Do We Really Want Men of Conviction?

Our churches are crying out for men of conviction to fill the pulpits. Men who are not soft on doctrine. Men who are confident of where they stand and are, at the same time, able to speak the truth in love in a way that communicates to people of all ages, all backgrounds, varying levels of education and spiritual maturity. But is this really what we want?

I’ve experienced myself, and seen in VERY recent history, that churches do indeed want men of conviction, as long as their convictions are the same convictions held by the majority of parishioners. A recent case has me wondering…

A man I have never met before was recently asked to step away from his ministry position because of his views on women’s role in the church. Even though, according to some, he had agreed not to push the issue or teach his particular view in his home congregation, he was asked to leave. A teenager was asked, “Was it okay for the elders to fire this person because he didn’t have the same view as they did on this particular issue?” I guess what we have to ask is – why were they going to fire him? Was his doctrine anti-Christian or sinful? If so, did he need firing or did he need Scriptural rebuke? Was his doctrine based on opinions about some issue addressed (or not addressed) in the Bible? If so, did he need to be fired? Or did there need to be clear, open, and honest communication?

Honestly, from a business and legal perspective, the elders of any church have the “right” to fire anyone they want for possibly any reason. I have a hard time, however, finding Biblical precedent for getting rid of an evangelist for “doctrinal differences.”

Firing someone because they refuse to repent of sin? Sure. Firing someone because they’ve denied the Christ or begun to Judaize the believers? Sure. But firing someone because they have a different view on some issue? Come on! I know – elders have a right to do this. But think of what this creates for ministers. Again, our churches cry out for men of conviction. But what we really want is men whose convictions look very similar if not exactly like ours.

I know what it’s like to be a person of convcition. I know what its like for people to value their own opinions above friendship. I’ve experienced this very thing myself. It hurts. Let me tell you point blank what this creates.

It creates an atmosphere where men who truly seek to study and seek out truth, will be afraid to change their minds – whether their change of mind is right or wrong is not relevant here. Sometimes we’ll get it right. Sometimes we won’t. But we’ve developed a system of leadership among some churches that perpetuates the status quo at all costs. So a change of mind for the better or for the worse is simply not permitted. We’re not just interested in maintaining doctrinal purity, but we are often even more adamant about maintaining doctrinal stagnancy.

The climate says, “Believe what we believe, or else!” “Tell us what our itching ears want to hear!” Even if what someone ears want to hear is right, it is not the obligation of the minister to scratch those bigoted lobes.

It is sad that today’s ministers must walk on theological eggshells. Free to think as long as their thinking stays within the confines of the popular opinion. Which is, as you can see, not really freedom at all.

The question that was asked the teen resurfaces. “Was it okay that our elders fired someone who didn’t believe what they believed about women’s role in the church?” I think there is a fundamental problem with the question. At least, there’s something else that has to be addressed first. The underlying question is: Should we, as a church, develop or have an atmosphere that really encouraging people to think for themselves and not merely parrot popular theological ideas? Forget about whether or not elders have a right to fire a minister, for certainly they do. The real question is: Is that the kind of church we ought to be? A church that forces teachers and preachers to say what’s always been said?

Let me tell you. There are, without a doubt in my mind, hundreds if not thousands of ministers in our churches out there that simply dont’ see eye to eye with their elders or the larger congregation about many things. And I’m convinced many of them are dealing with very real psychological issues because of their fear to talk about what they really beleive.

What will happen if these preachers start to say what they really think? I’ll tell you what will happen. Some churches will veiw it as a “fresh wind.” Some of these preachers will be labeled “heretics” and cast aside on the unbiblical grounds of “doctrinal differences.” But something else will happen as well. Other men who see that this kind of boldness can and does exist, will begin to develop the courage within themselves to preach what they beleive to be true regardless of what the pewsitters think. Some will be persecuted, but all will benefit.

So does today’s church really want men of conviction? Well, whether she does or not – God knows she needs them.