NOTES ON OPTING OUT
Ron Durham

Since I’m opting out of regular pulpit work, the genial editor of this journal asked if I would write something regarding “the plight of the present-day minister of the pulpit and the problems he faces as a part of the system.”

All right — as long as we all understand “the system” and its shortcomings are only partly involved. There is also a kind of metaphysical itch, in my case — a vague questioning of my place under the sun which changing jobs doesn’t cure, but which inhibits performance at tasks that require a high degree of self-identity and self-assurance.

But even that sort of confession brings “the system” up for some criticism. Why should not the system allow “the preacher” to scratch (metaphysically) in public? We require the preaching minister to be the model of self-confidence and outgoingness. Perhaps this is because (I) we want him to attract more and better members, thus making him almost exclusively responsible for what is loosely called “church growth”; and (2) so many members lack self-assurance, especially in their faith, and they require at least one sample among them who shows them it’s possible.

Now, I’m in favor of church growth. And I carry no brief for agnostic preachers sharing their un-faith from the pulpit. My primary interest just happens not to be “church growth” as such, but working out and communicating a biblical theology for our time. And I discovered that (1) sometimes this leaves me with questions, not the pure “evangel” which needs to burn in the heart of a true evangelist; and (2) most of us are not very interested in theology.

Most of “our folk” want simple biblicism, believing that this avoids theology. This group is impatient with a preacher’s attempt to relate the Bible to culture; to listen to nonChristian objections to faith; to raise questions against our own smugness; to ask what social and physical ministries grow out of the gospel; and to be self-critical of “our position.”

On the other hand, an intelligent minority among us is burned out on biblicism. These folk are true children of our modern, secular times. They are attracted to psychology and sociololy, rather than to theology. They wish to speak of healing interpersonal relationships, but not of “salvation.” They want to do good to others, but they are not sure that this has anything to do with proclaiming Jesus as Lord.

While I, too, appreciate the Bible, I do not believe we can be biblical in the truest sense of the word without relentlessly asking what the Bible means today; that is, without doing theology. While I want to learn from such fields as psychology and sociology, I do not believe they are the same as theology; and my bag, as I said, is the latter.

Hence, what I do just doesn’t sell well. And selling is where church growth is “at” in our society, as I am frequently reminded. But as we all know, successful salesmen concentrate on closing deals, not on raising questions. And given our plea for unity, vs. our actual divided state; given the distance between the 1st century and the 20th; given the problem of evil vs. a God of love … but there I You see, I have ceased to simply proclaim the gospel and have begun to theologize.

Hence, I am glad to relinquish my pulpit to another — and I do it without secretly feeling that he is not really facing the problems if he can still preach! But I do it also with the realization that what I do best can help myself and others come to grips with the world in the light of the gospel. My own interest can also be a ministry. For in my Father’s house, much more than in “the system,” there are many vocational mansions. And it is His system, His rule, in which we all must serve.

Ron Durham has been minister to Bering Drive Church of Christ in Houston and will presently be on the editorial staff of Sweet Publishing Co., Box 4055, Austin, Tx. 78751

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The Church of Christ upon earth is essentially, intentionally, and constitutionally one; consisting of all those in every place that profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him in all things according to the Scriptures, and that manifest the same by their tempers and conduct, and of none else; as none else can be truly and properly called Christians. — Thomas Campbell in The Declaration and Address