Ordination is a doctrine that needs to be revived if we are going to see the church revived in our day. It is all but neglected because any old soul thinks he can do something for Jesus by becoming a campus parachurch worker or by jumping up in pulpit and "preaching." However, standing in a pulpit does not make one a preacher.
Preaching is an act only of the officially ordained (or licensed) man. In Romans 10:14-15 it says,
How are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"
The preaching in this passage is done by someone who is officially "sent." The OT quote emphasizes this as it references an official messenger who has been given the special charge to go announce a victory. When a man is ordained, he assumes the office as God's ambassador charged with the duty of formally declaring the gospel. That is what preaching is: A man specifically charged by God to make God's official declaration.In the ordination service the church publicly testifies that this particular man who they are ordaining has been raised up and equipped by God for that role. Then, as they lay hands on him, they formally invest him with the authority that is rightfully his as one who holds this office. It is not until that has happened that he actually preaches.So anything that happens before that moment is not what is technically known as "preaching." This is why theologians have differentiated between preaching and exhortation. Preaching is what preachers do (that is, ordained men). Everyone else who speaks biblical truth exhorts (i.e. encourages or instructs).
This is not to say that what a non-ordained person says is not effective or that God cannot use this person to convert people or edify the church. It's just not technically preaching. Why is it important to consider this? For one, we are required to sit under the preaching of God's word from week to week. Paul tells Timothy to "Preach the Word." As a result, the people to whom he is to preach are to submit themselves to that word. So when we gather together for worship, we are mandated to listen to the officially appointed man declare what God has to say.
What's the big deal? Isn't that what any non-ordained person does? The truth is that there is a large difference. It is one thing to hear a brother speak to us and teach us truth from the Scripture, it is another to hear someone who has the authority of the office preach.Let me illustrate. Suppose you are driving down the highway and your speed exceeds the set speed limit. The person in the passenger seat can tell you that you are going too fast and need to slow down. That would be a useful exhortation. However, it is quite a different thing to have a police officer pull you over and tell you that you were going too fast. Both said virtually the same thing, but they were vastly different as to their nature and power.
Secondly, understanding this doctrine will help us sift through the scads of men who wish to serve as pastor (funny, I almost said "who wish to play pastor", which is a blog in and of itself!). Men who do not have the skills required to preach ought not to preach. If they cannot speak well, put together a coherent message, or interpret Scripture with any sort of meaningful intelligence, they should not act in the capacity that requires them to do so. Similarly, men who have not the theological acumen for this work ought to leave well enough alone. Men who are ordained ought to be thoroughly examined as to their knowledge and beliefs. We would not want any old schmo walking off to some country to act as a representive of our country. We want someone who has some intelligence and expertise in his area of work to act in that capacity.
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, after worship the congregation should be able to walk away saying, "I heard from God today." The words might have had the intonations of a man, but the message most certainly had the authority and weight of God's very word. And when a man preaches, that's exactly what happens.
1 comment:
Well. I am not sure what to make of this one, Mr. Timmons. I have heard many, many "preachers" who claim to be called by God and who have been ordained by man, yet are horrible preachers and pastors. Who, then, is to determine who are rightly ordained and called and who are not? On the other hand, there have been very many in and out of the Bible who have been called by God and who have been great preachers and great men of God. Perhaps the decisive factor is those who preach with authority and whose preaching results in changed lives. Many Godly men have rightfully been ordained by men. Many men (and women) have been ordained by men who have no business teaching or preaching the Scriptures. Any time we add human or denominational qualifications to the Bible, the result is weakened. Many pastors have been ordained by men and give empty, lifeless sermons. Others preach their denominational beliefs rather than the Scriptures. Concerning your statement that preachers ought to be thoroughly examined before preaching, comparing that to having intelligent people represent our country, that, too, seems flawed. There have certainly been uneducated men who were great preachers (Peter, John, D.L. Moody, Gypsy Smith, Billy Sunday, etc.), and many educated men who had head knowledge but nothing in the heart. Look how many people today are intelligent, called by their country to represent this country as ambassadors or other representatives, and yet are ignorant of the Constitution and the Founding Fathers, even though they have intelligence, degrees, and have been ordained by men. I think it was Spurgeon who said that when a man preaches filled with the Spirit of God, it should be like lightening. There will be a difference in the people. Some might be hurt and some might be changed, but there will be a difference. Rather than emphasizing the denominational or human traditions associated with religion, we ought rather to seek the preaching of those men called by God and filled with God's Spirit--qualities greatly lacking among most preachers today in America. Most pastors think highly of themselves and their congregations like the nice, empty messages, but where is the power of God in Ashland and elsewhere today? Let us not be content with human requirements and egotistical or ignorant pope-like pastors expecting all in the congregations to accept whatever they are told without question simply because they claim to be called by God. Let us, like the unsaved Berean Jews, hold all pastors (even if the apostle Paul were to preach) to the truth of God's word, expecting sermons preached with the authority of God's word in the power of the Spirit. There kind are rare, yet ought to be common. Let us not substitute a denominational ordination or a religious license as a substitute for the power and truths of God's word.
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