01 January 2007
As I type this, we are six hours from driving to Newark, and then to Israel, for the study tour with Liberty University students. I shall be “out of pocket” until January 12, so I wanted to send one last blog at the beginning of 2007.
In the past four days, I have had the most amazing experiences. I had the honor of being the speaker for three youth events, Xtreme in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Xtreme in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, and then last night, at WinterFEST here on the campus of Liberty University. Tens of thousands of students and workers gathered at the locations, and heard such Christian bands such as Third Day, David Crowder, Kutless and Hawk Nelson. I always enjoy being with those guys, but by far, my greatest spiritual high came from being with those kids. They were absolutely sold out to serving Jesus Christ, and each year I feel as if I have been revived!
These last four dates were the last leg of the “Crucified Faith” tour, and in the sermon (Acts 5: 17-42), I came to a very controversial, yet profoundly important point— every single Christian is called by God to preach the Gospel. Everyone. Men, women, boys, girls- everyone who is born again is commanded and commissioned by God to preach.
After the service tonight, one youth pastor came to my table and asked, “Dr. Caner, did you mean that you believe in women pastors?”
Could you imagine how that would go over here on Liberty mountain?
Yet his question was perfect! It illustrates two major points that I would like to make:
1. PREACHING IS NOT JUST THE OFFICE: To answer his question, no. No, I do not believe the New Testament allows for women to serve as the pastor of a local church. There are a myriad- hundreds- of ministry positions in which women and men can both serve, but God reserved the position of pastor for men. The answer cannot stop there however–
It is precisely because we view God’s calling in such a limited scope that this becomes a question in the first place!
The average layman seems to believe that “preaching” is reserved for the hired, ordained staff of the church. No, my friend, “preaching” is far wider. In this instance, the disciples continued to teach and preach (Euaggelizo) in the Temple, and from “house to house” (Acts 5:42). The term Euaggelizo in the Greek means “to share the Good News.”
Everyone preached. Everyone went house to house. Everyone was commanded to do so, and the “Holy Spirit was (also) a witness” of this (Acts 5:32). And please notice- they went “house to house!”
May I state it even more blatantly?
You cannot pay your pastor or youth pastor enough money to do your preaching for you.
It is almost as if evangelicals have adopted a Roman Catholic view of the ministry- that only the ordained can serve. NO! As our Anabaptist forefathers declared, we are all called. God calls all Christians to be witnesses (transliterated Martus, from which we get the word “martyr”).
What has happened in the modern church? We have confused the specific office for which God anoints certain men with the universal command to which He calls all believers. Why? Partially because we see “church” as the spiritual highlight of our week. In fact, gathering together is supposed to be our launching pad- “Church” is what you and I do after we leave the building!
In that sense- we are all called. We are all preachers. We are all accountable, and we all have a job to do.
As one preacher of yesteryear noted, “There are only two types of Christians- soul winners and back-sliders.”
2. THEOLOGY MATTERS- The second point I would like to make, however, is an encouraging one. THANK GOD for men and women who ask the difficult and theological questions. This is encouraging because for the first time in a long time, youth pastors, senior pastors, and even students are making sure that theology…true biblical theology…is preached. A generation ago, many of these events were just concert gatherings. Now, even the Christian musicians are concentrating on the message of the Word of God. Trust me, this is a very good sign. It proves that these students are vitally concerned with doctrine, truth and Scripture, not just “entertainment,” as some people lament.
I pray all churches consider coming to some of these youth events that take place all over the country. Listen to the music- more specifically, listen to the words of the songs. Some of the most theologically sound worship is being written currently. The other speakers at these events (such as Clayton King, David Nasser, and Tony Nolan) are calling the students to complete and absolute obedience to the service of Christ.
Having done these types of events for some time, I can assure you, the students do not come to be “entertained.” They come expecting to be challenged. They leave, claiming their cities for Christ.
May we all do the same-
Truth is Immortal:
ergun
