The State of English Churches
What has happened to English churches? Too many seem to be spineless. Instead, many are satisfied with caring for those in their own little circle. Society wants to be entertainment but churches cannot compete effectively with the sport and social activities going on in the world around us. A man who no longer attends church gave his reasons:
“Our local church simply repeated the same words from the prayer book, week after week. The sermons were poor and our children disliked coming. We drifted away from churchgoing, largely because church increasingly became irrelevant to living in a busy, modern world.”
What has happened to the churches? Where has its virility gone? Where are the centres of proclamation where God’s message to our society is boldly proclaimed? What has happened to the passionate preaching of God’s message about eternal salvation through faith in Jesus and how this changes people. It is as if the church has been emasculated or neutered. The impression most people have of churches is that they hold services in cold old buildings, sing hymns, listen to long prayers an sermons, collect money for the roof or tower and other noble causes and perhaps have the occasional jumble sale.
When Paul wrote his first letter to Timothy, he was also concerned about the direction the church at Ephesus was moving in. Timothy had been given the responsibility of leading them whilst Paul continued on his fourth missionary journey up to Macedonia. The Ephesian church had leaders whose background was Judaism. They were emphasising philosophical ideas and the importance of religious rituals instead of teaching the church that its members are to live under the authority of the lord Jesus and for his benefit. It is the lord Jesus that Christians serve. The corporate church only has God’s authority when it is living for and obeying the king.
Paul longs that all people should understand that Christianity is a radically different faith to all others. Pagan temples emphasised mystery, pomp and music. Judaism stressed logical argument and the following of religious rules. In contrast Jesus taught that traditional religion is impotent to put people right with God. Only Jesus, who is the incarnation of God, is able to forgive our rebellion against God as he took the consequences of our sin on himself.
Christ Matters
In the first two verses of 1 Timothy, Paul mentions Christ Jesus three times. He is given his title first. The word ‘Christ’ means ‘God’s chosen king’ – it is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word ‘Messiah’. Paul is stressing that Jesus is ‘God’s Chosen King’ for all humanity. It is only by acknowledging who Jesus is and submitting to his rule that anyone can become a member of his kingdom and so become acceptable to God.
I had a patient who was the church warden of a local village church. After the medical issues hadf been dealt with, I asked how the church was going.
“It is getting difficult,” she replied, “we are getting smaller and older,”
“Tell me,” I asked, “do members of the church talk about the lord ?jesus with others in the village?”
“Oh, good gracious me, no. We don’t talk about him amongst ourselves.”
What should I say? I replied sorrowfully,
“Then I fear that, unless something radical changes, your church will die.”
Doctrine Matters
I will never forget a local vicar’s sermon in which he told us that doctrine was divisive and that love was the only mark that mattered. How foolish and how unlike the Lord Jesus. Jesus sent his church into the world to teach God’s truths. He called his followers ‘disciples’ which means ‘learners’.
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations . . . teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Matthew 29:19-20
Jesus said to the elite political Sadducees,
“You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” Matthew 22:29
Paul’s first instruction to Timothy is to do with doctrine.
“ . . . stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer.” 1 Timothy 1:3
How relevant this is today. In the Church of England there are now many different doctrinal positions that are pulling the church apart. It is no coincidence that the Thirty-Nine Articles were an agreed doctrinal statement that would keep all Anglican churches teaching the Apostolic Faith – the faith of the Apostles that has been passed to us on in the New Testament. Good doctrine was to hold people together, it is not divisive. They were:
“agreed upon . . . for the avoiding of diversities and opinions.”
It is deviation from God’s truth that causes division and corruption. Surprisingly God himself has been forgotten by vast tracts of his Church. David Wells argues that God has become ‘weightless’ to His people. Some Christian groups seem more interested in discussing theological peccadilloes instead of leading people to a knowledge of the Saviour of the world.
“ . . .not to teach false doctrines any longer, not to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies rather than God’s work – which is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4
A true faith in Christ, a deep personal commitment to Him to follow him and his teaching, will have profound changes in our behaviour. Love of self will be replaced by a love for the Lord and other people.
“The goal of this command is love . . .” 1 Timothy 1:5
But notice what causes Christians to be loving,
“ . . . which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” 1 Timothy 1:5
It is the relationship with Christ, which is based on His word, that produces long lasting Christ-like changes in behaviour. As in Paul’s day, the same has been repeated through Church history as churches drift from the Bible.
“Some have wandered away from these and have turned to meaningless talk.” 1 Timothy 1:6
Paul was horrified that such people had become leaders in the Ephesian church and we should again be really concerned that this is happening in Twenty-First century churches.
“They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm.” 1 Timothy 1:7
The essential message of the church is that although our sin has separated us from God, there is a way back to harmony with God, but this is only through a personal commitment to Christ. Paul gives several summaries of the gospel in this short book,
“Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am chief.” 1 Timothy 1:15
“ . . . God our Saviour, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men . . .” 1 Timothy 2:3-5
It was because there were new leaders in Ephesus who had drifted from this apostolic gospel that Timothy was instructed to:
“ . . . fight the good fight, holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.” 1 Timothy 1:18-20
Doctrine, the teaching of God’s truth is therefore the prime purpose of God’s churches. Everything else comes from following God’s word.
Paul recognised that this was his prime responsibility:
“And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle – I am telling the truth, I am not lying – and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.” 1 Timothy 2:7
In his final letter to Timothy, written shortly before he was executed, Paul again emphasises the need to find people who are able and willing to teach others the apostolic truths.
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2
Where does Anglican Church doctrine come from? All Anglican ministers have subscribed to the Articles of the Church of England by agreeing to the Canons of the Church of England. Canon A5 states,
“The doctrine of the Church of England is grounded in the Holy Scriptures, and in such teachings of the ancient Fathers and Councils of the Church as are agreeable to the said Scriptures. In particular such doctrine is found in the Thirty-nine Articles of Religion, the Book of Common Prayer, and the Ordinal.”
Article 9 affirms that man’s main problem is our sin, which separates us from God.
“Original Sin is the fault and nature of every man, that naturally is ingendered of the offspring of Adam; whereby man is very far gone from original righteousness, and is of his own nature inclined to evil, so that the flesh lusteth always contrary to the spirit; and thereby in every person born into this world, it deserveth God’s wrath and condemnation.”
The gospel is clearly salvation from God’s rightful anger at our sin, because God’s appointed king, Jesus Christ, has taken the penalty for us. The gospel is salvation from a hell that we rightly deserve.
Article 18 is adamant that salvation is only available to those belonging to Jesus Christ.
“They are also to be accursed that presume to say, That every man shall be saved by the Law or Sect which he professeth, so that he be diligent to frame his life according to that Law, and the light of Nature. For holy Scripture doth set out unto us only the Name of Jesus Christ, whereby men must be saved.”
A worrying trend in western churches is the drift away from Biblical thinking. Yet again the articles are clear about where authority lies. Article 20 states,
“The Church hath power to decree Rites or Ceremonies, and authority in Controversies of Faith: And yet it is not lawful for the Church to ordain any thing that is contrary to God’s Word written, neither may it so expound one place of Scripture that it be repugnant to another. Wherefore, although the Church be a witness and keeper of holy Writ, yet, as it ought not to decree any thing against the same, so besides the same ought it not to enforce any thing to be believed for necessity of Salvation.”
The Prayer Book demands that all the Church’s teaching be in accord with Scripture. So on what grounds are people teaching that the Christian Good News has changed into one that is primarily one of a social nature? Clearly to be saved from my sin, forgiven and given God’s Holy Spirit will have eternal consequences but will also result in contemporary social benefits. However the Bible’s focus is always to love the Lord our God first. Without repentance from sin and a love for Jesus, which will show itself with him becoming our Lord, there is no salvation and there is no gift of the Holy Spirit. ‘Salvation’ means being saved at the coming judgement from the rightful penalty that we deserve.
It is important to stress that we are not here talking about how the Christian message is communicated but what the content of that message is, that eventually people need to understand.
Gender Matters
The apostle recognises that there are significant differences between men and women that affects churches.
Men tend to be more aggressive and angry. They tend to be activists, relying on their own abilities to achieve their goals. Paul longs for the men in the church to become more dependent on God and to major in being devoted to Christ above everything else. He writes,
“I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.” 1 Timothy 2:8
How much this reminder is needed today. Holiness is being set apart to live for Christ. He achieved His Father’s aims, not by being aggressive but through teaching God’s Word and depending on His Father for the results. Men who follow him need to behave similarly.
There was a tendency for the women to try to win the favour of others by using attractive dress and jewellery and makeup. Like the men this is relying on themselves to achieve the results they want. Paul writes,
“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.” 1 Timothy 2:9-10
Since the days of Eve in the Garden of Eden, there has been a tension between the sexes. At the beginning of Genesis this tension was foretold.
“To the woman he (God) said, ‘I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16
The result of the fall is hard labour, both for the man and the woman. The woman will fall for her husband and he is to be in charge of his family.
Paul was clearly concerned that some women were becoming dominant in God’s churches. The church is the family of God and the apostle is concerned that God’s order is seen there. Headship was not the woman’s prerogative. He writes,
“A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. I do not permit a woman to teach or have authority over a man; she must be silent.” 1 Timothy 2:11-12
The regular preacher in a church does exert headship and authority and it is this role that the apostle is concerned about. As will be seen later there is a much needed role for women within ministry but it is not headship. Some argue that such doctrines are inappropriate in the twenty-first century where women are better educated. Paul’s answer comes from the creation order that God intended for society.
“For Adam was formed first, then Eve. And Adam was not the one deceived, it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.” 1 Timothy 2:13-14
This in no way denies that men and women are of equal value in God’s eyes – it is just that they are different with different priorities in the family and in the church.
“But women will be saved through child-bearing – if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.” 1 Timothy 2:15
Salvation is only found through a love for Christ, so this verse surely means that God is satisfied for Godly women to make their children their priority. Motherhood is not to be despised.
