The Foolish, Isolated Pastor

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“And you say, “How I have hated discipline! And my heart spurned reproof! I have not listened to the voice of my instructors, And I have not inclined my ear to my teachers!”  (Proverbs 5:12–13, LSB)

This week I began recording a series in our IFCA podcast Advancing the Cause asking the question: Who Shepherds the Pastor? In this series, I am hoping to draw attention to the fact that all followers of Christ, pastors and elders included, need to have someone (preferably a few people) who watches over their soul.

This morning’s Scripture reading once again brought this necessity to my mind in the context of a father (Solomon) warning his sons about the lure of adultery.

Solomon imparts wise words on how to avoid the pitfalls of lust and adulterous relationships. He employs the eventual fate of the adulterer as a deterrent, illustrating the consequences of disregarding this wisdom and remaining faithful to marriage vows.

Solomon’s words apply to more than the destructive effect of adultery. In fact, they are applicable to everyone who comes to the end of their foolish ways and begins to regret their unwillingness to listen to the voices of reason and warning that preceded their downfall.

In regard to church leaders, this is a particular danger. Some pastors, by virtue of their small church, are often the lone leader. Others, by design, have isolated themselves from any other critics. Either way, the results are the same—words of warning are either unspoken or silenced.

I can’t think of anyone I know who enjoys being confronted for their sin. Confrontation is like good medicine. It’s bitter, but it helps where needed. We take it because we know the alternative is worse.

In reality, biblical counsel is beneficial. However, the challenge for many is that we understand the right things intellectually, yet we turn our hearts away, much like a young child turning away from the bitter syrup in a spoon, lips tightly pressed in rebellious refusal. While this child’s behavior may be considered childish if they are too young to comprehend the consequences of refusing their medicine, if they are old enough to understand and still resist, their childishness has transformed into foolishness.

Pastors are not naive or spiritual children. Instead, they understand the profound impact of the Word on the heart’s pain and brokenness caused by sin. However, they often take on the role of spiritual mother rather than the stubborn child. At least, that’s what we commonly believe.

Perhaps we’ve fallen prey to a subtle deception that acknowledges our imperfections, as all redeemed Christians do, yet still struggles with sin… but not excessively. Our congregants require the medicine, but we, we’re too mature to need it frequently. But is that truly the case?

If you’re a spiritual leader in the Church, you need someone to watch over your soul. Just like a medical doctor, who is still susceptible to illness, his medical expertise and training don’t prevent common colds. Physicians require the guidance of other physicians. Similarly, pastors need to be pastored. We need someone to use the rod and staff to guide and correct us through the Word of God.

To avoid such a relationship is foolish. Rejecting correction and warnings will lead us to a similar fate as the adulterer in Proverbs 5:12-14. As God’s children, we all need each other. Don’t believe the lie that you’re an exception. There are no exceptions. Don’t become the foolish, isolated Christians who, one day, look up and find their life in shambles, with their family and ministry forfeited because they refused to listen.

“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23, LSB)

Pastor, Are You Bored with God?

/ Richard Bargas / Leave a comment

“Great is Yahweh, and highly to be praised, And His greatness is unsearchable.” (Psalm 145:3, LSB)

I remember it vividly because of the shock I had when he spoke the words. I was an associate pastor of a small church and was soaking up every practical ministry lesson I could. “I hate preaching holidays like Christmas and Easter,” he said.

“Why?” I couldn’t fathom a Christian pastor ever uttering those words. Unfortunately, I have heard versions of that same sentiment ever since I first heard it.

“I have a hard time finding something new to say,” the pastor replied. As a young man just starting out in ministry, I could see his point. If you preached for 40 years (and never repeated a sermon at a different church), you would need to write 40 sermons on some aspect of Christ’s birth and the resurrection. If you preach a special message about communion, the task grows exponentially.  

I’m on the other end of the spectrum–maybe even a little farther down the road than the pastor who spoke those shocking words to me. So, have I come to adopt the same sense of dread? No, and the words of Psalm 145:3 are part of the reason why.

I have found that when I preach to an “audience,” I am especially mindful of their reactions and responses. I am not much different from an orator, stand-up comedian, politician, commencement speaker, or anyone else who is seeking to win the approval of their listening audience. Such a person would be reasonable in wanting a positive response and in seeking some form of entertainment or fulfillment. I have seen many pastors do this very thing. And that can stir up the feeling that we need to say something novel, or something that will impress listeners so they keep coming back. But this can become a trap, like a hamster wheel of pleasing our audience or they will become bored with God, with the church, and worst of all in this mindset: bored with us!

Some homileticians have argued that expositional preaching is dying because listeners don’t want it. Some have said it isn’t a biblical model to just stand in front of people and tell them what the Bible says (even though Jesus and the Apostles did just that). But when all the arguments are laid out, they all amount to the desire to scratch the hearer where they itch.

Can we take a step back for a second and meditate on the verse above? Our God is great! We, as preachers of the Scriptures, get to open our Bibles and tell people about this great God every time we step into the pulpit, sit down in a discipleship setting, or meet in counseling. Then out of the overflow of that magnificent truth comes forth praise for this God! Here we can see our goal is not to entertain, but to have those who hear us, both believers and unbelievers, walk out of our churches in awe of the God within the pages of Scripture. If we aim to have them see our preaching as something great, we have greatly missed the point of our calling!

And finally, there is no end to this greatness, and thus no end to our speaking about our great God. His greatness is unsearchable, David wrote. And to illustrate this truth, he wrote this 21-verse song in an acrostic form to put on full display the beauty and majesty of his Subject.

It’s Saturday morning, and I have to wonder how many pastors will muddle through another sermon they have to write because they have to preach tomorrow. If that’s you, you may have lost the reason why God has called you to be one of His heralds. It’s not about you or your listeners. It’s all about Him. Even if it’s only you and the church mouse, proclaim the majestic glories of our Risen Savior tomorrow–and then do it again and again until Jesus calls you home.

Putting Pragmatism to Death in Evangelism

/ Richard Bargas / 1 Comment

Simon answered and said, “Master, we labored all night and caught nothing, but at Your word, I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish. And their nets began to break;  (Luke 5:5–6, LSB)

Whenever I have heard a lesson or sermon on this passage in Luke 5:1-11, the emphasis always seems to be on verse 10 and Jesus’ words, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men”  (Luke 5:10, LSB). The application is often about how we need to be witnesses for Christ, engaged in “man-fishing.” I’d agree that this passage marks a turn of focus for Jesus’ disciples from part-time disciples to full time Gospel witnesses.

For a second, I’d like to look at this passage from a slightly different angle and emphasis. Jesus is teaching along the lakeside and sits in a boat to teach. He asks for Simon to push out into deeper water and to cast his nets.

At the end of this section is when we read about Jesus’ transition to the change of vocation, “catching men.” In reflection, how often are we as Christians like Peter in our thinking regarding evangelism (catching men)? We have made all our efforts and yet have been unsuccessful.

I enjoy fishing for fish. This summer, one of my daughters caught 40 fish over a span of about 4 days—outfishing her dad. It was a “proud papa” moment. But the whole modern fishing industry knows that not every fisherman is successful when he throws his line into the water. The possibilities on the shelves offering success (for a price) are endless: stronger fishing line that is more flexible and less visible; more realistic lures and baits that entice fish to bite; stronger, more sensitive poles; reels whose action is as smooth as butter! With all that the modern fisherman can spend in his local sporting goods store, he could have bought a very nice grilled fish dinner for his whole family—for a week! The disciples had far fewer options for their net fishing, but they depended upon their own human experience and ability as the tools that kept food on the table and a roof over their heads.

Unfortunately, the modern day fishing industry isn’t the only place that the gullible fisherman is being sold things he doesn’t need. In the Church, there are a lot of people “selling” all sorts of techniques and tools that are sure to bring in the “big one” with the gospel. Tracts, booklets, videos, coins, prayer cloths, anointing oils, emotional appeals, comic books, and more all claim to be the missing thing in the man-fishing tacklebox. Let’s get back to Jesus there on the shore with his fishermen…

Peter reluctantly obeys. After all, what did Jesus know? He was a carpenter and they had experience on their side. Out of respect for their Master, the fishermen listened. It would be embarrassing, but they had warned Him. He would see that they knew better. But they didn’t. The nets and boats fill with fish to the point of sinking. Peter is astonished and gives glory to God, as they are all filled with fear (vv. 8-10).

The Lord might use our evangelism training classes, our tracts, our Bible studies, or our Gospel magic trick, just as He used the nets to grab those fish. But He doesn’t need the nets, or the fishermen. He chooses to use these means, and we are grateful that He has chosen to use us as His fishers of men. But here is our lesson. It’s not just that we must be fishers of men. It is that the results of our catch are not for us to boast in. And when we fail to catch? We have not failed. We are called to be fishers, not catchers. In our supposed failure, we will be tempted to change our methods, or worse, our message. Instead we need to remember the critical role that God plays in evangelism—He brings the people to Himself.

When Jesus intervenes, and we bear much fruit, how foolish we are to think it was the way we cast our nets, or the depth of the water, or whether it was day or night, or whatever. The amazing harvest is not due to anything we did, but because the Master has commanded and we obeyed. And when we feel reluctant to fish for men in unfavorable conditions, we betray our thinking that it is the conditions that make for the harvest and our success or failure.

More than anything, the Lord honors our efforts when we follow Him in obedience. Whether we have a small pocket New Testament and nothing else, or we have an elaborate ministry program—God can use it. But when we see the results, we must take care not to take credit and if we are faithful, we cannot think we have somehow failed. The Lord drew the fish into the nets, and He is the One who draws the soul to Himself.

God is Sovereign and We Aren’t Robots

/ Richard Bargas / 1 Comment

“Whatever Yahweh pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”  (Psalm 135:6, LSB)

Whether it is the terrifying storms in the skies (v. 7), the crushing plagues He brought to Egypt (vv. 8-9), the conquests that left the nations decimated as the Lord handed Israel their lands as His gift (vv. 10-12), Psalm 135 speaks loudly about the overwhelming power and plan of God to do whatever He pleases within all of creation. He made it all and He rules it as the sovereign and only Potentate.

For some Christians, the doctrine of God’s sovereignty is a hard pill to swallow. They accept that He is all powerful, but they often will mitigate this truth with additional disclaimers and rebuttals. “God’s sovereign, but He gives up some of His rule and authority over us so that humanity can be free to choose.” But in saying this, they had neutered what the Bible says and inserted something it very clearly doesn’t say. In fact, they have taken the Sovereign God and made Him a little more like the powerless idols spoken of in verses 15-18:

The idols of the nations are silver and gold,

The work of man’s hands.

They have mouths, but they do not speak;

They have eyes, but they do not see;

They have ears, but they do not hear,

Surely, there is not any breath in their mouths.

Those who make them will be like them,

All who trust in them.  (Psalm 135:15–18, LSB)

The God who rules Israel also rules the other nations and the world. In contrast, the gods of the nations were deaf, dumb, and blind. They were not sovereign over anything. And don’t miss the results of such ideas—you become like what you worship.

For those who reject the biblical doctrine of God’s sovereignty, in attempting to protect man’s free will (thus exalting man) they lower God (just a little, they reply). After all, they reason, God wants us to worship Him freely. He doesn’t want worship from robots.

Ah! But the psalmist doesn’t see a contradiction between his praise of this sovereign God who does what He pleases and the open worship of His people. The psalm opens with a command to “Praise Yah! (vv. 1-3) and then closes the psalm with more calls to worship (vv. 19-21). Yahweh is sovereign and thus we must worship. We are not forced to do so, but we cannot contain our exuberance for our God.

Far from squashing genuine worship, the biblical truth that God is unfettered in his power and sovereignty impels worship to greater heights. We are not robots! The sovereignty of God does not teach that a mindless fatalism is at work in the universe. It inspires praise.

In fact, we can attribute the grand and glorious works of God totally to Him because “whatever Yahweh pleases, He does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all deeps.”  (Psalm 135:6, LSB)

Wait For Yahweh

/ Richard Bargas / 2 Comments

O Yahweh, my heart is not exalted, and my eyes are not raised high;

And I do not involve myself in great matters,

Or in matters too marvelous for me.

Surely I have soothed and quieted my soul,

Like a weaned child with his mother,

Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, wait for Yahweh

From now until forever.  (Psalm 131:1–3, LSB)

As I write this, I’m not thinking of anyone else or any other situation that might be brewing in the broad circles of evangelicalism. I say this, because we live in a day of “hot takes” where people write with an intention to speak into a situation. This can be good when thoughtfulness and facts are taken into consideration. All too often this is not what occurs.

I am writing for myself. Today, as I read the words of Psalm 131 in my daily Bible reading, I was struck by the humility of David, and it placed within me a longing for the same sort of child-like dependence upon our Savior.

In David’s words, I am reminded that our God hates pride. He “opposes the proud” (James 4:6; 1Pet 5:5; Prov 3:34), and yet pride is a hallmark of so many, including myself—especially of those who are placed in high positions. We can fix it. We can muscle through. If we use enough ingenuity, resources, sweat, and force we can achieve anything we put our mind to. How proud we are!

David, at least in the moments when he wrote this song, was lowly. He signals this humility with lowered eyes to match his lowered heart. Once again this leader of Israel voices a reminder of who he truly was—a small man placed in a position by the grace of God. He was not worthy of the great matters of State. He did not deserve to be drawn so close to the Living God. He was not worthy of the grace and mercy lavished upon Him. None of us are.

And yet, God continued to shower David with His goodness. David continued to be in awe. The occasion for his words are unknown, but they point to a time of turmoil. His soul needed to be soothed and quieted, like a small child who was hungering for the tender comforts of his mother’s care. The Lord supplied the soul’s peace when he needed it.

How powerless is the toddler, and yet the caring mother does not fail to provide. The child must simply wait. The lesson was for Israel, and it is for me and you as well. We are not powerful enough. We are not smart enough. We are weak, we are lowly. And yet, like a tender caring mother, our God will come and meet our need in our time of weakness. We simply must wait.