Q&A: Calling New Pastors and Meaning of Proof Texting

Q: What advice do you have for calling a new pastor to our local congregation?

A: Let me offer seven things to consider in this important transition:

1. Pray. Let 1 Thessalonians 5:17 underline everything you do: “Pray continually.” Create strategies to keep the congregation praying about the pastoral change.

2. Remember. Don’t lose sight of whose church it is. Matthew 16:20 offers some freeing pronouns. Jesus said “I will build my church” (italics added). He didn’t invite you to build your church. Remember to rest in His love and direction.

3. Relax. Haste is not your friend. Samuel showed up at Jesse’s house (1 Samuel 16:6) ready to anoint the first son he met as king. However, God had a boy out in the field He wanted Samuel to discover.

4. Listen. Spend time in the Scriptures. In Revelation 2-3 Jesus reveals the heart of the seven churches. What might the Lord want to reveal about your church? In humility, let the Spirit speak words of commendation and correction.

5. Learn. Take time to understand the process. The counsel of your district superintendent, the guidance of the Church of the Nazarene Manual, and the prayerful consideration of candidates are all important. Sometimes we need fewer business methods and more God-directed discernment.

6. Ask good questions. Be prepared for a face-to-face conversation.

• Discover what you can about her/his family, personality, leadership style, and life experiences.

• Consider biblical characters to unlock the story of your candidate:

  • Like Abraham in Genesis 12, have you had a clear call to follow God and do some “leaving?”

  • Like Joseph in Genesis 37 and 39, have you experienced a “pit” or a “prison” where God did his refining work?

  • Like Mary in Luke 10, do you take time to sit at Jesus’ feet and learn from Him?

  • Like Cleopas in Luke 24, has Jesus come alongside recently so you can testify, “My heart was burning within me?”

  • Like Paul in Acts 15, have you had a John Mark who disappointed you?

  • Like Paul with Timothy in Acts 16, who has mentored you?

• Get to the core of spiritual leadership. It is more than programs or your pet projects. Pastor:

  • How will you help us keep our eyes on Jesus?

  • How will you teach us to stay in step with the Spirit?

  • How will you encourage us to live in the Father’s grace and love?

  • How will you guide us in being and making disciples?

When it is time in the process to talk about your church, practice humility, honesty, and integrity. Don’t oversell, but be transparent.

7. Pray. Did I mention the need to seek, hear, discern, and be directed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?

Randy Craker is superintendent of the Northwest District for the Church of the Nazarene.

Q: What is “proof texting?”

A: On the surface, the idea of “proof texting” sounds like a great thing for Bible-believing Christians. Proof texting is what happens when a person picks a biblical text (usually a short verse or passage) to attempt to prove a theological or ethical point. An example might be, “I do not cut my hair because the Bible says here that a woman’s hair is her ‘glory,’ and so that proves that we should not cut our hair.”

Right away, we can see the potential downside of proof texting. In fact, there are at least three difficulties with proof texting, and all of these speak to the Church of the Nazarene’s view of plenary inspiration.

The first potential problem with proof texting is contextual. While Scripture is to be our final authority in all matters of faith and practice, John Wesley reminded early Methodists that Scripture is only authoritative when properly interpreted and applied in its proper context.

When one separates a passage of Scripture from its larger context and simply lifts the words from the page in order to drive home a point, that is proof texting. We can come dangerously close to the error found in a cartoon in which a boy is shown reading his Bible and telling his sister, “Quiet down! I am trying to find a passage to justify my preconceived notions!”

A second potential problem with proof texting concerns the scope of inspiration. In the Wesleyan tradition—indeed in most Christian traditions—we do not believe that God dictated Scripture word-for-word to its authors. That means that while the message of Scripture has a unique inspiration (literally, a God-breathed, God-directed purpose), we believe that every passage is important precisely because of the big picture of the message: namely, that God wants a relationship with us grounded in His love and care.

Therefore, God does not “inspire” every word in such a way that we can simply pull words and passages and mold them to fit our situation or preferences.

For the Christian, the truest test of a passage’s meaning(s) has to do with whether our interpretation fits within the overall character of Jesus Christ (we are Christians, after all) and the overall emphasis regarding God’s plan of salvation for God’s creation. If our interpretation does not fit into that rubric, then chances are we are simply proof texting and not really doing the hard work of interpretation.

Finally, proof texting can create a problem regarding the proper use of Scripture. In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul writes that Scripture is “useful” to believers in regard to correction, teaching, and growth. Historically, the Christian Church has been entrusted with giving voice to the way Scripture is and is not to be used, and that determination has been connected to correction, teaching, and growth in grace. Issues and approaches to Scripture that detract from these—things the Bible calls foolish arguments—are not proper uses of Scripture.

A proof-texting approach makes it very tempting to wield the “Sword of the Spirit” in a manner that the Spirit never intended. Instead of simply finding a text to justify our behavior, why not get to know the Living Word—Jesus Christ. His life and Spirit, embodied by His church, can help us do the hard work of sound interpretation of Scripture that provides a guide for living instead of simply a tool for winning theological arguments.

Charles W. Christian is pastor of the Cameron, Missouri, Church of the Nazarene and adjunct professor at several universities and seminaries.

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.