Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search

Unstable waves in ministry – Part 3

By Dr. Bola Akin-John
14 April 2019   |   3:43 am
Leadership Waves – The current wave is leadership. Everything is leadership, mostly in secular and worldly sense. Even pastors are catching the wave and becoming leadership coach, expert and mentors. I can talk of denominational waves, whereby churches operate under denominational garbs, around a doctrine, practice and philosophy of ministry. I can equally talk of…

Akin-John Francis Bamibola

Leadership Waves – The current wave is leadership. Everything is leadership, mostly in secular and worldly sense. Even pastors are catching the wave and becoming leadership coach, expert and mentors.

I can talk of denominational waves, whereby churches operate under denominational garbs, around a doctrine, practice and philosophy of ministry.

I can equally talk of Independent churches waves, whereby individual break away from mainline churches, start their own churches, but later become another denomination that omits the doings of the Lord in His church and cause schism in the body.

Every Wave of Doctrine
“Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;” – Ephesians 4:13-14.

This scripture shows clearly to us that being carried about with every wave of doctrine is a sure sign of immaturity and instability in Christ.

However, Christ wants each believer, minister and church to come to maturity level where Scripture, balanced scripture will be the only wave each of us will ride. The afore-mentioned waves come and go. They are based on one line of truth and sometimes, extreme and erroneous practices of scriptural revelations.

Truth be told, as long as you ride on every wave of doctrine, teachings and wave-makers in the Christendom, you’ll remain fickle, tossed to and fro in your walk with the Lord.

In conclusion, we see the story of two sons’ response to their father in the Gospel of Luke 15:11-59. This story is the picture of major waves in Christianity: Conservative and Modern. Here are their contrasting features:

The Eldest son is Conservative – vs. 25-29
• He was elderly – seasoned and calm

• Quiet and unassuming.

• Works in the field – kingdom-minded.

• Not materialistic.

• Not claiming his inheritance.

• Seeks to please the Father always.

• Committed to serving and live in self-denial.

•Trust the judgment and provision of the Father.

The Younger Son is Modern – vs. 12-19
• The younger son is mobile and current.

• His mindset is his portion with his father.

• Prosperity and materially minded.

• Concerned with himself and the world.

• Wants to enjoy the world as much as possible.

• Lives extravagantly and carnally minded.

• Got lost and only restored by mercy.

Though these are the two broad waves that all the afore-mentioned ones fall under, they all can be classified into these two broad headings.

None of these two waves are right. Every believer must find the middle ground of the scripture. Staying in the balanced scripture is right.

For example, we must be conservative in living, but also claim the Father’s portion to do His work. We must be moderate and still stay in the Father’s will. We must stay in His will in every area and not waste and live riotously with His inheritance. We must stay in balanced scripture, not holding onto one line of truth, that will soon pass away – Isaiah 28:10.

Dr. Bola Akin-John
INTERNATIONAL CHURCH GROWTH MINISTRY
akingrow@yahoo.com 08023000714

0 Comments