In a recent episode of 5 Minutes in Church History Pastor Steve Lawson explained,
“Charles Spurgeon started a publication called The Sword and Trowel, which was his magazine. It’s drawn from Nehemiah 4. When Nehemiah was on the wall, he had a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other. With the trowel, he was building up the work of God, but with the sword he was fending off the enemies of God. Spurgeon saw himself as a Nehemiah on the wall.”
In a similar fashion, EA works to build up the Church of Christ with a trowel in one hand and a sword in another. Several current events within the evangelical community serve as a reminder of the need to be steadfast and identify potential threats, and heed 1 Corinthians 10:12 – “Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”
Case Study One: Bethany Christian Services bowing to pressure to place children with same-sex couples
Ministry Implication:
-“There are hours when the Church must say NO to those who should ask communion with her, in the doing of her work, upon the basis of compromise.” – G. Campbell Morgan
– This is danger of relying upon secular sources (governmental agencies etc.) for financial support, which do not embrace your core value
– Uncompromising evangelical nonprofits, such as EA, could be stripped of their nonprofit status, as a result of not adhering to equal opportunity government standards.
Biblical Principle:
-Matthew 6 – Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Case Study Two: Moral Failures of Bill Hybels at Willow Creek Church and James MacDonald at Harvest Bible Church
Ministry Implication:
-“The immorality of leaders has been a reality among God’s people for as long as God has had a people. The temptations for leaders are as real as they are for the rest of us, but the consequences are more severe. When a leader falls, all are punished. Not punished FOR the leader’s sin, but BY his sin.” – John MacArthur
-Board strength and oversight
Biblical Principle:
-Proverbs 27:6 – Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.
-2 Samuel 12:7 – Nathan then said to David, “You are the man!”
Case Study Three: Francis Chan speaking alongside False Teachers & The Gospel Coalition’s Sam Allberry Issue
Ministry Implication:
-the necessity of ongoing partnership evaluation
Biblical Principle:
Spurgeon’s The Sword and the Trowel – “Doddridge sometimes mingled in a fraternal manner, even exchanging pulpits, with men whose orthodoxy was called in question. It had its effect on many of the younger men, and served to lessen in the estimate of the people generally the growing divergence of sentiment. In other words, Shindler felt that Doddridge’s tolerance of unorthodox teachers obscured from his ministerial students the awful reality that these men were guilty of serious error, and left the students exposed to the deadly effects of their heresy.”
-2 Thessalonians 3:6 – Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you keep away from any brother who is walking in idleness and not in accord with the tradition that you received from us.
Prayer for EA: Clean Hands, Pure, No Falsehood or Deceit
Psalm 24:4-5
He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood
And has not sworn deceitfully.
He shall receive a blessing from the Lord
And righteousness from the God of his salvation.
