| Volume 31 |
SEPTEMBER 2010
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Number
2
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Filling Pulpits with Qualified Men By Brian R. Kenyon
Many things have changed since those words were penned by brother Carr over thirty years ago—the technological explosion, advances in medicine, scientific discoveries, and the list could go on. One thing, however, remains as it has since the first century: each local church needs a Biblically sound man who preaches the truth in love for that congregation to grow and be pleasing to the Lord (cf. Rom. 10:13-15; Eph. 4:15-16; 2 Tim. 4:1-5). When each congregation is so equipped, the church as a whole will be proportionately stronger. Doing Our Part Some ignore, or at the very least minimize, the necessity of a Scripturally strong pulpit. However, great tragedy results when the importance of Biblical preaching is not upheld. The sad condition that results from a weak pulpit may be compared to the lack of sound servants of the Lord in the time of Ezekiel. The Lord told this prophet, “I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none” (Ezk. 22:30). We need now, perhaps more than ever, men properly equipped to “stand in the gap” and fight the good fight of faith! Since 1969, God has blessed the Florida School of Preaching to be able to train men to preach and to prepare souls to better serve the Lord. As a result, many souls have been saved and strengthened. One of the stated purposes of the school from the beginning was to strengthen the churches of Christ in Florida. The 1960s saw significant division in our brotherhood over such issues as church cooperation and the financial support of orphan homes. In a sense, the school’s original purpose was to “stand in the gap.” How many churches were spared being split asunder because preachers and elders who were taught at the Florida School of Preaching “stood in the gap”? Consider also the late 1970s/early 1980s when what became known as the Boston/Crossroads Movement influenced local churches of Christ in Central Florida. How many congregations were deceived into adopting unscriptural practices? How many more would have been led away into error had it not been for preachers and personnel associated with the Florida School of Preaching “standing in the gap”? Consider some elements of our brotherhood today that insist others adopt every element of their views on matters of indifference and/or expediencies, under the threat of being excluded from their “fellowship.” How many have been intimidated into breaking fellowship with those whom the Lord approves (cf. 2 Cor. 10:12, 18)? How much worse would the damage be in Central Florida and beyond if it were not for preachers and informed Christians influenced by the Florida School of Preaching “standing in the gap”? These things are not said lightly, nor should they be construed as if we were the only ones “standing in the gap” on these occasions, but these are stated to show the undeniable part the school has had in strengthening pulpits, and thus congregations, against error and division. In addition to “standing in the gap” in defense of the Gospel, students and graduates of the school have literally gone into all the world to “preach the gospel to every creature” (Mk. 16:15 cf. Mt. 28:19-20). Some of our students serve full-time in foreign mission fields. Others faithfully preach in the United States. Our students, past and present, make foreign mission trips every year, even to places that have never heard of Jesus. Only the Lord knows and eternity can reveal the number of souls that have been brought to Christ and/or strengthened due to the influence of the Florida School of Preaching. Again, this is not to say we are the only ones fulfilling the Great Commission, but it is to say we are certainly doing our part!
Still Trusting in the Lord
LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO PREACH ...
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No empty pulpit has ever persuaded an erring brother to repent of his ways and return to service for the Lord. No member of the church has ever said that he has been encouraged in time of weakness by the empty pulpit. No church has prospered as it should when there is not a man to stand in the pulpit and proclaim God’s word. It still pleased God by the “foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Cor. 1:21). Untold thousands are yet untold because we are not sending men to preach. (B. C. Carr, Florida School of Preaching Bulletin, March 1978)
