OceanSide church of Christ
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FULFILLING HIS JOB DESCRIPTION
Victor
M. Eskew
When an individual is
considering a position of employment, he is often given a “Job
Description.” This is a list that
explains all the responsibilities that are required of the one who holds that
job in the company. If hired, the
employer expects the employee to fulfill each one of the expectations with the
“Job Description.” If he completes
the tasks, the employee is usually complimented, and, at times, rewarded. He is considered a good
worker.
When a preacher is
“hired” by a local congregation, the leadership will often present him with a
“Job Description.” This list lays
out the expectations that the eldership and the congregation has for the
minister. In addition to this list,
however, the preacher also has a job description that was established by
God. It was God who originated the
task of preaching. “…it pleased God
by the foolishness of preach-ing to save them that believe” (I Cor. 1:21). Since God developed the role of the
preacher, it is not surprising that He also established some responsibilities
for the position. These can be
found throughout the New Testament.
Many of the obligations are concentrated in the books of I Timothy, II
Timothy, and Titus. God expects the
preacher to fulfill each of these responsibilities. If he neglects them, God is not
well-pleased.
One of the preacher’s
duties is found in the opening verses of I Timothy. Paul, a seasoned minister of Christ, is
writing to a younger preacher, Timothy:
“As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into
Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions,
rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. Now the end of the commandment is
charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned”
(I Tim. 1:3-5). “Charge some that
they teach no other doctrine.”
These words are part of the preacher’s job description. A good minister, a faithful minister,
will abide by this obligation.
This particular task
is not one of the pleasant tasks of the ministry. However, it is an extremely vital
task. The doctrine of Christ is
found within the New Testament.
This doctrine is singular in nature. There is only “one faith” (Eph.
4:5). The truth of this doctrine
will set men free from sin (John 8:32).
Only by abiding in the doctrine of Christ can a man expect to have God
and Christ in his life. “Whosoever
transgresseth and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of
Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son” (II John 9).
Within the world,
there are many false doctrines that are at war with the doctrine of Christ. The apostle John ac-knowledged this
point when he wrote: “Be-loved,
believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out
in the world” (I John 4:1). Peter
also affirmed that false teachers who hold to “damnable heresies” would try to
infiltrate the church. “But there
were false prophets among the people, even as there shall be false teachers
among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord
that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction” (II Pet.
2:1).
These false doctrines
cry out to the masses. They beg not
only to be heard, but to be followed.
Sadly, this can and does happen.
“And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoke of. And through
covetous-ness shall they make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time
lingereth not, and their damnation slumber-eth not” (II Pet. 2:2-3). Some are led astray because they have
itching ears. The false teacher
comes and scratches and soothes the itch (II Tim. 4:3-4). Others are led astray because of their
ignorance and immaturity in Christ (Rom. 16:17). Dear readers, these false teachers are
wolves in sheep’s clothing (Acts 20:29).
Their teachings devour souls and destroy congregations of the Lord’s
people.
For these, and other
reasons, the preacher of the gospel of Christ has been ordered by God to “charge
some that they teach no other doctrine” (I Tim. 1:3). And again: “Preach the word; be instant in season,
out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and doctrine” (II
Tim. 4:2). Again, this is not a
pleasant task, but it is a vital responsibility. The minister who has the courage to do
it is well-pleasing in the sight of God.
“If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a
good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of a good
doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained” (I Tim. 4:6).
One would think that
faithful members of the church would appreciate this difficult task of the
gospel preacher. Thankfully, some
do. Some, however, are not so
grateful. In fact, they are
critical of the man who arises to challenge the false teachers and false
doctrines that are leading the souls of men to perdition. They accuse the minister of being
mean-spirited, harsh, and unloving.
They ridicule him for stirring up trouble and causing division. They chastise him and tell him that he
needs to go back to the “positives” of the gospel. Some will even become his enemy because
he has told them the truth. One
wonders why those who say that they love the truth despise a man for trying to
protect the truth.
Perhaps we should not
be surprised by these negative reactions.
Jesus defended the truth against the Jewish leaders and was opposed. Paul rose up against the Judaizing
teachers of his day and suffered persecution. Peter refuted the heresy of the first
century and was crucified upside down upon a cross. Man’s reaction to reproof and rebuke
cannot determine whether or not the preacher will fulfill his job
description. He must do his duty to
God regardless of what man might think.
“But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in
the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. For we cannot but speak the things which
we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:19-20).