What if You Can't Find a Fellowship?

In this regular feature Dave and Tom respond to questions from listeners and readers of The Berean Call.  Here is this week’s question:Dear Dave and T. A., I greatly appreciate your newsletter and radio program and now it seems even more.The church I’ve been attending for many years has replaced its retired pastor with a man who seems to be into everything that undermines the Word of God.From 12 steps, to psychology, to theistic evolution and the list goes on and on.Consequently, I’ve had to look for another church, but that has been unproductive in this relatively small community.I certainly do not want to disobey Hebrews:10:25Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.
See All... with regard to fellowshipping with other believers, so I would really like your counsel on this matter.What should I do?

Tom:

Dave, we get lots of mail here, and if I was going to categorize the letters, I would say too many are of this note here.That people who just want to get into God’s Word, they write frustrated that their pastor may have started out that way, but now he’s trying to develop into a seeker-friendly church or whatever it might be, or adding programs that might make people happy and so on.

Dave:

Tom, I find this in conversation with people everywhere.We were just in England two weeks ago.I couldn’t tell you how many people came up to me and said the same thing.What are we going to do?In fact, on the one hand it makes you feel good when they say, “The Berean Call, that’s our oasis.”That’s our spiritual life and teaching, we just devour it every month when it comes.On the other hand—

Tom:

That scares me Dave.

Dave:

Yes, it does and on the other hand, what does that say about the churches out there?And these people say we can’t find a church.I mean I’ve had people say to me I was into psychiatry, I was under the care of a psychiatrist, I was into psychic powers, or I was into witchcraft or what ever and God delivered me and I get into this church and I find out they’re into the whole thing!

Tom:

Yes, but only with a little different cloak or clothing on it.

Dave:

Yes, under the name of Christianity, but it’s basically the same thing.What do you do?Well, maybe they ought to start a little Bible study in their home and let God guide and lead; on the other hand, I don’t think they should leave that church until they’ve done everything they can possibly can to help.If the pastor is a good man, he’s not going to be haughty and offended, if you tell him, pastor; I’ve got some problems here.Could you tell me where does this come from in the Bible?Why are we doing this and why are we neglecting this and so forth?Instead of leaving the church offended and even maybe a bit angry, frustrated, do what you can to help the pastor.If he’s a good man and he loves the Lord, he will take counsel.The scripture says the wisdom that is from above is gentle, pure, easily entreated, so he should be easy to talk to, you share your concerns not angrily—

Tom:

No, with meekness and humility as the scripture says.

Dave:

Yes, and Pastor, couldn’t we get back to the Bible, really study the Bible and see what it teaches, rather than the ideas of men or whatever and Pastor, you know we do need correction.When Paul tells Timothy to preach the Word, he doesn’t say be very positive, be gentle, be careful not to offend anyone, he says those who sin, rebuke before all.He says preach the Word, reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long suffering and doctrine.Pastor, we are really starved for doctrine.We are really starved for what the Bible teaches.Couldn’t we have some of that?Now, if the man is offended and angry—in fact I was just in New York and a man was showing me the excommunication papers—well it was a letter excommunicating him from the Missouri Synod of the Lutheran church.Because—

Tom:

Local or national?

Dave:

No, well it was a local body, but it was pretty much, I think it was actually a larger body than a local church, one church.It was like a council or something and because he didn’t believe in infant baptism.He didn’t believe that a baby is cleansed of its sin if it’s baptized by sprinkling, and born again, becomes a child of God in the family of God.After he became a Christian, which he wasn’t under that teaching.He had confirmation, but that was only confirming his baptism, but when he saw that he was a sinner, that Christ died for his sins, that he really needed to repent, be saved, come to Christ, it was personal matter for him.A choice he had to make, faith he had to exercise, that it couldn’t happen to him when he was a baby and when he met Christ he was saved.Then he said well I should be baptized as a believer.Wow!You should read the angry letter, and they wouldn’t let him respond.He said well couldn’t we discuss it?Absolutely not!You come to our council for one purpose and that is to repent and we’ll denounce you and so forth. Well, I guess then under those circumstances you just have to leave.But with regrets.

Tom:

And seeking out fellowship as you said.A Bible study where you can not forsake the gathering of the brethren of fellowship in the Lord and searching out the scriptures together.

Dave:

Going back to what we were saying earlier.This is a confirmation of the Bible.The Bible said it is going to get worse and worse.It didn’t say it would get better.It says they will not endure sound doctrine.They will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears who want the compliments of the people, who don’t come as God’s man to teach them what God says, that would convict and convince and change, but who want to flatter them so that they will receive their plaudits.That’s the day in which we live, but this is exactly what the Bible said it would be.