Driving the Doctrinal Bus

1Timothy 1:5-6  Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:  From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;
The goal of a faithful gospel ministry has been charged to Timothy, the men he would ordain in the church, and all of God’s men through the ages. But as long as there have been prophets, there have been false prophets and teachers who do not rightly handle the Word.  False teachers are not very good drivers. These men drive the doctrinal bus down the wrong road then eventually off the road taking a bus load of hearers along for the ride. Instead of driving down Straight Street, they missed the exit and are barreling down Vain Jangling Blvd. at a high rate of speed.  Rather than handling the gospel truth, which is the power of God unto salvation and a faithful saying (I Tim. 1:12-15) they are involved in “empty talk”  and there is no value in their preaching, there is no worth in there sermons. What a tragedy, that a man can be commissioned to declare a message of unimaginable value, inestimable worth, that reaps eternal reward and glory and gives it up for a bunch of hot air.
They desire to be teachers of the law, which is a good thing. It is a good thing to want to lead others in truth. It is a noble thing to want to stand up, put yourself on the line and boldly declare God’s Word. However, these men don’t understand what they are supposed to be teaching and don’t comprehend what it is they say they affirm.
Too many men are allowed free range behind a pulpit without knowing the Word they are preaching. When a man says “the Lord has called me to preach” the church has the responsibility to make sure this man knows the Word. It is a good thing to desire to be a preacher (I Timothy 3:1) and that is a sign of the call into ministry, but that is not the final say in the matter. If a man desires to be a teacher of the law, then he first has to understand the law himself and this takes time and this takes the care of the church.
If a man feels “called” to preach – great; now let’s get to work. The church should help with opportunity to demonstrate their skills, but also with the accumulation of workman tools (books) and the development of skills necessary to rightly divide the Word of truth. The pastor needs to help these men with their learning and develop their gift. If a man desires to drive the doctrinal  bus, doesn’t know the road, where he is going, or why he is going there, the passengers are not in good hands. Churches need men who declare the truth out  of a settled conviction in the Word of God.