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Word-driven believers do not pray for trials and hardships but we do learn over the years to "kiss the waves that throw us upon the Rock of ages." In time we come to "consider it all joy when we encounter trials of various kinds KNOWING that the testing of our faith produces many good things" (James 1:2-6). We come to view the discipline of our Father as being a gracious act of love. Hebrews 12:9-11 puts it like this, "Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."
What is true individually is also true corporately. Seminaries and local churches have a tendency to drift, grow lukewarm, and compromise without even realizing it. Consider the sad story of Fuller Theological Seminary or the joyous turn around at Southern Seminary. After many decades of compromise Fuller is sadly one of the leading Liberal training centers in America. In God's grace, Dr. Mohler helped "save" Southern seminary from a similar fate- but not without first shedding blood, sweat, and tears. If you are involved in true reformation and/or revitalization work their is a price to be paid! Anyone who has led such efforts has the personal scars to prove it. I wish I would have been better prepared for what was in store for me when I became the lead pastor of a church that was once "sick" (which is one of the reasons why I started this blog).
For many years I have used my small platform to encourage believers to examine the ministry of their local church against passages of Scripture like Revelation 2-3, Hebrews 5:12-14; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; and Ephesians 4:11-16; Keeping in mind that not everything that glitters is gold. Recently, Dr. John MacArthur used his large platform to communicate this very message at Together for the Gospel. In his address on "Christ's Call to Reformation" MacArthur said, "We all like to call the nation to repentance but what about calling the church to repentance?" That is the right question as Peter said, "Judgment begins with God's household" (1 Pet. 4:17).
John MacArthur is not the only well known evangelical to encourage ecclesiastical repentance. Dr. Harry Reeder III has a special place in his heart for the work of church revitalization. Reeder understands that when a church is declining spiritually she especially needs biblical reformation; (If you pastor or attend a church that is declining numerically, financially, and spiritually I would encourage you to read the following articles: note this, this, this, this, and this). The fourth chapter of Reeder's book is titled: Revitalization Strategy 2: A Call To Repentance. Cover up or 'Fess Up. In order for a local church (or Bible college, or seminary) to go from embers to a flame (spiritually speaking) she must acknowledge her shortcomings, errors, and sins and repent.
One of the reasons why First Baptist Freeport has grown so much spiritually over the past many years is because the flock that remained humbled themselves before the Word of Christ and asked God for grace to help us change accordingly. In the early years, those who were too proud to admit that repentance was needed dug their heels in and eventually left (often with guns blazing). I know that our experience is not unlike what other brother-pastors and local churches have experienced (for example see this or this). Over the years I have found great encouragement hearing Dr. Lawson share about his painful pastoral trials at Dauphin Way; or when Dr. MacArthur opened up concerning his own Black Tuesday, when so called friends, tried to run him out of Grace Church. It was obvious that C. J. Mahaney powerful sermon on Job and suffering at T4G was based on many personal and painful pastoral experiences (see esp. minute 47-51)
On the subject of calling a church to repentance Reeder offers the following words of wisdom:
1) "To bring about this corporate repentance, however, you must first encourage the confession of sin by creating an atmosphere of grace" (p. 48).
2) "You must also emphasize personal responsibility by discouraging excuse-making" (p. 49). "Confession must begin with personal ownership and agreement with God that we are responsible for the sins we have committed" (p. 50).
3) "To see a church turn around, we must also expect the fruits of repentance" (Luke 3:8, 2 Cor. 7:10-11; p. 50).
4) "Let's face the fact that some churches are stagnant or declining is because there is (unrepentant) 'sin in the camp' (p. 53)."
"Your situation may be very different from these examples. But when a church is in need of revitalization, there are usually past sins that must be dealt with. Perhaps a previous pastor or some elders have been dealt with treacherously. Perhaps some members have not been shepherded and cared for. Perhaps biblical standards have been abandoned for the sake of pragmatism. Whatever has been happening, the leaders must lead the church in repentance" (p. 55).
CONCLUSION: Churches that are growing numerically and financially should not assume that chapter 4 in Reeder's book concerning ecclesiastical repentance does not apply to them (see Psalm 73 and John 9). How do you know if you are out of step with the purposes and priorities of God? By carefully coming under the clear testimony of Scripture. Isn't this what fueled the Protestant Reformation many centuries ago?
Where should we begin? Ephesians 4:11-16; Col. 1:28-29; Heb. 5:12-14 and Revelation 2-3 are vital texts.Revelation 2-3 contain timeless truths to help us understand what Jesus values and blesses and what he condemns and hates. As with all things in the Christian life- "If the shoe fits, (we must humbly) wear it"- Knowing "if we confess ours sins He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us (1 John 1:9) from all unrighteousness." May the Lord of the Church reform His churches to the praise of His glorious grace.
