Kitchener, Ontario,
Canada N2G 3A4
(519) 623-7000
(888) 835-7007
Principal Executive Director
Last update Jan 28 2000
URL: http://home.golden.net/~stefanm
There are two Scriptures to think upon as we enter this section, for it deals both with administration of the local church AND wise decision-making by heads of families. Think on these verses:
A Bible college president and I discussed the plight of a certain pastor suffering a breakdown because of the hostile treatment he received by his parishioners. The president said, "Modern pastoral ministry is all-out warfare, isn't it ?"
One pastor, suffering from burnout, was told by his doctor to find a pastoral counsellor to help him get his bearings again. He approached six different senior pastors in whom he had confidence, and never got to share why he came to see them ! Every one of them began to dump their troubles on him...every one was "on the edge" of a collapse himself.
That first pastor never did find a counsellor to help him through his problems.
A new organization has been formed to deal with "clergy abuse", and they are finding evangelical denominations are the worst offenders.
The leadership of the local church (and its spiritual members) must realize, as the end approaches, we are in all-out war...and the leadership of the church is the primary target. Unfortunately, there is no shortage of rebellious church people to assist the enemy in his work.
A famous general in the U.S. civil war stated that he always posted a ring of troops around his tent because he preferred that "the first shot of the next battle NOT be fired in my tent!" That general was wiser than most church leaders today.
It is time we "put a ring of defenders" around the leadership of the local church, recognizing the intensity of the battle to come and the vulnerability of our leaders once the enemy attacks. Those Christian warriors must be both defensive and offensive. Let me illustrate.
A teen-age couple that falls into pre-marital temptation is quickly censured and disciplined in most churches. But a church gossip can continue for many years without ever a reprimand. (Well, who wants to become one of his or her targets ?) Let me describe an imaginary incident to illustrate my point.
A church gossip spreads a lie about the pastor; the elders and others get very upset about this apparent failing in their preacher. So, a committee is formed to go to see the pastor about the matter; he defends himself successfully, proving the accusations to be false. The committee is satisfied, and tells the church that everything is OK. Case closed, right ? That's the way it is in most churches.
Have you noticed that no church committee then goes to see the gossip to require an accounting for spreading lies? The gossip is now free to target another church leader or go on to the next false accusation against the preacher.
While many Christians are playing church, Satan and his forces are playing for keeps. While pastors are conscientiously trying to lead the church in right pathways, others are playing "kill the quarterback".
The church of the last days must be on a "war footing". Do you know who the REAL false accuser of the brethren is ? That's one of Satan's titles in the book of Revelation. Shall we allow carnal church members to freely carry on Satan's work within the church ? The growing list of pastoral casualties indicates a major problem in the church that MUST be dealt with ! We will have to get back to Bible discipline in the church if we are to be ready for the END GAME of the church.
In a time of war, one of the successful strategies is to infiltrate the enemy camp with spies and saboteurs. One of the greatest adjustments of the church leaders of the last days will be to awaken from our love-love-love dream world and admit that some in the church are working against us! Take three minutes and read the book of Jude !
There are other strategies to protect both the leadership and the congregation from peril in the last days. Incorporation of the local church seems like a necessity in these days to protect the personal assets of the board and the members, and to give legal rights to the church (not unlike Paul's Roman citizenship). As more Christian business men and parents refuse to serve on boards of unincorporated charities, more churches will favour this procedure. There is information available on this through the response form in the back of the book.
We see the witness of the last days being more than what is traditionally called "the gospel" (though what we next describe is definitely part of the total gospel). The Lordship of Jesus Christ (He is Lord of ALL) needs to be proclaimed in a day of humanism, secularism and technical, scientific dependence. He is Lord of education, Lord of politics, Lord of mathematics, Lord of science. The righteous principles of Scripture make demands at every level of society -- from gambling to abortion, from evolution to government debt, from the classroom to the factory. This is often called the "prophetic ministry of the church" (after the Old Testament prophets who challenged the establishment in the name of the Lord).
It has been said that confrontation with evil is the missing note in evangelicalism today. We are far too compromising, far too accommodating, and far too compartmentalized to challenge the society of the last days to consider its evil ways. (The response form in the back of the book mentions the Bible course "Journey to the Centre of Life" which addresses this issue in a major way.)
However, such a witness in our society is often forbidden by laws and regulations that are intended to keep the witnessing church in one building in town on one day a week. Courts and government agencies have made clear the narrow limits of charities in society, defining religion in the most restricted terms...and that noose will continue to tighten.
Some jurisdictions forbid pastors to do any marriage counselling; that is reserved only for psychiatrists. It has been proposed that pastors be forbidden to give advice on any subject other than religion (narrowly defined religion, that is). Some Christian schools have been challenged on their combining "secular subjects" with religion -- forbidding a Christian view of history, science, literature, etc. The definition of religion is narrowing constantly as compartmentalized humanists continue to write the laws.
As this is written, there are 75 Canadian churches that have covenanted to wage a full-orbed witness in society; they will soon find the federal government on their doorstep cancelling their charitable registration. The penalty for de-registration is a "100% penalty tax", which amounts to the confiscation of all the assets of the church (building, pews, bank accounts and hymn books) by the federal government.
So, what is the solution ? It appears obvious to me that the church will have to adopt a second structure to handle its "prophetic ministry", and contributions to that ministry will not be receipted as charitable gifts. A political party has no limits whatever on the kind of topics it can tackle and speak about -- and many jurisdictions allow receipts for political contributions to have far more clout at tax time than gifts to charity. A non-profit corporation that is not registered as a charity is another option -- or even a for-profit corporation.
Both of the authors of this book were associated with a Christian political party that worked out a formula for witnessing in society broad enough to accommodate the spectrum of evangelical concerns while dealing with current issues -- and enjoying all the protections that political parties enjoy. That idea may yet be needed by the faithful church.
Another jurisdiction has outlawed any paid pastors serving on the board of their church. That same law forbids district superintendents from serving on the board of the denominational structure that pays them. Many denominations amended their constitutions to remove pastors from church boards.
There is no shortage of denominational and interdenominational leadership that will teach us all the restrictions we must live with. However, there seems to be a shortage of leadership that will show us how to wage a total witness in society through structures and methods that will protect the assets and ministry of the home church. It is our feeling, as we progress closer to the end days and the restrictions tighten, courageous church leadership will address this issue out of necessity. The alternative is a pussy-footing, inoffensive and ineffective church, ready to cooperate with the forces that will bring the antichrist to power.
The authors of this book are now studying the appropriate concerns of Christian families as they prepare for the last days. In a day when citizens will not be able to buy or sell without the mark of the beast...in a day when modern technology eliminates privacy...in a day when the greatest persecution of the church in world history will be waged...in a day when mighty spiritual powers will be waging a contest of miracles and words... there will need to be great wisdom and insight, research and preparation. We have learned a great deal in our research, but we are not ready to share that information as yet; the research continues.
We must close this chapter section with the same verses with which we began, and a third verse is now added. Reader, think on this Holy wisdom well:
And so we come to the conclusion of our time together. We have just two items to share before we close.
First, we repeat that those who become part of "ELIJAH'S END GAME 7000" should keep in touch with each other.
What a tragedy that Elijah in the Old Testament thought he was the only one left who had not bowed the knee to Baal! We will need to network in the days of Elijah's last days ministry. We will need each other's encouragement; we will need to share information...perhaps even supplies and sources of essentials. Who knows what would be gained by cooperation and shared commitment in the chaotic days that are coming ?
There are readers of this book with insights to share, or there will be a need to re-group with those of like perspectives and faith. Those who feel there is wisdom in this are invited to indicate this on the response form in the back of the book.
Second, we want to share an anecdote and the words of a hymn.
The story is told of Charles Lindburgh, who was about to make the first attempt to fly the Atlantic solo; as his airplane was being readied for the trip, he shared accommodations with one of the mechanics. One night, the mechanic awoke to see Charles standing at the window.
"What are you doing ?" the mechanic asked.
Charles replied, "Practising."
"Practising what ?" said his friend.
"Practising staying awake all night," was the reply.
What an appropriate discipline for one who was about to make the first solo Atlantic crossing !
Tell me, friend, what are you and your church practising ? Is your life style and your church program an evidence of the kind of commitment God requires of His servants in the last days...or are we practising the life-style of the Laodicean church ?
When the crunch comes and the persecution is on, the church will need leadership that is courageous and uniquely prepared. Those who have spent their Christian years in a marshmallow, go-with-the-flow lifestyle will not inspire courage in new believers who are converted under fire.
Where is the church that is preparing its people for this ministry and for this heroic determination of soul ? Where is the denomination that is calling its constituency to remember the saints of the past who were faithful unto death, and reminding them that our turn is coming ? And where are the individual Christians who are saying, "Sign me up as one of the descendants of the 7000 who did not bow the knee to Baal, who did not kiss his image. I belong in their company, for I am determined NOT to cooperate with the forces of antichrist that are accumulating power today !"
If that's you...we'd like to hear from you. Let's be "ELIJAH'S END GAME 7000" together !
There is an old hymn that has fallen into disuse in our day of modern hymn books and overheads. It may yet come back into style. Read it carefully, won't you ?
Dear Reader:
If you have never made a personal commitment to Jesus, then we would like to quote what Jesus Himself said about this time period you have just read about.
There is only one way to escape the wrath of God. That way is through Jesus. To ensure your eternal salvation, we encourage you to say the following prayer from your heart, in all seriousness and honesty:
The Authors.
| LANDMARK BIBLESCHOOL INTERNATIONAL |
/Index /back /next |
|
156 Bedford Road, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada N2G 3A4 (519) 623-7000 (888) 835-7007 |
Rev. Harvey G. Lainson, B.B.R. Principal Executive Director Last update Jan 28 2000 URL: http://home.golden.net/~stefanm |