“I go to church to learn God’s Word.” I love this one. You’d better be learning God’s Word when you go to church, but that better not be the only time you’re learning it! It means nothing that you go “every time the doors are open” to learn God’s Word, if that is the only time you’re learning the Word! There are 168 hours in a week, and a lot can and should be accomplished during such a huge chunk of time. Modern American church services, on average, run 2 to 3 a week. Each service is roughly an hour to an hour and a half long. Sunday School is an extra hour, usually on Sunday morning. Therefore, under such logic, modern church attendees will spend at most 5 hours out of 168 a week “at church.” I will no doubt learn something in 5 hours, but not as much as if I spend 10, 15, 20, or 25 hours studying any subject.
The question, however, is not as much one of time as it is one of content. The depths of God’s Word are unfathomable, and eternity will not plumb those deep recesses. Though this is true, it should not dissuade the believer from digging, uncovering, cataloging, and using the many truths found in the Bible. Yet, what all to often happens within a modern church service is dictatorial. One person lords over many (nicolaitanism by definition – See Revelation 2 and what God thinks about this spiritual disease). The many come into the service and sit to hear the “preacher” speak his ideas about a topic or a passage – 95% of the time it is a topic with scripture scattered about to prove his point. At no time in such preaching services is a member of the congregation allowed to ask any question. He is in other words, not allowed to think, which is modern church’s gravest error. Recently, a friend of mine so eloquently argued that a child raised in a Christian home, who goes to church those 5 hours a week, attends the Church’s Christian School, and graduates at 18 knows about some Bible, but does not know why the Bible is true. Why? Because he’s been taught “do this, don’t do that” for so long, that when he can now make his own choices, he does not know what to do. People have told him what to do for so long that when he becomes an adult, he has no idea why he should do what he was previously told to do. Any subsequent thought against what he was told to believe will now challenge all that he thought he once knew. This now adult man never learned anything. He is useless, because he cannot defend the truth, nor could he recognize error when it comes.
As a teacher (I was one for many years, and grew up in a teacher’s home as both parents were/are teachers), I learned that if I give the most eloquent lecture for 50 minutes on any topic, without allowing my students to ask questions, when it comes to test time, those same students who heard my amazing 50 minute speeches, usually fail or do average at best. Why is that? Should the student have listened better? Taken better notes? Studied harder? Granted, some of that may be true, but mostly, if my students could not ask questions, then I as the teacher would never know how much my students are learning and understanding. If I allowed questions, and even asked questions which sparked discussions, the student would then THINK. Their meditating on my subject is the highest level of learning possible. It cannot be obtained by my just talking at them, but only by my talking with them. This engagement will also keep the student alert, which most pew sitters are not. I’ve spoken in front of many groups small and great. I know when people are alert, and when people are not – any speaker knows – and most “preachers” know they have at most 30 minutes to reach the majority of any congregation. After 30 minutes of unengaged speaking sleep becomes a real problem. But after just 5-15 minutes of unengaged speaking, minds wander. That’s how the brain works. What’s my point, the modern preaching service is flawed! So, are you really learning the Bible optimally?
Immediately after such an assertion comes the common reply, but Christ preached, Paul preached, Peter preached, etc… So, by the “…foolishness of preaching…” (I Cor. 1:21) the Christian learns. My response is check your premises. Search the scriptures whether those things be so (Acts 17:11). Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (II Timothy 2:15). What does I Corinthians really say? In context the passage begins with verse 18.
18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.
20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:
23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;
24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.
25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;
28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:
29That no flesh should glory in his presence.
30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
This discourse explains why preaching should be done – “to save them that believe” according to verse 21. But aren’t those who believe already saved? No. Many believe, but only a few repent. See John 8:30 ff. Many believed on Christ, but none of those who believed continued in His word, none of them repented. See Matthew 7, “Lord, Lord… depart from me ye workers of iniquity…”! Belief is the first part of salvation, it is essential, but preaching does not stop at belief, it continues thru repentance. This passage in context is not talking about a “preacher” standing behind a pulpit (altar) expounding on some topic. This is talking about what every True Believer is to do after repentance, that is to preach or to define it more – witness. I do not need to witness to those within my church, they’re already born again. I need to witness to those without, who must come to repentance or perish. My preaching to the lost crowd is foolishness. If you’ve spent any time witnessing, you will agree that the words spoken from the Bible are not readily accepted or adhered to. They’re mocked, made fun of, and attacked, which illustrates the foolishness aspect. It’s not foolish to me or any True Believer, but to the world. Yes, Christ, Paul, Peter, and others preached, but they preached to lost people, who needed to be saved. All Christians are to preach, not just one person behind a pulpit a few times a week. In context, this passage is not a support, but an attack against modern church protocol.
In all Bodies of Christ all members are to exhort, encourage, reprove, rebuke, instruct. In so doing, all members learn, and grow. Christ has most certainly created order, but those leaders (elders, pastors, bishops, deacons) are not to lord. See I Peter 5 for further context for how this works.
1The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
3Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
4And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
5Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
6Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
Verse 3 is illuminating. Not to be a lord, but an ensample. Example and Ensample are not the same word, nor are they synonyms. Some translations incorrectly use example in ensample’splace. A brief Latin lesson will explain. Ex – means from without or out. En – means from within or in. An ensample therefore means that the elder within the body of Christ is to oversee, teach, feed. Not looking for a job or money, but willingly. Example means from without the body of Christ. I do not want an unsaved person teaching me about Christ – nor could that unsaved person understand Christ, it’s foolishness to him, refer back to I Corinthians 1. In context I Peter 5 shows that the elder teach the younger. I Timothy 5 also mentions that this aspect. Also, Elders are not Pastors! Paul called himself an elder, but was not a pastor. I Timothy talks about women elders, but earlier in the book it is explicit that pastors are to be men (I Timothy 2 and 3). I will not belabor that point in this article. The point is clear, however, younger learn from the elder. Question and discussion aids this better than any other method.
Yes, Christians should learn God’s Word when they assemble. Today, under present culture, is that being done optimally? Just a simple look at results loudly answers no!
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