:27 to bolster their argument without realizing that John was teaching others when he wrote that verse, thus, such an argument is fallacious from the start.
Though I believe God’s Holy Spirit helps us to understand His Word, not all individuals who portray themselves as teachers have a teaching gift. A clear indication of such a case is when a Bible teacher states, “You both are correct” though it is clear two statements are in direct and unequivocal opposition. Using such an illogical approach just to keep the peace is unbiblical and tragic. “For always to address one’s disciples with mildness, even when they need severity is not the part of a teacher but it would be part of a corrupter and enemy” (Chrysostom, 2004, p. 1). Keeping class order by approving two antagonistic answers merely pollutes the solution.
Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15, NLT)
The inevitable examination of my heart (and yours) by God is unavoidable. I covet that examination so that I might know my heart better and in that knowing work harder to discover truth. Yet, I write with trepidation thumping my heart with each tap of my keyboard. What right have I to examine our church leaders? After all, they look at me as just a layman—unqualified at best, ignorant at worst. Still, the Word of God exhorts all Christians to seek God’s approval regarding how we handle the truth (1 Peter 3:15; Eph. 6:11-17). Also, we should expose false teachers (Rom. 16:17-18; Eph. 5:11; Col. 2:8; 2 Tim. 4:3-4; 1 John 4:1). How can we accomplish either without study and the resolute nature that compels us to carry our brain into the church?
Do I mind being schooled in scripture? Not at all. When such correction does occur, invariably I thank that person for teaching me. Also, am I amazed when I study great Christian thinkers? Yes, and humbled.
What’s the answer? First, I will never consider a church leader as sacrosanct, though I realize “big” church leaders become unreachable just as politicians do. And there are logical reasons for such a caste system. Second, if a church leader (or teacher) believes her or she is above correction, then I demand their words be canonized. Lastly, and thankfully, and in my experience, there are many preachers and teachers who fulfill their calling to instill in others a desire to serve our Lord and Savior, Jesus. These wonderful servants strive to edify the body of Christ at the expense of family time and even their own health—Glory to God for their service.
In my next article, I will discuss modern day apostles. You guessed it! I visited a church led by a preacher who identified himself as a modern day apostle. Is such a thing even possible?
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Chrysostom, J. (2004). Commentary of St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop of
Constantinople on the Epistle of St. John the Apostle to the Galatians. In
P. Schaff (Ed.), Nicene and post Nicene Fathers (pp. 1-13). Peabody, MA:
Hendrickson. (Originally published in 1889)
Falwell, J. (n.d.). Jerry Falwell quote. Retrieved from
http://izquotes.com/quote/59972
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