By Dr. Michael L. Williams
In my experience as a Pastor and Biblical counselor, not a week went by without interaction with a family that is struggling to survive. Today, families are struggling economically, educationally, relationally, emotionally and Spiritually more than ever. Biblically speaking, families are being attacked by Satan and those most often under attack by Satanic predators are the children.
Sadly, many Pastors today do not do counseling because they have been taught to believe that they are not “qualified” to counsel. There is no consideration that getting up every week in front of a congregation or class and delivering a message from the Bible is counseling, just not on an individual basis. This belief is a result of secular psychologists that have convinced us that Biblical counseling is not real counseling, and Pastors need to refer people to the “experts” who are licensed to counsel.
Excuse me? Since when did God cease to be an expert counselor? Unfortunately, we have many people today, even in positions of leadership in local churches, reinforcing this idea that man’s way of counseling has replaced God’s counsel. Sadly, in not sharing God’s counsel as ordained through His Son Jesus Christ, they think that they are “ministering” to people by teaching people that God’s Word of counsel is inferior to man’s knowledge of counseling.
The Bible speaks of God’s counseling through His Word, Jesus Christ, in Isaiah 11:1-2 and in 2 Timothy 3:16-17:
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots: And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;” (Isaiah 11:1-2)
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
God’s Word was given to us as a basis of truth (doctrine); to show us where we are going wrong (reproof); to correct our way of thinking to match His (correction); and to instruct us on how to accomplish righteousness (instruction).
Likewise, parents are admonished to teach these things to their children in Deuteronomy 6:4-9 so that they too can learn how to survive in today’s world as they get older. These verses teach that it is the parent’s responsibility to immerse their children in the Word of God so that they will grow up to love God and have the hope to survive.
Consequently, many children are being raised by parents who have no idea what the Word of God teaches. Most often it is because they do not bother to take the time to study it for themselves (2 Timothy 2:15-16). Secondly, many parents are not being trained by their Pastors, ministers, or any other faithful men (2 Timothy 2:1-2) in the truths of Scripture.
“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:15-16)
“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” (2 Timothy 2:1-2)
If Pastors, ministers, or other faithful servants will not share the teaching found in the Word of God with their congregants and in their churches then how can they expect families to survive? And when the family does not survive, how can they expect our communities to survive? And when our communities do not survive, then how can they expect our nation to survive?
When our nation does not survive, how long do we think it will be before our enemies will not allow us to preach the Word of God openly? When that happens how long do you think it will be before our enemies will execute anyone who dares preach something contrary to their doctrine? It has happened in the past so it is not a stretch to think it could happen again.
Simply stated, if we are not willing to stand on the written Word of God, then why do we call ourselves Pastors or ministers or teachers, or even think of ourselves as faithful? Faithful to what? Not God, nor those who we supposedly minister to. A minister is someone who “serves” others. If we are not “serving” others in “ministry” by feeding them lies, we are dis-serving them!
It is us ministering to them that helps them to survive in today’s world. We teach them to look at current events through the lens of Scripture and not the words of men. May God help us to serve others by teaching them to consult God for the issues of life.
