2 Timothy 4:2: Preach the word; be ready in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
We tend to focus upon the challenges facing our local church. Often, they seem to consume us to the point of great distraction. Yet the Apostle Paul very matter of factly counsels Timothy that challenges are part of any congregation’s growth, turning what would normally be viewed as a negative into an affirming part of maturity. In fact, Scripture identifies ten things healthy churches do well. Can problems or criticism actually be used of God to transform a fellowship? For the Scriptural answer, we examine:
- Historical Context: 2 Timothy 1:1 identifies the author of the Book of 2 Timothy as the apostle Paul, written in approximately A.D. 67, shortly before the apostle Paul was put to death. Imprisoned in Rome yet again, the apostle Paul felt lonely and abandoned. Paul recognized that his earthly life was likely coming to an end soon. The Book of 2 Timothy is essentially Paul’s “last words.” Paul looked past his own circumstances to express concern for the churches and specifically for Timothy. Paul wanted to use his last words to encourage Timothy, and all other believers, to persevere in faith (2 Timothy 3:14) and proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 4:2).
- Grammatical Usage: “Preach” is “Kerusso” in the Greek and literally means, “to herald or proclaim … specifically the ministry of the Scriptures”; “word” or “Logos” meaning, “discourse or instruction”; “ready” is “Ephistemi” meaning, “be instant”; “in season” or “Eukairos” meaning, “occurring conveniently” while “out of season” is “Akairous” meaning, “occurring inconveniently”; “reprove” is “Elegcho” meaning, “to expose”; “rebuke” or “Epitimao” means, “to point out”; “exhort” is “Parakaleo” meaning, “to urge a course of conduct”; “longsuffering” is “Makrothumia” meaning, “forbearance or patience”; “doctrine” is “Didache” or “teaching.”
- Literal Application: Proclaim the Scriptures exclusively, its discourse and instruction, instantly in every situation whether convenient or not; expose situations for what they are, point out the truth of the circumstance in light of the Word which determines our course of conduct with patience sound teaching.
- Contextual Interpretation: As pastor, Timothy was admonished to be aware of situations within the fellowship. He was not to miss an opportunity; he was to be on hand on every occasion, ready to tell what the Word had to say, be the right moment or not. He was to minister the Word because it is “God-breathed” which will, on its own, convict, rebuke and entreat – the first two negative, the third positive. Those in error he was to correct (2:25); those who were sinning he was to rebuke (1 Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 3:16; Titus 1:13; 2:15); those who were doing well he was to encourage. These are the facets of public ministry: proclamation, correction, rebuke and encouragement – all of which must be done with great patience and careful instruction with the understanding the God has never said, “Well done thou good and successful servant” but “Well done thou good and faithful servant.” – Matthew 25:21, 23.
Ø Scriptural Comparison: A point of Paul’s instruction often missed is the fact that we, as a fellowship, ARE going to experience challenges. This should come neither as a surprise nor a destabilizing factor. In fact, Scripture identifies no less than ten aspects of a healthy church when challenges arise:
1. They expect to have problems.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”– James 1:2-4
Any growing body will have its share of aches and pains. In Acts 6, the Jerusalem church had been basking in the sunshine. All was well. God had sent miracles, new believers were arriving daily, and a sense of contentment settled in upon the leadership. Suddenly, from inside the family, a groan went up. Then it swelled into a chorus of complaints. In the distribution of food for the congregation, the widows received priority. But for some reason, Hebrew widows were getting the lion’s share to the neglect of the Grecian widows. Did someone there say, “Oh no! We have a problem! What are we doing wrong?” Did they panic? Did anyone jump ship because the presence of a problem must indicate they were failing God? Not that we can tell.
Any church will have the occasional challenge. Like a growing child, a lively family, or a thriving business, challenges arise within growing enterprises that have to be dealt with. Not only is it not bad, it could be an indication we are doing something right. Either way, reaction is a barometer as to where a fellowship is in relation to challenges of any sort.
Steadfastness in the Greek carries with it the characteristics of constancy and endurance; a believer who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose or his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings. This being true, a mature believer does not cower in the face of challenges, but understands that God walks with us through issues as, in God’s economy, the Holy Spirit is at work accomplishing a number of things simultaneously. The reaction to “cut and run” simply is not a Biblical concept.
2. They handle criticism well.
“If you hear in one of your cities, which the Lord your God is giving you to dwell there, 13 that certain worthless fellows have gone out among you and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which you have not known, 14 then you shall inquire and make search and ask diligently.” – Deuteronomy 13:12-15
The healthiest family will run into a problem from time to time that results in unhappy campers needing to speak up. People who gripe do not think of what they are doing as undercutting their leadership and demoralizing the troops. They are just registering their displeasure at the way something is being done in the church. There is, of course, a healthy way to express concerns, and there is a type of complaining that is like a cancer in its deadliness, a knife in the cuts and wounds it inflicts, or a slap in the face for the abrupt wake-up it administers.
A wise believer will not panic when he learns someone is criticizing. “Consider the source” is always good advice. If we incorporate structures into the church organization so people can register their concerns and suggestions, we will curtail the murmuring and bellyaching which drive the leadership to distraction. Notice in our text the appropriate reaction is make inquiry, search it out and be diligent in the process. An inquiry should be directed to a member of the staff who can guide the process along. This is both respectful and orderly, honoring to God and respectful of those involved and the congregation as a whole.
3. They deal with problems promptly.
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him” – Luke 17:3
One of the differences in healthy and sick bodies is in their promptness in responding to an infection. Most problems that arise should be dealt with by specific action. A healthy church will either already have a way to deal with problems, criticism, and trouble-makers, or it will find a method quickly when the need arises.
Some years ago, the church I was attending received a letter on a Monday morning from a medical doctor and his wife. They had visited our services the previous day, they said, but would not be back. He said we had failed to provide security in the nursery area of the church. The father said, “After church, I walked up to the window and pointed out my child and said, ‘That one,’ and the lady handed her to me.” He said, “Anyone could have done that. She would have given that child to anyone who pointed out my baby.”
That same day, a meeting of the leadership was called to deal with that letter. Everyone agreed the couple had identified a serious need. No one left the meeting until everyone agreed upon a plan for instituting safeguards and a parental-identification system for the nursery. Then the Pastor called on the young family and assured them of our appreciation for their letter. They joined our church and became valuable members of our fellowship.
The point is not to delay when issues arise. Reasonable people are willing to wait for a process to run its course as long as the process is underway and a conclusion is shared will all involved. Promptness reflects genuine interest in both the issue and its resolution.
4. They depend on their lay leadership.
“The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said…“Seek out from among you seven men…”– Acts 6:3
Preachers do not have to handle every issue themselves. In an unhealthy church, they may have to. “That’s what we pay them for,” we have all heard someone say. Actually, this is not what we pay them for. Granted, some ministers are unable to turn over jobs and feel their authority is being undercut if they ask someone else to do anything. This is not authority but a sickness. God does not send His pastoral servants to do everything themselves, but to assist others in finding their spiritual gifts, their calling, their place of service and exercising such. Problems that arise can provide ideal opportunities for such ministry.
When a Pastor asks someone, “Joe, such-and-such has arisen and we need to jump on this. Can you get with the teachers in that department and deal with this?” Absolutely. He’s trusting his leadership to exercise their gift, demonstrating confidence in the Holy Spirit to enable one to rise up to the task. He’s doing what he should do—finding the right person and delegate the responsibility.
5. The pastoral leadership stays with its divinely-given priorities.
“It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables… We will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”– Acts 6: 2, 4
In a healthy body, the head (not the divine “Head,” but the overseer—episcopos) does not stop its activity of receiving information, of thinking and studying, or of learning and analyzing in order to pull another part of the body out of trouble. It stays with its priorities. After all, some other part of the body—an arm, a hand, fingers—is better equipped to respond than the head.
One reason so many pastors meet themselves coming and going is that they have misplaced their priorities. They end up printing the bulletin, contacting nursery workers, and filling in for absent teachers. And we wonder why they burn out!
The fact is that denying others to assist with the ministry of the fellowship is detrimental not only to the ministerial staff, but to the fellowship as well. On the other hand, members of a fellowship who choose not to engage their spiritual gifts are just as derelict and negligent. The Biblical standard is that every gift has its definition and place. A healthy church has employed every gift appropriately and consistently.
6. The congregation chooses good and godly leaders.
“…seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom…” – Acts 6:3b
Nothing speaks to the health of a church like the quality of the people it chooses as its leaders. Take deacons. I’ve seen churches choose able-bodied, mature men of integrity for this work. And I’ve seen churches where the congregation chose men on a popularity basis and ended up with well-liked but weak men with no Biblical foundation. Pity the pastor who is sentenced to work with leaders who see themselves as big-shots sent to rule over the members and order the ministers but who don’t have a clue as to the spiritual and practical precepts of the Word.
In a typical church, the people will know who the godly men and women are and who does not qualify. As a rule, the pastor will not need to give guidance in the selection of such. What he may need to do, I hasten to add, is to ensure that the process of selecting such leaders is not a popularity contest.
My point is very simple:
7. The congregation supports their leaders and trusts them to do the job.
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you” – Hebrews 13:17
Once good leaders are chosen, the congregation should get out of their way and let them do the work they were assigned. Invariably, they’ll come in for criticism at some point—it’s the nature of leadership—and will need two things: their pastor to defend them and the congregation to reaffirm their trust.
Even when we do not agree with a decision our leaders have made, affirming that they did their best is still wise. The injunction of Ephesians 5:21 to “submit to one another” has to mean something: Even when we disagree with each other, we are still going to be supportive.
The church which insists on making every decision, great or small, in its monthly business meeting is sentencing itself to dwarfism and its leadership to misery. We need to be reminded that the church is not culturally bound but heavenly minded, keeping faith with the Word of God and the authority of its leadership.
Despite the above, there is nothing in this injunction that for a moment would require Christians to submit to unfaithful, unsound, sinful, or deceived elders; and it must be taken into consideration as a fact that some occasions arise when the faithful servants of the Lord should separate themselves from any group of overseers whose leadership clearly moves away from Biblical norms and in sinful and unrighteous directions, in which case, not merely a soul is lost, but a church! (3 John 9 & 10). “If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.” – Matthew 15:14.
8. Solutions model Christlikeness.
“And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, whom they set before the apostles….”– Acts 6:5, 6
In his commentary on this passage, John MacArthur writes, “The seven men chosen by the church all had Greek names, implying they were all Hellenists. The church, in a display of love and unity, may have chosen them to rectify the apparent imbalance involving the Hellenistic widows.” I think I’d have said it even more strongly: They chose them for that very purpose!
Those raising concerns need not be viewed as agitators or “the problem”, but rather made part of the solution. We need to emphasize that if this is to work, the group must be mature and godly – modeling Christ in His care and concern as well as directing all parties to the Word which specifically addresses a church’s makeup and ministry; otherwise it’s a disaster in the making.
9. Problems are dealt with so well that the world is impressed.
“ Then the word spread and the number of disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.” – Acts 6:7
The outside world was watching. When a problem arose within the membership, some held their breath. This would tell the tale on the Christians. Would they panic and self-destruct? Would the leadership impose a cult-like autocratic rule over the membership? Or would they handle this legitimate issue in the love which they preached?
They got it right. They did it so well that the outside world—lay and priest alike—said, “We like what we see. We want what you have.” No challenge which results in this kind of harvest is bad. Any problem which causes the church’s leadership to forget who they are (and “Who’s” they are) and to adopt the world’s way of problem-solving can not be expected to be blessed. We are instructed to reason together based upon the Scriptures which is the basis of all truth, including our relationships one to another and to the world from which we derive God’s blessing.
10. In God’s mercy, twelve other things happen immediately.
“Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s…. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities” – (Psalm 103:4-5, 10).
Whenever God’s people do the hard thing in the Lord’s way—when we love the unlovely, when we forgive our attackers, when we love our enemy, when we soldier on in the face of adversity, when we maintain our joy in the midst of disaster and retaliate with love—twelve things begin to happen from that moment:
- God is glorified.
- Jesus is pleased.
- The Holy Spirit is freed to do whatever He had planned.
- The devil is infuriated. This is not going according to plan.
- The enemies are puzzled. You are behaving differently from what they had expected.
- The critics of the church are silenced.
- The church itself is edified and strengthened.
- Church members going through hard times are encouraged and instructed.
- Outsiders are impressed and want some of what they see in you.
- You yourself are blessed.
- Your reward in Heaven is great (Luke 6:35a).
- Your reputation goes through the roof (Luke 6:35b).
Anything that can achieve all of this in one motion has to be considered a blessing indeed!
- Conclusion: Most of us have learned to look behind us and thank God for what appeared an insoluble problem but which He turned into a major blessing. The trick is to give thanks in advance, the moment the problem arises – acknowledging that God is with us as we walk through the valley. After all, experience has now taught us that these are opportunities for the Lord to do something special. Aren’t we blessed to have such a sovereign, active, blessing-oriented God!