In our weekly Bible study, we are studying II Timothy, the apostle Paul’s final epistle. Paul knew his time was short on earth. He experienced the loneliness and ridicule of “sticking to his guns” in his spiritual beliefs. When he was saved, he was ridiculed and hated by his peers, the religious leaders of Israel. Now, in his final months, those he had befriended with the gospel of Christ had also forsaken him. Paul was not what you would call a rough or physical man, like Peter, but he was mentally and spiritually tough, yet it is obvious from his writings that he hurt when men turned their back on Christ. After writing half the New Testament, starting many churches, winning more lost people and training more converts, he is sitting in a prison in Rome with only a handful of people caring about him (II Timothy 1:15, 4:10-16.) Obviously, many of those he trained were still in the ministry, though forsaking both Paul and Christ (Philippians 1:16.)
In our day, one of the most significant results of the “Purpose Driven/mega church movement” is the heartache and tears it causes many of God’s proven saints. Rick Warren claims to have trained over 5900 pastors. He advises them to keep their plans for change “secret” until after his fourth step. If this change is so godly, why keep it secret? These 5900 pastors are trained to get rid of the “pillars,” i.e., “those who hold things up.” Those opposing the Purpose Driven Denomination are called “trouble makers.” What group in any church do you suppose is most likely to oppose the unscriptural methods and message of the PDC? Rick Warren is much more sympathetic to the Muslims than the elderly he has hurt…not my kinda man!
Even Bill Hybels, one of Warren’s cohorts has recently apologized for misleading pastors for twenty years! The new, cutting edge, high tech social gospel has spawned an anemic group of church members. Just as Spock’s liberal training raised a generation of brats, Willow Creek’s training has developed nothing spiritual. Many churches spent good money to send their staff to Willow Creek to be trained in failure! What is amazing about all of this is that so-called Bible preachers and teachers fall for this mess. It doesn’t take a Spurgeon to see the problems. The scary thing is that the Willow Creek spokesman says, “We will take out a clean sheet of paper and will rethink all of our old assumptions. Replace it with new insights.” Why not just go back to the Bible? What’s wrong with doing it God’s way?
Paul’s teaching covered from the cradle to the grave (II Timothy 3:15.) There was no favored group nor was there emphasis placed on any group. I have heard preachers boast that they had no one over 35 years of age and were not trying to reach anyone over that age. Where would he send them when they turned 36? I have heard men boast that they maneuvered people (another word is “manipulated”) to accept new ways without them understanding what they were doing (the euphemism for these unbiblical ways is “the 21st century.” The group that has been spurned and treated badly is the group 55 plus in age. It is the group that sacrificed to build the church, who took the leadership to get them where they were, then were set aside. These are the same ministers who are always getting “burned out.”
Please listen carefully. I do not think age guarantees spiritual maturity any more than I think being born in America makes one a Christian. I do not think some group of old people should run the church any more than I think the preacher and the young people ought to run it. The church is not a corporation; it is a spiritual entity with no other comparison. The local church does not need to be “run” by anybody. It needs leaders. Leaders will always come to the forefront. Timothy (and others) would not know how to do ministry without the teachings of Paul the aged (Philemon 9.) Paul needed the Timothy’s to expand his ministry (I Timothy 4:12.)
The Purpose Driven Church has left many of the elderly with no place to go. If they stay, they are disregarded, their beliefs spoofed and spiritual emptiness floods their souls. If they leave they are considered traitors. They are left with no choices. Some live in areas where there are some Bible churches still left for them to attend, others do not. If you want a real insight on what is taking place today, talk with the parents of some of these Purpose Driven preachers and teachers. None of them get any pleasure out of being deserted by those they love. Though it must have broken Paul’s heart to watch Demas, Crescens and Titus (II Timothy 4:10) forsake him, it did not deter his mission. As they surely were convinced they had a better plan, Paul forged on and completed his last letter with triumphant joy II Timothy 4:18-22.
Hopefully, some will see they have taken the wrong turn and come back. Whether it be sins of the flesh or sins of the spirit (II Corinthians 7:1,) today we can always ask the Father and He will forgive. May the Lord help us to be faithful and true to Him.
Keep Looking Up!
Leland Maples
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