Where have the Leaders Gone?

In the midst of riots, Covid-19, racial tension, and political upheaval, the church is strangely silent, and many pulpits are empty.

The known world seemed to be falling apart as buildings were collapsing and burning under the assault of enemy attacks. Hitler was conquering the world, and the once-powerful British Empire was coming to an end. In London, the bombing had already taken over 10,000 lives as Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones stood behind the pulpit and faced his congregation at 11:30 am on June the 18th, 1944.[1]

Dr. Lloyd was praying when a German bomb was dropped, rattling the building and sending debris down upon the gathered church attendees. Covered in the dust, the members of Lloyd's church looked to the pulpit to see his response. It is reported that the man of God simply kept his head bowed and continued in his prayer, unmoved by the world that was falling down around him.

Our stand for truth can only be as strong as our theology is deep.

The Psalmist said, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.   He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit" (Jer 17:7-8 ESV). The Apostle Paul, writing to the church about being strong in the midst of adversity wrote, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm" (Eph 6:12 ESV).

This year the fear of Covid-19 has brought with it tough times for the church and tough decisions have to be made. Some congregations in the United States are forbidden to meet together by state and local mandates, threatened with fines, and even arrest. Other churches have to follow strict guidelines such as not singing, hugging, or taking communion when meeting together, all in the name of safety. Because of the added restrictions, several local churches are choosing to gather in their parked cars in the church lot or online over live-streaming services.

All the government mandates that are targeted against the church bring up the question: How is the church to respond? and Where have the leaders gone?

The elders of Grace Community Church, along with Dr. John MacArthur Wrote, "When officials restrict church attendance to a certain number, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible for the saints to gather as the church. When officials prohibit singing in worship services, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible for the people of God to obey the commands of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. When officials mandate distancing, they attempt to impose a restriction that in principle makes it impossible to experience the close communion between believers that is commanded in Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26. In all those spheres, we must submit to our Lord.

The same restrictions that are being mandated against the church are not being mandated against protestors in the streets or against those traveling on airplanes in tight enclosed quarters. People are still gathering at major retailers and grocery stores, people are still going to work in factories, warehouses, and offices, and still traveling on planes. State governments have been able to get the leaders of churches to agree to such extreme measures through the use of fear and intimidation. The public is daily bombarded with the number of new Covid-19 cases, with the real data buried deep in the articles, statistics, and graphs. Jesus told us there is one that we should fear above man, and that is God. He said, "And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell" (Matt 10:28 ESV).

The psalmist wrote, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea" (Psa 46:1-2 ESV).

The business of the church is that of public worship and encouraging the body of Christ with solid teaching from the Word of God. Since the beginning of the church in the New Testament, these activities have been considered essential by believers.

We do still have some leaders like Dr. Lloyd who will stand up in the midst of fear and destruction and sickness and take the stand in the pulpit. I am thankful for men like MacArthur who view the proclamation of the Word as important and essential.

Sadly, we must profess that many pulpits were empty prior to Covid-19. Empty of any sound doctrine. Congregations not interested in hearing the hard preaching of the truth have hired good storytellers and humorous men to tickle their ears and tell them what they want to hear. Not interested in hearing the truth about the holiness of God and the deprived state of mankind's sin and the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the preacher was replaced by a speaker. The sermon was replaced by a talk. The deep doctrinal hymn was replaced by a praise chorus. The sanctuary was replaced by an auditorium. The congregation was replaced by an audience. The song leader was replaced by a praise band, the pulpit replaced by a stage, and the theologian replaced by an employee.... and when hard times came the show was over because without any depth it was deemed unessential.

The Apostle Paul warned Timothy, "preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions." (2 Ti 4:2-3 ESV). If Paul was warning Timothy some 2000 years ago to stand strong in the midst of people not wanting to hear the truth, the call to the pulpits throughout the world today should be intensified even more.

We have examples of great men and women not moved by fear throughout the Bible.

We have great examples of men and women not moved by fear that is recorded for us in history. We should be aware that history soon forgets those who run and hide in the midst of fear and intimidation. When king Darius made a 30-day mandate that no one should pray to any god except unto the king, Daniel continued to pray to God 3 times a day. He didn't bow to the king and obey, instead, he opened his window and prayed as he had always done (Daniel 6). When no one was willing to stand up to the giant Goliath who was taunting the people of God, a young shepherd boy named David went to battle in the name of the Lord and said, "Let no man's heart fail because of him. Your servant will go and fight with this Philistine" (1 Sa 17:32). When Rahab the prostitute hid the spies from the nation of Israel, she risked her life because she recognized the God of Israel as being the one true God. Later, she is mentioned in the book of Hebrews as a hero of faith (Heb 11:31).

When the Apostles were arrested and beaten for preaching in the name of Jesus and told to never do it again, they responded by doing the exact opposite. "Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching that the Christ is Jesus" (Acts 5:41-42). Throughout the New Testament, we find the words, "Jesus our Lord" or "The Lord Jesus Christ". These are significant words because they were in direct opposition to the law of the land. When the New Testament was written the only person that one could legally call Lord was Ceasear, so when the Church called Jesus Lord they were making a loud and clear statement that the Church is a called-out (ekklesia) people who only serve one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The reality is that as we get closer to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, times will continue to get worse.

We will see pride, bitterness, social injustice, pandemics, war, and natural disasters. God has forewarned us that these things will continue to happen, yet we are not to be discouraged or full of fear (Matt 24, 2 Tim 3). We are a people of hope because we know that this world is not our home and that the leaders in elected positions on earth are not our lord or king. The decision to fill the pulpits and teach the truth of Scripture is greatly needed today in order to communicate this message of hope found in Jesus Christ. We are not called to draw a large crowd in fair weather times, we are called to stand strong even when the world is falling apart around us.

[1] Kevin J. Vanhoozer and Owen Strachan, The Pastor as Public Theologian: Reclaiming a Lost Vision (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, a division of Baker Publishing Group, 2020), 65.