I have been filling the pulpit for a small church in a nearby town for the past couple of weeks. I’ve enjoyed my time there so far. The church was fortunate to have a single pastor for the past thirty years but he has fallen ill and was admitted to a nursing home by his family.
The church is made up of senior citizens, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, and I fear that this will make it a more difficult for them in finding someone to come and serve as their pastor. Perhaps not but this might be the case.

This past Sunday I was asked to perform a simple ritual and I thought I would share the experience here.
A woman asked me if I would come and sit down by her. She had a walker, in the aisle, and it was obvious that she had some difficulties in getting around. She asked if I would anoint her with oil and pray for her healing. I told her that I didn’t think that doing so was my place. I didn’t believe I had the authority to do this. She replied, “Well, if you don’t believe in it….” I told her that this wasn’t the reason. James tells us to call upon the Elders of the church and “Let Them” do the anointing and praying. I told her that I wasn’t an Elder of the church and couldn’t be called upon for this duty but that I would certainly remember her in my prayers. I don’t know if this appeased her or not but she didn’t say anything further.
At the close of the service I learned that the eighty-seven year old man who plays the piano for the church is, in fact, not a member of the church. He is a member of the Assembly of God church and has been for many years but stopped going there because of a disagreement with their pastor. He referred to him as a “Dictator”. It is obvious that this man is respected and loved by the members of this Baptist Church and it is also obvious that he has had some influence among the congregation.

I believe there are two extremes that we see among churches in America.
One extreme is the misuse and abuse of authority. Pastors can become “Dictators” and abuse their positions. There are also situations in which other church members abuse their authority as deacons, teachers or simply members.
Another extreme is the total disregard for authority. Some churches have become so lax and indifferent that they have no regard for any authority. The pastor is simply a preacher. The membership can do as they please.

When I was first asked to come and preach for them I decided that I would preach the Five Solas. You can look across the top of my page and read them if you aren’t familiar with them. I began by preaching on the general topic in the morning service and pressing the emphasis of the “Sola” in the evening service. So, my first week there I preached from John 1 in the AM service and from 2 Timothy 3:16-17 in the PM service. Like most congregations they nodded their heads in approval but in practice it is obvious that they have little understanding of what “Scripture Alone” truly means.

The Bible Alone is our only authority for all matters of faith and practice. It is not our place to take liberties with the Word of God. It is a matter of authority and God, who is the Supreme Authority, has made it so.