29/01/2024
Borrowed from James H. Melton:
"Why isn't the Bible being taught in our churches?" By the term "being taught," I am referring to correct, sound, doctrinal teaching. The average preacher stands in the pulpit and SAYS he's teaching the Bible without ever really teaching it. He is filling a time slot that he calls teaching without actually teaching. He might be promoting or cheerleading the Bible, but he isn't properly teaching it. If he were, his members wouldn't be looking elsewhere to learn the Book.
Now, WHY ISN'T HE TEACHING THE BOOK? I have three quick reasons. No doubt, there are more, but here are three . . .
1. He doesn't KNOW the Bible. His Bible "education" was either a matter of watching other Bible cheerleaders or a matter of watching Laodicean professors summarize, outline, and even correct the Bible. He can't teach because he hasn't been taught.
2. He's a coward. He might know the Book, but he doesn't love it enough to teach it against the grain of modern-day fundamentalism. He's been taught to "behave himself," else he'll not get to preach anywhere. He fears his members, maybe his wife, the deacon board, his preacher peers and the "leaders" of the IFB movement, but he doesn't fear God. He's a coward.
3. He has fouled-up priorities. His primary ministry focus is tallying-up professions, counting baptisms, growing church membership, increasing the offering and faith-promise missions, and keeping the membership showered with enough church activities that they won't leave the religious plantation for worldly fun. In all of this church stuff, the Bible usually takes a back seat.
If your preacher isn't effectively preaching AND TEACHING the Book without fear or favor, find one who will . . . and be ready to pay the price."