Invitations to Preach
May a preacher (or simply an individual Christian) take advantage of every opportunity to teach others the gospel? Yes! May an individual or organization invite one to preach to them? Yes! But this does not necessarily imply that a particular organization or activity is legitimate.
Some may defend the practice of human organizations holding Bible lectureships by saying that they are simply inviting men and providing a forum for them to speak. The organization itself is not actually doing the work of evangelism or edification. The speakers are doing that as individuals by preaching and teaching from the word of God. Each speaker retains his autonomy, meaning he is not a part of, or an agent of the organization. Thus, the organization is not engaged in a spiritual work (as a local congregation would be in a Gospel Meeting), but is simply providing a forum for men whom they invite to discuss Bible topics.
An attempt may then be made to draw a parallel between an organization in this sort of arrangement and Paul with the synagogue in Acts 13 or the Areopagus in Acts 17. Are these true parallels? Or are there differences between the synagogue or the Areopagus and a Business Bible Lectureship of our day?
For us to be able to say these are parallel, we must first assume that Paul was invited to the synagogue in Acts 13. Notice the context: "But going on from Perga, they [Paul and his companions, v.13] arrived at Pisidian Antioch, and on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading of the Law and the Prophets the synagogue officials sent to them, saying, 'Brethren, if you have any word of exhortation for the people, say it'" (v. 14-15). A casual glance may give one the impression that since the officials "sent to" Paul that they invited him. Actually, this "invitation" came after Paul came into the synagogue on his own accord and after the Law was read. It appears this is more of an open forum that Paul was able to take advantage of because he happened to be present. They did not invite him into the synagogue to participate.
Secondly, we must also assume that Paul was invited to the Areopagus. Acts 17:19 says: "And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, 'May we know what this new teaching is which you are proclaiming?'" The phrase "took him and brought him" does not necessarily imply that they invited him. The phrase could imply that they took him by force and brought him. The American Standard Version translation of this verse lends itself to this idea -- "they took hold of him, and brought him unto the Areopagus." Also, notice that it was not the Areopagus council that "invited" Paul. The text says "they [referring to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers that Paul was conversing with in the previous verse] took him and brought him to the Areopagus." Paul was not invited by an Areopagus council. It cannot even be proven that he was given an invitation at all.
But for now, let's assume that both of these examples do show an organization inviting Paul and providing a forum for him to preach the gospel. Is this parallel with the modern day practice of human organizations inviting men to speak at their Bible lectureships?
We should notice that there are three different types of invitations that can be extended to one for the purpose of preaching and teaching. We can see examples of each of these invitations in Scripture. First, an invitation can be given for the purpose of examining the doctrine one espouses in order to find out what it is that they teach. This was what the account of Paul at the Areopagus was all about. Those people wanted to "know what these things mean" (v. 20). Second, an invitation can be given for the purpose of opposing the doctrine one espouses. This would be a debate. In 1 Kings 18, Elijah had King Ahab "send and gather" to him the people of Israel and the prophets of Baal and prophets of the Asherah (v. 19). The purpose was to contend with them to prove that the Lord God was the one true God and that they were proclaiming false gods. Third, an invitation can be given for one to simply come and teach the truth. This implies agreement and fellowship. This is not an investigation to find out what someone believes or an opposition to what they teach. The party inviting the speaker has prior knowledge (either first or second hand) that the man they are inviting knows the truth, teaches the truth, and will teach it when he comes. Not every invitation for one to preach and teach has the same purpose. Were the "invitations" to Paul to speak at the synagogue and Areopagus the same type of invitations given to men to speak at a Business Bible Lectureship today?
In Acts 13 at Antioch of Pisidia, Paul went to the synagogue of his own accord. He was not invited to go and speak. Yes, opportunity was given him after he was already there. But the synagogue officials did not invite Paul to come to them and speak. In Acts 17 at the Areopagus, the "invitation" was for the purpose of examining Paul's teaching. They wanted a better understanding of the things he proclaimed. They certainly were not in agreement with him. They described his teaching as "strange" (v. 20) and some "began to sneer" (v. 32) when he spoke of the resurrection.
In the case of a Business Bible Lectureship, what is the nature of the invitation? Does the organization invite the men who will speak in order to examine, or find out what they teach? No! They already know what they teach. Typically, the speakers must submit a written manuscript of their lecture months in advance so all of the lectures can be compiled into a book to be available for sale at the time of the lectureship. The organization knows well in advance what the men believe and teach that they have invited. Does the organization invite the men who will speak in order to oppose what they teach? No! Except in unusual cases, there is no open discussion or presentation of the other side of a topic following a lecture.
So why are certain men invited by an organization? Because they know these men, know what they teach, agree with what they teach, and have confidence in them that they will present the truth during the lectureship. In these types of arrangements, are the invited speakers preaching to the organization (thus, individual action), or for the organization (joint participation, acting as an agent of the organization)?
Who is the audience that the speaker is preaching to? Answering this question should help us see the difference. When Paul went to the synagogue, he spoke to those who happened to be present. He was not invited. He did not act as a part of the synagogue organization. He was simply taking advantage of the opportunity to speak to this particular audience.
When Paul was taken to the Areopagus, they were examining him about his teaching. They did not invite him to preach the gospel for them. They did not advertise that Paul would be speaking on the topic of the resurrection at the Annual Areopagus Bible Lectureship. Paul spoke to them, not for them.
When brethren are invited to speak at some organization's Bible lectureship, those who invite them are not doing so to examine or oppose their teaching, but because they are in agreement. What do they do then? They advertise that these certain men will be speaking on these certain topics at the _________ Lectures. They invite all to attend. Who is the audience at the lectureship? Those who have been invited by the organization. Sure, those who make up the organization are also in attendance. But the majority are not associated with the organization, but the organization purposely invited them to come to their lectureship to hear these men teach from the word of God.
This is precisely what happens when a local church holds a Gospel Meeting (or Bible Lectureship, the two terms are synonymous). They invite a man (or men), not to examine or oppose his teaching, but because they are in agreement with him. The church advertises that this man will be speaking at the _________ Church's Gospel Meeting. They invite all to attend. This is one way a local church can do the work of evangelism and edification. Yet when a human organization does the same thing they're not evangelizing and edifying, only inviting men to speak and providing a forum?! Ridiculous!
When a local church invites a man to come in and hold a Gospel Meeting for them, who is actually speaking? The preacher. But he has fellowship with the congregation in the preaching of the gospel. They are working together in this effort -- the preacher and the local church. When a group invites a man to speak, provides a forum for him so he can bring the same message they also believe and teach, this constitutes fellowship. Thus, the group is engaging in a spiritual work, regardless of whether the group is a local church or a human organization.
Is this sort of arrangement -- a human organization working together (having fellowship) with men in the preaching of the gospel -- authorized in Scripture? This is not the arrangement described in Acts 13 with Paul in the synagogue or in Acts 17 with Paul at the Areopagus. So authority for it cannot be found in these passages. We must look elsewhere, if it is to be found.
