Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

“Faithful men finishing well is a demonstration of God’s sustaining grace, not the merit of the man.” ~ R. C. Sproul

Earlier this week, I heard Tom Pennington’s tribute to John MacArthur. While truly beautiful, I was profoundly encouraged when he said, “We needed to see one who finished well.”

Many men have fallen in various theological camps in recent years. Many of those were not surprising, as their theology proved them false long before their secret, sinful private lives were publicly revealed. Others it did come as a surprise, as their theology was sound, but in private they were living in unrepentant sin. We pray that among these are those who are truly regenerate, as few among them—made known publicly—have submitted themselves to church discipline and stepped out of the pulpit.

Praise God for the encouragement to the saints to see men who submit to church discipline and are truly repentant. Far too many don’t and further victimize victims, while portraying themselves as the victim. Wolves often have a very loyal support system in place among other pastors who minimize their sins, exalt them such as the kingdom of God “needs them,” silence anyone who warns of them and silence the voices of any possible victims. They also have very loyal, deceived followers.

Often, it is evident, to the Biblically discerning, that these men are not called of God—as their false teachings make it plain. They are also often recognized as supporting others who teach falsehood, blaspheme God, and are caught in sin. They give their support of restoring these men to the pulpit as if the church cannot survive without them. They are wolves protecting one another.

Then there are those that their theology was sound. We tested their teachings. They were otherwise doctrinally solid. But in their private lives, they were living in unrepentant sin.

God is gracious, and if they do not repent, He exposes them—for their sake and the sake of the purity of His bride. He removes them from their position and puts another in their place.

Among wolves this does not happen. They are exposed, but they play the victim. Other wolves restore them. Their concern is not for the purity of the bride, faithful exposition of the Word, or the glory of God. Their concern is for their position, their influence, their supposed anointing, their power, and their authority. They convince their followers that the church “needs them.” God does not need them! They are replaceable. They are wolves!

So many in the church have been so influenced by false Word-Faith, Prosperity Gospel, and NAR teachings that they truly believe that the church will fail in her mission without these men. They excuse their false teachings, behavior, and sin that brings reproach on the name of Christ to a watching world and that blasphemes God, exalts man, demotes God, preaches a different gospel, and leads many astray. Why? They believe that without these men the mission of the church will fail and they promise all their sinful hearts desire NOW!

While God permits these wolves to continue in their work that is contrary to the truth, it is not because He needs them, but rather, they are part of God’s judgment against those who reject the truth. He does make use of them, but not as many have wrongly believed. The church has long stood against their false teachings, and it has served to strengthen the church in the truth as she stands against error and heresy. They are not the hero’s the church is looking for. We have one hero—Christ Jesus our Lord.

We may be encouraged that He is sovereign and every Word He has spoken is true. We have His Word by which to test every other word said in His name. His promises are true, and His children find assurance and confidence in them.

We can trust that God has gifted the church with Biblically qualified men and that He has given to His bride the ability to test all things to see if what is taught is true. He has not elevated the man in the pulpit such as the church cannot survive without him—by which all his sins and false teachings can be excused. It is a humble calling and a beautiful gift of God, sustained by God’s grace and one of which will bring glory to God as these men submit themselves to the Word in their own lives and to faithfully expositing the Word in the pulpit, trusting God with the results. A reward awaits these few and faithful men.

Be encouraged, dear saint, when we see them finish well, as it is to the glory and praise of God who has kept them to the end. It is all the Grace of God and no man has room for boasting. And let us likewise praise God for His grace even in revealing wolves that were in our midst.

It is all of grace and all for the glory of God.

Grace and Peace, y’all
Soli Deo Gloria

April J. Buchanan