Is there Spider Tack on your Bible?

“If I don’t do what everyone else is doing I can’t compete.” That sentiment addresses  many different circumstances. I have a couple in mind. 

First, today is the day that MLB is going to begin really enforcing the rule that has been on the books since the 1920s against applying foreign substances to the baseball. I have read many iterations on the above quotation in the last couple of weeks as this issue has exploded in the sporting press. Some estimates are that 70-90% of current pitchers in the Major Leagues have been cheating. While this has gone on for some time it has collapsed offensive production this season in such a way that it can no longer be ignored. Pitching records are falling. Strike-out numbers can no longer be pawned off as the result of hitters altering their swings to generate more home runs. Teams have 2^nd and 3^rd starters whose numbers seem have improved far beyond the incremental results of hard work and experience. It would also appear that the research done by MLB since the beginning of the season has determined that the cheating is at an epidemic level. 

And those who will not cheat feel like they are at a disadvantage. Jobs and money are at stake. Young pitchers begin their careers in the minor leagues and are taught from the very beginning to doctor the ball to enhance spin rates. The companies that sell some of the substances, often created for entirely different sports, freely admit that they have invoices with the stadium addresses of the teams themselves. “I can’t compete if I don’t cheat” places honest men in peril of their livelihoods whilst others reap enormous rewards for leaving their morality at home whenever they drive to the ballpark. 

As you might suspect my second circumstance is not about the ballpark but the church house. What should a Church do to be attractive? Is music the central quality people look for in Church? What if it is programming? Children’s ministries? What if the most successful models to be found in the contemporary (American) church are unbiblical or outright heretical? Should we sing the songs which are popular on Christian Radio, thereby leveraging the recognition of potential congregants, even if the lyrics to those songs are compromised, hampered, or handicapped theologically? How many Preachers, Elders, or Song leaders say the same thing as those honest, substance-free pitchers “If I don’t do what everyone else is doing, I can’t compete.”

Having made that comparison I fully expect some to object. “Surely, Bob, you are:

• Over reacting.
• Misunderstand.
• Don’t care about the lost.
• Have given up on Church growth.
• Old fashioned, out of touch, contrarian.

Shall we see what the text says about doctrine?

“I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.” (Romans 16:17 ESV)

“If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed.” (1 Timothy 4:6 ESV)

“He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.” (Titus 1:9 ESV)

So, for Paul there is sound/good doctrine, and bad or contradictory doctrine. One of the jobs of the Pastor/Preacher and the Elders who supervise a local congregation is insuring that what is taught-in all forms-is derived from or compatible with Scripture. Paul includes in this doctrinal mandate the use of music in worship making his fullest statement on the topic in Colossians where the singing in public worship is directly linked to the teaching mandate of the Church

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16 ESV)

I don’t think that I’m overreacting and though I may not be able, at this time, to articulate a solution I feel confident that my concerns are not just the rantings of a contrarian. My guess is that there are a lot of Church leaders who wince when certain lyrics are sung which are clearly unbiblical. I’m not talking about the ones which are unclear or a little wishy-washy I’m talking about the ones which are derived from popular, inaccurate theology or those which are clearly unbiblical. Why do these songs get used by congregations otherwise biblically grounded and exegetically well-fed? 

“If I don’t do what everyone else is doing I can’t compete.”

To any who are confused by the issue or feel morally compromised let me conclude by asking a couple of questions. Who are you competing with? Why? Who picked sides and who are you trying to please? If you preach, pastor, lead songs, teach Sunday school, work at Camp, lead a Bible Study you are a steward of the imperishable riches of Christ. Paul makes it Crystal clear what the job of a steward is

“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful.” (1 Corinthians 4:2 ESV)

That faithfulness is owed God. The Church in American culture has become infatuated with success. Driven by numbers many are willing to do anything to compete with the Church down the block. The sense of catholicity has been surrendered to the need to win. We have sacrificed the integrity of what we teach and sold our souls for the spiritual equivalent of Spider Tack. We have a better grip, can increase our effectiveness, win more, get paid better, and appear successful. But like those cheating pitchers whose hands drip with sticky-goo we have followed the wrong model, chosen the wrong metrics, settled for theological mediocrity. In the end, if we get good with cheating, we have only gotten good at cheating.