How To Identify A Reliable Preacher
Posted October 22nd, 2009 by Tullian TchividjianTwo weeks ago I mentioned in my sermon that God grows Christians by feeding them his Word. One way he does this is by providing the church with teachers and preachers. This means that if we are going to grow we need to be sitting at the feet of reliable carriers of God’s truth. This, however, begs the question: how can we identify a reliable carrier of God’s truth? The Bible makes it clear that there are many unreliable carriers of so-called truth. Satan masquerades as an angel of light seeking to deceive. So we need a lot of biblical discernment here. Just because a teacher or preacher comes in Jesus’ name with a Bible under his arm doesn’t automatically mean he is reliable.
Thankfully both the Bible and church history give us some direction here. So I want to provide you with a brief list of five questions (based on the five sola’s of the Reformation) that can help you discern the reliability of a particular teacher or preacher.
Question 1 (Sola Scriptura): Does the preacher ground everything he says in the Bible? Does he, in other words, begin with the authority and sufficiency of Scripture? A reliable carrier of God’s truth seeks to revel in, wrestle with, and expound from, the Bible. He starts with the Bible. All of his comments flow from what a particular passage in the Bible says. He doesn’t simply use the Bible to support what he wants to say. That is, he submits to what the Bible says, he does not seek to submit the Bible to what he says. He cares about both the Old Testament and the New Testament. He refuses to take verses out of context. He recognizes the unity of the Bible. He acknowledges that both the Old Testament and the New Testament tell one story and point to one figure, namely that God saves sinners through the accomplished work of his son Jesus Christ.
Question 2 (Sola Gratia): Does the preacher freely emphasize that because of sin, a right relationship with God can only be established by God’s grace alone? Beware of any teaching that emphasizes man’s ability over God’s ability; man’s freedom over God’s freedom; man’s power over God’s power; man’s initiative over God’s initiative. Beware of any teaching which subtlety communicates that a right relationship with God depends ultimately on human response over Divine sovereignty.
Question 3 (Sola Fide): Does the preacher stress that salvation is not achieved by what we can do, rather salvation is received by faith in what Christ has already done? It has been rightly stated that there really are only two religions: the religion of human accomplishment and the religion of Divine accomplishment. Does the preacher emphasize the former or the latter? A reliable carrier of God’s truth always highlights the fact that God saves sinners; sinners don’t save themselves.
Question 4 (Sola Christus): Does the preacher underline that Christ is the exclusive mediator between God and man? Does the explainer both affirm and proclaim that Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life” and that nobody comes to the Father but by Christ? Does he talk about sin and the necessity of Christ? Preachers must learn how to unveil and unpack the truth of the Gospel from every Biblical text they preach in such a way that it results in the exposure of both the idols of our culture and the idols of our hearts. The faithful exposition of our true Savior from every passage in the Bible painfully reveals all of the pseudo-saviors that we trust in culturally and personally. Every sermon ought to disclose the subtle ways in which we as individuals and we as a culture depend on lesser things than Jesus to provide the security, acceptance, protection, affection, meaning, and satisfaction that only Christ can supply. In this way, good preachers must constantly show just how relevant and necessary Jesus is; they must work hard to show that we are great sinners but Christ is a great Savior.
Question 5 (Sola Deo Gloria): Does the preacher exalt God above all? A reliable explainer will always lead you to marvel at God. A true carrier of God’s truth will always lead you to encounter the glory of God. A God-centered teacher is just that: God-centered. He will preach and teach in such a way that you find yourself hungering and thirsting for God. You will listen to sermon after sermon and walk away with grand impressions of Divine personality, not grand impressions of human personality.
This is just a start, but I hope it serves as a resource to help you determine the reliability of a particular teacher or preacher.
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:22 pm
This probably isn’t the way I would have worded it, but it’s very true. This is a good start, indeed.
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
Excellent Word, Bro! Excellent! Thanks for all you’re allowing God to do through your ministry…the blog is a tremendous resource…much appreciated!
October 22nd, 2009 at 8:55 pm
Thanks for sharing this. I’m going to pass this along to folks who aren’t sure how to identify a “good” church!
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:07 pm
[…] Tullian Tchividjian gives us some insight from the scripture as well as from church history as to how to identify a preacher who is reliable when it comes to feeding the people of God with His Word… Two weeks ago I mentioned in my sermon that God grows Christians by feeding them his Word. One way he does this is by providing the church with teachers and preachers. This means that if we are going to grow we need to be sitting at the feet of reliable carriers of God’s truth. This, however, begs the question: how can we identify a reliable carrier of God’s truth? The Bible makes it clear that there are many unreliable carriers of so-called truth. Satan masquerades as an angel of light seeking to deceive. So we need a lot of biblical discernment here. Just because a teacher or preacher comes in Jesus’ name with a Bible under his arm doesn’t automatically mean he is reliable. […]
October 22nd, 2009 at 10:30 pm
Wow! That’s some start. I particularly identified with Sola Christus.
You said, “In this way, good preachers must constantly show just how relevant and necessary Jesus is; they must work hard to show that we are great sinners but Christ is a great Savior.”
This week was spiritual emphasis week at our school. I listened in to one of the high school chapels and was struck with a thought. Young people tend to identify with a cause. When David stood before the Philistine challenge, he said, “Is there not a cause?” (the very verse that I am challenged by each time I have a coffee from my CRPC men’s coffee mug). Young people, specifically, but all of us, in general, tend to see injustice in the world but not see how we are also prime offenders. We see the genocide of Bosnian Serbs but not our own hateful words and action which betray a murderous heart. We see the corruption of Wall Street or the banking establishment but not our own covetousness which desires bigger and better things for our own glory and the attainment of such ends through compromising means. We see horrible exploitative child slavery but not our domineering attitudes over those who are more vulnerable. We see the sexual exploitation of women but excuse our lustful dalliances while professing faithfulness to our spouses. As I surveyed the young audience, I thought to myself, how we as Christians (young and old) tend to see ourselves as “good” people. We identify not with the Serb perpetrator of genocide, nor the Wall Street executive, nor the harsh master of the wills of innocence, nor the sexual exploiter, but with the victims, the innocent, the good, and the moral. How much we need the reliable preacher to speak the truth to us, confront us with our sinful ways, and then show us how needy we are. Only then, can we understand why Paul, one of the most powerful Christian witnesses of the ages would call himself “the chief of sinners”. We are that harlot in Proverbs and Revelation, and yet Christ makes us His bride.
How great is our need! But how much greater is our Savior!!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 7:40 am
Tullian, I sent this to a “missionary” in a 3rd world country, and this was his reply:
“Richard, thanks for this excellent article. I forwarded it to some key seminary professor friends and colleagues.”
Phil. 1:8-ll
October 23rd, 2009 at 9:43 am
This is a great post. My husband is a pastor in central New York, and I can’t tell you how many people have said to him they can’t find a church where the pastor holds to these truths and preaches them. My husband and I came to these sola’s many years ago and hold to them today. I am thankful I have pastor/husband who preaches, teaches and lives out the Word of God. Linking this post to my blog. So many are looking for the truth and this is how we find it. Thank you!
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
[…] Tullian Tchividjian uses the five solas to show how to identify a reliable preacher. […]
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:43 am
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
Thank you for being our reliable preacher!!
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Then almost no conservative evangelical preachers are reliable. Every single one I have asked tells me that premarital sex is a sin even though the Bible never once says anything of the sort. They always point me to Hebrews 13:4; “we must not ‘defile the marriage bed.’” However, if Sola Scriptura is actually practiced, then we *have* to interpret this passage by Scripture alone, whatever the result, and not by longstanding traditions. It turns out that the only reference to someone ever “defiling the marriage bed” in Scripture is adultery (1 Chr 5:1, Gen 35:22), not premarital sex.
In the Old and New Testaments many forms of sex are prohibited and detailed lists are given. They include adultery, homosexuality, sex during menstruation, prostitution, rape, etc. “Pre-marital sex” is quite simply not something God has ever called sexual immorality in Scripture. Yet nearly 100% of conservative evangelical pastors just assume their tradition to be God’s truth, and they judge the world by it! In practice, therefore, they elevate tradition to the same level as Scripture. At least conservative Jews openly admit that they do this.
For instance, Jewish researcher Ariel Scheib says, “The Bible never explicitly states a woman and man may not have sexual intercourse prior to marriage; therefore, no sanction was imposed for premarital sex, but it was considered a violation of tradition.” (He cites as his sources Eisenberg, Ronald L. The JPS Guide to Jewish Traditions. PA: Jewish Publication Society, 2004; Kolatch, Alfred J. The Jewish Book of Why/The Second Jewish Book of Why. NY: Jonathan David Publishers, 1989; Wigoder, Geoffrey , Ed. The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia. NY: Facts on File, 1992.) Orthodox rabbi Shmuley Boteach agrees and says, “this is not to suggest that Judaism approves of pre-marital sex or promiscuity. (..) Jewish law prohibits an unmarried, unrelated man and woman from (even) being alone long enough to have sexual relations. But these laws come from the Talmud and the Shulchan Aruch (custom, tradition), not from the Torah.”
I consider myself an evangelical Bible-believing Christian. However, I’ve not yet been able to identify one single conservative evangelical pastor who has the fortitude to acknowledge this most basic Sola Scriptura truth! How scary is that? What does that mean about the state the church is in?
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Amen, Tullian. The Reformation is a live and doing well at Coral Ridge and a few other biblically based churches.
October 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
JD, the Biblical definition of adultery is a sexual relationship with anyone who is not your spouse, whether it be pre-marital or post-marital. The Bible condemns all fornication - See 1 Cor. 6:13; 6:18; 10:8; 1 Thess. 4:3.
It is hard for one to imagine staying true to Jesus’ words, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart,” if one is having premarital sex with those women.
October 23rd, 2009 at 4:20 pm
Pastor Tullian
Thank you for all the information. If I could I would be front and centre at CRPC whenever the doors were open. Since I live 5or6 hrs drive away it is difficult. I have a church home it’s called The Village View Community Church and the pastors do well but the senior pastor who is a teacher by profession chases rabbits at times, but we love him and we pray for him. There is a bible institute set up and it is gratis, we only pay for the books and materials. I am presently taking an Old Testament survey, and another called “Beyond a Resonable Doubt.”
I also took a 12 week study at another church called “Transforming your Miind to Gods potential” I am quite busy. I read all the time. And my full time secular job is a bear at times.
Your messages have been my favorite of all time, I enjoy the sequential thought , I listen to them and take notes. I have grown more in the last 7 mths than in the past 7 years, truely.
God Bless you Pastor Tullian and I am praying every day that God will give you strength to persevere.
Paul St. Jean
Belleview Fl.
October 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
JD is clearly just a troll looking for attention. I’d pay him no heed.
October 23rd, 2009 at 11:55 pm
JD,
Matthew 15;19, 20, Mark 7:21, 1 Corinthians 6:9,18, Galatians 5:19-21. If I had time I would write these out.
Fornication: 1a. sexual intercourse engaged in by a man, esp., an unmarried man, with an unmarried woman
b.voluntary sexual intercourse engaged in by an unmarried person ; if the other person is married the act of the unmarried person is sometimes considered adultery.
Webster’s New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed.
How did they miss it? What do you think? Maybe the preachers you questioned missed Tullian’s points above also!!!
October 24th, 2009 at 8:45 am
Yes!
October 24th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Funny - all this time i thought “pornea” was the transparent dome-shaped anterior portion of the outer covering of the human eye.
October 24th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
It is also important to identify a preachers motive. Is he pointing people to Christ or himself.
October 24th, 2009 at 9:00 pm
JD,
Do you not know, 1 Corinthians 6:9, “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders”.
But let’s assume that JD has a legitimate question. Besides, the Bible speaks in generalities on a number of topics (and particulars on some) and doesn’t say lots of things that are wrong (ie. you shall not take your pastors shiny black car.). I think another way we might answer JD is to examine the character of God, and Christ, in light of the gospel. Is God One who feigns (though unwittingly) commitment, care, and faithfulness to get something that He is missing? In other words, is God selfish? Does He make empty promises because of a feeling, only to back out later because she didn’t satisfy? Does He love for a time and then change His mind because He just didn’t “love” her any more, or have “feelings” for her? This sounds like a modern concept of God but definitely not a Biblical One. The true God is One who needs nothing but gives all for His name’s sake yes, but for the good of the undeserving, unworthy ones, whom He has chosen, the church! The Biblical gospel inventing God is One who is willing to make a promise (betrothal) and seal it with an oath (marriage vows) before witnesses (the world) to His own hurt (Psalm 16) (Christ’s death on the cross). Even though His wife is a whore, He treats her like a virgin bride.
Though the Bible is the inerrant God breathed and inspired Word, if we examine the character and acts of our great, holy and merciful God (revealed in the Bible), we will understand not just “that” the Bible says something (many times, that we don’t like, hence demanding repentance) but “why” it says it.
When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of Glory died;
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.
October 24th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I think the solas differ depending on the following word….
Sola Scriptura
Solus Christus (or Solo Christo)
Sola Gratia
Sola Fide
Soli Deo Gloria
October 24th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
PS My wife says, “By the way, in the Bible, one of the definitions for fornication means intercourse before marriage and the Bible clearly condemns it and says that the person who engages in it will ‘not inherit the kingdom of God’.
‘But the cowardly, unbelieving,[e] abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” -Revelation 21:8
I agree with Rita and David that those who commit fornication (one definition being sexual intercourse outside of marriage) will not inherit the kingdom (ie estrangement from Christ or an eternity in the lake of fire as mentioned in the quote from Revelation).
This may seem redundant but just wanted to make it crystal clear. Maybe you would want to reconsider your position.”
October 24th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
CD,
A troll? What bridge are we speaking of?
October 25th, 2009 at 8:28 am
Pastor Tchividjian,
I’m intrigued by your comments under the heading of “sola gratia”. Your wonderful Gransfather’s program was entitled the “Hour of Decision”. This places the emphasis on the human response to God’s grace. He is clearly an evangelical Arminian. Does he fit your criteria? This is an honest question, not a sarcastic one.
Paul
October 25th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
“Does the preacher stress that salvation is not achieved by what we can do, rather salvation is received by faith in what Christ has already done?”
James wrote (in chpt 2 vs 24 of his Book) “You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.” Paul wrote that we aren’t saved by works *of the law*. It isn’t that we need not work!!! Good Lord! Scripture calls on people to *repent*. That means turning from sin to good works. This is the most basic part of the gospel!
October 25th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
how about a preacher who practices what he preaches? Does that matter?
October 26th, 2009 at 5:01 am
[…] How To Identify A Reliable Preacher […]
October 26th, 2009 at 2:38 pm
The fruit of the preacher should also be observed. Does he practice what he preaches? True Holy discernment would tell a congregation if Christ is the center and focus of any church. Even Satan can preach the bible.
October 26th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Pastor Tullian - I’d also like emphasize the need to find leaders who are willing and ready to challenge the anti-Christian views and negative media campaigns that seem all too pervasive these days (e.g. Hitchens - author of God is Not Great).
A good Christian leader should not only preach to his followers, but work diligently and intelligently to positively affect the many who are searching for answers outside the church. With guys like Hitchens and his inflammatory, contemptuous rhetoric—we need thoughtful, intelligent Christian orators who can provide strong counter-balance to his ideas. We need a leader who can transform our community of believers into doers—people who truly look and feel different from the secular masses and who are out there everyday providing real, substantive change, leading by example. The stakes are high, as our children and grandchildren’s future depend on our actions now.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:36 am
“Does the preacher stress that salvation is not achieved by what we can do, rather salvation is received by faith in what Christ has already done?” This is a double loaded question that is not fully scriptural. It reminds me of Martin Luther’s adding to the scripture -”We are saved by faith alone” Faith better be a verb or it is dead. If Apostolic remains only as a “noun” it is false also. Probably one of the greatest catastrophes is the fact that most religions (if they’re not offended by the blood)sing (or sang) about the blood, they do the best they can to give their life to Christ, They teach on the blood … but never learned how to open the fountain of blood on their body, mind, and soul…………they never learned by the scripture “how to apply the blood of Jesus Christ on their sins.
Here’s the Problem (the cross) does not pour the blood on our sins – (the cross) is where the blood begins to flow….. Sincerely seeking Christ and His ways, Brother August DeFore -ad4@att.net
October 27th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Matt,
I like your way of thinking. Too often we bury our heads in the sand of church or devotional life and forget not just the lost people, under God’s wrath (where we once stood and still deserve to be), but also the vain philosophies of this age. Hitchens, Dawkins and the like are where I am drawn, too. I was once an atheist but God had mercy on me. The argument against God’s existence is such a fundamentalist argument that it sometimes is difficult to engage without sheer astonishment at the lack of reason. One thing that occurred to me during Tullian’s sermon last Sunday is that we are preaching to a graveyard audience. Imagine that, walking into a cemetery and beginning to proclaim the gospel. And yet, what an image of what we encounter everyday when we tell and display the truth of God’s goodness. God uses us in prayer to open the hearts of the lost though those very prayers are woefully lacking in order to produce fruit. What grace! God uses us in witness to raise the dead though our attempt at testimony is awkward and the hearing of the listener is non-existent. God does not use spiritual cochlear implants to give a crude sense of hearing to those who are deaf. He gives life, sight and complete hearing to the dead and resurrects the hearer so that they themselves might hear His voice saying, “Come”.
This brings me to my second comment regarding August’s post. We can just as easily neglect works at the expense of faith as we can faith at the expense of works. Both are a mandatory. Faith, true Biblical, saving faith, not only proceeds works but gives birth to them. If we have a faith with no works, as James says, it is dead, stillborn. If we have faith and works, but without the proper order or understanding, we have spiritual oil and water, two separate ingredients which don’t exist together and are of no profit. But, if we have faith that spawns works, we have a saving Biblical faith which will evidence itself by might works. If we are His, we will tell and display its truth.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:23 am
Matt,
I believe Pastor Tullian is doing just that, he is proclaiming the true gospel message, unadulterated as far as I can see. WE need to stand behind and back him up as much as possible. WE can pray, fast, stand by him in fellowship, and minister to each other, building ourselves up in the faith, thereby we are a strong body in faith to take a stand with.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:26 am
August
To be more accurate Martin Luther said ” Faith alone saves, but faith is never alone.
October 28th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
[…] ministry on one level or another, this is also a helpful check-up. You can find the post here http://www.crpc.org/blog/?p=748 […]
October 28th, 2009 at 3:34 pm
A Good Pastoral Minister of Jesus Christ: as in Pauls letter to Timothy; 1 Tim 4:6-16
Commands; faithful student of scripture; avoids teachings fables or myths; disciplined in personal godliness; commited to work hard; teaches with authority; model of spiritual virtue; biblical based; uses his spiritual gift; passionate about his work; manifestly growing; perseveres;
October 28th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
As to Question 3, it is important to note that God saves us, we don’t save ourselves. Nonetheless, if I were you I would be a little more careful to not de-emphasize the important role that good works play in the gospel and in salvation. There are many today who preach Romans 3 hard and fast (”man is justified by faith apart from works”), but they forget to mention that the passage continues with “of the law.” The context of Romans 3 and 4 is “works of the law”, the Old Testament law. Ceremonial works of the that law do not matter, it is true. However, works of love most certainly do matter in the gospel!!
The gospel is about believing *and* repenting. The same Paul who wrote Romans says, in Acts 26, that the gospel he preached included “that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.” In Acts 20 Paul “declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus.” Our gospel should align with his. There is a reason that the Holy Spirit warns us in James chapter 2 “faith without deeds is useless.” We should be careful to pass on the warning to those under our care.
October 30th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
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November 1st, 2009 at 6:01 am
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November 2nd, 2009 at 10:40 pm
I live in another state and have been searching for guidance to help us find a church in our new hometown. There are many pastors with Bibles here, but I do not recognize the spirit I hear in their teachings. They seem to be using the Bible as a reference, but to make points rather than drive the sermons. They are calling us to “follow Jesus”, but the power is just missing. The messages are all about doing God’s work, but not about HIM. Your words and the “Solas” affirm what I know in my heart to be true. Thank you for encouraging me to keep looking for Truth and the full counsel of God. God bless you Pastor
November 3rd, 2009 at 6:57 pm
Dear Pastor Tullian,
Thank you for your message and teaching of what the scriptures call for in the process of how to find a reliable Pastor. I feel very blessed to have a Pastor that falls under all those qualifications and thanking God for his and his families dedication to the call God has placed on their life.
May God continue to bless you, your family and your ministry! You have blessed me personally with your blogs and I lift you and your family in prayer for protection from all those who would cause any harm or difficulty to you or to your church as you work towards what God has called you to do.
You are a blessing to many and I know that God is using your work for His Kingdom! Thank you for ALL you do!
May God bless you in every way ~ Donella Gallo
November 4th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
Maybe “preacher” is not the correct term for his vocation, but I find Dave Hunt of the Berean Call an excellent Bible teacher. Let me disclose up front that I am neither Calvinist nor Arminian. As for whether Billy Graham’s “Hour of Decision” program title is biblical, I think of Joshua 24:15: “Choose you this day whom ye will serve…”
November 9th, 2009 at 5:30 pm
Pastor Tullian,
Is there a biblical verse, passage,that says, a pastor/preacher, should separate himself from church members?
Like I know of this church, big church, where the pastor has on much occasion, said that “it is not about the man” but rather it is all about “God”. I know that I should look solely unto God, I do, and not at the pastor,man…, but this really confuses me, because Jesus was like a pastor and is known as a teacher and he mingled, hung out, greeted people. I have never, in the past, been to a church where, after the pastor finished his sermon said a prayer, and the music would start, he’d take off in the back of the church?? There is no connection with the flock. It’s like he is putting himself on a pedestal in reverse psychology? His wife is alot like this as well, you never see her??
When I first visited New City 2 years ago, I truly felt God’s love there, in the way the people greeted everyone, very sincere, and the way the pastor greeted everyone…yes YOU!! You still great everyone in church afterwords as much as possible, you even sing with everyone… Kim also greets and mingles with everyone too, she is such a sweetheart!! :-).
Well, I truly thank the Lord for bringing me and my family to New City/CRPC… what a joy and blessing this new journey has been for us!! Thank you so much God for the work that you are doing in the lives of Pastor Tullian and Kim!!