Proclaimer Blog
Duplicity (4) – some remedies
What is the answer to duplicity? First some truths:
- God does not want us to be like this. He loves as individuals before he loves us as preachers. He wants us to know him and walk closely to him. He wants his Spirit to transform us into the likeness of Christ.
- It is not sustainable to be ministering to a congregation if we are dry and barren. In the short term, perhaps it will. But in the long term, it will not work. And so, we mustn't think we are doing the congregation any favours if we hide the truth from them.
- The pastorals are clear that, in the long term, the kind of duplicity I have described, is a bar to ministry. I say that not to frighten, but to elevate the issue to one of the utmost seriousness.
But here are some more gospel truths:
- Jesus has died for sins, including the sins of self-deception, lying, being cold towards him. He nailed these to the cross.
- Though we may quench the Spirit, I don't believe that we can throw out the Spirit who dwells within us. We are his, joined to Christ
- Jesus is not just interested in our salvation, but in our sanctification. Unlike the church (!) he is not simply interested in numbers through the door, but in a people whom he makes holy, a "radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish."
Practically, here is my wisdom, for what it's worth. Preachers need others around them. I think this works best with fellow elders, but if your ecclesiology prohibits this, then find ways to deliver the same accountability structures. These men – let's call them elders for the sake of it – need to be pastoring you. You need to be honest with them. They need to be caring, compassionate, direct, clear, godly – all of this themselves. They need to understand when you're struggling and help you through. They need to be discreet – not telling the rest of the church you are struggling. They need to commit themselves to pray for you – every day, I think, if they really believe the value of local church ministry.
You have such a Saviour. Do you have such people?