Some friends and I were watching a series of Youtube videos tonight in which the creator had recut popular movies to give them a very different meaning. Among the most impressive was a recut of the classic thriller, The Shining. If you can’t see the video, watch it on Youtube.

It really is very impressive how only a few nuances and a total contortion of context can give you a completely different impression of the movie and what it’s about. If I’d seen this preview and took my kids to see it, I’d be looking for my money back.

At the risk of over spiritualizing, I have to say, it reminded me how crucial it is that we pay close attention to the context of our scriptures as we’re reading them. And it’s even more crucial that our teachers do the same.

Unfortunately, for a huge portion of the church (*ahem* Lakewood and the like), a fouled up context is delivering people as nasty an impression of Jesus as this preview gives us of The Shining. Congregations need to demand good contextual teaching from their leaders and we should demand it from ourselves.

One of my readings today was Acts 20:13-38. Paul is on his way to Jerusalem and calls the elders from Ephesus to come to him. He tells them is intentions to go to Jerusalem where he is certain that persecution and imprisonment await him. Therefore, he says his goodbye’s to his friends, saying that they will not see his face again.

But, it’s in the preface of his departing words that a message rests for the ministers and preachers in our churches today. Acts 20:20-21:

“I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Paul says this declaring his actions as right. He came to them with knowledge that was “profitable” to them and he did not hold it back. He did not shrink from declaring anything profitable. People don’t “shrink” away from things that are easy or safe. Therefore, there must have been reason for Paul to fear, that shrinking away was a real possibility. But this he did not do.

Instead, he declared all that was profitable among crowds in public, and in the intimacy of private homes. He declared to the religious and the irreligious alike all that was profitable to them.

These are boasts that very few of our ministers here in America could make with any real confidence.

If we consider the pressures of the American preacher-teacher-pastor it makes sense that the broad majority accept “shrinking” away their chosen lifestyle. Perhaps it’s the debt incurred by a gaudy church building. Maybe sustaining numbers to appease a denominational conference. Maybe it’s the financial needs of a growing family. Maybe it’s simply knowing the pews have bodies in them impresses their contemporaries.

Whatever the reason, shrinking away may very well be the norm–not the exception.

But it’s a few verses later, that Paul implies some startling theology. Acts 20:26:

“…I am innocent of the blood of all of you, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.”

There is apparently some kind of guilt incurred when a preacher fails to declare the “whole counsel of God”. Or in this case, anything that is profitable. Paul was innocent of this, but there are likely a great many today who are not.

I know that many popular preachers will make the argument that some “depths” of theological thought is simply not valuable to the average Christian. That the preacher is only responsible for declaring “core” teachings. I couldn’t disagree with this more (2 Timothy 3:16). God saw fit to deliver to us his whole word. Especially today, with our vast resources and education, we are with least excuse as to why we do not engage God through the lenses he has given us.

I am aware that there are parts of our nation in which the understanding of the word is prized tragically above the actual doing of the word. So perhaps I can only speak for the heavily metropolitan areas in our country. Teaching the Word is not enough, the Word also must be done.

Where do we find the strength to truly serve God? In knowing God. How do we know God? From his Word. How will people know if no one will teach them? Which brings me to a final thought. Romans 10:14:

“How… can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

By the strength, courage and confidence that the Lord provides, may our pastors and teachers teach the “whole counsel of God“.

This morning, while studying the Word with a good friend from church, we came upon the encouragement in James 3:17-18:

“But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.“

Just a few verses earlier, James went through pains to get across to teachers that their motives be weighed carefully, for they will be “judged with greater strictness” (3:1). Then, he goes on to expand on just what happens when that is neglected. He says that a teacher with “selfish ambition” is not practicing the “wisdom that comes down from above,” (3:14-15) but instead is “earthly, unspiritual and demonic”. And what’s worse than that, their fruit will not be “righteousness”, but rather, “disorder and every vile practice” (3:16).

Then, in contrast to these detrimental warnings, James offers his encouragement in 3:17-18.

James is contrasting “selfish ambition” with “true wisdom”. If we understand these terms in a true theological sense, I believe we’ll see that our contrast is not much unlike the contrast between pride and true God centered humility.

In James’ immediate context, he is speaking to teachers. He’s saying that you cannot stand up and teach in the pursuit of your own glory, in a selfishly ambitious (literally: “electioneering for yourself, attempting to put yourself foreword“) heart. When this happens, the result is inevitably “disorder and every vile practice”. Therefore, his inverse message found in 17-18 is that a teacher must pursue the humility (the wisdom from above). Any teacher who hopes to see a “harvest of righteousness” must sow in “peace” (true wisdom).

To be sure, this is a gross oversimplification of these verses. Please, don’t misunderstand what I’ve said as thorough. None the less I believe it does have some important words for our leaders today.

I believe there is a subtle pride that can exist in the church. One where ministers look out at their congregations, not desiring for the congregation to give them glory, but desiring the congregation to give God glory. But, to be the one seen as responsible for this great condition amongst the people. They don’t want the praise, they want to be praised for the praise.

It seems likely to me that this is a pervasive problem in church leaders today. And, it seems that it could easily go unchecked, unnoticed, even. But, if James’ words here are true, then we may be looking at one of the reasons the Church at large is in such a sad state right now.

Is it possible that our teachers, saturated in a world of instant communication and media, have sought their own glory in building a God glorifying church? And, if so, is it possible that this is the reason that there is so much disorder, and among so many churches there can be found “every vile practice”? And, if this is the case, will God hear our prayers for mercy, reveal our sin and return the offenders to their first love?

Yes. Invariably yes.