I'm a huge fan of The Andy Griffith Show. I would rather watch reruns of this classic show, then any of the current sitcoms on TV. I have to many favorite episodes to count, but as I was looking back over my sermon notes from this past Sunday, one episode in particular stood out to me. The episode is entitled "Barney's First Car" and was aired during season three in 1963. The synopsis of the episode has Deputy Sheriff Barney Fife wanting to purchase a car so that he and Sheriff Andy Taylor do not have to share the patrol car. Barney takes all his money out of the bank and begins to scour the classified section of the newspaper for a suitable car and eventually finds an ad for a car that had been "garage kept," "low mileage" and "driven only to church on Sunday and grandma's house for Thanksgiving." Barney contacts the seller and a little old lady named Miss. Lesh shows up at Andy Taylor's house. Barney falls head over hills for the car at first sight and wants to make the transaction right then and there. Levelheaded Andy suggests Barney take the car for a drive and go over to the "filling station" and get the car checked over by Wally. Barney claims that doing so would be an insult to Miss. Lesh and he purchases the car on the spot for $300, telling Miss. Lesh to "keep the change." As we find out later in the episode, sweet Miss. Lesh is running a stolen car operation and the car that Barney purchased is a lemon. So what can we learn from Barney's decision?
1. When you are listening to a preacher, follow along, don't take what they say as gospel. Before you start saying "Carver, what do you mean," hear me out. As a preacher, the greatest thing that I ever hear during my sermons is the sound of pages of the Bible turning. It lets me know that people are engaged in what I have to say. I spend weeks preparing for sermons and Bible classes, but I'm not perfect and I know I make mistakes, and if I do, I want my listeners to catch it and correct me. In Matthew 7:15, Jesus is preaching the Sermon on the Mount. He warns the Jews to be "wary of false teachers." He says they come to us "in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves." I can't help but think about Barney and Miss. Lesh. To him she was like a harmless sheep, but inside her intentions were to rip him off. What about a preacher? Do we invite just any man off the street to come preach and teach us? Of course not. The men that stand up in our pulpits have been vetted throughly, they still make mistakes, but they do not do so unintentionally. But what about the ones that do so intentionally? They do not come into our pulpits physically looking like false teachers, no, they come to us looking like any preacher would. It's when we begin to hear their thoughts on the gospel that we begin to see who they really are. The question is, do we check what they say on our own in the scriptures? Or are we like Barney Fife and take their word for it? Think about it.
2. What about church leadership? In 1 Timothy 3:1-13, Paul lays out the qualifications of elders and deacons. Note what he says in verses 6 and 10. They are not to be a "novice," and are to first be "tested." Why is this? God does not want inexperienced, immature men leading his congregations. God also told Paul to write this, because he does not want false teachers leading his congregations. A man should spend years following and obeying the gospel, making themselves better Christians. What about a man that's been a Christian many years and is in a leadership position just to have the power of that position? He is no better than the false preacher or Miss. Lesh.
3. What about regular members? When a family or an individual decides to identify themselves with a local congregation, it's the job of the leaders of the church to meet them and really get to know them in depth. Why do we do this? To avoid being a Barney Fife and letting a Miss. Lesh in to our congregations. The old saying "one bad apple can ruin the whole bunch" applies here. We love our congregations and leaders of the church and have a responsibility to protect them. Elders as shepherds are in charge of this. In John 10:12, Jesus tells of a wolf that came in amongst the sheep and scattered them. Can't the same be said of false teachers, leaders, and members?
I for one am happy and content in my role as a preacher. I have so much respect for elders, and I would not want their jobs. However as a preacher I must stay aware and make sure what I am preaching and teaching is the truth. Our congregations are God's. It is our responsibility to protect them. Once false teaching creeps in, then it is difficult to get them out. We should always guard our hearts. If I or any preacher says something in our sermon or Bible class that's not backed up by scripture, don't be afraid to call us out. We want you too!! Learn a lesson from Barney Fife. He should have listened to Andy and gone and got the car inspected by Wally before he bought it. Do we inspect cars and houses before we purchase them? Of course. Why? Because there's thousands of dollars involved. Did you date your spouse before you married them? Of course. Why? You want to find out if they are a suitable mate or not. Then why not do the same when it comes to matters of the church? There's much more at stake than a few thousand dollars or someone you are going to spend the rest of your life with.
In Him,
Carver Moore
We would be honored for you to join us for worship at the Chestnut Mound church of Christ.
Our service times are as follows:
Sunday Morning Bible study: 10 am
Sunday morning worship: 11 am
Sunday evening worship: 5 pm
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